Key Points:
- Palms was the beneficiary of a recent $690 million renovation project, and the finished product is impressive.
- My Ivory Tower room was quietly nice, and the resort delivers value in the buffet and on the casino floor.
- Palms shouldn’t be overlooked if you don’t mind being away from the Strip.
While I’ve previously visited Palms to gamble and eat at the popular AYCE Buffet, I had yet to experience the hotel product.
Notably, the resort received a recent $690 million facelift courtesy of Station Casinos before they sold it to the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians in 2021, making this one of the only tribal-operated casinos in the Las Vegas market.
I booked the cheapest room available. An Ivory Tower 2 Queen for a total of $215.56 after taxes and fees.
Check-In Process
I arrived early (at around 9am), so there wasn’t a line to speak of, and paid $45 for early check-in… Which felt steep, but I desperately needed to charge some backup batteries.
The process was painless, and I was headed to my room within minutes.
Inside My Ivory Tower Room
The room itself is well-sized at 440 square feet and made a great first impression.
What I dug most was the decor strategy. The piercing eyes on the mural, the colorful chair and ottoman next to the windows, the tubular throw pillows on the bed, and the old-timey clock on the nightstand were all nice aesthetic touches.
The carpet was fresh and in great shape. Most everything in the room was for that matter.
The closet was home to wooden hangers, an iron, an ironing board, a spare pillow, and was connected to the work desk which had a Keurig coffee machine stationed atop it.
The 48” TV was crystal clear, had a modern, easy-to-navigate channel guide, and was mounted above a bench.
Next to the bench was the dry mini-bar, stocked with snacks right above a refrigerated mini-bar that was locked up and unopenable. Saving me from myself.
Notably, the dry countertop mini bar was stocked with a single K-cup for the Keurig which cost a very reasonable $2.50 – but why not stock more?
They could sell a million of these things!
Disappointingly, only traditional outlets were available bedside and on the work desk – No USB charge ports were offered… which sucked… because that’s what I needed to charge my backup batteries… and the whole reason I paid for early check-in.
I feel like USB charging is an expectation at nicer or newer resorts at this point.
My room faced south, so I had a view of Palms Fantasy Tower, Allegiant Stadium, and resorts along the south end of the Las Vegas Strip.
It even overlooked the main pool.
The bathroom was also quietly nice, yet basic, with a single-sink vanity topped with an illuminated mirror, a toilet with a little frosted glass privacy wall, and a shower, also with the half-glass wall that I don’t love because water gets all over.
Annoyingly, it was impossible to reach in to turn on the shower without getting your arm blasted with cold water. Minor gripe… But it wasn’t pleasant.
Unbranded bath products were also provided.
What’s Not To Like?
When I review hotels, I get down on my hands and knees looking for dusty corners, stains, rogue hairs, etc.
This was an immaculate room.
The only things I could find were a couple of somewhat dusty surfaces and a spatter stain on the wall.
While the overall condition of the room was spectacular, the desk chair has seen better days.
As has this portion of the TV wall near the ceiling.
Palms Resort Experience
The casino at Palms has an upbeat, stylish vibe. From a looks perspective, she shines just as bright as any casino on the Strip.
I found it impossible to look away from Damien Hirst’s chopped-up shark, memorialized in 3 tanks of formaldehyde in Palms’ Unknown Bar.
The elegance on the casino floor spilled into the sportsbook, which was also really nice and had a crispy video wall.
In addition to around 1,500 slot games, Palms was dealing blackjack as cheap as $5 in addition to $10 craps and roulette during the day on a Monday.
Palms’ Pearl Theater hosts an assortment of talent and artists you’ve heard of like Babyface, Gorge Lopez, Jeff Foxworthy, Aaron Lewis, and more.
Check the calendar to see who’ll be performing when you visit.
Food & Drink
Being off the beaten path a bit, dining options on-site are important, and Palms delivers options with influences from around the world, at all price points.
On the cheaper end, The Eatery food hall has fast food options like Earl of Sandwich, Panda Express, and McDonalds, which I destroyed after a late-night gambling sesh.
Not original or adventurous, but I have no regrets.
Other notable options include Palms Pizza, which serves pizza by the slice, Scotch 80 Prime, which is an upscale steakhouse, and Mabel’s, which serves burgers, sandwiches, and “world-class BBQ”
The most popular option by a longshot though is their AYCE Buffet, which isn’t the best buffet in Vegas (that’s Bacchanal and Wynn IMO) but it’s a comparable offering and might just be the best buffet VALUE in town.
I stopped in for Brunch, which costs $42.99 and INCLUDES bottomless mimosas. You’re paying extra for that on the Strip!
On the food front, AYCE offered both breakfast and lunch items like crab legs, shrimp, steaks, an assortment of pizza, and American breakfast classics like eggs, sausage, breakfast potatoes, and bacon.
The carving station offered both roast beef and bone-in ham. Unfortunately, prime rib wasn’t an option.
Aside from the crab legs, the most popular item at the buffet was the made-to-order eggs and omelet station, which allows you to choose your own ingredients.
Of course, they serve boring stuff like salads and fruit.
The dessert section of the buffet offered a variety of donuts, cookies, and other sweet treats, a selection of pie by the slice, and a counter stocked with assorted gelato flavors.
This is my 2nd visit to this buffet, and I had exceptional experiences both times. It’s great.
The next morning, I grabbed breakfast at the Serrano Vista Cafe which had a menu price of $17.
It looked GREAT, especially those potatoes, but most items were hardly warm. I dug into those potatoes first, and they were barely above room temperature and hard as a rock… As if they were still raw?
The eggs, sausages, bacon, and toast were good enough, albeit not all that warm either.
Online reviews are solid, so I’m comfortable chalking it up as a one-off occurrence.
The Pool
Unfortunately, Palms main pool was closed for the season during my visit and I had to stare at how cool it looked from my hotel room while not being able to jump in.
Guests can also use the pool at Palms Place, which is reachable via an indoor walkway, but it was closed due to high winds during my visit.
The Verdict
While I’ve visited Palms’ casino and buffet before, this was my first hotel experience, and I don’t think it’ll be my last.
The room was modern, clean, comfortable, in great shape, and I really enjoyed the broader resort.
The pool looks amazing, and I can’t wait to scope it out, and the casino floor is elegant, and high energy, with slightly more affordable table game minimums than casinos on the Strip. It’s just a fun place to be.
Dining options are wide-ranging, although the crown jewel of value is the AYCE buffet, which is comparable to some of the best buffets in Vegas like Bacchanal, Wicked Spoon, and Wynn at a comparatively low price point.
If you don’t mind the location, Palms is a great spot. Give it a shot.
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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.