Logistics:
The Circus Circus is a hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas strip. It was built with the hope of attracting families and helping to boost Sin City’s image as a “kid-friendly” vacation destination. It opened in the fall of 1968 and much of the aesthetics of the resort reflect that. The Circus Circus is on the north side of the strip, noticeably pretty far from the busier and more popular part of the Las Vegas strip.
Hotel Rooms:
There are four styles of room available at the Circus Circus property.
Manor Motor Lodge (Stay at your own risk):
Rooms in the Motor Lodge run as low as $25 dollars a night. Each one has basic amenities that you would find in most any hotel plus wi-fi access. Each room is 351 square feet and you can choose from two queen beds, one king bed, or two king beds. Cribs, mini-fridge, and cots are available for an extra cost. Be aware that this is an entirely separate building that Circus Circus owns (picture an actual motel) next to the resort. It has very poor reviews, in fact, the worst of any hotel on the strip. The Manor Motor Lodge gives me all of the Hotel Cecil vibes. I would not…for any reason at all…even consider staying here. I’ve put a link to the reviews in the heading of this section.
Casino Tower Rooms:
These rooms are located in a fifteen-story tower and have a few more amenities (although not many) such as a plasma flat panel television. The square footage ranges from 364 feet in the rooms which have two queens or one king bed, to 434 square feet if you book a room with one king bed. Cribs, mini-fridge, and cots are available for an extra cost.
Skyrise Tower Rooms:
Rooms in this area are located in a twenty-nine-story tower and include a flat-screen television. The only available bed choices are double queens, and cribs and mini-fridge are available for an extra cost.
West Tower Rooms:
Aesthetically these rooms have a much more modern design and just…feel cleaner. You’ll have a 32″ plasma television in your room and 364 square feet of space. Guests get a choice of two queen beds or one king bed and cribs, mini-fridge, and cots are available for an extra cost.
There are some wheelchair-accessible rooms with roll-in showers available at all levels of the room.
Entertainment/Things to Do:
The Adventure Dome:
One of the most alluring features of Circus Circus is that it has its very own indoor amusement park. If you’re any type of thrill-seeker, you can check out the Canyon Blaster which moves at 55MPH, or the El Loco which drops riders 90 feet. If you’re looking for a slightly less harrowing experience, try the theater and 4D ride experiences, or any of the other number of rides that fling, shoot, zip, and spin guests around.
Those with younger children will be happy to know that there are some less extreme options such as bumper cars and a hopper ride for slightly older children. As well as a carousel and Ferris wheel for little ones.
The Midway:
If you love the feeling of walking around at a fair or amusement park, then you’ll enjoy this area of the resort. There’s a carousel for children, a video arcade with two hundred games, as well as classic carnival games with a TON of prizes available to win. This area of the hotel is extremely flashy and loud, so don’t walk through if you’re feeling especially hungover!
Free Circus Acts:
Families and guests can enjoy circus acts for FREE! Performances take place on the center stage which is in the middle of the Midway. Patrons will have the chance to witness stellar jugglers, aerial silk performers, high flying trapeze gurus, and of course, clowns.
Splash Zone & Pool:
Circus Circus has two pools on its premises. In addition, there are three water slides including one that is fifty feet high. For the children (or adults looking to cool off) there is a splash pad with a dozen or so different ways to get drenched and beat the heat including water canons and mushroom-looking sprinklers.
Other Amenities:
There are a number of shops on the premises that allow guests to purchase souvenirs, snacks, clothing, toys, and jewelry. There’s even a magic shop where one can purchase the items necessary to “wow” their friends with tricks and illusions. Most shops are located in an area called the “promenade.”
Circus Circus has a salon that offers just about any service that one might want or need including nail care, hair styling (as well as coloring, cutting, and processing), waxing, threading, massaging, body wrapping, and facials.
Courtesy: Cosmopolitan
A wedding chapel allows couples to exchange nuptials seven days a week and twenty-four hours a day. However, it’s absolutely incumbent that I say in my most snarky of manners, that if your marriage starts at the Circus Circus hotel…you might want to re-think that relationship.
