Just came back from Las Vegas (May 30 - June 3) and stayed at the Monte Carlo. This truly is a wonderful place to stay. Can't beat the price nor the location on the strip. The buffet is reasonable in price with the food absolutely fantastic. The staff is friendly and willing to help you if needed. Loved the food court for a quick "bite". The casino is spacious but not as large as some of the others on the strip. I went to Caesar's casino one night and got lost. This is not a mega structure as some of the others and not as crowded. The room was plain , nothing fancy. Housekeeping had the beds made every day by 2pm. I had a good view of New York New York, Luxor and Excalibur with some mountains thrown in. This is not my first visit to Vegas. I stayed at the Bellagio the last time. The Bellagio is in a class by itself with the price of a room to match. There is a tram that will take you from the Monte Carlo to the Bellagio and reverse. So if you have this incredible desire to see the Bellagio and all its opulence, you don't have to walk in the brutal sun (90's). Simpy put, the Monte Carlo is simple,cheap, and just a great place to gamble (if that's what you like) and eat. I'll say it again, the buffet is EXCELLENT and not that expensive. Breakfast about $11.29 and dinner about $17.25 with tax. I would definitely go back there again. I have read others mention about the noise. It is really not that bad. I could only hear other doors slam but could not hear talking in the corridors or my next door neighbor's TV. Give Monte Carlo a chance.

My sister and I just got back from our vacation in Vegas. Neither of us had stayed at the Monte Carlo before so we were pleasantly surprised! Our room and some meals were comped because she was playing so well at the blackjack tables! The pillow-top matress was VERY COMFORTABLE and the food at Blackstone's was scrumptious. Our lunch at the Pub & Brewery and breakfast at the Cafe was good too. The casino was enormous and relatively smoke-free. The staff was great and we really had a wonderful time. We will definitely visit again.

Staying at the Monte Carlo was wonderful. We had a room high up with a view of The Bellagio. The hotel itself was peaceful, quiet and airy and after all the running around I did trying to see everything I could on the Strip, it was nice to come home to a quiet place to unwind. In the hotel, we could either walk around and shop or stop by the Brewery and have a huge (or small) beer or hit one of the small eaterys that stay open late right near the Casino. We ate at a Chinese restaurant one night which was very nice, played slot machines all night when we wanted to and could get anywhere from the location by either walking, cabbing or taking the tram at the MGM. The hotel is very nice to look at outside with all the statues and the lobby is tremendous! The hallways upstairs were always clean and airy and so was my room. If I had any complaints it would be to upgrade their bathrooms which were a bit old fashioned. I also did not like the soaps and creams and stuff in the bathroom, they did not smell nice. I think they should change to something with an herbal scent to it. They have such nice scents out there now. All in all I cannot wait to go back and I would certainly go right back to the Monte Carlo to stay.

I have to say, after staying many hotels on the strip, the Monte Carlo rates with me as "the cheapest of the newer hotels". What I mean is that the price of the room is pretty reasonable, but you get a room that is really quite ordinary. It isn't big or spectacular in any way.
The gaming floor feels cramped to me as well. I don't like the feeling of crowding when I'm at a hotel in Vegas. The Monte Carlo feels crowded to me pretty much everywhere.
The Monte Carlo is well located on the strip: in the middle and you can get to many places quickly.
Also, although their pool is really small for a big strip hotel, I enjoyed the wave pool and the lazy river.
I would stay in the Monte Carlo again if I wanted to stay in a "big Vegas strip hotel" and wanted to find the cheapest one. Personally, I would choose the Luxor if price is a concern and you want to stay in a big strip hotel as cheaply as possible.