Well the cheerful might be slightly exaggerated!! This hotel is good value for money considering it's location on The Strip. Opposite Caesar's Palace and very central to cheap fast food/ joints/bars.
There is nothing flashy about this hotel, it is something out of the 70's and is in need of updating. The swimming pool was too small and it seemed that there were never enough sunbeds - the cabana's that were on offer were tatty and over priced but that said, food was edible, room service good and the bars contained within it - cheap enough. The rooms were clean, granted mine was on the 8th floor and faced out to the car park but then i didn't spend enough time in there. The shower was a tad rickety but clean but the drains had a slight stench first thing in the morning. I was truly amazed that the only bottled drinking water they seemed to have in this hotel was purified with a tacky Imperial Palace Hotel label slapped on to it -still it was only a three star place. Vegas is in my view great to see for a few days but any longer than 5 days and it will send you mental!!! It is as many people say 'like Disney world for adults' - everything is on a large scale. This place is definitely worth seeing once in your life time but as the other saying goes - once bitten twice shy. Majority of restaurants are good and Tao's is worth checking out if just for the decor. Viva Las Vegas as the King would say.....

The Imperial Palace wasn't that bad. I went in a group of 14 guys for a bachelor party.

Rooms were cheap, which was cool. However, I'd never take my fiance there. It worked out well for our group who only used the room to sleep, shower and shave... Other than that, location was great - Across the street from Bellagio and Caesars...

Also, the dealers at the tables are impersonators. Dolly Pardon, The Blues Brothers, Queen, Shakira - it was great.

I found the Imperial Palace perfectly adequate for my needs. The rooms was larger than expected with comfortable beds. It was clean and well kept and the A/C would freeze a side of beef. The room was also very quiet which is nice after an evening in the general din and disorentation that is Las Vegas. I will agree though that the elevators do leave much to be desired. We got lucky and had a room on the second floor which was accessible by an apparently secret, hidden escalator back by the entrance to the monorail walkway. The casino is a bit dated too, but since I don't really gamble I didn't care. All I know is it has bars that serve alcohol and that makes me happy. They have a decent karoake lounge too if that sort of thing appeals to you. Avoid the buffet though. Everything you've heard about it is true. Go next door the Harrahs for the buffet experience. It's a lot better and not much more expensive. We got $5 discount coupons for buffets at all of the Harrahs properties at check in. You don't even have to go out the the Strip to get to Harrahs. Just go back to the monorail walkway and cross right over. We paid just $35 a night to stay here and I can't complain about a thing. The location is great and we were treated well by everyone we came in contact with. We'll be back again soon.

For value and location the imperial palace is an ideal location! The hotel is situated right in the middle of the vegas strip. You can walk to most of the new hotels and attractions from the hotel and the fashion mall (a v.large mall...shoppers paradise) is only a ten minute walk away! The hotel itself is a bit dated to the opulent structures around it...however the rooms are comfortable. Each room has a iron/hairdryer/tv /ac with a fair size bathroom with shower. Rooms cleaned dialy with loads of fresh towels/shampoos/conditions/soaps etc
I loved the pool area which has a jacuzzi and also supplies you with unlimited towels! so dont pack any towels you wont need them! the staff are very pleasant and helpful and will help u in any way they can.

The casino has various restaurants and bars...but the main attraction of the hotels is the impersonators who preform on the casino floor! so expect to see various elvis/madonnas etc running around!

All in all I like my home comforts when I'm away..we first stay in the imperial palace in March 08 and I would not have returned if i didnt like it........only one problem...no kettle in the rooms! however u can buy a kettle on the strip for 10 dollars.