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Stratosphere
Categories: Event Planning & Services Hotels Hotels & Travel Hotels Arts & Entertainment Casinos Hotels, Casinos [Edit]
2000 Las Vegas Blvd SLas Vegas, NV 89104
Neighbourhood: The Strip
(702) 380-7777
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Paid
- Dogs Allowed:
- No
438 reviews for Stratosphere
Review Highlights
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"And you also get unlimited free rides on the tower." In 69 reviews -
"Observation deck an amazing view of Vegas, especially at..." In 17 reviews -
"Great view of the city especially just before sunset." In 11 reviews
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437 reviews in English
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Review from Patrick P.
Monrovia, CA
5/25/2012
LOCATION
Ah yes, the Stratosphere. The North Star of Las Vegas. I can always find my way around by looking for the largest structure in the land.
While the casino is away from the active Strip, located in an area that's a bit run down, it also means less street traffic to deal with, you're close to the freeway, and is fairly easy to get to Downtown Fremont Street. Just depends on how you look at things, I guess.
HOTEL
I have had the opportunity to stay here a few times within the past year. Try booking through http://hotelclub.com. Considered one of the more "economical" casino hotels, don't be expecting a lap of luxury so set your expectations as such. Nevertheless, the rooms do look remodeled. Some of the amenities: iron and board, small closet and chest of drawers, a TV with limited channels (at least they have ESPN)... One time I tried to turn on the blowdryer, there was a pop and then smoke. I was able to call the front desk to have a replacement sent over later that day.
Some perks I like: When you book a room, you get access to their impressive gym. Did I mention 24 hour access?! Also free admission up the Stratosphere tower when you show your room key.
Three more tips before going up the Tower:
1) Pay attention to their operating hours,
2) There is a security check before entering the elevators,
3) A green screen photo is taken before going up the tower, so don't wear green (sadly I made that mistake and my photo came out as a floating head).
You can check-out from the TV menu, as many other casinos implement this as well. Just leave your keys in the room. Checkout time here is 11am.
CASINO
Comparing the casino experience with that of others along the Strip, it's simply average. It's certainly not as glamorous or glitzy. But if you're the type of person just looking for machines to play, then you might be satisfied. It's close enough to Circus Circus too, if you want a place to entertain your child (or inner child).
DINING OPTION
Plate (the buffet) is just average as well. If you decide to dine here though, make sure you have a players card to get their membership discount, as that will cut the costs by 25%. I've also found the service here to be rather sub-par as well, as servers would simply disappear after a while. Our family dined here right as Sunday Brunch ended, so I was able to see the transition into dinner. I must say, the brunch is far better, and I was disappointed to see the iced crab legs taken away.
Other dining options: McDonald's, this sub sandwich place, a Mexican place... Roxy's Diner is 24 hrs. There's even a Fat Tuesday here. *heh*
VERDICT
Consider Stratosphere an inexpensive place, whether to stay or play. If that's your thing, then enjoy! If not, look elsewhere. As for me, as long as the price point remains one of the cheaper room options in Sin City, you might find me here. Not so much to play or eat though. -
Review from Daren D.
5/24/2012
The Room:
Nice, clean and modern standard. The ends of the wooden hangers can be sanded slightly more. Cozy king bed which I've woken up in different positions. It had hints of smoke, despite being a non-smoking room (some guests, I tell ya...). They offered to try the smoke scent removal machine a few hours; I declined. Easy climate controls.
The Service:
Check-in was nice and friendly. Check-out was a smidge longer than I thought. There was an extra charge in the room and I didn't even use any extra service. It took the dude awhile just to figure it out and fix.
Extras:
The guest fitness room was great. You can do just about anything in there from dips to pull-ups to jogging. Also stocked with towels, water and TV. -
Review from Drew M.
5/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
Sure you can see it from anywhere on the Strip, but is the Stratosphere really worth the trip? I can only speak from a customer service standpoint as we did not stay in the hotel, but I was nothing but impressed by way we were treated in this hotel.
We were on a scavenger hunt as part of the Yelp Spring Break weekend, and one of our challenges was to get a picture in the elevator of the Stratosphere. Belly's full of custard from Luv It, we decided it was worth a shot to ask if we could just get a picture in the elevator without actually going to the top. What we thought would be a simple yes or no turned into a full blown tour of the upper tower of the Strat, with no stone left unturned.
The fact that one of their staff would take time out of their day to show us around was totally unexpected and gracious. I would come and stay here simply because of the phenomenal customer service. Hats off to you Stratosphere, you've won my heart.
5 Stars -
Review from Mikee W.
Rowland Heights, CA
5/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
Check in took forever. We arrived late Friday night and the check in line was longer than we expected. It wasn't moving although there were many counters open. Who knows what's going on. We finally get to the counter and even though we were checking in late, they had a room available with our preference. One star for that.
The bed was comfy and there were enough pillows. The premium view wasn't so premium. The bath tub was rather deep. Everything seemed clean.
The casino itself was nice. Stay away from the Wizard of Oz machine if you don't want to get addicted.
A stay in this hotel comes with free entrance to the tower for up to four people per day. Take advantage of it if you've never been to the top.
When we were checking out, they had a power outage that affected some parts of the casino and even the outside traffic lights.Listed in: Spring Break - YelpLV edition
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Review from Olivia O.
5/23/2012 5 Check-ins Here
The Stratosphere embodies the phrase "It'll do!"
The room? Good enough to sleep in. You will be jealous if you have friends staying at the bigger similarly-priced hotels on the Strip.
The pool? Freezing cold, making it uncomfortable to lounge there even on the hottest of Las Vegas days.
The service? Alright. Nothing great.
