Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Paradise Tower Opens

The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino opens its new, 490-room Paradise Tower today in Las Vegas. Marketed as significantly more upscale than the hotel's existing accommodations, rooms in the tower come in sober-minded neutral hues, with white linens and sleek dark wood dominating the decor, but still manage to exude the surrounding resort's rock 'n roll vibe, thanks to edgier touches like studded velvet fabric.

Although we hear that the differences between the original hotel rooms and those in the new tower aren't as dramatic as the hotel itself might have you believe, we'd much rather bunk in a brand new room if given the choice.

But better than the newness of the rooms are the low rates. With many hotels in Las Vegas worried about capacity during the down economy, the tower is priced right for recession-era travel, as long as you're willing to travel during the week. Rooms in the tower start at $79 night for midweek stays in August, but rise to $269 and up for weekend visits.

More in Las Vegas travel....