In addition to not wanting to be in casino or having to traverse the casino floor to get to your room, or deal with casino crowds, the reasons to choose a non-casino hotel include a bit of tranquility, shorter walks and perhaps a better environment for kids or a less distracting environment for meetings. In the case of Trump, it is also non-smoking.
Recently I was back in Vegas and as one of the conferences I was attending was at the 1,282-room Trump, and the organizers were footing my bill, I had a chance to revisit the hotel, which I've stayed at several times before.
To get it out of the way, if you want to stock up on "Make America Great" baseball hats, you are at the right place. If hearing the presidential candidate saying those words gives you a headache, turn your head when you walk past the lobby gift store or stay somewhere else. However, beyond that, and copies of his books in the gift store, the connection is not played up in any particular way.
Politics aside, I have followed Trump closely since he opened his first luxury hotel in New York City in the late 1990s to quite a bit of scoffing, and the facts are he has done a very credible job of operating luxury hotels. As they are condo hotels, among the benefits are larger rooms and kitchens and kitchenettes. The staff is service oriented and friendly. In Vegas, the hotel remains in good shape (although a renovation is planned in 2017), and it is an easy and quick walk from curb to elevator. The floor plans also mean relatively short walks from the elevator to your room, at least compared to other places I've stayed in Vegas.
Another selling point of staying at Trump is that it hasn't converted its pool into a big hot tub as is typical at the large resorts in Sin City. That said, there's no free lunch. Daybeds and cabanas will cost you some money (see Fast Facts below), although nothing outrageous by Vegas standards.
Trip Advisor ranks Trump 19th out of 267 hotels based on over 8,000 reviews. The spa rates four stars from Forbes, which writes, "A hotel doesn't have to have a Las Vegas Boulevard address for it to be glamorous (and Trump) offers an upscale, non-gaming retreat that's a breath of fresh air...literally, you'll find no casino smoke permeating the lobby."
Among the shortcomings was housekeeping. Two of four days my suite was never serviced, and in reviewing Trip Advisor, I saw a similar complaint. I had to look twice to make sure I had not left the 'do not disturb sign on the door.' There were small inconsistencies in room service. My club sandwich was served three different ways on three different days. Not a big deal, but a signal that things can be hit and miss. There is little choice in terms of bars and restaurants. It's a big hotel, so lot's of rooms to fill. It means with lead-in prices at $109, you get a Las Vegas mass-market crowd. I also got a hard sell to upgrade to a suite when checking in at 3am, however, when I got to my room, it turns out it was a suite anyway.
On the upside, arriving at 3am and needing a suit pressed by 9am, the bellman made it happen. The gym is also excellent with cardio, weight machines and free weights. I have a quirky back, and I find the beds comfortable for a good night's sleep. The room décor is also somewhat understated with a residential feel from what you might expect in a hotel with a shimmering gold exterior and a glitzy 10,000 sq. ft. three-floor high lobby.
Would I stay at Trump again? Yes. Among the non-casino hotels, I also like Vdara (modern room design, informal luxury although a mid-market lobby), Mandarin Oriental (true luxury finishes, spectacular lobby and small, but refined pool) and Four Seasons (excellent service).
Fast Facts:
Trump Las Vegas provides a number of oversize suites, including two-and-three bedroom suites. It has an excellent gym, a pool where you can actually swim laps as opposed to being in the middle of an oversized hot tub (Well, sometimes that can be fun too), it's smoke free and as a condo hotel, the rooms all have kitchens or kitchenettes. There is also a pets program if you like traveling with Fido. However, the restaurant and bar scene is limited and lacking for a 1,000 plus unit hotel. It's a non-casino hotel so there are no shows and it is relatively crowd free. Rooms in the hotel are going to be renovated in 2017.
Accommodations
Three-Bedroom Penthouse Suites
There are two 3-bedroom Penthouse Suites on floors 60 to 64. Each has 3.5 baths and spans over 3,000 sq. ft.
In addition to a dining table that seats eight, there is a library nook and three elegant bedrooms, each with an Italian marble bathroom. The master bedroom features panoramic floor-to-ceiling Las Vegas strip views with separate seating areas and an adjoining master bathroom with his and hers toilets. Trump claims them as
"largest non-smoking hotel suites in Las Vegas."
There is a full
kitchen with appliances by Wolf, Bosch and Sub-Zero.
The
master bath includes an in-mirror, plasma television, separate shower, jetted spa tub and dual Italian Marble sinks. If you are in a deal making mode, there are three dual-line phones.
Two-Bedroom Penthouse Suites
There are four 2-bedroom suites on floors 60-64, each 1,700 sq. ft. mid-floor near to the elevators making them easy access if you don't like long walks. There is a dining table seating four, a mini-kitchen outfitted with high-end appliances and an apartment-sized master bath, a common theme of many of the suites. Strip views run an extra $100 per night. In the case of a Friday night in August, $1,099 vs. $999.
One-Bedroom Penthouse Suites
These 1,500 sq. ft. suites feature 1.5 baths, with the second bath including a shower. They are located on floors 60-64, and offer a residential feel with floor to ceiling windows and a workable kitchen. Strip views run $100 more per night, $899 vs. $799 checking a Friday in August.
Deluxe One-Bedroom Suites and Superior One-Bedroom Suites
Located on floors 16 to 59, these suites have a sizable living room with dining table and a kitchenette with full refrigerator and a bar large enough to have three stools. While it is listed as 1.5 baths, you get one gigantic bathroom the size of the bedroom, maybe even a bit larger, including separate shower and jetted tub. The second bath off the living room features a walk-in shower. These suites range from 900 to 925 sq. ft. and can be connected to a deluxe room via a common entry. On a Friday night in August, there is a $20 difference, $225 vs. $205, based on city or strip views.
Corner Suites
These are interchangeable with the Deluxe and Superior One-Bedroom Suites, a bit bigger at up to 975 sq. ft, they are also on floors 16 to 59, and likewise, located at either end of the hallways. The also have dual direction views, being on a corner, as you can see above. Rate was $243 for the night I checked in August.
Pool and Pool Deck
