Not really a LV trip report, because I really have nothing new to add to what you've read about others. But I have noticed several posts lately with people asking about the Flamingo - or those who will be staying there. So just a short report on the Flamingo...

First, by all means, check in at the airport!!! DO NOT check in at the hotel. There is a small office for checking into any of the Ceasars properties (which includes the Flamingo, Ballys, etc.) right by the new baggage claim area under construction. We flew Southwest, so it was in that baggage claim area. If you don't find it, ask. It took us a total of 5 minutes to check in. The lines for check in at the hotel were unbelieveably long, and my guess is some waited more than an hour to check in. Nothing like going from the airport straight to your room.

Oh, and we requested and promptly received a renovated room with a view. We got a view of the pool.

We got a King bed which always provides more room. There is also a love seat and a chair in the room. Plenty of room. The bathroom is very, very small and in ours, the lighting wasn't quite bright enough for me. The room was nicely decorated and not hotel tacky at all. Maid service was completed by noon for us each day. Water pressure in the shower left some to be desired. And the water was very hard. My hair was pretty dull and lifeless. (The men probably don't care about this. Women will understand...)

The Flamingo has several places for coffee in the AM. The one near the pool entrance had a long line after 9 AM. Get there early or find one of the others in the hotel.

Their dinner buffet was actually pretty good for $15.95. (They offer b'fast for $10.95, we didn't try it...) We didn't feel like looking around when we first got there and were starving, so we tried it and found it better than average. Lots of salads, crab legs (so-so) Prime Rib surprisingly good, asian choices, the regular stuff. Lots of desserts that looked great - some were, most were so-so.

There are several gift shops in the hotel. The basic over-priced gift shops. Walk around the strip and go to the Forum Shops for more choices. I recommend bringing bottled water if you can fit it into your bags. Otherwise it's $3.25 a bottle almost everywhere on the strip. I'm sure you can find it off strip too. (We found it for 99 cents when we ventured to Fremont St. Downtown.)

The Flamingo is expanding their casino to add more slot machines. They have a ton of them for sure. You can get comped drinks if you sit at the bar and play one of the video poker machines, if you bet $10 or more. We did little gambling at the Flamingo and preferred the very cheesy Imperial Palace two doors down. H wanted $5 Blackjack tables. The minimum at the Flamingo was $10.

The Pool. This may be because we were there in late July, but we got to the pool at 9:30 AM and ALL the chairs were taken! They do have signs posted around the pool as well as on the chairs that those left vacant for over 30 minutes were pretty much fair game. H and I rented floats and actually enjoyed them more than sweating in the lounge chairs. We were able to get a chair the day before because number one, it was a cloudy day and secondly, it was Sunday about 11, a popular check out time. But Monday at 9:30 - Forget it.

There is a more secluded pool near the outdoor restaurant and tennis courts. They had cabana rentals.

All in all the Flamingo was a good choice. We got great rates thru SW Vacations. I'd stay there again and recommend it. You cannot beat the location. Across from Ceasars, Bellagio, on a Monorail stop, In the middle of everything. Oh, and I think the Margaritaville Bar, part of the Flamingo, is fairly new and very popular drinking spot. It opens to the street and a great place for margaritas and people watching.

Any questions, I'll be happy to answer if I can...

Thanks for the report. I'd definitely try the Flamingo based upon your recommendation.

What are the stops & cost of the monorail? We were there in December, but it was not yet operating. We usually rent a car, but based upon the monorail route & cost, we'd probably use that instead.

Thanks!

I just posted my second report and now I see this one. Sorry about that..

The Monorail is $3 per ride. $5.50 for two rides, $10 for a day pass. The farthest south stop is the MGM Grand. North, it's the Sands. It stops at Paris/Ballys, Flamingo/Ceasars, and north, I'm not sure. I think you can find it on the web.

It's a good price if there are just a few of you. More, than that, a cab ride might be be a better idea. To me, anything would be better than a car in Vegas!

Interesting Flamingo trip report since we were there for one night only (a Sat.) mid-August last year. Glad you remembered price of buffet - I didn't - but we also thought it was fine.

I never knew there was a "more secluded pool" - we missed that. One other comment on pool was the annoying fact that it closed at 6 PM - I understand they want you to spend money and not swim for free, but when we were there it was over 100 degrees.

Sunday AM I was able to get coffee and a muffin at about 8 AM with minimal line - and took both and Sunday newspaper outside by tropical birds - it was pretty, very few other people (who else is awake at 8 AM on a Sunday in LV?) - actually very relaxing.

I thought the pool closed at 6 too from reading reports here, but there were people there till 8:00. They have the Fosters Beer party every night from 4 to 8 at the pool. And people got there as early as 7 AM.

We are early risers and kept our body clocks pretty much the same in LV. It is different at 7 AM! Interesting in the casino, folks still there from the night before. Well I'm assuming that. Of course could be they just start their mornings with a drink!

Austin,Thank you for the trip report! We just booked the Flamingo for our October trip.
Did you see any of the shows in Vegas?
We want to do the Star Trek-Borg Invasion at the Hilton and we are also hoping that we get to see Trent Carlini (an Elvis impersonator)while we are in Vegas.
Debbie

Debbie, try for 1/2 price tickets at the M&M store on the strip day of the performance. I've seen the Star Trek show up there, don't know about the other one.

Austin, thanks for the info about the monorail.

Deb - we decided to check out tix for O or Mystere on Monday. Found out there are no shows on Mon & Tues. I noticed a few other places were off on Mondays as well. Plan accordingly!

While we were there Elton John was at Ceasars. That would have been nice, but very pricey.

Leona,I will certainly check out the M&M Store and see if we can get our tickets to Star Trek! Thanks!
Austin,We want to go see the Dream King-Trent Carlini(Elvis impersonator) at the Hilton.Tickets are $36.00.I've read he's really good.One person said she's seen him 5 times and still wants to see him again!
We have also checked ticket prices for some of the shows and wow! Are they pricey$$$ or what? I think I'll save mine(or lose it..) for the slots.
We are going from a Wednesday to a Saturday so that should work out OK if we decide to see a show while were there.
Debbie