Las Vegas Hotels

One of the few venerable old casino hotels still standing in Vegas (it's come a long way since it opened in 1952 on the site of the old Club Bingo), how you now view the Sahara may simply depend on which direction the sun is shining. It's been a few years since a spiffy renovation really pulled in some solid Moroccan details (an arched neon dome with Moroccan detailing, plenty of marble and chandeliers, plus small tiles and other Arabian Nights decorations) and caused the loss of the landmark sign, once the tallest in Vegas. (Frankly, the new one, featuring a camel, is going to look just as dated even more quickly.) The point was not only to keep up with the Joneses (as the newer, glitzy hotels make the old ones seem not just quaint but shabby) but also to attempt to unify the theme of the hotel. Then they added a roller coaster around the outside (quite a good ride, enthusiasts assure us), you know, just because.

Rooms have been redone to tone down the Middle-East clash of patterns, but the result is a bit too motel-room bland (though the windows open, which is unusual for Vegas). Again, this may simply be in comparison to the gleaming new kids in town, a comparison suffered by most of the older hotels. If you are looking for four walls and a mattress, this isn't a bad choice at all. It should be noted that the Sahara feels it is not as well equipped as other hotels for children and discourages you from bringing yours -- and yet, it added a roller coaster. Go figure.

The hotel has just remodeled the Sahara Buffet. The casino is a pretty pleasant one to gamble in, and there's a showroom as well. There are two pools, including one Olympic-size monster that is unfortunately located at the foot of a parking garage.

- Frommer's