You're doing the Lord's work actually staying in these places, Ruby. And to everyone who says "well, it's just a place to sleep" or "I'm not going to Vegas to stay in a hotel room"? Please. It's so much more than that....
Last May we stayed at the Rio because the Silverton Lodge was being rennovated. We've stayed there several times before (we are Caeser's members) but this was our last time....such a terrible experience from the awful food, restaurants closed and the overall dilapidation. Nothing was good. I hope the new managment can bring it back to it's former quality and fun. It was a wonderful place for so long. I wish them great luck.
I once stayed at McFeeley's, which cost $17 a night. It was the only place in the small town we were traveling through that was available. We wound up leaving for the next town after seeing the room. Go figure!!
My Binion's story. This story is probably 15 years old. I checked into the hotel only because MSS (my standard hotel) was booked. I got to my room and it was totally dark.. with the curtains drawn. I made my way into the bedroom and over to the night stand and turned the light on... and there was a man, fully dressed, face down in the bed. I screamed and ran out of the room. In the elevator on the way down, the couple asked if I was ok because I was visibly shaken. I told them I think there's a dead man in my room. I went to security and explained the situation and they made some phone calls. Turns out it was a regular patron who got really drunk, so they put him in a room to sober up. I didn't get an apology or a comp, they just moved me to a new room. Never again.
Thank you. I must say I totally agree with you. If the room doesn’t feel right and you start looking around and noticing frosting on a bedspread, faucets falling off, garbage in the pool - time to leave. There are plenty of other places to stay. I enjoy your videos. Keep posting them.
Having lived in Vegas for years, your selection is 100% spot on. One local‘s’ secret: the Steakhouse at Circus Circus is delightful, really nice classy adult ambience, excellent service, great food at a reasonable price. Go there!
I have stayed at Excalibur about 3 times and will be staying there again this upcoming May. The room may be a bit outdated but we never encountered many issues not to stay. I am sure there is another hotel worse than this.
I watched this video two days before I left for Vegas and a stay at the Excalibur. I was comped for 3 nights so that really influenced my decision. I have to say the Excalibur is a bit dated and worn but it is a nice facility. Housekeeping was flawless. No matter what time we left our room we always returned to a clean room. That says a lot to me.
@@SSGoatanks it aLL depends where you would like to stay, most people like to stay on the strip. But Excalibur and Rio are not on a good spot to say the least.
I just stayed at the Main Street Casino Hotel on Fremont Street.. I use to LOVE this place. BUT, we got there... paid the resort amenity fees..... just to find that their main attraction, the Brewery Restaurant.. CLOSED... then I went to the sports book to place a bet.... CLOSED.... the table games... CLOSED... So I go to the front desk and ask them... ummm... what exactly is the amenity fees for?? I got a super snarky answer... ""sir, it is for the free internet... AND THE PARKING LOT" LMAO!! The Parking Lot..!!!!! ha hahhaaaaaaaa..... by the way, the internet wasnt free after you use 5 Meg of data. So, I dragged my chair and cooler and sunglasses out to the parking lot to really enjoy that parking lot.. was so nice! Lastly and the kicker.... I woke up the next morning to find a note under my door... DO TO RENOVATIONS.. there will be no water the next 2 days from 10am - 6pm.... NO WATER....... HAHHAAAAAAAAAAAAA But everything worked fine with them taking my amenity fee.... jesus H
The Brewery is back open, wife and I ate there last week. But no table games as you mentioned. We stayed at The D. It's starting to show a bit of wear around the edges. I'm sure all the money and attention has gone to Circa (owned by the same person).
Hi ruby, I want to add a positive point for Excalibur. I always felt the staff there was top notch. They do so many extra little things to make your stay better with what they have available. Because of the staff and the fun casino, I choose it over Luxor. Luxor staff was not friendly or good.
Yes, and not all of us go that often to Las Vegas that we get points and extras. My co worker used to go almost every year before COVID, so she got free hotel stays, buffets, etc. And too late she told me of a game that I can get points for free stuff. So for someone like me who has to put their hands in their pockets for everything, I have to be more discerning and I don't want to spend too much for a hotel room where I will only going to sleep and change clothes.
It’s been a long time since I’ve been to Vegas, but that was my experience too. I enjoyed staying at Excalibur, but my experience with Luxor wasn’t great.
I think at this point, Circus Circus is just happy that the OYO is taking some of the heat for worst! It amazes me how far the owners will let these (once upon a time) iconic hotels and resorts literally crumble from beneath them.
@@BlueRabbitKing The Manor is without a doubt, one of the sleaziest and dirtiest places on the entire strip. Seriously, I don't understand how CC is even still operating at this point. There's literally nobody ever there.
To us that have yet to be a visitor to Las Vegas you are passing on some very valuable insights. There is a real fear of picking the wrong venue for your stay as there are such a variety of places to stay and levels of quality yet they all look great in the advertising of these resorts.
You have to remember, Hotel Apache, renamed from Binions Horseshoe, is an older HOTEL, one of the first on Fremont St, and the rooms are going to be super small. People that complain about the size of the rooms, should see the ones at Golden Gate. They are super tiny, but again, Golden Gate is the oldest hotel, 1 Fremont St, and the original phone number was 1. Hotel Apache (Binions Horseshoe) is not built with families in mind, but couples or singles traveling through Vegas for a night or two. If you are looking for amenities galore, then stay at a Resort on the strip. These are not resorts, they are HOTELS. There is a huge difference between a resort and a hotel.
30 years ago I stayed at Binion's and I had a choice between the newer Tower who are the old hotel Apache which was not remodeled back then it was just old.. Way in the back at Binions there was a desk and a circular staircase for the hotel Apache and they gave you a real key.. I think the price was only $40 or less. I loved everything about Binion's casino.. $2 steak dinner late night. Great gambling.. fair prices... lots of people having fun... now it's empty
Why are you going to bat for a hotel? The room was ugly as shit, the window was 5 feet off the ground, they didn’t have a closet and there was 20 foot ceilings. You can go to the Linq and get a better room that’s the same size and be in the heart of Vegas
@@deanvoss7098 I played $1 craps until about 5am with a guy from Tennessee at Binion's back in 1997. They had a great deal downstairs for a bone-in ribeye and baked potato. Man, all of downtown was awesome back then. No stupid canopy, no garage bands, and no assorted drunks and idiots from all over. And it was kind of seedy. A real gambling hole. I liked that. It was great. Then they just had to make it as flashy as possible. It's still fun but not like it once was.
I hope that Rio can be revitalized! I only visited there once back in like 2008. Went to the buffet for breakfast and then hit the slots for a bit before heading to Valley of Fire for the remainder of the day. The buffet was REALLY good - great value for the price at the time. The gaming floor was really busy, too.
I haven’t been back to Rio since 2018 but it was my go to for so many years. Rooms are huge and clean and we had great room service. Great prices as well. I always chose it because the size of the room and price and it was close to everything. Uber was cheap. I would go back. I’ve stayed at many others in Vegas but still have a sweet spot for Rio. I’ll also add that I like the old Vegas vibe.
I've stayed at Excalibur twenty-three times. It wasn't of my choosing. My company loved this hotel for conventions and we went to Vegas conventions 4-5 times a year. I worked for the company five years.
I went to undergrad in Reno in the early 1980s. When we got tired of cafeteria food at the university, we'd pile into one car and head over to the Circus Circus buffet, which as I recall you could get for $1.99 back then. It was absolutely abysmal, pretty much the same as what you showed in this video. Some things never change.
I have never heard anything remotely positive about any of those five properties. When I go on a vacation I don't plan on 'saving' money. I tend to splurge, and a sketchy hotel will never see my name on the register. There are ways to spend modest amounts and still have good value for money spent. Staying in a trashy hotel ain;t one of them. My motto: Stay well, eat well, drink well, tip well or stay home.
No excuse for a person raised in the American culture to be a bad tipper. No shame if one can't afford to chip in towards the staff wages. But if you step inside of that type of business, get with the program. And tip extra anyplace where women are exploited by being forced to wear sexy costumes, because obviously they really need the money.
Couldn't agree more. If you're going to go somewhere like Vegas, dont try to save a buck unless it's with a place you already know is legit. It's going to cost you, accept it. Budget accordingly
I like Excalibur and have never had a bad room, I agree the cost of the room is a draw but we go, normally twice a year, and can't see paying 200 to 300 a night for a room you don't spend that much time in. I would rather spend my money on gambling.
@@ryanm4013Sleep in a dump, not stay. Nobody stays in their room. That's why people, such as myself, don't mind saving money on a room I only sleep and shower in.
I like how you said that!!! I Splurge on Vacation and generally live w/in my means 50 weeks a yr, WORKING HARD THEN NO GUILT W A LITTLE PLAYING/WASTING W MONEY ON VACA, THX 😊
But quite a few people here don't think Excalibur is a dump. I'm with gslogar - I like Excalibur, and I've never had a bad room there either. It's well placed, the staff are excellent, decent pools, and the Fun Dungeon is a nice change, and especially good if you have kids. It's interesting that of all the hotels listed, Excalibur is the one people seem to be defending the most in the comments. Clearly there's some love there.
It’s been a few years since I’ve been to Vegas, but Excalibur isn’t that bad. It’s older and shows its age, but it’s decent. We stayed at The Linq more recently and absolutely hated it.
The Circus Circus was the first Vegas hotel I stayed in back in the mid 90s. Packed lots of energy. I walked in there several months ago and completely empty. Sad because of the history that place has with Jay Sarno. James Bond and Hunter Thompson
It is sad. Several movies were filmed there. They should renovate Circus a bit & add more security. Their steakhouse is on Zagat list & the Best. The Strat bounced back & looks great.
I am older - so much so I remember when Binion's had a million dollars on display, all in $10,000 bills, and when the Circus Circus was around 5 years old. I mean I was a kid at the time, but still, that was a loooong time ago. Also, if there is something(s) wrong with your room, take photos. That way you can show the front desk - it can motivate a quicker resolution to the issue, because if you have pictures on your phone, it can appear on social media. At the very least, it will make someone else's stay in the future a bit nicer.
We stayed at Excalibur twice this year. Yes! It’s dated. But the rooms we stayed at werent dirty. In my opinion if you’re going to Vegas splurge accordingly. Excalibur is a great choice to save some money. You don’t need to splurge on a room just for the brag IMO lol. No one is walking around the strip asking where ur staying. ur in VEGAS BABY!!!
