Stratosphere

Defining the northern boundary of the Las Vegas Strip, Stratosphere sits at the edge of a residential area that puts a stop to any further expansion in this direction, though there are several vacant lots a little way south. This relative isolation has meant room rates have to be low in order to attract enough visitors - sometimes as little as $30 per night - but not at the expense of good facilities and service. Rooms and suites are contained within three separate buildings, the largest a relatively modest 24 stories, but the stand-out feature is of course the 1,149 foot Stratosphere Tower, the highest point in Las Vegas and the eighth tallest structure in the USA. There are no guest rooms in the tower, but the top has a selection of amenities including an observation deck, several rollercoasters, the Chapel in the Clouds, and the revolving Top of the World restaurant. Back in the main complex, Stratosphere boasts an 80,000 sq ft casino with 1,200 slots and over 50 table games, five further restaurants, two pools, a selection of nightclubs & bars, and entertainment currently featuring the singer/songwriter Frankie Moreno, and BITE, a topless revue.

The observation deck in the tower provides a fine view of all of Las Vegas, and of the more popular hotels further south; although most visitors to the Strip walk a little away along, touring nearby casinos, few make it all the way to the north end. Stratosphere is 4 miles from the most southerly of the major hotels (Mandalay Bay), a journey that takes even longer than expected due to the extra walking required to pass several footbridges over major roads, and make detours around busy entrances. The other center for casinos in Las Vegas, around Fremont Street to the north, is rather closer at just under 2 miles, while southwards travel is made easier by the Las Vegas Monorail - the nearest stop (behind Sahara) is just 0.6 miles away. Like all Strip hotels, the Stratosphere is easily reached from McCarran International Airport by shuttlebus, costing just $7 (in 2013).