Hotels in Las Vegas?

The Sahara kinda... blows to be quite honest.

Aladdin's used to be a wonderful value (not necessarily the cheapest).. but I've not been there since its become Planet Hollywood.

Luxor is fairly cheap and atleast nicer than the Sahara but you're way on the south end of the strip.

NY/NY sometimes has cheap prices and gets you closer to the center of the strip, but you have to watch out.. they tack on rediculious charges on your bill.


And given the higher taxi costs anymore and the cheapass rentals available.. I personally always rent a car when I go out.. but the traffic isn't that bad IMO (just never-ever drive on the strip)

EDIT - If you do rent a car, you can stay downtown at the Golden Nugget (which is really quite nice since it was redone) and its usually quite cheap.

I just got back from Vegas yesterday and we stayed at Bill's Gamblin' Saloon (the old Barbarry Coast) and it was only $80 a night. It is located on the strip right next to The Flamingo and every room has a 42" plasma tv. Not to mention the 99 cent margarita's. Check out the cover band that plays nightly called Freeride. Also you can catch the monorail at the Flamingo that goes up and down the strip. For the summer it is only $8 for an all day pass.

Linky for the hotel: http://billslasvegas.com/index.php

If you do stay at the Sahara, it is the last stop for the monorail, so you could still get out on the strip.

Monorail linky: http://www.lvmonorail.com/

Have fun, I know we did!

When I went we had a timeshare at the Tahiti and took a cab everywhere. It wasn't bad because we had 4 people every time so it usually came out to like 4bucks a pop. Don't waste your time on Fremont, that place sucks. I was under 21 when I went but I can't wait to go the next time.

NY/NY was really nice. The buffet at the Rio was amazing. It is really hot, in general.

[quote name='puternerd']I just got back from Vegas yesterday and we stayed at Bill's Gamblin' Saloon (the old Barbarry Coast) and it was only $80 a night. It is located on the strip right next to The Flamingo and every room has a 42" plasma tv. Not to mention the 99 cent margarita's. Check out the cover band that plays nightly called Freeride. Also you can catch the monorail at the Flamingo that goes up and down the strip. For the summer it is only $8 for an all day pass.

Linky for the hotel: http://billslasvegas.com/index.php

If you do stay at the Sahara, it is the last stop for the monorail, so you could still get out on the strip.

Monorail linky: http://www.lvmonorail.com/

Have fun, I know we did![/QUOTE]


This hotel is in a decent area too. You're right across the street from Caesars Palace and right up the street (maybe a 10 or 15 minute walk depending on the crowds) from the MGM, Luxor, Excalibur, New York, New York, if you go south. Mirage, Treasure Island, and the Fashion Show Mall if you head North.

Like puter said you can do the monorail for $8 or get an all day bus pass for $5 and be anywhere you want to go on the strip pretty much. Just don't go too far north because you get into the druggie part of town. Anything north past the Sahara is bad.

If you want cheap and still be close to the strip, just stay at The New Frontier. They got rooms for as low as $45/night and if you play in their casino, it's really easy to win free nights and free passes to the buffet.

The Sararah is waay up there. Sure, you're on Las Vegas Blvd, but not near where most of the action is. Weekends are a bitch to get a cheap room since alot of trafic from socal and Az comes up for the weekends. If you are gonna have a car, maybe stay somewhere like the Palace station, across the I15 from the strip, lousy rooms, but its ok to crash in. Also, a couple of months ago, I got the Venitian for $125 a night for Fri and Sat nights. May not seem like a real Cheapass deal, but it was for the Venitian, which usually runs $300+/night on the weekends. I got this directly from the Venitians' web site.

A decent place Ive stayed at that was just a bit off the strip was Emerald Suites on Tropicana. Not great, but an ok place to crash.

[quote name='uli2000']The Sararah is waay up there. Sure, you're on Las Vegas Blvd, but not near where most of the action is. Weekends are a bitch to get a cheap room since alot of trafic from socal and Az comes up for the weekends. If you are gonna have a car, maybe stay somewhere like the Palace station, across the I15 from the strip, lousy rooms, but its ok to crash in. Also, a couple of months ago, I got the Venitian for $125 a night for Fri and Sat nights. May not seem like a real Cheapass deal, but it was for the Venitian, which usually runs $300+/night on the weekends. I got this directly from the Venitians' web site.