The Stratosphere, or the Strat as we came to call it, was a place we avoided spending our time at. Every day we took the Deuce bus to the "real" Strip (ie where all the action is) and we would stay out as long as possible. Our hotel room was strictly for sleeping and showering. The view was kind of crappy even though we were on the 21st floor because we were staring at the back of the giant Stratosphere sign.
We got a smoke-free room but I guarantee you any where you go in this hotel will smell like the inside of Snoop Dogg's car. Swisher bud smell!
The power went out while we there for like ten minutes. We sat there in the dark and then called the hotel to ask what was going on. The lady snapped at us and said "they'll get to it when they do." What the fuck kind of answer is that? I mean she could say she doesn't know without being so rude.
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Anyway, the pros are: it's on the Strip, it's a huge hotel/casino in the vicinity of other hotels and casinos. Although I caution you, if you're depending on the bus or cabs: itlll cost you $16 each/cab or 1-1 1/2 hours on the bus to get to major casinos or popular Strip areas. The bus was always packed last weekend (nothing major was happening that weekend, and the real crowds should only grow bigger during the summer/during proper long weekends like Memorial Day). We were always losing way too much fucking time to overcrowded, slow, annoying buses, or lines waiting for the privilege of dropping the better part of $20 to get somewhere. -
Review from Tuanni P.
Redondo Beach, CA
5/22/2012 1 photo
One word.... ROACHES!
Its impossible for me to give this hotel anything over 1 star because I found a roach lingering in our restroom. That is a deal breaker and ruins a stay automatically. Paid money to sleep in a roach infested room., disgusting.
Now to be fair, the good and bad of it all:
Good: Nice, fun pool and service was good.
Felini's was awesome!!! Delicious and service wonderful.
Bad:
Roaches
Toilet not flushing on first night and took 5 hours before someone came to fix.
Far off the main strip
Valet service is slow and don't make it a point to open doors
The decor looks like its from 1972
Do not stay here!!! Its not worth the cheap room rate, seriously -
Review from Jennifer K.
Las Vegas, NV
5/21/2012
In Vegas, you are always going to get a little lost in a casino. So yeah, you're going to ask for directions from time to time.
Only once have I been to Stratosphere. Upon entry, I had no idea where I was going and was supposed to meet with my friends who were staying there in the hotel. I asked for directions, and the response I got from a woman who worked there was less than friendly. She basically said, "Just read the signs!" and pointed to them in a very rude way. I was stunned at her lack of customer service skills. My first thought, "Thanks for trying to make me feel like an idiot."
Very bad FIRST IMPRESSION.
Room serice was awesome though. 24/7 room service available...got waffles at 3 am. They weren't too bad, either. -
Review from Hazel K.
5/10/2012
Was a very intimate and chill place to stay for VEGAS. If you are agoraphobic (have a fear of crowds) than this side of the strip/hotel would be perfect for you. We stayed in the basic room and there was no mini-fridge in the room. Sad face.
Another sad face moment, very very shallow pool. Think our section of the pool was 4 feet or 3 feet. that is ok but you should know, tall people like to be deeper in pools sometimes.
Good things: it was quiet and simple, not crowded at all even though we were in town when there was a boxing fight going on that weekend; FAT TUESDAY in the hotel. FREE TOWER ACCESS for hotel guests, Non-hotel guests pay $12 just to get to the top of the tower, not including rides (each ride about 12 bucks) YAY! Also, a discounted all-day pass for the rides if you're staying at the hotel.
Overall, not too bad. Either way, its freakin' VEGAS man. If I stayed in a hole in the wall, it wouldn't matter because Vegas is Vegas and that's all there is to it. -
Review from Megan E.
5/3/2012
I don't even know where to begin with this stay. Lets start with the things that impressed me.
The price was really cheap, it was at least 40 dollars cheaper then the other hotels we looked at for the same night.
-When you stay there you also get access to the tower for free
-the pool is beautiful.
-There is also a lovely restaurant Ruby's with the sweetest waitresses EVER in it.
-It's also fairly close to bus stops (A bus pass was only 7 dollars for 24 hours so not bad).
-The rooms were lovely, and the beds were super comfortable. It was extremely clean and the hair dryer worked well. Lot's of space, oh and the curtains do well blocking out the light!
Things I wasn't impressed with:
-The people working the counters had no idea what was happening. I called for a late check out and asked them to charge me, they then told me I'd be charged, which I responded was the point and I was okay with, and then they reminded me I'd be charged. Right. Then on check out they were also a little confused as well.
-The Starbucks in the hotel is AWFUL, worst service, worst attitude, worst cup of coffee ever!!!!! (and I love Starbucks, just don't go to this one).
- The concierge had no idea what was happening around, no deals we could get, or offers we could take advantage of except for some deal for 140 dollars (sorry not a deal).
So over all it was worth the price and the money, and as long as you don't bother with the terrible starbucks it's a perfect 3 star hotel! -
Review from Sheena L.
5/10/2012
The Stratosphere is the perfect place if you're doing Las Vegas on a budget and you still want to have a good time! My boyfriend and I went for our anniversary (because we're awesome) and we were actually really impressed. The rooms were clean and the view was great (we could see people bungee jumping AND we had a view of the pool, which was sexy). I found myself almost every morning sitting in the window ledge watching crazy people jump. There's also a live stream of the jump on one of the hotel's tv channels which serves as the perfect music for getting ready, especially if you grew up loving pop punk.
THE POOL! Why is no one talking about the pool? Yeah it's not Rehab, but it's awesome! The cocktails are fabulous and SOOOO good, seriously so good, and there's bikini black jack, tons of giveaways, and CABANADA! Obvs, I appreciated that. Honestly, my boy and I didn't leave this hotel for the first 24 hours or so we were in Vegas and I don't regret it. The casino has awesome drink deals and I still remember our Black Jack dealer Annie who was amazing! We were there during playoff hockey and got to bet on the games, big deal for Torontonians let me tell you. Also I found everyone here really nice. They all wear the locations of where they're from so conversation is a breeze. It's incredible how many people go to Vegas and decide not to leave! We also caught the show Bite - a topless vampire musical set to 80's rock. It was a riot!
