Frommer's Las Vegas 2004

EAST OF THE STRIP 105
The very reasonably priced Pink Pony is Circus Circus’s cheerful bubblegum-pink-and-bright-red
24-hour eatery, with big paintings of clowns on the
walls and pink pony carpeting. It offers a wide array of coffee-shop fare, including
a number of specially marked “heart-smart” (low-fat, low-cholesterol) items.
For gorging, there’s always the Circus Circus Buffet (p. 170).
In addition to the ongoing circus acts, there’s also the upgraded Adventuredome
(p. 195) indoor theme park out back. There are three full-size casinos, all
crowded and noisy, where you can gamble while trapeze acts take place overhead.
2880 Las Vegas Blvd. S. (between Circus Circus Dr. and Convention Center Dr.), Las Vegas, NV 89109.& 800/
444-CIRC (444-2472), 800/634-3450, or 702/734-0410. Fax 702/734-5897. www.circuscircus.com. 3,744
units. Sun–Thurs $39 and up double, Fri–Sat $59 and up double. Extra person $12. Children under 17 stay
free in parent’s room. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Free self- and valet parking. Amenities: Casino; circus acts; wedding
chapel; 8 restaurants; 2 outdoor pools; midway-style carnival games; video arcade; tour desk; car-rental
desk; 24-hr. room service; shopping arcade; laundry service; dry cleaning; nonsmoking rooms; executive-level
rooms. In room: A/C, TV w/pay movies, hair dryer, safe.
Westward Ho Hotel & Casino We know we referred to the Stratosphere as
having motel rooms, but we did emphasize that those were nice motel rooms.
These are just plain basic motel rooms, because this is, after all, a motel. Which
means that it just doesn’t have the facilities and other doodads that a true resort,
even the Strat, offers. But the price lures. Located next door to Circus Circus, the
Westward Ho is fronted by a vast casino, with rooms in two-story buildings that
extend out back for several city blocks. In fact, the property is so large that a free
bus shuttles regularly between the rooms and the casino 24 hours a day. Plans are
in the works for a new casino and a gas station/convenience store in the back of
the property. A good buy here are the two-bedroom suites with 1 1 ⁄2 bathrooms,
living rooms with sofa beds, and refrigerators. Suites sleep up to six people.
2900 Las Vegas Blvd. S. (between Circus Circus Dr. and Convention Center Dr.), Las Vegas, NV 89109.& 800/
634-6803 or 702/731-2900. www.westwardho.com. 777 units. $37 and up double; $76 and up suite. Extra
person $15, no discount for children. MC, V. Free parking at your room door. Amenities: Casino; restaurant;
3 outdoor pools; tour desk; car-rental desk; nonsmoking rooms. In room: A/C, TV w/pay movies.
6 East of the Strip
In this section we’ve covered hotels near the Convention Center, along with
those farther south on Paradise Road, Flamingo Road, and Tropicana Avenue.
Note that in the area around Paradise, there are over a dozen chain-style hotels—
various Marriotts (Courtyard, Residence Inn), a Budget Suites, and many
others—any one of which is going to provide comfortable, reliable, utterly
undistinguished lodging, all of which often go for more money than they ought
to. We’ve singled out a few here, but they are really very interchangeable. Do
some searching around online, and don’t hesitate to try to play them off each
other in an attempt to get a deal.
VERY EXPENSIVE
Courtyard by Marriott A complex of three-story terra cotta–roofed
stucco buildings in an attractively landscaped setting of trees, shrubbery, and
flower beds, the Courtyard is a welcome link in the Marriott chain. Although
the services are limited, don’t picture a no-frills establishment. This is a goodlooking
hotel (in a chain-establishment kind of way), with a pleasant, plantfilled
lobby and very nice rooms indeed. Public areas and rooms still look
spanking new. Most rooms have king-size beds, and all have balconies or patios.
3275 Paradise Rd. (between Convention Center Dr. and Desert Inn Rd.), Las Vegas, NV 89109. & 800/321-
2211 or 702/791-3600. Fax 702/796-7981. www.courtyard.com. 159 units. Sun–Thurs $109 and up double,