Jane answers:

The Riviera has undergone an extensive rennovation in the last couple of years. Many if not all of the rooms now feature plump duvet type bedding and LCD tvs and new carpet. Most rooms now have clock radios with Ipod docking stations. There is brand new carpet throughout the casino and a really nice new Sportsbook.

Keep in mind it is an older property , so rooms may be smaller than these new suite-type mega hotels. The Riviera is NOT the Bellagio, nor the Wynn, nor the Venetian. However, if you are looking for a smaller atmosphere and less snooty wannabe crowds, the Riviera is a more down to earth place and easier to navigate. It is far from being a dive hotel that some travelers make it out to be.

Jane answers:

The hilton is better in my option. NYNY is hokey and kinda crowded and cramped feeling. But the location is better then the Hilton.

It really depends on your personal taste, and what are you looking for.

The Hilton has a nicer pool, sportsbook, and typical room. NYNY has a better location, nightlife, dining, and casino.

The monorail is a good 15 mins ride to center strip from the Hilton, and is 5 $ per person. If its more then one of you, you are better off taking a taxi then the rail.

Jane answers:

If you’re staying at any of the Harrah’s group of hotels, their “funbook” has discounts for $5 off for up to 4 people at Paris “Le Village Buffet”

The Harrah’s funbook also has discounts for
Imperial Palace buffet – $5
Harrah’s buffet – $5 each for 4
Rio buffet – $5
Rio “Seafood” – $10 each for 4
Bally’s buffet – $5 each for 4
Caesars buffet – $5

This one has $10 off the Paris buffet among it’s 164 coupons
http://www.lasvegasadvisor.com >POV $37
or
2007 American Casino Guide – $16.99

IMHO their breakfast($15) buffet is excellent, and expensive. Lunch($18) and dinner($25) are very good but overpriced.

The best value buffets in LV
Main Street Station – L,D
Boulder Station – B,L,D
Orleans – L,D
Palace Station – B,L,D
Fiesta Henderson – L
LV Hilton – D
Fremont Seafood Buffet – Sun/Tue/Fri

for a full, up to date list of all buffets in LV

http://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/referenceguide-buffets.cfm

HINT – If you’re not members of Harrah’s “Total Rewards” slot club and would like to see shows such as Jubilee at Bally’s have one of you sign up for a card at Bally’s, they will give you 2 free tickets to Jubilee. Then have the other sign up at Harrah’s, they will give you 2 free tickets to see Mac King.

~Jack~

Jane answers:

Casino jobs in las vegas are few and far between.

Jane answers:

By far the most reliable sites for cheapo hotel deals are the hotels themselves. MGM/Mirage, Caesars (used to be Harrah’s Entertainment Group), and most of the independents have email sign up services.

1. Get on the mailing list for the hotel emails. Use the promo code if they have one.

2. Compare prices to the travel sites.

3. Less than 10% of the time, the travel sites have lower rates but if they do, ask the hotel to match or beat that rate.

4. If you are a gambler, ask what they require to qualify for the casino rate. Compare the casino rate to the rate that you were quoted. If you are sure you can meet the casino rate requirements and it is lower than their best rate, go with the casino rate.

Most of the time the promo codes for the hotels are actually cheaper than the casino rates but if you gamble a lot you may get your room for free.

5. If you compare rates and promo codes, also compare the side benefits. Sometimes a hotel promo code comes with shopping, food/bev discounts, spa savings, etc.

6. There is no website that does an extensive side by side comparison of hotel promo codes that I can recommend.

Most list them right on top of each other which makes it hard to figure out which is the best bang for the buck. Http://vegasmadeeasy.com/hotelpromo.php has their information arranged so you can easily see rates, food, shows, spa discounts, etc. Compared side by side but their listings are not large although current.

Http://www.vegashotelspecial.com/ has a very extensive listing of deals but many have expired. They show deals for Boardwalk but that hotel was torn down years ago.