In 20 years of stays at Excalibur I've never had a bad room. From the old tower one rooms to the resort tower rooms. They have always been clean well stocked nicest housekeeping. Nicest front desk. Pool is always nice and fun. They use to have entertainment at pools they had live music the singer got in pool and was singing with swimmers. They use to give spring break and summer vacation packages. Free house wines or tap beers free lunch buffet coupons. Always had great stays. They had awesome cafe miss it so much and a camelot steakhouse another great place gone. Sir Galahad's prime rib another great place they had. The casino ive had good luck in and its fun but i agree with you air quality us so bad there were couple trips i couldnt even walk in my eyes were burning between the smoke and the air fragrance they put out to cover smoke smell. It was so bad. Agree beds are hit or miss ive had fine ones and ones so hard was not best night sleep. They really do need a total renovation though. Like a cool Modern look but still medieval. Like all grey and black stone. Royal blue carpets in gaming area and the walkways between the gaming dark stone or grey wood flooring. Knights, cool torch lighting. Cool like shrubbery , spikes, spirals and ones to look like chess pieces like alone walls. All look like Excalibur but not cheezy and dated. It has so much potential. Plus get rid of those time share people.
@@perroblanco4 Then, when you have found the shrubbery, you must place it here beside this shrubbery, only slightly higher so you get the two-level effect with a little path running down the middle.
I loved Excalibur. But then I was looking for a budget friendly hotel. I knew going in it wasn't going to be the Wynn. I find the rooms comfortable and clean, the casino floor large, lots of food options, conveniently located next to NYNY and attached to Luxor/Mandalay Bay. And as someone who walks with a cane and uses the Deuce to go up and down the strip, the bus stops aren't crazy far from the hotel and don't take forever to walk to and from. I found Bally's/Horseshoe to be the worst hotel I've stayed in. Sure the room was big, but it was loud, the hallways were smokey despite it being a non smoking floor, the casino was crazy smokey too.. and sure it's a nice location but a long walk from the hotel to the strip and not an easy walk either with having to go up the walkway and then hope the escalators are working to take you into the casino. And it's absolutely awful for the Deuce. Won't ever stay there again. I go every year for Christmas and I'm already booked for Excalibur this year.
Same. My wife and I love Excalibur. We usually get the soaking tub room. Comes with a mini fridge and a strip view. I get it was built in the 90s in the Overtheming heyday of Vegas but I looked better 30 years ago too. Never had a bad stay there and I'm not paying Caeser's prices. I can see where, for a younger couple, it might not be ideal. It seems to me that MGM is slowly rehabbing their older properties. Just stayed up at Southpoint. Very nice. Love to gamble there. Room was very nice but it was too far from the strip and just didn't feel "homey". Thanks as always Ruby. 😊
Thank you for your comment. I am staying there because it's reasonably priced. The other hotels were just so expensive, and I want to actually spend money on experiences and dining. I'm only planning on being in the room to sleep. Otherwise, I'm going to be enjoying my vacation to the max on the outside of the room. My parents always thought me not to look for hotels that are clean and safe. They don't have to be five star especially if I'm only going to be in the room for sleep.
I stayed once at a bad room at excaliber and the stench was terrible however, I gave it another shot and opted for stay well room and I have to say it was so much better. I dont stay there often but when I do I only book a stay well room. At MGM Grand the stay well and the regular room feel the same but at excaliber you definitely feel and see and smell the difference
Lifetime Vegas resident here. I find it funny when people post videos like this. You want modern luxury? Go pay 300 plus per night at Cosmo, Wynn, etc. Just because something is perceived as "dated" doesn't mean it's still not great in its own way. The Midway at Circus Circus looks and feels exactly the same way it did when I was kid in the late 70's and 80"s. I f**king love that. Excalibur held the record for the largest hotel in the world when it was built. Still going because people want deals. So many properties like this like the Luxor, MGM Grand, RIo...these were the diamonds of Vegas at one time and still have something to offer. I think modern Vegas sucks. It's overpriced in every way and completely corporate. I would stay at historic hotel like the ones I mentioned any day over the overpriced greed fest of the modern Las Vegas Strip. In fact Vegas tears down its history like the Desert Inn, Sands, Dunes, Riviera, and now the Tropicana which I think is grotesque. Fountainblue is a gigantic overpriced whale that no one gives a f**k about on the north end of the Strip. At least they salvaged the Sahara and restored its name after the SLS debacle. There is history in Vegas and this city is not just for everyone to come and act like yo yos doing s**t they would never do where they actually live. Respect it.
Knowing the worst is as important as knowing the best! Thanks Ruby! I agree Rio and Excalibur are old and tired and to be avoided. One of the other reviewers actually left Rio and didn’t even stay the night there!
Good call. Have gambled at the Bellagio several times and the last two times I played some craps and slots and left within about 30 mins. Their slots are some of the worst and have always been super tight with payouts. You're lucky to break even there. My Mom and Dad went there on the opening weekend, thinking that the slots would be good for payouts. You know, since it was opening weekend. My Mom was playing $5 and $10 slots and lost like $3,000. No comps, no payouts, nothing. I'll never go back there again, worst experience ever.
We got denied boarding leaving Vegas last year right before Christmas as the Southwest meltdown began. They put us up at the OYO. Bedbugs,meth heads hanging out at the entrance, and no Fs given laziness at the sports book. This place needs a complete overhaul from top to bottom. Only nice thing I can say is the pit boss when we played table games was about the nicest man I’ve ever spoken with in town. He deserves a better place to work.
When we were kid's growing up in Vegas in the 50s and 60s, we couldn't wait for Circus Circus to open in 1968. We rode our bikes across town. Left them out by the front door. Went to the arcade and had fun! Las Vegas was cool back in the day when the Mob ran the joint 😎
Your videos are always so professional. I'm glad you don't try to mix with other people who do Vegas videos. Thanks for all the "honest" great videos. I love them. Stay classy Ruby. ❤
For fifteen years I literally traveled every week for business, somewhere. Once, I checked into a hotel that the client required I stay at and found toe nail clippings, among other things in the room. I checked out, and went to a much better place. At the client the next day I informed them I’d not be staying there, they said I had too. I went and packed my things, and headed to the airport. That was officially the shortest consulting engagement of my career. Well, they called me six months later after they had a real mess on their hands, and said I could stay anywhere as long as I came and helped them. So, I did. I had a second floor ocean view room, access to a beautiful beach and amazing room service, every night. I didn’t even bother checking out on the weekends, so I could always have my room.
I will sayI have stayed at Circus Circus almost every year I have been to Vegas for The APA World Championships in Both 8-Ball and 9-Ball Pool Tournamenst. Amd I have only had one bad experience with a room where The people at the Front Desk took care of it on the spot and they even commped me other things to mke up for it. Also It has started to under go a huge remodeling that started when I was there back in Aug 2023. So maybe give it another chance down the road Ruby. Hope to meet you and Mr. Ruby the next time I am in Vegas. 👋
Never underestimate the absolute horror that happens to your casino resort when you let any version of Caesars Ent. purchase it. The Rio was an awesome resort before Harrahs/Caesars/Apollo Global bought it. They step by step dismantled it. First, steered all the VIP play from the Rio to Caesars on the strip, then ended the Show in the Sky, then because they are geniuses-ended all investment and maintenance on the property. How Caesars can keep a gaming license is a mystery.
That is so true...I remember when the Rio was the go to spot for hotels in Vegas, and the Around the World buffet was the best in town......now it is a sad shadow of what it once was.
a few years ago we went to Rio for a star trek convention. it was ok. there were lots of areas that felt abandoned. it was just weird . when I was a kid my family went to circus circus and it seemed like the whole place was closed. no one was there, you could see the trapese and net but no one was there.
Ruby thanks for the honest, with that being said. I visited Vegas for the first time back in 2004 and my co-worker tricked me into staying at the "Circus, Circus". I was super angry at her, kids running around at 2-3A.M. I wanted to call children and family to report it. The rooms felt like motel 6 and I didn't want to undress in the room. Lesson learned now it the Wynn/Encore or Bellagio or Venetian for me.
I totally agree with your top four but I wouldn't have Excalibur on the list. The number of people constantly checking in there and the packed casino also says it's much more popular than the reviews would say. Thanks for the video.
I went to Las Vegas for the first time this past February. We stayed at one of the Hilton‘s which is across the street from Circus Circus. One of the tours we took picked us up at Circus Circus, so we walked over there, walk through the building, the casino to get to the area where the bus was going to pick us up. The overwhelming scent of raw sewage on the main floor was enough to tell me I would never stay at this hotel
I personally don't like staying on the strip, too noisy and chaotic. My place is the Silverton Lodge; they have a free shuttle to the Aria several times a day (round trip). The SL is very family friendly, the restaurants are reasonable with excellent quality. The Aria is a great drop off by shuttle, smack in between the best strip casinos to walk around and see the interior design glory (until the MGM destroys it all....more on that later).
Great video! Excalibur does have one good thing going for it, and that is the buffet. It's $29 on weekdays, and the times I've had it, it was pretty good. Sure, the Palms is roughly the same price and MUCH BETTER, but if we're talking On The Strip, the buffet is cheap AND solid.
Hi Ruby! We vacationed in Las Vegas last spring and just found it too expensive to go to again any time soon. We always stay in a timeshare, but did find that our last stay last year was at a Hilton Grand Vacations -- behind the Flamingo -- that we would NOT recommend unless you enjoy your building vibrating all day long. See, as this HGV Flamingo is behind the Go Pool, there is a DJ playing VERY LOUD music all day long (around 10-6 daily). The bass is sooooooooooo deep, the timeshare vibrates (and I've been in a San Francisco high rise during an earthquake). Plus, the pools are great, but the music too loud to even hear your own music through your ear buds.
hi ruby! can you do a list of the cleanest hotel rooms? i have not seen this yet from anyone. i have stayed at an expensive hotel which was not as clean as i expected and have stayed at nyny and luxor rooms that were quite clean. i prefer a clean room to a fancy room.
Watching this while sitting in my room at the Rio. Ghost Town/food desert. Shabby and sad, I upgraded to a larger room but everything is faded beige on beige. We're only here because of a convention held here. I came here 25 years ago and it was amazing in its heyday.
Hi Ruby! We recently stayed at Excalibur and were very happy with our room. We got a room credit and used it at the buffet 👍🏽👍🏽. The bathroom had a steam shower which we loved. The restaurants were good and the pool was nice. We then went over to Luxor and hated it. It was so dirty and dark at Luxor. The walkways were always broken, the food places were just meh, it was not worth the price and resort fees we paid. I was surprised they didn't make your list. 😅 Thanks for the content! We love your channel!
I too have stayed at almost every hotel in Vegas. I find your top 5 to be pretty accurate. Bally's, now Horseshoe, was the one hotel I was comped, I walked into the room, and said, "No way!". I couldn't stay there for free....rug and curtains filthy, torn furniture, tiny room. Rio, Excaliber, Circus all dumps. Circus Circus does have a fabulous steakhouse!
