Excalibur Hotel & Casino - Las Vegas, NV Review

The Case

Most of my family was in Vegas this last February for my aunt's wedding, and we all stayed at the Excalibur. It's a nice enough hotel, but I'm reading Last Call right now, by Tim Powers, and in the book, the Excalibur is described as looking 'like the grandest hole in God's own miniature golf course.'

And you know what? It REALLY does!

The Good

The Excalibur is a fun hotel right on the Strip. It's one of the 'big name' hotels, like the MGM Grand, The Luxor, Caesar's Palace, or The Sahara. The location is really great, and you can get to The Luxor and Mandalay Bay by either free tram or indoor walkways. There's also pedestrian bridges connecting to the New York - New York and Tropicana Hotels and Casinos.

The hotel itself is big, clean, and friendly. Staff are always ready to answer questions, and the prices are cheaper than a lot of the other hotels. The Excalibur seems to be one of the more family-oriented places on the Strip - they've got arcades, stores, and the pool for younger members of the family. Also, the wedding chapel and services provided there are very nice. My aunt couldn't have been happier with her wedding.

It's really hard to get bored at the Excalibur. What with the casino, the arcade, the numerous shops and stores, and the shows - most notably The Tournament of Kings - you're pretty much covered. And, if you want to explore, there's always the rest of the hotels, casinos, and attractions on the Strip!

The Bad

The Excalibur is a cool place to stay for the novelty of its appearance, but basically, it's just cheesy. Up close, the place looks like tons of plastic, and though the theme of knights and castles, kings and queens is cool, it got old after a day or so. The hotel was constructed in 1990, and a lot of the other hotels are way older than that, but they seem to pull off classic, while the Excalibur is more...worn and outdated.

Also, the show prices at the Excalibur are not cheap. The Tournament of Kings was running at about $125 per when we were there. Of course, this pricing is by no means exclusive to the Excalibur. Most other shows cost just as much, if not more, so I guess I shouldn't complain there.

Overall, I was pleased with my stay, but I think I'll try a different hotel next time, one with a little more class. And one that doesn't look like the grandest hole in God's own miniature golf course!

The Verdict

Three stars! The Excalibur is a fun, entertaining place, but the next time I get to Vegas, I'll probably move on to 'greener' pastures!