The Orleans Hotel

4500 W. Tropicana Avenue

Location:  Off the Strip

What makes it Special? Connected to the Orleans Arena, America’s top mid-size arena, according to Venues Today Magazine

Entertainment Attraction: The Nitekings and Chyna at the Bourbon Street Cabaret

Number of Rooms: 1,886

Overview:

In Vegas, you’ll find resorts that creatively pay homage to iconic global cities, but you’ll also find hotels that are pale imitations of the places that inspire them. You can stay in hotels like Paris Vegas and The Venetian Las Vegas, or, then again, you can stray in places like The Orleans Hotel, which barely pulls off its Big Easy theme.  Sure, the hotel’s façade boasts New Orleans-style balconies, but once guests get inside the décor loses its touch with Louisiana. While modern and comfortable, the resorts’ rooms will only remind guests of the Big Easy if they use their imagination.

That isn’t to suggest that the management has made no effort to reference New Orleans. There’s the Bourbon Street Cabaret, which hosts shows from respectable but b-list performers like The Nitekings and Chyna. In addition, there’s the Louisiana fine dining restaurant Canal Street as well as Big Al’s Oyster Bar, which features Cajun-style oysters and other seafood delicacies. But, in general, guests won’t be staying at the Orleans because of its Mardi-Gras theme.

More enticing for visitors is the Orleans Arena, a major mid-size concert arena that’s recently hosted shows by Carrie Underwood and Billy Joel.  Poker fans will also enjoy the Orleans’ impressive poker room, which boasts 35 tables and features some of the best off-the-Strip action in Vegas.  Those who like slots aren’t neglected by the hotel, which boasts over 2,600 one-armed bandits.

While this resort’s take on New Orleans may be rather hackneyed, staying in this Vegas version of the Big Easy is relatively easy on your wallet. It’s a good-value option, though don’t go there expecting to celebrate Mardi Gras in a Sin City setting.