It's amazing how one bad moment in an otherwise excellent visit to a hotel can color your entire opinion. My last visit to the Orleans was almost entirely positive but it ended on such a sour note that I want to do nothing but bash them. Of course that's not fair, so let's start with the good stuff.

The Orleans is primarily aimed at the local Las Vegas market but they have built a good following among Vegas visitors for their excellent accommodations, relatively low prices, and vast entertainment offerings. Since it is located about two miles west of New York-New York it really isn't within walking distance or even within view when you're standing on The Strip so it is often overlooked. That's too bad because the hotel does have a lot to offer.

As you may have guessed from the name, New Orleans is the theme with faux Bourbon Street detail work like wrought iron railings and plantation shutters. They really didn't go for authenticity since most of it looks like a street scene at Disneyland but if it is authenticity you are looking for, go to Louisiana.

The large, bright casino lets in lots of natural light - a rarity in Las Vegas where they'd prefer you don't know what time it is. A very high ceiling adds to the overall feeling of spaciousness. Being a local oriented place, video poker dominates much of the floor space but there are all of the latest slots and table games, a small high-limit area, and plenty of room to stretch out in. Surrounding the casino is a variety of restaurants, entertainment, lounges, and bars.

The hotel has over 1,400 rooms, and the standard variety are very large and quite lovely with one king or two queen beds, a writing desk, a sitting area with a couch and chair, and an armoire with a TV equipped with pay-per-view movies, cable, and wireless Internet.

These are among the best equipped rooms in town with all of the extras you need and want including a hairdryer, iron and board, clock radio, and much more.

There are lots of extras to the property such as a 70-lane bowling alley (open 24 hours a day), an 18-screen movie theater complex with stadium seating and THX sound, a showroom, a large video arcade for the kids or really bored adults, a nice pool area, a spa, and an events center often hosting sports, concerts, or trade shows. If you're hungry there are about a dozen restaurants including a good buffet and a TGI Friday's if you need that taste of chain food home.

Price is often a very positive aspect here, also. I have gotten quotes for as low as $39 for one of the rooms described above, however normal rates hover just above the $100 per night mark most of the time. That former is an amazing price for this much stuff on the premises, while the latter is still a pretty good deal in comparison to Strip prices.

So what was the bad thing that ruined my stay? Poor customer service. Apparently I pushed the wrong button on my TV and started one of those pay-per-view movies - no, not that kind - a Tom Cruise movie, which is probably just as embarassing. Despite the fact that their records clearly showed that the movie was on for less than one minute, they demanded that I pay for it and no amount of reasoning, pleading, or threatening would make them change their minds. After the amount of money I spent in their casino, you'd think writing off a $10 movie charge wouldn't be that big of a deal, but apparently it was.

All of which I probably could've gotten over if the people I dealt with weren't so brusque about the whole thing. No smiles, no apologies, no friendly "I understand, but…". Instead I was brushed off as an annoyance and it made me want to never go back to that hotel again.

But that doesn't mean you shouldn't. For value, entertainment, and accommodations they are top notch so this is a hotel you should think about for your next trip to Vegas.

Just be careful with those TVs.

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