http://www.hotelchatter.com/ Hotel Reviews, Hotel Ratings, Hotel Openings en-us Copyright 2008 - SFO Media 2012-02-12T12:15:23Z HotelChatter HotelChatter http://www.hotelchatter.com/images/hcwhite.jpg http://www.hotelhotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/local/336 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2011/9/6/105311/3260 <![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/anti-view">Anti-views</a> are legendary in Vegas. C'mon, how many times have we all seen views of casino rooftops, backs of buildings and parking garages? Yet a <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/killer view"><b>killer view</b></a> can be a thing of beauty in this man-made town, even if you have to pay a premium for it (usually called a Strip View room.) <p> Here are some of the best killer views that we at HotelChatter and <a href="http://www.vegaschatter.com">VegasChatter</a> have admired during our frequent stays.* Most of them Strip-facing and anchored by the Bellagio fountains and the fake Eiffel Tower. But a couple from the other end of the Strip also took our breath away, without depleting our wallet. <p>So sit back and relax as we whisk juliana 2011-09-08T15:19:32-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2011/2/17/85029/6630 <![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/4912/SmokingFee.jpg" class="top"></p> <p><b><i>UPDATE 2.15pm: MGM Grand just <a href="http://travel.usatoday.com/hotels/post/2011/02/mgm-grand-hotel-las-vegas-non-smoking-room-guarantee-fee/143431/1?csp=34travel">announced</a> that they are rescinding the $20 non-smoking fee. It's still showing on the website, but hopefully they'll take it off soon, and refund the people who've checked that box.</b></i> <p>More and more hotels are eliminating their smoking rooms thanks to both customer requests and local regulations, says <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/travel/2011-02-17-smokehotels17_CV_N.htm">a huge USA Today report</a> that frames the issue in terms of similar prohibitions on smoking on airplanes, in bars and restaurants and in rental cars. It's interesting reading if you like heaps of hotel statistics but the upshot is that, at least in the U.S., you're almost guaranteed a smoke-free room.</p> <p>Well, <strong>except in Vegas</strong>. According to the <a href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2014230502_webtroubleshooter15.html"><i>Seattle Times</i>, pbb 2011-02-17T12:07:27-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2009/1/29/13023/4362 <![CDATA[<p><i>You know the scene. You open the door to your brand new hotel room, run over to the window, open the blinds and bam, you are hit with the anti-view. Maybe you are looking down a dirty alley, witnessing a drug deal, staring at an air shaft in the face, or seeing a brick wall. Whatever you are viewing it is not extremely pleasurable. Help out your fellow hotel mavens by uploading your anti-views to the <a href="http://flickr.com/groups/hotelchatter/">HotelChatter/Flickr photo pool</a>, or by <a href="mailto:tips@hotelchatter.com">sending the photo along to us</a>. Remember to tell us the name of the hotel and the room number with the not-so-easy-on-the-eyes view.</i> <P><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/6929/3235623930_a48e627341.jpg" class="top"> <p>When we're <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2009/1/28/1529/48221/hotels/Inside_the_Widescreen_Rooms_at_the_Excalibur">staying in Vegas for $61 a night</a>, we Jenna 2009-01-29T13:45:57-05:00 36.0988740 -115.17659 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2009/1/28/1529/48221 <![CDATA[<p><embed src="http://services.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f8/1321361467" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashVars="videoId=9315444001&playerId=1321361467&viewerSecureGatewayURL=https://console.brightcove.com/services/amfgateway&servicesURL=http://services.brightcove.com/services&cdnURL=http://admin.brightcove.com&domain=embed&autoStart=false&" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" width="400" height="300" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" swLiveConnect="true" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed><p><p>Oh yes. We stayed at <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Excalibur+Hotel+Casino/ian/135542"><b>The Excalibur</b></a> last night and no, it wasn't because we were going to see <a href="http://www.jaunted.com/story/2006/10/5/144958/718/travel/To+Do+in+Vegas:+The+Thunder+From+Down+Under">Thunder from Down Under</a>. No, instead we had heard that the Excalibur <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2009/1/14/155432/092/hotels/Excalibur_s_Newly_Renovated_Rooms_for_56_a_Night">recently renovated</a> their Tower II rooms. The so-called Widescreen rooms are wide in terms of size, feature widescreen TVs and have wide views of the blue and red orange spires outside.<p>The good news? We survived the night. The bad news? It's the Excalibur. The casino area has three big attractions--the Tournament of Champions, Louie Armstrong and Thunder From Down Under. Oh and don't forget Dick's Last Resort. The gaming area was not as dead as juliana 2009-01-28T12:55:56-05:00 36.0988740 -115.17659 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2009/1/14/155432/092 <![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/1425/excalibur56.jpg" class="top"><p> <img align="right" src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/3/hc_reader_deals.jpg" class="imgborder"><p>While nothing can be done about the cheesy medieval theme, <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Excalibur+Hotel+Casino/ian/135542"><b>The Excalibur Hotel</b></a> has rescued itself from completely crapping out by unveiling its new <a href="http://excalibur.com/hotel/widescreen_rooms.aspx">Widescreen rooms</a>.<p>These rooms have been completely renovated and now feature a 42" plasma screen TV, pillow top mattresses, contemporary bathrooms with granite countertops, and alarm clocks with iPod© inputs. Excalibur also touts these rooms as having the property's best views and the most convenient access to the pool and spa.<p>Even better, these new rooms are still reasonably priced. We found rates for $56 a night on the hotel's website while the older rooms were a cheap $36. On the weekends, the new rooms bump up to $81 for juliana 2009-01-14T16:45:48-05:00 36.0988740 -115.17659 Search HotelChatter string http://www.hotelchatter.com/search/