Outta Towner

A popular bingo room. A bowling alley. These features and more make Gold Coast beloved by locals and visitors alike.

The Gold Coast is so beloved by locals — and always packed with them — that it’s hard to believe that it hasn’t been around since the turn of the century, luring the citizens of rustic Nevada to its abundant gaming and entertainment by the wagonload.

A spacious bowling center offers fun for bowling aficionados and families alike. The casino floor is enormous and filled with table games, a bustling sports book and every type of video poker machine imaginable. Three lounges provide cool respite from gaming, while a number of unique and charming eateries serve dishes ranging from prime rib to Italian specialties to cheeseburgers. A dance hall rocks with big band swing, Dixieland jazz and the occasional rockabilly show.

With this breadth of amenities, it’s little wonder that thousands of locals discover the Gold Coast every week and come back again and again to pan for more.

Gold Coast Details

• Number of rooms: 711.
• Casino: Yes, 120,000 square feet. Casino games include Blackjack, Bingo,Caribbean Stud Poker, Craps, Keno, Let It Ride, Pai Gow Poker, Poker, Roulette, Slots, Baccarat, Megabucks and Super Megabucks. The casino has a 24-hour, non-smoking poker room.
• Race & sports book: Yes, a 160-seat race and sports book, equipped with 65 televisions and two big screens.
• Restaurants: The Gold Coast has the following dining options: Ping Pang Pong, Cortez Room, Kate’s Korner, Ports O’ Call Buffet, Seattle’s Best Coffee House, Noodle Exchange, T.G.I. Fridays and The Snack Bar.
• Entertainment: A lounge and the Gold Coast Showroom featuring live entertainment.
• Nightlife: No.
• Attractions: Yes, 70-lane bowling center.
• Pool: Yes, one 46-by-20-foot pool outdoors and a Jacuzzi.
• Health Club: Yes.
• Spa: No. There is a salon and barber shop.
• Shops: Yes, one gift shop and liquor store.
• Wedding chapel: No.
• Convention rooms: Yes, room set-up: Room A 2,400 square feet., Room B 2,400 square feet, Room C 2,100 square feet, Room D 2,100 square feet, Grand Ballroom 10,000 square feet.
• Business center: Yes.
• In-room internet access: High-speed Internet access is available in all guest rooms for a daily fee of $9.99.
• Wheelchair accessible rooms: Yes.
• RV park: No.
• Child-care facilities: No.
• Pets allowed: No.
• Room service: Yes, 6 a.m. to midnight, Sunday through Thursday and 6 a.m. to 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
• Parking garage: Yes, a three-story parking garage
• Shuttle service to the airport: Shuttle service to and from the airport available for a fee from an outside company.
• Shuttle service to the Strip: A shuttle runs between Gold Coast, Barbary Coast and the Orleans every 20 minutes from 9:30 a.m. to 12 a.m. daily.
• Standard room amenities: Air conditioning, alarm clock, radio, telephone and remote-controlled cable LCD flat-screened televisions. Hair dryers, irons and ironing boards are available upon request.
• Hotel amenities: 70-lane bowling center, video arcade, beauty salon and barber shop, guest services, laundry, luggage and maid service, room service, safety deposit box and wake-up call.

Stratosphere Description

The Stratosphere Las Vegas Hotel and Casino has become a Las Vegas landmark and, at 1,149 feet high, its tower has become the spot for the ultimate view of Las Vegas. But offering a spectacular view, the highest thrill rides in the country, a bevy of dining options and a variety of accommodations, is just the beginning.

The Stratosphere’s casino is nearly as impressive an entity as the tower. At 80,000 square feet, it’s one of the larger gaming floors in town and it’s currently in the midst of a renovation. As part of the hotel’s facelift, the casino is getting new carpet, a grand front entrance with valet service and modernized bathrooms.

The changes don’t end there. The Stratosphere hotel offers 2,427 rooms, mostly in the Premiere Tower. Starting in July 2010, 906 rooms in the Premiere Tower will be renovated. The updated rooms will feature modern décor, flat-screen televisions, new carpet, 240-thread-count bedding, new furniture and upgraded bathroom floors and vanities. The renovation will be complete by December 2010.

A variety of dining experiences await guests of the Stratosphere. Off the casino floor, guests can enjoy sock hop atmosphere and singing servers atRoxy’s Diner or the charm and tastes of Old World Italy at Fellini’s Ristorante Italiano. At Top of the World, enjoy dining on delicious eclectic cuisine while seeing the entire city of Las Vegas from your table. The restaurant’s floor rotates, giving guests an exceptional 360-degree view, featuring Mount Charleston, the Las Vegas Strip and beyond.

