Strip or Not to Strip? That is the question.

For hotels (this is a clean blog, people)

For a town with over 150,000 hotel rooms (according to a dated New York Times article), figuring out the best place is a bit of a trick. To answer, you need to ask a few questions.

Who's going? You and your honey, you and your friends, you and your family, or just you.

How much do you want to spend on a room per night?

Is it your first time to Las Vegas?


Answering those questions will determine the best hotel for you. Some people chose the place with the cheapest hotel prices. That's fair too because I do the same thing.

More guidelines later. But here are some general rules to start with.

If it is your first time to Vegas, stay on the "Strip". The Strip is S. Las Vegas Blvd. (type it into Google maps. From the southernmost hotel (Mandalay Bay) to the northernmost (Stratosphere). The hotels between those two points are considered the Strip. Pick one of those hotels. Once there, you can walk or take a quick cab to anywhere you want to be.

Also, if you can, be flexible on the dates you can go. The best deals for hotel rooms are between Thanksgiving and New Years and, after the Fourth of July to Labor Day. So, plan around the times when rooms are cheap.

Finally, weekends will see room rates double or triple. No matter the time of year. So go during the week or be prepared to move into a cheaper hotel for the weekend. So look for weekday prices and weekend pricing if you are going to be in town for the weekend.

Even in this economy, there are still deals to be found if you look for them.

Memorial Day pool time

(note: This was written for Orbitz Travel Blog and may be posted there in the near future in some form. I look forward to writing more for them.)

Memorial Day is considered the first day of summer and that is very true when it comes to the Las Vegas pool scene. Beginning on Memorial Day, hotel pools in Vegas become the place to go during the day. Whether your body is toned or not, everyone goes and loves the pool to beat the Vegas heat.

One general tip: If you have a group and you want to sit together, hit the pool early if you want to get a lounge chair. This applies even more if you are in town on the weekend or a holiday. If you go late, you will be lucky to get one. Either go as a group or assign one or two people to go early and reserve chairs.

Best all-around: MGM Grand Pool Complex. At six acres, it has four pools, three whirlpools, waterfalls, lazy river, bar, . According to their website, at least three will be open every day at 8 a.m. during the summer and the “Backlot River”, opens at 9 a.m. Negatives: Crowds. The MGM is the biggest hotel in Vegas and a LOT of people will venture to the pool area.

Best family pool: Flamingo. Truthfully, I love this pool. It has four pools, two jacuzzis, and water slides with a kiddy pool over 15 acres. It's designed to be a tropical paradise. Very picturesque. This is the pool where you will find me the most. You might also spot a wedding or two at the pool if you go early in the morning or at sunset. Negatives: According to the Flamingo website, a hotel room key is required for entry before 1 p.m. So it could become crowded with locals and people staying elsewhere in Vegas.

Best pool party: Hard Rock Hotel, Rehab Sundays. This is where the beautiful people hang out all day Sunday. The party takes over the pool at the off-strip Hard Rock. The line to get in Rehab can be long, but it is the best party in Vegas on Sundays. There are other hotels who are adopting the “pool as a nightclub” strategy: Tao Beach at Venetian, Ditch Fridays at Palms, Bare at Mirage are examples. Tip: Check to see what is happening at the pool in your hotel. Including cost and times. For example, Rehab is free for individuals staying at the Hard Rock.

My suggestions are just that. There are a lot of good pool options all over Vegas. If the hotel pool is important to you, check it out online before booking your stay.

One final tip: Hotel pools are not public pools. If you are not staying in that hotel, you might have to pay an admission fee to get in. So if there is a pool you want to go to, call the hotel and ask for the pool and check on the admission fee.

Help your boss plan a Las Vegas work trip

From the LA Times Blog. Some great tips, too much to list here because fair use. But there are three or four I want to mention.

Hotel:
The article mentions some of the priciest on the strip:

The Palazzo, Wynn Las Vegas, Augustus Towers rooms at Caesars Palace, and THEHotel

All very, very nice. Can't go wrong with any of them. But some places cringe at the thought of expensing a stay in a casino. (I work for a company that would never expense a stay in a casino.) So here is a tip: Stay at the Four Seasons. It's on the top five floors of Mandalay Bay. It might be a bit more pricey, but can be easier to get through the office manager.

Dining:
Breakfast: Can' t go wrong with the buffet at Paris. But if you are staying in the above hotels, anyplace there is good.

Dinner (from the blog):

Steakhouses are an old standby: try Charlie Palmer’s at Four Seasons, the Palm at Caesars Forum Shops, SW at Wynn, N9NE Steakhouse at Palms or Delmonico at the Venetian. With so many new restaurants and celebrity chefs making the headlines, where to go depends on the age and hipness of the people you are wining and dining.

Golf (also from the blog):

Shadow Creek: A highly respected golf course built by Tom Fazio and exclusive to guests of MGM Mirage properties, including Bellagio, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, the Mirage, Luxor, Excalibur, New York New York, Monte Carlo, Circus Circus and Railroad Pass.

Reflection Bay: Out in Henderson at Lake Las Vegas, this was the first public resort golf course in Nevada designed by Jack Nicklaus.

