Blue Moon Resort Serves Niche Well

LAS VEGAS -- As the first significant hotel in Las Vegas to be devoted exclusively to gay men, the Blue Moon Resort has a lot to prove -- not only in terms of the viability of the business, but also in regard to the level of amenities, comfort, service, and convenience that gay travelers have come to expect at boutique places like this and Vegas visitors have come to expect at some of the finest hotels in the world, which are located just a few blocks away.

The good news is that the folks who run the place have a lot of experience in the Vegas hotel wars and they have brought the Strip ethos of luxury with personal service down to the level of a small, 40-room hotel, where it originally began. The result is a charming and comfortable retreat that will most likely rival the upscale gay resorts in Palm Springs for its atmosphere and creature comforts.

Surrounded as it is by acres of concrete in a mostly industrial section of town, the Blue Moon isn't much too look at from the outside. But step inside and you're in a different world, with the small but elegant lobby and sitting room evoking a vaguely South Pacific feel, with lazy ceiling fans, plush leather couches, dark and glossy wood tables, a lot of plants, and a few Asian-inspired pieces of art.

The first floor of the three-story building contains some of the 44 guest rooms and suites, plus a small cafe serving coffees, juices, and sandwiches, and a massive 400-square-foot steam room with showers. Off the cafe is the sun deck, which features a lushly landscaped and private patio surrounding a deep pool, a 10-foot waterfall, and a stone grotto with a 10-man Jacuzzi. As is common with this type of resort, the area will be clothing optional.

The second and third floors contain more rooms, which come in standard and suite varieties. The standard 400-square-foot rooms feature Mexican tile on the first floor and plush carpeting on the upper floors, with one or two beds, comfy duvets and bedding, stylish leather armoires with large televisions, in-room movies, dual-line phones, dataports, irons and boards, a desk, hair dryers, and more.

Suites are twice as large, with a separate sitting area and additional amenities such as a second television in the bedroom and Roman tubs.

They really are nice rooms, sticking closely to the Vegas hotel room feeling but with a unique sense of style. I picture them to be perfect for a romantic getaway weekend or a relaxing vacation.

According to my guide, future development of the hotel could bring additional rooms in an adjacent building, a small casino and lounge, a bar, and shuttle service to and from the Strip. Plus, there are a lot of people apparently talking about transforming the area into a new gay neighborhood, complete with nightclubs and more.

As it stands now, the surrounding neighborhood is largely industrial, so there isn't much going on in the immediate vicinity, but the north end of the Strip and hotels like the Sahara are only about a mile away. Walking during the daytime is an option, but I wouldn't do it at night. It's not that the area you have to go through is dangerous, but it isn't the nicest in town, so why chance it?

To get to the places you're most likely going to want to go -- the center or south parts of the Strip or the gay bars and clubs on Sahara or Paradise -- is going to require a car or a cab. The good news there is that the hotel is very close to Industrial Road, the major artery that will deliver you to most of the hotels on the West side of the Strip (Mirage, Caesars, Rio, Palms, etc.) in about five minutes if you get the traffic lights green.

There also may be an issue with freeway noise, since the hotel is located within a beer can's throw from Interstate 15's Sahara Boulevard offramp. I didn't notice anything overly intrusive when I was in the rooms, and the pool area should be mostly sheltered with music and waterfall noises, but you're still going to hear cars no matter what.

Prices will be very reasonable, starting at around $89 during the week and $119 on the weekend. That's not at all out of line for the kind of amenities you're going to get here, and downright cheap compared to what you'll pay at most places this nice on the Strip.

If you're a gay man who prefers to stay at gay resorts, then the Blue Moon is a great option, and not just because it's the only option in town. Sure, you won't have the buffets and blackjack tables downstairs, but they are nearby and you won't have to deal with disapproving stares from nervous tourists if you decide to hold hands with your boyfriend by the pool. Think of it as a gay oasis in the glitter gulch.

Blue Moon Resort
2651 Westwood Drive
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(866) 798-9194

Highs: Only gay hotel in town, luxurious resort feel
Lows: Location not bad, but not the best

Location: 6 - Fine if you have a car
Price: 8 - Very reasonable
Value: 8 - A lot for a little
Rooms: 8 - Luxurious and tasteful
Casino: 0 - No casino at this property
Amenities: 8 - Very well-supplied rooms
Facilities: 5 - No showroom or buffet, but a really nice pool
Service: 9 - Very friendly
Fun: 7 - Should be a great place to party
Bonus: 8 - Terrific idea, very well executed

Vegas4Visitors Rating: 67

This Week's Trivia

Q: In May 1955, the 10th major resort on the Strip opened. What was it, and what became of it? ANSWER

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