Consolidated "Harrah's" thread
 

How is the Harrah's Lauglin, any comments appreciated!

George

Well my review would be based on my experience 4 years ago, but I loved Harrah's Laughlin. They have two casinos: one smoking and one non-smoking. Great lounge entertainment that's informal and fun, and they are the only Laughlin hotel that has a beach and water sports.

I agree with Marysunshine - it's probably the nicest hotel/casino in Laughlin. Try to get a room facing the river. The restaurants are nothing to rave about, but they are OK and there isn't anything much better in Laughlin.

Oops! Sorry but you're wrong: there is a gourmet restaurant at the Pioneer Hotel "Grandma something or other" and it is wonderful. The rack of lamb is outstanding. I've eaten there several times and it's great, the food, the ambiance, the service!

Harrah's, Aladdin, Luxor or Flamingo?
 

I'm planning a trip to Vegas in late July with my wife and my mother (visiting from India- her first time in Vegas). The following are hotels that fall within my budget for the two nights that we plan to stay there.

Harrah's: The hotel reservation websites rate it quite highly but I don't know much about it except that it seems too far south on the maps. Some pretty good deals here though.

Aladdin: This one was being constructed when I was there last and seemed pretty grand. I know the location is great, but this one is the most expensive from amongst my choices.

Luxor: I have ZERO idea about this one.

Flamingo: I knew of this one from "Bugsy", but was quite unimpressed by the sight of it when I was there. However, I didn't step inside so can't judge. The one advantage I see with this one is that as a HH Gold VIP, I might be able to get a room upgrade.

My wife and I have been to Vegas once before but my memory about the hotels, their location etc. isn't half as good as some of the LV "experts" who post here, so I beg your indulgence.

We are not big casino goers but like to play a couple of hours a visit on low stake card tables. Theme of the hotel and it's location on the strip is important. We stayed at NYNY last time and found it just a little too north. The place that I really wanted to stay was Paris (also because of my HH status), but nothing is available for out first night there.

Thanks much in advance http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

Luxor is by far the best hotel of those you mention.

QL

Harrah's and the Flamingo are right next to each other and, IMO, on a nice location on the strip directly across from the Mirage. Also, if you want low-stakes card games try the Casino Royale (tucked in between the Venetian and Harrah's). It is a very small casino and they have several $5 tables as well as a $2 BJ table.

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"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety
deserve neither liberty nor safety." -- Ben Franklin

[This message has been edited by tazi (edited 06-11-2003).]

It has the best deal of the four that I'm considering. How is it regarding location?

Almost at the very south end of the strip. Here's a link to a nice map of the hotels on the strip:

http://www.vegas.com/map.html


btw, I think you have north and south mixed up http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

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"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety
deserve neither liberty nor safety." -- Ben Franklin


[This message has been edited by tazi (edited 06-11-2003).]

Personally, I would choose the Aladdin. It is the newest of the four. I would prefer a central location and it is the closest to that. It has a really nice shopping mall in it. There are many choices in restaurants and some are very nice.

I have not visited Harrahs in many, many years. Last time I did, it was dirty and outdated.

The Luxor has a nice pool, but I have been disappointed in the food. It is on the far south end of the strip.

The Flamingo is also quite old. It has been remodeled. The location is good.

I've stayed at all but the Aladdin, but I can't stand being in the place. It's bankrupt, so expect a new room and that's about it.

The Luxor isn't my favorite, but it might be the best for you. A lot of people do like it, though. Unfortunately, it's at the far South end of the stip.

Flamingo had a newly re-done room when I stayed there last, and I like the casino. Location is great, as you are in the absolute middle of the strip, near all the good stuff (Ballys/Paris, Ceasars, Bellagio, Mirage). I like it because it reminds me of "old Vegas" without trek'ing downtown. Consider this one. (I was there for some R&R--ok jetlag--and found myself in bed early each night....so I also like the fact that the Flamingo had more TV channels than the norm for a hotel-casino.)

