What do you want from a Vegas hotel?

[gamepube]

This is a topic that has a lot of varying opinions on this board.
What do you want/require of your hotel during your Vegas stay. Some members couldn't care less about where they stay and want nothing more than a bed to collapse at the end of the night. Other members prefer the luxury and amenities that are provided by the top properties in the city.
Which side do you come down on, and what do you look for in a Vegas hotel?

[Jhaulotte]

This is a topic that has a lot of varying opinions on this board.
What do you want/require of your hotel during your Vegas stay. Some members couldn't care less about where they stay and want nothing more than a bed to collapse at the end of the night. Other members prefer the luxury and amenities that are provided by the top properties in the city.
Which side do you come down on, and what do you look for in a Vegas hotel?

I would take the luxury and amenities everytime, but price plays a factor. This is one reason why I always speak so highly of The Mirage because I feel you do get great amenities and a great price. I love the location, the fact I can be in the casino and get to my room in 2 mins, restaurants, and sportsbook.

[Chuck]

1. Center Strip
2. Awesome bed
3. Quiet/Dark room - Suites are best for this
4. Good eats
5. Great Pool

Mirage and Aria have accomplished all of these best in my experience.

Of the places I've stayed here's how they rate:

1. Mirage
2. Aria
3. Venetian
4. THE Hotel
5. Harrahs
6. Circus Circus - doesn't really meet any of the criteria...but I stayed there for free once.

[WT661]

My budget has changed through the years but as with most people, I'm looking for the bang for the buck. I wont overspend on a room when it isnt necessary to. $300-400 a night is a splurge to me. Not because its out of my budget, its just I'm in Vegas often and spending $800 a weekend 2-3 times a month gets pretty expensive. LOL. So I balance out the expenses so I can go more often and not hurt the wallet as much each time.

Basically I look for a place that is clean and not run down. Someplace where I'm comfortable laying down on the bed on. LOL. I have so many other reasons why I would stay at certain hotels.

Here are my recent stays... some are tied since it all just depends on which rate is best and where I'm going to do most of my nightlife and dining. Also depends on what I'm in town for.

1. Aria - Cosmo - Encore: Close to Marquee/XS/Surrender.
2. Monte Carlo: alternate budget City Center adjacent & Mlife property
3. Vdara: City Center area, walking distance to alot of places
4. Planet Hollywood - Elara: for my week long stays, I like it here. Has big parking for our race trailer/truck
5. Southpoint: Offstrip but if last minute trip, can usually get $75/nite, even on busy weekends.
6. Rio: only because its free
7. Grandview: When I'm in town for an event, we have to stay in multiple rooms due to the # of people with us. Grandview suites are 800sqft with kitchen. Can get a 2bedroom 1600sqft for $160 a night on some weekends. Far from strip but right next to Southpoint for some dining and gambling.
8. Mandalay Bay: Only stay here with family. For the pool and dont need to be near the nightlife. Good prices too and I get some comps as well.

Other places I've stayed at but are just not on that top 8 hotels. Theyre alternate choices if the ones above are too expensive or no rooms available
1. Bellagio
2. Venetian/Pallazzo
3. Treasure Island
4. Caesars
5. Stratosphere
6. MGM
7. Luxor
8. NYNY
9. Paris
10.

[pantlessbellman]

This is a topic that has a lot of varying opinions on this board.
What do you want/require of your hotel during your Vegas stay. Some members couldn't care less about where they stay and want nothing more than a bed to collapse at the end of the night. Other members prefer the luxury and amenities that are provided by the top properties in the city.
Which side do you come down on, and what do you look for in a Vegas hotel?

I love hotels, nice ones in particular, it's Vegas so I always tend to go a little bigger on the hotel then what I would do in other cities, just because I want to spoil myself a bit. That being said, Vegas is also an easy city to get top end hotels for around $200 a night (my target price) if you plan it in advance. Last minute you'll always pay a premium especially if your going over a weekend. The whole center strip thing is important to consider to, I personally find I spend most of my time at Wynn/Cosmo/Venetian/Pallazzo, the rest of the hotels really just don't do much for me. Like what was said before, Mirage and Monte Carlo are very good options for the budget conscious, because they are short walks/cabs from where I stated before and clean/ well taken care of, however expect an older and family like crowd. I avoid going cheap in Vegas as much as possible, just because I don't do Vegas more than 2-3 times a year and I might as well go big or stay home. On my budget I don't do MDW or LDW, because honestly I hate being in overcrowded situations, Vegas is crowded enough on a normal weekend, I can only imagine how it is over the holiday weekends. Amenities are nice, but half the hotels are going to charge you for gym/spa access and really, if you're working out in Vegas, you're fucking up (coming from a fitness nut), having a good pool doesn't mean much to me because, 9 out of 10 times I'll go to the dayclubs vs hotel pools. Amenities to me are 100% based on location, Cosmo is my favorite, because Marquee and MDC, and the overall shitshow young atmosphere. I wouldn't stay there with a girlfriend that I was trying to keep, lol. It's so geared to the Vegas I'd want to get laid crowd that I'd rather take my GF up the road to Wynn, at least in the day its more calm.

It all comes down to what your reasons for being there are, there is so many different Vegas', you can pick a hotel out for every type of trip.

[hard2hold]

The best bang for my buck to date has been Mirage. The location with the price can't be beat.

I've stayed at the MGM Grand more times that I can count but they are off my good list & on another because they have lost sight of who the customer is. The $20 sammich doesn't go far there anymore which is unfortunate because I really liked MGM. I don't think Southpoint gets the recognition they deserve. Now that I think about it, most of my blackjack wins have been there. My only gripe is the location but it's not too terribly bad & I usually have a rental wherever I am, middle of the strip or not. One place I will never stay again, last minute or not, is Terribles. It was $19 on a sat night & I couldnt sleep at all because my bed was crappy. Mandalay Bay & THEHotel was awesome but no nightlife. I prefer to stay relatively close to where I'm drinking so I can walk (or stumble) back to my room instead of cabbing it & being at the mercy of someone else. Monte Carlo I like because of the price but again, location. RIO is good for the price but they'll let anyone in the pool (no ID). If we are talking pools, my preference is Caesars, Mandalay, Mirage & my choices during the summer months tend to be weighted more towards those with good pools. Note that I did not say those have pool parties. I like to relax & am out of the age group (and BMI....but working on that).

I almost forgot Bally's & Golden Nugget. I love the locations & prices of both of these properties & if staying downtown, I am at GN. I don't have much success with upgrades at Nugget lately but I still love it. The pool upgrade a few years ago really improved this property. I like Bally's because of the price & location. I can easily get to Paris from my room & their great restaurants/buffet.