I stayed at this hotel in November, 2007..and loved it then...and just returned from a long weekend stay and again, loved it. I'll get straight to the point.
Security: no issues, was worried after last review, but I emailed the hotel and they assured me they were on top of security issues all the time. We were carded most times going to our room, they check your room card against a hand held machine to check that you are a guest...the only times we didn't get carded was when the same person recognized us from the same day. As far as maid service..we had a great maid..the rooms were cleaned very well...plenty of towels..if you need anything, they bring it to your room quickly.
The room: top of the line linens, towels etc...shower is great...two sinks outside of the shower/toilet area, which was great for two girls.
The casino: can't say much, as I'm not into slots etc..enjoyed watching the poker tables. My sister who plays slots etc. said the machines didn't seem to pay too well..not a lot of people winning...smell of cigarettes not really a problem, unless the person next to you is smoking..pretty good filtration system in the casino..
Bars: Center bar in casino was cool..nice bartenders..can't make a cosmo though. The Beach Club bar is a nice concept except for the problem of their unbelievably rude bartenders..never seen anything like it! Ignoring people...not looking at anyone, in case someone may ask for something..just plain rude rude rude...If you like to drink cosmos, you are out of luck. Worst ones ever had..no one knows how to make one...the only place that came close to a good one, was the Blue Point Ocean Grill...although they are too sweet...but it was heaven compared to all the other places...
Restaurants: There are a couple...The Tuscan Grill was eh...Ocean Grill was good...Tatu was excellent, a great experience...
Staff: Extreme ends of the spectrum, either totally rude, or really nice.
The Pool: and the reason we went. Best pool experience you will ever have. The elaborate heating and cooling system of the pool has paid off...the temperature is absolutely perfect all the time..it is pure heaven. It is a zero entry pool on both sides..and heated like very warm bath water..but on days it was warm and sunny, cool water would flow in, but the temperature was always perfect, and nice and warm...we were at the pool from sun up to sun down...so if you don't like to gamble, don't worry, you have the great pool..
Las Olas Blvd: wasn't impressed at all...just a bunch of over priced shops...there were some nice lunch places, but we won't go back.
Would go back many times over to this cool, rock and roll hotel...

The pool and room are clean and comfortable. Wade the front desk clerk however is about the only honest worker there. He was great at customer assistance. Unfortunately I cant say the same for anyone else there. Room services took one of my rings and a friends iphone (seperate room incidences) and never handed them in to lost and found. The hotel personal both front desk and security were unwilling to even help with the problem and said if you ever leave something in a room you will be lucky if it shows up in lost and found. I dont find that acceptable and I will never stay in this hotel again with this type of theft being permitted.

Me and my wife stayed here on march 22-23, 2008....8th floor.hotel is top notch,clean rooms,great casino,clubs.2 problems occured with us.One,was the check in time which is 4;oo p.m. but we did not get our room untill 5;30 p.m. no biggie since we had drinks and we're with friends so let the good times roll I say!!!!two, like i mentioned we had saw some friends that happened to be there so on saturday at the end of the night we invited them to room to hang out.I do not mind the security checking people, but here they go to the extreme.One security guard was working the 8 floor and the minute she saw us she starts yelling in creole and gets on the walkie-talkie.Then starts to say that we a having a party in our room and that it is illegal.I tried to explain that we are not having a party and that we are not kids for her to be yelling like that.So I give her 20 dollars for she would just shut up and go away.I think she just puts on a show to get some tips.I rather stay some where else where I am not supervised.

REVIEW FROM A LOCAL - Just stayed at this resort yesterday. Had tickets to see a concert and got the room comp'd by a friend. The hotel is terrific - yes, it is not on the beach, but note that legal gambling in S. FL is only located on reservations. We didn't gamble - decided to make a night out of it with dinner/concert/room as this complex is 20 min. from home. How many places can you park for free, see major concerts (we saw Chris Rock), have your choice of a ton of restaurants & bars, gamble if you want, and then go up to your room all by walking? The surrounding neighborhood is what it is - a RESERVATION off a main road. The beach is just 30 min. directly east if you want to go. This hotel DOES have a REALLY nice, heated pool though.

The lobby has a ton of rock & roll memorabilia (hence, Hard Rock), and yes, there is the stench of smoke (not that bad though as they have a state-of-the art air vent system) and the usual gaggle of older persons. IT'S A CASINO first and foremost and I don't recommend it for families. The promenade is excellent as there is nothing like it in the area - beach included. As for the room....it was really nice. And I've been to nearly all the nearby, nicer hotels on the beach - please see my other reviews. The room was spacious as was the giant bathroom. Double vanity, soaking tub AND a giant shower. Do you need more? The mood-lighting and sound-system was terrific. HINT: Bring your own CDs if you like. Had 4 chairs and a table that wasn't used. Guess some people come up there to continue a poker game? The closet is free-standing and very spacious plus it lights up when opened. The view was of the roof of the casino, but honestly, there's not a lot to see of the area, anyhow. I do have one complaint, though. If anyone from management reads this: please oh please fix the service door near our room. That door must have opened and slammed shut every 3-5 min. ALL NIGHT LONG. I had dreams of what I was going to do to the person making all the noise once I woke up. We went to bed at 1am, and I kid you not, the opening and subsequent slamming NEVER CEASED. Like I said, the room was comp'd, so I really don't know who to complain to. MANAGEMENT - Please put an air-compressed thingy on the top of the door so that it doesn't rattle the crap out of all the adjoining rooms and advise your staff that it is not necessary to yell to one another every single time they leave the area and enter the hallway. Some people DO like to sleep! Other than that, we had a great time and hope to do it again soon.