Vegas With Love

Adventures in Paradise – The Tropicana

The Tropicana is one of those casino hotels that people who like luxury on the Vegas Strip have been disregarding because it has been well past its prime.  Well, that is changing now.  The Tropicana had me stay in one of their rooms to see what they’ve done with the place with their new, aptly named, Paradise Tower, so that I could let you know what it is like.

I had big plans on Thursday night.  The goal was to stay up late to see Eddie Rivkin’s new comedy show over in the Fruit Loop district, which is near the Tropicana.  So, the way I had it figured, I could kill some time by seeing my favorite comics in “Paul Rodriguez and the Whole Enchilada,” say hello to them again after the show, then it would be time to head on over to the Black Door Lounge to see Eddie’s “CUI: Comics Under the Influence” at 11pm.  Instead of driving those long three miles home in the middle of the night, I’d just stay at the Tropicana.  So, I drove the morning-screaming-parrot over to the bird sitter on the west side of town, talked a friend into house sitting to play with the guard dog at home, packed up my crap and headed to the Trop.

It was a mad rush all afternoon, and I was exhausted, but it was going to be worth it.  A night out, a morning away from the parrot, no dog jumping on me, and a nice relaxing morning after a long night of partying, this was going to be an awesome treat.  And let’s not forget, Vegas morning room service coffee.  It’s the best coffee, don’t ya know.

I got to the Tropicana check-in desk at about 7:30pm and there were about five rooms full of people ahead of me in line.  I was concerned because there were only about three people working the desk.  No worries, though, in five minutes I was checking in.  Malanda, the very sweet check-in clerk, said I was staying in a suite in the new Paradise Tower.  Cool.  I still had plenty of time to get ready for the 9pm show.

I found my room and opened the door.  Wow, this suite was brand, spanking new and when the Tropicana says ‘suite,’ they actually mean suite!  There was literally a separate bedroom in there!  You could close the door and everything.  Usually in Vegas when the hotel says suite they put up a little half wall, or some rice paper screen room divider or something.  It is never what you were expecting.  This time, it was more than I was expecting.  It was a mini-one bedroom apartment with a wet bar, huge flat screen TVs, a couch, some chairs, a little table by the windows, lots of space to move around and all tastefully decorated.  This was all a lot more space than I was going to need, but was I going to complain about it?  Hell, no!

You know how usually you get those heavy, rubberized drapes in Vegas so you block out the sunshine?  Not at the Tropicana.  They put up white shutters.  You can adjust them to keep out the sun or let some or all the Vegas sunshine in.  They open up, too, if you want the full view.  And the surprise of the century, you can open the windows and let air in even on the 19^th floor!  “Hotel Air” is my biggest pet peeve.  They lock you up and give you only the air that every smoking, drunk gambler with a cold has breathed before you.  It is dry, it doesn’t feel real and there are times, you get sick from it.  Now, here we’re talking.  You can open the fricking window and let fresh air in.  This is an absolute must for a smoker.  You smoke-nazi people think us smokers like to be smogged up in our rooms and enjoy the stench of left over smoke.  We do not.  We enjoy fresh air too.  And I took full advantage of that air.

I was in the room going a little gaga over it all and was dazed at the incredible view from three different directions then the phone rang.  It was Malanda.  She wanted to make sure everything with my room was okay and let me know if I needed anything at all to give her a call at the desk.  Damn, there are people out there who understand I’m the Princess, and should have my every whim catered to.   Where has Malanda been all my life?

Time was slipping away as I was poking around in cabinets and taking photos out the window.  I had to stop enjoying my room and get ready for the show downstairs.  God forbid, I should be late or have to show up with no make-up on.  I mean, Paul Rodriguez is fifty-five and single.  Those kind of guys are hard to come by in Las Vegas, I need to look my best just in case.  But, I really did not want to leave my room.  You think I’m just saying that to kiss up to the Tropicana?  I’m not.  I really did not want to leave my room, it was too nice, too quiet, too pretty.

The “Paul Rodriguez and the Whole Enchilada” show was great and it has evolved a bit since I saw it last.  Shayla Rivera is one of the funniest women comics I have seen in a long time, and Paul Rodriguez was as funny as ever.  He actually was a little naughtier than the last time.   It was a hoot.  After the show I said hello and posed for a photo then I was off and running to my next show.

Eddie and I have been battling it out on Facebook about the start time of his shows.  He promised me his next one would be a nice and early 8pm show so that I could go.  What does he do?  His new show starts at 11pm and on a Thursday of all the days.  He had promised! Well, apparently, he did not get the memo from Malanda about how I’m the Princess.  I told him there was no way I could go.  My parrot starts screaming that I get out of bed by 6am. So, going to this show was going to be a surprise.  I was going to just walk in and tap him on the shoulder.  Much surprise and many a giggle would follow.

