I am very happy to admit when I'm wrong and in the case of Planet Hollywood, boy oh boy was I wrong.

Eschewing the kind of over-the-top Tinseltown idolization that puts their restaurants in theme park territory, the look and feel of the new Planet Hollywood hotel is upscale and modern, at times even dramatic, and a vast improvement over the Arabian Nights detail of the past. Dark woods line the walls of the casino and act as accents to the vibrant colors and warm lighting details, infusing the entire space with an air of classy energy. Notice the support columns - all gauzy cream fabrics, backlit to give them a healthy glow, and then offset by iron and ebony stained wood. It is design details like this that set this gaming space apart from ones that focus more on the games themselves than what surrounds them.

Even the slot carousels have been turned into works of art, many of which topped with eye-catching sculptures and flat panel televisions. It's a refreshing change of pace from the gaudy "Quartermania" type slot toppers that adorn most rows of one-armed bandits.

The casino floor is well laid out, with plenty of space between machines and tables and they kept the soaring 100-foot high ceilings so the claustrophobia level is near zero.

All of the usual slot machines are offered in the main casino along with all of the popular table games. In addition there is a poker room and a race and sports book in you are so inclined.

I have done very, very well at this casino, which doesn't necessarily mean you will too, but it's worth mentioning that I've won more money on the slot machines and table games at Planet Hollywood than I have at any other single casino ever. You could say that makes me more inclined to like a casino and you're right. Winning money makes me happy, sue me.

A mezzanine level surround the casino and features several restaurants, a theater plus a wedding chapel, a spa, a cool ultra-lounge called the Living Room and a high-energy, low-attitude nightclub called Privé.

Back down on the main floor are several bars and lounges including one with the "eXtra" entertainment television show branding. It will feature live remotes for the show whenever special occasions happen at the hotel.

There are plenty of places to eat. Restaurants include the popular coffee shop style Planet Dailies; a branch of the Chinese favorite PF Chang's; a tremendous steakhouse, the bordello themed Strip House; the Asian inspired Koi; the Earl of Sandwich, a deli-style concept from the descendents of the guy that first put meat between two slices of bread about 400 years ago; and more.

The locals' favorite Spice Market Buffet, located on the lower level below the casino, is still in business and although it received a cosmetic overhaul, the new owners have wisely decided to leave everything else alone. It remains one of the best buffets on The Strip.

Also on that lower level is the new lobby area done with sleek marble and a color-changing backdrop behind the check-in desk plus stunning draped chandeliers that resemble no less than a '40s era ball gown.

When you book your stay, be sure to request an upgrade to the "Hollywood Hip" room. These are the newly remodeled accommodations, each of which features its own Hollywood theme, from movies like "Pulp Fiction" and "Die Hard" to music or television and beyond. Although there may be multiple "Pulp Fiction" rooms, each will have its own set of glass-encased memorabilia meaning that, when complete, no two of the more than 2,600 rooms will be exactly the same.

So far I've seen a Judy Garland room, a "Blade" room (the Wesley Snipes vampire movies), and a "Universal Soldier" room (Jean Claude Van Damme). Whether you're a fan of the particular subject or not, the memorabilia and photos are undeniably more interesting than yet another seascape watercolor or whatever is passing for high-end décor these days.

When you throw in the rest of the upgrades it becomes almost irresistible. Oversized headboards are covered in crushed velvet, chairs come in leather or suede, giant armoires contain flat-panel televisions and closets, and full-sized desks have high-speed Internet hook-ups and dual line phones. Even the beds themselves are noteworthy. Since the hotel portion of the building is managed by Sheraton, they get that company's trademark Sweet Sleeper Beds with pillow-top mattresses, feather down pillows, and high-thread-count sheets and duvets. The overall package is a knockout.

The bathrooms don't get as much attention as the sleeping area but that's okay - they were pretty good to begin with; spacious with plenty of marble, deep tubs, and separate shower stalls.

The more standard "Deluxe" rooms still contain the movie memorabilia and the nice beds, but the furnishings aren't quite as luxe as the "Hip" rooms so if the price differential isn't too great for you go for upgrade.

A new tower opened in late 2009 that is part time-share and part hotel room inventory. More info on that is coming soon.

There were only two complaints I could come up with, and they are both fairly minor. The window shades don't do a very good job of blocking out the bright desert sun and when you check in, be sure to ask for a room away from the elevators; they can be noisy if you are right next to them, but even two or three doors down is fine.

And as far as the overall hotel, there was only one serious thing that I could find wrong with it - the parking situation. The valet parking was a disaster every time I drove past, with lines and waits that are simply unacceptable. I wish there was another way to put that, but there isn't.

And unfortunately self-parking is not much better. The garage is located at the back of the property and requires a very, very long walk through a crowded shopping mall to get to the front desk. If you're toting luggage it isn't fun. So the moral of the story is, if you're driving your own car or a rental car to Planet Hollywood, budget extra time to get in and out of the place.

So how much is all of this newfound glory going to cost you? I am seeing rates as low as $79 during the week and $149 on the weekend for the standard Deluxe rooms, although $150-250 weekdays and $180-$300 for the weekends is more common. The Hollywood Hip rooms are running about $40 more per night. Those kinds of rates are more expensive than I had hoped to see here but are very competitive with similar hotels on The Strip, especially for what they are offering. If I was going to pay this kind of money and had options like The Mirage, Treasure Island, Paris, and the MGM Grand in the same range, I'd definitely choose Planet Hollywood.

Service has been fantastic every time I've visited, especially in the casino where the dealers and slot attendants are extremely friendly.

Although not as wildly over-the-top as past Las Vegas hotels, Planet Hollywood does the best job in recent memory of balancing an upscale ethos with a fun and funky atmosphere. Instead of the bland luxury preferred by most new hotels on The Strip, this one does luxury without getting all serious about it.

Click Here To Check Rates For This Hotel

Related Reviews

Harrah’s Entertainment is moving forward on their much rumored takeover of the financially troubled Planet Hollywood resort and casino on The Strip. The company filed papers with the Nevada Gaming Control Board that would give it permission to acquire the property.

This move had been anticipated for some time after Harrah’s began to buy up Planet Hollywood’s staggering $860 million worth of debt earlier this year. The Planet defaulted on the debt with its creditors and has been looking for a savior like Harrah’s ever since.

The move is both a smart and confusing one for Harrah’s, a company that is saddled with its own money problems. On the one hand it would give the company the Planet Hollywood brand name, which still holds a lot of positive equity with the public, and it would give them dominance of the east side of The Strip, with an uninterrupted string of properties that includes Harrah’s, Imperial Palace, Flamingo, Bill’s, Bally’s, and Paris Las Vegas. On the other hand, I described $860 million as staggering in the previous paragraph so I’m not sure what to call over $19 billion, which is the amount of debt that Harrah’s is working under. Taking on even more in this economy is probably the definition of the word “gamble.”

The filing will work its way through the various regulatory agencies who will be looking at everything including Harrah’s debt load before giving a thumbs up, but unless there are some skeletons hidden in the company’s closet that nobody knows about, expect it to get approved eventually. I’d anticipate a mid-to-late 2010 completion of the process.

The hotel will most likely keep the Planet Hollywood name but would get folded into Harrah’s very popular Total Rewards players’ club program.

back to the top