The best thing about our recent stay at the Monte Carlo Hotel & Casino was that it was only 1 night. The room itself and the buffet were adequate but nothing special. The first problem was check-in, when the agent handling our check-in answered a phone call and kept us waiting close to 10 minutes while he handled a complaint from another guest wanting to change his room. When we got to our room, a quick check out the window revealed the ugliest view we've ever had - nothing but construction everywhere. However, we hadn't come for the view and figured that the construction wouldn't be a problem at night. Wrong! All night long, equipment delivered supplies, with crashing metal and equipment backup beeping dominating the night noise. We then understood why the guest had been trying to change his room when we checked in. The next problem was heading for breakfast. We heard the 1st emergency alarm while boarding the elevator. Alarms kept going off peridically for over half an hour and it wasn't until the 4th or 5th alarm that they bothered to announce that the alarms were only a test. Three days later we again passed through Las Vegas and spent 2 nights at Treasure Island in a great room for about the same price (around $75 night). What a difference!

The Monte Carlo is definitely on my list of favorites for Las Vegas. We arrived early (noon) and were able to check in right away. Check in was quick and easy. Our room (16th floor) was spacious and clean. Beds were very comfortable. The bathroom was all marble and very clean. The shower was great. We were not bothered by the construction at all. We did not use the pool but did walk out there and I agree that the music is very loud (as it is everywhere in Vegas) and it was very crowded. The food at the Cafe was excellent and reasonably priced by Vegas standards. The casino was large but easy to navigate. Don't plan on winning in Vegas right now. Things are wound up tighter than a drum. Do your gambling downtown at the Four Queens and be sure to stay for the laser light show.

We arrived at the Monte after an 11-hour flight only to be told that our room wouldn't be ready till 5 pm. When we got there our expected Strip View was entirely blocked by a towering huge grey wall which turned out to be part of the new City Centre project. The beds were Ok but why don't they supply decent plump pillows instead of the dolls house variety? My wife and I have been staying at (and recommending) the Monte Carlo since it opened in 1996 and have seen a steady decline in just about every aspect of the Hotel. On our last visit 18 months ago we saw the start of the City Centre construction right next to the hotel -and the noise and dust that accompanied it. The once-fabulous pool area has been greatly reduced (the Lazy River wasn't working the day we arrived) and the whole environment is overshadowed by what appears to be the Backside of Benidorm. - and a huge grey warehouse-style abomination that completely ruins the view. Even the cooling waterfalls have gone. On arrival at the pool at 9am everyone had their bags searched (no, not for bombs) but - "due to a change of policy we don't allow any food in the pool area" we were told by an officious Border Guard and my wife had her bag of crisps promptly confiscated - as did a kid behind with a half-eaten bag of popcorn. When I asked why people were being allowed in with their coffee I was told: "Coffee is OK but no food." "So not even a Danish bought in the Hotel to accompany my Starubucks?" I queried - only to be told that pastries were on the forbidden list! Safely past the sentries I went for some towels: "Only two per guest"! the girl barked when I took four. "But I need 2 for my wife as well" I protested and was sulkily supplied with another pair. But before we had time to settle on our longers the most ear-splitting noise (it could not be described as music) blasted our eardrums. Don't get me wrong I like music (Will Smith's my hero) but this was not the usual Monte soft rock -it was Gangsta Rap at full blast and went on mercilessly all morning. People were complaining all around the pool and one couple went into Reception to lodge their objections, then more people joined the queue. All to no avail. On the second morning (after our food search) "Yo Momma! Yo momma!" was belting out again -it was relentless - and more people complained but we were told that "The music is streamed down from a satellite so we can't change it." (Yes you heard that correctly). I don't know if the Manager is a friend of Snoop Doggy Dog but despite the daily protests of his paying guests he refused to either play something which might be appreciated by the majority of his paying guests - or lower the volume. When I complained at Reception I was advised "When you get home fill in a form on the Website." Brilliant. Instead I wrote a very a strong letter on Monte notepaper and handed it in - as we checked out in disgust! What contempt for their guests - no wonder the place is in terminal decline. Even Lance Burton went AWOL - his Theatre closed until further notice -he was apparently 'off sick' (why am I not surprised). Shopping in The Street of Dreams consisted of one lonely shop (the others were closed) and the hotel Hypermarket had disappeared to make space for the new Mexican-themed Diablo Cantina which was lively, fun, busy and totally out of character with the Hotel's 'classy' French Rivera theme. When we ventured outside the Hotel we constantly had pimps thrusting 'girls for hire' cards at us. I later counted thirteen (yes thirteen) pimps in a line so that holidaymakers had to run a gamut of sleaze before escaping to yet another line of pushers a few yards up the Strip. I cannot stress enough our disgust with the management of the Monte Carlo (and I repeat we've been regular guests for nearly thirteen years) and we certainly will neither be returning, nor recommending this pit to any more friends. We checked out and went to the Treasure Island Hotel after spotting a great offer on the Expedia website (one free night in five). See report on Treasure Island which we would highly recommend to those who don't want to spend their vacation with bleeding eardrums and pastry-less coffee.

Based on some of the reviews of this hotel, I was not looking forward to my say here but the building work round the pool was finished and it is a nice pleasent hotel. Room a bit disapointing and smelled of smoke and bath did not drain very well. If you want to laze by the pool get there early. I was vey shocked at how many people go to the pool at 9 am then leave their towels until much later in the day. This made getting a space very difficult and reminded me of Spain (also not a good place to be with a hangver as very load music played from opening to closing). Found staff to be helpful and friendly. The Brand steak house was amazing, if a bit pricey. Diablos was great, drinks, cocktails and food with brillant open view of strip. For the amount of money we paid for this trip it was great and whilst I would prefer to stay at another hotel on my next visit, I would not rule out staying here again.