Location: 3801 Las Vegas Boulevard South (The Strip)

What makes it Special? We were not expecting this but the Tropicana just went into our top five for no other reason than that they offer you a chocolate chip cookie upon arrival. The question is what will happen when we finish our cookie?

Entertainment Attraction: The Tropicana would never be so bold as to call itself a resort, but it still manages to bring the fun with both the Laugh Factory and MURRAY Celebrity Magician (limited engagement).

Number of Rooms: 1,600

Overview:

This is another case of a hotel knowing exactly what it’s about, who their demographic is and making the most of that opportunity. Tropicana offers some good, clean, reasonably-priced fun and you shouldn’t feel compelled to cover your children’s eyes as much as with some other places.

The hotel gives you some decent suite options, such as the 1,006-square foot Club Spa Suite, which includes a steam room and sauna. For a bit more, you can take advantage of the 1,738-square foot Penthouse loft with a wet bar and oversized Whirlpool Jacuzzi.

There’s no Ramsay, Keller or Wolfgang Puck but there is steak at Biscayne Steak. And according to the reviews, it isn’t too shabby either. You also don’t need a Mario Batali to have solid Italian fare. At the Tropicana, you’ll find one of Vegas’ most highly-touted Italian restaurants in Bacio.

If the Laugh Factory isn’t your thing, then maybe you prefer organized crime – who are we to judge? At the Tropicana they have Mob Attraction, which involves interacting with 3D holograms and making life or death decisions. If you do happen to get “taken care of” by one of these unsavory characters don’t blame us – we told you about MURRAY Celebrity Magician at the start.

Glow is the name of the Mandara Spa waiting for you at Tropicana. There are nine treatment rooms, a Relaxation Room and the men’s locker room even has a TV – it’s like the spa equivalent of the savory/sweet dynamic in food. There are also about 50 treatments, including a “Double-The-Glow Massage”. Now, that’s all well and good, but we have one last question: can we have another cookie?

Hotel website: Tropicana Las Vegas – A Doubletree by Hilton

*Key to Rates

$ – Up to $100

$$ – $101 to $130

$$$ – $131 to $190

$$$$ – $191 to $250

$$$$$ – More than $250

*All nightly rates based on first weekend of October and excluding resort fees