Frommer's Las Vegas 2004

80
CHAPTER 5 . WHERE TO STAY
Cranks would have us note that coming here is not like going to the real New
York. On the other hand, given how crowded it is (everyone wants to come
check it out and stays to play) and how noisy, it kind of is just like being in New
York. Especially with the all-too-realistic traffic and parking nightmares.
Note: There are a few visual references to the World Trade Center at the
resort—it was not a part of the faux skyline, luckily, but at this writing it pops
up in photos, paintings and murals. Movingly, locals and visitors started an
impromptu memorial to September 11 by leaving notes and flowers on the fence
surrounding the property. The hotel decided to make it permanent, placing a
glass box featuring a rotating exhibit of those same tributes. It’s at the corner of
Tropicana and the Strip.
There’s a small health club and spa, and the mediocre pool is right next to the
parking lot.
In addition to a number of more-than-decent restaurants, including reliable
Italian chain Il Fornaio, there are several festive and beautifully decorated bars
throughout the property. Hamilton’s is a sophisticated cigar bar, owned by
perennially tanned and good-natured actor George Hamilton. It’s a clubby, Art
Deco, seriously priced smoking den that would not be out of place in the real
New York City. Coyote Ugly is a party-hearty bar where dancing on furniture
is encouraged, and the female bartenders are hired just to be sassy. At the Bar at
Times Square, a lighted ball drops every night at midnight to re-create the
famous New Year’s Eve event in the real location. New Year’s Eve every night:
A terrific promotion, or hell on earth? In August 2003, a new—topless and
adults-only—Cirque du Soleil production, Zumanity, opened to acclaim. See
chapter 10 for more on the hotel’s nightlife.
The main casino area is done as Central Park, complete with trees, babbling
brooks, streetlamps, and footbridges. The change carts are little yellow cabs.
3790 Las Vegas Blvd. S. (at Tropicana Ave.), Las Vegas, NV 89109. & 800/693-6763 or 702/740-6969. Fax
702/740-6920. www.nynyhotelcasino.com. 2,033 units. Sun–Thurs from $59 double, Fri–Sat from $109 double.
Extra person $20, no discount for children. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Free self- and valet parking. Amenities:
Casino; showrooms; 10 restaurants; outdoor pool; small health club and spa; Jacuzzi; sauna; video arcade with
carnival midway games; concierge; tour desk; 24-hr. room service; laundry service; dry cleaning; nonsmoking
rooms; executive-level rooms. In room: A/C, TV w/pay movies, dataport, high-speed Internet access (for a fee),
hair dryer, iron and board, safe.
Tropicana Resort & Casino As we go to press, the Trop’s future remains
in doubt. No formal announcement will be made before the end of 2003, but
the hotel has, at this point, stopped taking bookings past April 2004, which may
or may not tell you something. The rumors are it will be torn down and in its
place will be erected two miniresorts of 2,000 rooms each. We’d like to say we
are sorry—and in a nostalgic way we are, but really, the Trop has seen better
days. Once known for its lavish tropical resort stylings, it’s now more than a little
worn around the edges, especially when compared with its splashy neighbors.
The birds and other wildlife are gone, which makes things a little less messy, but
the tacky “Garden rooms” are still around and ought to be demolished ASAP.
Gone also is the outside light show.
Rooms—well, think a clean ’70’s motel room, but a little bit nicer. Unless you’re
a Jimmy Buffet fan, you are better off staying in the Paradise tower, where the
rooms are slightly bigger and much easier on the eyes—mock provincial, to be sure
(check out the plaster molding and ceiling cornices—a curious and welcome little