{"id":334,"date":"2008-07-07T12:12:45","date_gmt":"2008-07-07T17:12:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/2008\/07\/flamingo-las-vegas-ups-the-cool-quotient\/"},"modified":"2016-12-17T18:45:28","modified_gmt":"2016-12-18T00:45:28","slug":"flamingo-las-vegas-ups-the-cool-quotient","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/2008\/07\/flamingo-las-vegas-ups-the-cool-quotient\/","title":{"rendered":"Flamingo Las Vegas ups the cool quotient"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Flamingo\"<\/a>
\nBy E.C. Gladstone<\/em>\n<\/p>\n

When I told some of my Las Vegas<\/strong><\/a> friends I was checking out the Flamingo<\/strong><\/a>, most of them reacted with one word: "Why?" The oldest operating resort on the Strip, Flamingo<\/strong><\/a> has long been a mainstay of the "casual crowd." It may be tried and true, but it hasn’t been hip since they spelled it "hep."<\/p>\n

But things are changing. The Flamingo’s new catchphrase is "The hottest pink on the Strip." (Wow. … Do you kiss your mother with that slogan?) Luckily, they have something to back it up. I like the rooms in the Hard Rock Hotel<\/strong><\/a>, I dig the rooms in all three Palms<\/strong><\/a> towers. But for straight-up funky cool, the Flamingo’s new GO rooms<\/strong> have both of them beat.<\/p>\n

From the minute I stepped off the elevator into stark white halls with pink contrasts, I experienced a daring reversal to the trend of darker, masculine tones in other new hotels here. Inside my junior suite, accented by earth tones, the theme was taken further into a fantasy mid-century resort tribute that made me feel as if I was somewhere in movieland between Austin Powers and Valley of the Dolls, from the candy-striped accent wall to white-marbled bathroom with puckered tiling and artsy tablelamps.<\/p>\n

Sexy? You better believe it, with the white vinyl upholstered ceiling-high headboard, body jets in the glass shower, sliding translucent bathroom door, surround-sound stereo (check-in gives you a demonstrational CD to try it out), and (not to be overlooked) one of the most sumptuous hotel beds I’ve ever experienced.<\/p>\n

\"Flamingovegasroom\"<\/a>
\nAmenity details I kept discovering included two Philipsflat screen TVs (the one nearest the bed pulls out from the wall for multi-angled viewing), a ceiling fan over the bed, goose-neck reading lamps, motorized curtains, a flat screen TV built into the sink mirror, wild fig scented bath products, a small fridge (without the overpriced minibar temptations), Wi-Fi that actually works, coffeemaker, and leatherette trays and garbage cans that for once I considered worth paying for to take home.<\/p>\n

Did I leave anything out? Probably.<\/p>\n

Continuing the theme, Flamingo<\/strong><\/a> also has a hidden "European-style" (topless optional) "GO" pool deck, which unlike some other "daylife clubs," actually has a swimmable pool (with a stripper pole platform in the middle!) and ample lounge chairs. Come to think of it, the Flamingo’s whole pool area, with water slides, floating beer pong and a sexy grotto, has pretty strong party potential overall.<\/p>\n

I topped off my stay here with dinner at Voga<\/strong> — a new-wave inspired restaurant with a nicely presented raw bar and wide array of creative small dishes for all tastes — then the X Burlesque<\/strong>, a rock-inspired take on the topless showgirl revue, with gorgeous girls dancing to music like Marilyn Manson and Guns ‘N’ Roses.<\/p>\n

The venerated Flamingo may not exactly be taking the Palms or Hard Rock head-on, but if you like those spots (I do), the Flamingo’s GO package is definitely worth trying out.<\/p>\n

I<\/strong>nsider tip<\/strong>: Just added to Flamingo’s array of entertainment, The Time<\/strong>, reunited, are booked to perform here through the summer. Oh-ee-oh-ee-oh!<\/p>\n

Related Orbitz resources:<\/strong><\/p>\n