Casino:
The casino offers forty table games and slots (which range from a penny to twenty-five bucks) available all day. Their “Slots a Fun” casino is separate from the main casino and is full of arcade games, slot machines, and more. Nathan’s hot dogs and beer are sold for a dollar each, and somehow the hot dogs take very long to order. It literally took me thirty-five minutes from the time I ordered to the time I received my hot dog. The name of the place might be “Slots a Fun” but it’s pretty tacky and mostly full of “Slots a Mullets.”
Restaurants:
There are a total of five places to eat within the Circus Circus property.
The Steak House:
Believe it or not, the Circus Circus steakhouse is award-winning and has a pretty favorable reputation as far as steakhouses go in Las Vegas. Choices of top steak include filet mignon, porterhouse, New York strip, and prime rib are available. If you’re not in the mood for any of those you can opt for lamb chops or top-notch seafood including Alaskan King crab legs or broiled lobster tail.
No matter what you select as your entree, you’ll get a side of a vegetable and a choice of starch to accompany your meal. If you’re worried that you may still be hungry, you can choose lobster tail, crab legs, mushrooms, or shrimp to accompany your plate. A number of decadent and classic salads (such as an Astoria wedge) are available as well as chilled shellfish and French Onion soup for an appetizer.
Blue Iguana:
If you’re in the mood for Mexican, the Blue Iguana has you covered. All of the classics are available including burritos, tacos, and quesadillas. If that feels too “basic” go with the “Oaxacan chicken mole enchilada” or the traditional “albondigas soup.” Blue iguana offers frozen margaritas, beer, and an array of Mexican sodas to wash down your meal. Don’t forget to order the churro drizzled with white chocolate for dessert!
Pizzeria:
I wouldn’t trust a pizza outside of New York if my life depended on it. However, if you’re willing to take the risk the pizzeria on the property serves a smattering of different options including BBQ chicken, chicken fajita, garden vegetables, and tropical pair-a-dice. Sides such as chicken wings and bread-sticks are available. Four choices of calzone are on the menu as well, and for your more picky eater, spaghetti marinara can be ordered. If you’re wondering if this place will be good, there’s a sandwich on the menu called, “meat’a’ball” which should tell you everything that you need to know.
Still hungry? Circus Circus offers a traditional Las Vegas buffet served at both brunch and dinner time. The Westside Deli is open twenty-four hours a day and serves classic, no fuss, food. Sandwiches, nachos, sliders, hot dogs, soups, salads, and breakfast.
Should You Go?
I think this largely depends on the type of traveler that you are and the type of experience that you are looking to have. When I visited Vegas at twenty-three, I stayed at the Circus Circus with my best friend. I was completely naive to the fact that this was a hotel geared towards families. We were really peeved by the pitter-patter and screaming of little ones each morning outside of our door. While some hotels keep the party atmosphere going all day long, Circus Circus does not. If you’re a traveler looking to stay somewhere that feels hip and mature, I wouldn’t stay here. If you can see it as a place to rest your head, you can stay here.
We stayed in the West Tower room and it was sincerely and totally fine. It was a bit dated but comfortable and fully functional. There were a few issues like the shower dripping noisily sometimes at night and the air conditioner having only one setting — freezing. But, it was quite comfortable. I can’t say this enough, I would NOT stay at the Circus Circus Motor Lodge, especially with children. As a mother, I’m begging you not to do it.
More tips
It’s important to know that the Circus Circus is located in an area of the strip that many would consider being, “seedy.” How seedy? There was a recent shooting at the Adventure dome in November of 2020. I’ve attached a link to the article for you to check out yourself. Looking back on my trip through eyes that have seen the horrors of COVID19, I shudder when I think about this place. In many areas it’s dirty, dingy, smells of mildew, and its ambiance is outdated in a way that feels yucky.
However, I do understand the allure of bringing little ones here. I’m sure my nearly two-year-old would LOVE the circus acts, games, and winning giant prizes. While writing this, I became somewhat excited for the day that maybe we could stay here as a family and watch his little eyes light up and the sights and sounds. There are other kids here and so the pool and restaurants are family-friendly. As a fairly new mother, I now understand the importance of families having a hotel or resort that is geared towards children. I really wish Circus Circus would invest in making their property just a little cleaner and more well kept. It would be so much more appealing!
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