South Point Hotel Casino and Spa

Pulling up to the huge, 2,163-room South Point feels a bit like pulling up to a ginormous suburban Costco. Like your average Costco, the South Point is anchored by an expansive parking lot, and there's a sense that any and everything can be found within -- and that's nearly true. It houses a huge casino, a 16-screen movie theater, a 400-seat concert hall, a 64-lane bowling alley, 11 restaurants, a pool, a huge bingo hall, and an equestrian center.
There's plenty to do, but there's no kitschy theme like most of the hotels on The Strip, nor is there the history of the downtown hotels. Built in 2005, the hotel promises, in its shiny gold-colored windows, a more relaxing alternative to the bustling, party-hardy Strip. Sure, the gambling goes on until all hours, and the bowling alley is open 24/7, but there's no nightclub for the younger crowd to dance the night away. Instead of the party set, the hotel caters to a mix of families, retirees, and locals.

This hotel is located on a nondescript stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard lined with strip malls that offer everything from cheap pizza to a liquor outlet and dry cleaners. There is no fine dining or world-class entertainment around the hotel, but there is so much to do on-site that most guests rarely leave the premises. The hotel provides shuttle service to The Strip for a fee throughout the day and into the night, which is convenient given that the only cheap alternative to driving is spending about an hour on two different buses. The drive to the heart of the action on The Strip takes about 15 minutes. The hotel also runs a free shuttle to the airport, which is a 10-minute drive away, and to Town Square mall, home to tons of shops, restaurants and entertainment venues.

The hotel has a whopping 2,163 rooms, all decorated in a somewhat bland, generic style. Yellow striped wallpaper and burgundy-and-gold carpets are classic, but the basic wooden furniture and the beige color palette make rooms a tad boring and plain. Starting at 500 square feet, even the smallest rooms are spacious and comfortable, and all are equipped with quality mattresses and a few pillows. All units feature flat-screen TVs, coffeemakers, free Wi-Fi, and irons and ironing boards. But alarm clocks are old with MP3 hookups instead of iPod docks, and only suites have mini-fridges. Spacious bathrooms have ample counter space, large mirrors, and shower/tub combos, but their tan tile-work and plain fixtures also make them forgettable. Wall-mounted hairdryers and a good selection of toiletries are also provided.

Although far from The Strip, the South Point has all the amenities expected of a big Vegas hotel, including a large casino with dozens of table games, slot and video poker machines, arcade games, and a bingo. There are also 11 restaurants offering a wide range of world cuisines; an outdoor pool with loungers, a whirlpool and a kiddy section; a 400-seat auditorium with magic, comedy, and tribute shows; and a fitness center with cardio and strength-training machines. Additionally, the hotel also offers seasonal poolside yoga classes for a fee, and a spa with 27 treatment rooms and salon services. This property, however, stands out for the more unexpected (and plentiful) features, which include a 16-screen movie theater, a 64-lane bowling center, a massive 150,000-square-foot convention center, and a full equestrian center complete with an arena and 120 air-conditioned horse stalls. The daily resort fee includes Wi-Fi and valet and self-parking.