Las Vegas Hotels

Here's another property that is doing its best to keep up with the pace in Vegas, to no great success. Though parts of Harrah's benefited from a reworking of the place a few years ago, the rest of it evokes Old Las Vegas in the way The Riviera does -- as in, dark, dated, and claustrophobic. Still, there is much to like here, and occasional quite good rates might make the so-so bits worth overlooking. Certainly, they want to be the fun and convivial place we wish more of Vegas were (instead of pretty much catering to high rollers and simply tolerating the rest of us with normal budgets). The monorail stop is a draw, too, because it is now easier to get to and from here.

All the rooms are larger than average; the points that emerge from both the old and the newer tower wings translate inside into an extra triangle of space for a couch and table. Some rooms also contain kitchens. Spacious minisuites in this section, offering large sofas and comfortable armchairs, are especially desirable.

The Range steakhouse is one of the few hotel restaurants that overlooks the Strip. Other restaurant options include a Toby Keith-themed joint, a buffet, and a food court for quick bites to eat. The casino has a fun, festive atmosphere. There's a showroom (that used to be home to Sammy Davis, Jr., back in the day), a comedy club, Mac King's wonderful comedy/magic act, and other amusing entertainment diversions.

Carnaval Court is a festive, palm-fringed shopping plaza where strolling entertainers perform. It's notable because it's right on the Strip but entirely outdoors; similar ventures at other hotels are inside artificial environments. Note that lounge singer legend Cook E. Jarr often plays here late on varying nights.

Harrah's has an Olympic-size swimming pool and sun-deck area with waterfall and trellised garden areas, a whirlpool, and a kids' wading pool. It's a pretty underwhelming pool by Vegas standards.

The hotel's health club is one of the better facilities on the Strip, with a full-range spa and a gym with Lifecycles, treadmills, stair machines, rowing machines, lots of Universal equipment, free weights, and TVs and a VCR for which aerobic exercise tapes are available. Its $20-a-day access charge is more reasonable than the fees in other hotels.

Facilities: Casino; showrooms; 9 restaurants; outdoor pool & kiddie pool; health club & spa; concierge; tour desk; car-rental desk; business center; shopping arcade; salon; 24-hr. room service; laundry service; dry cleaning; executive-level rooms.

- Frommer's