Loves history, gardens, travel, and words in general. AKA LovesTravel on dooyoo.
Loves history, gardens, travel, and words in general. AKA LovesTravel on dooyoo.
Member since:06.04.2003
Reviews:80
Members who trust:98
In August 2007, Himself and Yours Truly took our first trip to Las Vegas--our premier, if you will. We stayed at the Sahara because our daughter recommended it as an economy-minded base of operations and because she and our son-in-law had already booked a room for their own stay. Lodging at the Sahara would keep our budget intact and would allow us to spend more time with our daughter and son-in-law.
I won't say that these considerations weren't correct for the time and place, but I will say that any return trip to Vegas that includes accommodation at the Sahara will require careful consideration. Before dealing with that conclusion further, let's discuss what we found.
In many respects, the Sahara represents a flashback to the Vegas of another era--that is, the Vegas of Elvis,
Sinatra, and the Rat Pack. It's all glitter, glitz, and fantasy. The fantasy is old-fashioned and obvious, and the glamour has clearly faded. The structure is 56 years old, and the age shows. The thin attempt at being a Middle Eastern oasis is a constant theme, complete with papermache camels and a dome-shaped pavilion to turn the desert sands into a paradise.
The Sahara includes several restaurants of various sorts. Only the NASCAR Cafe deserves much attention, and its decor is guaranteed to please boys of all ages. The food is also better than anything else the Sahara has to offer. The Sahara complex includes a few small shops offering souvenirs, poolside attire, and a few more expensive bits of bric-a-brac--no Gucci or Tiffany purveyors in sight, though it's easy enough to find these at some of the newer themepark-style casinos. And of course, there is the casino itself. Despite its age and a bit of tarnish, it's still a fully functioning casino with all the bells and whistles.
Other amenities include a large outdoor pool, a spa and salon, a business center, a hair-raising roller coaster ride, and monorail access. Of these, we only took advantage of the monorail access--which was enormously useful for traveling up and down The Strip. For gamblers, membership in Club Sahara (every casino in Vegas has something similar) offers opportunities to earn premiums on meals and other comps. Membership is free for the asking.
Clearly, there was a time when the Sahara meant luxury. There are signs of this everywhere--the tiles in the casino bathrooms, the crystal chandeliers in the casino itself, and even the wallpaper and trim in the rooms. Today, however, it's just a remnant of the Rat Pack's Vegas. It doesn't compare well with Paris, New York New York, Luxor, or the MGM Grand.
For all this, it isn't the advent of newer, more luxurious hotel casinos that discouraged Himself and Yours Truly. We're perfectly happy with the old-fashioned aspects of the Sahara. It's the housekeeping that gave us quibbles.
We like our basic comforts, and we're not terribly hard to please. Still, we don't take well to wondering what is clean and what is not. In our room at the Sahara, we felt reasonably sure that the toilet and the sheets had been suitably cleaned. The carpet, windows, and bathroom floor, however, needed serious attention--and the judgment is still out on the comforter (we preferred ignorance on that issue). [Note: In the States, a comforter is a top bed covering. It's neither a duvet nor a blanket, but it's similar to both in function.]
Our deluxe room (a step above standard, with a king bed) was a bargain: only $39 per weekday night and $89 per weekend night. It was bright and airy on the 14th floor. We didn't mind that the view was mainly of the monorail service structure or that there was no balcony. We had a large window, plenty of light, and Internet access. The bathroom was also roomy, and the shower was fine.
The sad truth is that by charging a bit more and paying more attention to housekeeping, the Sahara could be a great base for exploring Vegas. It really does retain a good deal of charm, and we genuinely liked the location--meaning, we preferred being out at the far end of The Strip rather than in the midst of everything.
If we could count on the place being clean, Himself and Yours Truly would return to the Sahara in a New York minute. Since for the moment we can't, we'll look for more expensive bargains elsewhere during out next excursion to Sin City.
For the time being, you get what you pay for at the Sahara. Prices are low, but so is the level of service in all the areas that count.
Hotel - 3801 Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89109, USA, 3801 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, Nevada, NV 89109, United States of America - 2 Stars - 1878 Rooms
Still too young to even do anything remoteley fun in Las Vegas, will hopefully be going when I turn 21, and will probably give this place a miss lol. Brilliant review. Kirsty x
flyingllamas 14.08.2009 16:05
I just realised that I rated and commented twice-apologies for not remembering the review b ut at least I consistently liked it ; p
Location. The Sahara Las Vegas Hotel and Casino located in Las Vegas, Nev. was among the ... more
first hotels built on The Strip. This property stands two miles from the Las Vegas Convention Center, downtown, and the Fremont Street Experience. McCarran Intern...
Information:
Price is per double room per night and may vary depending on date booked...
Location. The Sahara Las Vegas Hotel and Casino located in Las Vegas, Nev. was among the ... more
first hotels built on The Strip. This property stands two miles from the Las Vegas Convention Center, downtown, and the Fremont Street Experience. McCarran Intern...
Information:
Price is per double room per night and may vary depending on date booked...
Not just for retirees or the gambling set any more, families will find plenty to do during ... more
a stay at the Sahara Westwood Hotel, formerly known as Vagabond. Just a block from the strip, guests are minutes from Las Vegas Convention Center, Circus Circus,...
Information:
Price is per double room per night and may vary depending on date booked...
Not just for retirees or the gambling set any more, families will find plenty to do during ... more
a stay at the Sahara Westwood Hotel, formerly known as Vagabond. Just a block from the strip, guests are minutes from Las Vegas Convention Center, Circus Circus,...
Information:
Price is per double room per night and may vary depending on date booked...
May 18th, 2008
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