Which CET Strip Hotel?

I'm planning a trip to Vegas in November. It's been almost 10 years (too long!) since my last Vegas trip, and it will be Mrs. Joeman's 1st ever trip there.

We'll be there for 4 days, including a weekend. Through TR, I can get a weekday comp for Rio, Harrah's, Bally's, Flamingo, or Linq, but no dice for the weekend. I am considering a split stay -- stay off-strip (most likely downtown) for the weekend (better gambling & room value), and move into a comped CET strip property for the two weekday nights.

So, the poll question is, which of these CET properties should I book? We want to be on the strip, so Rio is out. Also, I'm going to exclude the Linq for personal reasons -- the old IP gave me the creeps the first (and last) time I visited it. Although it has been "Quadrified and Linqed" since then, I'm still wary of any possible residual bad mojo.

That leaves Harrah's, Bally's, & Flamingo. We're mainly looking for a room that is clean, quiet, & comfortable; decent parking, good value food options, and the possibility of a $5 craps table would be secondary priorities. I would also add good VP options, but this is CET!

Also, which section/tower within these properties would you recommend?

I don't think you can really go wrong center strip. I hear Bally's is pretty nice, so if it's all the same to you that might be the nicest one. I personally have only stayed at Harrah's, and I liked it a lot. The parking deck was simple and convenient, and there's a food court with relitively normal prices/options right next door, as well as Casino Royal was next door with $5 craps.

Flamingo had a really nice and fun pool area when I checked it out, but it was more of an 'outdoor club' so not sure if that was your scene or not, but I digged the vibe and it was a a fun place.

Bally's has a free shuttle that takes you to and from there to the Rio, but you can take that regardless if you're staying there or not. Bally's also has a bunch of the little shops/etc right in front if you're in to some touristy shopping.

Of these, Harrah's is by far the easiest for parking. Bally's is more central, and being connected directly (and indoors) to Paris is nice.

I think FLAMINGO is in desperate need of some major renovation and updating, so NO to it.

I would go with BALLY's. HARRAH's is OK and we have stayed there recently. Too bad PARIS is not on your list.

Harrahs is the best cheap hotel on the strip, rooms are acceptable and dealers are a step above every other property you listed. Flamingo has the best location, objectively, and I just really dislike Bally's layout (connection to Paris is nice).

Take note that Cromwell has full pay quarter JOB, but you earn virtually no credits. Flamingo is like 30 yards away and you don't have to cross a street (Bally's)

I would definitely check out the trip advisor website for reviews of all your options. I visit Vegas 3-4 times a year and find their ratings very helpful. Agree with prev post about Flamingo, CET needs to put some money into this property.

I know you said no to the Linq but it really isn't even close in my mind. Harrahs, Bally's and Flamingo are all perfectly fine and I have stayed there multiple times but the Linq is a much better hotel than the other three since the renovations ended last year. If you can get them all for the same price then the Linq is the obvious choice in my opinion.

I appreciate all the suggestions. To update, evidently my recent action at Harrah's Joliet last week has increased my value in CET's eyes. Now, I can get a comp for all 4 nights, including the weekend, at any of the above properties, plus Planet Ho as well. In addition I am being offered an Indigo Tower Suite at Bally's.

I'm finding the suite tough to pass up.

Quote: Joeman

I appreciate all the suggestions. To update, evidently my recent action at Harrah's Joliet last week has increased my value in CET's eyes. Now, I can get a comp for all 4 nights, including the weekend, at any of the above properties, plus Planet Ho as well. In addition I am being offered an Indigo Tower Suite at Bally's.

I'm finding the suite tough to pass up.

I was going to recommend Bally's to begin with.

The Indigo tower is the older tower though. See if you can get them to give you a Jubilee Suite at check-in.

Quote: ams288

I was going to recommend Bally's to begin with.

The Indigo tower is the older tower though. See if you can get them to give you a Jubilee Suite at check-in.

This.

The Jubilee tower at Bally's is nice, and as others have noted, the center-strip location is great.

One huge caveat wrt Jubilee. If you plan on eating fast food, this location will make you go batty.

http://www.destination360.com/north-america/us/nevada/las-vegas/property-maps/ballys-map.jpg

Jubilee is the south tower and you have to walk to the escalators to get there... then walk all the way back. So, in order to get food from the food court and go back to your room, you have to walk the length of the casino floor more than four times over. It's a lot of work for a slice of Sbarro. If you like a late night snack... when everything else is closed... maybe settle for Indigo. My suite was nice though.

