The Stardust Hotel and Casino is a throwback to the 1960’s and that is why I chose it. You don't have to wander around past the zoos, gladiators and roller coasters just trying to the find the buffet, but you do have to pass the slot machines on your way to the front desk.
We stayed in a standard hotel room, comfortable with two double beds and a large, clean bathroom. I was bummed we were only on the second floor (nothing more embarrassing than getting on an elevator full of people and pressing the number 2). The Stardust has everything the mega-casino have, just on a smaller scale; a quaint shopping mall, excellent buffet, nightclub with live bands and slots, slots, slots. They also have a sports booking section on the north side, which was a great for NBA playoffs.
The best feature of the Stardust is its swimming pools. The Stardust has two, one a modern-looking pool more for lying around and being seen than swimming. In between the pools are two hot tubs complete with rock grotto waterfall. The second pool is in front of the two-story villas, which gives it a more intimate feel. The service is impeccable with polite young lifeguards who fetch your lounge chair for you and place it wherever you want, including on the grass under the trees. As I lie in my lounge chair soaking up the early morning Vegas sun, I could just imagine all the famous Hollywood stars who used to stay at here in the 60’s, Lucy and Desi Arnez sitting in chairs while their kids played in the pool, Dean Martin ordering cocktails from the poolside bar, Bob Hope practicing his putting on the grass near the villas …The Stardust is right on the Strip, but it is miles away when you are at the Stardust pool.
The only disappointing part of the hotel was the 4-die, hand-crank penny squishing machine in front of the video arcade was out of order. We checked with management to see if someone could fix it, but being a weekend, no one from the penny company wanted to come out.
The Stardust is on the northern end of the Strip next to the Fashion Show Mall. The mega-resorts of Treasure Island, The Venetian and the Mirage are on the other side of the mall, a good walk, but you can handle it or just ride the Strip Trolley that picks people up out front every 15 minutes. Five dollars gets a 24-hour pass for the trolley and you can ride it up and down all day listening to Betsy singing "we be turning, we be turning!" and "bumby bumb ahead, hold ‘em if you got ‘em!" With this much fun to be found, I’d stay at the Stardust again in a minute.