THE BAD: The hotel was much farther down the strip than Google maps led me to believe. We decided to walk down the strip to get to the action and it was sketch central. So many people who were really messed up.
Honestly, everything was good here. Great restaurants and lots to do, plus the view from the top is breathtaking. I regret not dining in the restaurant, which apparently is amazing. We headed to the top one afternoon to do the rides, which was such a rush! It really provides perspective on Vegas as a city. We ventured into other hotels and casinos and they were nicer, granted, but you really can't get better than the Strat on a budget. -
Review from Eric H.
Las Vegas, NV
5/1/2012
I wasn't impressed but I don't regret the stay. It was the cheapest hotel on the strip for the nights I needed. The rooms were clean.
I was disappointed that the pool closed so early. They have 2 pools, one on the 8th floor (family pool) and another "adults only" pool on the 25th floor. I was really looking forward to hanging out at the 25th floor pool but apparently it's been closed or a whole and nobody cared to tell us.
It definitely gets marked down for being so far away from the main stuff on the strip, it's about a 1.5 mile walk to get down to the other hotels and attractions on the strip... the walk is through a bit of a scary area so girls definitely don't want to walk alone (I'd suggest at least a group of 3 if you're going to make the trek).
The buffet was ok. Nothing too great and it was $20 per person, I don't feel like it was worth the money but it also wasn't worth taking a cab ride (or scary walk) to get to another hotels buffet.
We changed hotels after a couple days. -
Review from Niki C.
Irvine, CA
5/9/2012
I am also giving a 3 stars because of the following:
PRO:
1) really cheap price ($26/nite on weekdays)
2) free unlimited access to tower is awesome. the view is really nice, and watching drunk people jump off the tower is fun too.
3) room is decent enough for the price
4) good location (not far from new hotels on the strip)
Mehs:
1) there are lots of weird and depressed looking people here.
2) the whole place isnt kept up. parking lot is dirty and scary, lots of places not clean, furniture in room pretty old.
3) area is creepy and scary. even the downtown area (which is really bad compared to new hotel areas) was a whole lot cleaner, brighter and with happier looking people.
this is a good place to stay for the first one or two nites in vegas, because the view from the tower is really beautiful and its a must see. but other than that, better food, fun, and happier people are somewhere else. -
Review from Vineet S.
4/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
One gets what one pays for it !!
Stratosphere according to me comes in the category of the budget travelers.Though the hotels in Vegas are far more cheaper as compared to other big cities. It is located outside the main strip and away from the main action. The only reason to stay here are the cheap prices of the rooms. But again these are not the best rooms on the strip. I came here to visit some of my common friends who were staying here. The rooms are decent but some of them looked very old and worn out. If one has a designated driver and on a budget then this place is a good to stay. The best part of this hotel are the thrill rides. I will stick to staying at my usual hotels on the strip. -
Review from Kim L.
Jacksonville, FL
5/16/2012 11 photos
We used to stay at here every year for our anniversary, but the last few years bad experiences. First off they changed the TOP OF THE WORLD's food and it is not as good as it used to be. We used to have our anniversary dinner here every year since before my husband proposed, and every year after! That is till last year. That was 6 years!! We do love what they did to the menu at Roxy's Dinner and will be going there every chance we get, but for the rest of the hotel for get it. I don't understand why they can't keep a record of returning customers preferences!? I had to tell them every time that it was our anniversary. At The SWAN hotel in Orlando we drop a bottle of wine coming into the hotel in front of a valet and he found out that it was for our birthday celebration and when we got back from our day at the park there was a bottle of wine similar to the one we drop, with a happy birthday note!!! Now that is customer service!!
The year before last I booked the sweet heart suite and when we got there that was not what they gave us. I called down and told them the room was the wrong one and they said it was my fault, that I booked it wrong. They did they to make it better and give us a different room. Which was great! It was a suite that looked out right onto the Sky Jump. It ticked me to watch the people as they went by my window all day and night!! I laughed every time. I love it so much that I asked to book that same room for when we return, the lady said no problem that we could get that same room. I paid the higher price so I could have the SAME room!! When we came back they didn't give us the same room! They put us way on the other side of the hotel! I told them it was the wrong room and that I wanted the same room we had last time, that the lady I booked with said we could get the same room. They said that that room was rented out but they could put us in a room near it, I said the whole point I wanted that room was so I could watch the people fall past my window!
The room they gave us you could see the jump unless you pressed your face to the window and only just barely. The room smelled when we walked in, there were stains on the couch, mold all over the bathroom shower, and dirty feet print on the bottom of the tub! I wasn't going to called again because it just seemed like there was no use. Then they call us and tell us that we can't stay our whole stay in that room because they had a VIP coming that was going to be put into that room. Now that really chapped my hide!!! I told them "So you are saying this person is more important then us??!! They basically told us they were, and we were out of the room. I told them I wouldn't be coming back, and that they might want to rethink putting their "VIP" in that room!
For even cheaper, $16 a night, we stayed at the Boulder Station Hotel & Casino that has newly renovated rooms, and the restaurant has phenomenal food! So if you don't care about staying on the strip stay at the Boulder Station Hotel & Casino. -
Review from Jay M.
Niagara Falls, NY
5/18/2012
We try to go Vegas every few years. In 2005 we stayed at the Stardust and liked it. (I know, the Stardust, awww, and I'm only in my 40's) For our trip in August 2011, we stayed at the Strat, mainly because it was the best deal we could find.
