Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
around which large, white mattresses are placed for sunbathing or perhaps boogy-
ing, as the soundtrack in the lobby is blasted into this groovy pool area as well.
All sounds good, right? Well, to my mind it is, but there are a lot of things here
that many travelers will hate. First off, all that great art means a lot of frontal
nudity and in some cases, racy subject matter, so this ain't the place to take your
kids (or your Born Again cousin for that matter). As I keep repeating, everything
is dark here, which some find relaxing, but if you want to read a newspaper or
apply mascara . . . fuggedabout it—those simple tasks are near impossible. Some
of the elements in the rooms were not up to date when I last visited, like the older
TVs and the free Wi-Fi, which seems to flicker in and out. And the location ain't
the greatest, right across from a power station and a strip club. The freeway also
zooms right by here, so make sure you request a room on the other side of the
building if you're a light sleeper. In spite of the name there was no spa either when
I most recently visited (apparently, that's in the works). Most annoying are the
extra charges: Tacked on to each bill is a $6.50 power surcharge (what, the mas-
sive power station next door won't cut them a deal?); and this is one of the only
places in Vegas that charges guests extra for parking ($6.50), which is valet only,
so you'll also have to tip. Before you shell out the $99 to $109 that it generally
seems to cost here (up to $170 at times), factor in these expenses.
Booking tip:
Don't book with the hotel directly; you'll usually get better rates with Hotels.com
or such opaque agencies as Priceline.com and Hotwire.com.
$$-$$$$
If you're a gay man, and you want to stay in a hotel where your
lifestyle will be celebrated, you have, surprisingly for a city this size, only one real
choice: The party-happy
Blue Moon Resort
(2651 Westwood Dr.;
%
702/361-
9099; www.bluemoonlv.com; AE, DC, MC, V).
Because it's the only one of its kind
in town, prices are higher here than they should be for digs that are, to be blunt,
not the most luxurious (chipped furniture, scuffed walls, too-soft beds). Expect to
pay $119 a night most of the year, with prices occasionally dipping to $69 and
soaring to $189 for standard rooms. Negatives aside, the Blue Moon has one of
the most gracious staffs in town, a large pool area with a waterfall, and a club-
house feel that's fun and warm. There are weekly BBQs, periodic parties, and all
sorts of other social occasions, making it a good choice for solo travelers. And
though the majority of the guests will be gay, straights are welcome, too, though
they have to be tolerant, as the pool is clothing optional, and what goes on around
the pool...well, it can get downright hedonistic. Also onsite is a small snack bar
and fitness room.
One note:
The hotel is very hard to find, tucked into the mid-
dle of a faceless, confusingly laid out industrial neighborhood, so ask for exact
directions when you book.
ONE CHOICE SOUTH OF THE STRIP
I have one final lodging choice in that newly developing area south of the Strip,
but still adjoining Las Vegas Boulevard. It's out here that a lot of recently con-
structed, middle-class gated communities have emerged, and in their wake, you
got it, strip malls filled with grocery stores, chain restaurants, banks and the like.
$$-$$$
The
South Point Hotel & Casino
55
(9777 Las Vegas Blvd. S.;
%
866/796-7111 or 702/796-7111; www.southcoastcasino.com; AE, DC, MC, V)
was supposed to be the gambling den for this newish community, but it's been
