IP vs. Sahara

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This posting is from: mary beth
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I'm wondering if anyone has stayed at the Sahara recently, say, within
the past couple of months. I've booked for the Imperial Palace (which
I've stayed at before), but I've read some fairly nasty reviews of both
the IP and the Sahara on the Travelocity review site.

Now I'm wondering if I should switch to the Sahara. Has anyone stayed at
both hotels? I like the IP location since it's right in the middle of
the busy part of the strip. I'll be renting a car as well, so I'll be
able to get around easier than the last time when I ended up walking
miles (literally and figuratively) every day. The Sahara seems like it
may be a nicer place (or perhaps not, if you read some of the
horror-show reviews), but again, the IP is more centrally situated.

Any thoughts on the Sahara vs. IP?

Thanks,
Mary Beth

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This posting is from: annie
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> I have stayed at the Sahara for 25 years, and stayed there the last 2
> years of DLV.

I've stayed at both, but not within the past few months.

> I did not have any problems at either place. I would rate them
> about even overall. The Sahara rooms I have stayed in are better in my
> opinion.

I would agree with all of these.

www.ratevegas.com is, imao, about the most objective of any of the sites
that rate LV facilities, other than our own rating section, that is.

On ratevegas.com, both the IP and the Sahara get about the same ratings
very consistently, which are usually good, but not outstanding.

They both seem to get slammed for pool and restaurants. I personally
don't think the food is bad at either place, although I admit it is not
haute cuisine. I seldom if ever use a hotel pool in Las Vegas.

Sahara has 3 towers, and there is some variation. Tangiers (one toward
the rear) is newest and nicer than the others, but I had a large nice
room in the Tunis Tower (oldest) for DLV 2001. Somebody last year said
their Tunis room was "crummy" though. Alexandria is next to newest, and
you *DO* have to walk thru the casino to get to it.

IP has one obvious advantage. Location, location, location.

Did I mention location? Right dead-center in the action of the center
Strip.

> As for being centrally located, if one has a vehicle, it really is no
> more than 5 minutes difference to any function.

Quite true. It's probably easier in and out of the Sahara, since the
Strip-Flamingo area gets majorly congested with both vehicles and
pedestrians.

My advice is to stick with what you booked, especially if you paid less
than $100 for the weekend nights. Sahara was up to $119 over the DLV
weekend last I checked.

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This posting is from: Cat
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I have stayed at the Sahara for 25 years, and stayed there the last 2
years of DLV.

When I moved to LV last November, I stayed at the IP for a couple of
weeks (17 a day with buffet during the week). The rooms in one tower at
the IP were good, the other tower were not so good, compared to the
Sahara. I did not have any problems at either place. I would rate them
about even overall. The Sahara rooms I have stayed in are better in my
opinion.

Just a note, the San Remo rooms were about the same quality.. and had
one area that was better than the other as the others do. I do prefer
the Sahara for parking. If you use the Paradise entrance valet, you
are very close to the towers and for those who are still nervous, you
don't have to go through the casino. Use the valet! It is so easy and
not much walking. Just be sure to tip.

As for being centrally located, if one has a vehicle, it really is no
more than 5 minutes difference to any function. The IP gets you closer
to some of the Strip action, but I doubt that is much of a concern for
very many.

Hope this helps a little.

Cat

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This posting is from: Densie
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Hi Mary Beth

I have stayed at both the IP and the Sahara, and the Sahara about two
months ago. Out of the two, I prefer the Sahara because the IP is
getting run down, the traffic getting in and out of it is a nightmare,
and I just don't like the atmosphere there.

Tony and I go to the Sahara now because it is reasonably clena and
comfortable, and because it always brings back fond memories, like a
home away from home. I'd stay away from the Hotels.com section and
register through Sahara's web site...you'll get a better room and they
guarantee the lowest price that way.

Of course like any other competitely-priced hotel, you're going to have
children there, but they hang out mostly by the video game area. You
might have to deal with them on the way to and from the buffet, but
everywhere else it's not bad.

-Densie

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This posting is from: Tony
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> I'm wondering if anyone has stayed at the Sahara recently, say, within
> the past couple of months. I've booked for the Imperial Palace (which
[*** snip ***]

Denise and I have both stayed at the Sahara within the last month and a
half. We had a great time there. We only left the hotel twice, to buy
tickets for a show and to get a refund when the show was cancelled. The
only other time we were outside of the hotel was when we were riding the
roller coaster.

We had a great 4 days of drinking and gambling. No problems that I can
remember at all.

Tony

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This posting is from: Mary Beth
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> We had a great 4 days of drinking and gambling. No problems that I can
> remember at all.

I'm not really concerned with problems, per se, I'm just wondering if
the rooms are appreciably nicer than the IP rooms. The cost is about
the same.

Mary Beth

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This posting is from: Densie
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> I'm not really concerned with problems, per se, I'm just wondering if
> the rooms are appreciably nicer than the IP rooms. The cost is about
> the same.

Maybe a little nicer. The IP is older. They both have decent rooms,
but nothing special. Location and atmosphere would be better criteria
for choosing between the two...IP is in a crowded area in the middle of
the strip whereas Sahara is kind of at the north end and quieter.
Sahara has a cool roller coaster, if you're into that.

-Densie

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This posting is from: annie
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>Maybe a little nicer. The IP is older.

Actually, the Sahara predates the IP by 25+ years, but yes, the Tangiers
tower in the Sahara is newer than most of the IP.

IIRC, IP came about in the late 70's, adding the first tower to what was
the old Flamingo Capri Motel.

Tower sections were then added on thru the early 90's if I am correct.

Sahara opened in 1952. What we now know as the Tunis tower was the
first, with the Alexandria Tower being build in the late 60's or early
70's, IIRC.

Tangiers Tower was 80's or early 90's.

All three towers at the Sahara have been renovated within the last 5
years or so.

ObTrivia: What was on the tract now occupied by the Sahara before 1952?

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