this hotel is 2 1/2 miles from the center of the strip(main action)the main strip is 41/2 miles long.we used daily ticket mono rail,cheap, bit of a chew. still a lot of walking, to do. can try bus but always full.taxis not cheap what ever any one says.we would not recomend walking to this hotel,it too long a walk.you WILL be pestered by tramps as you leave main strip,,just politly walk on.....once in the hotel its very big,easy to get lost inside.the lift to the roof (and very scary rides) costs $9 just to look,it might be worth it once,.........we got free tickets to shows from shop owners but you must be a bit cheeky and ask,ask. i found the free shows in the hotels great, get a time table of free shows and attractions and walk in.....the hotels are mainly the same beds ,food ect,so try and get central. good luck

Maybe we just got the worst room at the place, but we were really disappointed. Weird room layout, bathroom was incredibly small, water from the sink smelled so horrid that we used bottled water to brush our teeth. Front desk staff wasn't very friendly. We weren't happy about the mandatory sky deck fee per night, we only used it once! I'm usually the type of person to give up some conveniences for a good deal, but this was just too much. Would not stay there again.

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.