The Cromwell Hotel, Tour/Review of Room #526, Las Vegas, Nevada USA
August 23, 2015
The Cromwell boutique hotel shook things up on the Las Vegas Strip when they open last year. In a place of massive new hotels with thousands of rooms and a maze of hallways the Cromwell is a beautiful, small casino hotel in the heart of the Vegas Strip. The property is manageable in size and has almost everything a top notch Strip hotel should have. One thing that really sets this place apart are the two nightclubs; Drai’s Beach Club and Drai's After Hours Club.
The hotel's lobby is small and simple. With only 188 rooms, a small check-in desk is all you need. If you are driving yourself, getting into the Cromwell can be a bit of a puzzle. It's located at the corner of South Las Vegas Blvd and Flamingo; you want to enter the parking garage from the Flamingo side and then follow the signs to the valet/entrance.
This cool new hotel is almost over the top, but just before it seems a bit much, you remind yourself you're in Vegas!
Room 526 felt a bit small, but that was due to all the luxurious furniture in the room. It is a Luxury King room with a large comfortable sofa and chair and plenty of style. They call the decor "Parisian-inspired" not sure I get the French connection, but the rooms are very modern with a mix of old and new touches.
The room was quiet; couldn't hear my neighbors, but it was mid week and it might be different on a busy, high energy Las Vegas weekend. The Cromwell bed was very comfortable, and the linens were nice and soft. The rooms heating / AC was very quiet and easily controlled. Lamps beside the bed provide very little reading light. No clock radio or alarm.
The dedicated makeup mirror with great lighting was a very nice touch. It should be noted that the WiFi was very slow.
The bath was small but efficient. No separate toilet area. Plenty of towels and nice amenities manufactured by Muk. Shower only, no bathtub. The shower bench was handy, and the mirrored wall inside the shower was interesting (more on that later).
Here you can see the interesting mix of furnishings - a modern lamp next to a purple velvet wing-back chair, next to a heavy metal studded cabinet. A small issue with this room is that the lighting is designed more for drama and design than it is to create usable illumination. I had to move my suitcase to the sofa so I could place it in a small pool of light.
Earlier I mentioned the mirrored wall inside the shower. Surprise! It is a one-way mirror! When you turn the lights off in the bedroom you can see into the shower... Kinda sexy... Unlike other rooms I've seen like this, The Cromwell has no curtain or blind available to hide this view.
This room offered a bit of a view out over Flamingo Road South towards Bally's Las Vegas Hotel & Casino. Window was well insulated for sound.
During the day the rooftop of The Cromwell is a beautiful pool for hotel guests. After dark the rooftop becomes home to Drai’s Beach Club / nightclub. Note that bathers are required to walk through the public casino to access the pool!
A massive glass wall opens combining the dance floor with the pool area. This is a modern with modern sound and lighting effects systems. Another underground lounge, Drai's After Hours, is just that, underground below the 1st floor casino.
The hotel offers guests refreshments on each floor at the elevators.
A small, well equipped gym located on the ground floor near the main desk is available for guests.
Unlike the big resorts with lots of bars and lounges, The Cromwell has one lounge inside the casino and another just off the entrance. NOTE: I received one night's free accommodation from this hotel.
On the second floor, looking out over the Strip, is GIADA Italian restaurant. This is the first restaurant opened by Emmy-Award winning celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis. Reservations are suggested. Stools at the bar are often available for walk-ins. But if you can't get a table, it is nice to know that the in-room dining at The Cromwell is supplied by GIADA.
The casino is on the first floor, and is modern and luxurious. They participate in the Total Rewards program. My personal experience in the casino was mixed. After playing for awhile, I came out pretty much even. I consider myself lucky when that happens in Vegas. For more info visit The Cromwell website.
If you want a comfortable Las Vegas vacation at a small boutique hotel, The Cromwell could be just what you are looking for. It is in a great location along the strip, and has an edge on other properties due to it's branded nightlife. It should be noted that this small property doesn't have a theater or spa.