Mardi Gras – A Fine Choice In Budget Lodging

Regular readers of my column at VegasChatter know that I enjoy sharing worthy discoveries for the thrifty traveler. If you’re the type to stay in nothing less than a Sky Suite at Aria or Cosmopolitan, this recommendation isn’t meant for you (so please save those catty remarks for someone else). But if, like me, you are over the price-gouging of mega-resorts and prefer to save your dollars for other types of fun, then consider a stay at Mardi Gras Hotel and Casino on Paradise Road.

There’s nothing embarrassing or shameful about opting for budget Vegas hotels and resorts, despite what your friends might say. They give you the basics, sometimes a little more. Judged against one another, they can run the gamut from “pleasant surprise” (Alexis Park Resort on Harmon Avenue) to “downright frightening” (Fortune Hotel and Suites on Flamingo Road and Stay Suites on Dean Martin Drive are awful beyond description). So it pays to do a little research before booking, and that’s where I can help.

Mardis Gras leans more towards the likable side of cost-conscious Vegas lodging. I’ve stayed here several times in the past year, and this “little hotel that could” has been satisfyingly consistent. It’s location on Paradise Road, directly behind Wynn/Encore, isn’t exactly walking distance from the Strip, which could be a bummer to some. But it IS a stone’s throw from the Las Vegas Convention Center, which has a dedicated monorail stop…making it easy to get pretty much anywhere from Luxor to SLS Las Vegas on five bucks and fifteen minutes or less So don’t rule Mardi Gras out just because of location.

In fact, there are plenty of reasons to choose Mardi Gras on its own merits. Let’s start with a reservation desk that’s fast, efficient, and manned with a personable staff. You’ll be settling into your room in a matter of minutes. A short walk through the negligible casino area (it’s super-small) takes you to a nicely-kept central courtyard and onto the guest areas.

Mardi Gras provides 300 over-sized guest rooms with one king, one or two queens, and a upgraded business-class configuration. All are clean, simple and spacious, with separate living areas (many with flat screen TV’s) and refrigerators.

Furniture is bland and somewhat dated, but kept in good condition. One caveat is that the kitchenette with bar seating is designed to hold both a microwave oven and coffeemaker, yet neither are provided.

Bathrooms, like everything else, are simple, clean and provide the basic necessities. A shower/tub combo and toilet are behind closed doors and the vanity is in the open, making it easy for two people to get ready at the same time. Pretty much your basic chain motel arrangement. But once again, Mardi Gras ups the competition by keeping everything nicely maintained and in surprisingly good shape for a bargain joint.

You like convenient access from your car to your room? No problem, as there is plentiful parking on all four sides of the property, making the trek with your luggage a snap, even if you’re given a third-floor room (easy to get to via elevator).

The pool/jacuzzi area is, once again, simple but nicely kept. Being centrally located, it’s easy to get to from any location on the property. The gates are open from 9 am through 9 pm, and the courtyard also boasts a cozy seating area with a few umbrella tables for quick meals and such. Landscaping and lawn are well-manicured, once again reflecting the pride that staff and management clearly have for their operation.

Inside, a morning breakfast buffet room offers the all the hot and cold favorites with coffee/tea/juice for $8.95. It’s open 7 am through 10 am on weekdays and 8-11 am Saturday and Sunday. Across from the reservation desk, the Bon Temps Cafe offers a full menu all day. The Mardi Gras website lists the cafe as a 24-hour operation, but that applies to the bar, as the kitchen frequently closes at 11 pm. I’ve eaten here several times and have yet to be disappointed with the food or prices. The Chef Salad is massive and recommended. Happy Hour from 2-5 pm has $6 pitchers, $3 “Frosty Drinks” (including MG mojitos) and $2 appetizers.

As for amenities, Mardi Gras has courtesy shuttle service to the Strip (at Bally’s) and to and from McCarran International Airport. There are on-site coin-operated laundry facilities, great for extended-stay guests, and all rooms are equipped with irons and boards.

If I have one genuine gripe, it’s the consistently poor internet service. “High-speed wireless internet” is an amenity offered for the $5 daily resort fee, but it’s usable for only about 20 percent of the time, making it essentially worthless. For those depending on wi-fi for business (especially the convention and business crowd that frequents here), this is one problem that Mardi Gras needs to address…stat.

But as for those room prices…they are consistently some of the lowest in town…which you can see for yourself by clicking here. As a satisfied frequent guest, I’ve been pleased enough to early-reserve Mardi Gras for New Year’s Eve weekend at only $57 a night. The savings will buy a lot of champagne. Cheers!

sammasseur

A fitness buff and Vegas fan. Sam enjoys shows, bargains, and cheap healthy eats.