The Tropicana is one of  the original casinos to occupy a spot on the strip. A major renovation in 1995 turned "The Trop"  from a dilapidated eyesore to a modern eyesore. The exterior of the Tropicana attempts to depict the pastel coloring and design of a Caribbean village. Some find the design to be garish and loud, but  in Las Vegas that's a compliment. The coloring scheme is continued in the interior of the casino. Large pastel fruits form sections of columns and adorn some of the walls, but it's not as bad as you might think. The Tropicana doesn't have the wide open gaming floor as in Caesar's and the MGM Grand, but rather opted for a smaller, cozier setting. The atmosphere is very comfortable and laid back - the appropriate setting in which to camp out in front of a slot machine.

The Trop lives up to it's name with it's tropical grounds. There are flamingos, African crown cranes, toucans and Brazilian parrots in the aerie that is open to the public. In fact, the grounds of  the Tropicana is a great place to take a break from the tables. You can stroll under palm trees and weeping willows while checking out the exotic and colorful flowers. There are also waterfalls, koi ponds and lagoons. If the weather is poor (rain in Las Vegas?), you can take a stroll through the wildlife walk that's actually inside the casino.