A Vegas original needs a new revamp
Written: Jan 22 '02 (Updated Jan 22 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Prime location on the strip. Pool area.
Cons: The buffet and the lack of a decent lounge.
The Bottom Line: A good place to stay during warmer months due to their superior pool area and central location on the strip. Otherwise there are better hotels nearby.
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| gdolle's Full Review: Flamingo Las Vegas |
Ah, The Flamingo hotel (the Hilton moniker has
been dropped from the name). Anyone who knows their Vegas history know what the Flamingo represents. It's the place that Bugsy built (or actually finished building). It has quite a storied history but do you want to stay or go there? Let me be your guide.
I've stayed at the Flamingo at least 17 times in the last 12 years. But most of those stays were between 1990 and 1997. I did stay this New Year's Eve (2002) and you may be wondering why I haven't stayed more lately? Well, here's the story.
The Revamp.
In the very early 90's, the Flamingo embarked on a huge expansion and redesign of their pool area. They added a fourth tower to their existing hotel and built a separate vacation club tower for those who like time-shares. The pool area is simply fantastic. It is lush. It is tropical. If Hawaiian music were playing I'd feel like I was back on the islands. They built a new buffet area that I felt offered the best buffet food in Vegas at that time. It is spacious, tropical and overlooks the beautiful garden/pool area with actual flamingos wandering outside your window.
Rooms were redecorated and so was casino floor. The Flamingo Slot Club was very generous with comps. I can't tell you how many free buffets I've eaten there and free shows. The Flamingo was our first choice when going to Vegas.
The Slide.
During the 90's, Vegas underwent and huge expansion. Hotels were being imploded and mega resorts would rise from the dust. During this time, The Flamingo Hilton, sat idly by watched these new casinos take business away from them. But instead of competing with these new casino behemoths, they essentially threw in the towel. Their slot club became harder to earn comps with and their once fabulous buffet became a horror (they once had the audacity to serve cole slaw that you could smell was rotten from three feet away). Room rates went up and the comps stopped coming so we stopped going.
The Rebound?
I feel that the Flamingo is trying to earn out business back. Our recent stay there was decent. We got to see Lou Rawls for free (a fantastic show by the way). They gave us $99.00 room rate for New Years (unheard of for a strip hotel but probably due to Sept.11). The pool area was as nice as ever although too cold to go swimming. That was pretty much the highlight of our stay there. Now the question is "Would I go back"? My sincere answer is not anytime soon. Reasons why I would go back are:
1. A top four-pool area. Ranks up there with Mirage, Mandalay Bay and Tropicana.
2. Location. You are across the street from Caesar's Palace, Bally's and the magnificent Bellagio.
3. A good view of the strip depending on which part of the hotel you are staying.
Reasons why I would not go back:
1. Hard to earn comps on their slot club.
2. Food quality poor. (I had particularly bad service at their Peking Market restaurant.)
3. Rooms in the original main tower are incredibly tiny and uncomfortable. Ask for rooms in the newer towers.
4. Hilton vacation club sales people constantly bug you.
5. No lounge to relax at and listen to live music. (They do have a good piano player in the Flamingo Room but you have to stand and watch.)
6. Everything from the carpeting to the tables looks worn out and tired.
7. Limited channels on their TV's (Other hotel offer much more viewing option on their TV's)
I surly hope the Flamingo embarks on a new initiative to re-invent themselves. They need to in order not only to compete but also to survive in the long run.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
gdolle
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Location: Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Reviews written: 6
Trusted by: 0 members
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