Key Points:
- Sahara’s Blanca King room was solid, albeit lacking any real “bells & whistles”, although the price point reflected that.
- The room had a very peculiar layout, with the shower and toilet hiding behind separate sliding mirrors.
- I thought the room was well worth the $112.77 I paid, and look forward to sampling Sahara’s other accommodations.
Sahara has been through a lot since my last stay, transitioning briefly to SLS Hotel & Casino (which still seems like a weird dream) and then back to Sahara.
I figured it was due time to experience Sahara’s hotel product as I had plans to visit Fontainebleau on opening night, which is a mere 5 minutes away by foot.
I booked Sahara’s cheapest room – The Blanca King, which has 325 square feet of space, a 55-inch TV, and one heck of a unique layout (more on that below).
The room cost me a total of $112.77 total, which includes the base rate, Sahara’s resort fee, and taxes.
Sahara Check-In Experience
I arrived pretty late in the evening but was impressed with how easy the (free) self-parking ramp was to access from the Strip.
The front desk was devoid of customers, and I had my room key in hand within 5 minutes.
Notably, the Sahara phone app does allow for both mobile check-in and room keys but I wasn’t able to successfully check-in via the app.
The mobile check-in process involves taking a selfie, and then taking a photo of your driver’s license.
Both photos need to be taken from within the app, but the app kept severely blurring my camera. Simply uploading photos from my camera roll wasn’t an option.
Somewhat clunky and disappointing, but it could’ve been a “me issue” vs. an issue with the Sahara app. Regardless, there was no line at the front desk so nothing was lost.
Mobile check-in is one of my favorite hotel amenities, so just know that it’s available.
Inside Sahara’s Blanca King
On the way up, I like to scope out common areas like elevator lobbies and hotel hallways as they tend to hint at what you’ll find inside your room.
Sahara’s felt nice, modern, clean, and well-lit.
At first glance, the room is laid out pretty traditionally – There was the standard king bed, a wall-mounted TV, a work desk, and storage.
Notably, there was an empty mini-fridge in the cupboard under the work desk – One of my favorite hotel amenities.
Now, I booked Sahara’s Blanca King without doing any prior research and was confused after giving the room a first once over as there wasn’t a bathroom in sight.
When I noticed there was a sink along the wall (pictured below) it dawned on me that the shower and toilet must be hiding behind the 2 giant mirrors that I learned double as sliding doors.
Uniquely, the shower and toilet rooms are separated from each other, hiding behind different mirrors that slide to the side.
While the main part of the room is pretty subdued from a decor standpoint, the shower and toilet rooms popped, giving Blanca King a trendier, brighter, and more modern vibe. I dug it.
Although my Blanca King room was basic, kind of dark, and lacking frills, I found it to be exceptionally clean and comfortable.
This is a rock-solid budget room – Comparatively inexpensive, yet well-maintained. Nothing blew me away, but I felt satisfied.
What’s Not To Like?
The Room’s Layout: While I was staying by myself, I could see the massive sliding doors becoming an inconvenience for a couple or a family.
If the shower door was open, you couldn’t leave the room. If the toilet door was open, the sink was blocked. You get the idea, it’s just not the most convenient layout.
I can also envision a situation where a kid gets a finger stuck in one of the sliding doors.
A bit “Blah”: There’s nothing, aside from the accent tile and color in the shower, in this room that makes you say “wow”. It’s a very basic, utilitarian room without any “bells & whistles”. I expected this at the price point and was very much OK with it.
A few scuffs: When reviewing hotel rooms, I scour the corners, shelving, etc. on the hunt for dust, dirt, decay, and scuffs to report.
While this was a very clean room by my standards, there were a few wall scuffs that I came across. By no means a deal breaker, but I always like to point out deficiencies, no matter how minor.
Tiny Elevators: I was fortunate to avoid crowds by arriving late and leaving early, but the elevator situation likely leaves much to be desired during peak times.
The elevators in the Blanca Tower were only about 1/2 the depth of a standard elevator… Hope you’re not claustrophobic!
Sahara Resort Experience
The Casino Floor
Sahara’s renovated casino floor feels modern, luxurious, and upbeat for a budget property. During my visit, they were dealing $15 craps, roulette, and 6:5 blackjack.
Another perk: I’ve given Sahara’s Infinity Rewards program minimal play, but I almost always have a complimentary room offer sitting in my email inbox.
Just check out this gaming floor.
The Pool(s)
Sahara has 2 distinct pool experiences.
The first is the Alexandria Pool, which is on the rooftop with views of STRAT to the north. The pool is tiny, but chill, and in my experience has been pretty deserted.
The Pool (yes, that’s its name) is located just off the casino floor and is free for anyone to get into, whether you’re staying at Sahara or not.
This pool boasts a massive video wall playing sports and has a party vibe with music blaring.
Food & Drink
Given Sahara’s less-than-ideal location, solid dining options are important, and they have 8 restaurants ranging from Starbucks & grab & go sandwich spot to Maroon by Kwame Onwuachi.
Meals I knocked down included the Grand Marnier French Toast ($21) for breakfast at Zeffer’s Cafe, which came topped with fresh fruit and a Grand Marnier whipped mascarpone that was amazing.
Chickie’s & Pete’s is a sports bar known for their seasoned Crabfries ($12), and that’s exactly how I started my feast.
The fries come with a cheese sauce, and they lived up to the hype. The flavor was superb, despite the taste-diminishing effects of 12 Coors Lights.
I followed the Crabfries up with a Classic Philly Cheesesteak ($23), which was overflowing with meat & cheese. It was also spectacular.
Save time to stop into Casbar, an upscale lounge just off the casino floor, for happy hour, which runs from 3-5pm and 8-9pm daily.
Deals include:
- BOGO wine by the glass,beer, and well cocktails.
- $7 prosecco (all day)
- $8 Corona & Modelo (all day)
- $5 popcorn (all day)
Location
Sahara is located in a bit of a “no man’s land” on the north end of the Strip. While a few resorts like Fontainebleau, Circus Circus, and Resorts World are walkable, you’re far from being in the “middle of the action”.
Fortunately, the Las Vegas Monorail offers a stop at Sahara and can transport you to center Strip resorts for cheap.
Related: Check out the “World’s Largest” Bonanza Gift Shop across the street from Sahara!
Is Sahara’s Blanca King Worth Booking?
If you’re the type of person who doesn’t mind being separated from the madness, Sahara is a great value. The Monorail station makes it quick, cheap, and easy to slide into resorts up and down the Strip while you’re able to call a quieter resort home.
The casino floor, dining options, lounges, and general feel of the resort are right up my alley, and I was very satisfied with my room for the price I paid. This is easily one of my favorite budget rooms in Las Vegas.
That said, the layout was a bit wonky, and I’ve grown snobbier about hotels over the years. I’ll almost certainly upgrade to a Marra or Alexandria room when I next visit.
If you’re in the market for a budget-friendly room you won’t detest, give Sahara’s Blanca King a shot – I think you’ll be satisfied.
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I’m a former software salesman turned Vegas aficionado. While the craps table is my preferred habitat, I pull myself away to explore new attractions, shows, restaurants, and outdoor activities around Las Vegas with the intent of sharing my experiences.
Ultimately, I just want to help folks plan a better trip and save a few bucks in the process.