Premiering in Vegas!
Written: Dec 31 '07 (Updated Dec 31 '07)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Flashback to the glory days of Vegas, low prices
Cons: A bit shabby, minimalist housekeeping
The Bottom Line: At the Sahara, you get what you pay for. Prices are low, but so is the level of service.
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| DAnneC's Full Review: Sahara Hotel & Casino |
Himself and Yours Truly recently returned from 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 55 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 took advantage of only 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 reasonable 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).
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.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
DAnneC
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Location: Small Town America
Reviews written: 215
Trusted by: 277 members
About Me:
Loves history, travel, gardens, and words in general
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