Las Vegas - American Southwest - page 599

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angle, making the ride up to the Pyramid rooms a bit of a thrill. Two notable attractions
here are Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition and Bodies . . . The Exhibition. Another
child-pleaser is the 18,000-square-foot Games of the Gods Arcade.
3900 Las Vegas Blvd. S. (btw. Reno and Hacienda aves.), Las Vegas, NV 81119. & 888/777-0188 or
702/262-4000. Fax [phone]. www.luxor.com. 4,400 units. $55 and up double; $125 and up suite.
Extra person $30. Children 11 and under stay free in parent's room. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Free self- and
valet parking. Amenities: 7 restaurants plus a food court; casino; concierge; health club & spa; nightclub;
5 outdoor pools; room service; executive-level rooms; showrooms. In room: A/C, TV w/pay movies, hair
dryer, high-speed Internet access (for a fee).
Stratosphere Casino Hotel & Tower Kids At 1,149 feet, the Stratosphere is the
tallest building west of the Mississippi; it's also in the middle of nowhere on the Strip,
which explains the lack of crowds (and lower prices). The panoramic views available from
the top of the tower and some amazing thrill rides (see “What to See & Do,” later in this
chapter) are the big attractions here. The smaller-size rooms here are basically motel
rooms—really nice motel rooms, but with that level of comfort and style. Then again,
you can often get such a room for around $50 a night. Perfect if you are coming to Vegas
with no plans to spend time in your room except to sleep (if even that). Other elements
to like include an area with kiddie-oriented rides, a pool with a view, and some of the
friendliest, most accommodating staff in town. You can still ride the following incredible
thrill rides (provided the wind isn't blowing too hard that day) on top of the tower: the
Big Shot, a fabulous free-fall ride that thrusts passengers up and down the tower at
speeds of up to 45 mph; X-Scream, a giant teeter-totter-style device that gives you the
sensation of falling off the side of the building; and Insanity: the Ride, a whirly-gig
contraption that spins you around more than 900 feet above terra firma.
2000 Las Vegas Blvd. S. (btw. St. Louis and Baltimore aves.), Las Vegas, NV 89104. & 800/99-TOWER
(998-6937) or 702/380-7777. Fax [phone]. www.stratospherehotel.com. 2,444 units. $60 and up
double; $160 and up suite. Extra person $20. Children 12 and under stay free in parent's room. AE, DC,
DISC, MC, V. Free self- and valet parking. Amenities: 9 restaurants, plus several fast-food outlets; casino;
concierge; large pool area w/great views of the Strip; room service; executive-level rooms; showrooms;
wedding chapel; free Wi-Fi in coffee shop in casino. In room: A/C, TV w/pay movies, hair dryer, high-speed
Internet access (for a fee).

18

INEXPENSIVE
Circus Circus Hotel/Casino Kids Circus Circus, once the epitome of kitsch, is
trying to be taken more seriously. The bright primary colors and garish trims have van-
ished in favor of subtle, muted tones and high-rent touches that appeal more to the
Cirque du Soleil crowd. Nevertheless, the world's largest permanent circus and indoor
theme park are still here, and kids will love it. Tower rooms have newish, just slightly
better-than-average furnishings; the Manor section comprises five white three-story
buildings out back. These rooms are usually among the least expensive in town, but you
get what you pay for. A renovation of these rooms added a coat of paint and some new
photos on the wall, but not much else. The hotel also has its own RV park.
2880 Las Vegas Blvd. S. (btw. Circus Circus and Convention Center drives), Las Vegas, NV 89109. & 877/
434-9175 or 702/734-0410. Fax [phone]. www.circuscircus.com. 3,774 units. $50 and up double.
Extra person $15. Children 16 and under stay free in parent's room. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Free self- and
valet parking. Amenities: 7 restaurants and several fast-food outlets; casino; circus acts; midway-style
carnival games; 2 outdoor pools; room service; executive-level rooms; wedding chapel. In room: A/C, TV
w/pay movies, hair dryer, high-speed Internet access (for a fee).