Harrahs is my favorite, but that's mainly cause they offer me the most free rooms. The rooms are nice and clean with everything you would expect in that price range. It too is close to the middle of the strip, across the street from the Mirage. I like the casino because it's fun, though it's not lavish by any means.

Have fun! I'll be there next week. Viva!

I have not stayed in any of the rooms at these hotels, as I am a local. So, I can not speak as to the quality of the rooms, only the casinos and restaurants...

And here I was thinking the sun was rising in the west in my new apartment... http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif oops!

That's a lot of useful info folks, thanks again!

What's this about Aladdin being bankrupt though?

For folks from out-of-town, much less out of the country, I would choose either Luxor or Alladin. I stayed at Alladin last month, and liked it for the quality of room, the central location, and the adjoining shopping mall. The mall could be a big plus if your wife & mother (in-law?) want to shop. (or, a big minus if they have your credit card!) The biggest downer is, if you drive, it is a long, long walk from the car park to the hotel.

I've been in the Luxor, but haven't stayed there. The novelty of the place will be attractive to your guests, and while it is on one end of the strip, you can use cabs, a car rental or the monorails to get around.

All that said, Alladin gets my nod by a little.

JP

Since the temperatures will likely be over 110 degrees, you probably won't be doing a lot of walking with your mom, so I don't know if the location issue is so important.

The MGM-Bally's and Bellagio-Monte Carlo trains are closed for construction.

QL

As was pointed out, your North/South was backwards. I used to make the same mistake by assuming downtown was South.

My choices in order would be:

1) Alladin - new, good location
2) Flamingo - good location, good pool although decor is a little cheesy.
3) Harrah's - good location, casinos are fun but noisy
4) Luxor - Not centrally located, it seems like it takes a half hour to get from the casino to the room - maybe I just had a bad room.

Follow QL's reasoning on not walking around too much during the daytime if it is too hot. Many people think they will walk the strip then just hop in a taxi if they get tired. It is actually tough to get a taxi if walking the strip; you need to catch one at designated areas of the hotel/casino (the designated area is usually off the strip).

Tazi has some good advice if your staying at Flamingo or Harrahs and the table stakes are too high. Also, if you stay at one of these two, take the free shuttle from Harrahs to RIO. It is a nice place (Carnival atmosphere). If you go up to the VooDoo Lounge, you will have a great view of LV.

with the Gold HHonors card, have a good chance for upgrade @ Flamingo. Also, at Flamingo, Ballys, Las Hilton, Paris, can check in @ airport and avoid long lines.

Flamingo (and Las Hilton off strip) have been running good rates recently. I'd go for either of them.

I have stayed at all four of these places, and it is hard to recommend one over the other without knowing your needs, so here is my breakdown of the four (going from North to South on the strip):

Harrahs - Used to be a Holiday Inn, so you will get Holiday Inn style/size rooms. Some have nice views, some have views of other rooms. Awful pool, no shade, simply a rectangle of water on the parking deck roof. This is a great place for the guys (loud, especially in the party pit) and pretty good drink service in the casino. Probably would not recommend this for your mother or a first time visit to Vegas.

Flamingo - By FAR the best pool of the four you have listed. Can be hard to get a lounge chair on the weekends. It is possible to get some fantastic views from this place, ask for one overlooking the Bellagio fountains. Food/Buffets not all that great.

Aladdin - Bankrupt, but so what? You're not buying the place are you? They aren't going to close their doors without notice. Has two acceptable pools with plenty of chairs and pretty good service. Has a spa if you or your mother are inclined. Has the biggest rooms of the four hotels you have listed. Pretty easy to get upgrades too. Check on pricing for "resort rooms" they are larger and have a very large bathroom (women like that). Across the street from Paris and Bellagio. Can get some really great views here too. Aladdin also has a shopping mall attached to it. Mainly higher end, more expensive stores, but still nice to look at.

Luxor - Pyramid Hotel, something a first timer will remember for ever. Others will tell you the tower rooms are larger/better (and they are) but when are you ever going to stay in a pyramid again? The elevators inside travel upwards at an angle, another oddity. Luxor has 4 (maybe 5) pools, so it should be pretty easy to find some shade. Luxor will have monorail service to/from Excalibur and Mandalay Bay, so it will be easy to see at least those two properties without going out in the heat.

