Frommer's Las Vegas 2004

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CHAPTER 5 . WHERE TO STAY
Las Vegas in the way The Riviera does—as in, dark, dated, and claustrophobic.
Still, there is much to like here, and occasional quite good rates might make the
so-so bits worth overlooking. Certainly, they want to be the fun and convivial
place we wish more of Vegas was (instead of pretty much catering to high rollers
and simply tolerating the rest of us with normal budgets).
Guest rooms were slowly being refurbished at press time—just in time, as
guests were complaining. All the rooms are larger than average; the points that
emerge from both the old and the new tower wings translate inside into an extra
triangle of space for a couch and table. Some rooms also contain a kitchen. Spacious
minisuites in this section, offering large sofas and comfortable armchairs,
are especially desirable.
The Range (p. 140) steakhouse is one of the few hotel restaurants that overlooks
the Strip, and the hotel’s buffet (p. 169) isn’t bad. The casino has a fun,
festive atmosphere, complete with “party pits.” Harrah’s showroom was hosting
singer Clint Holmes (p. 250) and his 12-piece band at press time. An improv
comedy show, comedy cabaret, and Greg Thompson’s late-night revue Skintight
are also on the docket here, as is weekend happy-hour karaoke time in the La
Playa lounge.
Carnaval Court (p. 238) is a festive, palm-fringed shopping plaza where
strolling entertainers perform. It’s notable because it’s right on the Strip, but
entirely outdoors; similar ventures at other hotels are inside artificial environments.
Note that lounge singer legend Cook E. Jarr plays here late on Friday and
Saturday nights (p. 244).
Harrah’s has an Olympic-size swimming pool and sun-deck area with waterfall
and trellised garden areas, a whirlpool, and a kids’ wading pool. It’s a pretty
underwhelming pool by Vegas standards.
The hotel’s health club is one of the better facilities on the Strip with a fullrange
spa and a gym with Lifecycles, treadmills, stair machines, rowing
machines, lots of Universal equipment, free weights, and two TVs and a VCR
for which aerobic exercise tapes are available. Its $20-a-day access charge is more
reasonable than the fees in other hotels.
3475 Las Vegas Blvd. S. (between Flamingo and Spring Mountain roads), Las Vegas, NV 89109. & 800/
HARRAHS (427-7247) or 702/369-5000. Fax 702/369-6014. www.harrahs.com. 2,700 units. $65–$195 standard
“deluxe” double, $85–$250 standard “superior” double; $195–$1,000 suite. Extra person $20, no discount
for children. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Free self- and valet parking. Amenities: Casino; showrooms; 8
restaurants; outdoor pool; health club and spa; concierge; tour desk; car-rental desk; business center; shopping
arcade; 24-hr. room service; laundry service; dry cleaning; nonsmoking rooms; executive-level rooms. In
room: A/C, TV w/pay movies, dataport, hair dryer, iron and board, safe.
The Mirage Even though it has gotten somewhat eclipsed by the very
hotels whose presence it made possible, we still really like this place. From the
moment you walk in and breathe the faintly tropically perfumed air (we think
it’s vanilla) and enter the lush rainforest, it’s just a different experience from most
Vegas hotels.
The Mirage was Steve Wynn’s first project built from the ground up. It seems
funny now, but back in 1989, this was considered a complete gamble that was
sure to be a failure. That was before the hotel opened, mind you. On opening
day, the crowds nearly tore the place down getting inside, and The Mirage soon
made its money back. Now it is the model upon which all recent hotels have
been based.
Occupying 102 acres, The Mirage is fronted by more than a city block of cascading
waterfalls and tropical foliage centering on a “volcano,” which, after dark,