I got into the bloggermobile and took a right turn onto the Vegas Strip.  At the red light on Harmon, where I needed to turn right, some drunken Australian was showing me a big rock through my car window and saying something to me.  I couldn’t understand a word he was saying with all the noise and people on the strip going on.  I decided to just ignore him but he wasn’t going away.  I don’t know what he wanted.  Then he opened my car door and started to get in!  WTF? “HEY, HEY, HEY!” I yelled, “GET OUT! GET OUT!”  He backed right off.  Actually he stood there hanging his head in shame next to my car for a while.  I hit my door lock and put the windows up.  Doesn’t this light ever turn green?

Within minutes I was at the Black Door Lounge, I walked in and it was pretty much empty.  There was no crowd, there was no Eddie, there were no comics.  What is going on?  “Ohhh, yeah, that’s next Thursday!” the guy inside told me.  So, let’s review, I spent all afternoon making calls, running the bird across Vegas, lining up people to take care of my animals and my house, booking this room, filling excess time with a show, getting dressed up and you’re telling me I am too early?  By exactly one week?  Jesus.  I think I need someone to keep an eye on me.

On the bright side, I got to go back to my room and watched the strip out of the window.  I know that sounds boring, but with my life, it is such a treat to be able to sit there and stare at pretty things.  No dog to clean up after, no bird demanding I take him here or there or bring him Almond M&Ms.  I could sit and relax.  Screw the world!

I was sort of hungry so I found the Deli inside the Tropicana which is open 24 hours.  The Caesar salad looked good at this time of night so I got that and a sticky bun.  They have an awful lot of delicious sweets sitting in numerous dairy cases, so be forewarned. I schlepped it all back to my room and dug in while watching the strip out of the window and a Craig Ferguson re-run on TV.  The salad was perfectly prepared. I was in paradise.

Soon I was tucked into the fabulous, cushy, fluffy bed with bunches of pillows and sound asleep for the night.  I was out cold until 9am and did the coolest thing I could think of.  I ordered coffee from room service and ate my sticky bun.

Check-out looked like it was going to be a nightmare.  The line was very long and only a few people were working the desk.  I chatted with some others and then I discovered the ‘express check-out’ slot on a pole.  So I spread the word and some of us ran over there to fill out the little card and drop our key cards into the hole.  Done.

One concern the ladies were expressing to me during girl talk was that they were required to pay a $100 deposit.  They didn’t have an issue with that in itself, they had an issue with not being told at the time of registration.  For my suite, that deposit was $200.  Instead of just getting an authorization for the amount on your credit card like other hotels do, they actually charge the money.  Then they refund it after checkout.  So that money is gone from your account for a few days.  I checked my account and they did charge it, and today, Saturday, it has not been refunded.  I assume on Monday it’ll be there once the banking catches up.  I don’t know why they do it that way, because it costs the casino a fee to charge it. It is a bit of a hassle for all involved.  But, that aside, the girls absolutely loved staying there and loved their rooms, as I did.

Leaving the Paradise Tower was tough to do for me.  I remembered that I forgot to put the sun visors in my windows in the car, so even though I had taken the late check-out of 1pm, I left at 11am.  It is hot in Vegas this week and I didn’t want to melt in the car on the short ride home.

On the plus side of staying at the Tropicana, you get a fabulous new, spacious room, with a cushy bed, a bathtub that is big enough to take a bath in, all the normal bathroom swag, lots of fluffy towels, and awesome strips views for a real deal on the room rate.  The staff goes that extra mile to make sure you’re comfortable and enjoy your stay.  The show tickets are a great deal.  When the guy arrived to deliver my coffee, he explained the tip was figured into the price, which was a very nice thing to do.  Many others would have just taken the double tip and not mentioned it.  The food there is excellent and priced very low in comparison to other strip casinos.  The pool is very recently renovated.

On the downside, if you park on the backside of the hotel, the hallways you have to walk through are a dreadful sight.  That area has not yet been renovated and you think your room is going to be a Strip nightmare.  The deposit situation is a bit annoying.  There is no complimentary coffee in the room.

I would certainly recommend the Tropicana for anyone who wants to stay on the strip.  Right now you can get a room in the new Paradise Tower for a mere $49 per night on their new special.  Seriously.  They even give you a bunch of perks to go with it. The room is by far nicer than your other options in that price range right on the strip.  I don’t expect the room rates to stay this low once the special expires.

I know of no other on the Strip casino offering a room rate like that.  In addition, it is an awesome room!  You can very easily pay $70 or $80 at night on the strip for an old, dingy, stained up, worn out room.  I’ve seen them.

I’m waiting to hear back on when the suites will be available.  I see on the website that they are not booking for those yet.  When I hear back, I’ll update.