For decades, despite wildly varying styles of casino architecture, there was surprisingly little variety on the inside. Sure, the chorus girls might have parrot feathers at the Tropicana and Egyptian headdresses at the old Aladdin, but the interior layout, décor and amenities were all pretty similar. The casino floors were Americanized versions of their European counterparts, and the guest and public rooms were even more steadfastly, generically American. That’s not to say they weren’t nice, and quite a few were opulent. But they were products of their times, which didn’t place much importance on the hospitality side of the casino business.
Times have changed. The MGM Grand alone has four towers containing 5,034 guest rooms, 751 suites (of which there are nine different floor plans), and 29 private villas -- all on the same property -- with rates ranging from $99 to $15,000 per night. And that just scratches the surface of all the options out there, since there are more than130,000 hotel rooms in Las Vegas alone. From no-frills motels to luxury accommodations, the range of possibilities is staggering.
Given the dizzying array of themes, rooms and amenities, it's often hard to figure out which casino-hotel is right for your vacation. Keeping a few simple questions in mind will narrow down the selection and help you make the right hotel choice.
Who’s going? One of your first priorities should be to get a feel for the general inclinations, tastes and special needs of everyone in your group. If you and your companions are flexible about theme, omnivorous about entertainment, and not planning to spend much time in your room anyway, you’re in luck. There are thousands of hotel rooms that can serve as an excellent home base. But do you or your compatriots want a good pool to relax near? Are there elderly guests who don’t want to walk far between room, restaurant and casino? Do you have kids who will need distractions of their own? What about business travelers who might need access to office equipment or resources? And remember, many casino themes are very much in your face -- for example, if you hate clowns, you might want to rule out Circus Circus.
What kind of crowd do you like? You will, of course, be around a lot of tourists. But some casinos cater to older guests, others to families and still others to 24-hour party people. If you plan to spend a lot of time in public areas, best determine what kind of public you’ll be rubbing elbows with. Casino-hotels are reluctant to describe their target demographics for fear of alienating potential business, but just look over their promotional materials, brochures or Web sites. See a lot of kids in the ads? Or lots of banners for early-bird dinner specials? Do you prefer lively tourist action, or a more sedate local pace? (Locals are one of the few groups that casinos will court outright.) This takes a little holistic sleuthing, but especially if there’s a certain crowd you want to avoid, it should be pretty obvious which places you should bypass.
What do you want to do? If you plan to do a lot of gambling, make sure the casino meets your tastes and interests. If not, and location doesn’t matter, you’ll find great deals just outside the most popular areas (off the Strip in Las Vegas, or off the Boardwalk in Atlantic City), especially in those hotels that don’t have their own casinos (especially good for families). And if there’s a major show or attraction that’s on your must-see list, consider staying in the hotel where it resides (you may be able to take advantage of a money-saving package deal).
What are you prepared to spend? The tremendous variety of casino-hotel room rates is what makes this the fourth question rather than the first. It’s certainly true that there are levels and classes of casino-hotels, but none of them can afford to ignore those of modest means. Even Mandalay Bay, one of the more chic and generally pricey casino-hotels, regularly offers weekday rates just above (or even below) $100 per night. If you can be flexible with dates, watch the calendar to avoid overlapping room-hogging events and reserve far enough ahead, you’ll be paying a fraction of what many others will fork over for the same room.
Where do you want to be? If you want to jump around from place to place, pay special attention to properties near transportation hubs. Staying inside major tourist zones will increase your room rates, but it can be worth avoiding the hassle of driving or traveling to, from and around such highly congested areas. Target whatever casinos, attractions or other sights you want to see, and try to stay within walking distance. Consider the overall feel of the immediate area -- say, the sprawl of the Las Vegas Strip vs. its more compact and local-focused Downtown -- and your likely reaction to same.
What’s your game? If you have specific gambling interests, you should take time to thoroughly research your casino-hotel’s offerings in that area. Some casinos specialize in certain games, game variations or levels of play. Binion’s is famous for poker, while other casinos promote specials or more generous rules or odds on certain games. Less-fancy casinos have lower minimum bets, meaning a casual gambler can play longer (and cheaper). And most casinos have tournaments in everything from Texas hold ’em to slot machines.
Chris Mohney is a contributor to "."