When the bankrupt Aladdin was purchased by the twice bankrupt Planet Hollywood restaurant chain people, like me, rolled their eyes. When that company promised big changes that would totally revamp the hotel and make it competitive with more luxurious and trendy offerings in town people, like me, had a hard time not laughing out loud. As years went by without much happening people, like me, shook our heads and figured that nothing would ever happen and if it did it would be a major disappointment.
I am very happy to admit when I'm wrong and in the case of Planet Hollywood, boy oh boy was I wrong. Well, mostly wrong. The fact that the hotel went bankrupt again and was purchased by Harrah's Entertainment in 2010 doesn't really change the fact that they did things right when they revamped the place.
Eschewing the kind of over-the-top Tinseltown idolization that puts their restaurants in theme park territory, the look and feel of Planet Hollywood is upscale and modern, at times even dramatic, and a vast improvement over the Arabian Nights detail of the past. Dark woods line the walls of the casino and act as accents to the vibrant colors and warm lighting details, infusing the entire space with an air of classy energy. Notice the support columns - all gauzy cream fabrics, backlit to give them a healthy glow, and then offset by iron and ebony stained wood. It is design details like this that set this gaming space apart from ones that focus more on the games themselves than what surrounds them.
Even the slot carousels have been turned into works of art, many of which topped with eye-catching sculptures and flat panel televisions. It's a refreshing change of pace from the gaudy "Quartermania" type slot toppers that adorn most rows of one-armed bandits.
The casino floor is well laid out, with plenty of space between machines and tables and they kept the soaring 100-foot high ceilings so the claustrophobia level is near zero.
All of the usual slot machines are offered in the main casino along with all of the popular table games. In addition there is a poker room and a race and sports book in you are so inclined.
I have done very, very well at this casino, which doesn't necessarily mean you will also. You could say that it makes me more inclined to like a casino and you're right. Winning money makes me happy, sue me.
With the transfer to Harrah's Entertainment, the casino is now a part of their very popular Total Rewards players club program so you can earn and use points at any of their hotels such as Caesars Palace and Paris Las Vegas to name a couple.
A mezzanine level surround the casino and features several restaurants, a theater, a wedding chapel, and a spa.
Back down on the main floor are several bars and lounges including one with the "eXtra" entertainment television show branding. It features live remotes for the show whenever special occasions happen at the hotel.
There are plenty of places to eat. Restaurants include the popular coffee shop style Planet Dailies; a branch of the Chinese favorite PF Chang's; a tremendous steakhouse, the bordello themed Strip House; the Asian inspired Koi; and the Earl of Sandwich, a deli-style concept from the descendents of the guy that first put meat between two slices of bread about 400 years ago; and more. Out front along The Strip are even more eateries including the Las Vegas branch of the famed Pink's Hot Dogs and Sammy Hagar's Cabo Wabo Cantina.
The locals' favorite Spice Market Buffet, located on the lower level below the casino, is still in business and although it received a cosmetic overhaul, the new owners have wisely decided to leave everything else alone. It remains one of the best buffets on The Strip.
Also on that lower level is the lobby area done with sleek marble and a color-changing backdrop behind the check-in desk plus stunning draped chandeliers that resemble no less than a '40s era ball gown.
The whole thing is surrounded by the Miracle Mile shopping mall featuring more than 100 boutiques, theaters, and more restaurants. It used to be fun when it was the Arabian themed Desert Passage, and although some of that detail work still exists, much of it was replaced by bland, sleek marble and white walls. Kinda boring. But there is an H&M, a Sephora, and a Bettie Page Boutique so who cares about the hallways?
When you book your stay, be sure to request an upgrade to the "Hollywood Hip" room. These are the remodeled accommodations, each of which features its own Hollywood theme, from movies like "Pulp Fiction" and "Die Hard" to music or television and beyond. Although there may be multiple "Pulp Fiction" rooms, each has its own set of glass-encased memorabilia meaning that no two of these rooms will be exactly the same.
So far I've seen a Judy Garland room, a "Blade" room (the Wesley Snipes vampire movies), and a "Universal Soldier" room (Jean Claude Van Damme). Whether you're a fan of the particular subject or not, the memorabilia and photos are undeniably more interesting than yet another seascape watercolor or whatever is passing for high-end décor these days.
When you throw in the rest of the upgrades it becomes almost irresistible. Oversized headboards are covered in crushed velvet, chairs come in leather or suede, giant armoires contain flat-panel televisions and closets, and full-sized desks have high-speed Internet hook-ups and dual line phones.
The bathrooms don't get as much attention as the sleeping area but that's okay - they were pretty good to begin with; spacious with plenty of marble, deep tubs, and separate shower stalls.
The more standard "Deluxe" rooms still contain the movie memorabilia and the nice beds, but the furnishings aren't quite as luxe as the "Hip" rooms so if the price differential isn't too great for you go for upgrade.
New as of late 2009 is the PH Tower, a separate building located along Harmon Avenue on the south side of the complex. Built as a time share, most of the rooms are rentable as hotel accommodations and they are quite swank. Done in bold red, white, and black decor with more Hollywood touches, the rooms are big, comfortable, and undeniably modern. Check out the projectors that will broadcast the TV on the blackout shades - cool! Each comes with a litany of standard features that includes a kitchenette.
Downstairs in this tower is a separate lobby, all marble and multi-hued lights that change color, a lobby bar, its own pool with a cafe, a fitness center, and its own valet parking.
There were only two complaints I could come up with about the resort as a whole, and they are both fairly minor. The window shades in the older part of the hotel don't do a very good job of blocking out the bright desert sun and when you check in, be sure to ask for a room away from the elevators; they can be noisy if you are right next to them, but even two or three doors down is fine.
And as far as the overall hotel, there was only one serious thing that I could find wrong with it - the parking situation. The main valet parking service was a disaster every time I drove past, with lines and waits that are simply unacceptable. Try the PH Towers valet, which offers significantly shorter lines but will mean more of a walk to the main hotel tower.
And unfortunately self-parking is not much better. The garage is located at the back of the property and requires a very, very long walk through a crowded shopping mall to get to the front desk. If you're toting luggage it isn't fun. A solution here is if you stay at the PH Towers the parking garage is much closer.
So how much is all of this newfound glory going to cost you? I am seeing rates as low as $79 during the week and $149 on the weekend for the standard Deluxe rooms, although $150-250 weekdays and $180-$300 for the weekends is more common. The Hollywood Hip rooms are running about $40 more per night with similar costs for the PH Tower. Those kinds of rates are more expensive than I had hoped to see here but are very competitive with similar hotels on The Strip, especially for what they are offering.
Service has been fantastic every time I've visited, especially in the casino where the dealers and slot attendants are extremely friendly.
Although not as wildly over-the-top as past Las Vegas hotels, Planet Hollywood does the best job in recent memory of balancing an upscale ethos with a fun and funky atmosphere. Instead of the bland luxury preferred by most new hotels on The Strip, this one does luxury without getting all serious about it.
Planet Hollywood
3667 Las Vegas Blvd. S.
Las Vegas, NV 89109
877-333-WISH
website
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