89109 Travel Guide

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Best Killer View of 2011: Las Vegas as Seen from Caesars Palace

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: 3570 Las Vegas Boulevard [map], Las Vegas, NV, United States, 89109
December 29, 2011 at 2:03 PM | by | Comments (0)

It's what you've been waiting all year for--The 2011 HotelChatter Awards! We'll be bringing you the best and worst of the year all day today and part of tomorrow. Agree or disagree with our picks? Air your thoughts in comments below.

Las Vegas is well-known for its terrible anti-views but we were left stunned by this view from the bedroom inside a Senator's Suite at the Augustus Tower Caesars Palace back in September.

Not only was it a clear sunny day but we actually had prime view of the Bellagio fountains and the new hot casino on the strip, The Cosmo. (As opposed to looking out at a forlorn rooftop which is what we usually get in Vegas. Of course, premium views come at premium prices.

The 1,500-sq.ft. one-bedroom suite, which comes with a living room, a dining table for six, three bathrooms and a king bed with a TV dresser at the foot of it starts around $2,600 a night. Don't forget to add in $14.99 a day for WiFi.

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When You're Britney Spears, You Don't Just Get Upgraded, You Get 'Mega Suite' Upgraded

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: 3667 Las Vegas Blvd S [map], Las Vegas, NV, United States, 89109
December 20, 2011 at 10:00 AM | by | Comments (0)

For most people, an engagement party involves a little champagne, some friends, and a chance for the bride-to-be to show off her ring. Britney Spears is not most people. Well, we knew that already, but we sure got a chuckle out of seeing these photos released of the betrothal festivities that went down this past weekend at Planet Hollywood in Vegas.

Celebrating first at the resort's Strip House Steakhouse, a very visible "ph" emblem was positioned on top of the cake so it would show up in every photo. We doubt the couple ever actually sat down to taste the cake, but it's the thought publicity that counts.

Also on the agenda? A night at one of the resort's 3,100-square-foot, Jonathan Adler-designed "mega suites" (which we couldn't even find on the website, but apparently include a Murano glass chandelier, living room, dining room, and a jacuzzi). Then again, let's face it: she wasn't exactly about to get stuck with a Spaceballs-themed room, now was she?

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Just Call Her Kim 'Key Kard'-ashian

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: 3400 Las Vegas Boulevard South [map], Las Vegas, NV, United States, 89109
December 16, 2011 at 10:30 AM | by | Comments (0)

No surprise here: professional egomaniac Kim Kardashian, who recently expressed a desire to open her own hotel in Dubai (and was swiftly shot down by the WSJ), is absolutely smitten with a particular keycard in Vegas. Why? Because it has her face on it.

Back in August, when The Mirage announced the opening of Kardashian Khaos, some gave it the thumbs up, and just as many outright disowned the hotel. Kinda like when that petition was circulated to cancel all Kardashian programming on the E! network. But unlike TV, which can always be shut off, a hotel takeover is slightly more cataclysmic. And when it gets to the point that you can't even enter your room without seeing their faces, that's surely grounds for hotel boycotting.

For a twitpic of the key card, see below!

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What is Happening with The Las Vegas Hilton? (If We Can Still Call It That)

Where: 3000 Paradise Road [map], Las Vegas, NV, United States, 89109
November 15, 2011 at 12:15 PM | by | Comment (1)

Back in June, we heard the sad news that the Las Vegas Hilton, home to Elvis' Las Vegas residency, would be losing its Hilton status although the hotel owners promised to announce a new hotel partnership before the end of the year.

Our little sibling, VegasChatter has been keeping a close eye on the troubled property which was found to be delinquent on some of its mortgage payments in September putting it in danger of both foreclosure and closing. Then just a few weeks ago, VegasChatter learned that the hotel filed a trademark for the name, LVH Las Vegas Hotel & Casino. Very interesting name choice.

Now, the latest development is that the Las Vegas Hilton may actually stay open for another year. VegasChatter got the scoop from a hotel employee who said:

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There's a Mobile Hotspot for Sale Right In This Hotel

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: 3799 Las Vegas Blvd S [map], Las Vegas, NV, United States, 89109
November 11, 2011 at 5:23 PM | by | Comments (0)

We've long lamented about the terrible internet connections in Las Vegas (never free, never fast) so we got a little excited when we saw one of these Best Buy Express vending machines in the lobby of the MGM Grand which offered all sorts of techy gadgets for sale, including a 3G mobile hotspot from Rocketfish Mobile.

What got us even more excited was the note from Best Buy on the left that said "No contract required. Plans start at $10." That was less than what we were paying at the MGM Grand a day (The internet is included in the $20 + tax resort fee.) But of course we weren't going to buy the hotspot there and then, we weren't that desperate. And we're glad we didn't.

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Something We'd Like to Never See Again in Our Hotel Room

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: 3799 Las Vegas Blvd S [map], Las Vegas, NV, United States, 89109
November 10, 2011 at 1:05 PM | by | Comments (3)

Welcome to our newest new feature, Design Thursdays! Thursdays are now our day to focus on hotel design through photo tours, video walk-throughs and interviews with hotel designers. Got a cool hotel design story we should know about? Let us know.

