How is the sceene there? Couples, singles, kids, Combination? How are the pools there? I've stayed at the Rio and MGM but would like to try another hotel on the strip. How are the rooms?

We are three single guys going down there to relax, age 32, and hang at a nice hotel with a good pool area with people our age.

I'm not a fan of the Monte Carlo.

I like the atmosphere of the casino, but the hotel itself is kinda trodden, dirty, and not worth it. The scene is bargain hunters, old people, and kids - a potpourri if you will.

It looks GREAT from the outside, but it just doesn't cut it when you get inside. And the pool is not as good as the web sites claim it is. TRUST ME ON THIS ONE.

If you want something with the same price range, I would suggest either Flamingo (Ok rooms, fantastic pool) or Treasure Island (Great rooms, good pool).

If you want a big single scene, you should check out Hard Rock or Mandalay Bay - lots of b**bs and babes.

I am still within a budget. Those two seem to be a bit double the price. How is the luxor? I have stayed at the paris too but don't like there pool too much.

I have stayed at the Monte Carlo many times and have never found it to be dirty. The rooms are small-ish, but nicely appointed, nice decor, fairly elegant as far as the Strip goes. I have never had a dirty room there. If you get a room on a high floor on the Strip side, the views are fantastic.

The scene isn't as young and hip as Hard Rock, but I think it's a good mix of young people, singles, couples, young families. Not a meat market like Hard Rock. The pool area is great with a lazy river thing you float around in inner tubes as well as normal pools -- it can be very crowded, though. Quite a few kids. I think if you're looking for a hipper pool scene, Mandalay Bay or Hard Rock would be a better choice.

There are a few old people there, but you don't see them in droves like you do at, say, Stardust.

I like the casino area a lot -- it's nice and well-kept, never painfully crowded, and I find that the service is pretty good compared to a lot of other places -- I have never had to wait an eternity for a payout there like I have at Harrah's or Bally's.

I find that Treasure Island is much more full of kids than Monte Carlo. Not as bad as Excalibur, but still kid-heavy.

Monte Carlo is in a great location -- next door to NYNY, across the street from MGM. You can take a monorail over to Bellagio, and from there you are right at Caesar's etc. If you walk past NYNY and cross Tropicana Blvd you can catch a monorail to Luxor and Mandalay Bay.

I would have to agree wholeheartedly with Darvy. I have stayed at Monte Carlo, Paris, Treasure Island, Flamingo, and even the Imperial Palace (NEVER AGAIN). The Monte Carlo looks fine, the casino has some good payouts, but it's not a good place to stay.
As for the pool, if you like cracked concrete and crabgrass, then by all means give it a shot. The last (and I mean LAST) time I stayed there, my son took a spin on the lazy river, looked down, and saw a condom floating by, easy as you please. I was SHOCKED and complained to one of the "managers" at the pool, he smirked and said he'd have someone clean it up. Great.

If you're on a budget, stay at the Flamingo. If a pool is important, that's the best pool for the money.

Rich - when's the last time you went to Treasure Island? I've been there several times within the last two years and kids are not as common there anymore. That fad died off a few years after the opening of the place.

I think Luxor fits your profile choices. It also tends to cater to age an group such as yours and the amenities you seek are all there and of high quality.

Keep in mind the rooms in the towers will generally be larger than the pyramid rooms.

I have friends that just stayed at MC and thought it was fine to sleep at but did not like social and pool scene. We stayed at Bellagio, and they were with us everyday. I know Bellagio is a lot more, but the pool scene was definitly a good mix of ages 26-40. I have also stayed at the Hard Rock and gotten rooms fro as low as 59 a night. The scene ther is very young though. we are in our late 20's and felt pretty old. It is a blst though. The Oalms is a pretty cool new place. Be sure to check out the Ghostbar one night.

The Hard Rock crowd is mostly college aged, like undergraduate. The rooms are OK but pretty spare in their furnishings. Staff is friendly. Food is OK. Pool is OK.

Peter,

I stayed there with 2 other mates in 1996. We were 24 at the time. To be honest, I was quite disappointed with it. It lacked atmosphere and promised a lot but delivered little. The rooms were just the run of the mill hotel rooms you would find anywhere.

Stay at the Hard Rock Hotel. It's heav en for single guys.

I like the MC..never found it to be dirty. But if I was 32 yo guy and wanted to hang out at a cool pool on the strip try Mandalay Bay.

DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT STAY AT THE FLAMINGO. I couldn't have been more disappointed. It's old, dirty, tons of kids running around..nothing against kids, but if you want to chill at the pool, there's nothing worse than a swarm of kids playing with pool noodles and floaty toys.

Hey Rich--
Does the Monte Carlo charge anything for the lazy river you mentioned?
When I stayed at the MGM they charged $15.00 for a tube to float on the lazy river. I thought that was ridiculous for a paying hotel guest!