Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas
How did it make you feel when you got there?
As soon as you pull up, you’ll feel very alone, and there are always several employees waiting outside to meet you. The entrance is simple and elegant, and it feels like a home, which is true. While some people stay here full-time, they still enjoy all the hotel has to offer. The lobby isn’t until you take a lift to the 23rd floor, which is also where the restaurants and tea lounge are. This can be a little confusing when you first walk in. The best thing about this hotel is that there are no games, so it’s very quiet. Also, you don’t have to wait in line to check in. Instead, the bellman calls up to registration to let them know you’re coming, so when you get to the 23rd floor, they’re already there and will meet you by name.
How is the crowd?
It’s not a very big hotel (less than 400 rooms), but the service is the best in Las Vegas, and the rooms are some of the most expensive on the Strip. People who stay here are used to getting great service all over the world; they’re usually experienced foreign travelers who expect nothing but the best.
What’s cool: Describe your room.
I stayed in a basic room, which is called the Cityscape Room here. There are about seven different types of rooms. At 500 square feet, it’s still bigger than many flats in New York City, even though it’s standard.
We really need some deep, healing sleep. They got us?
With goose-down pillows, duvets, and fluffy white sheets, the beds are very soft. If the pillows are too soft for you, I think you can ask for different ones. At least twice a day, someone cleans the rooms.
What about the little things, like a minibar or shower treats? Do any of those things end up in your bag?
Extras in my room were very nice. There was a full-sized bottle of eucalyptus bath salts by the tub and an electric tea kettle, which is helpful if you like tea at all hours and don’t want to call for it. The screened remote is very easy to use and lets you handle everything from the lights to the curtains from anywhere.
Tell us that the bathroom will be good.
I really enjoy taking baths, and the Cityscape Room has a great, deep tub. But I like to take baths alone, and this bathtub is the only thing that separates it from the room. If you’re traveling by yourself or enjoy the privacy of swimming while your partner is also there, that’s fine. But if you want to be alone in the tub, you should choose one of the other room types.
Wi-Fi is likely the most important subject of all. What do you call it?
There is free, very fast Wi-Fi at the lodge, which costs $45 per night.
Staff: Who would get a prize if you could give one? Why?
The whole team is wonderful; they are the best of the best. (And the valets still take your ticket with both hands, which is a nice touch from when the hotel was a Mandarin Oriental.)
Do any of the other services and benefits stand out to you? It doesn’t matter if it was babysitting, gyms, spas, parking, or something else.
The Tea Lounge is the only place you should go for tea. They serve traditional high tea with tiers of small sandwiches, scones, and sweets, and they have a long list of amazing and rare teas. If you go to the SkyBar at night, one of its classiest rooms has the best views of the Strip. It seems like a big secret.
What did you remember or find most upsetting about your stay?
The pool is my favorite thing about this hotel and the thing I remember the most. There are a lot of bad pool scenes in Las Vegas, but this is the nicest, calmest, and most stylish little pool there is. When you hide away in the afternoon, you don’t have to worry about the bachelor party in the shack next to you watching you or loud music. You can walk right over to the Pool Cafe whenever you need a snack, or you can order something to be brought to your cabana. That’s low-key beauty at its finest.
In the end, is it worth it, and if so, why?
That being said, you’ll have to book a long time ahead of time to get one of the few places that are cheaper. But if you don’t care about price, book one of the bigger suites and enjoy some of the best food, service, and living in Las Vegas has to offer. You can walk across the little bridge to get to Aria or the Shops at Crystals at CityCenter if you really need to leave, which you might not. But it’s a great little haven for people who don’t like game culture.