Here's what I like about the Strat. It's on the Strip, but less crowded and not as hectic. You can park in the garage, walk to the the entrance, go down the escalator and around the corner to the elevator and up to your room. It has all the penny and nickle slots we like to play, and you can usually get on a game and not have to wait. The Hangover Game is AWESOME, and I won the progressive jackpot (ok, it was $408, but still....) The buffet is quite good, a nice selection and there is an omelette station. We like to go and explore, sometimes on the Strip, sometimes downtown at Fremont Street, so the location is central to both. The pool is also awesome and quite a bit of fun. The crowd is more laid back and easy going, not pretentious at all. The tower is free when you stay there. Go on a windy day and feel it sway and see how fast you want to go back down!
The surrounding area is a bit scary, and has deteriorated. We paid $7 and took a cab to Circus Circus just to play it safe. Many of the surrounding buildings are vacant or worn down. More a factor of how the economy has hit Vegas than anything else. I must say though that I always felt safe, especially in the parking lot and surrounding area.
The accomodations were ok in August. A bit dated, but clean and comfortable. And again, we paid about $48 a night. I didn't notice a smoke smell like others have noted and I didn't think that the casino was very smoky. I'm a former smoker and I do notice and it does bother me, so for me it was fine. The staff were friendly and helpful. The wait staff at the buffet are amazing. Pedro was attentive and the one morning I wasn't feeling too well (too much time at the bar), and he made sure I had plenty of coffee to get me back to speed.
We returned in October 2011, to meet with some friends. I had recieved a couple free nights and was able to get a third free night from my friend staying with me attached to my two free nights. They gave us the more expensive weekend nights for free and added two more nights for $39 each. A great bargain! I requested the newly remodeled Central Tower and my room was very nice, with a view of the pool and a partial strip view. The staff at the players club desk and at one of the bars remembered us from August (not sure if that was good or bad), but again very friendly and helpful.
All in all, I think who you are with matters more than where you stay. And with the right company, you can have a fun time anywhere.!! Will definately be going back! -
Review from Alan S.
Los Angeles, CA
5/14/2012
I have never had an experience with a hotel as bad as the one I had this past weekend at the Stratosphere in Las Vegas.
This week is my 36th birthday; so to celebrate, I decided, on the spur of the moment, to make a trip to Vegas to go to one of my favorite clubs last weekend. I mean, why not? This past year, I received a kidney transplant. No more dialysis, so now I could travel freely. I had the money. No reason not to, right?
I originally wanted to just go and book whatever hotel room I could find while I was in Vegas itself, but at the urging of a close friend, I chose to go online and see if I could find a deal. I used a third party website, and found a room at the Statosphere for $67 per night. Since I was traveling late, and would not get there until after midnight, I booked it for Saturday, figuring I would stay overnight and come back to LA on Sunday. No problem, right?
Apparently, in Las Vegas, days do not begin at midnight like they do everywhere else in the U.S. They begin at 3pm, which was naturally not indicated on my confirmation. So when I got to the Statosphere, and tried to check in at midnight itself, I was told that I would have to buy two days, because this was still considered Friday. No attempt to make good, just to charge me more money, a pattern I would later learn was typical for the Stratosphere.
Across the street was a sleazy motel, so I figured I could just crash there for the night, and check into my room the next day. Since I did not have the much vaunted Statosphere for internet access, I searched for a wireless connection. As luck would have it, the city provides $5 wireless per day through Las http://Vegas.net. I bought two days, figured I would check in to the Statosphere the next day and all would be well.
When I got to there, I learned why my room had been such a "bargain": it came with a glorious view of some storage area where apparently the hotel keeps scrap metal. Two windows worth, no less. But that wasn't as bad as learning that the Stratosphere BLOCKS wireless providers so you have to buy theirs... at $11 a day.
Flabbergasted that a ritzy (cough!) hotel would be this cheap, I realized that I would have to use the phone to make my plans for the night. Not a big deal, I have a phone card, and their phone's display said local calls were free, except that, well, they're not. When I just got a rapid dialtone whenever I dialed nine, I tried calling the front desk for a solution. They put me on hold FOREVER. I tried other numbers - the concierge, the operator, SOMETHING - to find out what was wrong with my phone so I didn;t have to sit on hold, but to no avail. The Statosphere wanted me to hold on for five minutes, no matter what. So I did, only to learn that local calls are A DOLLAR each. What's on the phone, I guess, was put there by the manufacturer, because no one in their right mind would believe a luxury hotel would charge a buck each for LOCAL calls. But the Statosphere is not like other hotels. It's far worse.
So I used the cell, got to where I needed to go, and got the Hell out of there, discovering my favorite thing about the Statosphere - check out is easy and fast. I'm sure they had to do that because they get so many.
Bottom line, unless you're part of the 1%, stay at Circus Circus if you're going to Las Vegas on a budget. And stay as far from the Statosphere as you can. The tower, I now believe, was put in to distract you from how horrible this place is. Never again. -
Review from Albert K.
4/2/2012 6 Check-ins Here
Hotels are the opposite of people in that you can take the ghetto out of a hotel, but you can't take the hotel out of the ghetto. Alright, that's a little harsh, but let me explain: my first stay here was in 2006 and the changes that I noticed during my recent stay were substantial.
Yea, I know changes would take place during a 6 year gap, duh, but the hotel rooms are significantly better, much nicer than I expected for the price. The guest services are also terrific: fast/friendly check-in and they even helped me get an electric-scooter rental.
The casino is okay, not a bad place to get in some low-to-moderate stakes gaming, but your experience, particularly at tables will be dependent on other guests and customers. And that's where my ghetto comment comes in, the Stratosphere neighborhood (technically on the strip, but not really) isn't the nicest and you will see a lot of ghetto folks walking around the casino. BUT you'll never feel unsafe, and that's a big credit to Stratosphere.
