Our trip started out great. Arrived late and our reserved room had been filled, but they upgraded us for that night to a fabulous suite. We were told we would have to move to our reserved accomodations the next day and to call down when we were up and ready to move. We called down at 9:30am the next morning and told them we'd be ready to move around 10:00. Damned if we didn't have to hound them all day just to be downgraded to a dump of a room that smelled bad and had a broken light in the bathroom. Our entire day that we had carefully planned out, both time- and expense-wise, was shot. And I still wonder, if we hadn't bothered to keep calling, would we have been able to stay in the suite...? As to being upgraded on my dime, we were told that an extra $200+ per night would allow us to stay. (On top of the $129 'special' rate I was already shelling out.) And now to the reason i wanted to stay there in the first place: the pool. The Hard Rock was rated in the top 3 hotel pool areas on the Travel Channel's Top Ten Hippest Hotel Pools. The suite overlooked the pool area. Unfortunately, all there was to see was emptiness, construction crew butt-crack, and blazing sun for days. Too bad nobody mentioned that the pool was under construction (pretty much) for the week we were there. At least the crappy room overlooked the strip club across the street. And when my boyfriend tried to get a second key (for the crap room), he was told that the room was not registered to him and the girl was signalling for security! He left, came up, and i was fully expecting a call from the desk checking to see if i was ok, being harrassed, stalked, bothered, butchered, something. If she was worried enough to get security, wouldn't you think if you saw the subject of your worry heading toward the elevators and the room in question (that she wouldn't give any info about to him...), wouldn't you be worried enough for the guest in question...?

{I know this is wordy. Edit at will, but these issues need to be made known. Especially the security issue, for women travelling alone, as i usually do. And for the price being paid to these jackals.}

I went to the Rock, tipped the registration clerk, got upgraded to a deluxe suite. Room was excellent, nice picture of Janis Joppelin in our room. We had a nice hot tub/jacuzzi in our room, where i was able to order cadillac margaritas deliverred to me in the hot tub. Also had a pool view overlooking the strip and the famous pool. During our stay we got to witness stripper dodgeball championships, unbelievable. The hotel offers free transportation to the strip. All in all it is good stay off the strip, away from all the families, and traps of the huge casino's. Go during the week for best rates.

We stayed at this hotel recently on July 31. Our stay was okay but nothing to brag about. We checked in rather late but encountered absolutely no problems and courteous service. The bellman, doorman and security were very friendly. The room was clean but no water glasses. Called housekeeping with no answer. Called front desk and it took more than 30 minutes. The walls are paper thin and you can hear your loud neighbors easily. The housekeeping staff was really rude and woke us up at 8 AM with tremendous laughing, talking, walkie talkies blaring and vacuuming without turning it off right outside my door! I heard "towels for room 355 and the like for what seemed like an eternity. It seemed like they were conducting their union meeting right outside my door. With the three hour time difference and a long flight I just wanted to sleep to 10 AM. When I opened the door to ask for some quiet they continued their loud banter. I spoke to the manager and he was wonderful and sympathetic and at least made me feel better. This is definitely a hotel for the young. The pool area looked awesome.

I am early 30s, a little old to consider myself hip or cool, but I have stayed here twice, both times during the week, and it has always been fine. It is not a place for serious gamblers or people who generally like the traditional vegas scene, but I prefer it because it is less crowded and overwhelming than some of the larger strip hotels. The pool is great, sandy lagoon, water slide, cocktail service, etc. I ate at Nobu and it was ok - Pink Taco good for drinks and a quick bite. All that being said, I would never try to stay here on a weekend. The rates are outrageous and I am sure it is extremely crowded at that time. Also check their concert calendar - you might want to coordinate according to who is (or isn't) playing during your visit!