Circus Circus in Reno, Nevada: Among the Best the City Has to Offer

As a family living on a tight budget, my wife and I are always on the look-out for good deals on hotels and restaurants when we have to travel. On a recent overnight trip to Reno, Nevada, we came across a deal online for Circus Circus at $40 per night during the week. Needless to say, it's a deal that's hard to beat.
Of the many hotel casinos in Reno, Circus Circus is probably the most family friendly we've encountered. When entering the casino from the parking garage, there is the option to go left and down to the gaming floor and hotel check-in. For those with children who either are just visiting during the day or don't want to go through the gaming area right away, there is a midway complete with arcade games and carnival style games the whole family can enjoy.

There was even carnival food on sale, as well as airbrushed T-shirts, airbrush tattoos and other neat stuff. And throughout the day there are human circus acts such as tumblers and team gymnastics acts. There's also a wide variety of restaurants to eat at, ranging from The Steakhouse to sushi, barbecue and typical American fair. Although a chili dog meal is $6.50, the hot dog is huge and smothered with chili and cheese, filling the whole plate. The deli sandwiches at the Main Street ice cream shop and deli and loaded with meat and cheese and have fresh toppings to choose from. Prices on most food items range from $3.50 to upward of $8. Still, the portions are ample and you can't much better for casino food that's not at the buffet. The ice cream shop serves Dreyer's ice cream.

A point of relief for me was when I was carded each time I presented my debit card. Even though I'd just gone through the line, they checked it again anyway. This tells me the staff is routine in the procedure, and casinos are major areas of credit fraud with stolen cards and paychecks. So, many kudos to the Circus Circus staff.

Circus Circus in Reno is definitely a place for people to stay who want the cheap casino hotel price, but don't necessarily gamble. There's plenty to keep one entertained. Plus, the hotel is located in the historic downtown area in close proximity to other casinos. There's also quick access to Interstate 80 and Highway 395 south to Carson City and the Lake Tahoe area.

The hotel room was beyond our grandest expectations. Other deals at neighboring casino hotels were good, but not great and some would have an aspect that detracted greatly from the experience. The room at Circus Circus was simply divine. My wife and I couldn't stop saying, "Wow," and even our 2-year-old son seemed impressed. The only way it could've gotten any better was if there was a refrigerator, but by now we've gotten used to bringing a small cooler on wheels.

And unlike other hotel casinos (and hotels in general), Circus Circus actually offers real cribs to its guests. Often clerks will say they have cribs, and when the housekeeping staff brings it it's usually a play pen. But with Circus Circus it was a real crib. Mind you the bars are all made of metal, so if you've got a quilted bumper for a crib it's advisable to bring it along. However, our son managed just fine since we brought along his favorite blankets and toys.

The bed was the most comfortable bed we've ever had at a hotel, and is even better than our bed at home. The other furniture in the room showed minor wear, but was in good condition. The carpets were vacuumed well and showed little wear, if any. The room was non-smoking and it did not smell as if people smoked in it anyway. However, the area around the elevators smelled heavily of smoke, but that's the designated area near the rooms.

The TV and other electronics in the room were up to date and worked perfectly. The bathroom bordered on the luxurious with a marble walled shower and counter top. A coffee maker with single serving coffee is provided as well. Although the coffee was not great, it helped wake me up early the next morning, and we were out the door.
It's almost a shame we didn't get to go back to the room at the end of our day, and instead had to drive back home. But we will definitely be back.