Suggested Hotels for Diva Las Vegas 2011

(Last updated December 12, 2010)

The hotel suggestions for DLV 2011 are just that, suggestions. There's no requirement that you stay in our suggested hotels. Although all have been known to provide good service and to treat members of our group the same as all other guests, there are no guarantees of attitude or satisfaction.
The following hotels are suggested for DLV 2011 attendees:

(in alphabetical order)

  • Harrah's
  • Imperial Palace
  • MGM Grand
  • Paris
  • Rio

These suggestions are made for those who want to know where our people have stayed and reported good service, and where to stay if they want to be near other DLV people. For those who will not have a vehicle, it is highly recommended that you stay in one of our suggested hotels in order to coordinate the sharing of rides (at the rider's own risk, of course) with others.

So, what's the story with the Sahara?

For the first time in our history, as long as we've been suggesting hotels for our attendees that is, the Sahara did not make the list of suggested hotels for DLV 2011.

The Sahara was nominated and considered, but when it came to a vote of our volunteers, it was turned down. The primary reason for this was two first-person reports from two of our volunteers who had stayed at the Sahara recently. Both told the same story, of massive cutbacks in services and amenities which are no longer available.

Should conditions at the Sahara improve, it will be considered for future DLV events, but we must regretfully announce that we do not suggest the Sahara for our DLV 2011 attendees.

A few notes on each hotel, including each hotel's official web site and (when available) a link to the CheapoVegas review of that hotel ...

Harrah's:

Harrah's is a very large midscale casino-hotel located in the heart of the Center Strip, just north of the Imperial Palace, another of our suggested hotels.

The "Flavors" buffet is excellent and a DLV favorite!

The adjoining Carnaval Court offers attractions and entertainment day and night.

Web site: Harrah's web site
CheapoVegas Harrah's review

Imperial Palace:

Imperial Palace is a large lower-priced casino-hotel in the Center Strip area. Big advantage to the IP is location-location-location. The IP has been used by DLVers each year since 1997 with few issues.

The IP offers motel-style "Capri" rooms in addition to tower rooms, and these may be preferable for those who are a bit shy of walking through a crowded hotel lobby.

Web site: www.imperialpalace.com
CheapoVegas Imperial Palace review

Hint: Imperial Palace desk personnel have been known to adjust rates on the spot at check-in if better rates are available. Ask!

Update: It's been reported that the "$20 trick" does not work at the IP.

MGM Grand

This is the first year we've used the MGM Grand as a DLV suggested hotel.

The MGM Grand is a very large moderately-upscale hotel-casino at the corner of Las Vegas Boulevard (Strip) and Tropicana.

Several restaurants, bars, and shops are on the property. Casino has fewer low-roller games than most Strip casinos.

Web site: www.mgmgrand.com
CheapoVegas MGM Grand review

Hint: Rooms in the west wing (the old Marina Hotel) are smaller than those in the north and south wings.

Paris:

The Paris is a very large upscale hotel-casino located just south of the "Four Corners" Flamingo-Strip intersection.

The Paris is the first major Strip hotel to actively invite GLBT business (note that they have included the T).

The Paris is very nice, but not cheap! It also tends to be crowded, particularly on the weekends. Countless shops and eateries grace the property. The Eiffel Tower is a major attraction and offers a spectacular view of the Strip!

One caveat: Although the Paris promises that their staff will be TG-friendly, this is a very large casino-hotel and tends to be crowded at times.

Web site: Main Paris web site
Paris GLBT page
CheapoVegas Paris review

Request: Even though Paris avows to be GLBT-friendly, we ask that you follow restroom guidelines closely if you choose to use public restrooms on this property. Please help set a positive example of Diva Las Vegas and the TG community in general.

Rio:

They say that all of their rooms are "suites", but many say that they are simply large standard hotel rooms!

The Rio is an upper-midscale hotel-casino located west of the main Strip area. Brazillian theme with a Show In The Sky which is indeed entertaining the first couple of times you see it. Excellent buffet, two of them, actually. One regular buffet and a special seafood buffet.

Web site: http://www.riolasvegas.com/
CheapoVegas Rio review

Hint: The Masquerade Tower is newer and arguably nicer. Some promotional literature will use terms such as "one block west of the Strip" or "just off the Strip" but in actuality it's the better part of a mile west of the Strip and a fairly rigorous walk from the Strip.

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