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Paris Las Vegas, located in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip, is a long way from being the flashiest, hippest or sexiest spot on the Strip — despite what the signage in the hotel elevator might tell you. But this Parisian-themed destination is quietly making up for its lack of flash with big values to go along with its moderately priced rooms.
Our trip to Paris Las Vegas was a last-minute getaway planned within tight time parameters: we had to leave LAX around 8 a.m. and return to LAX around 7 p.m. the next day. So we arrived at the hotel just after 10 a.m. on a Saturday morning. The front desk agent pulled up our reservation, found that our room had already been cleaned, and checked us in. We were given a coupon book that included various discounts on drinks and activities in both Paris Las Vegas and its sister property, the Rio.
The room at Paris was large-ish, and stocked with a king-size bed, loveseat, coffee table, desk, armoire, minibar with refrigerator, hair dryer, and — the pièce de résistance — a coffee pot. On the Las Vegas Strip, the in-room coffee pot is a scarce asset. Last time I checked, you couldn’t find one in standard rooms at Planet Hollywood, Monte Carlo, MGM Grand, or even the Palazzo. Those properties would prefer you take your hangover and stumble down to the lobby coffee shop for a cup of joe.
I actually expected more from Paris’ room decor. There was no drama; the colors were muted and the French theme was more classical than it was sexy. The TV was a deep relic from another era, at least by Vegas standards. The bathroom was nice enough, with a separate tub and shower, but also a touch boring.
The blah room was really the worst of Paris Las Vegas. The best was the free entertainment, another scarcity at any resort-style property. Paris Las Vegas guests get free admission to Risque, the hotel’s nightclub, until midnight. If that scene doesn’t suit you, you can head over to Napolean’s to enjoy a dueling piano show. This is also free, unless you feel compelled to buy drinks or tip the pianists to play your favorite song. Or there’s DJ Sally, mixing tunes in a small courtyard off the casino floor. Sally’s courtyard even has a dance floor and an adjacent bar, all just steps from the banks and banks of slot machines. Speaking of the slots, if you join Total Rewards, which is the players club, you get $5 in free slot play. And, on top of all that, the coupon book we were given at check-in included a coupon for two free admissions to the top of the Eiffel Tower.
Other Paris Las Vegas perks include two-for-one martinis in the casino bar Le Central between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., and $20 off Mandara Spa treatments in the room when you spend $100 or more.
Paris Las Vegas may not be the hottest spot on the Las Vegas Strip — but in this economy, a good value may trump glitz and glam.
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Cheap Downtown Hotels are one of the places to look from for place to stay in when you are on a trip. In many different countries, downtown is the best place to find the best deals, be it in food, clothing and hotels. If you are a frequent visitor to the great city of Las Vegas, people usually had two options, the strip or downtown. To answer this underlying question you will have to find out about your reason of going to Las Vegas, and how much do you intend to shed. Let’s look at the differences between the strip and downtown.
If you love to be a sightseer then staying on the Strip is something you shouldn’t miss. The strip is actually Las Vegas Boulevard and is one of the most famous streets. First that will come into view is the Mandalay Bay and you will pass through about thirty casinos later and you will see the Stratosphere. So, if you’re looking for the newest, most opulent casinos, the strip is the right place for you. There are cheap hotels for every budget and you will be in a very short distance from the new casinos, which is considered a perfect attraction as well. You can also find here the world-class shopping centers with stores from all over the world.
The gambling area on the strip can be a little expensive, if you want to experience and play table games, the minimum bets are higher than in downtown, but if you want to play the slot machines and video pokers same rates apply. The restaurants on the strip are world class and you can find all the best cuisines you desire. A buffet is also served in just about every casino and some of the restaurants are perfectly outstanding.
The downtown area of Las Vegas on the other hand, is comprised of twelve casinos that are clustered together; you can even have a “casino-hopping” spree. Downtown is considered as the old school Vegas where you can encounter different types of people, the budget minded and the serious gambler. The table limits are lower and there are wide variety of slot machines and video poker.
The hotels range from fine to great. The Golden Nugget is considered the most opulent casino downtown. Every night you can go outside the casinos and look up and see a light show called the Freemont Street experience. This made the connection with most of the downtown casinos. On the other hand, if you want to relax, then downtown may be the place for you. It will all be your option, if you do want to see the casinos, or catch a glimpse of a show on the strip then it would be a cab ride away.
The bottom line is no matter where you are it is always best to find cheap downtown hotels that will cater to your needs.
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www.LasVegasFoodTV.com | Have a unique dining experience at this off-the-strip Las Vegas restaurant. You may not have to eat the rest of the day after eating a 14 ounce Pork Benedict with 3 eggs, griddled mashed potatoes, fresh spinach, peppers, and a soy-based barbecue sauce. It’s obvious this Chef is passionated about his craft.
