1. Welcome to VegasMessageBoard
    It appears you are visiting our community as a guest.
    In order to view full-size images, participate in discussions, vote in polls, etc, you will need to Log in or Register.

Excalibur thoughts?

Discussion in 'LV Strip Hotels' started by blissfulignoramus, Apr 25, 2012.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. blissfulignoramus

    blissfulignoramus 3:2, nothing else will do

    Joined:
    Apr 24, 2012
    Messages:
    632
    Location:
    Pennsyltucky
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    40
    Will be heading to Vegas in a few weeks with some friends -- we do this annually. I got a pretty good rate at Excalibur (widescreen view room). We are married guys in our 40s who go to Vegas to drink beer, laugh, gamble (mostly in sports books) and drink beer. We do a few other things (for example, I want to try the zipline downtown), but don't do strip joints and otherwise limit ourselves to looking, not touching. Our ideal hotel is reasonably clean, inexpensive, convenient.

    Normally we stay more Center Strip, but the price was right for Excalibur, and we thought why not, let's mix it up a bit. I have never stayed there, and actually have barely ventured south of the Caesars corner in a decade. Keep in mind, we have low standards: we stayed at IP last year, and it suited me just fine (mind you, we did not return with bed bugs, and none of our stuff was stolen!). I'd like to know what people think about any of the following:

    1. Comments on Excalibur? Distance from room to sidewalk: how bad is it?
    2. Will I have any trouble checking in at ~11 AM on a Friday?
    3. Good cheap eats? I know there are plenty of great restaurants around, and we might even splurge for one, but I'm thinking about hamburgers, hot dogs, sandwiches.
    4. Good coffee I can get early? Coming in from the east coast, I am plagued with waking at dawn in Vegas, and then only finding lousy coffee.
    5. Good blackjack in the neighborhood? In my one and only jaunt to that corner, I did well at NY NY last time. What are the tables like at Excalibur?
    6. Anything else worth considering?

    That weekend seems to be booking up fast, and prices are only going up, so I doubt that I would change my reservation, but I am open to suggestions!
     
  2. Candy Apple

    Candy Apple VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Mar 15, 2004
    Messages:
    2,360
    Location:
    Cleveland
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    20
    Don't forget to add the daily resort fee to the good rate you got.
     
  3. Slotchick

    Slotchick High-Roller

    Joined:
    Jun 29, 2011
    Messages:
    619
    Location:
    BC, Canada
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    50
    To go from excalibur to the sidewalk isn't all that bad. There is a walkway to NYNY or Tropicana and if you stay and play in the "neighbourhood" (Luxor/Manadalay) you have walkway and trams to either.

    I'm sorry I can't help here.

    Excalibur has plenty of choices from a steakhouse to fast food. They have just put in a few new restaurants (Lynrd Skynrd, ABX burgers, I haven't tried any yet) they have a food fair upstairs for "cheaper eats" on the go.

    Good coffee, if Starbucks qualifies then you are good to go! I believe the food fair upstairs has a Starbucks and if it doens't there are 3 Starbucks in the Luxor next door.

    I'm a slot player so do not know about table games much, but the tables always look full in the evenings here.

    If you aren't picky and just need a room to crash in then it will be fine. If you like center strip then IP is a better choice. IF you want to try South Strip it's a good location with the bare necessities but definately the "extras" nearby. Close to NYNY, MGM, Luxsor, Mandalay and the Trop
     
  4. Dan2305

    Dan2305 Tourist

    Joined:
    Apr 20, 2012
    Messages:
    15
    Location:
    Maryland
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    3
    I stayed there 3 years ago, and if you didn't have any problems with staying at IP, you won't have any issues with Excalibur. (I've stayed at both)

    From what I remember cheap eats and coffee can be found inside the food court. McD, Pizza Hut, Quiznos, Krispy Kreme, Starbucks. They also have some other inexpensive sit down places, I don't recall the quality though.

    I don't remember the walk from room to sidewalk to be excessive. Excalibur, Luxor, and Mandalay are also connected so you can get to each of them without having to walk outside. Hopefully that answers some of your questions. Perhaps someone thats been there more recently can provide additional input.
     