A decent place Ive stayed at that was just a bit off the strip was Emerald Suites on Tropicana. Not great, but an ok place to crash.[/QUOTE]

Palace Station actually has a pretty good breakfast buffet, if I remember correctly, but, yes, the rooms are very cheap. Of course, most people just need a place to crash. You could spend all day in Ceasar's and crash at a cheap dig for much less.

And isn't Circus Circus still the cheapest strip hotel for the money. I seem to remember it being right in the mix of things.

[quote name='jaso']Palace Station actually has a pretty good breakfast buffet, if I remember correctly, but, yes, the rooms are very cheap. Of course, most people just need a place to crash. You could spend all day in Ceasar's and crash at a cheap dig for much less.

And isn't Circus Circus still the cheapest strip hotel for the money. I seem to remember it being right in the mix of things.[/QUOTE]


Oh dear lord never stay at Circus Circus. Unless you're taking your three small children to Vegas with you, avoid Circus Circus at all costs.

[quote name='Cornfedwb']Oh dear lord never stay at Circus Circus. Unless you're taking your three small children to Vegas with you, avoid Circus Circus at all costs.[/QUOTE]

Why? It wasn't that bad for the price

There is a Super 8 on the block BEHIND the strip, that couldntve been more than like 60 a night, but I dont remember what day it was.

Still technically walking distance, but I dont know if thats further than you'd like.

the Deuce. Take the deuce!!!!

http://www.rtcsnv.com/deuce/

Going to vegas in exactly three weeks, staying at the luxor... Definitely not cheapass, but I got a pretty good deal with airfare from yahoo travel.

Hooters Hotel & Casino isn't a bad place either. It's across the street from MGM at the end of the strip and the beginning/end of the monorail.

If you can manage to get a decent level room in the tower facing the pool the chick watching is awesome. It's smaller then most of the hotels, but it works and there is obviously a Hooters restaurant, and no the dealers don't wear the same waitress outfits (Thank God since most are guys)

[quote name='hufferstl']the Deuce. Take the deuce!!!!

http://www.rtcsnv.com/deuce/

Going to vegas in exactly three weeks, staying at the luxor... Definitely not cheapass, but I got a pretty good deal with airfare from yahoo travel.[/quote]

I did not see one Duece that wasn't packed full the whole time I was there. There are also trolly looking buses that run the strip too. If your hotel doesn't have it's own shuttle from the airport (assuming you are flying in) then try to avoid the various shuttles, a cab really isn't much more and you don't have to deal with a bunch of sweaty, smelly people (other than the cab driver) just make sure they don't take you through the tunnel, it'll cost more.

[quote name='JJSP']My girlfriend and I are looking to go to Vegas for the weekend of 8/10-8/12, and we found rooms at Sahara for $92/night (Friday and Saturday nights) through AAA and Travelocity. AAA offers more discounts with coupon codes or offer codes, but I've got nothing. We're not set on that hotel, but we'd like to stay on the strip as we're planning on walking everywhere since Vegas traffic BLOWS.

Anyone recommend anything or share any stories on how to get a Cheapass deal in Vegas?[/QUOTE]

Not trying to be Mr. "I know everything", but I have taken a trip or two to Vegas for the last 8-9 years. So maybe I can help.

It used to be booking your room at the hotel you wanted to stay at was usually the best deal. Sun-Thursday reservations are still usually the cheapest, as weekends are popular for trips without taking days off... and as a result rooms can be double or more on those days. Most hotels have e-mail programs that send you info about discounts and sales. I highly recommend these. I get deals from the Mandalay Bay/THEhotel, Bellagio, Monte Carlo, and maybe one or two others. These are my favorite hotels (in order), so they are where I normally stay.

Now, if you need airfare as well, and are travelling with at least 2 people, the travel packages through Alaska Airlines have been the very best deals the last couple of years. Packages are non-refundable, which was an issue when a buddy had to cancel last minute a year ago (death at his workplace, but Alaska said they couldn't do anything for him)... so be aware changing reservations is as much as your package will cost, but for days you don't need to change... it's great!

I've stayed at THEhotel at the Mandalay Bay shortly after it opened, with airfare and two nights stay for $200 each with two people. My very first trip to Vegas I stayed at the Mirage for $60/night (VERY clean and nice), but that was a LONG time ago. So there are many deals out there.

Current recommendations:

1) Check the hotel web sites themselves.

2) Look for "Travel packages" through Airlines (Alaska and SWA have been the best for me in the past.)

