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.