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When Steve Wynn opened The Mirage in 1989 no one could have foreseen that he was actually paving the way for what the Las Vegas Strip has become today. Huge impressive resorts with thousands of rooms and every imaginable amenity anyone could need (or desire). At the time it was the largest and most expensive resort ever built anywhere in the world. People began flocking to Las Vegas just to see what Steve Wynn had created. Today The Mirage may no longer be the largest, but a two-year, multi-million dollar renovation has given new life to The Mirage and made it one of the most exciting resorts on the Strip.
If you haven’t visited The Mirage in the last few years or have never visited you may think you have stepped into a brand new resort. Of course, the signature volcano, located along Las Vegas Boulevard in front of the hotel, still erupts nightly. Siegfried & Roy may longer be there, but their white tigers still occupy the Lion Habitat. The 53-foot aquarium still lines the area behind the front desk. The 100-foot domed Tropical Rainforest continues to flourish and welcomes guests upon arrival. And Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden & Dolphin Habitat to this day occupies the lush and tropical landscaped area behind the hotel. But that is really all that remains of the ‘old’ Mirage.
Today all 3,044 guest rooms and suites have been refurbished to give them a serene south seas feel. All rooms are now outfitted with the upmost in comfort and convenience. Marble topped vanities, dual phone lines with high speed internet, and you will certainly enjoy the dramatic views of the mountains surrounding the Las Vegas valley and of the Strip itself.
The Mirage now has so many entertainment options that you could literally see a show each night and never have to travel to another resort. Cirque du Soleil opened The Beatles LOVE in 2006 and the show has been sold out since day one. It is without a doubt one of the few must-see shows in Las Vegas. If you wish to attend be sure and purchase your tickets well in advance. The show is so popular that some people have planned their vacation around the dates they were able to secure tickets to LOVE. Danny Gans continues to amaze audiences with his singing, comedy and multitude of impressions in this ever-popular show. And The Mirage has developed a reputation for bringing some of the funniest comedians to the Strip. You will regularly find the likes of Ray Ramano, Jay Leno, Kevin James and Brad Garrett making audiences laugh.
When it comes time to sit down, relax and enjoy a meal, The Mirage has more options than ever before. Some of the newer additions to the resort include STACK, a cutting-edge American bistro. You might even describe it as a restaurant with a nightclub atmosphere. Fin is an absolutely stunning restaurant serving contemporary Chinese cuisine. Onda offer rustic Italian dishes and was voted ‘Best Italian Restaurant’ by the Las Vegas Concierge Association. And Onda also has a wine lounge where you can indulge in wine tasting and sample some antipasti. Kokomo’s is still located under the beautiful tropical rainforest but the restaurant and menu has undergone a major update. The décor is more contemporary and the menu features prime steaks and fresh seafood flown in daily from all over the world.
If you are ready to do a little partying after that meal, The Mirage has two fantastic options. The first is JET, a 15,000 square foot multi-level nightclub. What makes JET different from other nightclubs in Las Vegas is that fact that it is actually three nightclubs in one. JET has three distinct rooms, each with it’s own unique look and sound. Party-goers can move from a room filling the air with rock music, to one room with more of a hip-hop vibe, to yet another featuring popular dance and house music. The other nightspot is The Beatles Revolution Lounge. The lounge is not a tribute to the band in that you won’t necessary hear The Beatles greatest hits, but was instead, designed by Cirque du Soleil to inspire the spirit of The Beatles. The interior is has many interactive and almost psychedelic elements for the guests to enjoy. If your imagination allows, the décor and music evolves over the course of the night.
This is only the beginning of what The Mirage has to offer it’s guests. There are many more restaurants and bars, the waterfall flanked pools, the topless (adults-only) Bare pool and bar, the fitness center, shopping, one of the best buffets on the strip and the newly renovated Spa & Salon.
The Mirage has surely been transformed into one exciting destination in Las Vegas and the center Strip location couldn’t be any better. You’ll find yourself literally next door to Treasure Island and the massive Forum Shops at Caesars Palace. You’ll find yourself across the street from Harrah’s and the Venetian. And a leisurely walk away from Wynn Las Vegas and La Pallazo (the Venetian sister property slated to open late-2007 or early-2008) and the Fashion Show Mall. The room rates will be somewhat lower than the rates offered at some of the newer resorts. But with this dramatic and much needed transformation you’ll feel like you are staying at a new Las Vegas resort, not The Mirage resort that Chevy Chase and family stayed at during his ‘Vegas Vacation.’
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