Key Points:
- This is a spacious 550 sq. ft. room with a small living area, starting at under $200/night after fees.
- Unfortunately, much of the furniture, doorframes, and other finishes were in rough shape. I expected more.
- These rooms will be renovated as part of a project kicking off in 2027.
Man, there is a lot to like about Caesars Palace, including a mid-Strip location, one of the best pools in Vegas, a stunning sportsbook, a sprawling casino, the “instagrammable” Forum Shops, and endless dining options.
I’ve stayed at Caesars on numerous occasions, most recently in a Julius Tower Studio Suite, and I appreciate how many different “flavors” of hotel experiences they offer depending on which of their 6 hotel towers you stay in.
My room was complimentary thanks to my play within the Caesars Rewards program, but I was still on the hook for the $55 nightly resort fee + tax.
The flagship property of Caesars Entertianment, I had high hopes for my Octavius Premium Room… and while it looked great from a distance, the condition of the room was uninspiring.
Check-In Experience
Caesars Entertianment properties have yet to adopt mobile check-in & keys, so I had the option of standing in line for a human, or trying my luck on a self-serve kiosk.
Although my success rate on the kiosks hovers around 50%, I successfully retrieved my room keys.
The check-in process at Caesars properties is unnecessarily stuck in the past and I yearn for the day they streamline it with mobile check-in & key capability.
At least the hotel lobby is iconic. Not sure how many times I’ve taken these exact pictures… but it’s a lot.
The Octavius Tower
On the way up to the room, I always survey the condition of common areas like elevator lobbies and hotel hallways as they usually “set the tone” for your stay, hinting at what to expect.
In this case, I found the common areas to be well-lit, decorated, and in great condition.
Octavius Premium Room Review
This is a solid room at first glance.
While your typical hotel room in Las Vegas lands around 400-ish square feet, the Octavius Premium room offers significantly more at 550.
That additional space was used to create a small living area with a sectional couch, table, and chair.
Here are a few images of the bedroom area:
Amenity-wise, there was a wall-mounted TV atop a small work desk, flanked by storage drawers on the left and a mini-bar fridge on the right.
Although purely aesthetic, I appreciate the look of a wall-mounted TV framed by trim that matches the furniture in the room. Classy touch.
Unfortunately, there was no personal fridge space available.
The room was both spacious and functional. The living area was a nice space to have and would be the perfect spot to kick back and watch the game you just bet on, or to settle in and relax after a long day on your feet.
The bathroom also felt roomy and boasted a dual vanity, a good-sized shower, a separate water closet, and a jetted tub – A rare amenity.
I found the bathroom impressive from a design perspective, with unique striped tilework, black granite countertops, and plenty of mirrors. It just looked nice.
What I enjoyed most about the bathroom was the shower pressure. It’s in the 90th percentile and comparable to Andy Dufresne getting hosed down in the movie “Shawshank Redemption”.
What’s Not To Like?
It can’t be all roses, can it? Here are a few deficiencies that I stumbled across.
A K-Cupless Keurig: While I was excited to find the room appointed with a Keurig machine, I was disappointed to learn there were no K-Cups provided… They weren’t even offered in the minibar, oddly.
It’s still a nice perk, even if you need to trek to CVS to get K-Cups, but it would be a homerun if they offered a few per day.
A random pillowcase: It made zero difference during my stay, but when I first arrived, I found one sitting bunched up on the couch. Kind of strange. The rest of the room was impeccably clean, however.
Beat-up bathroom vanity & furniture: From a distance, the room looks great, but as you get closer to certain furniture items, flaws become pretty apparent.
The bathroom vanity was really scuffed up and water-damaged. Additionally, the wooden strips on the mirrors that once formed a rectangle were missing and were never replaced.
Scuffs were also pretty prevalent on the base of the work desk below the TV in the room.
A few wall scuffs & stains: Although this was a clean hotel room, there were a few visible stains and marks that clean freaks may want to be aware of, pictured below.
