TREASURE ISLAND RESORT

 

The big knock on Treasure Island is that it's too much like Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean with drink service and craps tables. However, some of these criticisms are justified. Many families decide to stay at Treasure Island, so if your Las Vegas vacation is intended to be an escape from children, you might want to take this under consideration. On the other side of the coin, if you do decide to take your children to Las Vegas, Treasure Island is not a bad choice. Kids love the pirate motif and you'll wind up out in front of the casino at least once to watch the pirate show. However, Treasure Island is intentionally trying to loose it's kid's image, so you might be better off at Circus Circus or the Excalibur. (They have more activities for children)

One of the must see attractions of Las Vegas is the pirate show held outside of Treasure Island. Not only is it free, it's really a spectacle to behold. The front of the casino looks like a 18th century pirate cove complete with building facades, wooden dock and most importantly, a pirate ship. Every 90-minutes after 4 pm, a British warship sails into the cove (it actually moves) and does battle with the pirates in a fantastic stunt/pyrotechnics show. If you're staying at the casino, try to get a strip-side room above the sixth floor to get a good view. You can also get a good view at the Battle Bar inside the casino (arrive early to get a good seat). Note how the Captain of the British ship goes down with the ship. There is a very high kitsch factor involved with the show and the casino in general, so be prepared for the cheesy enticement to enter casino at the end of the show. 

The casino floor is not really noteworthy except that it is highly themed. There's pirate stuff everywhere! If you're preparing to do some serious gambling, take the free tram to the Mirage. It's a much better atmosphere in which to win and loose money. One cool attraction to the Treasure Island gaming floor is the Slot 2000 machines. These slot machines are connected to a casino employee that will offer assistance with anything you need. Simply  press a button and a video screen will appear with the staff  member. They can make reservations, send someone over with a drink, answer questions and will even congratulate you on a jackpot.

The rooms at Treasure Island are nice, but are average for the strip. One nice function is that the phones use idiot-proof icons to connect you to various parts of the hotel and casino. You don't need to find extensions or use the operator. Otherwise, the rooms are fairly generic.