My husband and I stayed at the Wyndham Grand Desert on a week's time share exchange in September, and I have to say that I had some reservations about being so away from the strip and also as to the sheer size of the place! I am not a fan of high rise buildings!
When we checked in at the appointed time, 4pm on Saturday 27 September, my heart sank at the length of the queues at check in, it took over 30 mintutes until we came to the front of our queue. However, from then on the "holiday experience" improved by leaps and bounds!

We were given free cookies by the check in guy, (probably as a result of the long queue) and he was most helpful in arranging a newly refurbished apartment with a firm bed for us as I told him that my husband had a bad back. We were not hassled to go on a time share presentation, but were given our free pack of goodies, deodrant, eye cream and mints etc.

The luggage was whisked up to our apartment on the 8th floor, (not too high!!) and the apartment itself was spacious and very well decorated, probably one of the best apartments we have exchanged to over the last 12 years. We had a one bed apartment, the bed was so firm and it was a treat to have the jacuzzi bath in addtion to the large walk in shower. The free toiletries were a nice touch and I appreciated the washer dryer in the apartment. The whole apartment was decorated in gold and earth tones with lovely furnishings and fabrics.

Whilst the pool area did not have sun all day, I was grateful for the shade as it was over 90 degrees most afternoons, and the pool was huge and pretty with the palm trees surrounding it. The free pool towels were a bonus and the security guys made sure the "adult only" pool was kept that way.

I would certainly go back to the Wyndham if I was staying at Vegas again, if you don't mind driving to the casinos, as it's a fair walk to any of the big hotels in the heat, and with all the construction going on in Vegas at the moment, it's dusty and noisy if you are walking far. We didn't use the free shuttle as the hotels we wanted to go to weren't that close to Harrahs.

It's our fourth stay in Vegas and our first try at this property. Since we were 3 adults (a couple and a parent), we were looking for a 2 bedrooms / 2 bathrooms accomodation for a reasonnable price and that's exactly what we got at the Wyndham.

The room was perfect for our needs and nice for the price (we paid 800$ net price for a week-long stay booked with an owner). Not as modern as the Signature (no plasma TV, just regular TVs), but it doesnt' matter much to us (at least) since we don't watch much TV when in Vegas (we save that for the rainy days elsewhere).

Pools were moderatly crowded for a off-peak period (week after Labour day). Patrons were mostly retired couples and some families (probably much less than when school is off), so we had room to swim and sit by the pools. Nice jacuzzis, but downtime on those are a problem, as it is often in resorts - leaving at a certain day only one of the three open, and it was the smallest one (seats 3-4 persons max.). Another one remained on maintenance for a full week. On the other hand, the pool hours (6am-11pm) are a plus, since other hotels on the Strip often close their pool grounds soon after the sun goes down. And I've seen swimmers in the pools up to midnight - they are probably not too strict on the rules as long as you're not noisy.

Nice gym too, and many other free activities (Wii and Nintendo console games, ping pong, computer use... all included) offered, some for a small fee (casino night, bingo & pizza, etc.). We didn't use the free shuttle to the Strip since we rented a car, but it's there. You can also walk to the Strip (10 minutes) - in our case, with a 100+F temperature all week, it was not an option. Also shuttle service (for a fee) is offered to Freemont Street, Red Canyon and other attractions, even grocery shopping, so you can go about without even driving and still see plenty.

Very nice staff, everywhere and working hard (I've seen cleaning crews on duty all day long). The salespersons are not too bothering - a nice no is enough, no insisting.

Don't expect much food outlet there, only a counter-service restaurant (no room service), which implies lesser "star-rating" than what other hotels would get with less to offer all in all. There is SO many options to eat in Vegas (and there is a in-room full kitchen) that this seems a relevant choice by this resort, at least in my opinion.

So I recommend this resort for an off-Strip, no casino but nice pool-and-relax stay.

We stayed at WGD August 29 through Sept 5. We are a 50 young couple who has been all over. We liked the Grand Desert, got a good deal through Exotic Travel Club. We stayed in tower one, near the adult pool (no kids) the room was nice, although not like the pics. See fab. time at the Wyndham review, that's what ours looked like. The room was clean, bed comfy, kitchen somewhat small. The property itself is nice, not like the (I feel somewhat wacked experience of being on a property on the strip) There were salespeople around, but siince we already have our ETC they left us alone. Loved the water aerobics in the morning (finally they warmed up the pool) and the fact we could eat in our own place when we wanted. The Hilton Grand Vacation on the strip had somewhat nicer layout of the room, but we would go back to WGD in a second. It is about a ten minute walk to the strip. There is a snack bar and a little store in the tower on the third floor. Very nice staff. The little store is expensive so if you are watching $$$ shop at one of the grocery stores near the property.

We visited May 2008 for Memorial Day. The resort offers free underground parking, two pools - one for adults only, the other is family friendly. The rooms are impeccable: ceiling fans, a/c, stereo, dvd player, bright and roomy, large bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchen. Everything was excellent. The kids made tye-dye t-shirts by the pool, there's showers/restroom w/lockers if needed, and a little store onsite for necessities and such. We had a super time!