Elvis Presley has famously said, “I didn’t copy my style from anybody.” The Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino can say the same thing. It’s more unique than your typical Las Vegas Hotel on the strip erected in the past 30 years trying to outdo each other. It has a ton of original character and charm. Many images come to mind when you think of Las Vegas, but Elvis should be at the top of your list. The Westgate Las Vegas is THE hotel that oozes the aura of the King!
To fully appreciate Westgate, you must know its history. The hotel broke ground in 1969 as the International Hotel, appropriately named as each floor had a different international theme. Its world-famous International Theater opened on July 2, 1969, with Barbra Streisand (Rumor is that Elvis’s manager didn’t want him to go first, to ensure all was well with the theatre). Later that month, Elvis would start his famous run of 837 straight sold-out performances! If you watched the new Elvis movie starring Tom Hanks and Austin Butler as Elvis, both the theater and hotel play a large role in the movie. An Elvis statue in the main lobby commemorates this feat. In 1971 the hotel was sold and renamed the Las Vegas Hilton. After a renovation in 1981, the hotel became the largest hotel in the world with 3,174 rooms! Then after a brief ownership stint by LVH, it was sold to its current owner and renamed The Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino. As a resident of Orlando, I’ve always seen Westgate in Orlando, but after the trip to Vegas, I see Westgate in another light.
AMENITIES
The property has done a terrific job of blending the history of its past with taking on the expectations of excellent resorts today. The original International Theatre remains intact, with its rich history of hosting the biggest stars in the world! The Westgate has a huge gym, with more free weights and machines than you can count, plus a few Pelotons for those enthusiasts. I was fortunate to have a massage while visiting, and the treatment was excellent. There is a hot and cold spa and hot and cold plunge pools. I particularly liked the waiting room lounge with a faux fireplace to set the tone of relaxation before the massage. There is a modest size pool with 18 cabanas that offer excellent privacy and relief from the sun. I enjoyed a couple of the pool’s specialty cocktails, such as their Cool Cucumber and Mango Mojito. From my room on the 22nd floor, I could see eight pickleball courts plus several tennis courts. Adjacent to the hotel is the Las Vegas Golf and Country Club. From 1983 – 1991, it hosted the PGA’s Las Vegas Open and LPGA’s Takefuji Classic from 2003 – 2006. Having the golf course so close to your Vegas hotel is a perk! For more info on great golf options while in Vegas, check out our Vegas Destination Page.
DINING
The food at The Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino was outstanding. I dined in most of their restaurants (hey, somebody has to do it!). The signature restaurants are The Edge Steakhouse, Fresco Italiano (ranked #1 Italian restaurant by Trip Advisor), and Benihana Village (Large scale authentic Asian Garden) hosting Benihana, Rikki Tiki Sushi, and Silk Asian Bistro. The Edge has an Elvis Presley room in the back of the restaurant, with many classic memorabilia and photos. The steak was terrific; dry-aged Prime cuts with a grilled garlic clove to spread on top. It was as good as a top NYC steakhouse. I loved the Wedge Salad, Black and White Truffle Mac & Cheese, and Chocolate Sphere for dessert that melts after they add the hot caramel sauce. Fresco Italiano, the top-rated Italian restaurant by Trip Advisor for Las Vegas, didn’t disappoint. A special shout-out to Michael, a waiter that makes the entire experience enchanting with his descriptions of the food alone…ask for him when you visit and thank me later. The highlights were the Meatballs, Italian chopped salad, Pollo Arrosto, and for dessert, the Bomboloni (lemon and ricotta doughnuts with dipping sauces). Benihana is the Japanese Steakhouse that started it all, but this one is supersized as it’s part of Benihana Village. To me, Benihana is the best of all Japanese Steakhouses. Honorable mentions for restaurants must go to Sid’s café, as their breakfast is exceptional. The Cinnamon Toast Crunch French Toast was the best French Toast I have had in a very long time. My wife loves avocado and claims their avocado toast was the best she has had in her life! A key theme throughout the visit was the spectacular service by everyone. I believe service is a significant component of your dining experience, and whoever trains the Westgate staff should also be hired by the other Las Vegas hotels.
ENTERTAINMENT
The International Theatre mentioned before is the current home to Barry Manilow but hosts other acts such as FireHouse, Kool and the Gang, and Franki Valli. We were able to watch two shows during our visit, The Bronx Wanderers and Soul of Motown. Both concerts were held in the Westgate Cabaret. A very friendly but more intimate venue than The International Theater, so every seat in the house is up close and personal. The Bronx Wanderers is a family act led by Yo’ ViNNY and his son VINNY “The Kid” that tells their Bronx story and plays some of the greatest rock hits of the past 50 years. Their version of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody was spot on! The other show we enjoyed was Soul of Motown, which had just as much energy. It was led by four exceptional vocalists that covered many of the greatest Motown hits. The Smokey Robinson, Aretha Franklin, and Whitney Houston covers were impressive. One part of the show I enjoyed was when Mo Crosby “Big Sexy” did cartwheels across the stage. If you want to go to a fully immersive show with audiences singing and clapping, this is the show for you.
CASINO & SUPERBOOK
A crown jewel of the property is its Sportsbook, appropriately named SuperBook. It is Super, being the largest Sportsbook in Las Vegas. Some claim it’s Circa, the most recent property unveiled in Las Vegas, but I was told if you check with the city’s official square foot records, The SuperBook reigns supreme! It has a MASSIVE video wall with a crystal-clear picture. I met the Executive VP of Operations, whose team is the first Sportsbook to set the betting lines for the NFL each week…talk about pressure! All the others wait to see what betting lines they set first, so you know this is the place to be on the big sports days. They offer all the sports bar food you could want, including pizza, wings, tacos, and burgers.
There is a modest casino with a $10 minimum during the day and $15 at night for blackjack and craps, which I appreciate since many casinos have a $25 minimum. The casino has tons of the latest high-tech slot machines. My wife particularly liked the Wonder Woman-themed machine. The Poker tables are within the SUPERBOOK, so you can play poker and watch all the big sporting events.
ROOMS
One of the property’s most unique features is its Sky Villas and themed High Roller suites. For all the Golf Aficionado enthusiasts that like to ball out in Las Vegas, feel free to book the 15,400 square feet Verona Villa. I was told it might be the largest hotel room in the United States. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to tour the compound as it was occupied. We got to view many of the themed High Roller Suites, each with its unique personality. The Santa Fe was my favorite, adorned with Longhorns on the wall, a pool table in the living room, cool chairs with brown and white spotted cow leather, and a Mexican tile floor to extenuate the theme. We toured an adult-only “The Bedroom” suite with its circular bed and mirrors on the ceiling that could be Hugh Hefner’s room. Lastly, we checked out the “Silver and Black” villa. A tribute to the Las Vegas Raiders and the perfect setup for a guy’s weekend! We were fortunate to stay for three nights in a One-Bedroom Villa. This room was incredibly spacious, with a separate living room, kitchen, and master bathroom. There was an L-shaped couch with massive flat screen tv in the living room. The kitchen had a full-size refrigerator and stovetop. The huge bathroom had a double vanity sink, rain showerhead, and a two-person bathtub. The bedroom had a super comfortable bed and another massive flat-screen tv. It was a treat to stay there for three nights!
A SURE BET!
The Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino was a blast for three days. Outstanding service?…you bet, All-world sports book?…as good as it can get! Fantastic restaurants?….oh yeah, Ambiance?…. Las Vegas charm, for sure! Ultimately, we “can’t help falling in love” with Westgate Las Vegas! To book your Westgate Las Vegas stay, click here!