i will be in vegas in late feb. please recommend the hotels in mid price range, where providers feel comfortable to visit. are some preffered over the other. thanks

Here's what I've found (or heard).  Please confirm or correct if needed. :

Venetian:  24hr key check on first floor elevators.  Guard-less entry on the second floor but you need to swipe your card to access the elevators (still have to meet her downstair but a little more discrete)

Excalibur:  Haven't been there in a while but I've always known it to be 24hr key check (heard that it may have changed

Luxor:  24 hr key check for pyramid rooms but there seems to be ways around it.  Heard there is no check for tower rooms.

MGM Grand:  Haven't stayed there in a while but I don't remember any key checks for the regular rooms

New York New York:  Don't remember any

Anyway, as we get more info, maybe we can post a master list, heh.  I'm going to LV next month so I'm curious too.

The Orleans:  24 hours per day security guard at the elevator lobby.  You must show room key to have access to the elevators.

Stratosphere:  No security check at the elevators.

I forgot:

Treasure Island:  Elevator security at night (9pm?)

The times I stayed at Treasure Island it was later I'm thinking midnight or so.  Monte Carlo did not have any when I stayed there, just get in and go.

Pretty much any newer casino/hotel is great place to stay.  One of the best would be the Four Seasons (attached to Mandalay Bay on the south end of the strip) or a suite is any upscale hotel.  On strip, Mandalay Bay, Luxor, MGM Grand, NYNY, Monte Carlo, Mirage, Bellagio, Aladdin, Caesar's Palace, Bally's, Paris, and Venetian come to mind as nicer places.  Off strip, the popular ones are the Hard Rock, Rio, and Palms.

Security isn't an issue with most established providers.  Most will tell you if they need to meet you in the lobby or somewhere else in the casino.

Bob

Luxor pyramid rooms they check for keys.  They don't want lookie loos riding up and down the "inclinators" and walking around.  Tower rooms-no key check.

Rio-never had a key check at either tower.

I'm going to Vegas in Feb and was wondering.  Are Luxor tower rooms a downgrade from the pyramid rooms or are they about the same?  If they're about the same, it might be worth the non-hassle to book a tower room.

All I can say is that the top floor of the pyramid has some suites that rock (bigger than the mini-suites in the tower).

Bob

I like the Pyramid rooms a whole lot more.  They have a huge shower instead of a tub.  The shower is about 4 feet by 6-7 feet and two can play in it with ease.  Plus the mirror lets you see what you're doing together, very cool.  The rooms I like the best are the jacuzzi suites, very reasonable and roomy, with the jacuzzy in the bedroom.  Great rooms for the money.

Just staid at the MGM this weekend and at no time did they do security checks. Plus there were pleanty of providers hanging around the casino most of the night till about 4am when i made it back. Rio does checks after 9pm stayed there last year.