I would probably choose the Aladdin unless it were significantly more expensive, but the Luxor would be a close second. Particularly if you wanted something memorable.

Good luck!

I agree. Apart from the location, it is my personal favourite (out of the hotels mentioned).

UPDATE: Decided to split the two nights. First night at Luxor and the next at Paris.

Thanks all for your helpful inputs. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

Paris has a big problem with rooms not being ready at check-in, so you may want to go over early without your luggage and attempt to check in. They'll give you a time and you can come back with luggage.

QL

Thanks for the tip. I have requested early check-in, which they didn't say no to. So let see.... http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

I have stayed at the Flamingo as an HH Gold card holder and was very clearly informed that although the Hotel does award points for the stay it does NOT recognise any other benefits of the HH programm. Definitely no room upgrades. The best you can hope for is complimentary access to the gym or some similar, virtually valueless benefit. The Flamingo is not a Hilton in the classic sense, it is merely affiliated very loosely due to Hilton owning a part of it in the past. I think they may not even have any connection what so ever nowadays.

Apart from that, the Flamingo really needs to be extensively re-modelled, the decor is very out dated and tired looking. I had a terrible stay there despite the fact that I had booked and paid for a junior suite.

I go to LV anually for a conference. I have stayed in two of the four, and visited all of them. The Flamingo is a very "old style" vegas hotel. Velvet carpets, etc. I expected to see the ghost of Sammy Davis Jr. every night lurking in a dark corner. The Luxor is my #1 favorite hotel in Vegas. The egyptian theme is very cool, plus Blue Man performs there nightly (a RIOT of a show)!

If you are restricted the four choices, LUXOR beats them all hands down. There is also a monorail that picks up at the luxor and stops at the Mandalay Bay & others. Easy walking distance to the MGM and NY-NY.

Totally agree with this post. However, my only beef with the Luxor is that if someone's not staying in the pyramid itself (and I would guess that a really good rate is not a pyramid rate), then they're staying in the towers...and my recollection from my last towers stay was that it was a fairly long hike to the room from the main facility (casinos, restaurants, checkin, etc).

Definitely the Luxor.

Not Harrah's. Its rooms, if you ask me, aren't up to snuff with the base level Strip casino standards.

I haven't seen the rooms at any of the other three.

d

Harrah's to buy Caesars
 

Wow, Vegas is really going to turn to crap, it seems. With MGM Mirage owning most of the strip, and Harrahs/Caesars owning the rest, it seems like things are going to get really bad for players.

How sad :(

From the source this time. $17.75 a share.

http://investor.harrahs.com/news/20040715-139189.cfm

Harrah's Total Rewards "Diamond"
 

My significant other and I have managed to make "Diamond". Not that we are big gamblers, but we have managed to rack up considerable points. We go to Vegas once or twice a month and every time we go some other place we always look for a Harrah's casino and usually play about $100.00 at different slot machines. I've managed in 2004 to win $5000 in penny slot machines and and about $5000 on quarter Video Poker. The Roulette table has averaged about $1000. Even though its not the greatest Hotel, we have gotten significant reductions in hotel rates and have even gotten rooms comped. Buffets , Show tickets etc. Considering the amount of time we really spend in our room this has worked out pretty well for us.

For you 'seasoned vegas hogs' what can we expect being Diamond and what do you have to do to get to the highest tier? What's the best way to use this new status to our advantage? Comments please!

Thanks, Pananna

To attain Diamond status, you have to rack up 10,000 base reward credits, as you know. The next level is Seven Stars which requires 100,000 base reward credits.

Check the Total Rewards website for additional benefits that come with Diamond status. The only real difference I can think of between Diamond and Platinum status is access to Diamond lounges at Harrah's properties. If you often go to LV, you can also check out the Diamond Lounge at the Rio.

As far as treatment is concerned, based on my experience at the Rio, there is a special check-in area for Diamonds. I receive free room coupons in the mail and use them for my stays. I have always been upgraded to a one-bedroom suite with comp food and beverage and limo service. Fruit basket and wine is always delivered to the room.