Paris has a great location, the rooms are pretty nice. Occasionally get a room where the furniture is a little scuffed up. Overall I would stay there in a heartbeat. Linq...another great location, but rooms are small....still the Imperial Palace to me! In that vicinity I would opt for Harrah's or Paris. NYNY....it's ok not a good pool experience. Prefer MGM across the street, but NYNY nicer than Excaliber and Luxor
I think Circus Circus could be great again if they actually put some money into the place and fix it up, keep it affordable still but they really could do some cool things if they wanted! Updated decor for sure would be nice, I love the carnival floor though, I'm not someone who drinks alcohol or gambles, so I'd probably be in the carnival area lol. I really hope they fix it up and make it awesome again :) same with the Rio.
My husband booked our trip when we went to Las Vegas this past June. We stayed at the Rio 😞 We definitely wouldn't stay there again. I was surprised to see how many people had their dogs with them. The only thing about it that I found upsetting is that some people actually walked their dogs on the blistering got pavement. I feel they should probably put signs up to remind people that their paws will burn on the pavement
i stayed at the rio for a week back in 2002 and at that time, it was a very nice place and the crowds were huge. they still did the carnival shows and i still have about a dozen strings of beads that got thrown down at me. both buffets were excellent. but i heard from lots of people that after the economy crashed in 2007-8, the place changed drastically and went downhill very fast.
I was going to post that I remember the same. When it opened it was the hip off-strip place to be. I went to their seafood buffet and it was great. It has fallen BAD
The downfall of the Rio started in 1999 when Harrah's took it over. A financial crisis caused them to focus more on their Strip property than the Rio off-strip. Hopefully new ownership changes things. Looks like their doing renovations, and if they bring back the carnival shows or something more modern, the place will become a ting again.
I know this is of little use, but it was the BEST, and I can't help but mention it: The original MGM. Why this magnificent hotel/casino turned into a nightmare, due to an act of carelessness, haunts me still. The lobby and casino floor fire alarms were ignored by many, and it cost them their lives. A hotel that has a faulty alarm system, that eventually will be ignored, has no business being in business. Thank you for your Insight. I agree with your list completely.
The original MGM was absolutely gorgeous!! My parents took me there for my 21st birthday and I was aww struck. My parents were also there the day it burnt down😢
My dad was a big gambler so we stayed at the MGM frequently when I was a kid. Even as a youngster I was awe struck by the glamour of the place. To this day, I remember the beautiful restaurants : Cafe Gigi, Caruso’s and Barrymore’s. I think those were the names. There was a movie memorabilia shop downstairs that sold actual movie props and such. I remember the big show was Hallelujah Hollywood. I was way too young to see it, but I so wanted to. As I’m writing this, I’m realizing I spent more time there than a little kid should have. 😅
Fortunately, I can avoid between sketchy, rundown, over priced hotel rooms, and just stay with my cousin who lives in the city proper. His place is clean, lives on a quite cul de sac, and there is laundry too. Thanks for your list. I have stayed at Circus Circus maybe 20 yrs ago. Don't recall it being too bad, but it was run down even back then.
I stayed at Caesars in 2005 and it was terrible. Also very overpriced. I heard they renovated the rooms a couple years later but it left me bitter and I never went back. In fact in several trips to Vegas I don't think I had fun at all. Gambling is boring and most of the shows are unimpressive. And the shopping is overrated. The Forum is a waste of space.
I stayed at the Oyo when it was the San Remo. I was attending a work conference at the Luxor but they didn't have any rooms available and I wanted to try something different that was within walking distance. It was different all right. The first night after coming back from the conference there were signs posted on the elevators stating that there was no running water and there wouldn't be until 6am the next morning. To make up for this, they offered free drinks at the bar, which if you think about it is the dumbest thing you could possibly do. How do you think toilets flush? The room was filthy exactly as you described. I have never been more uncomfortable outside of a 'no-tell motel' I was forced to stay in many years ago in downtown Reno. I would also put Circus Circus as number 2 on my list. I always fly out on New Year's Day and I am hoping the strip is cleaned up from all the F1 nonsense by then. Thinking of trying the Fountainbleu if I can get a room.
When my family and I would go to Las Vegas when I was growing up, my dad would give my brother and I both $20, and throw us into the arcade place while he and my mom would go gamble. So, you showing that, brought back a lot of fun memories 😊! We did not stay there
Recall the games where could win extra large kid heighth stuffed animals. My brother had a collection from his winnings. My parents went there every year n summer. Good times
First stay at Rio in April of 2022 wasn't too bad. I was in the Masquerade tower and stayed there Thursday through Sunday. Room was clean. Weather was just warm enough to make the pool time fun. And Vegas overall wasn't too, too crazy packed...except for those crazy teens for the BTS concerts at Allegiant. Second stay there was with my son in June of 2022. We stayed in the Ipanema tower and I think that one REALLY needs updating and upgrading---or tear it down altogether. Elevators kept breaking down. Seemed like outside of ours, there were two families packed into every other room on our floor with at least 5 little kids in each. It was waaaay too hot to even consider going down to the pool. Vegas was packed, but it was my son's first time and his 30th Bday, so we had a great time all around despite the room issues. Since then, we've heard about the new owners and possible renovations, so we'll avoid it until we hear good news. This year, for my son's Bday, we stayed at Harrah's and found the room small, but clean and the bathroom was nice. We actually spent more time at other hotel casinos, but I liked that Harrah's sort of flowed over into The Linq and Flamingo casinos smoothly.
Just a note about staying at 4 Queens, make sure you don't get a room directly above the walkway where the crazies hang out, they were up all night making all kinds of noise and guess what, no sleep for me!! Great review Ruby, TY!
We were just arriving at the Queens driving towards the parking garage when I notice a tall guy in a too small wheelchair reach in his pants to pee like a fountain in the air. It's stuff like this that makes me reconsider Fremont st.
I remember the Rio as one of my favorite properties back in 2001-10. It was great with the Show in the Sky (there are vids on utube, if you havent seen them)a great casino with cocktail hostesses in carvival costumes some others on stilts it was amazing. DON"T FORGET THE TWO seperate buffets ONE OF WHICH WAS A TOTAL SEAFOOD ONE located in a separate part of the casino called Masquerade Village. Oh! and then there was the VooDoo lounge with it"s spectacular view at night of the Strip from it's lofty location at this once great hotel! I miss it very much. Only fond memories remain!
As someone watching this whilst eating my breakfast, I'm doubtful that 7:03 is really cinnamon roll icing... 🤮 love the list Ruby! When I stayed at NYNY, I enjoyed Oyo's casino floor for the cheap roulette/blackjack and friendly dealers, but so glad I didn't stay there, it looked ragged and felt unsafe.
Excalibur smells so bad it that it actually smells good. When I walk in there the smell immediately gets me hyped to get drunk and gamble. I wouldn’t want to stay there though.
So glad to see OYO at #1. That place was sketch as hell. We went just because there was a promo and I knew people that liked the ooooooold Hooters hotel. Worse mistake… avoid it like the plague. Guest safety isn’t an issue either… was the victim of a hit and run and OYO wouldn’t give my insurance the other driver’s plates who was caught in camera (security confirmed they had it).
@@vpmassacre4771 believe me I did. They wouldn’t come to the hotel so I drove to LVMPD. They wouldn’t do anything. Waited over an hour, did the paperwork… but was basically told they wouldn’t follow up on it since there were no injuries and damage was just chipped paint and dent.
One time I ALMOST booked a room there as I was looking for something near the Strip to save money. I went in one day and said THANK GOD I didn't stay here. Holy crap.
If they didn’t knock down the Riviera, that was a good place to stay, affordable rooms, good crowds, nice pool, good sports book,a good food court, cheap 🍺, but that’s not what the vibe is on the strip now! they were supposed to build part of the convention center, now it’s a parking lot for the fountain blue, that sat there for about 12-14 years not done, from 2000. -2015 I stayed at the riviera about 22 times and loved it, me and my family have more memories at that place , than any other hotel we ever have stayed, 🪦 RIP the RIVIERA thanks for the memories ❤
My wife and I stayed at the flamingo one time and woke up with a rash on our backs and rear ends ! We never stayed there again . The Aladin was great .
It's whatever works for you. If one room is a nightmare, it doesn't mean all the rooms are a nightmare. I can basically figure out a place to go without watching 100 different reviews. One thing that irritates me to no end are the room prices plus resort fees. I did a quick Expedia search and the "cheapest" rooms (that show on top) is at the Strat (a place that I probably wouldn't stay at). Only $8 per night, with a $51 per might resort fee. I wish hotels would stop playing this game. The room isn't $8 per night but $59 per night. Post that as the price!
I don't work there or anything, but what would you prefer that Binions do with their hotel rooms? The building is nearly 100 years old, which probably limits their ability to knock walls out etc to make bigger rooms -- it's the same rooms as when the hotel opened in 1932. You're describing some things that could be fixed: Better adjoining doors, wardrobes to hang clothes, etc, but I don't think they can change the size of the rooms. Things are probably better in the former Mint tower, and it IS possible to snoop around in there, but it's shut down and pretty much WON'T reopen because asbestos mitigation would be too expensive. I really expect Binions to join the Las Vegas Club in disappearing sometime in the next ten years, probably under new ownership, especially now that people have an idea of how well Circa is or isn't doing.
There's a lot you can do to make a small room feel nice. Furniture, built in storage, updated fixtures, nice bedding, thoughtful decor. The size of a room is the least of my concerns when I book a hotel. Should make for a quieter stay as well since people aren't going to be throwing parties. I think they should lean into the fact that the building is old and make them vintage-chic. The Cromwell is a great example of this.
could be made into a singles hotel, not a party singles hotel, but smaller rooms for people who travel alone and don't want to pay for double occupancy on a larger room. Make it safe and comfortable for single travelers.
Hands down, you're still the BEST Vegas review host of all...and I've watched them all! ❤ My Uncle had a connection from Montana with Benny Binion back in the day...we were invited to visit the Hotel but never took him up on it. Kind of "ancient history" as Fremont Street was still actually a street back then...😂
I have to agree with you on "Circus, Circus"! The 1st time I went to Vegas by myself, I stayed there because it was cheap. Lord, did I learn a lesson quick as to why! I was in a room that wasn't even part of the towers. It was in an area that seemed to be a re-worked adjacent Motel 6. Super sketchy people hanging out and I never felt safe going in and out of my room after sunset. It's too bad Rio has gone to pot! I remember staying there when it was in it's hay day. Now it's like a haunted house and creepy. Amazing it's still 'open'...
Sounds like you stayed in the Manor out back. Those were the original rooms of Circus Circus long before the Main, West, and Skyrise Towers were built. The round structure in front of Manor 1 used to be the main casino.
From what I've heard it's going to take at least 18 months to get things back in shape. Could take even longer. It was such a place 25 years ago. I hope they get back up and running right.
