The Brazilian-themed Carnaval Court is an airy public
space; with its elaborate fountain and pedestrian-friendly
courtyard, it's a nice place to drop the coin bucket
and catch your breath. After that, duty calls you back
into the casino, where the latest gaming machines beckon.
HBO has taped many a comedy special at The Improv at
Harrah's, and it's no wonder. This 400-seat showcase
boasts the best in lighting and sound systems. Featuring
a constant lineup of new comedians each week, The Improv
offers a new and unique show every time.
Another sterling example of what a good makeover can
do for your image. A few years ago, Harrah's Las Vegas
did a top to bottom remodeling and it has gone from
a relatively non-descript second-runner to one of the
top tier in town.
Gone is the old riverboat theme replaced by a classy
and fun carnival in Rio feeling. Yes, this hotel, along
with most others in town, has gone upscale but they
seem to have kept their sense of humor about it. For
every bit of marble you have a touch of whimsy that
seems to say, "Relax, it's just Vegas! We aren't
taking this too seriously and neither should you".
The casino is very large and has all sorts of festive
touches like fiber-optic fireworks explosions in the
ceiling and confetti pattern carpeting. There are parts
of it that are a little cramped but we forgive them.
Be sure to check out the "party pits": groups
of gaming tables where the dealers are encouraged to
get as wild as the players with yelling, dancing, and
wacky hats.
The rooms in the two main towers are spacious and comfortable,
each with an extra triangle of space at the end for
a sitting area. The furnishings are light and modern
and there is virtually no trace of the "party"
theme that you see downstairs - a blessing when you
think about it but it does make the rooms a little bland.
As you expect in a place this big there are several
restaurants including one of our favorites, The Range.
You can also visit several bars, take a dip in the giant
pool, workout or relax in their state of the art healthclub/spa,
shop or see one of those "only-in- Vegas"
production shows including another of our favorites,
Clint Holmes.
Outside you'll find the Carnival Court shopping and
entertainment area, complete with an outdoor bar/nightclub
and a Ghiardelli's chocolate shop. That alone makes
it worthwhile in our book.
We were a little disappointed that the prices rose when
the remodeling was finished but it goes back to that
old "you get what you pay for" saying. Expect
to pay from $89 a night and up for very slow periods
with prices jumping into the $150 and up range for busy
weekends and convention periods.
The folks at Harrah's really have done a terrific job
on their hotel and we recommend that you pay them a
visit on your next trip to Las Vegas.