After dining at the Top of the World, head upstairs to Level 107. The Lounge features live music, great cocktails and appetizers and beautiful views. You might see an occasional person fly by. Don’t worry, you haven’t had too much to drink. SkyJump, a great attraction for thrill seekers who aren’t afraid of heights, is located one floor above Level 107. At SkyJump, adventurous visitors are strapped into a harness, attached to the “descender machine” and  step off a narrow platform only to plunge 855 feet straight down from the tower’s 108th floor.

In addition to SkyJump, the Stratosphere boasts a number of other hair-raising attractions including the Big Shot, a seated, shorter but equally thrilling ride and X Scream, which extends you over the ledge of the Stratosphere Tower — and leaves you there. The stop is only for a few seconds, but it’s long enough to make you appreciate attractions on the first floor.

Should you be content simply enjoying the view, the Stratosphere Tower observation deck is a place to visit, sip on a cocktail from Airbar and relax.

After enjoying the day sampling the resort’s many attractions, spend your evening at a show in the Theater of the Stars. Bite, a topless show, features seductive vampires while American Superstar spotlights a selection of talented impersonators. Sing along with performances of songs from Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson and Britney Spears.

Whether it’s great heights, great attractions or a great show you’re looking for, the Stratosphere has an abundance of amenities to enjoy.

Venetian Description

The spirit of Venice is alive in The Venetian resort, complete with frescos, gourmet food, canals, gondolas and strolling performers. The hotel offers spacious, beautifully appointed suites, an impressive upscale shopping center, a wide variety of gourmet restaurants and Italian-inspired eateries, attractions and more.

Sheldon Adelson’s breathtaking mega-resort combines the latest technology and the venerable art and culture of the European jewel: Venice. The Venetian’s take on this world-renowned city and the Italian eleganza is a must-see. Coming to this resort is as close as you’ll come to visiting Venice itself.

As you enter the lobby, don’t be surprised by the visitors taking pictures of the ceiling as if they were in the Sistine Chapel: A detailed, exquisite fresco covers the arched ceiling leading from registration to the casino, promising great things. That promise if fulfilled in short order — a wealth of shopping experiences in the 500,000-square-foot Grand Canal Shoppes, which, true to its name, has a canal winding through it with gondolas drifting gracefully along its length; a number of five-star restaurants, created by such culinary giants as Wolfgang Puck, Emeril Lagasse, Thomas Keller, Joachim Splichal and Paulo “Zeffirino” Belloni and a version of Madame Tussauds famous wax museum.

At the Canyon Ranch SpaClub, pampering takes on a different meaning. It is the largest spa in town, and with 62 treatment rooms, it offers some of the most extensive and extraordinary services available.

The spacious guest suites at The Venetian are aesthetically stunning as well as technologically sound, with refinements from Italian marble in the bathrooms to a mini bar.

At the Venezia Tower, the resort’s most recent addition, luxury rooms are redefined with 700-square-foot suites that boast 9.5-foot ceilings, 130-square-foot bathrooms, three telephones and two 27-inch flat-screen TVs, among other luxuries. The tower’s 122 Concierge Level suites offer additional amenities, including private access, an executive lounge with food and beverage service, daily newspaper, coffee/tea delivered with your wake-up call and DVD players.

Tropicana Las Vegas has been a landmark for more than 50 years on the Las Vegas Strip. Rich with history, the hotel originally opened in 1957. Now, the Tropicana has adopted a new South Beach theme and is undergoing a major facelift.

With minimal impact on guests, the entire edifice is being renovated in a three-phase construction plan. Phase one of construction on the $165 million project is set to be complete in spring 2011. Included in this first set of renovations is the 50,000-square-foot casino which will now feature marble tiling, new chairs at the slot machines, new carpet and a revamped tropical South Beach decor.

The recently refurbished Paradise Tower boasts 500 renovated rooms that boast 42-inch plasma television set, iPod dock and updated décor with interesting touches like plantation shutters on the windows. There is even a vanilla-coconut-like tropical scent wafting through the hallways to appeal to guests’ senses and impart a tropical feel.

Numerous other changes are planned for the hotel in the upcoming months.

In the fall of 2010, the hotel will open a remodeled race and sports book area that will feature skyboxes and multiple big-screen televisions. Also coming in fall 2010 will be a renovated spa and salon, plus a fitness center with all of the latest cardio equipment.