The biggest drawback to the Stratosphere is that, again, its not really on the strip and you can't really go other places without taking a cab, which will run you about $15-$20 per ride to the strip hotels. Doesn't sound like much, but if you take a cab during the day, come back and change and go back out at night, that can be up to $80/day and cut into the good value of the hotel. -
Review from Sophia C.
4/1/2012
We stayed here for one Friday night while passing through, but it was more than enough as a future reminder to not stay here for any future stays.
We got to the hotel registration around midnight, and there was a ~20 people deep wait just to get checked in. With just 4 people working the computers to do the check in, everyone seems frustrated and dreary eye to just get a room.
Oi...get into a non-smoking room around the 10th floor and it STILL reeks of cigarette smokes. Ick! I know I know...it's Vegas--you have indoor chain smokers everywhere. There really is no such thing as "non-smoking" options.
At all costs, try to avoid a room across or near the elevators as our room was across from an elevator and it was loud that it was a nuisance when you're just trying to sleep. Topple that with blinds that don't fully block out the lights from outdoors. Yea...not a pleasant experience.
Yea...you get what you pay for here: old, smoky, outdated, sketchy drunks and gamblers stumbling on casino floor. -
Review from Amy B.
4/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
Can I give this 2.5 stars?
Pros:
- Free Parking
- You can go up to the lounge for free and check out the view
- High kitsch factor if you're into that (I am!)
Cons:
- Casino is pretty smokey
- Lots of kids running around
- The interior needs a face lift
- You have to go through a metal detector to go up to the top. Why?
- Need some better signage inside to navigate around -
Review from Anne B.
3/17/2012 3 Check-ins Here
I love this place! A bit off the beaten path, but it's less crowded and pretentious than Bellagio. Good cheap drinks, plenty of room at nickel slots, a nice restaurant at the top, and an "interesting" evening show. Don't take kids to that!!
It has a strange old-school charm overall. Starbucks on the first floor, a copious buffet, and a 50's diner complete your culinary options. Parking is free!
Room itself was on the bare bones side and bathroom had the cheapest shower curtain I've ever seen, but the view rocked.
Go to the top floor for a panoramic rotating view of Vegas! -
Review from L. S.
San Leandro, CA
4/4/2012
If you don't want to be in the heart of the action and you rented a car, not a bad place to stay. At the very least, head up to the tower for the view since it's free with your stay -- there are metal detectors but it's not as painful as airport security.
Here's my overall take:
- Room: eh. Clean, nothing fancy overlooking the parking structure.
- Casino: we don't gamble but amusing to watch people as we walk through.
- Buffet: I would give it four stars. Good service, delicious and everything tasted fresh.
- Parking: free. Connected to hotel.
- Drinks: head up to Level 107 Lounge to enjoy the view, drinks + food.
We didn't spend every waking moment here (saw a show/met friends elsewhere) so heading out to the more active areas on the strip and coming back for a nice view and a few drinks before a short night's sleep worked well for us. And it only worked because I promised to be the designated driver so we could drive back and forth (I don't recommend walking to the action, it's farther than it looks and chances are you will be too tired or tipsy to walk back).
I don't really have anything negative to say about the Stratosphere but with so much competition from the other hotels/casinos, three stars is pretty fair. It's not spectacular, it's not horrible and we enjoyed ending our stay at the tasty buffet. If you want to be dazzled, wowed and close to the action then stay elsewhere. If you have a car, a designated driver, and a good room rate then stay here. -
Review from Mel D.
Port Hueneme, CA
5/14/2012
Hotel staff is very friendly! The hotel room was ok, but the bathroom not so good! The toilet don't flush well and it sounds like a airplane bathroom. To get to the shower you have to step up into the shower. To have a fridge or microwave into the room is $10 extra for each per day. To get the same room but renovated its $15 extra a day! The TV channels there aren't many. I would not come back!
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Review from Roger A.
Burlingame, CA
Updated - 4/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
While I only went here for the rides, Lets just say that the Stratosphere isnt a bad place. It definitely stands out as it looks unique.
There is always a line for the rides on top.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/13/2009
I only went here for the X Scream ride. that's it.
not as scary except the fact you are over the… Read more »
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Review from Rem R.
3/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
The Stratosphere is good for two things and two things only, No Craps Craps and Amusement Park rides. If you have stayed here and have been burnt by the $29.99 room who do you have to blame, the Hotel or You?
The Stratosphere is the only Casino that offers no Crap Craps, meaning on that first roll, if you roll a 2, 3 or 12 you can not Crap out, which is a REALLY BIG deal when it comes to gambling, so if you are playing craps somewhere else you are insane.
The Stratosphere has figured out the market and figured out how to charge everyone for everything when it comes to going to the top. Just walking to the area in which you have to purchase the ticket to take the ear popping elevator ride to the top is a hike from the valet. The Casino makes sure you have to walk through the Casino for several minutes which means you are probably going to want to gamble. Once you get to the area to purchase ride, elevator or observation deck tickets you will have been walking through a mall, massage tables, video arcades, restaurants etc.
The Stratosphere Tower tickets (means Elevator ride) charges $16.00 for adult and $10.00 for a child. Seniors and Nevada residents are $12.00.
At the top of the Stratosphere they charge the following to ride their rides:
Big Shot (sooo much fun) $13.00
X-Scream $12.00
Insanity $12.00
Sky Jump (Controlled jump off the side of the building) $109.00 & UP.
The Stratosphere now offers unlimited rides and Tower admission for $34.00. I am not sure if you are allowed to go up to the top several times or if you are stuck up there for the entire day.
This place is a lot of fun for riding rides and let's be honest non gambling time which at the end of the day saves us all money. People will stick $20 into a slot and burn threw that it 30-45 seconds but we will complain if we are charged the same to ride an elevator that takes longer than that. -
Review from Seth K.
3/29/2012
The stratosphere is the worst casino on the strip!
