Fopr the past ten years we've stayed at the Mirage and Caeser's Palace when visiting Vegas but I started to get promo stuff from Aladdin and thought maybe it was time for a change. But I'm hearing mixed things about it - mainly that with the new ownership/management just kicking in nobody's quite sure what to say about it now. We are going to be there at the end of March. I enjoy the tables and my wife enjoys, (loves), shopping. We both appreciate very good, clean rooms and fine restaurants. Any comments?

GaryA:

I'm not trying to sound rude (which--with a name like Black Bart--is a first for me) but if you type "Aladdin" into the search feature here, you'll get about a gazillion hits...good and bad.

BB

No, I know that Bart but what I was hoping was that someone more 'on the scene' there might give me information on what's happening and whether the atmosphere of uncertainty is ending.

In September it couldn't have been nicer. Like you we went because of the super promotional prices and I somewhat suspected the worst. But from the almost immediate check-in (unlike I've had at Mirage, and even Bellagio) to the quality of the rooms, to the instant maid service when we went to breakfast each morning, it couldn't have been better.

My most negative comment is that we tend to prefer self-parking so if we want to go, we won't have to wait forever for our car. Self-parking seemed like about 5 miles away and clear through the entire shopping mall.

We stayed at the Alladin last year, and thought that it was very nice. The only complaint we had was that in our room with two queen sized beds, there was not enough room between the desk and the bed to pull the chair out far enough to actually sit in it - we had to crawl in and wedge ourselves between the chair and the desk in order to sit there, which we both did as we needed to use our computer occasionally to check e-mail and do some work. It seemed odd to have so little room for the desk when the bathroom was enormous.

Sara. I had to laugh at that comment about the enormous bath -- it was wasn't it? We held a formal dance for 35 guests in there our second night.
But we had a king room and it was very large also.

My husband works there... and I used to work at The Venetian (just to let you know I am not biased - of course I tell him our hotel is better). My husband normally can get our friends who ask employee rates and so far none of them had any complaints. (With The Venetian, employee rates are limited in specified dates only.) As a matter of fact many come back. All of the hotels have different things to offer, different good restaurants.
Oh and you might want to suggest to the front desk upon check in, you want a view of the Bellagio side. Sometimes they can do this for you.
PS: Management may have changed but Aladdin hasn't really changed yet - . They are changing facade start 2006, I think (don't quote me). If there is a change I think it's for the better cause after the bankruptcy they now have a better budget, example for amenites. And if you found any flaws, all hotels have some here and there even The Venetian (that I know for sure).

Even though I live here, I spend the occasional weekend in a local hotel and have an "in-town getaway".

I had the opportunity to stay at the Aladding a few months ago. In my opinion it beats every other strip hotel in the mid-level price range.

The rooms are very nice. The bathrooms are beautiful. You could literally drown in the bathtub. The lobby is one level below the casino, so all you have to do to get to valet parking or catch a cab from your room is take the elevator straight down - no long walk through the casino. The buffet is fabulous. The mall has stores that I can actually afford to shop at. The cocktail service in the casino is generous. The location is perfect. What more could you want?

OK, I think I'm convinced. Now I just have to have the Casino rep confirm my rate and comps.

We love the Aladdin and Gary, your wife will LOOOOOVVVEEE the Desert Passage shops!

Oh and I forgot to mention, from all the buffets we've tried, Bellagio and Aladdin's are the best. (Of course talking about hotel buffets ONLY).

IMO, the buffet at Aladdin is overrated... but then again I'm not a big buffet person. I still can't believe we paid freakin' $45 or $50 for 2 people for breakfast... Excuse me, but there's no way, in my book, to justify $50 for some eggs and bacon. I know they had other stuff, but for breakfast, I can't imagine loading up on all that food to justify spending $50. Sorry.

Next, I do agree the Aladdin rooms are HUGE! I had my bachelorette party there over 2 years ago and the bed was humongous!!! It fit 3 girls on there easily, and the sofa was also a pullout. We had more room in the double-sink bathroom than most hotels have in their actual room. I would stay at Aladdin again easily.

The Aladdin is very nice. I stayed there and Caesars last time I was there. I would never stay there again. The Aladdin is much better. Bigger rooms, nicer bathrooms, etc.

Go for the Aladdin. We had lunch there at the Spice Market Buffet. Ithought it was worth it for lunch (I am not a buffet person).