{"id":1188,"date":"2009-08-18T09:06:01","date_gmt":"2009-08-18T14:06:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/?p=1188"},"modified":"2016-12-17T02:43:22","modified_gmt":"2016-12-17T08:43:22","slug":"casino-free-stays-in-las-vegas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/2009\/08\/casino-free-stays-in-las-vegas\/","title":{"rendered":"Casino-free stays in Las Vegas"},"content":{"rendered":"

By E. C. Gladstone<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Las

Hilton Grand Vacations Club on the Las Vegas Strip<\/p><\/div>\n

It happens: Every so often, I\u2019ll meet someone who tells me they \u201cjust don\u2019t like Vegas.\u201d Now, everyone\u2019s entitled to their opinion, of course, but when I ask a few more questions, the issue usually involves an aversion to staying in the casino environment.<\/p>\n

I could argue that every casino is a little different (some are so clean, quiet and elegant, you\u2019d be shocked to learn there\u2019s gambling going on!) but why bother? The fact is, if you\u2019d like to experience all the amazing shows, restaurants, nightclubs, natural wonders and more that Vegas offers while keeping casino exposure to a minimum, there are plenty of great \u201cnon-gaming,\u201d non-smoking Las Vegas hotels<\/strong><\/a>. I enjoyed stays at a few of them recently and came away impressed:<\/p>\n

Hilton Grand Vacations Club<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re thinking Grand Vacations is a \u201cvacation ownership\u201d property, you\u2019re right. Butwhen rooms are vacant, they also offer them for the night just like a hotel.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Located on the Strip between the Sahara and Encore resorts, HGV has a lot of destination resort elements: a pool area well suited for couples and families alike<\/strong>, with a full bar but also self-serve grill pit<\/strong>; 24-hour fitness room<\/strong>, business center and lounge (with ping pong, pool, foosball and huge TV); and a minimart with reasonable prices for breakfast, sandwiches and pizzas, as well as basic convenience foods, beer and wine (open 5 a.m. – 1 a.m.).<\/p>\n

I loved stretching out in my conservatively modern one bedroom suite, which featured a full-size, fully appointed kitchen<\/strong>, dining area, flatscreen TV with a Bose DVD system<\/strong>, pullout sleeper couch, soaking tub open to the bedroom<\/strong> and soft bedding I didn\u2019t want to part from. Crabtree & Evelyn products and a massaging showerhead in the bathroom lessened the blow. Making a pleasant finish to my stay, I enjoyed a very relaxing Grand Aromatherapy Ritual (using oil candles for both scent and skin) at their moderate sized but modern spa<\/strong>. They charge for parking (unusual on the Strip), but Wi-Fi and Starbucks coffee in the rooms are included — nice touches.<\/p>\n

There are two other HGV properties in Vegas too: one by the LV Hilton (rooms are a little smaller but feature Jacuzzi tubs) and another adjacent to the Flamingo (almost entirely occupied by owners).<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/a>\"Las<\/a><\/strong><\/strong>

Platinum Hotel (Courtesy: Platinum Hotel)<\/p><\/div>\n

Platinum Hotel and Spa<\/a>
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Standing on my open-air balcony just east of the Strip (a real rarity here) last week, I wondered how the Platinum has remained such a secret in town. Even the smallest suites here are over 900 square feet, the hip lobby bar<\/strong> Stir has a funky-mellow happy hour, there\u2019s a good fitness center (included) and perhaps LV\u2019s only heated indoor-outdoor pool<\/strong> (take note if you\u2019re visiting in December-January)! My\u00a0 urban-elegant one-bedroom suite had a bed comparable to the best on the Strip (really), pull-out sleep sofa, swivel-mounted flatscreen TV<\/strong>, Bose wave radio, full kitchen<\/strong> (with icemaker in the fridge — nice) and an unusual wide-spray shower. But perhaps the strongest selling point of the property would be the two-person jacuzzi<\/strong> (standard). There\u2019s also an intimate spa here with a fun Pittura Festa couples treatment that I\u2019m eager to try. Small surprise that Platinum seemed to be particularly popular with groups of smart-shopping cute girls.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/a>\"Las<\/a><\/strong><\/strong>

Element (Courtesy NJFPR)<\/p><\/div>\n

Element<\/a> by Westin<\/strong><\/p>\n

Consider Westin\u2019s new Element concept the hybrid vehicle of hotels: It\u2019s a cross between an extended-stay hotel and a chic urban retreat, emphasizing eco-friendliness without sacrificing style.<\/p>\n

Upon entry, you first experience the intriguing and inviting multi-use common room, including several cozy-cool sitting areas with cool books to peruse, Wii gaming<\/strong>, chess and backgammon , and an open business center (with printer — computer use and full-property Wi-Fi are included). Complimentary breakfast<\/strong> (smoothies, egg white sandwiches, etc.) and an evening snack are served here.<\/p>\n

My room was more like an ultra-mod efficiency apartment than a junior suite, with
\nbaby soft white linens over a thick \u201cWestin Heavenly\u201d mattress, a sitting area with a Simmons pull-out sleeper, very functional kitchenette<\/strong>, swiveling flatscreen TV with DVD player and big workspace. The bathroom featured a big multi-option shower<\/strong> with liquid soap and shampoo in eco-friendly dispensers. I felt hipper just stayinghere. Located on Town Center drive off I-215 west in Summerlin, the property also sports a 24-hour fitness center<\/strong>, heated pool deck<\/strong> with gas grill, launderette and includes shoe shines and even mountain bikes.<\/p>\n

Gold Coast<\/a> new \u201cPremium Rooms\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

When it comes to older Las Vegas hotels remaking themselves, travelers tend to be dubious. People still don\u2019t believe me when I tell them about the fantastic GO rooms in Flamingo, but are even more skeptical when I endorse last year\u2019s remodels at Excalibur and Circus Circus. You can read more about them in my Top 10 new Las Vegas hotel rooms<\/a> story. (Palace Station and Four Queens have also made some respectable improvements.) Now the venerated locals casino Gold Coast has redone some floors in a satisfying modern style that is a worthy alternative available for a very modest upgrade (as little as $14 more than a standard room).<\/p>\n

Using an urban-geometric palette that wouldn\u2019t be out of place in New York or Cologne, the rooms aren\u2019t massive, but use space efficiently, with a big flatscreen and wardrobes built into one unit, while a small two-sided table works as desk or sitting area. The bathroom sports a good pressure rainfall-head open shower<\/strong>, large towels and lots of counter space for getting ready. Coffeemakers in the room, and fitness center<\/strong> use are included in a $3 resort fee. Beds aren\u2019t quite four-star deluxe, but they aren\u2019t stone slabs either.<\/p>\n

Insider tips:<\/strong> You don\u2019t need to stay at GrandVacations to shop the minimart — just use the 10-minute parking spaces in front; Platinum\u2019s rooftop function room and Kilawat on the pool deck<\/strong> both make excellent wedding locales; Element offers extended-stay rates<\/strong>; Gold Coast has a free shuttle bus<\/strong> to the Strip and to sister property Orleans, which hosts many big shows.<\/p>\n

Related Orbitz resources:<\/h3>\n