Harrah's Reno

Originally a bingo parlor, Harrah's Reno was opened in 1969 by William F. Harrah as the first Harrah's hotel property. Harrah was friends with Sammy Davis, Jr. and there are photos and paintings of the entertainer throughout the resort, plus memorabilia from plenty of other stars of bygone years. This vintage preoccupation says a lot about the style here, as much of the massive hotel is on its way to aging slightly less than gracefully. This isn't to say that anything is particularly wrong, but interiors are all done in heavy carpets and hues that don't look the freshest from a design perspective, a trait that runs through much of the hotel. Guests enter to a small lobby with granite-topped front desk and colorful signage and artwork. The casino is large, and it's a little tricky to navigate since there are many rooms; moreover, getting to them often involves going up and down stairs. Harrah's draws gamblers and tourists, who appreciate the central downtown location and relative affordability over resorts at the southern end of Virginia Street.

Harrah's is on North Center Street in downtown Reno, next to the famous Reno Arch and across the street from the Eldorado, Silver Legacy, and Circus Circus resorts. The Amtrak station and National Bowling Stadium are a half-block away, while City Plaza, the Riverwalk district, and Truckee River take three minutes of less to reach on foot. There are numerous shops, restaurants, and bars in the immediate area, and the I-80 freeway is only a two-minute drive from the hotel. It's a three-minute walk to the Reno Events Center and Reno Aces Ballpark, and the National Automobile Museum takes five minutes to reach on foot. The Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum and the Nevada Museum of Art take about 10 minutes to reach by walking, or less than five minutes by car. It's about a 10-minute drive down Virginia Street to the Atlantis Resort and Reno-Sparks Convention Center and 12 minutes to reach the Meadowood Mall. The Reno-Tahoe International Airport is a seven-minute drive away.

The 928 rooms and suites at Harrah's Reno are situated in the 24-floor West Tower or 26-floor East Tower. Rooms are spacious, get good natural light and are generally quiet, although some rooms near elevators may experience noise issues. Like the hotel's public areas, it's a mixed bag in terms of decor, though the look across the board is homey rather than cutting edge. Some rooms are modern and sharp, while others -- like the Mini Suite and Standard King (South Facing) that we visited -- could use renovations to address issues like dated furnishings, unattractive patterned carpets, and stains in bathrooms. Decor is mostly contemporary in certain other units, and the color palette tends toward neutral browns, beiges, and whites, with some rooms featuring elements of purple, lavender, and gold. The more modern rooms have dark wood veneer furniture with clean lines plus abstract or graphic-art prints livening up the walls. Bathrooms have generous marble or granite countertops plus bathtub/shower combos. Upgraded room categories have jetted tubs and some have separate showers.All rooms come with desks, irons and ironing boards, air-conditioning, small 32-inch flat-screen TVs with pay-per-view movies. Rooms do not have mini-fridges or mini-bars, and while some have coffeemakers, only certain higher-category rooms have upgraded Keurig machines (though pods are not free). Smoking rooms are available, and some rooms allow up to two small dogs for a nightly per-pet fee.

Harrah's Reno is home to a large casino with over 700 slot machines, plus table games, and a race and sports book. Guests can drink in a stadium-style sports bar and cocktail lounge with live jazz. The buffet restaurant gets decent marks, and features seafood, steaks, prime rib, Asian cuisine, Mexican fare, Italian cuisine, and a variety of salads. The resort also houses a steak house, a Japanese restaurant, a 24-hour Asian noodle bar, a diner-style restaurant with comfort food, a sandwich shop, and a coffee stand. There's a decent-size seasonal outdoor pool on the West Tower's fifth floor that's long enough for swimming laps. There's a large sundeck, but its sparsely furnished given its size. Other wellness venues include an indoor hot tub, sauna, small and fairly unattractive fitness center, and a full-service spa that looks lifted from a mini-mall in the suburbs. There's also a beauty salon, a liquor shop, and a gift shop. Adults and children each get their own game arcade. An outdoor performance space showcases occasional concerts during the warmer months. Business facilities include conference space and a business center, but Wi-Fi is only free for up to two devices as part of a nightly resort fee. Self- and valet-parking are free.