Resort Experience
The Pool
The Garden of the Gods pool complex at Caesars is one of my favorites in Vegas. It’s a chill scene (without thumping bass) with multiple bodies of water, swim-up blackjack, and it expertly carries the Roman theme of the resort.
There’s even a sundial out there!
Food & Drink
The dining scene at Caesars Palace is wide-ranging, with 20+ options that include celebrity chef restaurants, the best buffet on the Strip, and the Celebrity Food Hall, the “budget” option.
I know what you’re thinking. Jake, why did you put “budget” in quotation marks? Allow me to share.
I swung into Chicken Guy! in the new Celebrity Food Hall and paid $23.98 pre-tax & tip for this chicken sandwich & fries.
Yes. It was good… and yes, I saw the menu board before ordering, but the biggest knock against the restaurant lineup at Caesars right now is the lack of true value.
My favorite splurge at Caesars is their Bacchanal Buffet, which will cost you over $100 after tax & tip. There, you’ll enjoy 250+ menu items with global influences and 9 live action stations, my favorite being the Quesabirria tacos (omg, so good).
Of course, they have all the “high value” items like seafood, crab legs, etc., and most items are plated individually with some visual appeal.
The Casino
I still manage to get turned around in the maze that is the casino at Caesars Palace, which was dealing $25 craps, roulette, and 6:5 blackjack.
3:2 blackjack was available at a $50 minimum.
The sportsbook is one of my favorites in Vegas, and few activities beat sitting at the bar, sipping complimentary drinks, while gambling on video poker while also gambling on sports.
Forum Shops
The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace is a huge perk. For starters, it’s absurdly photogenic, but there are also 160 stores and restaurants, many of which offer solid happy hour deals.
The Verdict: Caesars Palace’s Octavius Premium Room
This is a spacious and visually appealing room. First impressions were strong, and it had a classy look.
The additional square footage and small living area were a nice touch that made the room more functional for folks who enjoy kicking back and relaxing in the room from time to time.
At first glance, the bathroom was impressive. The striped tile work popped, and a jetted tub is a rarity in Vegas. The shower was spacious and offered ample water pressure.
All things considered, I was happy with the room and my experience.
That said, wear and tear have taken a toll on furnishings and trim around the room, which was pretty dinged up and/or water-damaged. To be honest, I expected better upkeep from an elevated room experience at an upscale resort.
Of course, it’s entirely possible that the furniture and trim damage was limited to the room I was assigned, and not indicative of the rest of the tower.
While some dings on the trim, etc., certainly didn’t ruin my experience, they’re likely enough to dissuade me from upgrading to this specific tower in the future, as I view other options at Caesars as more appealing.
For instance, I’d personally opt for a room at Caesars’ Augustus or Palace Towers, as they’ve been renovated more recently, offer similar amenities, and are priced comparably on most nights.
Another option could be rooms in the Julius Tower, which I’ve found to be in great shape, albeit smaller at 360 square feet.
Fortunately, the Octavius Tower will be renovated as part of a 2027 project that will touch every room. I’m excited to see what they do with them.
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.
julia jacobs
Friday 29th of December 2023
we stayed in the Octavius Tower on the third floor due to me having Phobia, short elevator ride, which was great. an extra $40.00 per night for this, which we were fine with that. No refrigerator,, no coffee, room was cleaned twice, we were there 6 nights . one day I told them no need to clean room, but the others would have been nice, I had to ask for towels, each day, and when we checked out it was not only and extra $240.00 which we knew we had to pay for a lower room... it was also an extra $536.00 for resort fees! THAT MESSED UP THE WHOLE VACATION. but it was once in my life to get to do and stay at such. but HAMPTON INN IS WAY BETTER!!!!
Jake Hoffman
Friday 29th of December 2023
Just a point of clarification, Resort Fees at CP are currently $45/mt + tax... Do you not feel they were communicated upfront well enough? I feel as though resort fees are no longer a surprise.