I read an article once about Mae West that said, as she was aging, her apartment aged with her. Her once-clean and sumptuous decor of white satin and silk had deteriorated and like her apartment, Mae too clung to her ingénue attire even though her dresses didn't fit quite right and were turning dingy. That's the Circus Circus or, as I like to call it CC. A hotel that's day has come and gone and it doesn't seem that the owners (MGM Mirage ) mind too much or maybe like Mae they're too old to notice. CC is for the bargain hunters, frat boys, or other individuals that don't really care where they stay as long they're under a roof.
At the last minute, my company decided to send me to a convention. My other compatriots were booked at the Hilton next to the convention center but by the time my plans were made the Hilton was full. The company's travel agent chose the CC for me because it was one, the closest hotel to the convention center that had a room and two, it was inexpensive. After all, my colleagues were paying a special convention rate of $59/night and CC was going to be $70/night for me so it all seemed reasonable.
When I arrived, I waited in line, as one often does in Vegas, for 35 minutes to check in. The reception personnel were friendly, but advised me "there is a $1 per night room charge for the telephone"; a little tidbit conveniently not mentioned on any confirmation forms.
Upon receiving my room key, I was told I had a Manor room. Sound lovely? It's not. To get there I had to go out the back door, across the street and walk a vast parking lot to the building with my room, which also happened to be next to the Strip's only RV Park. Obviously, not a good sign. What can I say, the room was dirty and I had to wheel my luggage the quarter-mile from reception myself. (The room is big actually for an old hotel, I'd estimate 300 sq. ft., plus or minus, but unfortunately they haven't updated it since the late 1970's or early 1980's and when a room and furnishings are that old you just can't get it clean.)
Not happy, I returned to the hotel to try to get another room; and for a mere upgrade of $10 per night, I did get a room in one of the towers. Once again, I have to say, the reception and bell staff were very friendly and quick to come and retrieve me. My advice---don't stay in a Manor room.
They did send a very nice bellhop who picked me up in a golf cart so I didn't have to walk anymore. He carried all my luggage and escorted me to the new room all the while assuring me that I would like the tower room MUCH better than the Manor room. He was right, it was better. It had been updated in the early 1990's, it didn't smell and the bedding and bathroom appeared to be clean.
Unfortunately, these old hotels aren't built as well as the new ones. My adjoining door wasn't doubled nor insulated and I could hear the children next door wake up and scream every morning at 5 a.m. They played and danced on the marble tile as their laughter vibrated under the door and into my entry, the sound of their parent's voices echoing a song of discipline each morning as the left to parts unknown around 7 a.m...just 30 minutes before my alarm clock was set to go off.
The food at CC didn't fair much better. The supposedly great steakhouse is anything but that and most of the other options are just oversized portions prepared from large foodservice distributor offerings.
It's kind of sad...this hotel is from the classic Vegas era of time; it has been featured in several movies and a lot of money could make it a beautiful again. The owners could keep the circus theme and the family aspects of the place, like the Adventure Dome, and create an adults only carnaval area within the hotel, which could appeal to a wider demographic of potential guests---it could be something unique.
All the people I came in contact with who work at Circus Circus were nice, so that's a plus, but that's the only thing going for this hotel.

Rooms clean and large. Buffet meals are good value

I took my family to Vegas for the very first time for all of us and it sucked! When we arrived we were greeted by a very rude and a non helpful staff. We finally get to our room and walk in and the beds weren't even made. The dirty linen was sitting in a plastic bag next to our door. We call down stairs and told them they said "we'll send someone right up". An hour later no one showed up. My husband calls down and asks when someone was going to come up and they were rude to him and said soon and hung up on him. Finally 10 min later a very nice maid (probably the only nice person that worked there) showed up and apologized. The floors are dirty throughout the hotel. There is no air conditioning inside the elevators or outside of them. Luckily my family and I visited other casinos in the area and they were so much nicer. The staff was so much nicer. They are the ones that made our first trip to Las Vegas a memorable one---not Circus Circus!

This would be a great hotel if you have children. If you are an adult, there is not much to do and it is very far from all the sites. The room had an odd smell to it that never went away. There was always a line to get in to an elevator and for check in. It seemed to be super crowded with families...kids running all over so you are almost tripping over them. The hotel itself seemed very dated and old. The food was not very good and neither was the service...they forgot our drinks and apps on two occasions. Not many of the help spoke english. The pool was gross..not clean at all and really crowded. There were only like7 channels on the tv. Had to pay 12 dollars a day for internet and a 1 a day charge for the phone. The cleaning lady left all our dirty towels on the floor. The best part about it was how comfy the bed was. The gym was tiny and dated and smelled bad.Overall we did not enjoy it and would't stay there again.