I thought it would be nice to share opinions on my favorite hotel and casino in Las Vegas. Please feel free to expound on your favorites. This will help others have a better idea on where they may want to stay and play, or what they may have been missing out on.
My favorite casino is the Mirage. The people at Club Mirage are very friendly and most accommodating. The whole atmosphere is breezy and light. The casino is not as big as others and nicely laid out. I can always find Lee Ann when we split up to go to our favorite machines. Although I never placed a bet, the Sports Book is the nicest in town. I love sitting at California Pizza Kitchen for lunch or a late night snack, and watching the people walk by, or taking in the excitement of the machines ringing and clanging as people furiously try to be the next millionaire, or watching the numerous sporting games on the many TVs both in the restaurant and at the nearby Sports Book.
The Laggon Saloon and Baccarat Bar are always bustling with live music and great drinks.
Although we have stayed at only three hotels: Luxor, Mirage and Bellagio, I feel the hotel I like the best would be the Dessert Inn. It seems so elegant and yet so quaint and quiet...aah, relaxing. It's size and resort status (golf course) are pluses. Walking the grounds was pleasurable and the pool seemed very inviting. The Luxor would be low on my list. The Mirage and Bellagio are respectable. Check in areas in both lobbies are very colorful and the staff very polite.

Michael, I have a friend that goes to Vegas about 10 times per year. His favorite place to stay is the Luxor. All becasue he says they have MSNBC and he can follow his stocks while on vacation. It's strange what some peoples priorities are in selecting a hotel.

I love the DI, but it scares me when they talk about selling it, so I'm trying not to get attached.

I guess my favorite is Sams Town, where they have quality gaming, relaxed atmosphere, nice rooms, and friendly employees. I feel more comfortable there. There are fewer tourist, and most of those ususally leave right after the 6 minute wonder is over. There are less people wandering around aimlessly.

For people watching, Mirage, Forum Shops, or Caesars are excellent. My favorite spot is La Salsa in the FS, and I think that's where Randy C. met his last girlfriend. I've done a lot of people watching from there, but I never hit on any of them.<g>

Joe & Michael, I would have to say that my "favorite" stopping grounds are still Showboat and Boulder Station.

For a local, it's pretty easy to get a parking space, easy to get in and out of these casinos, and they are close to home.

Gambling-wise, they are better than the Strip and Downtown casinos especially if you are going to go out a few days a week.

Both places have very friendly employees. Boulder Station is not as quiet as it used to be so I now prefer the Showboat for this reason.

I definitely prefer the Fiesta and Reserve. Most feel that the Reserve is too far out, but we get there in 1/2 hour from our home in Summerlin, which is the extreme opposite side of the vally. I prefer to play VP where I at least have a chance to break even. At least the above casinos have full pay machines in all denominations.

My favorite to stay at is Sam's Town, But I always win at the IP, so I stay more often at the IP. I guess money talks.<s>

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LarryinMich@prodigy.net

My favorite casinos would be a toss-up between the Reserve and Sam's town.
The rooms are about the same, but the Reserve gets the edge there with nice touches such as a coffee pot, hair dryer and mirrored closet doors. The Reserve also gets the edge in the casino ...quarter play is about the same as Sam's, but I like the full pay nickel machines when the luck is out. Sam's has the advantage in the table games; there are good rules in both places, but more tables are open at Sam's.
Both places have a good coffee shop and nice restaurants (and a mediocre buffet); Sam's has the Western Emporium, bowling and more room to wander around .....and Sam's location and shuttles are nice if one wants to wander around sipping adult beverages<g>.
Lastly (and very important); both places will give me casino rate with my moderate quarter play. [img]http://www.talkvegas.com/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

Blos: is it just coincidence that we're having brunch at the Fiesta before heading to the Reserve Sunday afternoon?

I can't remember, Daisy...whose idea was it?

Joe, interesting that you said Sams is not that crowded. Every time I've been there it's been packed. Maybe I just hit the wrong times.
I like the Rio for it's atmosphere and employees. But you have to realize that I stayed there for a number of years and was treated well until the last 2 years.
I like Caesars, as long as we are in a petite suite. They have some decent vp if you know what to look for.
The DI was VERY quite the last 2 times I was there. If you want a relaxed atmosphere, the DI is the place.
I like the bartop vp at Main Street Station and the brewpub and the Pullman Grille.

