Does Rumor Boutique Hotel Live Up To Hype?

Sammasseur Reviews Rumor Boutique Hotel…

The term “boutique hotel” gets tossed around a lot these days. But finding one that actually meets the criteria is becoming rare. These days, major resorts have taken to rebranding an existing tower and calling it “boutique”. Sorry, but that isn’t what the folks at Wikipedia describe:

Boutique hotel is a term used initially in North America and the United Kingdom to describe small hotels which have typically between 10 and 100 rooms in unique settings with upscale accommodations.

So if your boutique-hotel exposure has been limited to the 43-story Delano at Mandalay Bay or the 1,600 room SLS Las Vegas, you’ve been deceived. Come along and let me introduce you to a true boutique experience at Rumor Boutique Hotel Las Vegas.

I’ve heard a lot of talk about Rumor over the past few years. Overwhelmingly positive talk, to be sure. “Cool swanky decor”. “Adult-themed weekends”. “Wild poolside parties”. “The great on-property Addiction Restaurant“. “Terrific customer service and attitude”.

For whatever reason, I’ve never actually stayed here. It’s hard not to be drawn in by the purple exterior lighting, decorative accents and cool signage. And yet…some things just take time to be discovered.

Rumor is gaming-free (except for video poker at the bar) and has 149 smoke-free rooms of various sizes and amenities. It’s located a few blocks from the Strip, across from Hard Rock Hotel and adjacent to Alexis Park Resort (another moderately-priced favorite). Unlike Alexis Park, you won’t find much of the diapers-and-pool-floatie crowd here. In fact, I didn’t see a single child during my stay (boo hoo….not really).

What I did see were smiling employees who manned the modern front lobby. They allowed me to check in well ahead of the 4 pm posted time…without additional fees. Because I had booked directly through their own website, I was given a certificate for a free bottle of Wycliff champagne from the bar. And since it was a pre-holiday weekday, the resort was relatively quiet and I was given a choice of rooms.

My selection was a first-floor Jr. Simple Suite with king bed and easy access to both the gorgeous pool and rear parking area….room 1802, to be precise. The ground-floor Jr.Oasis Suites have a poolside patio and second-floor Jr. Suites are called “Skyline” for the view.  There are also Deluxe, Premium and Mega Suites.

Deep purple is the predominant color of Rumor, and it gave a sleek, sexy feel to my accommodations. There was a sitting area with coffee table, two leather nightstands, in-room Jacuzzi tub and writing desk. Alas, the chair for the desk was missing, but for this visit there wouldn’t be any work getting done. Otherwise it would have been a call to the front desk. Bedding and pillows were high quality and very comfortable.

The bathroom was somewhat small but efficient, with a stylish bowl sink, glass shower stall with rain shower head and plenty of towels. Alas, there was no towel bar or hook. The closet had an electronic safe with no usage fee, but was lacking an iron/board (another call could rectify that if one was required).

Wi-Fi was snappy and included in the $13.99 resort fee, which covers parking, pool access, adult channel 69 (seriously, heh heh) and two bottles of water per day. There’s also a $2.95 daily energy surcharge (WTF?), but I mentally renamed it the “No Kids Allowed” fee and called it a day.

There are several two-story buildings which make up Rumor‘s property. They encircle the pool area (open 9 am-9 pm), which is enhanced with hammocks suspended over meticulously-groomed Zen gardens. The circular configuration of the structures allows for a feeling of intimacy and privacy, which may explain why Rumor is often booked in its entirety for private events and parties.

The only reminder you’ll have of the outside world is the constant buzz of incoming airliners, as McCarran International Airport is close by. That’s a definite plus if you’re using taxis or rideshare services instead of renting a vehicle.

Unless you’ve come to Vegas to gamble (and if so, Hard Rock is across the street), there’s little reason to leave Rumor if you don’t want to. Addiction Restaurant has a full menu, indoor/outdoor seating and is open for breakfast/lunch on weekdays and all three meals on Friday and Saturday. Room service is also available starting at 8 am.

Although it was breakfast time, I opted for the California Chick ($14), a grilled chicken/avocado/roasted tomato sandwich with breakfast potatoes. As expected, service was extremely friendly. I enjoyed my meal and the atmosphere so much that I completely lost track of time. Luckily, the front desk kindly allowed me to stay past the 11 am check-out in order to shower and pack up my things.

Rumor Bar in the main building is next to the lobby and open 24/7. The adjacent lounge has plenty of intimate spots, perfect for canoodling…er, business meetings…

As you might surmise, this writer was extremely pleased with Rumor Boutique Hotel and I’ll be eager to stay again. And although rates can vary wildly, as in every other Vegas hotel, the $33.60 (plus taxes/fees) I paid made for my stay made it even more pleasant.

This is one Rumor worth believing in.

Rumor Boutique Hotel is located at 455 East Harmon Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89169. Reservations can be placed by phoning 702-369-5400 or clicking here. I recommend looking closely at their website for various upgrades, offers and discount specials.

Photos: [Sammasseur]

sammasseur

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