Across the street is the Tropicana (3801 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, Nevada 89109 Phone 1-888-826-TROP (8767)) perhaps soon to be imploded? It's one of the old original strip megaresorts and is considered a mid-level to budget property. Tropicana has a tropical theme similar to Mandalay Bay. Tropicana has, as a bonus feature at poolside, "swim up" blackjack tables with currency dryers. While playing blackjack while lounging in the pool may sound unusual, the idea appears to be based on the concept of combining two forms of entertainment.

Across the street from Tropicana is Excalibur (3850 Las Vegas Blvd South, Las Vegas, NV 89109. Phone 702-597-7279) which resembles the Disney Magic Castle. The theme is medieval (brave knights, dragons & fair maidens) but it's a family-oriented property. Like Circus Circus, you can expect to find kids running around and tired babies sleeping in their strollers being wheeled across the casino floor. There are some carnival midway games and a video arcade on the second level. The buffet is usually crowded and has a long line, but this is normally true for all properties on the strip. One thing I find annoying about Las Vegas buffets is they won't let you get your own beverages. Which I think is a strategy designed to encourage tipping... but I would pay extra if I could get my own drinks. The desert makes me very thirsty. Excalibur is a budget property and along with Imperial Palace will normally offer the lowest rates in the mid / south strip area. (The north strip area budget properties are Circus Circus, Riviera, Sahara and Stratosphere.)






Next to Excalibur is New York, New York. (3790 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas Nevada 89109 1-800-NY-FOR-ME) A downsized reproduction of the Statue of Liberty and some miniature skyscrapers welcome you outside. Inside, it doesn't look much like New York except for an area of shops near the guest room elevators. I guess it's difficult to fully incorporate casino games into a theme (back alley craps tables, cardboard box street hustler three card monte, etc.); or maybe there is some kind of legal issue which prevents it. NY NY is a mid level to upper level property. The casino is large and dimly lit with a nice overall atmosphere. They also have a roller coaster.



Across the street from Excalibur is the MGM Grand (3799 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas Nevada 89109. 877-880-0880) which glows emerald green like the City of Oz at night. MGM also has one of the best photo taking spots in the city. Go up to the roof of their parking garage on a clear night with your camera and a tripod. The casino is HUGE, one of the few casinos where you can truly get lost looking for a way out. One of the casino themes is "Hollywood"; with movie posters and references to film stars. I've been in the MGM many times and usually find it relaxing, as the huge size offers a quieter atmosphere than most casinos. This is a mid-level to upscale property.





      
Showcase Mall is in between MGM Grand and Planet Hollywood. I've gone to the Gameworks video arcade but have never been in the mall itself; which includes a multiplex cinema, M&M World, the Coke museum, a food court on the second level, and 24 hour Internet terminals. Showcase Mall appears to be the ONLY strip property that charges for parking.

Further north just beyond Showcase Mall is Planet Hollywood (3667 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas, NV 89109 702-785-5555) Formerly the Aladdin; the property was demolished and rebuilt in 2002 but retained the Aladdin name and theme. It was remodeled again in 2007 and is now Planet Hollywood, "a Sheraton resort". This is a mid-level to upscale property. I stayed here in December 2003 and was pleasantly surprised; it was nicer than I expected it to be. Like MGM, the casino has a less hectic atmosphere than most properties. Each room has an Internet terminal, but this is no big deal as just about every strip hotel offers Internet access via a "Web TV" like setup (look for a wireless keyboard near the television, usually in a dresser drawer.) I don't think many people are interested in surfing the 'net during a vacation, but since all the major airlines now offer online check in, there is a big demand for Internet access on the Las Vegas Strip, which packs in about 30 hotels within a four mile length. If you don't have access to a printer, you can still check in online and print your boarding pass at the airport from a kiosk.



    Bally's (3645 Las Vegas Blvd South, Las Vegas NV 89109. 1-800-7-BALLYS) is in between Planet Hollywood and Paris. Bally's is extremely photogenic at night with its colorful lettering and neon rings around the pedestrian conveyor belt that leads to the casino. Ride the moving walkway into the casino and be underwhelmed. It seems like the casino was an afterthought; very small and laid out in a rectangle. At least you won't get lost. Bally's is another mid-level property and was formerly the MGM Grand. "Honeymoon in Vegas" was partially filmed here in the casino and one of the expensive suites. I stayed at Bally's in March 2005, the room was bigger than average and I have no complaints about this property.





Paris (3655 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, Nevada 89109. 877-796-2096) with its big balloon and miniature Eiffel Tower and Arch de Triomphe reproductions is next to Bally's, just to the north. The cocktail waitresses here used to enjoy posing for photos (this is now uncertain as there have been two changes in ownership since I last shot photos there) and have cute Gendarme (French police) themed outfits. (Take a look at my cocktail waitress page.) The theme is, of course, based on Paris, France. The casino feels a bit antiseptic and sterile, but is pleasant and just about the ideal size for a casino. Paris also includes a fairly long corridor modeled after an 1800's era Paris street, with small shops and bistros. Paris is an upper mid-level property. It's very relaxing to sit at their casino bar in the early morning and drink coffee while watching the all-night gamblers finishing up. I was a guest at Paris in August 2007 and enjoyed it very much. One of the main reasons I enjoyed my stay so much was that I had requested a "quiet room" when I booked online, and I was given a room on the 33rd floor in a hallway that appeared to have no other occupants. Such a high level of peacefulness is rare in any hotel. Like the old Aladdin, Paris exceeded my expectations.



Back across the street next to NY NY we have Monte Carlo (3770 S. Las Vegas Blvd. Las Vegas, Nevada 89109. 888-529-4828) I chose to stay here in March 2003 based on a low price of $59 per night for what looks like an upscale property. It's kind of a baby Bellagio. It has a similar atmosphere without the extreme opulence and frills. It's named and modeled after the famous Monte Carlo casino in Europe. I think of it as understated elegance. Everything about it is simple and to the point; clean and appealing in a "suit and tie" kind of way. It's a good choice if you want to avoid the frantic pace and noisy atmosphere of most Las Vegas casinos. Monte Carlo had a small fire in late 2007, nobody was injured.



Across the street from Monte Carlo, in between Planet Hollywood and MGM Grand, are the Polo Towers, a "timeshare resort" which sells timeshares (which means you own the rights to reside in one of the units for a certain length of time per year) and is often confused with the Jockey Club. Click the link to their web site for more information, as I've never been inside Polo Towers.