SERVICE & TRANSITIONS -- 👎 ok.
A flashy entrance decorated with neon sports cars; the segue for a deflated & strangely boring lobby design. A stark juxtaposition, making the public spaces & flow feel like an after thought.
Unlike the captivating high-priced engines, hospitality itself wasn't memorable.
1pm late checkout was wonderful though❤️.
MVP employees: N/A
ROOM (King Suite/Executive Studio Suite [Expedia]) -- 👍
A resplendent pink -panache- vibe, illuminated by grand floor-to-ceiling windows.
Their pink "haze" was awkward at first, but it's essential at night & creates crazy fun visuals.
Suites are large, outfitted with substantial closet space & well-curated stock. Such functional & comfortable design details made for
splendid ergonomics, whether sofa lounging or creating content in the dedicated workspace.
Cleaning standards were good sans the vacuuming.
BED -- 👍 ok
Linens were a mixed bag of "meh" & "oohlala" textures. Outer layers in this setup were uncomfortable but the bedsheets were magic: clean, breathable, & incredibly soft.
The skimpy pillows (#pillowgate) were a disappointment, especially when trying to share the space.
Sleep quality was good enough in the end.
BATH -- 👍 great
High cleaning standards & remarkable staging of cute toiletries (⚠️ con cuidado if you're allergic to almonds ⚠️🫥).
Functionally it's a win thanks to the generous dimensions & impressive vanity. Stylistically it's hampered by all the empty white space.
The shower experience was refreshing, both
literally & figuratively in that sense: a brooding (red) enclave walk-in design. Complemented by equally intense water pressure & fluffy absorbent towels
A fun break from the status quo zero-entry showers around here.
TV/ENT./ACTIVITIES -- 👎 bad
In-room entertainment was weird & dysfunctional for an anti-casino hotel.
2x 50" mounted TVs, with remotes that simply didn't work; not with the set top box nor with the television.
Changing channels requires manually pressing the cable box buttons.
Even then the cable was spotty & occasionally lost service. To add insult to injury, there's a fine for connecting streaming/auxiliary devices. Maddening.
Pool area is surprisingly small, like the Skyline casino hotel for comparison. It's a decent place to tan if you manage to secure a chair.
A steady roster of entertainers are regularly booked, along with show vouchers being offered. The talents aren't the biggest names but it's something to do.
WI-FI & CELL RECEPTION -- 👎 bad
Intolerable for work/real time use during peak hours + dead zones in the unit.
I could barely complete a speed test; QoS & entire installation needs another revisit.
--Performance--
Video streaming - average
Online gaming - average
Video chatting - average
--Nerd Stats--
8-27 Mbps download
9-15 Mbps upload
0% packet loss
23-104 ms latency
4-87 ms jitter
FOOD & DRINK -- 👎 bad
Yikes! Whomever I spoke to at the Chop Shop: this is not the craft for you... 🙅poorly trained and rude. A "lost my appetite" kind of vibe that devalues the heavy premium price of their steaks. The price point isn't worth it to begin with, so the custom service should exceed all expectations. Just an FYI...
Restaurant experiences are not at all integrated into the stay, making them inconvenient & underutilized.
in-room:
❌ microwave (mini)
✅ mini-fridge (small)
✅ coffee
❌ tea
❌ wet-bar
❌ mini-bar
NOISE -- 👍 good
Acoustics hold up well even for rooms facing the street. Even ambulances blaring throughout the night were tolerable.
LOCATION -- 👍 good
Up north a few miles from the strip & explicitly not a casino hotel. In theory it's a great break from the congestion & ruckus.
The rideshare/GPS experience is very confusing for app workers, so prepare to navigate them.
Security presence was strong & I felt safe here.
Convenient free garage parking options near by.
RECOMMENDATION & RATING
Price: $72.95/night
Was it worth it: yes
Best part: price
Architecturally a great property (formerly Lucky Dragon)... and that's about it.
No personality of its own nor did it feel optimized for the non-casino demographic.
It has immense potential & prices are super competitive. This location deserves a better rating, but doesn't appear to be quite there yet.
I want to return & try more rooms but don't see that happening.
Lukewarm rec.
3.5/5 ⭐️
@mrstaycation
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