Review: THEhotel Las Vegas

Update: THEhotel has since been renovated and rebranded as the Delano hotel

• Caesar’s Palace – Palace Tower Room
• THEhotel – Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts (FHR) Rate
• THEhotel – Amex FHR Breakfast and Bathhouse Spa
• Aria Resort & Casino – Deluxe King Room
• The Palazzo – Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts (FHR) Rate
• The Mirage – Resort Queen Room
• New York-New York Las Vegas Review

The morning after I arrived I decided to head to THECafe for breakfast. I was traveling alone so I essentially had $80 to spend on breakfast ($40 per person). This amount is EXTREMELY generous, and most dishes at THECafe are no more than $20-$25. Even when you add on drinks and other items, it’s a little tough to get to the $40 per person mark. Still, I tried my best and didn’t let the extra $40 go to waste.

I ordered whole grain waffles with apple compote (on the side) as my primary breakfast ($14) plus another breakfast of scrambled eggs, hash browns, and chicken sausage with wheat toast ($17). I also had a glass of orange juice ($5). So even when I essentially ordered two breakfasts and a drink, I couldn’t break $40. I was super full after all that food, but I made sure to get a steak and fries to go anyway!

I also received a $100 Spa credit that I was somewhat excited to make use of. I say somewhat because spa prices in Vegas are some of the most ridiculous that I’ve ever seen (not that I frequent spas very often). Massages and other treatments are generally twice as expensive (or more) compared to other places that you’d find around your house or off the strip. Still, the $100 was just enough for a 25 minute massage, which is what I made an appointment for the day after my arrival.

There were also a couple of jacuzzis and saunas that I wasn’t able to takes pictures of because there were some half naked guys around, but I didn’t have a chance to use them. All the bath amenities are free to use, including some high-end grooming products at the sinks. Toothbrushes and shaving razors are available upon request as well. The spa seemed to be well-staffed as there was always someone asking if I needed anything, and I was also given a tour of the facilities when I first got there. Mens and Womens areas are kept separate.

I was taken to a waiting area upstairs just before my massage. The masseuse (we have a choice of male or female) came to get me when it was my turn, and I had my quick 25 minute massage. I don’t get many massages so I can’t exactly write a proper review, but I sure felt better after it than I did before. It was totally worth the (free) price I paid! You have the opportunity to leave gratuity, which is not covered by the $100 credit.

My massage appointment was for 2:30pm, so I was planning to head back to my room for a shower before checking out at 4pm. I got back to my room at around 3:30pm and found my room key was no longer working. This is a HUGE pet peeve of mine. When I request and am granted late checkout at hotels, about 90% of the time my key does not work. in the late afternoon. This is extremely annoying in big hotels because you have to come back down the elevator, go to reception, and then go back up, which isn’t exactly a quick process.

Add that in to the fact that it was late Friday afternoon in Vegas. The line at the front desk was like the line at Splash Mountain in Disneyland during the Summer. I asked the concierge if they could do anything, but they told me that the only people that can create keys are at the front desk and that I had to wait in line. I finally got to the front desk a little after 4pm and complained that I couldn’t checkout on time because of the key problem, and requested a later checkout. The receptionist told me to “take as long as you need” to leave the room, which was great to hear. I spent an extra two hours showering and getting packed up to head to my next hotel.

Despite this last little annoyance, I really enjoyed my stay here. You really can’t do much better than $86 (plus taxes and fees) to get $80 worth of breakfast, a half hour massage, and early check-in/late checkout. Absolutely the best hotel value I’ve ever made use of, and I plan to make use of it again.

For reference, Thanksgiving week generally has the cheapest FHR rates in Las Vegas. Last year rates got to around $77 per night, and I saw prices that low again when I checked last week, though they’ve gone back up to $250. Still, you can score a deal of around $110 per night during the week if you look carefully!

If you’re traveling with a spouse, book 3 separate one night stays (You book night 1, spouse books night 2, you book night 3). That way you’ll get 3 separate spa credits and will even have two rooms for 4 hours with early check-in and late check-out. Yes there’s a hassle of moving rooms, but it’s within the same hotel and will bank you a few hundred dollars in spa credits. Worth it? Heck yeah!