I guess I'm out of the loop, is there something wrong with the LinQ?

Was thinking about staying there.

Imperial Palace, the Quad, and now named the Linq has been going through updates/repairs/etc for quite some time... Which at least for me is what put me off of it for a while. I was constantly lied to and told "the construction is done," or will be, but it never was and was always a construction site then. Also, their gaming sucks.

I will say that I stayed there recently though reluctant. I really enjoyed staying in their newer updated room; it was quite nice. I wouldn't mind staying here again, but I probably wouldn't plan on gambling there.

Quote: Romes

Imperial Palace, the Quad, and now named the Linq has been going through updates/repairs/etc for quite some time... Which at least for me is what put me off of it for a while. I was constantly lied to and told "the construction is done," or will be, but it never was and was always a construction site then. Also, their gaming sucks.

I will say that I stayed there recently though reluctant. I really enjoyed staying in their newer updated room; it was quite nice. I wouldn't mind staying here again, but I probably wouldn't plan on gambling there.

How is the elevator situation at the Linq?

I always heard horror stories when it was the IP/Quad...

I may be eccentric this way, but I really prefer Harrah's LV's hotel. Just the hotel. In judging my experience with that it may matter that every time I've used that hotel it was as a Diamond card holder, and using the separate Diamond check-in they always placed me in the Carnival tower rather than the (perhaps less desirable?) Mardi Gras tower.

Bally's would be the most value for your comp nights, as they have the highest market rates among those.* I liked it fine when I've been there. *[EDIT: That's excluding the Linq from that comparison, as I don't know what they go for now after the reconstruction].

I can't begin to describe how much I despise shacking up at the Pink Chicken, otherwise known as the Flaming-O. It think it would be a good idea if someday somebody actually managed that place, and did so as if they gave a sheet. I know it has fans, so maybe they just hate me there and gave me the "please don't come back" special whenever I crashed there.

I chuckled at the remarks about the IP, Quad, Q, Linq, or whatever da fork it is called this week. But I haven't been in the hotel part since they hosed it off & gave it a big time facelift & gelded it, and generally scrubbed the IP off, so I dunno. Will you have a car? If so, avoid the QuadriLinqIP garage; parking at Harrah's and taking the connection between them in back is reasonably convenient and a better idea even if your destination is next door. Parking is inconvenient and kind of a long walk through the property if using the Paris/Bally's garage.

Quote: Romes

Imperial Palace, the Quad, and now named the Linq has been going through updates/repairs/etc for quite some time... Which at least for me is what put me off of it for a while. I was constantly lied to and told "the construction is done," or will be, but it never was and was always a construction site then. Also, their gaming sucks.

I will say that I stayed there recently though reluctant. I really enjoyed staying in their newer updated room; it was quite nice. I wouldn't mind staying here again, but I probably wouldn't plan on gambling there.

I've said this before since the renovations were completed The Linq is the third nicest CET property behind Caesars and Cromwell and I don't even think that it is close.

Quote: PokerGrinder

I've said this before since the renovations were completed The Linq is the third nicest CET property behind Caesars and Cromwell and I don't even think that it is close.

I go too far back to the IP. I agree it was severely creepy. Don't know how it is now, and may never, because I've loved it at Harrah's every time I've stayed.

Good food choices, mostly decent prices.
All rooms convenient to the casino and the Strip.
5 craps most times, 5 uth, 10 pgp, they deal nearly every game.
Very convenient parking, and directly on the Metro. Also free shuttle to rio, bally, etc.
Good dealers.
10 3:2 bj (you have to look for it) among the 6:5 tables.

Quote: beachbumbabs

I go too far back to the IP. I agree it was severely creepy. Don't know how it is now, and may never, because I've loved it at Harrah's every time I've stayed.

Good food choices, mostly decent prices.
All rooms convenient to the casino and the Strip.
5 craps most times, 5 uth, 10 pgp, they deal nearly every game.
Very convenient parking, and directly on the Metro. Also free shuttle to rio, bally, etc.
Good dealers.
10 3:2 bj (you have to look for it) among the 6:5 tables.

I personally never stayed there when it was IP but stayed at The Quad a few times (free obviously). The Quad was a dump IMO. However the renovations really are amazing, they did an amazing job. I spent almost a month there last WSOP and never regretted that decision whatsoever. I understand a lot of people are still sour on that property because of the IP and Quad days but I would really suggest to everyone to give it another shot. You will not be disappointed.