Cascata: Designed by Rees Jones, Sports Illustrated called this luxurious resort in Boulder City “golf’s hidden treasure.” Read these articles for more information, “Las Vegas: Golf for high rollers” and “Las Vegas: Great golf at several price levels.”

Make sure you ask the concierge about tee times and courses that the hotel have some pull and can squeeze you in on short notice.

Elvis is alive...sort of

The King of Rock n' Roll is coming back to the Strip, kinda. As a part of a new hotel/casino, according to Fox News:

The company that owns the licensing rights to the name and image of Elvis Presley is continuing with plans to build a casino devoted to the King on the Las Vegas Strip

Now this is only in development. So it's 50/50 whether this actually happens. More from the article:

The project is scheduled to begin construction in the first quarter of 2009 with a completion date of late 2012, the filing said.

First phase plans include an "Elvis-inspired" luxury hotel and casino and a separate hotel-condominium. FX will own and operate the 2,269-room hotel and 93,000-square-foot casino.

A separate project, with 778 hotel rooms and 147 condominiums, will be operated by a joint-venture partner.

A 206,000-square-foot convention space, retail space, restaurants and showroom also is planned.

Developers hope to tap into the market for Elvis-themed weddings with several wedding chapels, a bridal and flower shop, and wedding reception and banquet areas.

An interactive multimedia Elvis experience, a boutique and an Elvis memorabilia store are also planned for the project.

Wonder what it's going to be called. Graceland West? But when coming goes up, then something must go away.

The site is currently occupied by several retail store and restaurants, including the Harley-Davidson Cafe and Smith & Wollensky. It generated $21.4 million in revenue for FX mainly through rental income.

Too bad, I like both places. Some projects sound promising, but this is a little blah.

New hotels coming to Vegas in 2008

New hotels open in Vegas all of the time. Here is a list of what coming in 2008
In January, The Palazzo celebrated its grand opening. The newest resort by Las Vegas Sands Corporation is located in the heart of the famed Las Vegas Strip. When combined with the neighboring Venetian and Sands Expo and Convention Center, The Palazzo gives the company the largest hotel and convention complex in the world. The $1.8 billion Palazzo features more than 3,000 all-suite rooms and offers shopping, dining and entertainment on two luxurious levels. The 450,000-square- foot retail space, The Shoppes at The Palazzo(tm) is highlighted by Barneys New York and connected to The Venetian via The Grand Canal Shoppes. It houses approximately 60 high-end and mid-level stores from the most recognizable brands to the hottest newcomers and unique one-of-a-kind boutiques drawn from all over the world.

Aliante Station, the latest resort project by Station Casinos and Greenspun Corporation, topped off the concrete structure of its hotel tower in November 2007. The $675 million project broke ground in late February 2007 in North Las Vegas. The property is scheduled to open late 2008 and will feature: 200 hotel rooms; a full array of gaming offerings including table games, slots, race and sports book and poker room; six restaurants; a 16-screen Regal Cinemas movie theatre; a 700-seat entertainment showroom and meeting/convention space. Aliante Station is located on approximately 40 acres at the intersection of the 215 Beltway and Aliante Pkwy. in North Las Vegas.

Palms Place Condo Hotel and Spa broke ground in January 2006 and, after 19 months of construction, continues to be right on schedule for occupancy in early 2008. Palms Place will feature 599 condominium-suites, from spacious studios to one-bedroom and two-bedroom suites and spectacular penthouses. Amid lush landscaping and beautiful gardens, a world-class, 50,000 square-foot pool and spa enclave will boast the first hammam in Las Vegas offering decadent blend of ancient and contemporary treatments. The building will also feature the SkyTube, a moving walkway that will join the residences with the Palm's casino, restaurants and nightlife.

The Trump International Hotel and Tower is set for opening in April of 2008. True to the brand's form, the property will reflect the "Ultra Luxury Trump Lifestyle" in every possible fashion. From the exterior, which will be clad in 24-carat gold glass to the elegant lobby areas and luxuriously furnished and decorated condominium hotel units, every aspect of the building will reflect the superior level of quality that is synonymous with the Trump name. Rising 64 stories, the building will house 1,232 suites and 50 penthouse suites, a world-class spa, salon and fitness center, gourmet dining at DJT Restaurant and Bar, a pool with private cabanas, indoor meeting space and a business center. Plus, Trump will offer a personal attache service for every guest.

Luxor has announced a multi-phase enhancement plan designed to revolutionize the resort and bring new energy to the south end of the Las Vegas Strip. The evolution is slated to take place in several phases, with the first phase encompassing the casino level and the second phase encompassing changes to the property's signature atrium and galleria areas including several retail changes, a re-branded coffee shop and new buffet. The third phase will focus on room remodeling and is planned to begin in 2009. Projects in Phase One of Luxor's evolution include a host of sexy-chic new restaurants, lounges and nightspots, as well as a spa-like poolside lounge, redesigned casino floor and Cirque du Soleil show featuring illusionist Criss Angel.

Encore, the second tower of Wynn Las Vegas, is under way with completion expected in December 2008. The $1.4 billion hotel and casino will house approximately 2,000 rooms. The tower will house its own casino, pool, restaurants and other luxury amenities.