The Platinum feels upscale without being over the ...

The Platinum feels upscale without being over the top ornate. The rooms are large suites with full kitchens and huge luxury bathrooms. The jetted tub was an unexpected treat during my first visit there. And the nightly complimentary wine reception, paired with cheap happy hour in the bar are nice perks, too.

While we encountered an issue with our room that needed to be fixed, the hotel management was responsive and left an apology note and a snack in the room for when we returned later that night. It was handled very well. Full disclosure: We did get a first impression that the person filling in at the bell desk was not very welcoming when we first arrived, so that was a bit off-putting initially. But everyone else we encountered was professional and pleasant. Maybe it was just an off day?

As for the location, it's convenient as long as you don't mind being a little bit off of the Las Vegas strip. We skipped renting a car, since it was only about 5-10 minutes to walk to Bally's and the monorail (which is a great cheap transportation option for those wanting to explore along the strip).

For those who want a fancy, large pool, theirs is not as large as some others, but there are a few cabanas and the area is well-maintained like the rest of the property.

It's also good to note there is no casino on the property. However, you can go a couple doors down if you want to gamble a little with the locals and grab a cheap breakfast at Ellis Island. There's also a 7-Eleven and a large souvenir store on the block.

I'll be keeping an eye out for specials to return again on a future visit.