It reminds me of going to the comedy club in the arts district. it was the cheap night where anybody gets 5-10 minutes. My wife and I still laugh about the comedian (sorry forgot his name) that started off with "I was walking by the circus circus...because everything was going right in my life".
The thing about CC is that it is...CC. It knows it has a niche and it plays to it. They will always be what they are no matter what and like it or not, it is a Vegas icon.
I think they're slowly renovating Excalibur. I've stayed there two years running and it's... okay. We had a great time last year. This year it was okay. I stay there when I go on my own as well simply because I can walk to the MGM poker room. I used to live in LV too and I totally agree with your choices.
'Dated' hotel rooms don't bother me in the least. I wouldn't care if it was something out of the 1930's if it was clean and well maintained. Dirty and/or unmaintained rooms DO bother me, however, as does noise.
When you went DT…I would have guessed 4 Queens would be the choice as “real bad.” It sure is for me!! Conversely - my comped stay from MyVegas at Circus Circus was good, comfy and clean. On any given day….ANY hotel can be crap…we’ve had very rough rooms given to us at Bellagio, too….and we pay full price when we stay there!!💕
I enjoy Excalibur! Circus Circus, if it’s not in The Towers don’t stay there. I remember Oyo when it use to be Hooters. I didn’t like the food but the plus about that place was it wasn’t too far from the airport.
I agree with every one of your picks on this list. I do stay at Excalibur only because it is central to the majority of the shows that I like and the price. The only one that I would consider adding to your list is the Wild Wild West hotel and casino.
Wild Wild West closed in Sep 2022. The land was going to be used for the new A's ballpark, but the deal fell through and the A's are moving to the Tropicana site.
I believe the wild wild west is no more. literally the building is gone? I used to stay across the street at one of the cheapie hotels, and hike over to gamble there. Raiders stadium made it a little to coveted for the wwwest to survive methinks.
I feel like these five properties do really well at trying hard to be subpar. In terms of a “bad” Vegas hotel experience, Harrah’s has probably been my least favorite. The Mirage last year was “meh” (not bad, just underwhelming). Bally’s was fine but even with the change to Horseshoe, I feel like that property still needs a bit more TLC.
I was pissed at the Mirage when I discovered they pulled their poker room out and replaced it with High Limit slots. And now it's gonna be changed to the Hard Rock. See ya Mirage!
Hi Ruby, my wife and I got married in LV back in 98 (10.31.98) and this was our first trip to LV and stayed at Circus Circus because of the price. Yes, I agree that the ones you showed are outdated properties. We've stayed at "The Dirty Castle" and the Rio as well. Again, because they were comped rooms and a couple on a budget. I was not offended at all the these were on your list. You put out great content.
I’m super surprised that the Rio has fallen so far down. My buddy and I stayed there about 15 years ago and it was a really happening place. The pool area was super busy because the Victoria’s Secret models were there and having a show later that night. The room was HUGE. Two bedrooms, a big jacuzzi tub, two vanities. It was the highlife. It was a bit of a hike to the strip, but still was a great place to stay.
With almost (all?) of the strip properties now having pay parking, that’s one more problem for Rio (and other off-strip properties). Used to be that you would save money to stay off-strip and then park at one of the free parking garages. But now, might as well just stay on the strip if you’re going to have to pay for parking anyway.
Stayed at Excalibur in the late 2000's, was a great cheap and cheerful hotel as a base to explore the strip from. Sad to see that it hasn't kept up to date and doesn't look any different from back then.
Hey, I wanted to say thanks for your videos, we just got back from our first time in Vegas (primarily to get married after being together for 16 years [yes, really]) and your tips really did come in handy. We stayed at Luxor in an Elite Tower King and it was fine. I mean, there was some wear and tear here and there but we didn't expect a 5 star experience, just a place to hang our hats in between gambling sessions (and seeing U2). I think one of the things that struck us was how small the gaming floors seemed in the casinos. We have a few casinos here in Philly and also Atlantic City is a short drive away.. and they just seemed smaller than where we play here. I think some of it MIGHT be it seemed the "new thing" were the giant slot machines, which can make the room look smaller? Looking at the stats they are larger so I guess they just SEEMED smaller.
i would add the straight to the list. We booked what was advertised as the second best room in the hotel. It contained a ling size bed and chest of draws a side shelf and a ottoman. No chairs. The laminate flooring put down in the foyer and washroom was installed incorrectly and was warped. It popped when you walk on it. the shower was a walk in with no door on it. As well our vehicle was broken into in the valet parking and we lost about $3500 worth of stuff.
Just got back from Vegas on Wednesday. Stayed at The Platinum!! So beautiful and clean. Also direct view of the Sphere 2 blocks away. One block off strip. Full kitchen and separate bedroom. Air b and b find😊
I last stayed at the Rio in 2012. I had gone to the VooDoo rooftop nightclub a couple years before that, and the crowd rivaled any of the top clubs on the strip. When my wife and I stayed in ‘12, they had actually upgraded our room with a great view just a floor below the VooDoo. So we decided to go. Although there was a sizable crowd, it was nothing like its hey day. The casino was still lively with live music, dancers, and that huge Buffett was still there. So watching this made me a bit sad. Had some good times at that place. I doubt Dreamscape can do much for it. Seems like their plans is to throw a band aid over it.
I was a Vegas semi-regular from the mid 90s to the mid 00s. Back then the Rio was the IT place. They hosted the World Series of Poker. My group would go Friday/Saturday Night largely for their Seafood Buffet. The place was packed but never left disappointed. Sad to see its decay.
I stayed at the hotel when it was Hooters and it was just as bad. We turned on the air conditioning unit and it sounded like somebody was banging pots and pans in the room. 😅 And there was some unidentified stains in various places, too. They had Hooters and steak and shake and a little cafe that was decent, but the casino was very small. Definitely would not recommend that place either.
Once arrived at Hooters to find a bed in the room- that's it. When the call was placed to the front desk I'm told there was some remodeling being done and "bless their heart" they sent a chair (?). That was the last stay at Hooters.
Breathes a sigh of relief my hotel isn’t listed 😂 Circus Circus always shows up on do not stay lists. Plus the area around is sketchy Was just in Vegas a week ago and it is so wild to me that families wake up thinking ‘yes let’s take the baby and kids to Vegas’. I don’t get that thinking at all
I agree. I understand wanting to take your kids with you on vacation… but, Vegas? Really? People come to drink and gamble.. you’re bringing your kids to “Sin City?” I don’t get it.
@@ryanm4013I actually have seen this the most at Circus Circus but not even at the games or shows- usually at the slots. I’ve never stayed here but like to go because of my love for the circus and carnival.
We had some great family vacations at Excalibur when my kids were young. Back then it had a children's clothing store and a toy store, as well as the Fun Dungeon and kid friendly pools. Not sure if it still has all those, but they certainly expected and welcomed children.
My company put me up at the Flamingo a few years ago. I’m not very nit-picky, but the room was not very clean. The carpeting had an obvious stain trail that went from my window - out the door - to about three rooms down the hallway. You would think housekeeping would do everything in their power to get that clean immediately.
Thanks for watching!
Have you had any bad stays in a hotel?
You're doing the Lord's work actually staying in these places, Ruby. And to everyone who says "well, it's just a place to sleep" or "I'm not going to Vegas to stay in a hotel room"? Please. It's so much more than that....
Harrah's wasn't great. The room had stains everywhere, and it took literally a week to get my deposit back. The only thing going for it is location.
Last May we stayed at the Rio because the Silverton Lodge was being rennovated. We've stayed there several times before (we are Caeser's members) but this was our last time....such a terrible experience from the awful food, restaurants closed and the overall dilapidation. Nothing was good. I hope the new managment can bring it back to it's former quality and fun. It was a wonderful place for so long. I wish them great luck.
I once stayed at McFeeley's, which cost $17 a night. It was the only place in the small town we were traveling through that was available. We wound up leaving for the next town after seeing the room. Go figure!!
OMG the TRAVEL LODGE NEXT TO CIRCUS CIRCUS.....NEVER AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!
My Binion's story. This story is probably 15 years old. I checked into the hotel only because MSS (my standard hotel) was booked. I got to my room and it was totally dark.. with the curtains drawn. I made my way into the bedroom and over to the night stand and turned the light on... and there was a man, fully dressed, face down in the bed. I screamed and ran out of the room. In the elevator on the way down, the couple asked if I was ok because I was visibly shaken. I told them I think there's a dead man in my room. I went to security and explained the situation and they made some phone calls. Turns out it was a regular patron who got really drunk, so they put him in a room to sober up. I didn't get an apology or a comp, they just moved me to a new room. Never again.
Love the horse shoe but would never stay there.
That was you?
That's customer service, taking care of a regular instead of pushing them out on the street.
Thank you. I must say I totally agree with you. If the room doesn’t feel right and you start looking around and noticing frosting on a bedspread, faucets falling off, garbage in the pool - time to leave. There are plenty of other places to stay. I enjoy your videos. Keep posting them.
Having lived in Vegas for years, your selection is 100% spot on.
One local‘s’ secret: the Steakhouse at Circus Circus is delightful, really nice classy adult ambience, excellent service, great food at a reasonable price. Go there!
We liked it too.
Terrible rooms but good food
The Steakhouse is really good, I agree😊
The best steakhouse!!!
just say one local secret and be done with the punc.
I have stayed at Excalibur about 3 times and will be staying there again this upcoming May. The room may be a bit outdated but we never encountered many issues not to stay. I am sure there is another hotel worse than this.
The People who enjoy the Medevil Motiv will always Stay There !
Your standards and hers don’t have to be the same. She explained the issues and upsides well enough. No need for this to bother you. 😐
I watched this video two days before I left for Vegas and a stay at the Excalibur. I was comped for 3 nights so that really influenced my decision. I have to say the Excalibur is a bit dated and worn but it is a nice facility. Housekeeping was flawless. No matter what time we left our room we always returned to a clean room. That says a lot to me.
if its clean, and not broken down (light, curtains etc) i can deal with a dated room decor.
Would it be better to rent an Air BnB?
She stated it was HER opinion and HER experience nimrod
Well asshole I wasn't questioning her I was simply stating my opinion and my experience.
@@SSGoatanks it aLL depends where you would like to stay, most people like to stay on the strip. But Excalibur and Rio are not on a good spot to say the least.
I just stayed at the Main Street Casino Hotel on Fremont Street.. I use to LOVE this place. BUT, we got there... paid the resort amenity fees..... just to find that their main attraction, the Brewery Restaurant.. CLOSED... then I went to the sports book to place a bet.... CLOSED.... the table games... CLOSED... So I go to the front desk and ask them... ummm... what exactly is the amenity fees for?? I got a super snarky answer... ""sir, it is for the free internet... AND THE PARKING LOT" LMAO!! The Parking Lot..!!!!! ha hahhaaaaaaaa..... by the way, the internet wasnt free after you use 5 Meg of data. So, I dragged my chair and cooler and sunglasses out to the parking lot to really enjoy that parking lot.. was so nice! Lastly and the kicker.... I woke up the next morning to find a note under my door... DO TO RENOVATIONS.. there will be no water the next 2 days from 10am - 6pm.... NO WATER....... HAHHAAAAAAAAAAAAA But everything worked fine with them taking my amenity fee.... jesus H
Good Lord!! All of those closed amenities AND no water for 2 days straight?? I would've contacted corporate to get my stay comped.