By all means take advantage of the Diamond lounges at Harrah's Las Vegas and the Rio. They are quite nice and have complimentary snacks and drinks.

Also, feel free to ask for a complimentary suite upgrade when you check in. They can usually accommodate.

QL

Diamond level players also can use the less crowded entrance to the buffet at the Rio - get a discount on the food and less wait. I assume it is similar at Harrahs.

Also was good for free access to the Voodoo lounge a few years ago. Don't know if that is still available. And better seats at their shows.

We were upgraded to Platinum back in 2002 - evidently due to the smaller crowds after 9-11. Don't know why we managed the upgrade as we only had about 1500 points in 2001. It was nice while it lasted though. Only once did we get the big corner suite at the Rio. Very nice!

edited to change Diamond to Platinum - my mistake. We were only upgraded the one level. Diamond should be a totally comped level. Platinum had it's own advantages which were very nice, but nothing compared to Diamond!!
Enjoy

Report: Rio And The Diamond Thing
 

I got the urge to go to Vegas this past weekend and overall I would have to say that the whole "Diamond" experience was pretty great.

Stayed at the RIO, and really the room was not impressive, no different from what we've stayed in before at the RIO. Didn't get totally comped, $109.00 for two nights, but really can't complain about that. What I loved, was the fast check in at the seperate for "Diamond only check-in" which was totally enclosed, no waiting in line and very friendly staff. The Diamond Lounge was great also, with good complimentary finger food and great drinks and away from all that noise and people tripping allover you. They have remodeled the buffet area, and now have a very nice section reserved for Diamond members in center which was enclosed as well but easy access to the food. And the food was really great with constant refills on the chamgagne, never had an empty glass. I sort of felt bad for the 100 or so people standing in line to get in, but not for too long!

Unfortunately, we did leave some money at the RIO, but really had a great time! I can see that this kind of treatment is probably going to spoil me. The only bad part was that my significant other was upgraded on Continental, and I on the other hand was sitting center in an EXIT row on the red eye. The other side to that story, was the money we left behind was all HIS!

We'll surely try to gain Diamond status again this year!

I'm a little surprised to hear that as Diamond you didn't get your room comped for the two nights. Did you go through a Casino Host? They have a lot more discretion that just using your accumulated comp rewards. You might want to call back and talk with someone in Casino Services and see if they can reverse that charge.

Ever since we made Diamond, we have not had to pay for rooms at any Harrah's - Rincon, Ak-Chin, Reno, Tahoe. We were comped up front when we made the reservation. With so many Indian Casinos fluorishing, there is really a lot of competition out there. As long as you are polite about asking, you should be able to get a lot more.

How's the newly opened Rincon? I received an invitation for free nights, food, beverage and air credit. Taking the family to Disneyland next month. Is it within 2 hours of Anaheim?

We did not talk to a host. We were kind of embarassed because we are not
really big table gamblers. We mostly play slots with an occasional run at the roulette table. Being that this was the first time we went as Diamond we sort of got the feel for what it was supposed to be all about.

But I will play dumb and give them a call and next time I'll be a little more aggressive in asking. Compared to other people that go there to gamble we probably look like real amateurs! But we had a great time! Thanks for your tips!

If you book your reservations on the Harrah's web site it may give you comp rooms up front. And always, always ask before you check out if they can take care of any part of the bill. Most of their business comes from quarter slot players.

QL

Never be afraid to ask. Next time, call VIP services and ask to be assigned a host and take it from there. Now that everything is computerized they pretty much know to the dollar what kind of credit/comp you will receive towards charges to your room based on your play. Still, they can take care of some minor items for you and do have the authority to upgrade your room.

Whales may affect a casino's earnings and obviously on a per capita basis they are the big spenders who are lavished with the $$$ comps, but based on your frequent visits you appear to be the type of player that is essential for the casino to survive. I haven't been near a BJ or crap table in years and play $1 and $5 VP exclusively. Get everything you are entitled to.