by Helena Whyte

Created on: September 23, 2009

The Luxor is one of the first hotels you see as you land at McCarran Airport. It is also one of the last hotels you see as you taxi down the runway as you fly back home. So the excitement builds as your Las Vegas vacation begins. The anticipation of staying in the pyramid increases.

Unfortunately all the gold, opulence and larger-than-life statues stop at the Casino level. The clubs were mostly empty. The casino action was limited, but the food was good. The light emanating from the top of the pyramid is really bright and can be seen from anywhere in Las Vegas. The theaters, rides, and attractions are on the second level. The arcade at the Luxor is one of the best in Las Vegas. It was raining so it wasn't worth the time to check out the pool. The pools in Las Vegas are usually ordinary anyway.

The rooms at the Luxor were as disappointing as the rest rooms at the Star Trek Experience. The fact that a security guard only let guests staying in the pyramid ride the inclinator was appreciated. It is worth staying in the pyramid for at least one night to experience the ride on this unique elevator. The room was just large enough to hold two double beds and it was dark. The room was smaller than the average hotel room in Las Vegas, but it was clean. Nothing about the dcor even hinted at an Egyptian theme. Not a single scarab or pharaoh item to be seen anywhere. There was no view and the slanted wall took some getting used to. The sound proofing was good enough that the noise of the casino and clubs didn't reach the rooms. The beds were hard. How did Nefertiti get enough sleep to keep her looks on beds like these?

The discount guest book made up for some of the disappointment. The Giza shopping gallery didn't offer much besides Luxor souvenirs, but the talking camel did speak occasionally. The walkway to the Excalibur was the gateway to the rest of the Las Vegas Strip. The Luxor is remote from the free attractions at the Bellagio, Mirage, and TI (Treasure Island). It is within walking distance of New York, New York and MGM. The roller coaster at New York is not to be missed. The lion experience at MGM is always crowded when the lions are awake. The clubs at both New York and MGM had good crowds. So the $60 room at the Luxor was worth it.

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