Paris Las Vegas: Value-adds at the Heart of the Las Vegas Strip

Paris Las Vegas, located in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip, is a long way from being the flashiest, hippest or sexiest spot on the Strip -- despite what the signage in the hotel elevator might tell you. But this Parisian-themed destination is quietly making up for its lack of flash with big values to go along with its moderately priced rooms.

Our trip to Paris Las Vegas was a last-minute getaway planned within tight time parameters: we had to leave LAX around 8 a.m. and return to LAX around 7 p.m. the next day. So we arrived at the hotel just after 10 a.m. on a Saturday morning. The front desk agent pulled up our reservation, found that our room had already been cleaned, and checked us in. We were given a coupon book that included various discounts on drinks and activities in both Paris Las Vegas and its sister property, the Rio.

The room at Paris was large-ish, and stocked with a king-size bed, loveseat, coffee table, desk, armoire, minibar with refrigerator, hair dryer, and -- the pi'ce de r'sistance -- a coffee pot. On the Las Vegas Strip, the in-room coffee pot is a scarce asset. Last time I checked, you couldn't find one in standard rooms at Planet Hollywood, Monte Carlo, MGM Grand, or even the Palazzo. Those properties would prefer you take your hangover and stumble down to the lobby coffee shop for a cup of joe.

I actually expected more from Paris' room decor. There was no drama; the colors were muted and the French theme was more classical than it was sexy. The TV was a deep relic from another era, at least by Vegas standards. The bathroom was nice enough, with a separate tub and shower, but also a touch boring.

The blah room was really the worst of Paris Las Vegas. The best was the free entertainment, another scarcity at any resort-style property. Paris Las Vegas guests get free admission to Risque, the hotel's nightclub, until midnight. If that scene doesn't suit you, you can head over to Napolean's to enjoy a dueling piano show. This is also free, unless you feel compelled to buy drinks or tip the pianists to play your favorite song. Or there's DJ Sally, mixing tunes in a small courtyard off the casino floor. Sally's courtyard even has a dance floor and an adjacent bar, all just steps from the banks and banks of slot machines. Speaking of the slots, if you join Total Rewards, which is the players club, you get $5 in free slot play. And, on top of all that, the coupon book we were given at check-in included a coupon for two free admissions to the top of the Eiffel Tower.

Other Paris Las Vegas perks include two-for-one martinis in the casino bar Le Central between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., and $20 off Mandara Spa treatments in the room when you spend $100 or more.

Paris Las Vegas may not be the hottest spot on the Las Vegas Strip -- but in this economy, a good value may trump glitz and glam.

Catherine Brock operates BrockComm Travel, an online travel agency specializing in Las Vegas travel planning, that has access to high quality travel products, services and unpublished travel discounts. BrockComm Travel also produces online travel destination guides including a Las Vegas Strip information portal.

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