@@lesliemelton1100 you know what... im going to do that
LOL I've heard it's the nicest parking lot in Vegas! The asphalt, the view of the desert, and all the cars sitting there. Wow!!
The Brewery is back open, wife and I ate there last week. But no table games as you mentioned. We stayed at The D. It's starting to show a bit of wear around the edges. I'm sure all the money and attention has gone to Circa (owned by the same person).
Hi ruby, I want to add a positive point for Excalibur. I always felt the staff there was top notch. They do so many extra little things to make your stay better with what they have available. Because of the staff and the fun casino, I choose it over Luxor. Luxor staff was not friendly or good.
Yes, and not all of us go that often to Las Vegas that we get points and extras. My co worker used to go almost every year before COVID, so she got free hotel stays, buffets, etc. And too late she told me of a game that I can get points for free stuff. So for someone like me who has to put their hands in their pockets for everything, I have to be more discerning and I don't want to spend too much for a hotel room where I will only going to sleep and change clothes.
It’s been a long time since I’ve been to Vegas, but that was my experience too. I enjoyed staying at Excalibur, but my experience with Luxor wasn’t great.
I stayed there 2006 years ago but wasn't bad
But I went buffet at mgm.
Circus circus. That's old area
I think at this point, Circus Circus is just happy that the OYO is taking some of the heat for worst! It amazes me how far the owners will let these (once upon a time) iconic hotels and resorts literally crumble from beneath them.
She didn't even bring up the Manor at Circus Circus
That part of the hotel will always make CC the worst casino hotel on the strip for me
@@BlueRabbitKing The Manor is without a doubt, one of the sleaziest and dirtiest places on the entire strip. Seriously, I don't understand how CC is even still operating at this point. There's literally nobody ever there.
@@ianhood8081CC charges $600+ per night anytime the Las Vegas fair grounds are used for a festival
To us that have yet to be a visitor to Las Vegas you are passing on some very valuable insights. There is a real fear of picking the wrong venue for your stay as there are such a variety of places to stay and levels of quality yet they all look great in the advertising of these resorts.
Always read the reviews. It helps 😊
I have been to the Southpointe Casino hotel is the best for me.
From a local (Summerlin): Your videos are spot on and provide a great service to unsuspecting tourists, but you missed the Strat.
You have to remember, Hotel Apache, renamed from Binions Horseshoe, is an older HOTEL, one of the first on Fremont St, and the rooms are going to be super small. People that complain about the size of the rooms, should see the ones at Golden Gate. They are super tiny, but again, Golden Gate is the oldest hotel, 1 Fremont St, and the original phone number was 1. Hotel Apache (Binions Horseshoe) is not built with families in mind, but couples or singles traveling through Vegas for a night or two. If you are looking for amenities galore, then stay at a Resort on the strip. These are not resorts, they are HOTELS. There is a huge difference between a resort and a hotel.
It doesn't matter if a hotel is old or new. It should be at least Clean
I found Binions to be one of the cleanest hotels.
30 years ago I stayed at Binion's and I had a choice between the newer Tower who are the old hotel Apache which was not remodeled back then it was just old..
Way in the back at Binions there was a desk and a circular staircase for the hotel Apache and they gave you a real key.. I think the price was only $40 or less. I loved everything about Binion's casino.. $2 steak dinner late night. Great gambling.. fair prices... lots of people having fun... now it's empty
Why are you going to bat for a hotel? The room was ugly as shit, the window was 5 feet off the ground, they didn’t have a closet and there was 20 foot ceilings.
You can go to the Linq and get a better room that’s the same size and be in the heart of Vegas
@@deanvoss7098 I played $1 craps until about 5am with a guy from Tennessee at Binion's back in 1997. They had a great deal downstairs for a bone-in ribeye and baked potato. Man, all of downtown was awesome back then. No stupid canopy, no garage bands, and no assorted drunks and idiots from all over. And it was kind of seedy. A real gambling hole. I liked that. It was great. Then they just had to make it as flashy as possible. It's still fun but not like it once was.
Appreciate your feedback in your videos! Very helpful & thorough!
I hope that Rio can be revitalized! I only visited there once back in like 2008. Went to the buffet for breakfast and then hit the slots for a bit before heading to Valley of Fire for the remainder of the day. The buffet was REALLY good - great value for the price at the time. The gaming floor was really busy, too.
Rember the carnival in the sky ?
15 years is a long time...
The buffet is gone
I haven’t been back to Rio since 2018 but it was my go to for so many years. Rooms are huge and clean and we had great room service. Great prices as well. I always chose it because the size of the room and price and it was close to everything. Uber was cheap. I would go back. I’ve stayed at many others in Vegas but still have a sweet spot for Rio. I’ll also add that I like the old Vegas vibe.
Rio was hot in the 90s. carnival in the sky and the whole Mardi Gras vibe. 2 great buffets as well. Hope it bounces back
I've stayed at Excalibur twenty-three times. It wasn't of my choosing. My company loved this hotel for conventions and we went to Vegas conventions 4-5 times a year. I worked for the company five years.
That sounds like torture!
I went to undergrad in Reno in the early 1980s. When we got tired of cafeteria food at the university, we'd pile into one car and head over to the Circus Circus buffet, which as I recall you could get for $1.99 back then. It was absolutely abysmal, pretty much the same as what you showed in this video. Some things never change.
Remember the foul odor that always lingered in that buffet and near the entrance? Some days you could smell it throughout the casino.
She said Vegas,not Reno. Duh!!😮
I have never heard anything remotely positive about any of those five properties. When I go on a vacation I don't plan on 'saving' money. I tend to splurge, and a sketchy hotel will never see my name on the register. There are ways to spend modest amounts and still have good value for money spent. Staying in a trashy hotel ain;t one of them. My motto: Stay well, eat well, drink well, tip well or stay home.
No excuse for a person raised in the American culture to be a bad tipper. No shame if one can't afford to chip in towards the staff wages. But if you step inside of that type of business, get with the program. And tip extra anyplace where women are exploited by being forced to wear sexy costumes, because obviously they really need the money.
Ok entitled rich person.
Couldn't agree more. If you're going to go somewhere like Vegas, dont try to save a buck unless it's with a place you already know is legit. It's going to cost you, accept it. Budget accordingly
@@sammyinbrooklynok jealous bad tipper
Ok cry baby poor person.@@sammyinbrooklyn
Great video Ruby !! Thank you for sharing your experiences with us !!
I like Excalibur and have never had a bad room, I agree the cost of the room is a draw but we go, normally twice a year, and can't see paying 200 to 300 a night for a room you don't spend that much time in. I would rather spend my money on gambling.
Some people don’t like spending their money to stay in a dump on vacation. To each their own!
@@ryanm4013 I've never had a bad room at Excalibur either.
@@ryanm4013Sleep in a dump, not stay. Nobody stays in their room. That's why people, such as myself, don't mind saving money on a room I only sleep and shower in.
I like how you said that!!! I Splurge on Vacation and generally live w/in my means 50 weeks a yr, WORKING HARD THEN NO GUILT W A LITTLE PLAYING/WASTING W MONEY ON VACA, THX 😊
But quite a few people here don't think Excalibur is a dump. I'm with gslogar - I like Excalibur, and I've never had a bad room there either. It's well placed, the staff are excellent, decent pools, and the Fun Dungeon is a nice change, and especially good if you have kids. It's interesting that of all the hotels listed, Excalibur is the one people seem to be defending the most in the comments. Clearly there's some love there.
It’s been a few years since I’ve been to Vegas, but Excalibur isn’t that bad. It’s older and shows its age, but it’s decent. We stayed at The Linq more recently and absolutely hated it.
The Circus Circus was the first Vegas hotel I stayed in back in the mid 90s. Packed lots of energy. I walked in there several months ago and completely empty. Sad because of the history that place has with Jay Sarno. James Bond and Hunter Thompson
Circus Circus used to be a vibe back in the 90s.
I think it could be a vibe again if someone who cares actually spends money on it and fixes it up :) @@rblues01
It is sad. Several movies were filmed there. They should renovate Circus a bit & add more security. Their steakhouse is on Zagat list & the Best. The Strat bounced back & looks great.
They're renovating the Circus Circus 🎪 and Rio
On a positive note there were no bodies in any of the pools.
I am older - so much so I remember when Binion's had a million dollars on display, all in $10,000 bills, and when the Circus Circus was around 5 years old. I mean I was a kid at the time, but still, that was a loooong time ago. Also, if there is something(s) wrong with your room, take photos. That way you can show the front desk - it can motivate a quicker resolution to the issue, because if you have pictures on your phone, it can appear on social media. At the very least, it will make someone else's stay in the future a bit nicer.
GREAT idea
I haven't been to Vegas in 20 years and have no plans to go anytime soon, but I'm loving these videos. Good job!
We stayed at Excalibur twice this year. Yes! It’s dated. But the rooms we stayed at werent dirty. In my opinion if you’re going to Vegas splurge accordingly. Excalibur is a great choice to save some money. You don’t need to splurge on a room just for the brag IMO lol. No one is walking around the strip asking where ur staying. ur in VEGAS BABY!!!
Some of us stay at the resort and enjoy the amenities and don't walk around the strip….
@@MH_6160LAAAAMMMMEEEEE
Circus Circus was built in 1968, it was in decent shape when i went there as a kid back in the early 70's.
Yep it was and lots of people, but isn’t that about 50 years ago?
In 20 years of stays at Excalibur I've never had a bad room. From the old tower one rooms to the resort tower rooms. They have always been clean well stocked nicest housekeeping. Nicest front desk. Pool is always nice and fun. They use to have entertainment at pools they had live music the singer got in pool and was singing with swimmers. They use to give spring break and summer vacation packages. Free house wines or tap beers free lunch buffet coupons. Always had great stays. They had awesome cafe miss it so much and a camelot steakhouse another great place gone. Sir Galahad's prime rib another great place they had. The casino ive had good luck in and its fun but i agree with you air quality us so bad there were couple trips i couldnt even walk in my eyes were burning between the smoke and the air fragrance they put out to cover smoke smell. It was so bad. Agree beds are hit or miss ive had fine ones and ones so hard was not best night sleep. They really do need a total renovation though. Like a cool Modern look but still medieval. Like all grey and black stone. Royal blue carpets in gaming area and the walkways between the gaming dark stone or grey wood flooring. Knights, cool torch lighting. Cool like shrubbery , spikes, spirals and ones to look like chess pieces like alone walls. All look like Excalibur but not cheezy and dated. It has so much potential. Plus get rid of those time share people.
