FAMILY FRIENDLY:
Since we were traveling with 2 young children, a big goal of ours was finding plenty of entertainment for the kids. Excalibur had it. Fantasy Faire downstairs of the lobby had carnival midway-type games and Chuck E Cheese type games, so the kids were thrilled to stop there anytime. Plus, we got a lot of buy-one-game-get-one-free coupons from the aggressive time-share hucksters upstairs. (I don't mind listening to their sales pitch for a minute or two to see what freebie I can get. However, they are all over and as pesky as flies, so some people might be very annoyed by them.) The pool area was also a HUGE hit with the kids. The pools are large. One pool had 2 waterslides and 2 waterfalls, which we all enjoyed. Another has a large shallow area for the very young kids (and adult tanners), with 2 jacuzzis right next to it. A third pool has a water cascade across one side, which you can stand in front of and get a nice massage on your neck. :) I think there was also a fourth pool thet we didn't see. It may have been an adults-only pool. Overall, the pool area was THE HIT of our stay- very family friendly. The only downside- the pool hours are only from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., which mystifies me.
THE ROOM:
We booked the cheapest room, but at check-in, I asked for a free upgrade, and we were immediately upgraded to the flat-screen room in Tower 2, which would have run an extra 20 bucks a night, so that was awesome. I'm not terribly picky about hotel rooms, and I'd say the room was adequate.
The plusses: bathroom was roomy and recently upgraded, with a huge granite counters. A/C unit also had a lagre granite countertop for extra storage. Dresser was roomy enough, TV was good, the room was fairly clean, the linens were good, housekeeping was good. Nice view of New York New York and some of the Strip.
The minuses: Only a shower, no bath, and the bathroom grout was dirty, which gives me the creeps. Carpet was kind of worn, and the beds were made with only sheets and a very light blanket, no bedspreads. We had to ask for extra blankets, which housekeeping brought within half an hour. Though the room was mostly quiet, you could always sort of hear the sound of the roller-coaster next door.
THE FOOD:
We tried the fast-food on location- too expensive and not very good. We tried the all-day buffet one day, and weren't terribly impressed. It was just okay. The only offerings that were really tasty were the sushi and the fish. The main thing the buffet had going for it was that it was cheap. To be honest, I think the next time I stay here, I'll bring a mini-fridge and microwave, and hit the CVS or Walgreens for canned/frozen food and cereal. (Or rent a fridge, because I think they provide them for an extra fee.)
The free drinks when gambling and the drinks by the pool were pretty watered down.
THE SERVICE:
Hit-or-miss. Check-in and check-out lines were HUGE, and it was a slow weekday. Took 30 minutes to get to the front of the check in line. Check in girl was friendly and efficient. Help desk girl was not. Cocktail waitresses were mostly friendly, with one exception. Restaurant staff was so-so. Dealers were mostly friendly and informative, though a couple had the personality of cardboard boxes. Tip- save yourself some hassle and use the self-checkout, which takes 5 minutes, rather than checking out at the desk, with its 45-minute line.
INTERNET:
They charge extra for in-room internet usage. Or you can go to the Krispy Kreme above the casino floor and use the free Wifi there.
LOCATION:
Pretty good. Free tram to Luxor and Mandalay Bay, which has the Shark Reef attraction. Walkways to New York New York and MGM Grand. Decent walk to Bellagio, long walk to Ceasar's, very long walk to Treasure Island. DO NOT, under any circumstances, make the mistake we made, and think you're going to walk from Excalibur to Circus Circus. You can do it, but it will take you an hour and a half in the desert heat. (In fact, Circus Circus is pretty much a dive, so not sure even the Adventuredome mades it worth the trip.)
OVERALL:
A good experience overall. Next time we will definitely bring/rent our own fridge/microwave because we spent most of our money on blah food. But for what we paid, we got a great, fun, hassle-free vacation at quite a value.
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