  5. blissfulignoramus

    blissfulignoramus 3:2, nothing else will do

    Joined:
    Apr 24, 2012
    Messages:
    632
    Location:
    Pennsyltucky
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    40
    Don't worry, I have that tallied.

    I wish they would just be up front about it and add the $15/night to the room rate, but such is life.
     
  6. heatherlovesvegas

    heatherlovesvegas VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Mar 22, 2012
    Messages:
    2,033
    Location:
    Woodland Hills, CA
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    30
    It's not too bad, and certainly nicer than IP, from personal experience I was very happy with the room it was SO sparkling clean, which I was surprised about. It's a bit of a hike to get to the strip, be careful as they have a bridge to get there if you walk out the front door you can't get to the strip, but it's not as bad as some of the newer, larger hotels. We actually stayed at Mandalay a few weeks ago, and we went to Luxor, and Excalibur, then over to NYNY, Tropicana and MGM all walking with no issue.

    Personally we stayed there, we didn't eat or really gamble there, I think their casino floor is gross, so we did that at other places. We just stayed there for the cheap rate. I hate when people complain about the resort fee. The Caesars properties are just typically $15 more haha.

    I like that it's easy to get to Mandalay Bay and Luxor from there.

    They have a good food court, so does Luxor if you want cheap eats.
     
  7. blissfulignoramus

    blissfulignoramus 3:2, nothing else will do

    Joined:
    Apr 24, 2012
    Messages:
    632
    Location:
    Pennsyltucky
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    40
    Thanks for all of the helpful answers!

    If anyone knows about check-in, I'd appreciate hearing it. There is nothing worse than getting off a transcontinental flight just to wait an hour in line before getting to your room. Okay, that's an exaggeration.

    I've never had trouble getting into my room early on a Friday at 11 AM, but then again, I've never stayed at Excalibur, and this is potentially another way for them to squeeze a few extra bucks out of you.
     
  8. Tromboneking

    Tromboneking Tourist

    Joined:
    Jun 11, 2006
    Messages:
    105
    Location:
    Graham, Texas
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    8
    The Excalibur is fine if you just want a place to crash. I have never cared for it though. Never had any luck there. You might check the Monte Carlo...it is nice but quiet. The castle is a loud place...
     
  9. Auggie

    Auggie Dovahkiin

    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2009
    Messages:
    5,820
    Location:
    Burnaby, BC
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    17
    I've stayed at Excalibur a couple of times in the past and I think the rooms are fine. The "Widescreen Tower Rooms" are actually pretty decent and have pillowtop mattresses.

    The casino can be quiet in the morning and people will often say there are lots of kids around, but if there are I've hardly ever seen any. Seems like most of the customer base is mid 20s.

    There is an AM/PM across the street where you can load up on supplies for the room: beer, water, snacks, soda, etc as well as get cheap hot dogs and stuff like that.

    For your questions above:

    1: Distance to sidewalk: Not bad, probably about the same walk as a lot of other properties. The interior is like a giant "+" shape and the hotel rooms are in the left and right wings and the sidewalk and parking are the top/bottom wings.

    2: There is a little VIP check in room at the end of the lobby that almost nobody ever goes in to. If you have an MLife Pearl card or are booking an offer you can go in there to check in and if there is anybody in line ahead of you it'll usually be just 1 person (the frosted glass doors and the "VIP" sign I think scare people off). Otherwise the front desk can get a bit of a line up at different times of the day but they usually have a lot of front desk staff working (at peak times they could have 10+ clerks checking people in) so it usually goes fast.

    3: They usually have a hot dog and beer special you can get at the sportsbook bar ($2-3). Otherwise for fast food they have a food court upstairs (McDonalds, Pizza Hut, Quiznos, an ice cream parlour, Krispy Kreme and a popcorn place) and a Dairy Queen in the basement level and a Baja Fresh on the casino level.
    Excalibur no longer has a coffee shop, thats where the Lynyrd Skynyrd restaurant is now, but Luxor still has one (plus a food court as well with the likes of McDonald's, Bonano's Pizza, Quiznos, etc).
    Also Tropicana is right across the street and has some more cheap dining option (not food court, but regular restaurants).

    4: At the base of each hotel tower is a little coffee stand. I think there is also a Starbucks up in the food court.

