1. I had picked up a lot of good advice on this forum in reading the reviews from the other 40 hotels, so let me offer some of my own advice: (1) Being in LV before, having a car is an excellent and cost savings way to get around town and to get groceries, (2) We went to 3 buffets: Stratosphere Courtyard, Desert Rose and Sam's Town - everyone said to go to Sam's Town but it was the most disappointing in selection and price ($60 for 2 people and one child at night); Stratosphere had the best selection of the 3 and the lowest price - however, all 3 didn't come close to the average buffets I go to each week in Toronto, (3) 'Town Center' is a new-style shopping complex close to the hotel by car - go east on Russel Road, Las Vegas Blvd South and it is on your right side about 3min down the strip, close to Hwy 215/15 interchange - has Fry's Electronics, food store, etc. (4) here is some golden advice for car access to the hotel: access the hotel from 'Russel Road' - go west from Las Vegas Blvd (south of Mandalay Bay) or get off at the Russell Road I15 exit, go over the bridge (west) and immediately turn left (south) _after_ the traffic lights in a little opening in the road median, go 200' south and the Residence Inn's back door will be on your left before the end of this street.