Imperial Palace

Imperial Palace review Rate it

You don't have to be royalty to stay at this Oriental-themed hotel, in fact, with the Stardust's demise, there should be even more demand for an on-Strip property where rates often drop into double digits.

The monorail station on site helps you get around to the hipper places, but the resort does offer a few reasons to stay. The main attraction is the Auto Collections, which has more than 200 antique, classic and special-interest vehicles on display and for sale. You can even get your photo taken with an old car for free. Speaking of which, the IP's venerable Legends in Concert is still thriving. Indeed, it's spilling over into the remodelled casino, where, at the Dealertainers Pit, you might find Michael Jackson or Cher, primed to belt out a song from behind the blackjack table.

Accommodation
All guestrooms, from small standard rooms through to the King Suite, recently received much-needed facelifts. Certain rooms come with a jacuzzi-driven 'luv tub'. The best penthouse suites have one or two bedrooms and an extra-large living room.

Eating & drinking
There are restaurants to satisfy most basic cravings, from the Burger Palace to the Pizza Palace, plus a couple of decent buffets in between. Head to the fifth floor for fancier places: Embers (steak) and Fireside (barbecue). The Rockhouse has a mean daiquiri bar, rock music, and free shots poured 24-7 by the Rockhouse Dancers.

Entertainment
The long-running Legends in Concert tribute show features good-to-excellent impersonations of a variety of singers (Madonna, Shania) and classic Vegas performers (Liberace, Elvis). From April to October, the pool transforms into a luau scene, with food and a Polynesian revue. Inside at Tequila Joe's, guests dance to DJs nightly.

Gambling
Thanks to its high-traffic location, the casino is always busy, though that doesn't necessarily mean it's particularly favourable. Typical central-Strip blackjack rules and video poker paybacks gouge the first-time tourist; the rest of the games gouge the sucker, no matter how experienced. 'Dealertainers' in the IP's party pit impersonate Madonna, the Blues Brothers, Elvis and other pop stars while pitching cards and rockin' out to the loud music. If you have to fade the bad odds, this is a fun place to do it.