    5: Table games at Excalibur are usually pretty quiet in the morning. On weekends they have a party pit with the usual bad rules. If they have multiple tables open (morning or afternoons) check the rules because they have some good rules tables and some bad rules tables and sometimes they open both up.
     
  10. ChecknPlay

    ChecknPlay Tourist

    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2009
    Messages:
    55
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    17
    You could proably find a similiar rate at Luxor which is connected to Excalibur which IMHO is a much better property. Lotta "working girls" hang out near the entrances and exits to Excalibur so if you are with a group of 40ish guys expect to hear the sales pitches on your way back into the hotel.
     
  11. vegas_or_bust

    vegas_or_bust High-Roller

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2008
    Messages:
    886
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    20
    Based on your criteria, the Excal seems to be exactly what you are looking for. I would agree that it is nicer than the IP, which you are already accustomed to. The Excal has numerous fast-food dining options (including Quiznos which is awesome IMO), and they also have some new mid-price restaurants (which another poster mentioned).

    As far as table games are concered, you will easily find $10 BJ tables throughout the Excal with decent rules and you may even spot some $5 tables during the day. Same with craps/roulette. You are also very close to Luxor/NYNY/MGM/Monte Carlo which also have lots of good table games with decent rules.

    If you want to hang out at a sportsbook, I would take the free Tram to Mandalay which is right out front of the Excal. They have a giant sportsbook that is pretty fun to hang out in.
     
  12. volfaninbama

    volfaninbama High-Roller

    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2007
    Messages:
    718
    Location:
    Tennessee
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    15
    I think you will be happy with the Trashy Castle if you ok with the IP. Widescreen rooms are pretty nice. If they have a room they will let you check in when you arrive.
     
  13. Gaylord Focker

    Gaylord Focker Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Apr 6, 2003
    Messages:
    141
    Location:
    Florida
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    19
    The Excalibur is a little nicer than the IP. Regarding check-in, I can't help you there, but I've stumbled through that casino enough times during stays at Luxor and MB to tell you the casino is a good place for 'slummin' but the surrounding casino's are a better atmosphere for gambling, in my opinion. Luxor/NYNY/Flamingo/MB are all a little nicer casinos and will usually have similar limits.

    That being said, my last trip I stumbled upon the craps tables at Excalibur twice, both times had a great experience with great dealers. Can't explain it though...the casino just has a 'dirty' kind of touristy vibe I can't get totally comfortable with.

    Have you looked at rates at Luxor? It's right next door and has great rates right now. Easy access to good coffee in the mornings, good cheap food options with food court between Luxor/MB and better tables (IMO) for gaming.

    Good luck...
     
  14. PSM

    PSM High-Roller

    Joined:
    Aug 18, 2011
    Messages:
    818
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    9
    I stayed in a Widescreen View room at Excalibur with my uncle two years ago and it was great for a guy's trip where the main focus was gambling, a bit of drinking, some sightseeing and walking the Strip, pretty much the stuff you mentioned.

    Cheaper video poker is good there as far as Strip hotels go and I actually hit $500 on my first morning when we woke up and my uncle headed to the poker table. I was also up $50-100 every day on top of that with my gambling money, so it was a good trip for someone who's not a High Roller of any sort (I wasn't bringing too much to play with at the time).

    There are cheap eats all over the place (particularly upstairs), and I didn't mind the little bit of an extra walk to get to the Strip or across to the other hotels. The rooms you're looking at aren't necessarily five star quality, but they're very nice, clean, and a huge step up from the room I had at Imperial Palace. We were both actually impressed with the quality for the price we paid.

    Casino doesn't really come across as the cleanest place, but it's not usually hard to find good, relatively cheap tables. It's not a classy joint, but it's also not classy joint prices to stay there, and you're still in a good spot on the south Strip, so you've got options. And obviously the classier joints are never more than a short and cheap cab ride away at worst (going with a few guys, split cab fare to center Strip can't be more than a couple dollars each).

    The pool's pretty nice for a lower priced hotel, as well. I definitely recommend Excalibur for your trip based on what you've said so far about what you're looking for. And if you guys usually stay center Strip, it'll be fun to relocate for once and try out a new area. Worst case scenario, you don't like it as much and you know not to stay there next time.
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.