Here is a decent Westin Casuarina Las Vegas special rate offer for $109 Sunday-Thursday and $129 Friday and Saturday that includes a 1,500 Starpoints bonus. Book online using rate plan BONUS or call 1-866-716-8137 and ask for this rate. Must book by February 20 for hotel stays through May 27, 2010.
1,500 Starpoints is essentially a $50 future credit value if you use your Starpoints selectively for good hotel savings.
I have stayed at the Westin Casuarina several times. This is about the only Starwood Hotel I think I have never received an upgrade after multiple stays. The hotel has very few suites. There is a small casino in the lobby and a Starbucks café.
The major advantage of the Westin Casuarina Hotel over any hotel on the Strip is the swimming pool hours of 5am to 2am. Nearly every other pool at a Las Vegas casino hotel closes by 5pm or 6pm in the evening. Most of the pools do not open before 10am. When the temperature is 95 in April and the pool’s glistening beauty entices you for a swim (or you need to sober up with a full body splash after that fifth mojito), there is no greater let-down than to arrive at the pool entrance at 5pm stripped down to your swimming gear, and find the pool has just closed.
My other tip for someone staying at the Westin Casuarina is to check out Ellis Island Casino & Brewery across the street. This locals hangout has $1.50 pints of microbrew and a great meal of ribs and chicken. Sign up for your free casino card to get a meal discount. And if the barbecue line is too long a wait, the restaurant also has great meal deals.
Since Planet Hollywood on the Las Vegas Strip rebranded from Starwood Hotels, those $69 hotel stays for Starwood credit are gone. The only Starwood Hotel options in the Las Vegas area are the Westin Casuarina, one block off the Strip, and the new Element hotel, west of the city, in a business park directly off the freeway, in the suburb of Summerlin. The Element Hotel is an extended stay brand with all mod cons for cooking and relaxing and offers studio, one- and two-bedroom options. Summerlin is at the base of the mountains and a great location for families who can head west to the hiking trails in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.
Here are past Loyalty Traveler reviews:
Westin Casuarina (pictures) http://loyaltytraveler.boardingarea.com/2009/08/24/starwood-hotels%e2%80%99-planet-hollywood-and-westin-casuarina-las-vegas/
Element Summerlin – http://loyaltytraveler.boardingarea.com/2009/08/16/element-las-vegas-in-hd/
