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Our stay in the Palazzo Hotel, Vegas

Tuesday, November 24th, 2009

Palazzo-Hotel-Las-Vegas

Las Vegas With Children – The Palazzo Hotel in Las Vegas
by Ivan Bradley (Nov 24, 2009)

Well, it’s been a good few years since I last went to Vegas – going on holiday at the best of times is difficult with two kids. But I’ve been determined to go back ever since the little ones arrived. Since then, most of our vacations of late have tended to be either staying at my wife’s relatives’ houses in the country or safe in the comfort of Disneyland resort hotels.

Convincing the wife to allow me to go to Vegas wasn’t easy, and naturally I had to agree to certain conditions. “We’re
staying somewhere nice, and I absolutely refuse to go to one of those all-you-can-eat places,” she instructed. You’ve probably realised by now that she’s a hard customer to please. “And there has to be plenty to do for all of us-” she reminded me.

So, entertaining the possibility that this may be more trouble than it was worth, I swallowed my pride and booked four nights in the Palazzo hotel. It’s got a good reputation for families, and I could always bribe my wife with the temptation of Barneys or the SpaClub,  both of which are located inside the Palazzo.

The budget didn’t quite extend to one of the Palazzo’s six villas, but we didn’t really need that much space anyway. Instead, to accommodate the four of us we opted for a suite. Now that the kids are a little bit older, they want their own room and having a suite is an acceptable compromise. Our suite also helpfully came with some gambling and dining credits, which helped satisfy my wife for a little while.

I’m not sure what real Italians would make of the Palazzo – despite the Italian name and image, it’s not exactly a discreet little Tuscan pensione. However, the acres of marble and gilt-edged ceilings are undeniably impressive. It is, however every inch the Vegas resort hotel complete with several casinos, 15 restaurants, 11 pools – you name it. It’s also located to several other Las Vegas hotels on the strip.

The centrepiece of the next-door Venetian is an indoor canal, complete with boats and gondoliers! They’ll even sing, although this does get a little tiresome. Naturally the kids managed to twist my arm and within an hour of us arriving in the hotel, we were being swept along to the dulcet tones of “Frederico” – all the while the hum of slot machines singing away in the background.

But the real reason for coming of course was the gambling. I’d hope to repeat some of the success I’d had last time I was here. Thankfully, the Palazzo hotel isn’t short of gaming options, and include all the usuals such as blackjack, baccarat, poker, craps etc. I also saw in the guide the ‘high-limit salon’, which is a mini casino for the high rollers, and certainly not for the likes of me.

I got off to a good start, winning a few hands of poker. Then as my confidence grew so my bets kept getting larger. Three Pina Coladas and five hands later, things had taken a turn for the worse. The temptation in these situations is always to Martingale – with each losing hand, double the bet you’re placing and then eventually when you win, your loses will be written off. It’s not a very good idea, and it wasn’t long before I’d lost most of what I’d put in.

Thankfully I’d saved a little, and went to the roulette wheel where my game was moderately more successful. Palazzo’s lady luck was shining on me, and it wasn’t long before I’d got back into the swing of things.

Careful not to blow all of the kids inheritance, I met up with the others at the Palazzo’s Grand lux cafe- it’s a casual restaurant so was no problem to take the kids. None of us could resist the Chocolate Molten Cake dessert for which this place is fast becoming famous.

We spent much of the rest of our precious days amusing ourselves in several of Las Vegas’ more child-friendly attractions including the Aventuredome (enormous indoor theme park) and Circus Circus. It wasn’t difficult to find things to do with the kids, and if we had longer I would definitely have liked to go to the Star Trek Experience – but probably the kids wouldn’t have been too interested in that!

I managed to escape the gambling halls until the last night – the draw of the poker table was just too much in the end. Unfortunately the lucky run I’d had a few nights before was by now well and truly over. I expect you can imagine what my wife said when I returned to the suite with empty pockets!

Topic: Las Vegas with children, Palazzo Hotel in Las Vegas

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Old School Vegas Hotels

Thursday, November 12th, 2009

Las Vegas “Old-School” Hotels

Everyone knows hotels in Vegas are the biggest, glitziest and most elaborate hotels in the world. Ice skating rinks, shopping malls, not to mention super-casinos are all part of the experience for many people.

But it hasn’t always been this way. It wasn’t until 1976 when Atlantic City started to issue gambling licenses that the mega-resort boom of Vegas happened. Seeing Atlantic City as a threat, these mega-resorts became destinations in their own right – and not just for gamblers. Steve Wynn and other big tycoons made Vegas a vacation spot for the masses, and the city spawned ever bigger hotels.

It’s still possible to stay in a hotel that has some history, and recaptures some of the glamour and taste of Vegas’s early days. Below are a few that might tickle your fancy.

 

 

 

 

Golden Nugget
Budget : $49/night

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One of the oldest and well-established casinos, the Golden Nugget is still going strong, offering hotel accomodation from $39 upwards. The hotel has been renovated recently, and is as far away from the over-the-top razzamataz as you’ll get in Vegas.

Think brown leather, dark wood and gilt-framed mirrors. Naturally enough, it has a huge variety of gambling on offer (some more tasteful than others).

It might not have the highest-paid entertainers or largest casino floor but for landmark value and old school glamour, this hotel really cuts the mustard.

