Las Vegas: New York-New York, worth saying twice

We have not seen everything or stayed everywhere; we will only offer our opinion on those features we have experienced. We are much more interested in educating our readers on their options.

New York-New York Las Vegas Hotel & Casino

Address: 3790 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Phone: 702-740-6969, Web site: www.newyorknewyork.com

Quick facts

New York-New York is one of the most recognizable Las Vegas resorts on the Strip. Besides looking like a miniature version of the Big Apple’s skyline, the casino and hotel sports an impressive roller-coaster that snakes its way around the top of the property. The characteristic resort is instantly memorable, whether or not you’ve actually stayed a night in one of the skyscrapers.

New York-New York recently celebrated its 15th anniversary, and, although it’s not as glitzy as CityCenter, it still impresses with its gargantuan size and fun-filled atmosphere. The property features more than 2,000 rooms with more than 200 suites.

Entertainment & Nightlife

Cirque du Soleil has one of its oldest shows at New York-New York, but don’t bring the kids. Zumanity showcases the sensual side of the Canadian circus company. The jokes are bawdy, but tame. New York-New York also features the ROK Nightclub, where the atmosphere is focused on fun. This resort doesn’t flaunt itself; it prefers a good time over fanciness.

Dining

New York-New York has some of the best dining options of any Las Vegas resort. Again, it’s not about the quality here. The focus is on fun and affordability. Like New York City, the casino features a maze of great eateries and small restaurants specializing in good finger food. There’s spots for hotdogs, Mexican food, burgers, pizza and sushi. For gamblers who don’t want to take a long break from the tables, these little joints are perfect places for a quick fix.

The casino also features the world-famous Gallagher’s Steakhouse, Nine Fine Irishmen and America. If you stay at the hotel, you’ll probably receive a helpful coupon book for most of these restaurants. Definitely try America; it’s a quality restaurant with great prices. It’s also open 24 hours with a changing menu, so if you’re up late, you’ll be able to find something scrumptious.

Atmosphere

The casino is large, so you never feel like it’s too crowded.

Location

New York-New York has a perfect spot on the Las Vegas Strip. It’s within walking distance of the MGM Grand, Excalibur and Monte Carlo. In fact, don’t even bother leaving the casino on street level. Head to the second-floor walkways in order to travel to the neighboring resorts. It’ll save you time and keep you from crossing the hectic Las Vegas Boulevard.

Gambling Options

The casino features all the best options in a gaming space that feels like a sports bar more than a Las Vegas casino. The dealers are some of the nicest in Sin City. At the blackjack table, as long as it’s not too crowded, they may even help newcomers with rules on how to play. Also try the electronic roulette tables, which are quickly becoming a staple in most casinos. If spinning the ball around the red and black numbers is your idea of fun, then go electronic. It goes quicker and keeps everything nice and orderly.

Room & Pool Options

The room we stayed in was nice, although simple. It all depends on which wing of the resort you end up in. At the reservations desk, ask for a view of the Strip. You may just get lucky and receive a complimentary upgrade. Our room didn’t afford a view of the entire Strip, but we were able to see the MGM Grand, which sure beats viewing a parking lot.

One of the few negatives about New York-New York is that it can take forever to get from the gaming area to one’s room. There are so many elevators and long hallways that it’s a veritable maze before one catch some ZZZs.

Cleanliness & Service Level

Everything looks nice and well maintained. The service level in the hotel is exquisite. It’s not the best resort, and at times it shows its age, but New York-New York is still quality.

Attractions

The roller-coaster is the highlight here, and it’s one of the highlights in all of Las Vegas. Tickets are steep ($14, or $25 for the day), but the ride seems unbelievable. You speed along with the wonderful Las Vegas Strip as the background. Definitely check out the coaster during the day and at night; it’ll give you two nice perspectives on the same great ride.

The Coney Island Emporium, which is right near the entrance of the roller-coaster, features carnival and boardwalk games. This area makes New York-New York one of the best properties for children and families.

Lines for the coaster can get long, so plan ahead. Also, when the weather is poor, the resort reserves the right to suspend service. On our recent trip, high winds kept the coaster closed for many hours.

By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com

Please note: All of this information is subject to change. This is Las Vegas, after all. Restaurants, lounges, attractions and shows open and close almost every single day. Be sure to check official Web sites and call the resort for details.

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