Receiving Caesars Diamond status out of the blue was the perfect opportunity to get an up close look at recent renovations at the Horseshoe Las Vegas. I enjoyed staying at the hotel when it was Bally’s but there’s no denying the property was overdue for a refresh.
Room rates were always low at Bally’s and the rebranding hasn’t changed that. Prices remain very competitive. Check current rates on Expedia.
Horseshoe Las Vegas Location
Horseshoe’s location is fantastic. It’s dead center of the Strip and in the heart of the Caesars empire. The east side of Las Vegas Boulevard from Harrah’s to Tropicana Avenue is the best and easiest part of the Strip to walk. Moving among casinos from Horseshoe is no problem. Across the street the Bellagio and Caesars Palace are easily accessible.
There’s a monorail stop at the back of the resort and the Flamingo Road buses are right outside, making it simple to get to the Palms or find off-strip food. The only slight drawback is that if you enjoy riding the Deuce it requires a considerable walk to reach the stops from Horseshoe Las Vegas.
Horseshoe Las Vegas Property
Vintage vibes abound here and it’s something they’re leaning into with the branding. The original Horseshoe Club opened in the 1950’s on the Fremont Street site where Binion’s is now. The current Horseshoe Las Vegas property was home to the original MGM Grand, which debuted in 1973. Much of that original design and detail is still in evidence but ongoing maintenance and updates prevent the Horseshoe from feeling stale.
The casino is large enough to feel lively and complete without being overwhelming. Its simple rectangular shape hosts a large selection of games. Finding your way around the casino floor is easy. The elevators, front desk, rideshare area, convenience store, and coffee stand/lobby bar line the north side of the casino, meaning you don’t need to traverse tables and slots to access the hotel amenities you’ll use most often.
The main tower’s exterior renovation is complete, and new carpet runs throughout the casino. That’s the extent of renovations so far. There are plans to incorporate the south tower into the neighboring Paris resort which already connects to Horseshoe internally. Horseshoe Las Vegas is investing heavily in being the premier casino for poker. In addition to hosting the World Series of Poker, the tables here spill out of the poker room and cover a significant share of the casino floor.
The loss of a sports book in the renovations is unfortunate but it is easy to bet sports next door at the Cromwell. Their sportsbook is comfortable and seldom crowded.
The food options at Grand Bazaar Shops out front are great. Having an off-strip liquor and convenience store just steps away at The Stage Door is a real benefit to choosing Horseshoe Las Vegas.
Horseshoe’s Guest Rooms
You could say this property has “good bones.” When it premiered in the 1970’s it was a state of the art resort. Much of that original glamor has faded but the DNA remains unchanged. Nowhere is this more in evidence than in the rooms. No matter how many rebrands take place, a big room is always a big room. Great views are always right outside the window. A prime location at the center of the Strip is something that will never fade with time.
The rooms at Horseshoe are large and they often come with a great view. During both of my stays I booked a basic room and was twice placed on the 18th floor in rooms very close to each other. Both had an impressive north view of the High Roller Observation Wheel, Flamingo, Linq, and Venetian. Even a bit of a mountain view is visible on both sides of the valley.
A few scrapes and scuffs may be noticeable around your room but Horseshoe Las Vegas gets the big things right. The beds are comfortable and pillows are nice. The TV and AC work great. Bathrooms are well designed and highly functional, if not luxurious. The decor is ‘modern’ but in reality only a little dated. it would be helped significantly with the addition of some wall art, which is missing entirely. Rooms weren’t being made up daily when I visited.
Large windows are covered entirely by thick draperies, which allow for uninterrupted sleep. None of the rooms at Horseshoe face East or West, and aren’t prone to uncomfortable blasts of desert sunlight during parts of the day. Perhaps best of all is the inclusion of a working refrigerator, rare for Vegas.
Overall Impression
The crowd at Horseshoe Las Vegas is a little older than a place like the Linq. You get the idea that it’s a draw for serious gamblers and I don’t think that’s a coincidence. There’s a lot to like about playing here. The pool is another example of the resort’s good bones and it’s nice that it remains a pool and not a dayclub with water in the middle.
I also enjoy the rideshare area, right at the bottom of the elevators. Drivers can find it easily and guests aren’t made to seek it out or walk miles to get there.
If the overall quality here is average, the value at Horseshoe Las Vegas is phenomenal. For Caesars Rewards members (signup online) Saturday room rates are generally below $200 and often in the range of $135. If you’re booking several months in advance it’s even possible to find Saturday rates as low as $46 at the time of writing. (Check current rates here.)
Weeknight rates can run as low as $8. Resort fees are $40 per night meaning you can put together a trip very economically. When comparing Horseshoe Las Vegas to the Strip’s least expensive hotels like Circus Circus and Excalibur it’s head and shoulders above them. If you’re on a budget this is definitely a wiseguy pick.