 

Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall
Budget: $50 ($150 for weekends)

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Having a reputation for one of the smokiest, cramped and dingiest casinos on the strip might not seem like a good thing to most people. But the experience is more of an antidote to the clean, homogenised super casinos further down the strip.

Despite its bad reputation, the rooms here are large and clean, and you also gain access to the facilities at the Flamingo hotel next door, which claims Las Vegas’s hottest pool! I’m not sure whether they mean hot as in temperature, but it certainly looks impressive.

Bill’s Gablin’ Hall might not look impressive from the outside, but it does exactly what the name suggests. It’s a no-fuss kind of place, and harks back to a simpler time. Location is also a big factor here, as it’s near to a lot of other bigger casinos if you feel the need to branch out.

 

Riviera
Budget: $27+

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Another hotel popular with older visitors and those who prefer a less in-your-face experience, the Riviera is as much about old school glamour as any other. One of the headlining acts is a tribute to Frank Sinatra and Barabara Streisand.

The pool is small, but what you’d expect for a hotel this size. There are a number of dining options, all with an emphasis on elegance and style. A champagne buffet brunch is available on Saturday and Sunday,

Rooms are tastefully furnished, and feature marble bathrooms and iPod docks.


Main Street Station
Budget: $36+

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One of the curious unique selling points to this hotel is the large block of Berlin Wall placed in the men’s room. Odd, but true! Another is the on-site micro brewery, and there’s an “antiques” gallery if you’re so inclined.

For a downtown hotel, Main Street Station is quite a classy affair. Although the location isn’t great, there’s still plenty to do inside and around this one (but we wouldn’t advise walking further North or East).

Rooms are simple and unfussy, the same can be said for the rooftop pool. Having said that the rooms look comfortable and modern.

There’s also a free shuttle service to the strip in case the oldly world charm wears off.

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Art Deco Miami Hotels

Tuesday, November 10th, 2009

In many respects Miami is like many other cities in the US; it has all the trappings of a big city. Except for one difference – the Art Deco National Historic District. Although it’s only a small part of the town (comprising just a few dozen buildings), their architectural merit marks this out as a big draw for the city.

What many people do not realise about this district is that between the 1930s and 1980s, it was in fact pretty unfashionable. The area became run down and was a frequent haunt for drug dealers and gamblers. Not until the late 80s (and perhaps it had something to do with Miami Vice), did the area become gentrified.

It’s now possible to stay in any number of art-deco miami hotels in the area and below are a few options in case you’re interested.

Colony Hotel
Budget : $70-120 (weekends tend to be the most expensive dates)

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With is soaring frontispiece, the Colony is instantly recognizable from the large, neon-lit lettering that illuminates the rest of the building.

Although it’s something of a local landmark, the rates in this place are pretty reasonable. We found weeknights in December for $70 per room. At the weekend prices can be double that, and

Expect dark wood floors in your room, flatscreen TVs and full-tiled bathrooms. Although the interior of the Colony does not reflect Art Deco in every aspect, it does not scrimp on detail and the hotel feels modern and welcoming.

Like the other art deco hotels, it’s a hop, skip and a jump from the ocean front and Flamingo Park.

The Chelsea Hotel
Budget: $90-120

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This smaller, boutique hotel has a fabulous interior and – in common with other hotels in this group – pays very close attention to detail. Although the initeriors are not authentically art deco, they do lend something to the glamour and spirit of the era.

Expect crisp white linen, querky furniture and individually designed rooms. Each room features a stereo, TV, and spa-style slate bathrooms. The Chelsea is pretty small, but does feature a lovely little outdoor area – perfect for a gin sling in the balmy Miami evening.

Location-wise this one is very close to the action, and only a few minutes’ walk to nightclubs. The hotel also claims to be able to provide VIP passes for most of these, although we can’t vouch for that!

25% off for stays of 7 nights or longer. A shuttle bus to the airport is also available, and runs throughout the day.


Chesterfield Hotel, Suites and Day Spa
Budget: $100/night – $400/night for the penthouse

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I couldn’t resist including this one, if only for the amazing ‘Safari’ bar. Don’t be fooled – this isn’t some kind of ghastly hunting-lodge. It’s a chic (if rather small) bar with authentic art deco furniture, and ocean liner styling.

Another neat feature of this place is the ability to confirm, cancel or re-book flights from their lobby. Useful if you decide to make your stay in Miami a little longer.

Feeling flush? There’s a 1000sq.ft penthouse available for around $400 a night which includes a private jaccuzzi, roof access and other trimmings you’d expect (pictured above). Other guests have included Justin Timerlake, Billy Bob Thornton, Tiffany Pollard and Kimora Lee Simmons.

Essex House
Budget: $120 – $250/night
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My final choice is the Essex Hotel which is the kind of building I imagine when somebody says Art-Deco. The entrance is on the corner of the building, which sweeps around suggestively and ejects an enormous neon spire into the Miami night. The top floor is lined with porthole windows reflecting the ocean liners that would have docked here in days gone by.

Inside, rooms are luxurious and purposely made to be soundproof. The hotel lounge boasts a rather handsome marble floor which opens out onto a garden terrace.

The whole place oozes a sophisticated style that’s perfectly in keeping with this beautiful building. If it weren’t for the flatscreens and dataports in the room, you might think you were back in that golden age.

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