Vegas bound. Any ideas?

I think I'm gonna investigate Orleans before the next time we go. We stayed at the Flamingo last trip. I didn't like it much, but it was the first weekend of March Madness so that kinda contributed. I guess my psyche got dinged right when we got there because it took almost an hour to get through the check-in line. The hotel was in full gouge mode and I don't like that.
We spent one afternoon at Orleans and we got a real good feel about the place. We went bowling (don't ask). Everybody we encountered at the place was really nice.

 

Midafternoon checkin at the Flamingo is traditionally brutal. Only other strip property where I can recall it's unpleasant to that degree in that regard is the Riv.

 

SoCal, we've stayed at the Orleans many times. It's not quite what it was before Boyd Gaming absorbed Coast Casinos, but it's still an excellent joint. Decent food options (at the right price), GREAT discount liquor store, good mid to low level gaming options, good (spirited) sports book. Rooms are staring to get a bit worn. Decent pool. Customer service is above average...like a lot of the "locals" type places, they just seem to try harder. Plus, for down time during the stay, they've got a nice bowling alley & multi-screen theatre. Unless you've got some serious game, avoid the poker room. Tough locals, tend to prey on the touristy crowd.

 

What's usually the game in the Orleans poker room? I'm not a poker player, but my dad loves it. He'll go for a 6-12 or even 8-16 game. Despite being older than dirt, he is quite comfortable in the Bellagio or Mirage poker rooms.

 

Didn't most of the Stardust regulars move to the Orleans poker room?

 

My jaw hit the floor when I saw the check-in line at the Flamingo last year. Luckily it was after I had already been checked in and out all day. Are other hotels like that though? I get in at 9 p.m. this time, it may suck.

 

They did, as Boyd has really tried (successfully, for the most part) to relocate the old Stardust regulars to the Orleans. It was a pretty stout room before that, as well.

SoCal, I'm not sure what they spread at the Orleans these days. I never played a ton of poker there, even when it was our regular hotel. If he's comfy at the Bellagio & Mirage, my guess is that he won't be all that wild re: the Orleans room.

 

'stang, I think you ought to be in pretty good shape, coming in that late. A lot depends on the day of the week, whether you're caught up in a convention / show crowd.

Oddly, the worst check-in line I ever got involved in, was at the Orleans a few years ago. Stood for almost 90 minutes. There as a monster sized AAU hoops tourney in town, the Orleans Arena (connected to the hotel...has also hosted the Vegas hockey team & Arena football team) was one of the game sites. Hosted a TON of kids. THAT certainly sucked. I did get to watch Steve Alford "work" the check in line, like a Bangkok hooker, though.

 

"Late" can be bad. Once the tourists flying in on the last fleet of planes
from the East Coast gets in, the lines can be brutal. LV Hilton can
frequently be a nightmare, in this regard, unless you're HHonors-worthy.

 

Circus does have a feature that if you're already in town and you call at least an hour before you expect to show up and check in, you'll be directed
to a certain sector (the check-OUT area!) and be expedited. Worth
exploring, if you're stuck at that snakepit.