[This message has been edited by John (edited July 14, 1999).]

Good subject. I haven't been real loyal to any one place lately.

In the last couple years I stayed several times at MSS. I liked being downtown with almost no kids. I found the rooms very comfortable. Parking is easy. The bartenders are VERY good. They cut back to one Pai Gow table and didn't even open it till about noon which sort of drove me away.

I stayed at the Orleans several times after that. I enjoy playing poker there. I usually don't get into a poker game till very late in the evening. It's nice not having to drive to a hotel at 4 or 5 in the morning. Their coffee shop's pretty good and the rooms are comfortable. I especially like habing a window in the ashower you can open to let the steam out.

My last stay as well as my next visit are both Mandalay bay. The rooms are VERY nice. A seperate tub and shower are nice. I found the staff very nice. I liked the casino which isn't crowded and there seemed to be very few kids there. I don't like to stay on the strip because of the crowds but it's pretty easy to get around from MB since it's clear at the end of the strip.
I enjoyed the Hard Rock the few times I stayed there but they seemed to be turning into another Rio.

Guess right now my vote would go to Mandalay Bay or the Orleans.
jm

Senator....you make me wonder why I didn't think of the Orleans. Possibly, because they haven't had a good rate for me the last couple of times I tried<g>. I do like the rooms & views there, and Don Miguel's and Vito's are two of my favorite restaurants. Also, I like the mix of entertainment at their showroom and the availability of the movie theatre and bowling alley ....even though those last two items seem to get dropped off my list of priorities every time.

Daisy,
We enjoyed Sam's Town on our first visit to LV....we won. However, on our second visit, the VP machines we wanted to play were crowded and we did not have the same luck.
We have yet to see the Sunset Stampede, although we did walk through the area and into the Western Shop, where we did some shopping.

Jeff,
We like playing at the Orleans. Lee Ann liked playing 5 deck there, but last trip we couldn't find any. If money doesn't last at quarter VP, I don't mind playing a nickel Wild Cheery slot over by the Club Orleans booth. On our trip next week we will play there either before or after the Righteous Bros. show.

Dinner on Sunday at the Talk Vegas Meet, will be our first visit to MSS. I've heard so much positive feedback about the Brew Pub and Pullman Grill. Can't wait to try some brew.
A woman I work with told me to check out the Men's Room for a piece of the Berlin Wall. I wonder how she knew about it.<s>

Gail,
We have never been to the Showboat in LV. I enjoy the one in AC.
What do you like about the Showboat in LV?

Blossom,
Lee Ann also likes the Reserve. She has been getting into playing 5 deck lately and they have a fair number of machines there. As for me, I have not found anything there to give me play time.

Michael, the Showboat is my favorite secret. It would be my casino of choice if I lived near there. It is more of a locals place than a tourist place. The only bad time to go there is when they have big bowling tournaments.

Tourist would not like the place at all. the carpet is not new, the walls are not spiffy. There are no 6 minute wonders. Ther is not a lot of high roller games. The rooms are old. And it might be kinda smokey for the radical non-smokers. It's certainly not a fancy place, although it is very functional as a full service hotel/casino.

The good points are the ones Gail mentioned. Friendly people, great gaming, easy access, and comfortable. I haven't eaten there much, but the food is okay.

I used to stop there every time that I went to the Green Shack.

Michael, Joe said it all <g>. I don't think tourists would like the place. But I mostly like it because it's quiet.

Joe, talking about food at the Showboat, I've found they have a good Porterhouse steak at the coffee shop.

Last Thursday, Joe Jr. and I ate at the buffet and they were serving King Crab legs which were delicious. They always serve the little crab legs but the King Crab Legs were the best!

And talking about quiet, Jerry's Nugget is very relaxing and their piped in music is nice too. Don't know too much about the gambling though.

Thanks Gail, now that the Green Shack is not a choice, I might have a meal or two at the S'boat. I guess you know where I will go for an Italian dinner if I am on that side of town.

I need to check out Jerrys Nugget too. I haven't been there since the overhaul.

The last time I was at the Show Boat there seemed to be a few gangs there.

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LarryinMich@prodigy.net

Jeff, the reason the bartender is so good at MSS is she is from Massillon. We teach them right in this part of the country<G>