Reviewing New York New York Hotel and Casino – Las Vegas

New York New York Hotel and Casino

GRADING
Overall Score: B
Staff: B
Room: B
Amenities: B
Recommended?: Yes

One glance at the exterior of the New York New York Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, and guests instantly feel like they are viewing the New York skyline. From the various high-rise buildings, to the replica of the Statue of Liberty, all of NYC fills up one Vegas block. Once you step through the doors into the hotel and casino, the sights of NYC are found on the perimeter, with brick apartment buildings complete with fire escapes and laundry hung out on lines strung across cobblestone streets, resembling Greenwich Village. Counter service dining is located within the Greenwich replica. The casino is located in the center of the building, with various restaurants, shops, and counter service dining around.

Overall, the casino at NYNY was clean, open, and inviting. I did notice that the air inside the casino was fresher than others. There seemed to be a pleasant floral fragrance added to the air, after it’s filtered. Despite staying there on a summer weekend, it did not seem to be too crowded. Most of the staff I encountered were pleasant and helpful. I definitely did enjoy being at and playing at NYNY.

The Room

Our room was a Madison Ave Queen room for two nights. We were fortunate enough to get a corner room that provided ample room for my family and I. With the corner room, we had many windows and a few extra empty nooks and crannies around the support beams, that were perfect for our suitcases.

The beds were comfortable, linens were good, and the furnishings were pleasant. There was some wear in the bathroom, especially near light switches and the bath/shower; however it was minimal. The decor of hotel seemed slightly dated with its wallpaper, but it wasn’t terrible. (The building is approaching its 20th anniversary in 2017.)

As most Vegas hotels, NYNY had an in-room safe, but did not provide a coffee maker. There was also no refrigerator nor mini bar in the room. Air conditioning and heating was manual via a switch on the wall. An ironing board and iron were provided in the armoire and a makeup mirror and blow dryer were provided in the bathroom. There was also a desk area, ample mirrors, and wifi. (Read my review of the wifi below.) Elevators to hotel rooms were fast, but were rather hot and poorly ventilated.

The room was clean and comfortable for my family of four. Because everything about the room was great, but nothing was out-of-this-world spectacular, I rated the room a B.

Wi-fi Speed

New York New York Hotel and Casino has pretty good wifi. See the results below, as well as how to interpret the results.

Amenities

Early Check-in: Since we arrived early at NYNY, we opted for paying the $25 fee for early check-in. We learned, however, that early check-in starts around 10:30am and nothing is guaranteed at that time. Fortunately, we were able to get our room around 10:45.

Resort Fee: Like most casinos nowadays, NYNY does charge a $30 resort fee and a 12% resort fee tax of $3.60 for each day of your stay. Hotels do this in order to keep their advertised rates low and slide in an obscured resort fee. It’s also easier for these hotels to keep their rates the same and just easily increase the resort fee as needed. For New York New York Hotel and Casino, the resort fee covers wifi, access to the fitness center, free newspaper (must redeem at the Essentials gift shop), buy one get one free roller coaster rates, business services, and free local and toll-free calls.

Cirque du Soleil: “Zumanity” is playing at NYNY, an 18 and older show that’s part burlesque and part cabaret. Tickets range from $70-$125. I didn’t see the show, but you can click here to see what reviewers wrote on Trip Advisor.

Pool: There is only one pool at New York New York Hotel and Casino, but it is a large one. It’s a shallow pool with no deep end and multiple entry points. A fountain near the middle of the pool adds a decorative touch. Despite the air temperature measuring 110 degrees, the pool water was absolutely cold! Most people were seen on the sides of the pool or sitting on the steps, unable to immerse themselves completely. On deck, there are numerous lounge chairs, cabanas for rent, pool towels, and a poolside bar with a wait staff. Overall, the pool and surroundings were clean and comfortable, and there was additional table seating nearby.

Salon, Spa & Fitness Center: Looking for a little luxury and pampering? Visit the salon and spa located on the third floor. The fitness center of NYNY is also located on the third floor. Due to my short stay, I was unable to snap a few photos. Get more information on the salon here and for the spa, click here.

