Lodging

From Nancy D. Brown of What a Trip

Circus Circus

It’s Spring Break 2008 and the kids are morphing into teenagers.  Time is slipping away from us and there are so many places they haven’t seen.  We selected the Grand Canyon for our roadtrip destination, with a two night stop-over in Las Vegas thrown in for a little glitz and glamour.  I looked to my travel agent for a package deal on the Grand Canyon and a hotel recommendation for teens in Vegas.  The travel agent’s Las Vegas recommendation; Circus Circus.

Family friendly, budget lodging is one thing. Chipped, run down furniture, a less-than-reliable elevator to the swimming pool and a screenless window looking down to the RV parking lot is another. My daughter and I flew from the Bay Area to McCarran International Airport as I had a couple of frequent flyer tickets ready to expire.  We arrived early at the hotel and asked at check in if our room was available.  Room 19743, located in the Skyrise Tower, was waiting to be cleaned.

My husband and son were mini-van bound and arrived that evening to join us.  Fortunately, the hotel offered complimentary parking as well as a huge RV park. Unfortunately, the hotel was located on the northern edge of the Las Vegas strip. The closest restaurant within walking distance was a Denny’s with an hour long wait.  We had no interest in dining in Circus Circus with its smoke filled lobby.

Billed as a family favorite since 1968, I suggest the Circus Circus Skyrise Tower is in dire need of a face lift.  While the West Tower has recently been remodeled, our room was dated, the plywood entertainment center was falling apart and the lack of a screen on the bedroom window was alarming.  My 16 year old referred to our accomodation as the suicide room, noting the easy access to the cold, hard concrete 19 stories below.

When I called the first night to ask about canceling our room I learned that our AAA rate could not be refunded because our travel specialist had booked our reservations in advance.  Not only did we over-pay, we were stuck there for a second miserable night.  When an on-line customer satisfaction survey arrived in my computer mailbox, I mentioned all of the above noted comments and checked the box that gave them permission to contact me.  I never heard a peep from anyone at Circus Circus.

Have you had a lodging disappointment?  Have you been contacted by hotel management after a less-than positive experience?  Leave a comment below.  I promise I’ll read your feedback!

Circus CIrcus Hotel Casino 1 (800) 638-8595

2880 Las Vegas Blvd. South

Las Vegas, Nevada 89109

Photo by Kendall C. Brown

From Nancy D. Brown of What a Trip

Luxor Las Vegas for Budget Lodging

I recently attended the 2008 Luxury Travel Expo in Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay.  While this is a trade show for travel agents and upscale, luxury destinations, I travel on a freelance writers budget.  I flew from Oakland to Las Vegas on Southwest Airlines for $49 each way and found a cheap room at the Luxor, which is connected via tram to the Mandalay Bay Convention Center.

Using the Luxor’s internet Winter getaway package I was able to find a steal of a deal, $125 (including tax) for three nights.  Internet access is $13.99 for each 24 hour usage period. A $100 hold is placed on your credit card for each day of usage.  TIP: If you are a budget traveler, don’t use your debit card as a deposit for the internet usage as the hold will draw from your debit card. 

Luxor Pyramid Deluxe Room

I stayed in room 144 on the 26th floor and had a view of the McCarran International Airport. As the Luxor is in the shape of a pyramid, all of the 4,400 hotel rooms are on the outside of the hotel.  To accomodate the pyramid shape, the hotel uses inclinators, as opposed to elevators, to move up, down and sideways. My room was a bit dark, but I enjoyed the non-smoking room with a king size bed and the Essential brand amenities in the bathroom. As I mentioned, I used the free tram that connects the Luxor to Mandalay Bay and Excalibur.

While I had read prior reviews about water leakage, my only complaint was the loud gurgling of water pipes in the bathroom at 3 a.m.  TIP: Close the bathroom door when you retire to bed and the noise won’t bother you.

While I’m not big on gambling, there are plenty of free or nearly free things to do in Las Vegas. There are also plenty of expensive things to do in Las Vegas.  I attended the mesmerizing “O” at the Belagio, thanks to the Cirque du Soleil folks. I’ll be writing a review of the show on my “What a Trip” blog.

 Finally, I’m pleased to say that both check-in and check-out were quick and efficient at the Luxor.  While the Luxor is not a luxury hotel, it certainly offers a budget friendly option on the Las Vegas strip.