Polo Towers Suites

Despite its shortcomings -- small pool, cramped Studio rooms, minimal service, a determined sales staff -- this time-share hotel has a super-central location (a short walk from the central Strip) and balconies off of all 479 of its rooms. But given that there are plenty of bigger and more exciting hotels with far better features directly on the Strip -- often with similar rates -- there's no great reason to visit the Polo Towers unless you're a member of its vacation club. In fact, the standard Studio rooms are some of the smallest on the Strip, and guests will have to rearrange the furniture in order to pull the Murphy bed down from the wall. (This in a city known for posh accommodations at incredibly cheap rates.) And while many other time-share hotels also lack restaurants, casinos, and shows on-site, they at least make up for this by having big rooms with full kitchens -- not the case here (you'll have to upgrade to the One-Bedroom Suite).

Located about 200 hundred feet from the Strip, Polo Towers is on a narrow side street behind Hawaiian Marketplace, a shopping and dining complex. The hotel is about a 10-minute walk from big hotel-casinos like MGM Grand and Planet Hollywood. Compared to some of the other time-share hotels, like the Hilton Grand Vacations Club on the Las Vegas Strip, the Polo Towers has a far more convenient location. The immediate area around the hotel is trafficked mainly by guests of the Polo Towers. It only takes a minute to get to Hawaiian Marketplace, which has fast-food and ethnic restaurants, a foot-massage parlor, a cigar shop, stalls selling curios and cheap clothes, and an entertainment center where bands perform throughout the day and night. Walk north on the Strip and you'll find ample convenience stores and gift shops.Most guests like to explore all the big properties along the Strip. In order to do so, you can hop in a cab -- they are easy to find at virtually any time. A generally less expensive option is the Deuce, a double-decker bus that runs up and down the Strip 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There's also a monorail system, which stops at MGM Grand, Bally's/Paris, Flamingo/Caesars Palace, Harrah's/the LINQ, the Convention Center, Westgate, and the SLS (single-ride tickets and day passes are available). If you're traveling along the Strip with at least one other person, a cab is often the least expensive option.Virtually every hotel on the Strip is a 10- to 15-minute cab ride from McCarran International Airport.

The rooms are spread out over three towers and decorated in one of two distinct styles: simple and traditional or ornate and Tuscan-inspired, marked by textured fabrics and stylized metalwork (the hotel calls these rooms "villas").The standard Studio rooms are among the smallest on the Strip, though at 313 square feet, they're still fairly large compared to many hotel rooms around the world. The problem with the Studios is that they were actually designed as the living rooms for the One-Bedroom Suites (which are 617 square feet and come with a fully-equipped kitchen). Studios have pull-down Murphy beds that require guests to engage in some light furniture-rearranging (you have to cram all of the furniture in front of the balcony entrance). Though they take up the majority of the space, the Murphy beds are quite comfortable once they're set up: Their mattresses are thick and firm and the pillows, which are stored in the closet, are soft and fluffy. There are also sleeper sofas that can accommodate one other person.Electronics include flat-screen TVs, DVD players, and iHomes. Studios have kitchenettes with microwaves, Cuisinart coffeemakers, and mini-fridges. The larger suites and villas have full-sized kitchens, complete with dishwashers, toasters, blenders -- even electric can-openers. Bathrooms are basic across the board, with shiny marble countertops, stainless-steel fixtures, and shower/tub combos. The hotel-brand toiletries include soap, shampoo, conditioner, and lotion. Unlike most time-shares, which have washer/dryers in the rooms, the Polo Towers has coin-operated washers and dryers on about every three floors (laundry detergents and softeners are available in vending machines in each facility). The balconies aren't furnished, and from most rooms, only overlook the adjacent hotel tower. Still, a balcony is a rare treat in Vegas.

Located on the 22nd floor roof deck of Tower III, the three-foot-deep pool -- restricted to 30 people, max -- is tiny by Vegas standards. It's long enough to a swim a lap in, but considering that there are 479 rooms in the hotel, there's only a small fraction of guests who can use the pool at any given time, not to mention the whirlpool. But the pool is open late, and many Vegas hotel pools aren't. Lounge chairs are made of black metal -- a poor choice, given that they become searing hot under the desert sun. Cabanas have retractable tops and are free, but they tend to fill up quickly. An adjacent barbecue area has gas grills available for free on a first-come, first-served basis.On the ground level is a four-leaf-clover-shaped children's pool, flanked by a playground and a splash area. Nice -- but the shallow pool and sprinklers hardly compare to the amazing pools at both Mandalay Bay and the MGM Grand. Nearby are the fitness center, business center, and hair and nail salon, as well as the Pony Express Logo Shop & Mini Mart, which sells snacks and souvenirs.For the most part, regular, non-time-share guests are treated like any other guest at any other Vegas hotel. That is, they get all the customary services expected -- prompt porters, free daily housekeeping, a concierge, and room service (provided by an off-site restaurant, so this can be slow). But there is no poolside drink service (or even a poolside bar) and the housekeeping only clears trash, replaces towels, and makes the bed. Unlike at other time-share hotels, such as the Cancun Resort, the housekeepers do not wash your dirty dishes or regularly vacuum the carpet.