Let's start with the building, it is old and in disrepair. It is still safe building but the inside and outside are dated and need to be updated. I expected the buffet to be wonderful but when it was all said and done I ate more cold cereal than I did anything else. Not worth the money or your time, you would get better food at a vending machine.
One of the big things that draws people to the stratosphere is the viewing deck and the rise of top however the cost just to get upstairs is astronomical. In less you are going up to ride one of the many amusement rides it is not worth your money.
The only thing that was good at the stratosphere was their show the bite. It had comedy, acrobatic acts, nudity, and magic. It was a pretty neat show other than that stay away from the stratosphere. -
Review from Mark T.
This review is from the perspective of a day visitor to the Stratosphere rather than from a hotel guest.
My friends and I came over to the Stratosphere in order to try the thrill rides at the top of the tower. About half of us would be riding, making the $16 elevator ride to the top a pretty steep wager for those who were just waiting for us to ride. They came up anyway.
Once at the top, there is a restaurant that serves burgers and other self-creation sandwiches along with a 360 degree view of the rest of the strip. The 108th floor is indoor viewing, while the 109th is outdoor.
It cost $31 to get a tower entrance and a ride on all three rides, which alone may seem expensive, but was pretty trivial in comparison to the tower entrance fee. As for the the thrill rides:
X-Scream: A must ride in the FRONT seat. The effect of being propelled off the side of the tower is effective, and you will feel something. Though the literal ride itself is not incredibly intense, it's design makes it pretty thrilling.
Insanity: Perhaps the most intense of the three for those who have a fear of heights. You are spun at 40 miles per hour with a 70 degree tilt toward the ground off of the Stratosphere tower. While I don't think this ride would make too many people dizzy, I would suggest concentrating your eyes to one spot on the ground to avoid a milkshake explosion.
Big Shot: DEFINITELY the best ride of the three. The ride is your typical space shot tower, except its 1100 feet off the ground. Usually, I find this kind of ride semi-intense, over-relying on the initial shot then fizzling out afterward. This one, being high off the ground gave a terrifying view! And at the top, they stop the ride sufficiently as to give a STRONG negative-G pop that makes you feel like you're literally floating over the entire Las Vegas strip. If my group wasn't in a rush to the next event, I would have definitely ridden this puppy again!
Overall, the property isn't bad, but is a bit expensive for what it's offering, even by Vegas standards. I'm glad to see that this hotel hasn't become a complete victim of the newer Vegas fanfare.
In the future, I hope to try the SkyJump, which also seemed really popular (1000 foot jump off the tower), and I'll likely give that a try also on a future visit (the ambulances are always standing by right on the ground... CRAZY!). -
Review from Michelle W.
New York, NY
3/7/2012
You get what you pay for...
If you're looking to stay here for a night, then go for it. I don't recommend staying here for more than a night though as there are so many better options. I'm not saying you should break the bank and stay at the Wynn, but there are affordable options that aren't at the end of the strip and are pretty decent.
The rooms were clean, but it is the Stratosphere...it's an old hotel with just the basics. It really isn't "Vegas" in here.
After all, you are on vacation and you're going to spend more money than you'd like, so save yourself the disappointment and go to a nicer hotel.Listed in: Sin City!
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Review from Jonathan C.
Rockville, MD
3/12/2012 4 Check-ins Here
This hotel is probably idea for smokers or people who love the smell of cigarette smoke. If you are sensitive to smells and indoor air quality, stay away. Like, don't even visit the casino or the rides.
I'm conflicted about this place. On the one hand, it was really, really cheap to stay here for a week, on the Strip, in Vegas, in a room with two queen beds. Check in and check out were painless. They upgraded me from a 6th floor to a 23rd floor room on Sunday.
However, if you go to other hotels on the strip you're going to get major location, fanciness, and smell envy. Yes, smell envy. Let me start there.
The casino in the Strat smells like disgusting stale smoke. While there are signs when you get off the elevator saying "Non smoking floor." Why they bother to say that when they clearly don't enforce it is a source of consternation for me. There were even cigarette marks on the toilet seat in my room on the 23rd floor. When patrons come up the elevators to your floor, they also bring an elevator full of gross smoke smell. There are also ashtrays at the entrance to the elevators. ON A NON SMOKING FLOOR. HELLO.
The room itself also had terrible air quality. I could smell smoke strongly in the first room I had, not so much in the second. But the second's air conditioner had some sort of janky filter rigged to the AC which was full of dust. Our noses were running the entire time.
Also, there seemed to be construction going on above our room. At 7 in the morning. On a Sunday. It sounded like people banging on wood and dropping things.
I'll update this review as I remember more stuff but overall, if I had to do it again, I'd go with Circus Circus, which is cheaper, bigger, and closer to the action. -
Review from Tyler M.
Honolulu, HI
2/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
I remember this hotel when I came to Vegas with my papa them when I was 12. Didn't go in it then but did in our trip here.
Awesome self parking connected to the hotel. (not a mile walk)
Cool, old school feel walking around the Stratosphere. Lot of cheap minimum bet gambling tables which was perfect for a first time gambler. Their dealers at the blackjack table so so funny and inviting. Not like those foreign, grumpy ones at the higher class hotels.
Would have been 5 stars if they didn't charge to go up to the tower. I can't complain, the view was phenomenal. I ain't afraid of heights but would have been cooler at night to see all the lights on the Strip.
Visited Aug 2011 -
Review from Randoll C.
Orange County, CA
2/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
Ended up at the Statosphere last weekend as I had dinner at their Top of the World restaurant. (see separate review).
It's out of the way - not close to the downtown or the other strip properties. It's also near a pretty sketchy area though things are being done to try to improve the area.
The interior isn't too bad considering the age of the property and with the things to do high up in the tower, it's too bad you have to pay to get up otherwise it would probably be busier. The tower that is.
