We 2 stayed at the Stratosphere this last Tuesday and Wednesday nights,
after having booked the deluxe room ($30/night) just last Sunday morning on travelocity.
Just before that I had read a review on this webpage about an armed robbery at the Circus Circus Annex (motel-style buildings behind the CC towers). I had to cancel my existing reservation at the CC Annex.
The Stratosphere is a really nice place; our room on the 11th floor in the Premier tower was clean and elegant. The 2 beds were set up higher than normal (a plus for us taller people) and the comfort level for sleeping on these beds was top-notch.
The pool on the 8th floor was clean and refreshingly cool. We were there at 8 AM,
quiet and not crowded, but the sun was already high and intense...over 100 degrees.
Hotel check-in and check-out was a breeze, the staff there were pleasant and helpful.
We enjoyed several buffet meals there, at 25% off for adult hotel guests. You can have the all-day buffet special at $20. Now I read the recent review stating the $5.99 breakfast special at Lucky's (?) Restaurant - wish I had known that earlier. At any rate the buffet had a good selection of all kinds of food items. The only letdown was that the pineapple chunks in the fruitbowl tasted not the freshest.
The northbound bus stop along the Strip is easily visible from the hotel entrance,
but the southbound bus stop is kinda hidden, you need to walk north about 200 feet to get to it. Not a big issue. It is advised to get the RTC bus system pass. We each had the 3-day pass at $15 each. (otherwise, one trip on the Strip bus will cost $3 for adult)
Stratosphere hotel guests have unlimited access to the 2 levels (one is open air) of the Tower observation deck at 108 & 109th floors. Access until 1 AM.
Shops on the 2nd floor were interesting...the area had a Parisian/Eiffel Tower atmosphere.
We watched the light/music show at the Fremont Street Experience, and enjoyed
the (Yesterday band) Beatles concert (lots of songs from 1963 to about 1967) there, too.
Refreshing rain on Wednesday afternoon. Visited the Atomic Testing Museum, etc.

I new to TripAdvisor, why I am late on writing this: My age 50. Wife and I did not go on a package. Just picked air plane and hotel and booked it ourseleves.

My first trip to Las Vegas(July 2006). I heard all the stories about cheap food, rooms, and ect. I picked Stratoshpere due to lowest price on the strip. It's the first hotel on the strip. The room was just a plain room one price during the week and went up on the weekend.

Arrived and stood in long line for 30 min waiting to check in. Got to desk and they could not find my reservation, I insited they look again still no find. They tried to blow me off and a manager came over found nothing. I pulled out the internet receipt and they got me a room. No sorry, no comp of anything. Went to room just a plain hotel room. To me the price I paid was equal to any same room through out most of the USA. We paid for everymeal there although we had their card and played the majority of our money in thier hotel. I would order a drink while playing video black jack and it was common the waitress would rarely come back. Their night club was totally empty except 2 groups of a total of about 11 people on a Friday night.
I found the front desk people useless.
The waitress missing.
When asking questions to the staff about the hotel I received short rude answers as if they don't have time to help me.
There buffet often was behind in haveing all their items. I was just a simple buffet not near as good as a Golden Coral and more expensive that a Golden Coral. Also their
breakfast buffet long lines waiting for eggs to order they used 1 cook who would often wander off for stuff. Many people would just leave the line and find something else. Again let me repeat Golden Corral is way better and cheaper. (I do not know if a Golden Corral is in Las Vegas, for this I used N.C. and midWest as a $ comparison). They do not care what so ever about you.

In short; Stratosphere really turned me off to Las Vegas, below are some spots that showed the opposite of Stratoshpere. I plan to try old towne this year 2009. I will try Boyd Vacations Hawaii this year and see

Let me say some good... unfortunately it will be other places.
Bellogio: Played slots and got plenty of free drinks quickly.
Bellogio: Best steak I ever ate and the waiter was awesome in service and politeness.
Calf: Front desk very helpfull when I was looking to move out of Stratosphere.
Freemont: Played here and again plenty of free drinks.
Old towne Crispy Creme Donuts. While munching donuts the manager came out we engaged him in conversation and he sat with us and gave wife and I friendly advice to enjoy Las Vegas.

I going to give Vegas another try but thanks to the Hotel Stratosphere it took me from 2006 now 2009 to want to go back.

We stayed at the Stratosphere at the beginning of June this year and found it to be quite a pleasant stay. Our room was very clean and tidy and excellent value for money. Staff were very nice and helpful. We ate at Lucky's (24 hour cafe), food was tasty and plentiful, my partner just loved the "all day breakfast" for $5.99!! We had a meal at Roxy's Dinner, brilliant atmosphere with great music. We went to see the show with the different stars, two tickets for the price of one, what a bargain!! Lots of good slots and tables. Gym was free, which is a bonus as many hotels actually charge. Yes, the hotel is quite away from the strip, but to be honest we caught the monorail and found this quite reasonable and we were able to nip up and down the strip. "Fremont Street" is a must if you visit Vegas, although very different from the strip, the live music and atmosphere is great!! We enjoyed our stay and would have stayed with them for the full 10 days that we were in Vegas, but unfortunately we found the pool area far too noisy, I agree that Vegas is a 24 hour city, but flying from London UK (13 hours in total) sometimes you just want to rest by the pool! Unfortunately the pool area was blasted with R n B music, don't get me wrong, I love the music, but not when I'm trying to rest!! Shame really....anyway I would recommend this hotel. If you plan to go to Vegas, have fun, we did and fingers crossed we will return next year!!

The Stratosphere was alot of fun...Plenty of shopping at their mall in the hotel...Plenty of restaurants to choose from and alot of games and slots to play at this casino for less money....We stayed in a Spa Suite with a strip view for what it would cost to get a basic room at a higher end hotel...We loved it...Rooms are modern...I even got to see their cheapest room available and it was roomy and very modern.... The pool on the 8th floor was hugh and a nice setting with poolside bar and eatery with plenty of lounge chairs to relax under the sun.....The Tower with the rides is awesome and would have to say most people visiting Vegas come to see the tower...While you stay here you get to go up for free as much as you would like while others have to pay..Great views, shops, bar and restaurant at top of the tower....All in all...great place to stay with all the ammentities of a 5 star hotel for alot LOT less....