After staying two nights at New York-New York and getting a couple of nights credited to my Hyatt Gold Passport account, it was time to make the switch to Excalibur. Why the move? Cost, of course.

The daily rate at New York-New York was over $200 for Saturday night. The average daily rate for Thursday and Friday was $95 a night. So I checked rates at Excalibur – they were only $75 for Saturday night, connected by a walkway and also part of MLife, which has a great partnership going with Gold Passport. Perfect. I was happy to book a night at that rate, although the hotel reviews advised me not to get my hopes up. But for one night, I was sure it would be fine.

And it was. The casino part of the property was a lot like the others. The usual games, slots, bars, and neon. I did notice there were a LOT more chain restaurants though: Pizza Hut, Cinnabon, Schlotzky’s, McDonald’s, that kind of thing. And it did seem a touch more “family friendly,” if that can be said of anywhere in Vegas, thanks largely to its “castle” theme… more on that in a sec. So after priority checkin (thank you, Lord), I followed the signs to Tower One, then for room 11101. Yes, a 5-digit room number.

This hotel is massive! It spans a couple of ACRES, and is so easy to get lost in (or stay in for your whole Vegas experience). After I got off the elevator, I looked down a long, long hallway that reminded me of The Shining. It was definitely the dated decor that gave that impression.

They stuck me and the END of that long, long hallway, so by the time I trudged to the end of it, I was ready to collapse put my bags down. First thought upon swinging the door open? DAY. TED. So dated. I do respect a commitment to the castle theme, but oh my god. This looked like the 70s, complete with beaten down carpet and furniture that looked more like movie props than anything else.

 

So I set my things down and my eyes got lost in all of the details, both gauche and worn down. I noticed the extreme wear and tear, the scuffs, on all the furniture. The A/C vents looked long broken and never repaired. Then there was the carpet. There were actually cool designs in the carpet… like thirty years ago. In 2014, though, it’s been so trodden down that it looks and feels dirty and just kinda… yeah, dated.

Then, in the bathroom, I noticed the tiled had signs of wear. The mirror had scuffs, so did the counter and the shower. But whatever, I knew what I was getting into. And it was dirt cheap. Even still, I didn’t think it would be so worn out. That hotel is in desperate need of a refresh. Do NOT expect modernity. It feels like staying in Grandma’s guest bedroom, complete with that smell that is unique to old furnishings. Even the towels smell old. Probably because the laundry room equipment is old, too. It wasn’t bad, and I did feel like I got exactly what I paid for, which is a good thing. But it made me wonder about all the possibilities that a refresh could do for this hotel. Oh, and commitment to theme! The wall art, the “spire” mirror, the door plaques, the bed frames! Ahhhh! Then throw in the carpet, the wallpaper, and the popcorn ceilings – and age it all for a really long time, and that’s Excalibur.

Bottom line

Don’t expect miracles, but great for a cheap place to stay on the strip and some easy Hyatt credits. Good for large groups or families. Huge inside, with not a lot of food variety other your typical fast food joints. Great for gamblers, and really close to the airport and the shows playing at MGM. I must echo everyone else’s sentiments and just advise you to know what you’re getting into.

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