New York New York hotel and casino sits at the south end of the Las Vegas strip. As its name suggests, New York New York is a replica of, well, New York! Viewed form the outside, you see faux skyscrapers, the Statue of Liberty, a one third scale replica of the Brooklyn Bridge, and even a giant rollercoaster (which, the last time I checked, isn’t part of New York, but nobody said Vegas had to do authenticity!)

Best of all, though, is the vibe. Whereas some hotels seem stuffy and a bit too serious for their own good (The Bellagio in particular), New York New York has a fun party atmosphere, and has a real vibe about the place.

New York New York location

Situated at the south of the strip, New York New York sits at the crossroads of the strip and Tropicana Avenue. Opposite the strip sits the MGM Grand, while opposite Tropicana Avenue sits the Excalibur hotel. Not that any hotel in Las Vegas is small, but both the MGM Grand and the Excalibur have each been the largest hotel in the world at some point int heir lives.

As such, New York New York is in a great location. You can cross over the walkway to the MGM Grand and see an uninterrupted view all the way down to the north of the strip (which is a glorious view at night – see pic below), or take the other walkway to the Excalibur and then onto Luxor and Mandalay Bay, both of which can be reached via a tram (to save your tired feet!)

I’ve always thought of New York New York as being the gateway to the fun part of the strip, as it’s the centre piece of the MGM Mirage, Excalibur, Luxor and Mandalay Bay.

Further north of New York New York, though, there’s a bit of gap As you walk down the strip towards New York New York, you pass The Venetian, Caesar’s Palace, Paris, and The Bellagio, all of which are great places to visit (well, the fountains at the Bellagio are fun, but the hotel itself is a bit dull).

After the Bellagio, though, you’ve got the Mirage and then a big gap before you reach the Monte Carlo, and neither hotel is particularly interesting. The gap is currently being filled by MGM Mirage’s huge Project CityCenter, but that won’t be ready until 2010, and so is just a giant building site at the moment.

As such, it’s only when you hit New York New York that things really start to come alive.

New York New York – the building

The main hotel features a giant replica of some of New York’s famous skyscrapers. There’s the Chrysler building and the Empire State building, as well as a 150 foot tall replica of the Statue of Liberty and a pool that apparently represents New York harbour (though you’d never know, as it’s relatively tiny!)

There’s also the giant rollercoaster that winds its way around the skyscrapers, and even wends its way inside the hotel. The ride is 203 feet tall, with a maximum drop of 144 feet, and can reach speeds of 67mph.

I’ve never been on it, as I’ve usually had too much to eat and drink by the time I reach New York New York from my base further north at Circus Circus, but it’s definitely on my list of things to do.

It’s also quite disconcerting when you’re inside the hotel and you hear the screams from the rollercoaster’s passengers as it works its way around inside the building. One minute you’re sat quietly eating your burger, the next there’s a huge roar and loads of screaming as the coaster bursts its way out of the ceiling and hurtles its way out through a wall!

You find yourself staring in disbelief, then muttering “only in Las Vegas!”

Inside New York New York

As I said, New York New York has a real party vibe. The New York theme continues inside with replica buildings making you feel like you’re wandering Greenwich Village, and some great bars and clubs.

There’s the Irish-themed Nine Fine Irishmen bar, which oddly for Vegas closes at 11pm, and the Bar at Times Square, both of which make you feel like you’re in a pub rather than a bar, so for Brits (and Irishmen!) it’s like home from home.

Almost – there’s still a lot of American whooping and hollering, which can be annoying, but at least there are no chavs! There’s also some live entertainment, which is pants and is so loud you can’t hear anyone talk, so it’s best to leave when this starts!

As well as these bars, there’s also Coyote Ugly, which is a club that encourages girls to dance on the tables, as well as the all-female bar staff. Sometimes it’s a splendid sight, other times, it’s,er, not – all depends who’s up there dancing!!

It currently costs $10 to get in after 9pm, but it can get massively overcrowded. You can get free passes to get in if you hang around before 9pm. Like most places in Vegas you’ll also need your passport to gain entry if you look under 40.

There’s also a huge amusement arcade upstairs, but rumours suggest this will be closed soon, so check it out while you can.

There’s a huge sportsbook area and large casino, naturally, and an ESPN-themed restaurant. My advice: stay away from anything that says “Mozzarella Sauce”, as this is like pure vinegar and is revolting!

Finally, there’s Zumanity, a rude Cirque du Soleil circus act. I’ve not seen this, but apparently it’s one of the better Cirque du Soleil acts on the strip.

The rooms in New York New York

I’ve not stayed at New York New York, but the rooms are all of a good size and high standard, and currently cost from $90 – $250 per night, but this will rise when large conventions in town, so check first. You can find out more at the main New York New York web site.

Summary

In summary, then, New York New York is definitely a great place to visit, whether you want to stay there or simply pop in during your trip. There’s plenty for you to do, some great sights, and a real party vibe to the place. New York New York is definitely recommended!

Check out more pictures at our New York New York photo gallery.