New York New York Las Vegas resort evaluation

What is the New York New York Hotel and Casino

The New York, New York hotel opened its doors in 1997 and has been a staple of the Las Vegas strip ever since, leaving travelers wondering if they’re in the desert or the middle of Times Square. The resort is just about a seven-minute drive from Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) and tucked on the south side of the Strip.

This hotel is home to a whopping 2,085 guest rooms and suites, as well as 24 restaurants, with 10 being full service; the rest are either food court joints or quick service.

The location

This hotel sits toward the end of the south side of the Strip. It’s connected by land bridges to the world-famous MGM Grand, making it easy to catch a show there or go to the Hakkasan nightclub.

A land bridge also connects it to the Excalibur Hotel & Casino. The south side of the strip is home to most of the MGM properties, so if you want to casino hop and earn Tier Rewards, this hotel is in a great location.

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How to book the New York New York Hotel

MGM and Marriott partnership

MGM and Marriott recently started a new partnership and have been advertising it online; however, there was barely any mention of it inside the New York City-themed resort.

I chose to book through Marriott Bonvoy since I hold Titanium status; based on my experience, you shouldn’t expect much as a Marriott Bonvoy elite member. At check-in, one sign mentioned that Bonvoy Titanium and Ambassador elite members could use the MGM gold check-in area.

When I checked in, I was offered the choice of a welcome gift of 1,000 Bonvoy points or a daily $15 food and beverage credit. I opted for the latter. The agent who checked me in also offered me a late checkout of noon — a far cry from the usual 4 p.m. checkout I am used to at Marriott properties.

Every room has been renovated

Last summer, rooms and suites underwent a full-scale $63 million renovation. The renovations optimized the room’s current dimensions, incorporating moveable work surfaces, installing readily accessible USB/USB-C power outlets and adding extra closet space and shelving.

In my SoHo double queen room, the beds were comfortable and quite plush. A small bedside table between the two beds held a phone, power outlets and USB/USB-C ports.

The rooms featured many elements inspired by New York City, including faux exposed brick, yellow cab-colored accents, and New York City-centric artwork; some parts felt a little contrived and on the kitschy side.

Each room has a 55-inch television with streaming capabilities, a small wardrobe closet, a small table and chair, and a safe; I would have liked the TV and seating area to be bigger, though.

I was also disappointed — but not surprised — that there was no minifridge. This meant that if I wanted cold drinks, I would have to go downstairs and buy them. There was also no coffee maker in the room. I would have had to go downstairs to Starbucks to get my morning caffeine fix. Believe me, those lines can be 20-plus people long in the morning.

The bathroom was small but made great use of the space, featuring a shower and tub combo with great water pressure.

The amenities in the bathroom were sparse and left more to be desired. However, my favorite part of the bathroom was the mirror and great lighting, making it the perfect place to take a selfie before going out.

The room had a decent view of the Big Apple roller coaster, but I was not a fan of the small, narrow windows. I would have preferred one large window to give a better view of the roller coaster and the Las Vegas strip.

New York City inspiration is everywhere

Since this hotel is themed after New York City, you can expect to find resemblances of the city throughout the property and not just in your room.

There are walkways filled with street signs, subway station signs and faux buildings designed to make you feel like you’re really in the Big Apple. Outside, you’ll notice that the building itself is actually made up of replicas of famous New York City buildings and landmarks, so you might even find yourself sleeping in the Empire State Building or the Chrysler Building.

Amenities

Beyond gaming, eating and pretending to be a New Yorker, this MGM resort has plenty to offer guests.

Sadly, during my stay, the pool was closed for yearly renovations and painting in preparation for the upcoming spring pool party season, so I could not access it.

Authentic New York-style food and bars galore

Being a foodie, I was excited to try the various cuisines the restaurants offered to see how they compared to the real New York’s vibrant dining scene.

My toughest decision during the trip was deciding which restaurants to eat at, and it’s safe to say no one will go hungry here. There were options for every budget, from simple, fast casual food court eateries to full-service sit-down restaurants.

I stopped at Broadway Burger Bar and had a Broadway Signature burger and fries ($17), which was a below-standard burger with bacon, lettuce and tomato. While filling, it lacked flavor or character. At that price, I should’ve just gone to Shake Shack, a staple New York City restaurant; at least the burgers there are consistently good, and I know what to expect.

The next night on the trip, I stopped at II Fornaio, as I was in the mood for Italian. Once again, the food was underwhelming. I went with the calamari ($18) as a starter. It was undercooked, and the sauce was not very good.

Then, I went with the Fradiavola pizza (24). The pizza lacked any real flavor and was undercooked, as well. For the price, I can’t recommend this at all. Save your money and opt for the pizza-by-the-slice restaurant in the food court upstairs or the Sbarro across the street.

I didn’t get a chance to eat at Gallagher’s Steakhouse, but the staff highly recommended it; although, with the previous meals I had on the property, I was hesitant about that. The steaks start at $65, but I decided against it as I wanted to stretch my dollars — and potentially save myself from (expensive) disappointment.

There was also a full room service, but once again, I opted out of trying that to save money.

Attractions for all ages

The New York New York hotel has attractions for all ages, like a world-famous Cirque de Soleil show, as well as the Hershey Chocolate World, synonymous with Times Square. You can also find a large arcade with games for young folks and the young at heart.

The most notable attraction is the Big Apple roller coaster. The red-colored track stands out in the Las Vegas strip skyline; it goes outside, around the building and ends back inside over the casino floor. I got a chance to ride the roller coaster, and it was a rough and painful, yet thrilling, experience. I recommend riding it at least once if you’re a thrill seeker. Tickets for one ride start at $25, and you can get a discount for another ride if you didn’t get enough adrenaline pumping.

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