The story you are about to read is true.\n\n1:42 am, Christmas 2008, my wife an I arrive at The Orleans in preparation for my wake. I am celebrating the passing of my 30's as I move to a more seasoned 40th year. In classic Vegas style, I plan on a lot of drinking in my final days.\n\nWe check in with a very nice young lady and get our keys on the 17th floor. As we pass through the casino we see die hard nickel players and aging blue hairs with their long ashes defying gravity as they extend from their thin lips.\n\nThe biggest difference between The Orleans and some of the higher priced casinos on the strip is the air handlers. I once read that the Mandalay Bay casino changes and filters the complete volume of air in the Casino six times every hour. For the Orleans, the air is redolent with smoke and cheap air freshener.\n\nOne note - if you check in this late, be prepared for a death march to your room. They issue rooms closest to the elevators first, this late and you will pass by nearly every room on your wing before arriving.\n\nThe decor is fairly nice, there was a small window in the shower that you could open to the outside. Not too desirable in the summer when temperatures stay in the 100's even in the wee hours of the morning.\n\nThis casino is not walking distance from any other (outside of the Irish Bar where I was heading) It also has a bowling alley, movie theaters, several restaurants, and of course gaming. They serve Pepsi almost everywhere although Coke fans can get a fix inside the Friday's restaurant in the casino.\n\nNot too expensive - not too fresh. This is old Vegas, the way it used to be.