- Off-strip view of the Las Vegas skyline - weblogs.sun-sentinel.com
Mainly lauded for the opulence of the strip, Las Vegas is a global epicenter of world entertainment and ostentation. But off-strip properties provide a guest with the luxury and gaming experience the town is famous for with less expense.
Off-Strip Properties in Las Vegas
Off-strip properties generally offer lower room costs, greater room availability and the option of low-limit tables on the gaming floor. They have a vibrant nightlife environment and are frequented by both local clientele and celebrities. Distanced from the famous backdrop of Las Vegas Boulevard and possessing a strong local following, off-strip hotels and casinos evoke a feeling of unpretentious accessibility and are an oft-welcomed deviation from the boisterous assault of the strip.
Most notable among these are The Palms Casino Resort, The Red Rock Casino, Resort and Spa and The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, which are known as destinations for A-list celebrities who choose to forgo the spotlight and deluge of tourists the strip attracts.
The Palms Resort and Casino is home to three ultra lounges, one being the glass-ensconced Ghostbar. The Palms showcases 6 nightclubs, a 29,000 square foot gaming floor, the exclusive Playboy gaming area and the high-limit Mint Lounge gaming salon. The Palms features the Michelin Guide rated Alize as well as 9 other eateries, ranging from modern and eclectic to classic and comforting. In addition to running shows and limited-time engagements, the intimate 2,500 seat Pearl Theater regularly hosts the some of the biggest names in entertainment. The average cost for a one night stay is $85, and with moderate traffic conditions driving time to Las Vegas Boulevard is less than 15 minutes.
The Red Rock Resort and Casino, located in the community of Summerlin, is an archetype for accessible luxury in Las Vegas. Just far enough removed from downtown to enjoy the serenity of the Red Rock mountains yet only 30 minutes from Las Vegas Boulevard, the Red Rock offers both high-and low-limit tables on the main casino floor as well as two high-limit poker rooms frequented by professionals Phil Ivey and Daniel Nagreanu on a regular basis.
The hotel has been awarded the Automobile Association of America 4-Diamond rating each year since opening in 2006 and is lavishly appointed. There are 10 anchor restaurants, including a raw oyster bar, a classic American chophouse, a modern Italian trattoria and a poolside cafe. In addition to the hotel and casino, the Red Rock also offers guests a 35,000 square foot full-service spa and salon. The average cost for a single night stay is $140, and the hotel offers shuttle service to and from McCarran Airport.
The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino has been a long standing favorite among locals and celebrities since it opened in 1997. It has a 30,000 square foot gaming area that caters to both the tourist and high-roller alike with flexible table limits. A recent addition to the Hard Rock is the Hell’s Belles blackjack salon. Combining classic blackjack and the finest go-go dancers in the world, Hell’s Belles is unique to not only Las Vegas but the world.
One of the property’s most popular offerings is Rehab, a hybrid of poolside luxury and gaming. It’s 22 cabanas evoke a Mediterranean feel, and the gaming tables, cafes and bars are all within reach without leaving the water. The Hard Rock is most noted for its concomitant relationship with rock music, and The Joint rock club has hosted a diverse range of performers and some of the most widely recognized bands in the world, including the Rolling Stones, The Foo Fighters, and David Bowie. The hotel has 6 mainstay restaurants, including Simon and Nobu Matsuhisa's Michelin Guide rated Nobu. The average cost for a one night stay is $80. The hotel is located approximately 15 minutes from the strip, and complimentary shuttle service to and from the airport is available.
- The above mentioned room rates are derived from the annual mean average of single night, single guest stays. Weekend rates and luxury suite rates are higher.
Las Vegas in a Different Light
Las Vegas Boulevard is reputed as an international retreat, a gourmand's utopia and for possibly being the most recognizable stretch of land in the world. So much that in 2009 36.4 million visitors traveled to Las Vegas, a large portion of which stayed in strip hotels. The Las Vegas Strip has its merits and is certainly worth experiencing, but off-strip hotels and casinos proffer a view of Las Vegas rarely seen by the conventional tourist and grants a feel of the city that lies beyond the boulevard.
Sources:
- travelpulse.com
- Las Vegas Convention and Travelers Bureau
- Las Vegas Guide 2009
Jkalal Assar - Jkalal Assar's work has appeared in "Food and Wine", "McGraw Hill Economics 36th Edition" and "Salon". He is a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu ...
