Las Vegas Hotels

I have been coming to Las Vegas for over Thirty Years and have lived here over ten.  During that time I have seen a Dramatic Change in Hotels in both Basic Cost and Add-On Costs. There was a time in this town as recently as Twenty-Five years ago where you could get a nice room for Under $30!  And that was with No Resort Fees or other add-ons!

You could even stay at Top Of The Line Hotels like Caesar's Palace for Under $100!

But sadly, those days are Long Gone!   Now Resorts fees can range fro $30 a night up to almost $50 a night, even on "Comped Rooms".  Rumor is that starting this fall, The Newly Remodeled Palms Resort and Casino will begin charging Resort Fees!   Hotels in Laughlin, Nevada and Primn, Nevada, which are both fifty plus miles away now charge Resort Fees!

What happened to the Good Old Days where the Casino Executives who thought of Resort Fees were not even born yet?

Here is a Las Vegas Trivia Question for you.  The Golden Gate Casino in Downtown Las Vegas was once known as the "Sal Sagev Hotel".  What was it named after?  ( answer later in this blog )

Over the years I have stayed in a Majority of the Hotel Casino Resorts.  Overall, the Big Difference has been in the Price.  They all have Beds, they all have phone and they all have bathrooms.  When you are in their lobbies you will find nicer floors, better chairs at the slot machines and better places to eat, but that is about it.  There was a time not that long ago when people Stood when playing Slot machines.

Casinos realized that people would "Gamble Longer" if they were seated!  No one remembers the "First Casino" to install chairs but most believe it was in about 1958 or 1959.

Are there Resort / Casinos that I have especially enjoyed staying?   I will start with the "Obvious".

Caesar's Palace Suite in the early 90's was very opulent.   The Round Bed and Great View of The Las Vegas Strip was class at the Highest Level.

Directly across the corner was Bally's.  The reason Bally's will always have a special place in my heart is that is where I saw Las Vegas and Performing Legend, Dean Martin.

I almost did not have the chance to attend because the ASSHOLE Program Director Lou at the Radio Station I worked for in Denver would not approve my request for ONE DAY OFF to go!   Honestly, of all the people I ever worked for he was the Biggest Jerk who I would not give the time of day to if he asked and he treated me the same.  Ironically, I went anyway and it was the Final Weekend Dean performed as he lost his son a week later in a plane crash.  Dean never had the desire to perform again and from what I later told, was a broken man.  Those were the days before "Assigned Seating" and I had tipped $50 and ended up at t he Front Table Center which touched the stage.  About 5 minutes before the show the Cocktail Hostess place three drinks which she said were "Dean's Bourbon's" on the table.  One of the people I was with could not resist herself and "Tasted" (with a straw) all three drinks.  They were ALL Iced Tea!  By this time in his life, Dean had all but quit drinking.  And by the way, Lou if you are reading this, "Up Yours You No-Talent Rude Excuse For A Boss!".   I hope they play play nothing but Dean Martin Music in Hell when you get there!  ( Do you think I sound bitter?  It's only been 30 years!  lol )

I also always enjoyed staying at Harrah's!

Harrah's is located Center strip so transportation is always handy and there are some great things to see and do, many for free, within walking distance.

I would be remiss if I did not mention places like The Mirage, The Rivera , The Imperial Palace ( Now the Ling ) and the Sahara.  There are a few other places I always enjoyed on the strip and several more downtown including The Four Queens, The Golden Nugget, The Fitzgerald ( Now The D ) and The Plaza.

The Answer to my Trivia Question about the "Sal Sagev"?  That was Las Vegas spelled backward!  They later changed the name to The Golden Gate Casino.  That corner was one of the earliest casinos opened in Nevada.

Over the years I have been invited to the "Grand Opening" of a couple of new casinos.  I think mainly because I spent too much at their other locations!  LOL!  I was brought out as a guest for the Grand Opening of the "Wynn" casino.  A truly classy casino to this day.

One of my favorite Grand Opening Events was at "The Luxor Resort and Casino".

I actually brought my friend Tim from Ohio to the event.  What makes this so memorable for me is that we were in a room Sidewalk Level which you could see people walking back and forth.  I had went down to the desk to get some of the documents needed and when I came back I noticed people looking into our room window?  Tim then said to me, "This place is neat, it even has the One Way Glass where we can see out and others can't see in."  He went on to tell me he had taken his shower and was ready to go.  I then informed him that it was "NOT One Way Glass and the people were stopping to look into our window to watch him get dressed!"  Oops!

With the Resort Fees I not longer make it a habit to stay in the hotels even with my "Free Rooms".  "Free" in most cases costs me $40 plus a night in Resort Fees!   I only live fifteen minutes from the Las Vegas Strip and my wife still does not charge me "Resort Fees".  Yet!

Have A Great Week