In late December 2010, the Tropicana remembers its historic Las Vegas roots by opening the Las Vegas Mob Experience. The attraction will feature the largest collection of authentic artifacts, memorabilia, photos and videos of organized crime ever assembled.

Set to open in spring 2011, Nikki Beach will offer guests a conceptual pool experience with daybeds, crisp white linens and a South Beach-like vibe. At night, it will turn into Club Nikki, a 15,000-square-foot club with dancing and doors opening out onto the beach. The current Tropicana pool features lush tropical landscaping, a shaded area, swim-up blackjack on the weekends and a grassy area perfect for laying out in the sun or lounging under a tree.

Guests can enjoy several dining choices including Bacio Pasta & Vino, the Italian restaurant at the Tropicana, featuring pizzas, calzones, pastas and more and Legends Steakhouse. Opening in summer 2010, Ambhar, located off the main casino floor, will be the go-to spot for classic cocktails like Caipirinhas and margaritas crafted from Ambhar Platinum tequila.

Live entertainment is located in the Tiffany Theater, where artists like Comedian Paul Rodriguez perform. There is also the Cellar, where Hypnosis Unleashed stages their comedic act nightly. Additionally, the Brad Garrett Comedy Club features top comedians like Kevin Nealon, Rondell Sheridan and occasionally Garrett himself.

If you’re in town for a conference, the Tropicana offers more than 100,000 square feet of conference space, featuring state-of-the-art technology that will make your conference or special event sail smoothly.

Kayaking, mountain biking and horseback riding are not the typical activities one associates with a trip to Las Vegas. Then again, Red Rock Casino, Resort and Spa is not the typical Las Vegas hotel.

Just minutes from the dramatic red cliffs of the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, as well as the exciting action of the Las Vegas Strip, no other resort in Las Vegas capitalizes on its location quite like Red Rock. Along with all the amenities of a highly-rated hotel and casino, this contemporary desert retreat also offers an Adventure Spa program with outdoor activities including river rafting and guided hikes.

“We take advantage of the natural beauty of Red Rock,” said Ronan O’Gorman, the resort’s vice president and general manager. “You can’t be in a guest room or within the property and not understand and feel Red Rock’s presence visually right next to you.”

Red Rock is a high-end, boutique-style property, similar to its sister property, Green Valley Ranch. From its flowing design and unique architecture to its flawless incorporation of state-of-the-art technology, the AAA Four Diamond Award-winning resort rivals many of the major resorts on the Strip, while also maintaining its local appeal. “We have all the amenities of a Station Casino, but in a luxury setting,” said O’Gorman. “Our out-of-town guests are people who have traveled to Las Vegas many, many times. They’ve been there, they’ve done that. They want something completely different.”

LCD screens scattered throughout Red Rock display ads and restaurant menus, while modern light fixtures brighten the 87,000-square-foot casino floor. Tiled pathways surrounding the gaming areas provide a clear cut route to the many hot spots within this red-hot spot.

The design also reflects the natural beauty of the area, incorporating materials like marble, onyx, wood, red patent crocodile leather and red sandstone indigenous to Red Rock Canyon. There are more than 3.1 million Swarovski and Preciosa crystals (measuring 99 miles) throughout the resort.

The property features more than 800 guest rooms and suites, as well as seven penthouse-level suites. Even the standard guest room at Red Rock is anything but. Every room boasts breathtaking views through floor-to-ceiling windows, either of the Las Vegas Strip or of Red Rock Canyon. Luxury linens, two flat screen televisions, wireless internet access and an iPod docking station are among the conveniences available to guests, while the marble bathrooms include both a deep soaking tub and a separate shower.

Red Rock’s separate resort entrance allows those staying at the hotel to avoid dragging their suitcases through the busy casino. Tinted red glass doors add a glamorous hue to the lobby, where there’s a 32-foot-long crystal chandelier.

The centerpiece of the property is the 3-acre pool complex, which was designed like a theater-in-the-round. Its central location allows for balcony views from several of the property’s restaurants and even the convention space.

Along with the nightclub, guests can also grab a drink at Onyx or Lucky bars and listen to live music in Rocks Lounge. Dining spans the globe with more than 10 restaurants, including the Italian food of  Terra Rossa, the Japanese fusion of Hachi, the Mexican spices at Cabo Cantina or a bit of everything at the Feast Buffet.

