The problem with Harrah's is the smokey casino. Almost everyone smokes. Everywhere. And to get to your room? You must go through the casino.

It's unbelievable.

Remember: 2 hours in a casino equals 6 months of second-hand smoke exposure. To risk your lungs to that smoke is a very bad health risk.

Also, you have these illegal immigrants right outside Harrah's door trying to solicit everyone for call girls. They actually cut me with one of their cards - and they grinned sheepishly.

If you must go to Las Vegas (and I can't think of any reason other than to gamble and 98% of all gamblers lose their money according to study after study), you should stay off the strip.

Visit the Hoover dam if you must, but I would stay clear away from the casinos.

My husband and I stayed at Harrah's 10/23-26/08 and had a lovely time. Check-in was easy - we were fortunate to come at a time when it wasn't so busy, because there were 6 people helping those checking out and only 2 helping those checking in (haven't people heard of the check-out service on the TV in their room???). We arrived around 9 AM and were given a room right away on the 5th floor of the Carnaval Tower. The check-in clerk did warn us about the mini-bar in the room. Apparently, they've had problems with people being charged just because they had set something on top of the mini-bar (the computer sensors were ultra-sensitive). Good thing she told us because it certainly looks like you should be able to put things on top of it. Other than that, the room was fine. It was a bit dark - there are only 2 lights in the room. Some people do like to read in the evening! The room had obviously been remodeled recently, because everything looks clean and new. We normally stay at Treasure Island but moved over to Harrah's because the price was so much better. I'd go back after this experience.

Just returned from Harrah's and this is my opinion of what it's like, take it for what it's worth.

We checked in quickly and professionally, stay on the the 23rd floor of the carnival tower. Ordinary room, we where not offered an upgrade to the Mardi Gras tower, we would probably have taken it, but no matter. The room was average, somewhat dated and probably due to a remodel in the next few years to keep the hotel competitive. The only really thing I notice is the cabinet the TV sits in is rather obtrusive when the doors are open, if you get up in the middle of the night , be warned. The common areas where similar to the room, nothing that set them off either positive or negitive but dated and need of minor repairs. We ate at the 'The Cafe" for breakfast one day, not really all that great, watery eggs, way too large of portions of mediocre food and a touch over priced for breakast fare. The casino is nice, but I think they all look the same, the wife is the gambler of the family, she didn't get rich but broke even for 4 days, I guess that would be winning. The best part of this hotel is the location, close to everything from the airport, monorail and other strip features.

Overall, we enjoyed our stay, like I said nothing to really exceptional or negitive, your average strip hotel in this price range.

One thing of note for new Vegas travelers, I have been going to Las Vegas for the past 15 years and I noticed this time in particular that the price of things is starting to climb more then usual, I bought a beer at one of the Luxor casino bars, $8, at Harrah's $6 was about the average and most meals seemed 30 to 50% higher then other vacation spots. Not being much of gambler this may be my last trip, other places in the country aren't quite this expensive, old vegas seems to be dying.

That's all I know, I hope it helps.

Skippy in Colorado

Checking in was good. They didn't have the room that we booked. They were going to give us 2 beds instead of 1 king. We asked if we could be upgraded and we got the premium room in the mardi gras tower for a charge of $25 per night. The room was very nice, it looked like it was recently remodeled. Our room looked onto the pool. They warned us that there would be some noise from the carnival court but it wasn't that bad. The only thing that was not good was the walls are very thin and we could hear people talking in the next room and the toilets flushing. In Vegas that is all the time it doesn't matter what time it is.