I didn't stay in the rooms so from what I was able to see from the parking structure to the tower, management is doing a decent job of drawing people there. Gaming, lounges and dining - all reasons to go.
Anyway - the place is ok. Been to better. Been to worse. -
Review from Joe D.
Pittsburgh, PA
1/27/2012
It was my first time in Vegas and I went with my friend John, now John is a vegas junkie, usually he travels out there in November and March every year. He loves hitting ther strip during March Madness.
Anyway, he had found a deal at his travel agent, he booked us two different deals, one was at Treasure Island, that deal included airfare. The other deal was two days and three nights at the Stratosphere, free. When you checked in they gave you 100 dollars in free slot play, 50 bucks cash, and free buffet. All we had to do was check in, go to the room, mess up the beds and go stay in comfort at Treasure Island. One catch, we had to participate in a slot tourniment one of the days we were there. You had to sign up at the front desk. The tourny was every hour on the hour from 8 am to 8pm. So we signed up for 2 pm the next day to fullfill our requirements to recieve the free room.
The Stratosphere was in some sort of finacial trouble it seems and were giving rooms away to get people to gamble in their hotel. So we got our room keys (NO BELLHOPS?) we took a very old, creeky elevator to our floor and when John opened up his door he noticed people in bed watching TV, it was pretty funny, not to the people in bed though, but I still chuckle about it when he brings it up. They got it straighten out and apologized.
The place was a hole, I mean a real dump. We couldn't wait to get out of there and check in at Treasure Island. We each had fifty bucks cash from the Stratosphere and returned the next day to play in the tourny, I did'nt do very well, there but i did dump the hundred dollers in free slot play in a 5 dollare machine and walked out well ahead.
But seriously, there are so many nice places to stay in Vegas.
PS, rode the roller coaster at the top, I will never do that again, that is one crazy ass ride! -
Review from James K.
Phoenix, AZ
5/17/2012
This place was horrible, well maybe just not that great. I stayed there on the Friday before New Years Eve, when the rooms are quite expensive. They put me in a room that was had not even been made up yet. I called the front desk. They asked me to come to the lobby again for new keys. There was no room upgrade for the inconvenience. The new room was not that great. And they even put me in the remodeled wing of the hotel. I would not feel safe walking around this area at night.
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Review from Meesha R.
4/3/2012
Awful rooms. Awful customer service. (We had an issue where a boyfriend and girlfriend next to our room were arguing and screaming at each other at 4am!!! It sounded like someone was getting killed) Stratosphere did NOTHING to help us despite our calls to the front desk. This was apparently an "upgraded" room too. I had to walk downstairs in PJ's and urge them to change our room, which they were reluctant of at first. So disappointing. The surrounding area of the Stratosphere poses a risk of getting mugged. Upgrading your room still puts you at a 2 star hotel at best. Taxi drivers warn people not to go on the rides at the top due to them breaking down on some occasions. I was not impressed at all. I'll take the Venetian or the Bellagio any DAY to avoid the complications that have arised from my stay here. Will NOT be returning.
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Review from Tristan S.
Beverly Hills, CA
2/20/2012
Got a really sweet deal on a room here for two nights; it barely set me back $100 total.
Now, when you pay so little for a place to stay, you should generally understand that a few things will be lacking. This said, in the case of the Stratosphere, overall, there really wasn't all that much to complain about. The room was surprisingly spacious and was clean. We didn't have one of the newly renovated rooms but it was still in good shape; nothing super-memorable, but, nothing *bad* either.
The view from the 15th floor was nice; we had a decent view of the strip and it looked great at sunset. Mind you, the Stratosphere is definitely on the further end of the strip, so consequently, you have to walk or cab about a half-mile before you start seeing much and don't really hit the thick of it for about two miles, which I really don't mind.
Had fun in the casino and actually came ahead with the slots. The desk staff, attendants at the tower and rides, and the lounge staff were all really friendly and had a great sense of humor. The bartender at the bar when you first walk in the front doors was quick, but wasn't much help when I asked if there were any places that had pizza or tacos in the area and quickly left to go talk with other staff members, but the guys at the desk on the graveyard shift were helpful.
Overall, had a nice experience and didn't pay too much for it. I'm the sort of person who doesn't spend much time in their room when they're out on vacation, and I found the free tower access and 2-for-1 martinis at the tower lounge to be preferable to having a marble countertop in my bathroom (which I have at home anyways). -
Review from Shon K.
Portland, OR
1/1/2012
I am late in writing my review as my stay was in October of 2010 - but I wanted to share my experiences with the staff in regards to the lack of customer service I had received while there.
We flew in from Portland in the late afternoon and took a cab to the hotel where we checked in and were given our room. We were not offered any assistance with our bags which but I didn't take notice of it at that point but it is strange due to the fact that most most hotels offer that right away. I would have refused it however it was the start of our glorious stay at the Stratosphere!
We went to our room on the 7th floor and plopped our suitcases and duffle's up on the bed for unpacking when I promptly took my shoes off to walk around the room, scope the place out and get ready to shower. I came across a 12 inch diameter wet spot on the floor next to the bed and my socks were soaked right away.
I hopped out of the wet spot and stripped off my socks and looked around the room for more wet spots - nothing. I wasn't about to put my face down to smell the floor but the first thing that came to mind was someone else was unhappy with the hotel and decided to take a whiz before they left or they were drunk from the nightlife and spilled their stomach contents on the floor prior to checking out - and I just got it all over my socks and feet.
The front desk was called and informed of the issue, we were told not to do anything, standby and that someone (the manager) would be right up. 30 minutes go by and another call is made to the front desk - "someone is on the way" they say. 20 minutes go by and we are wondering where this person might be? We discuss how quite the casino was and the front desk/lobby was not busy at all. Someone should be here any moment. Give them a bit longer, perhaps another group of planes came in and they got busy - however we want to get this resolved so we can unpack and go see Vegas, it is our first time here.