3) Not as good of deals, but sometimes better than booking without discounts are Travelocity, Expedia, etc. I ALMOST took a trip in May, feeling I REALLY needed a vacation. Direct booking hotel and airfare seperately was big bucks, and I couldn't find Travel Packages for the hotels I wanted with the airlines. So I looked at the online "package" companies, and while Travelocity was $500 for one person w/ hotel and airfare... Expedia was $432 for the same airfare and hotel. Orbitz was more as I recall...

Anyway, with the gambling, shows, shopping, pools, and great weather... (not to mention world class restaurants) Vegas is a virtual paradise without even getting into the more adult entertainment. I highly recommend Primm for the unique outlets about 40 miles outside Vegas if your interested in Tommy Bahama, Banana Republic, Polo, and just a bunch of other quality shops with great deals. You'll find some of these outlets at other places in Vegas, but the Bahama one is the ONLY Outlet of theirs in the country (unless I'm mistaken), and I got more out of my trip to Primm last trip than anywhere else. (Shuttle service is available from the MGM to and from those outlets for $10 round trip, so I didn't even need a car.)

Hope some of this helps!!! Enjoy your trip!!!

Rad, thanks guys. The first time we went to Vegas, we were in a big group and stayed at the Emerald Suites across from the Orleans - pretty nice place for what it was.

We're driving out from Orange County, so we'll have a car - not an issue. I'm just sorta anti-Vegas traffic, espescially on the weekends. The less driving, the better.

I'll look into some of your ideas. We did find a nice room at Luxor that included spa passes, show tickets, and $25 in chips for $150 a night...it's not Cheapass, but it'd be pretty awesome to wake up to a massage.

EDIT - Upon further inspection, the New Frontier will close on July 16, 2007 and will be demolished. Bummer.

[quote name='harunim']Why? It wasn't that bad for the price[/quote]

circus circus is at the end of the strip, its so far away it shouldnt even qualify as being on the strip. you have to take a cab or shuttle just to get down to the hip places.

we usually stay at exaclibur, it has a good location and rooms area always cheap, and the tables are cheap as well. but itll likely be over 100.

the tropicana is a cheap place thats a block off the strip, you can get a room there for 75 bucks, before any discounts.

Couple more notes - Any of the hotels that seem kinda kid friendly... Treasure Island (especially before changing the pirate show), Circus Circus, etc... they invariably take even more abuse than the "normal" hotels, and aren't as nice to stay at IMHO. Treasure Islands pillows were totally flat, the mattresses seemed rock hard, and there were about 20 people in a hot tub meant for 12 at all times. I took a girlfriend there, and I was pretty sorry later.

As for where you stay, IMHO, anywhere from the Wynn to the Mandalay is the real Strip. And you can cab, monorail, or walk between most of the places for very cheap to free. Granted, if your trying to go from the Mandalay to the Mirage, it's gonna be a bit of a trek... but there are options depending on your needs and timeframe. I almost always walk EVERYWHERE when I'm in Vegas, as I'm usually not in a hurry and just enjoy taking it easy.

That said, there are obviously great shows and food in Vegas. My personal favorites are the Cirque show "Ka" at the MGM Grand, and Delmonico Steakhouse at the Venetian. Ka is the only Cirque show with a proper story, telling the story of a prince and princess that are seperated from their mother and forced to grow up seperated. Without wanted to tell too much more, let me tell you the "arena" the show is in, the stage, the actors, and the sets are TOP NOTCH. Hard for a Cheap Ass Gamer to recommend spending about $160 seeing a show... but believe it or not, that one is worth it. I've actually gone twice.

As for Delmonico, I'm no Emeril fan. Didn't really understand it was his place when we went the first time. Group of 7 of us saw Ka, then went out to eat. We were hungry, so we had appetizers (I'm not normally adventurous... but I had a lobster ravioli that were to DIE For), a $70 bottle of wine, and our entree (I had the filet, medium well, butterflied... and well, it was the BEST steak I've ever had). I'd highly recommend it to anyone.

And it's occasionally worth the trip to the EB or Gamestop at the Fashion Show Mall. I remember going there before they remodeled the place, and occasionally bringing home clearance stuff for SUPER cheap... because most folks in Vegas weren't checking that store out. Imagine like most things in that mall, it's ALL expensive now... but it doesn't hurt to look.

Again, best wishes on your trip. I'd love to go, but since moving into my condo about 10 months ago... I've been adjusting to a new budget, and it's NOT in my immediate future. Especially with the money I spent during the DDD 20% sale, etc. recently.