On the whole, after this trip, we all agree Elara is by far our favorite mainland HGV resort to stay at. It was the first HGV deed we ever bought almost 10 years ago (retail of course, ugh!) but is by favorite to have an ownership interest in.
Staff are always professional. Accommodating, quick to address service calls, housekeeping generous with the coffee bag refills, and they take cleaning seriously. Just observing them - I went to the gym at all different hours of the day, and there was almost always someone in there wiping down machines, cleaning, replacing towels, etc. Throughout the day it seems all surfaces are wiped, including the elevator buttons in the foyers, even the telephone table in each floor's elevator foyer that seldom gets touched or even seen.
Location is unbeatable. Close enough to center strip to be steps away from the action, but just far enough away to be peaceful. Most center strip amenities are easily walkable, and an Uber to anywhere else on the strip is ~$10. 10 minutes to and from the airport, going home on a weekday evening we grabbed our bags, jumped in an Uber, and were through ticketing, security, and sitting at our gate in less than a half hour. Indoor access to Miracle Mile and a ton of eating/drinking/shopping options. The ABC Stores in Miracle Mile, or the adjacent CVS, have everything you might need for your room - affordable bottled water, medicine, snacks. The suite shop in Elara has a decent selection for its size, but is currently being expanded for more offerings.
Mood is family friendly. No gambling onsite, gotta walk to PH for the nearest machines. The pool is nice but kept very low-key. Apparently when the tower was Westgate the pool gained a reputation for being a "party pool," which HGV cracked down on with extreme prejudice. This can be good or bad depending on your style, for instance parents getting too "splashy" with their kids will get the whistle blown on them. This is meant to be a subdued pool experience, and they're serious about it, which works for me. Folks looking for party pools can head to the MGM Grand pool right down the street (make sure you're up to date on all of your shots first!)
Overall always a great experience here (we go
2-3 times per year), especially in the shoulder seasons when the pool is just opening/closing, or winter time.