Yes! remove the time share peeps, and bring me........a shrubbery!
@@perroblanco4 Then, when you have found the shrubbery, you must place it here beside this shrubbery, only slightly higher so you get the two-level effect with a little path running down the middle.
You two seriously made me laugh out loud!!!
Hi Ruby, thank you so much for being so helpful and nice and giving cutting edge advice❤
I loved Excalibur. But then I was looking for a budget friendly hotel. I knew going in it wasn't going to be the Wynn. I find the rooms comfortable and clean, the casino floor large, lots of food options, conveniently located next to NYNY and attached to Luxor/Mandalay Bay. And as someone who walks with a cane and uses the Deuce to go up and down the strip, the bus stops aren't crazy far from the hotel and don't take forever to walk to and from. I found Bally's/Horseshoe to be the worst hotel I've stayed in. Sure the room was big, but it was loud, the hallways were smokey despite it being a non smoking floor, the casino was crazy smokey too.. and sure it's a nice location but a long walk from the hotel to the strip and not an easy walk either with having to go up the walkway and then hope the escalators are working to take you into the casino. And it's absolutely awful for the Deuce.
Won't ever stay there again. I go every year for Christmas and I'm already booked for Excalibur this year.
Same. My wife and I love Excalibur. We usually get the soaking tub room. Comes with a mini fridge and a strip view. I get it was built in the 90s in the Overtheming heyday of Vegas but I looked better 30 years ago too. Never had a bad stay there and I'm not paying Caeser's prices. I can see where, for a younger couple, it might not be ideal. It seems to me that MGM is slowly rehabbing their older properties. Just stayed up at Southpoint. Very nice. Love to gamble there. Room was very nice but it was too far from the strip and just didn't feel "homey". Thanks as always Ruby. 😊
I got my January trip at Excalibur too!! Love it! ❤😊
@@jimneundorf9957how much is the soaking tub room, it sounds nice
Thank you for your comment. I am staying there because it's reasonably priced. The other hotels were just so expensive, and I want to actually spend money on experiences and dining. I'm only planning on being in the room to sleep. Otherwise, I'm going to be enjoying my vacation to the max on the outside of the room. My parents always thought me not to look for hotels that are clean and safe. They don't have to be five star especially if I'm only going to be in the room for sleep.
I stayed at Excalibur in 2001 when I was a child, I loved the location and there was lots for kids to do which is never a given in Vegas
Short, sweet, and directly to the point. Great video!
I stayed once at a bad room at excaliber and the stench was terrible however, I gave it another shot and opted for stay well room and I have to say it was so much better. I dont stay there often but when I do I only book a stay well room. At MGM Grand the stay well and the regular room feel the same but at excaliber you definitely feel and see and smell the difference
Lifetime Vegas resident here. I find it funny when people post videos like this. You want modern luxury? Go pay 300 plus per night at Cosmo, Wynn, etc. Just because something is perceived as "dated" doesn't mean it's still not great in its own way. The Midway at Circus Circus looks and feels exactly the same way it did when I was kid in the late 70's and 80"s. I f**king love that. Excalibur held the record for the largest hotel in the world when it was built. Still going because people want deals. So many properties like this like the Luxor, MGM Grand, RIo...these were the diamonds of Vegas at one time and still have something to offer. I think modern Vegas sucks. It's overpriced in every way and completely corporate. I would stay at historic hotel like the ones I mentioned any day over the overpriced greed fest of the modern Las Vegas Strip. In fact Vegas tears down its history like the Desert Inn, Sands, Dunes, Riviera, and now the Tropicana which I think is grotesque. Fountainblue is a gigantic overpriced whale that no one gives a f**k about on the north end of the Strip. At least they salvaged the Sahara and restored its name after the SLS debacle. There is history in Vegas and this city is not just for everyone to come and act like yo yos doing s**t they would never do where they actually live. Respect it.
Knowing the worst is as important as knowing the best! Thanks Ruby! I agree Rio and Excalibur are old and tired and to be avoided. One of the other reviewers actually left Rio and didn’t even stay the night there!
I always stay at Excalibur. Staff is always helpful. Plus slots pay out when I play their. You get what you pay for. It's definitely no bilagio
Good call. Have gambled at the Bellagio several times and the last two times I played some craps and slots and left within about 30 mins. Their slots are some of the worst and have always been super tight with payouts. You're lucky to break even there. My Mom and Dad went there on the opening weekend, thinking that the slots would be good for payouts. You know, since it was opening weekend. My Mom was playing $5 and $10 slots and lost like $3,000. No comps, no payouts, nothing.
I'll never go back there again, worst experience ever.
We got denied boarding leaving Vegas last year right before Christmas as the Southwest meltdown began. They put us up at the OYO. Bedbugs,meth heads hanging out at the entrance, and no Fs given laziness at the sports book. This place needs a complete overhaul from top to bottom. Only nice thing I can say is the pit boss when we played table games was about the nicest man I’ve ever spoken with in town. He deserves a better place to work.
Those are the holidays to remember though eh?!
When we were kid's growing up in Vegas in the 50s and 60s, we couldn't wait for Circus Circus to open in 1968. We rode our bikes across town. Left them out by the front door. Went to the arcade and had fun! Las Vegas was cool back in the day when the Mob ran the joint 😎
Only reason I stay at circus circus is it’s proximity to the festival grounds. Makes it super convenient
Love it, or hate it: *Circus Circus is a legendary Las Vegas hotel & casino.* 🎪🤡
Your videos are always so professional. I'm glad you don't try to mix with other people who do Vegas videos. Thanks for all the "honest" great videos. I love them. Stay classy Ruby. ❤
Great review. We usually walk through the Oyo for the cheap tables and drinks but never have stayed there. Thanks for the heads up!
For fifteen years I literally traveled every week for business, somewhere. Once, I checked into a hotel that the client required I stay at and found toe nail clippings, among other things in the room. I checked out, and went to a much better place. At the client the next day I informed them I’d not be staying there, they said I had too.
I went and packed my things, and headed to the airport. That was officially the shortest consulting engagement of my career. Well, they called me six months later after they had a real mess on their hands, and said I could stay anywhere as long as I came and helped them. So, I did. I had a second floor ocean view room, access to a beautiful beach and amazing room service, every night. I didn’t even bother checking out on the weekends, so I could always have my room.
I will sayI have stayed at Circus Circus almost every year I have been to Vegas for The APA World Championships in Both 8-Ball and 9-Ball Pool Tournamenst. Amd I have only had one bad experience with a room where The people at the Front Desk took care of it on the spot and they even commped me other things to mke up for it. Also It has started to under go a huge remodeling that started when I was there back in Aug 2023. So maybe give it another chance down the road Ruby. Hope to meet you and Mr. Ruby the next time I am in Vegas. 👋
Never underestimate the absolute horror that happens to your casino resort when you let any version of Caesars Ent. purchase it. The Rio was an awesome resort before Harrahs/Caesars/Apollo Global bought it. They step by step dismantled it. First, steered all the VIP play from the Rio to Caesars on the strip, then ended the Show in the Sky, then because they are geniuses-ended all investment and maintenance on the property. How Caesars can keep a gaming license is a mystery.
That is so true...I remember when the Rio was the go to spot for hotels in Vegas, and the Around the World buffet was the best in town......now it is a sad shadow of what it once was.
This is 1000% true
a few years ago we went to Rio for a star trek convention. it was ok. there were lots of areas that felt abandoned. it was just weird . when I was a kid my family went to circus circus and it seemed like the whole place was closed. no one was there, you could see the trapese and net but no one was there.
It I$ quite $imple$........... brown enverlope$ filled with campaign contribution$
Ruby thanks for the honest, with that being said. I visited Vegas for the first time back in 2004 and my co-worker tricked me into staying at the "Circus, Circus". I was super angry at her, kids running around at 2-3A.M. I wanted to call children and family to report it. The rooms felt like motel 6 and I didn't want to undress in the room. Lesson learned now it the Wynn/Encore or Bellagio or Venetian for me.
More important is what casinos provide 3-2 payout on blackjacks. Who spends much time in the rooms when in Vegas?
I totally agree with your top four but I wouldn't have Excalibur on the list. The number of people constantly checking in there and the packed casino also says it's much more popular than the reviews would say. Thanks for the video.
People checking in doesn’t matter because it’s cheap. Some people will deal with crappy or mediocre if it’s cheap.
@@ShinmegamiPersona No if it's crappy people will stop checking in. They think it's a good deal.
Totally agree!
Looking at the comments. A lot of people are getting free rooms, that’s why there’s always a steady stream. This doesn’t mean anything.
@@kirstybrown1185 No that's not why
I went to Las Vegas for the first time this past February. We stayed at one of the Hilton‘s which is across the street from Circus Circus. One of the tours we took picked us up at Circus Circus, so we walked over there, walk through the building, the casino to get to the area where the bus was going to pick us up. The overwhelming scent of raw sewage on the main floor was enough to tell me I would never stay at this hotel
I personally don't like staying on the strip, too noisy and chaotic. My place is the Silverton Lodge; they have a free shuttle to the Aria several times a day (round trip). The SL is very family friendly, the restaurants are reasonable with excellent quality. The Aria is a great drop off by shuttle, smack in between the best strip casinos to walk around and see the interior design glory (until the MGM destroys it all....more on that later).
Great video! Excalibur does have one good thing going for it, and that is the buffet. It's $29 on weekdays, and the times I've had it, it was pretty good. Sure, the Palms is roughly the same price and MUCH BETTER, but if we're talking On The Strip, the buffet is cheap AND solid.
Honesty is always the best policy. Thanks Ruby!
Hi Ruby! We vacationed in Las Vegas last spring and just found it too expensive to go to again any time soon. We always stay in a timeshare, but did find that our last stay last year was at a Hilton Grand Vacations -- behind the Flamingo -- that we would NOT recommend unless you enjoy your building vibrating all day long. See, as this HGV Flamingo is behind the Go Pool, there is a DJ playing VERY LOUD music all day long (around 10-6 daily). The bass is sooooooooooo deep, the timeshare vibrates (and I've been in a San Francisco high rise during an earthquake). Plus, the pools are great, but the music too loud to even hear your own music through your ear buds.
hi ruby! can you do a list of the cleanest hotel rooms? i have not seen this yet from anyone. i have stayed at an expensive hotel which was not as clean as i expected and have stayed at nyny and luxor rooms that were quite clean. i prefer a clean room to a fancy room.
Check @jacobslifeinvegas. He always does a cleanliness check in the bathroom (Ruby's always seemed honest about the overall room cleanliness).