Shopping

Here’s a list of the shops located within NYNY Hotel and Casino:

• Swatch
• Stupidiotic (speciality shop featuring unique and fun items)
• Essentials (sundries)
• Gift shops (Soho Shop, I love NYNY, Grand Central Bling)
• Cigar/tobacco store
• Hershey’s store (1st and 2nd floors)
• Houdini’s magic shop (2nd floor)

Arcade & Roller Coaster

On the second floor of the casino is the entrance to the Big Apple Coaster and Arcade. From Skee-Ball to air hockey to skill cranes and pinball, there is something here for every gamer. Games are a little pricey to play and there are numerous prizes available. Walk through the arcade and follow the signs to get to the Big Apple Coaster.

Our room, like most in the casino, had views of the outdoor roller coaster that surrounds the hotel and casino. Since we had a corner room, I was worried about hearing screams well into the night, but as the coaster stopped running by midnight, it wasn’t a problem.

The taxi-themed roller coaster got two big thumbs up from my teenage daughter, and since it made me scream a couple of times, I’ll give it a thumbs up as well 😀. After the ride, there is a photo station for purchasing ride photos and you exit, naturally, through a gift shop.

Big Apple Coaster Info:

• $14 per ride, unless you are a guest of NYNY Hotel & Casino, then the rate is 2 riders for $14 (show your room key for this deal).
• Scream Pass – $25.00, which includes an all day ride pass and $2 off a 5×7 photo
• Family of 4 ride – $60.00, which includes 4 individual coaster tickets and 2 5×7 photos
• Vegas Locals – Prove you’re from Vegas and get $10 off your ride when you purchase 1 regularly priced ticket.
• Must be 54 inches tall to ride

Check out the NYNY Hotel and Casino’s arcade and coaster information with this link.

Dining & Bars

The dining establishments that NYNY has to offer range from casual New York style pizzerias and delis to upscale cuisine. Here are the hotel’s restaurant listings:

Counter Service and Casual, Least Expensive:

• NY Pizzeria
• Starbucks (on 1st and 2nd floors)
• Nathan’s Hot Dogs
• Shake Shack
• 48th and Crepe
• Il Fornaio Bakery Cafe
• America (front part of restaurant with to-go bakery, with coffee and donuts)
• Broadway Burger Bar and Grill
• Village Street Eateries (pizza, bakery, deli, fish)
• Häagen Dazs ice cream and NY pretzel stand on 2nd floor (near Houdini’s Magic Shop)
• Hershey’s Chocolate World (ice cream and bakery inside)

Sit-Down and Casual, More Expensive:

• America
• Nine Fine Irishmen Pub
• Tom’s Urban
• Chin Chin Cafe and Sushi Bar
• Gonzalez y Gonzalez

Fine Dining and Expensive:

•  Il Fornaio (casual attire)
• Gallagher’s Steakhouse (business casual)

While staying here, my family and I ate at the America restaurant and Gonzalez y Gonzalez. The America restaurant features American cuisine, along with a gigantic map of the United States (see photo above). Gonzalez y Gonzalez features Mexican fare, with a pleasant ambiance and traditional flair. Both America and Gonzalez y Gonzalez were a bit pricey for what you get; however, the service at both was good, the food was hot and tasty, and overall left me pleased. I especially love the vegetarian menu at Gonzalez y Gonzalez, always a big plus for those looking for meatless entrees.

If you are looking for the traditional Vegas buffet, you’ll have to visit the adjacent MGM Hotel and Casino for the all-you-can-eat experience, as NYNY does not have one.

Bars & Lounges: There is no shortage of lounges and bars at the New York New York Hotel and Casino. Coyote Ugly Saloon, featuring entertaining female bartenders, is located on the second level. Visit the Bar at Times Square, next to the casino floor and enjoy this sights and sounds of this dueling piano bar within the casino. If you have a sweet tooth, try the Chocolate Bar next to Hershey’s Chocolate World for some chocolate libations.

Overall, I was very pleased with our stay at the New York New York Hotel and Casino. As prices are going up in Vegas and luxury is becoming the norm (read my post about it here), it’s nice to know that NYNY Hotel and Casino can give you a very nice, comfortable stay for a decent price. As NYNY is suitable families** and provides fun for every member of your group, I recommend New York New York Hotel and Casino for your next Vegas vacation.

Any questions? I’m happy to help!

Happy Travels!

Julie

** For more info, read my post about bringing kids to Vegas here!

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