First trip to Vegas: Stratosphere or Sahara?

[Senk]

I'm taking my first trip to Las Vegas this October.

There are smoking deals available for a week at the Stratosphere and the Sahara.

Are there any major differences? I am aware that neither
is in the best location.

Things I am concerned about:
poker
the pool (i.e. the girls)
how nice the rooms are

Are there any major differences between the two?
I realize that they are not the nicest places but
they are a few hundred cheap than any other place
on the strip for the week.

[psandman]

I hate the poker room at the Sahara. I have never been to the poker room at the Strat.

I don't know anything about the rooms at either, but the Strat is obviously newer.

Neither one is where i would be staying if looking at girls was my objective.

Never been to the pool at either place. If you are looking for a cheap place with a nice pool area check into the Tropicana at the other end of the strip. The Poker Room isn't much by easy access to MGM.

One advantage to the Sahara is that there is a monorail stop right there so you have easy access to much more of the strip.

[Dynasty]

Regardless of which hotel you stay at, you should be playing most of your poker somewhere else.

[binki]

If you stay at the Sahara you can jump on the monorail and travel the strip pretty quickly.

[ZBTHorton]

The rooms at the stratosphere are kinda nice, but the Sahara is so much nicer b/c of being closer to the monorail. Both poker rooms are horrible.

[SoCal11053]

I've never stayed at the Stratosphere but I heard they have a topless pool there. The demo might be topless 40+'ers though.

http://www.stratospherehotel.com/las...h_club_25.html

They call it admission, but I call it a cover charge for guys to look at boobs.

[PeteN]

Been to both stayed at both. Like Sahara's tourney's rooms ok monorail great, pool looked ok/busy, not my thing though. But the food s..cks/Night life s.cks. Never played cash game there. I like strat's poker room, pretty loose great view of sports room tv's. Rooms good/ok, sinks worked best anywhere in vegas no lie. Resteraunts/shopping good can take duece or monorail to strip, or taxi. Duece is cool if it doesn't take to long to get on. Strat has band etc still pretty low key. Planning on staying at Strat again, can't beat the price.

[PeteN]

[ QUOTE ]
Regardless of which hotel you stay at, you should be playing most of your poker somewhere else.

[/ QUOTE ]

Curious as to why and suggestions, I know excalibur's looser. Maybe.

[DayTripping]

[ QUOTE ]
I've never stayed at the Stratosphere but I heard they have a topless pool there. The demo might be topless 40+'ers on crack though.

[/ QUOTE ]

[ungarop]

Just stayed at the Sahara for three nights. I agree with most of the posts.

Poker room sucks. Only 2/4 and 4/8 limit (sometimes) and 1/2 NL (100-500max).

I did not try the 40+20 rebuy tourneys, but have seen other posts here and on AVP where they were recommended. They are at 11a, 7p, and 11p every day.

If you decide on Sahara, ask for a room in the Tangiers tower. It was more recently renovated and was quite acceptable for what I paid.

Buffet was average at best.

Have eaten at the Nascar Cafe before, and it was OK, but not on this last trip.

Monorail was right outside, although I had a car so that was not a factor.

Did not try the pool, although I did see that there were plenty of people in there.

In the end, I only ended up playing two sessions there and took the rest of my play elsewhere.