Watching this while sitting in my room at the Rio. Ghost Town/food desert. Shabby and sad, I upgraded to a larger room but everything is faded beige on beige. We're only here because of a convention held here. I came here 25 years ago and it was amazing in its heyday.
Hi Ruby! We recently stayed at Excalibur and were very happy with our room. We got a room credit and used it at the buffet 👍🏽👍🏽. The bathroom had a steam shower which we loved. The restaurants were good and the pool was nice. We then went over to Luxor and hated it. It was so dirty and dark at Luxor. The walkways were always broken, the food places were just meh, it was not worth the price and resort fees we paid. I was surprised they didn't make your list. 😅 Thanks for the content! We love your channel!
We also stayed at Excalibur a couple of weeks ago. I didn't think it was that bad for someplace to lay your head at night.
Luxor is slowly sinking into the ground. Several plans to stop the sink are being discussed.
We stayed at Luxor for our sons’ 21st birthday. Simply awful. The place is downright depressing.
Long as there aren't any bed bugs >.>@@crispy8329
Is that the one with the Egyptian theme? @@aprilrich807
We went to Top of Binion's Steakhouse in August for my birthday and the service was excellent and food was superb. I would definitely go again.
I too have stayed at almost every hotel in Vegas. I find your top 5 to be pretty accurate. Bally's, now Horseshoe, was the one hotel I was comped, I walked into the room, and said, "No way!". I couldn't stay there for free....rug and curtains filthy, torn furniture, tiny room. Rio, Excaliber, Circus all dumps. Circus Circus does have a fabulous steakhouse!
What;s your opinion on The Linq, NYNY, and Paris Hotel... Stay or NO WAY.
Paris has a great location, the rooms are pretty nice. Occasionally get a room where the furniture is a little scuffed up. Overall I would stay there in a heartbeat. Linq...another great location, but rooms are small....still the Imperial Palace to me! In that vicinity I would opt for Harrah's or Paris. NYNY....it's ok not a good pool experience. Prefer MGM across the street, but NYNY nicer than Excaliber and Luxor
Thanks. Luxor is a SLUM lol Excalibur not much better. I know not to book in either ever. And Lucor has worst tasying Buffet in Vegas.
I think Circus Circus could be great again if they actually put some money into the place and fix it up, keep it affordable still but they really could do some cool things if they wanted! Updated decor for sure would be nice, I love the carnival floor though, I'm not someone who drinks alcohol or gambles, so I'd probably be in the carnival area lol. I really hope they fix it up and make it awesome again :) same with the Rio.
My husband booked our trip when we went to Las Vegas this past June. We stayed at the Rio 😞 We definitely wouldn't stay there again. I was surprised to see how many people had their dogs with them. The only thing about it that I found upsetting is that some people actually walked their dogs on the blistering got pavement. I feel they should probably put signs up to remind people that their paws will burn on the pavement
most of thos people dont want to cheap/spend lil extra money to kennel the dogs while on vaca
i stayed at the rio for a week back in 2002 and at that time, it was a very nice place and the crowds were huge. they still did the carnival shows and i still have about a dozen strings of beads that got thrown down at me. both buffets were excellent. but i heard from lots of people that after the economy crashed in 2007-8, the place changed drastically and went downhill very fast.
I was going to post that I remember the same. When it opened it was the hip off-strip place to be. I went to their seafood buffet and it was great. It has fallen BAD
The downfall of the Rio started in 1999 when Harrah's took it over. A financial crisis caused them to focus more on their Strip property than the Rio off-strip. Hopefully new ownership changes things. Looks like their doing renovations, and if they bring back the carnival shows or something more modern, the place will become a ting again.
I know this is of little use, but it was the BEST, and I can't help but mention it: The original MGM. Why this magnificent hotel/casino turned into a nightmare, due to an act of carelessness, haunts me still. The lobby and casino floor fire alarms were ignored by many, and it cost them their lives. A hotel that has a faulty alarm system, that eventually will be ignored, has no business being in business. Thank you for your Insight. I agree with your list completely.
The original MGM was absolutely gorgeous!! My parents took me there for my 21st birthday and I was aww struck. My parents were also there the day it burnt down😢
My dad was a big gambler so we stayed at the MGM frequently when I was a kid. Even as a youngster I was awe struck by the glamour of the place. To this day, I remember the beautiful restaurants : Cafe Gigi, Caruso’s and Barrymore’s.
I think those were the names.
There was a movie memorabilia shop downstairs that sold actual movie props and such.
I remember the big show was Hallelujah Hollywood. I was way too young to see it, but I so wanted to.
As I’m writing this, I’m realizing I spent more time there than a little kid should have. 😅
@@SLisheron1 Spot on! Your list brought back great memories! Thank you!!
Fortunately, I can avoid between sketchy, rundown, over priced hotel rooms, and just stay with my cousin who lives in the city proper. His place is clean, lives on a quite cul de sac, and there is laundry too. Thanks for your list. I have stayed at Circus Circus maybe 20 yrs ago. Don't recall it being too bad, but it was run down even back then.
neat story.
I stayed at Caesars in 2005 and it was terrible. Also very overpriced. I heard they renovated the rooms a couple years later but it left me bitter and I never went back. In fact in several trips to Vegas I don't think I had fun at all. Gambling is boring and most of the shows are unimpressive. And the shopping is overrated. The Forum is a waste of space.
I stayed at the Oyo when it was the San Remo. I was attending a work conference at the Luxor but they didn't have any rooms available and I wanted to try something different that was within walking distance. It was different all right. The first night after coming back from the conference there were signs posted on the elevators stating that there was no running water and there wouldn't be until 6am the next morning. To make up for this, they offered free drinks at the bar, which if you think about it is the dumbest thing you could possibly do. How do you think toilets flush? The room was filthy exactly as you described. I have never been more uncomfortable outside of a 'no-tell motel' I was forced to stay in many years ago in downtown Reno. I would also put Circus Circus as number 2 on my list. I always fly out on New Year's Day and I am hoping the strip is cleaned up from all the F1 nonsense by then. Thinking of trying the Fountainbleu if I can get a room.
When my family and I would go to Las Vegas when I was growing up, my dad would give my brother and I both $20, and throw us into the arcade place while he and my mom would go gamble. So, you showing that, brought back a lot of fun memories 😊! We did not stay there
Recall the games where could win extra large kid heighth stuffed animals. My brother had a collection from his winnings. My parents went there every year n summer. Good times
First stay at Rio in April of 2022 wasn't too bad. I was in the Masquerade tower and stayed there Thursday through Sunday. Room was clean. Weather was just warm enough to make the pool time fun. And Vegas overall wasn't too, too crazy packed...except for those crazy teens for the BTS concerts at Allegiant.
Second stay there was with my son in June of 2022. We stayed in the Ipanema tower and I think that one REALLY needs updating and upgrading---or tear it down altogether. Elevators kept breaking down. Seemed like outside of ours, there were two families packed into every other room on our floor with at least 5 little kids in each. It was waaaay too hot to even consider going down to the pool. Vegas was packed, but it was my son's first time and his 30th Bday, so we had a great time all around despite the room issues.
Since then, we've heard about the new owners and possible renovations, so we'll avoid it until we hear good news.
This year, for my son's Bday, we stayed at Harrah's and found the room small, but clean and the bathroom was nice. We actually spent more time at other hotel casinos, but I liked that Harrah's sort of flowed over into The Linq and Flamingo casinos smoothly.
It’s always great to see you again . Keep up the great work !!!
Just a note about staying at 4 Queens, make sure you don't get a room directly above the walkway where the crazies hang out, they were up all night making all kinds of noise and guess what, no sleep for me!! Great review Ruby, TY!
We were just arriving at the Queens driving towards the parking garage when I notice a tall guy in a too small wheelchair reach in his pants to pee like a fountain in the air.
It's stuff like this that makes me reconsider Fremont st.
I remember the Rio as one of my favorite properties back in 2001-10. It was great with the Show in the Sky (there are vids on utube, if you havent seen them)a great casino with cocktail hostesses in carvival costumes some others on stilts it was amazing. DON"T FORGET THE TWO seperate buffets ONE OF WHICH WAS A TOTAL SEAFOOD ONE located in a separate part of the casino called Masquerade Village. Oh! and then there was the VooDoo lounge with it"s spectacular view at night of the Strip from it's lofty location at this once great hotel! I miss it very much. Only fond memories remain!
I too remember those good old days at the Rio. I hope the new owners will bring back the vibe---but I am afraid they might not.
As someone watching this whilst eating my breakfast, I'm doubtful that 7:03 is really cinnamon roll icing... 🤮 love the list Ruby! When I stayed at NYNY, I enjoyed Oyo's casino floor for the cheap roulette/blackjack and friendly dealers, but so glad I didn't stay there, it looked ragged and felt unsafe.
Human enthusiasm?😏
Excalibur smells so bad it that it actually smells good. When I walk in there the smell immediately gets me hyped to get drunk and gamble. I wouldn’t want to stay there though.
So glad to see OYO at #1. That place was sketch as hell. We went just because there was a promo and I knew people that liked the ooooooold Hooters hotel. Worse mistake… avoid it like the plague. Guest safety isn’t an issue either… was the victim of a hit and run and OYO wouldn’t give my insurance the other driver’s plates who was caught in camera (security confirmed they had it).
Hit n Run is a crime, get police involved
@@vpmassacre4771 believe me I did. They wouldn’t come to the hotel so I drove to LVMPD. They wouldn’t do anything. Waited over an hour, did the paperwork… but was basically told they wouldn’t follow up on it since there were no injuries and damage was just chipped paint and dent.
One time I ALMOST booked a room there as I was looking for something near the Strip to save money. I went in one day and said THANK GOD I didn't stay here. Holy crap.
If they didn’t knock down the Riviera, that was a good place to stay, affordable rooms, good crowds, nice pool, good sports book,a good food court, cheap 🍺, but that’s not what the vibe is on the strip now! they were supposed to build part of the convention center, now it’s a parking lot for the fountain blue, that sat there for about 12-14 years not done, from 2000. -2015 I stayed at the riviera about 22 times and loved it, me and my family have more memories at that place , than any other hotel we ever have stayed, 🪦 RIP the RIVIERA thanks for the memories ❤
My wife and I stayed at the flamingo one time and woke up with a rash on our backs and rear ends ! We never stayed there again . The Aladin was great .
Riviera was the first hotel I stayed in Vegas. I loved it.
The carpet throughout the Riveria smelled like 60 year old smoke. Not for me and my lungs. Do appreciate the history of it though.
