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| - Time for an update since my original review is nearly two years old. I've stayed here a number of times since then, and while I can't give it a full bump-up to four stars, I can say it's definitely improved (if I could give it 3 1/2 stars, I would).
The pros: With the addition of The Linq and the reworking of the surrounding area, the location of Flamingo went from very good to great. It's become easier than ever to make your way north up the Strip to The Quad, Harrah's, and points north (in fact, the Habitat Tower elevators are just down the hall from the exit to The Linq, which is insanely convenient). Meanwhile, the monorail station out back is very useful if you're looking to travel further north or south without all the foot traffic. Also, points for affordable gambling (there's usually a pretty wide assortment of $10 blackjack) and lodging (after taxes and resort fees, I paid $520 and change for five nights).
The cons: They mostly lie in the age of the property. Some of the rooms (namely in the Habitat Tower) could use slight upgrades, namely in bathrooms. I'm pretty tall and almost hit my head in the shower. Also, the buffet, which used to be one of the best in Las Vegas, has gotten much worse. We went for breakfast one day, and one could count the number of pieces of fresh fruit being served on one hand. Finally, the sports book is unremarkable and very smoky. We spent most of Sunday afternoon there watching the NCAA basketball tournament, and the set of clothes I wore that day smelled like cheap cigar smoke for the rest of the trip. Also, while the tellers taking bets were personable and did a great job, drink service to the sports book was VERY slow (I made the remark that they must be running the rum in from the Dominican; it sure seemed that way!).
Conclusion: The Flamingo is a fun, cheap, and convenient place to stay. You could do better if you're willing to spend more money, but it's a good bargain, you can't beat the location, and the casino is decent enough. However, steer clear of the buffet, and if you pop into the sports book to place bets, make sure it's a short visit.
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