Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
correct tower (there are 12) and along their confusing, endless corridors. I'm
embarrassed to admit this, but on my last stay here, I had to call the hotel oper-
ator one night to give me directions to my room (and in case you were wonder-
ing, I was stone-cold sober). Once you finally get into your room, however, it ain't
bad at all. What you get will depend on what you pay, as there are different sized
rooms, and themes vary slightly from tower to tower. On my last stay there, I was
in a '30s Deco-themed rooms and though I found the colors of it a bit muddy,
the bed was quite sleepable, the headboard nicely padded, and the entertainment
center was enclosed in a pretty, inlaid wood armoire. While the rooms and bath-
rooms at the cheapest level are not the roomiest on the Strip, they're laid out well,
so they don't feel cramped. The large number of rooms here keeps prices relatively
decent; I've seen them range from $59 to $139 midweek, up to $259 on busy
weekends. Two warnings: If you're a late sleeper ask for a room that faces away
from the roller-coaster. And if you have mobility issues, request a room fairly close
to the elevator as hallway distances can be long.
Other amenities include a choice-ripe food court (see my review on p. 69); some
eight other restaurants, and four lounge/bars (including Coyote Ugly, p. 213); a
poorly designed and cramped pool area; a nice spa and fitness room; and, of course,
all the gambling your pocketbook can handle in the 84,000-square-foot casino.
$$-$$$$
I very much doubt there are two casino resorts as opposite in every
way as the neighboring New York-New York and the
Monte Carlo Resort &
Casino
55
(3770 Las Vegas Blvd. S., between Flamingo Rd. and Tropicana Ave.;
%
800/311-8999 or 702/730-7777; www.montecarlo.com; AE, DC, DISC, MC, V).
Whereas the former is crowded at all hours, has a disappointing pool area, and is
a caricature of its subject, the Monte Carlo has . . . well, much of the ambience
of the real Monte Carlo, which is both its charm and its curse. Somehow, it feels
European, not pretend European. It's an illusion that's aided by the design, cer-
tainly—you gotta love the massive Renaissance statues out front backed by their
Corinthian colonnade and the all-marble lobby with its exquisite crystal chande-
liers. But it's just as much the slightly formal service at the check-in desk and the
fact that they don't force you to tramp through the casino to the elevator for your
room (a Vegas custom I've grown to hate). While no Vegas casino-hotel could be
called “serene,” the Monte Carlo certainly has a less frenetic energy than the
others, the crowds absorbed seamlessly into its 102,000-square-foot casino, that
despite its size is blessedly easy to navigate and seems ever-so-slightly quieter than
most (which would also be like the real Monte Carlo, where the gambling halls
are downright dignified).
But this all begs the question: Do the folks want all of this refinement in a
mid-range Strip casino? And how many of those who visit the Strip can actually
conjure up a picture in their minds of what “Monte Carlo” is supposed to be like?
Blessedly few, I'd guess, and this being a huge hotel, with over 3,000 guest rooms,
that translates into trouble for the owners and fair pricing for guests. I've seen
nightly rates for standard rooms drop to as little as $59, though you're more likely
to get them ranging from $79 to $129 and up. Those are darn decent prices for
this location and for a hotel with its amenities, which include a veritable wonder-
land out back: The first wave pool brought to Vegas, a lazy river, and three night-
lit tennis courts. While the pools may no longer be as cutting edge as some of the