It's whatever works for you. If one room is a nightmare, it doesn't mean all the rooms are a nightmare. I can basically figure out a place to go without watching 100 different reviews. One thing that irritates me to no end are the room prices plus resort fees. I did a quick Expedia search and the "cheapest" rooms (that show on top) is at the Strat (a place that I probably wouldn't stay at). Only $8 per night, with a $51 per might resort fee. I wish hotels would stop playing this game. The room isn't $8 per night but $59 per night. Post that as the price!
I don't work there or anything, but what would you prefer that Binions do with their hotel rooms? The building is nearly 100 years old, which probably limits their ability to knock walls out etc to make bigger rooms -- it's the same rooms as when the hotel opened in 1932. You're describing some things that could be fixed: Better adjoining doors, wardrobes to hang clothes, etc, but I don't think they can change the size of the rooms.
Things are probably better in the former Mint tower, and it IS possible to snoop around in there, but it's shut down and pretty much WON'T reopen because asbestos mitigation would be too expensive. I really expect Binions to join the Las Vegas Club in disappearing sometime in the next ten years, probably under new ownership, especially now that people have an idea of how well Circa is or isn't doing.
There's a lot you can do to make a small room feel nice. Furniture, built in storage, updated fixtures, nice bedding, thoughtful decor. The size of a room is the least of my concerns when I book a hotel. Should make for a quieter stay as well since people aren't going to be throwing parties. I think they should lean into the fact that the building is old and make them vintage-chic. The Cromwell is a great example of this.
could be made into a singles hotel, not a party singles hotel, but smaller rooms for people who travel alone and don't want to pay for double occupancy on a larger room. Make it safe and comfortable for single travelers.
Hands down, you're still the BEST Vegas review host of all...and I've watched them all! ❤
My Uncle had a connection from Montana with Benny Binion back in the day...we were invited to visit the Hotel but never took him up on it.
Kind of "ancient history" as Fremont Street was still actually a street back then...😂
I have to agree with you on "Circus, Circus"! The 1st time I went to Vegas by myself, I stayed there because it was cheap. Lord, did I learn a lesson quick as to why! I was in a room that wasn't even part of the towers. It was in an area that seemed to be a re-worked adjacent Motel 6. Super sketchy people hanging out and I never felt safe going in and out of my room after sunset. It's too bad Rio has gone to pot! I remember staying there when it was in it's hay day. Now it's like a haunted house and creepy. Amazing it's still 'open'...
Sounds like you stayed in the Manor out back. Those were the original rooms of Circus Circus long before the Main, West, and Skyrise Towers were built. The round structure in front of Manor 1 used to be the main casino.
From what I've heard it's going to take at least 18 months to get things back in shape. Could take even longer. It was such a place 25 years ago. I hope they get back up and running right.
It reminds me of going to the comedy club in the arts district. it was the cheap night where anybody gets 5-10 minutes. My wife and I still laugh about the comedian (sorry forgot his name) that started off with "I was walking by the circus circus...because everything was going right in my life".
The thing about CC is that it is...CC. It knows it has a niche and it plays to it. They will always be what they are no matter what and like it or not, it is a Vegas icon.
I think they're slowly renovating Excalibur. I've stayed there two years running and it's... okay. We had a great time last year. This year it was okay. I stay there when I go on my own as well simply because I can walk to the MGM poker room. I used to live in LV too and I totally agree with your choices.
'Dated' hotel rooms don't bother me in the least. I wouldn't care if it was something out of the 1930's if it was clean and well maintained. Dirty and/or unmaintained rooms DO bother me, however, as does noise.
I’m with you. Dated décor doesn’t bother me. I’m not planning on living there. Just need it to be clean.
When you went DT…I would have guessed 4 Queens would be the choice as “real bad.” It sure is for me!! Conversely - my comped stay from MyVegas at Circus Circus was good, comfy and clean. On any given day….ANY hotel can be crap…we’ve had very rough rooms given to us at Bellagio, too….and we pay full price when we stay there!!💕
The Apache makes me sad. It could be a cool historic Vegas experience if they treated it right
I enjoy Excalibur! Circus Circus, if it’s not in The Towers don’t stay there. I remember Oyo when it use to be Hooters. I didn’t like the food but the plus about that place was it wasn’t too far from the airport.
I agree with every one of your picks on this list. I do stay at Excalibur only because it is central to the majority of the shows that I like and the price. The only one that I would consider adding to your list is the Wild Wild West hotel and casino.
Wild Wild West closed in Sep 2022. The land was going to be used for the new A's ballpark, but the deal fell through and the A's are moving to the Tropicana site.
I believe the wild wild west is no more. literally the building is gone? I used to stay across the street at one of the cheapie hotels, and hike over to gamble there. Raiders stadium made it a little to coveted for the wwwest to survive methinks.
@@pocketaces6756 Thanks for the update on Wild Wild West. I have not been by that site for a couple of years.
Circus Circus is Amazing!!
The knife throwing act has really improved over the years. I barely got through the parking lot last time. 🔪
I feel like these five properties do really well at trying hard to be subpar. In terms of a “bad” Vegas hotel experience, Harrah’s has probably been my least favorite. The Mirage last year was “meh” (not bad, just underwhelming). Bally’s was fine but even with the change to Horseshoe, I feel like that property still needs a bit more TLC.
I was pissed at the Mirage when I discovered they pulled their poker room out and replaced it with High Limit slots. And now it's gonna be changed to the Hard Rock. See ya Mirage!
Hi Ruby, my wife and I got married in LV back in 98 (10.31.98) and this was our first trip to LV and stayed at Circus Circus because of the price. Yes, I agree that the ones you showed are outdated properties. We've stayed at "The Dirty Castle" and the Rio as well. Again, because they were comped rooms and a couple on a budget. I was not offended at all the these were on your list. You put out great content.
Circus circus: NOTHING floats down here!
I’m super surprised that the Rio has fallen so far down. My buddy and I stayed there about 15 years ago and it was a really happening place. The pool area was super busy because the Victoria’s Secret models were there and having a show later that night. The room was HUGE. Two bedrooms, a big jacuzzi tub, two vanities. It was the highlife. It was a bit of a hike to the strip, but still was a great place to stay.
With almost (all?) of the strip properties now having pay parking, that’s one more problem for Rio (and other off-strip properties). Used to be that you would save money to stay off-strip and then park at one of the free parking garages. But now, might as well just stay on the strip if you’re going to have to pay for parking anyway.
Stayed at Excalibur in the late 2000's, was a great cheap and cheerful hotel as a base to explore the strip from. Sad to see that it hasn't kept up to date and doesn't look any different from back then.
Hey, I wanted to say thanks for your videos, we just got back from our first time in Vegas (primarily to get married after being together for 16 years [yes, really]) and your tips really did come in handy. We stayed at Luxor in an Elite Tower King and it was fine. I mean, there was some wear and tear here and there but we didn't expect a 5 star experience, just a place to hang our hats in between gambling sessions (and seeing U2).
I think one of the things that struck us was how small the gaming floors seemed in the casinos. We have a few casinos here in Philly and also Atlantic City is a short drive away.. and they just seemed smaller than where we play here. I think some of it MIGHT be it seemed the "new thing" were the giant slot machines, which can make the room look smaller? Looking at the stats they are larger so I guess they just SEEMED smaller.
i would add the straight to the list. We booked what was advertised as the second best room in the hotel. It contained a ling size bed and chest of draws a side shelf and a ottoman. No chairs. The laminate flooring put down in the foyer and washroom was installed incorrectly and was warped. It popped when you walk on it. the shower was a walk in with no door on it. As well our vehicle was broken into in the valet parking and we lost about $3500 worth of stuff.
My room at Excalibur was clean (dated) and comfortable.
If you were satisfied with Excalibur, you need to get out more!! 😂😂😂 let me guess…you also think Olive Garden is some good Italian eating
Like gambling, I guess you just got lucky.
Just got back from Vegas on Wednesday. Stayed at The Platinum!! So beautiful and clean. Also direct view of the Sphere 2 blocks away. One block off strip. Full kitchen and separate bedroom. Air b and b find😊
I last stayed at the Rio in 2012. I had gone to the VooDoo rooftop nightclub a couple years before that, and the crowd rivaled any of the top clubs on the strip. When my wife and I stayed in ‘12, they had actually upgraded our room with a great view just a floor below the VooDoo. So we decided to go. Although there was a sizable crowd, it was nothing like its hey day. The casino was still lively with live music, dancers, and that huge Buffett was still there. So watching this made me a bit sad. Had some good times at that place. I doubt Dreamscape can do much for it. Seems like their plans is to throw a band aid over it.
Love the buffet the best
Will and do miss it‼️
Thanks for the heads up!
I was a Vegas semi-regular from the mid 90s to the mid 00s. Back then the Rio was the IT place. They hosted the World Series of Poker. My group would go Friday/Saturday Night largely for their Seafood Buffet. The place was packed but never left disappointed. Sad to see its decay.
I stayed at the hotel when it was Hooters and it was just as bad. We turned on the air conditioning unit and it sounded like somebody was banging pots and pans in the room. 😅 And there was some unidentified stains in various places, too. They had Hooters and steak and shake and a little cafe that was decent, but the casino was very small. Definitely would not recommend that place either.
Before Hooters, it was the Same Remo. Their restaurant at the time was decent...
Once arrived at Hooters to find a bed in the room- that's it. When the call was placed to the front desk I'm told there was some remodeling being done and "bless their heart" they sent a chair (?).
That was the last stay at Hooters.
@DebbieLee-dr3hr wow😮
I'd go to see some Hooters, then leave. As the cops say, "Nothing to see here!"
You hit the nail on the head girl
I love your candid opinions! Yes!❤
Breathes a sigh of relief my hotel isn’t listed 😂
Circus Circus always shows up on do not stay lists. Plus the area around is sketchy
Was just in Vegas a week ago and it is so wild to me that families wake up thinking ‘yes let’s take the baby and kids to Vegas’. I don’t get that thinking at all
I agree. I understand wanting to take your kids with you on vacation… but, Vegas? Really? People come to drink and gamble.. you’re bringing your kids to “Sin City?” I don’t get it.
What worse is seeing small kids being pushed around in strollers and it’s past MIDNIGHT!!
@@ryanm4013I actually have seen this the most at Circus Circus but not even at the games or shows- usually at the slots. I’ve never stayed here but like to go because of my love for the circus and carnival.
In the 90s Vegas was heavily promoted as family friendly. Excalibur was a big part of that
We had some great family vacations at Excalibur when my kids were young. Back then it had a children's clothing store and a toy store, as well as the Fun Dungeon and kid friendly pools. Not sure if it still has all those, but they certainly expected and welcomed children.
Thanks so much for including pictures to back up your comments. Shows it's not just an opinion but facts.
My company put me up at the Flamingo a few years ago. I’m not very nit-picky, but the room was not very clean. The carpeting had an obvious stain trail that went from my window - out the door - to about three rooms down the hallway. You would think housekeeping would do everything in their power to get that clean immediately.