Flamingo has really gone downhill

Nowhere. It is not that it gets worse, it is that it gets exponentially worse.

All hotel lobbies can get big lines, but the layout of the Flamingo is such that the lobby fills and becomes a swarming mass of humanity. By way of comparison, things feel more organized and less claustrophobic with that volume at other places.

And then there are the elevators. The habitat elevators are not only old, scratched, and noisy, but they also have 3 different sets of call buttons. So what happens? People press all 3. So what happens when it is really busy? Every elevator is stopping on every other floor, half of the time for people that already got on another elevator. And that doesn't happen at other 'old' strip places.

As for the 'all these hotels are old' line, I have stayed at all the CET places you listed and there is a noticeable difference. There might be less of one in a suite, so you may be insulated from it, except on elevator rides. But in the basic room, Flamingo is bottom of the barrel, and you don't need to go to Bellagio to do better.

 

Putting all the kiosks where they did in the Flamingo lobby does make it a lot more cramped. But the main issue in the lobby is the fucking timeshare creeps. They're at virtually every hotel but I think the creepiest of them are all assigned to the Flamingo.

 

My wife and I started our Vegas career at Flamingo, in 2007. Stayed there three straight years, it was always fine to us and we have lots of good memories from those trips. We moved our base to Paris in 2010, and really only passed through Flamingo here and there after that.

This February we had a work trip and put her mother up at Flamingo because the price point was a priority. Went over to visit her and I couldn't believe the condition of the elevator, I believe you all refer to that bank as the Habitat elevators. I know the rooms were "redone" since 2009, she had one of the ones with the faux wood floor, it looked and felt like cheap linoleum. Mostly the room was fine for the price I guess and she had a good time with no complaints, but to me the hallways felt like they'd had a half-assed paint job on them and still looked like they could stand to be redone. Out her room windows it seemed like a lot of the exterior building surfaces were suffering from deferred maintenance.

It just didn't feel like I had remembered it, but then we were much younger and kind of Vegas neophytes at that point maybe. All that being said, I do kinda like the casino with the pink neon vibe in there, it's a bit of a throwback since no one on the Strip really does neon anymore.

Is there any confirmation that a Flamingo refresh has been scheduled? It's too good of a location not to invest some money into. But then do they lose that price point target market? Gotta be careful what they wish for maybe.

 

Compared to those at the Westgate the Flamingo ones are kid stuff! They hit on us once or twice and I politely said "No timeshares please" and they seemed to leave us alone the rest of the stay.

Last April at the Westgate (I was solo) they were THICK! Literally a roadblock at the main entrance and at about every choke point. They were hitting on solo women as well as couples. I finally realized that the Westgate is owned by a timeshare group.

 

I don't know who would ever compare the Flamingo and the Bellagio but I've stayed almost everywhere on the strip (including Excalibur, Luxor, Circus Circus, Riv, etc.) except the newer high end places and the Flamingo was the worst one of the bunch. Between the elevator situation and the non-renovated bathrooms I'd choose every other mid-to-lower tier property over it.

But yeah, they have a nice pool. And I like the casino. But with so many similarly priced options, I'm staying elsewhere for now.

 

16 times in Vegas and I cant say one hotel has better service over another. I literally do not come in contact with direct casino employees ever outside bartenders and restaurant staff. Nothing literally sticks out to me when it comes to service or people being rude. Maybe slow cocktail waitresses somewhere? Then again nothing sticks out in my head. I can tell you that Cosmo always seems good for drink service although a few weeks ago a girl took my Crown and Coke order and literally never returned in the 15-20 mins I waited.

I actually expect all employee contact to be mediocre at best. With the thousands of people they see every day I wont ask everyone to be chipper however I will ask them to be accommodating.

 

So, my son and GF have just booked Flamingo for next month. Any 'hidden tricks'/suggestions to make their vacay as smooth as possible there? "$20 trick" worthwhile?

GG

 

My girlfriend and I have stayed at the Flamingo 8 nights per year since 2010. We've always had a great experience. We're platinum so we get to check in/out in a separate room, and the employees there treat us like we're high rollers. We also get comped most nights, so for us it's the best deal on the strip. Our cocktail waitresses have always been quick and polite and I love the vibe of the casino floor. My complaint though is the slowness of the elevators, and some of the bathrooms could use updating. But it will continue to be our hotel of choice.

 

I remember reading a trip report from a poster on a former Vegas board that there was a rodent problem - two incidents described rats running down the hall along the baseboards. And others on the thread said they'd seen rats in other parts of the casino.

Not sure how true this was, but that would put me off.

 

In all the years I have been going there since 1975, I have never seen a rat or any other rodent in the hallways or casino.

 

Hard to believe a major hotel casino in Vegas would allow a rat/rodent problem.

 

I opened the door to my room at the Trop with a rat in the chair looking right at me.

 

He was just there to collect the resort fee!

 

This was in the 80's.

 

Today you would pay extra for a "Pet Friendly"room.

 

Im scared now i am staying there aug 14-17 because we are playing in a pool tournament at westgate. Hate the westgate so tried to pick something with a monorail stop.
Ive searched online to no avail to find casino map to find out which tower is closest to the monorail station but the only maps ive found are the main floor of the casino. Im going to try the $20 trick since i have a fab room. Just wondering if asking for something with a strip view near the monorail would get me a goroom
If anyone familiar with the property has any tips on what to ask for please let me know

 

If you ask for a room near the Spa elevators, the Monorail is not that far away.

Rooms served by the Habitat elevators (aka North 40) are the farthest from the Monorail.

 

Best line in a long time!

 

Thanks DMR