Stratosphere?

FYI - Beach Club 25 (the topless pool) is closed indefinitely.

I didn't think it was awful.... but wouldn't stay there again.  Too far removed from the rest of the strip.  Hotel also wreaked of smoke,  Really liked the poker tournies they had there.  Won a tourny with 76 entries and that was sweet as it provided my bank roll for the whole trip.

Next time I go I want to stay at the cosmopolitan.  Had a shit ton of fun there while wasted one night.

 the stratosphere was the biggest shit hole i ve ever seen. went down 3/7/12 stayed for 4 hrs. went to the luxour. little more cash no prob. plus i got comped room and food bill at the end of stay. mgm properties the way to go.. i am serious when i say this i would not stay at the stratosphere if the flew me and guest for free with a free room..

Pothead.

We stayed at the Stratosphere for a couple of nights in March.  The Stratosphere has some good things going for it with some "room for improvement". 

Positives - Low stakes $5 tables almost any time. Many of the casinos are $10 or more minumum.  They have 100x craps odds too.  Good poker tourneys.  3-4 awesome rides on top with great views of the city from the top.  The rooms are cheap...down to $37 a night.  You can't beat that.  They know that they have to cater to the customers because they are away from the rest of the casinos, so you seem to get more here for your money than other casinos on the main strip.

Negatives - Location.  This casino is on the far north and now that the Sahara is closed, it is all by itself.  If you want to go to any other casino, its a long walk or a cab/bus ride.  The monorail is another option but its a long walk....especially at night because it doesn't feel safe.  I was always sober and on the lookout for anything sketchy, but still I would be worried if I was walking home drunk through the dark streets back from the nearest monorail station to the Stratophere.  If you are going to stay at the hotel and have money for cabfare to visit other parts of Vegas, then Stratosphere might be okay for you.  Also, the sportsbook is just a corner of the main casino floor without a lot of viewing areas.  Most other casinos have digital boards...the lines here are just marked up on a chalkboard.  And of course, if you want to visit another book, its a cab or monrail for you.

Stratosphere isn't a bad hotel at all, but it does have its limitations and they know it....but they cater to you a bit more than many of the corporate casinos on the main strip.