Ok, today's purpose of Design Thursdays is actually a Design Don't. We stayed at the massive MGM Grand in Las Vegas the other month and when we went to plug in our cellphone near the bed, we found this--a full up power outlet and an unsightly jumble of cords. Obviously, those cord controllers were not working.

We did find a free outlet on the other side of the bed but along the wall near the foot of the bed, making it impossible to keep our phone next to us while sleeping. The outlet was also a little loose.

The MGM Grand is undergoing major room renovations right now so we hope that more convenient outlet options--such as the one we love at Encore--are in the works.

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The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas Splashed on Italian Wallpaper For Their Guest Rooms

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: 3708 Las Vegas Blvd S [map], Las Vegas, NV, United States, 89109
November 8, 2011 at 8:55 AM | by | Comments (0)

Hotel wallpaper: underused but always appreciated when it does make an appearance. As long as it’s funky wallpaper, not gross stuff like you’d find in your nan’s back room.

One of our lasting memories of the rooms at The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas is opening the cupboards and seeing the weird faces staring out at us. So we had a blast from the past when we were in Italy the other week, opened up a copy of Grazia and came face to face with the faces again.

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There are Some Grand Changes Happening to the MGM Grand

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: 3799 Las Vegas Blvd S [map], Las Vegas, NV, United States, 89109
October 18, 2011 at 9:15 AM | by | Comments (0)

Take a long last look at this hotel room inside the massive MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas. Actually, don't stare too long, you might die of boredom.

Fortunately for all of us, the MGM Grand is giving its 4,000 tower rooms a grand makeover and as our little sibling, VegasChatter reported last week, the renovations are going on right now, starting on the 12th floor. The entire hotel should be completed by October 2012.

While VC tried to break through the 12th floor for a sneak peek of the renos (the elevator wouldn't even register the 12th floor button), MGM Grand has decided to put everything on display with their renovations website--TheGrandRenovation.com.

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The New Octavius Tower at Caesars Palace Opens January 2 at $219 a Night

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: 3570 Las Vegas Boulevard [map], Las Vegas, NV, United States, 89109
September 15, 2011 at 6:49 PM | by | Comments (0)

Yesterday our little sibling VegasChatter tipped us off to the news that Caesars Palace new Octavius Tower would be taking reservations today for stays starting on January 2. So we had to find out--what will the damage be for a night in the hotel's newest, most technologically advanced tower yet?

$219 which is actually a lot less than we were expecting although still about $20 higher than Caesars' new Augustus towers.

$219 will get you a night in a 550-sq.ft. deluxe room with a king-sized bed, views of either Garden of the Gods pools or the Eiffel Tower as well as a separate entrance and check-in through the Augustus Tower.

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High in the Sky at Caesars Palace, You'll Find a Toiletry Heaven

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: 3570 Las Vegas Boulevard [map], Las Vegas, NV, United States, 89109
September 12, 2011 at 5:20 PM | by | Comments (3)

Life really is better at the top. And you're a lot cleaner up there too!

Check out this stash of toiletries we found in the bathrooms of the Senators Suite in the Augustus Tower at Caesars Palace. Alongside the usual Gilchrist & Soames shampoo, conditioner, body wash, body lotion and bars of soap came a few extra toiletries like a dental kit, a shaving kit, a sewing kit, a comb, lip balm and deodorant. That is truly the mark of an awesome toiletry selection--when it includes deodorant (cause Lord knows we need it! Har har.)

The regular rooms at Caesars don't skimp on the toiletries either as our little sibling, VegasChatter found out last year. And we especially like how the shampoo and conditioner bottles are a little larger than most toiletry bottles.

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InterContinental's Royal Ambassadors Have Been Cut Down in Vegas

September 9, 2011 at 12:58 PM | by | Comment (1)

Last month, the erstwhile Points Guy aka Brian Kelly let us in on a little-known perk of InterContinental Hotels' upper echelon loyalty program tier, Royal Ambassadors--raiding the minibar.

Brian demonstrated the perk while in Vegas at The Palazzo, which is actually now a part of InterContinental. Because he's a Royal Ambassador, that means he's allowed to clear out the minibar totally free of charge and yes, that includes all the alcohol.

While we debated the ethics of doing this sort of pillaging, it turns out the powers that be at The Palazzo and The Venetian (also a part of InterContie) took notice of this free-for-all. And then effectively put a stop to it.

Commenter RicGarrido let us know of the new minibar policy for Royal Ambassadors when staying in Vegas:

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5 of Our Favorite Killer Views in Las Vegas

September 8, 2011 at 3:19 PM | by | Comments (0)

Anti-views 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 killer view 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.)

Here are some of the best killer views that we at HotelChatter and VegasChatter 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.

So sit back and relax as we whisk you away, virtually, to Las Vegas!

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