Vegas Hotel Reviews: Monte Carlo We've been to Vegas many times, and love the whole "it's Disneyworld for adults" feel of the place. Since we've stayed at a few places and checked out most of the others on the Strip, I figured I'd mix my biased reviews and impressions of some with some pix I took on this trip. No order to the list below, just as I think of it.

Monte Carlo. This trip, this is where we stayed, for the first time. One of the original "luxury hotels" on the Strip, it still maintains it's facade, but is clearly outshined by the excess around it. Inexpensive rooms, good service (although TripAdvisor folks had different experiences), and right in the middle of the Strip. Next to New York New York, and across from the MGM Grand, the shabby hotels of the past are finally being torn down around it which makes it feel a little isolated.

Hotel: Great value, good staff, great rooms.

Casino: On the small side, with only a few reasonable minimum tables open. All about the penny and nickel slots.

Pools: 3 of them: a traditional, a wave pool, and a lazy river. Nice, but nearly as nice as the reviews made it seem; it felt a little cramped. Could use more pool serving staff.

Dining: Buffet was just OK, but great serving staff. Didn't check out the other restaurants.

Entertainment: Lance Burton does his magic show here, but the sheer onslaught of vide of it in the elevators(!) and the room, turned me off, so we passed.

Overall: B-. We'd stay again, but probably if we were in town with other people and we were going to be spending most of our time elsewhere.

Next up: New York, New York.  ¶ 11:13 AM