Red Rock is also family friendly, with several options for young tourists such as a 16-screen movie theater and an arcade. The 72-lane bowling center, Red Rock Lanes, features state-of-the-art equipment and a contemporary design, including a special VIP area and carpet that glows in the dark when it’s time for Cosmic Bowling.

For those who want a little rest and relaxation, take an intimate retreat with a body treatment at  The Spa at Red Rock. The spa offers a full-service salon, fitness center, lap pool, movement studio and boxing rings, as well as the adventure spa program.

“It’s a sophisticated property for those discriminating guests who want something a little bit different, but still want everything Las Vegas has to offer,” said O’Gorman. “At Red Rock we attempt to be everything for everybody.”

Palace Station Description

An off-Strip property, Palace Station serves locals and tourists with great food, comedy acts, affordable rooms and much more.

Originally the Bingo Palace, Palace Station paved the way for the rest of the Station Casinos. The acclaimed Sunset, Texas, Santa Fe and Boulder Station hotels wouldn’t exist if not for the dazzling success of this establishment. And the driving forces behind Palace Station are constantly refining and building on their good fortune for the benefit of their guests.

The accommodations are spacious and just minutes from the Las Vegas Strip, offering room choices that run the gamut of comfort to class. Rooms and suites in the recently remodeled tower boast a sophisticated, modern decor and upgraded amenities, including flat screen televisions, pillowtop mattresses and designer bath products. The non-smoking courtyard rooms are clean, comfortable and convenient with plenty of amenities. Guests won’t have to trek through the casino upon check-in; rooms are easily accessible from the lobby and parking garage.

Palace Station’s casino virtually crackles with charged excitement, with more than 1,800 slot machines, 57 table games and a 307-seat bingo room and Pit 8, an Asian games area featuring Pai Gow Tiles. There is also a high limit slots area, an expansive race and sports book, a bingo room and a small poker room. Those who come to Palace Station not to stay, but to play, will enjoy the convenience of a separate casino valet, located with easy access to the casino floor.

The award-winning dining at Palace Station is as diverse and rich as Las Vegas itself. Cuisine ranges from the steaks and seafood of The Broiler to the delicious Italian specialties of the Pasta Palace. Coco’s Cafe is open 24 hours a day to satisfy your cravings day and night, while Cabo serves up Mexican food in a hip, modern atmosphere, featuring lights resembling chili peppers and a round inviting bar. There’s something for everyone at the recently remodeled Feast Gourmet Buffet. Guests can also enjoy a triple grande latte or other drink of choice at the Starbucks off the lobby.

Entertainment options include headlining comedians at the Bonkerz Comedy Club and live music at Jack’s Irish Pub.

Surrounded by palm trees, the pool deck has undergone a renovation and is ready to make a splash in time for pool season 2010.

Although Palace Station is located slightly off the Strip, a 30-passenger shuttle to the Strip runs from morning to night between the hotel and the Fashion Show Mall. Guests will also enjoy shuttle service to the airport. A concierge desk is available in the lobby to help guests make show or other arrangements.

This Palace is willing, ready and able to make anyone feel right at home.

Flamingo Description

With its brilliant pink facade, the Flamingo Las Vegas is as colorful as the history behind it.

It seems appropriate that the Flamingo Las Vegas is a direct descendant of the hotel where modern Vegas began. Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel’s original Flamingo is gone, but the hotel that bears the name continues to live up to its name.

The lush gardens behind the room towers seem removed from Sin City entirely, with live African penguins, Chilean flamingos, Mandarin ducks and Koi fish frolicking in ponds and under three-story waterfalls. A number of tennis courts, swimming pools and a world-class health spa make the Flamingo seem less a casino and more of a full resort.

It goes without saying that the casino is enormous, with 2,100 slot machines, 71 table games and a giant race and sports book to reward the fortunate.

Entertainment abounds at the Flamingo Las Vegas with several shows, including the comedy magic of Nathan Burton and the song stylings of brother and sister duo Donny and Marie.

Restaurants cater to tastes ranging from Italian to Chinese. The Paradise Garden Buffet serves up delicious food in an idyllic setting and Steakhouse46 pays tribute to the historic Flamingo’s inaugural year.

Too keep the party going, waste your night away at Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville or enjoy a microbrew at Sin City Brewing Co. on a patio adjacent to the 15-acre pool and wildlife complex.

True to its lineage, the Flamingo Las Vegas is a quintessential Las Vegas experience.

Flamingo Details