We waited another 20 minutes and we call again and are told the same thing - someone is on the way. We tell them to please hurry up as we have been waiting over an hour and we are hungry, want to unpack and shower and go eat as we have been flying all day. No problem we are told, just a few more minutes.
Total time waited at this point before I call - 1.5 hours and I call the front desk and ask for the manager (who is supposed to be on the way to our room) and they pick up the phone and proclaim "Service Manager can I help you". Hello, do you know which room number I am in? "Yes sir". Do you know of the complaint we called about previously? "Yes sir". Are you aware that for the past HOUR AND A HALF you were supposed to have been on the way to our room to get this resolved and we have been sitting here patiently waiting for you? "I will be right there sir".
He knocked on our door within 5 minutes and looked at the spot then told us that they just cleaned the carpets, it is nothing. I asked him why is this one spot soaking wet and not the entire carpet then if the carpet was cleaned? if it were cleaned, the entire carpet would be damp. If he is so sure that the spot is from the carpet cleaning, perhaps smelling the spot wouldn't be out of the question?
The manager said absolutely out of the question, I had a valid point and he would move us to a different room immediately and have someone else come in and "clean these carpets again".
We were moved to a new room on the 19th floor I think it was where indeed the entire carpet was damp and smelled of a fragrant soap. The manager stated that this one was obviously cleaned and apologized and left. That was it, nothing about leaving us sitting in the piss/puke room or about putting us in a room with a completely damp carpet. We called downstairs again and asked them to bring up fans to dry out this carpet and they did. They offered NOTHING for the hassle and no apologies for the wait.
The entire stay construction was going on throughout the day and night, you could hear hammering through the walls and ceiling in the elevator as you came and went. The food in this hotel/casino was pretty crappy.
For 9 bucks more a night you can stay at the Luxor which is a cool place and in a safer location. This hotel is also at the bad end of town and if you walk down to the strip you have to walk through the ghetto and there are some suspect people standing outside the t-shirt stores and liquor stores begging for money and scoping out the passers by.
Spend your money elsewhere. -
Review from E. S.
Cerritos, CA
12/19/2011
I have never stayed at Stratosphere, but based on the mixed reviews on here I decided to find out for myself. The hotel overall is a DECENT place to stay considering the remarkable (very CHEAP) price we paid for the whole weekend.
***FYI: If you're all fancy and stuff and are expecting MORE....this is NOT the place for you...BUT, if you're a baller on a budget...you might like this place.
Since my fiancé and I stayed at the newly remodeled rooms, the self-parking garage is easily located near the exit which was very convenient. Like everyone said, the surrounding area is very HOOD...Don't walk around outside when it's dark!!! I like the fact that it was far from the strip and navigating around town made it easy to take the back streets.
Checking in/out was easy; there's no lines. The employees at Stratosphere were very helpful and courteous. Regarding the remodeled rooms: the king size bed was okay; it could be better by making it softer. We definitely found the bathroom to be spacious, and the jacuzzi tub was awesome!
Gambling was fun, not so crowded which I definitely liked. We were able to go to the top of the tower and we got to see the magnificent view. Overall, it was a wonderful place to stay (Seriously, it's not that BAD) and I would definitely come back again. -
Review from Sarah K.
San Diego, CA
2/12/2012
We stayed here on our wedding night in a suite. So yes it was 4 years ago.
It was perfect for us as it was a suite and was located in the same hotel as we were having our meal.
That said its not the best hotel on the strip and it is a way out from a lot of stuff. Perfect for our needs at that time ;) -
Review from Cynthia A.
Torrance, CA
12/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
I truly wanted to give Stratosphere 4 stars because they did an awesome remodel but the location of this hotel is shady and the room temperature was warm. The AC would not allow us to go lower than 69, however, it felt like 75. Now, the beds are very comfortable and the bathroom is a nice size. The walls do seem a bit thin because I heard a lot of random conversations coming from the hall and other rooms. I would stay again because it's cheap but it's far from the strip so I would rather pick another hotel.
Tips: Top of the World restaurant is worth dining at at least once :)Listed in: Vegas Vixens
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Review from Mrs. V.
Brooklyn, NY
4/11/2012
The only reason we decided to stay at the Stratosphere was because of a deal we received from Amex. This place is as far away from the action as possible. We probably would have had a better time staying at one of the dumpy Travel Lodge's off the strip. We decided to walk to the center of the strip from the hotel and it took us about an hour at average speed. During this hour walk we were constantly accosted by homeless people asking for change, at one point even being followed by a homeless guy. We took a cab back when returning in the evening.
The hotel itself definitely needs some updates. The room was nothing spectacular. You can hear people in the other rooms flushing their toilets and showering. We were lucky enough to have a bunch of girls staying in 2 rooms across the hall from us who were slamming doors and running around the hallway all night. Calling security amounted to absolutely nothing.
The casino was absolutely lifeless, couldn't even find a decent blackjack table. It is basically packed in with slot machines and cigarette smoke. Even the non-smoking floors smelled like smoke.
During our visit, the 8th floor pool was not available but we decided to relax and lay out in the sun anyway. But was unable to because of the drilling that was being done to the unavailable pool.
We will definitely pay 3x as much money to stay at any other hotel on the strip. -
Review from Christina G.
San Luis Obispo, CA
1/23/2012
Roller coaster.... Good!!!! In fact, amazing.
Location of said roller coaster... Even more fabulous.
Location of hotel... Not so good. Especially when you've dressed nice with your lady pals and head on out to the strip. 3 hours later and 30 propositions from strange weirdos later, we finally made it to Caesars palace.
Although I had a great time next time I'd book a place closer to wherever the action is (bellagio, Caesars palace). The upside is it does have free parking below!!
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