Vegas bound. Any ideas?

Re: Ellis Island
Went there last spring with a buddy because of the good reviews here.
Waited for about an hour to get a table in the restaurant. Got seated, then waited and waited to order as workers breezed by us without a second glance. After at least 30 minutes we got up and left. Never again.

 

That's bizarre. All my experiences there have been excellent. Did you go when it was mobbed?

 

Things seemed noticeably busier this past weekend, than they'd been in the last 3-4 trips (over an 18 month period). Bull riding finals were in town (Yee Haw!!), but that seemed to be the only big "event." Having said that, gaming options (especially table minimums) looked relatively decent on the strip, at least compared to the last few years (it'll never be "good" again....).

Sahara was door knob dead, when we stopped in on Saturday. Popped in to hit the $1 blackjack tables, figured that was a good place to teach the 21 year old niece how to play. Place was EMPTY.

Spent Saturday night on Fremont, Binions Casino was jumping. That's now owned by the same guy that owns the 4 Queens. Pretty sure they're pushing the hotel biz to the 4Q, for both there and Binions

 

It was busy but so slammed that it would explain our experience.
The gambling there wasn't bad, though

 

I'm heading to Vegas April 7-11 and I'm staying at the Planet Hollywood Towers. I haven't stayed there before and have some questions. So if anyone has stayed there before, or at the adjacent Planet Hollywood resort please let me know! Thanks.

 

Sahara's shutting down, mid-May. Lock/stock/barrel.

Rip Taylor weeps.

 

They didn't keep up. They couldn't afford to keep up. They got run over. RIP.

 

There is a great sports bar in PH, it's called Blondies. Was voted the best sports bar in the country one year. When I was there about a year ago, they had a happy hour from like 3-6 and it was $20 all you can drink.

 

Unless you're staying there, it's not worth the trip . . . and if you ARE staying there, and you're playing at the tables, you don't need to spend $20 for three hours of all you can drink, given the broadly-available freebies. The menu is VERY $$ high, for what you get . . and I can't imagine they get a lot of comp play, given the other alternatives on the property.

If you are interested in checking out the chain, on neutral ground, am aware of outlets in Manhattan, among other places . . . for test-drive purposes. Some of the off-night specials are decent.

 

I've walked by Blondies on previous trips and was unimpressed. I've also found 1/2 off drinks are common for the sports bars in the casino and near the sports book. Has anyone stayed there though? Again, I'm staying in the towers and wondering if I can use the pools at the Planet Hollywood resort as well.