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| - I recently stayed here during the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) convention. Based on some of the reviews I read, it's possible that I scored a room in one of the better (remodeled) locations of the hotel. Might have been in the Jubilee tower, though I'm not 100% sure. I'll break the Bally's down as follows...
The Good:
My room was #946, and ran for about $169/night including resort fees. It always smelled clean, was spacious and in a non-smoking zone, came with a comfortable king size bed, clean sheets and fluffy pillows, a large computer desk, and had a modern-looking shower with massage-worthy water pressure (no bathtub though). I was pleased. The view outside wasn't spectacular, but that didn't matter.
I occupied my room from Friday to Friday, and, fortunately, never had an issue with sustained noise other than the occasional loud (and probably drunk) guest moseying down the hall to their room after a long night on the strip. Nothing major.
The hotel's centralized location provides easy access to other (more popular and upscale) resorts and shopping districts in either direction of the strip (Bellagio, Paris, Caesar's Palace, Planet Hollywood, Cosmopolitan, Aria, MGM Grand) whether via foot, monorail or Uber/Lyft.
Having some better reviewed restaurants within walking distance was a welcome benefit. However, if you're looking for cheap(er) eats, the Grand Bazaar Shops (in front of the Bally's on Las Vegas Blvd.) provides a number of solid options such as Wahlburgers, Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken, and Dirt Dog. Definitely worth the savings.
At check-in, I was able to request a lower pre-authorization on my credit card for my stay. The front desk wanted to place a $50/day hold on my card (which is standard) for amenities I was never going to use (gym, pool). Since I did plan to use the internet (having web access was an essential part of my work), I agreed on a $100 hold on my card. I was appreciative of this service.
On that note...
The Not-So-Good:
Every time I visited the front desk, they appeared to be understaffed. The customer servcie reps were friendly, but the line always felt much longer than it needed to be.
The free wi-fi... pretty slow if you ask me. The faster option will set you back an additional $15/day. No thanks.
Most of the hotel's interior feels as though it has been in dire need of a makover for several decades. The carpets look and smell old, some of the elevators didn't always work properly (a scary thought) and the escalators had a dirty "New York subway" feel to them (beware of the handrails). Unfortunately, as a whole, you just can't get around the smokiness of any casino in Vegas, no matter where you go.
Sadly, this resort doesn't host any show worth going to. Up Close and Personal with Wayne Newton? X Rocks? Masters of Illusion? Meh. I'll save my money.
Overall, can't say I was blown away by the Bally's. 3.5 stars at the most. Solid location, clean room and slightly above-average customer service are simply not enough to bring me back for a repeat stay; not for that kind of money. I'll need more next time. Just make sure you land the right room or you could end up disappointed.
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