Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City

The Ameristar is surrounded by a wide expanse of outdoor parking that's large enough to accommodate a small airport. It's a fitting welcome for what is, in many ways, an experience akin to visiting a massive shopping mall and amusement park swirled into one. Decor throughout is equally theme-park in quality -- on the surface it's all attractive and nice, but ultimately the fantasy factor and faux finishes are all underwhelming. The massive lobby is dimly lit, and has black carpet with a wild pattern scrawled across it -- the area is constantly busy with the comings and goings of guests and gamblers. With a false sky painted overhead to simulate the effect of being outside, there are shops and restaurants and arcades and movie theaters -- and, of course, the casino -- throughout the massive complex. Dining options range from a casual food court to a proper brewery to the casual buffet-style restaurant, Horizons, which has a vague Cheesecake Factory style. The casino itself is huge and glows with bright lights both inside and out -- the constant slot sounds can be heard while roaming from restaurant to bar. While smoking is not permitted inside the hotel, parts of it reek of smoke. In addition to gamblers, the hotel hosts a fair share of families, business groups, and social reunions, as the property has ample meeting and event space.

As a self-contained destination in its own right, there's not much to do in the immediate area surrounding the hotel. It sits near the banks of the Missouri River, just south of Highway 210, and drives into Kansas City, MO, will take about 20 minutes. Worlds of Fun, a theme park with plenty of thrill rides, is a 10-minute drive from the hotel, while the Kansas City Zoo, another family-friendly option in the area, is a 25-minute drive from the hotel. Kansas City International Airport takes just under half an hour to reach by car. 

There are three room configurations available at the Ameristar: Deluxe Rooms, Mini Suites, and King Suites (which have separate living rooms with wet bars). Decor throughout is on the bland side, and the look resembles a corporate chain hotel that's a bit dated. Dark wood furniture in Deluxe Rooms shows some wear from the years, and padded yellow headboards aren't the most stylish choice we've seen. All rooms are spacious, with Deluxe Rooms starting at 377 square feet (35 square meters), and decor across all categories includes tan patterned carpets, tan drapes, off-white walls hung with bland art, and crown molding. Furniture in higher category rooms is in better shape and is more attractive. All units have 46-inch flat-screen TVs, coffeemakers, safes, air-conditioning, and plush beds. Bathrooms are clean, and come with bathrobes and shower/tub combos. King Suite bathrooms feature walk-in showers, standalone whirlpool tubs, and double vanities. Housekeeping isn't always the most reliable -- or easy to get in touch with -- and the same can be said about maintenance issues in rooms. 

Although the Ameristar is a shopping mall-size property, it does not have a spa, pool or fitness center, which are glaring omissions for this type of destination property. There are nine restaurants, including a brewery, steakhouse, oyster bar, food court, and enormous buffet restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Breakfast is not included with room rates. The 24-hour casino is one of the largest in Missouri, with 2,200 slot and poker machines and 66 game tables. The hotel is also home to an enormous 18-screen movie theater showing current releases, and there are a couple of performance venues on site with regular live entertainment, including music and comedy shows. There is a large gift shop selling everything from sunglasses to designer handbags. Kids Quest is a childcare service that is available for guests at an hourly charge and the property has its own arcade and game room. There's also plenty of meeting and event space for business travelers, and Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.