The big knock on Treasure Island is that it's too
much like Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean with drink service and craps tables. However,
some of these criticisms are justified. Many families decide to stay at Treasure Island,
so if your Las Vegas vacation is intended to be an escape from children, you might want to
take this under consideration.
On the other side of the coin, if you do decide to
take your children to Las Vegas, Treasure Island is not a bad choice. Kids love the pirate
motif and you'll wind up out in front of the casino at least once to watch the pirate
show. These days Treasure Island is trying to loose it's kid's image, so you might be
better off at Circus Circus or the Excalibur. (They have more activities for children)
One of the must see attractions of Las Vegas is the pirate show
held outside of Treasure Island. Not only is it free, it's really a spectacle to behold.
The front of the casino looks like a 18th century pirate cove complete with building
facades, wooden dock and most importantly, a pirate ship. Every 90-minutes after 4 pm, a
British warship sails into the cove (it actually moves) and does battle with the pirates
in a fantastic stunt/pyrotechnics show. If you're staying at the casino, try to get a
strip-side room above the sixth floor to get a good view. You can also get a good view at
the Battle Bar inside the casino (arrive early to get a good seat). Note
how the Captain of the British ship goes down with the ship. There is a very high kitsch
factor involved with the show and the casino in general, so be prepared for the cheesy
enticement to enter casino at the end of the show.
The casino floor is not really noteworthy except
that it is highly themed. There's pirate stuff everywhere! If you're preparing to do some
serious gambling, take the free tram to the Mirage. It's a much better atmosphere in which
to win and loose money. One cool attraction to the Treasure Island gaming floor is the
Slot 2000 machines. These slot machines are connected to a casino employee that will offer
assistance with anything you need. Simply press a button and a video screen will
appear with the staff member. They can make reservations, send someone over with a
drink, answer questions and will even congratulate you on a jackpot.
From that forgotten toothbrush and a favorite
magazine to designer fashions and stunning jewelry, Treasure Island offers a full
complement of retail stores to be explored as well.
The rooms at Treasure Island are nice, but are
average for the strip. One nice function is that the phones use idiot-proof icons to
connect you to various parts of the hotel and casino. You don't need to find extensions or
use the operator. Otherwise, the rooms are fairly generic.
