Known primarily for its high-altitude thrill rides at the top of the “tallest (1,149 feet) free-standing observation tower in the United States,” the Stratosphere has decanted money into its guest rooms and casino and emerges crisp, bright, and a more significant player in the mid-priced competition for tourists.
The main entrance has been moved directly onto the Strip, xeriscape landscaping has been added, and an impressive porte cochere now replaces the original side-street entry. The hotel has created 909 Stratosphere Select–grade accommodations, which cost $10–$20 more than a standard room. And the standard rooms are worthy, with a comfortable color scheme of cream and taupe bedding accented with cherry tone furniture. The upgrade to the Select level is the standard room with more attention to decor. These rooms also include a safe and MP3 alarm clock.
The 80,000-square-foot casino meanders, the result of consecutive additions to the property. Spectral cove lighting along the ceiling changes hues throughout the hours and is engaging to watch. You’ll find the standard mix of table games and slots. Along the perimeter are Starbucks, the C (circular) Bar, and Sin City Hops. The remodeled sports book telecasts daily sports events and horse racing on large-screen TVs. New seating was also part of the renovation.
The huge eighth-floor pool deck of the Stratosphere faces south and west for plenty of sun. Blue lounges and chartreuse umbrellas provide color and cover alongside two free-form pools and several white cabanas. There’s a store for pool necessities, and bikini-clad Blackjack dealers provide eye candy during the summer months.
For great food, a well-kept secret is the pool’s Café Bar at Level 8, offering unique sandwiches at attractive prices. The mojito and margarita menu entices as well. A 24-hour fitness center is outfitted with weights and exercise machines and is free to hotel guests. The Roni Josef Salon and Spa provides beauty treatments and massages. Both amenities are in the second-floor Tower Shops arcade. Restaurants include the Top of the World, Plate Buffet, 24-hour Roxy’s 50s Diner, Nunzio’s Pizzeria, and Fellini’s Italian cuisine.
The Stratosphere’s crown jewel is the four-floor Observation Deck at levels 106 through 109, offering unsurpassed National Geographic–quality views of Las Vegas, the surrounding desert, mountains, and beyond. Level 106 boasts the rotating haute cuisine Top of the World restaurant, open for lunch and dinner. The Level 107 Lounge, Las Vegas’s highest bar, is the focal point of the 107th floor. Level 108 features the indoor observation deck and Air Bar nightclub.
The outdoor observation deck and entrance to three thrill rides (X-scream, Insanity, and Big Shot) are on Level 109. The most recent attraction, Sky Jump, is a controlled free fall from the 108th floor.
The vast parking garage is on the west side of the property. At the bottom of the garage, escalators whisk guests into the casino, where the friendly information staff provides spot-on assistance. Clients are primarily regional drive- and fly-ins and adrenaline junkies seeking an airborne rush.
For in-depth Las Vegas hotel reviews, check out The Unofficial Guide to Las Vegas by Bob Sehlinger. If you enjoyed this post, sign up for our newsletter here.
Photo credits:
By FASTILY (Own work) CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
