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Top 10 reasons to stay at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas30 October 2017
Planet Hollywood-themed restaurants can be found all over the world — including in New York, Los Angeles, London and Paris — but the lone casino property with the "PH" brand is found in the center of the Las Vegas Strip and is one of 10 Caesars Entertainment properties in Las Vegas. The three-acre resort was introduced in 2007 at the former site of Aladdin Hotel & Casino and since that time has lived up to the reputation of Planet Hollywood's superstardom theme by creating a hip and happening casino floor with plenty of plush amenities for guests to choose from. "Our mission at Planet Hollywood is to be a place where grown-ups come to play," Vice President and General Manager Nathan Armogan told Casino City. "We provide the playground. All we ask is that our guests bring their imagination." While that quote may sound like pure puffery, it's the truth. And here are 10 reasons why. 10. Location, location, location While there are many great non-Strip resorts, let's face it: There's nothing like being in the center of the action when you're in Las Vegas. As noted at the top, Planet Hollywood is definitely one of those resorts that has so much to offer there's really no reason to leave. But if you choose to do so, it's nice to take few steps outside and have a half dozen other world-class resorts, restaurants and other venues within an easy walk. As an added bonus, the main hotel entrance where you check in is around back, so you can avoid the heavy Strip traffic upon arrival and departure.
9. Shopping Shopper-fanatics looking for a reprieve from gambling feel right at home at the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood. The name is literal, as this 1.2-mile, 475,000 square-foot shopping mall attracts 38 million tourists a year and features more than 170 cutting-edge stores as well as 15 restaurants and live entertainment venues, including Saxe Theater and V Theater. 8. Race & Sportsbook While the Planet Hollywood sportsbook is not on the same grand scale of locations like the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook or the new venue at Wynn Las Vegas, it does have a very cozy and comfortable feel and is definitely a spot you can spend an entire afternoon if you snag a coveted leather chair. If you don't get a seat, a solid second option is a seat at the bar at Ringer, which offers a classic sports bar menu with reasonably priced beers, wings, tenders, all-beef sliders, waffle fries and slices from Pin-Up Pizza, all within full view of the screens in the sportsbook. Caesars also recently introduced a mobile sportsbook app, a must-have for serious sports bettors.
7. Pool deck The massive Planet Hollywood pool deck has two pools, including one that's reserved for guests 21 years of age and older, with live DJs, 31 cabanas and daybeds, and views of The Strip. There's also a nice bar with TVs that's under cover in case you want to get a break from the Las Vegas sun. The pool area is also home to the FlowRider, the first and only freestanding wave in Las Vegas. With a cost of $25 per 30 minutes, guests can try to ride the "wave-in-a-box" without fear of injury, since the surface is designed to absorb "the energy of impacts." 6. Gordon Ramsay Burger Planet Hollywood has some tremendous offerings for food and drink, but it appears to this observer that the most popular spot is Gordon Ramsay Burger, which was nearly full every time I walked by. This prompted me to finally go in and give it a try, and it did not disappoint. The beef patties are cooked over an open flame of hard woods, which, according to my friendly server, creates a more powerful flavor. In addition to a large variety of burger options, there's also an all-beef hot dog called The Devil Dog and a non-beef, Portobello mushroom burger. I went with the Tandoori Chicken Burger with feta cheese, tabbouleh and tahini vinaigrette with a side of sweet potato fries and was very pleased with my selection. "Gordon is culinary royalty, and we are very proud and very fortunate to be his partner," Armogan said. "Our chefs are meticulous. They are perfectionists and take a lot of pride in the product that is offered. The food and beverage market in Las Vegas is very, very competitive, so the fact that you noticed just how busy the restaurant was during your stay is a true testament to not only the brand, but the quality of the food and service." If you do find yourself in line, the wait goes by faster thanks to the 30-foot fire wall that runs along the outside of the restaurant, which makes it difficult to walk by without stopping. "I've been stopped many, many times to take quick photo of people with their iPhones," laughed Armogan. "It's certainly been a huge attraction and attention-getter." Another great choice for a meal at Planet Hollywood is Strip House Strip House, which was awarded four stars in Forbes Magazine's All-Star Eateries 2008 and has been touted a "celebrity hot spot" by People.com. 5. The vibe Combining iconic brand names like Planet Hollywood and Caesars Entertainment certainly delivers a powerful punch. From the moment you walk near the resort property, and no matter where you go from there, the upbeat vibe is palpable, with buoyant music, dancing dealers in the Pleasure Pit section of the casino, Hollywood-themed décor everywhere you look and an eclectic collection of guests that range in age from millennials to Baby Boomers. "It’s a great partnership," said Armogan. "While our brands are different, they also stand for a lot of the same things, so they are consistent in that way, especially in customer service. We pride ourselves on providing the best service and guest experience in the industry." 4. Unique amenities and service Speaking of service, everyone from the front desk help to the bartenders to the dealers at Planet Hollywood were friendly and accommodating. Each employee wears a name tag that also states what their favorite movie is, which makes it easy to strike up a conversation. Many of the newly renovated rooms (more on them later) are equipped with refrigerators and coffee makers, subtle amenities that are becoming more and more rare at top-notch resorts, and guests have the option to defer housekeeping services in exchange for a $10 food and beverage credit per night. "Our core commitment is to being green and minimizing our environmental impact," Armogan said. "This allows us to do that by limiting towel and linen usage, while at the same time giving a nice little bonus to our guests."
3. Entertainment/nightlife Armogan is proud to say that Planet Hollywood created the headliner residency model, something that is now prevalent throughout Las Vegas. "We started it and perfected it, and we're very proud of it," he said. Lionel Richie, Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears and Backstreet Boys are just a few of the legendary A-listers that have made The AXIS their home. The intimate theater seats just over 4,600 for residency shows and whenever one of these shows is on the docket, an evening at Planet Hollywood gets even more energy as concert-goers flood the casino and its bars before and after the show. In addition to The Axis, the Sin City Theatre and PH Showroom regularly host celebrity magicians, the Sin City Comedy & Burlesque Show and Crazy Girls.
2. Casino floor In addition to the lively tone and energetic atmosphere, complete with female Pleasure Pit dancers dressed in lingerie, the 60,000 square-foot casino floor at Planet Hollywood also has a few unique gaming options among its 1,087 gaming machines and 115 table games. First, and most importantly, it offers 3-to-2 blackjack, which is becoming the exception on the Las Vegas Strip. Also, earlier this month, the casino, along with fellow Caesars properties Paris Las Vegas, The LINQ Hotel & Casino and Caesars Palace, unveiled Gamblit Gaming's new TriStation hardware, which offer skill-based video games Into the Dead, Catapult King, Lucky Words, Match 3volution, Smoothie Blast and Slice of Cake. 1. Newly renovated rooms All 2,500 rooms at Planet Hollywood have been remodeled, a massive, $100 million project that was just completed earlier this year. There are plenty of different price points and choices when it comes to accommodations, starting with the Hollywood Hip Room and going all the way up to the Boulevard, Apex and Mega Suites. What they all have in common is a spacious setting with oversized bathrooms, luxury bedding, modern décor and furnishings, tile mosaic portraits and, of course, plenty of movie memorabilia. "We were looking rooms with a design that was brighter, more playful, bold and approachable, and from all reports, we've achieved that goal," Armogan said. "The attention to detail in all of the rooms is incredible. Every single one of our rooms now truly compliment the energy found throughout the rest of the property. They are a perfect fit." Related Links
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