Choosing a hotel in Vegas

It's been more than ten years since I last visited Vegas, thinking about going again some time in September.
Which strip hotels would you guys recommend for a budget-oriented couple?
I was looking an Circus Circus, Luxor, Excalibur and Stratosphere, mostly, because of their attractive prices, because I don't really know very much about either of them (I did stay at Stratosphere once, and found it ok, but that was sufficiently long ago to say I was a different person then).
Which one of these is better than the others? Which of the others would you recommend that I look at?

Stay at Luxor or Excalibur if those are your choices. Stratosphere is really far north on the strip and a bit out of the way. Circus Circus is somewhat north also and the maintenance of the property has not kept pace with some of the other resorts. The southern portion of the strip is a lot more alive and up to date than the north that has been slowly worsening. If you are looking for a decent hotel with a good location I know the wizard has also recommended Casino Royale. It is located next to Harrahs.

Quote: weaselman

I was looking an Circus Circus, Luxor, Excalibur and Stratosphere, mostly, because of their attractive prices,

I would omit Circus Circus completely. The Stratosphere is geographically undesirable but if you know that you will be content there that is okay. Otherwise, you will have to drive or taxi to get to any other destination. I will say that if you are going to pay budget prices, you will atleast be getting value for your money at the Stratosphere. Good casino, good pool. Bad neighborhood.

Luxor has recently upgraded its rooms or atleast some of them. Excalibur is nice but tends to have alot of kids around the place.

Tuscany Resorts has large rooms and a good comp program but its a trek to get to the strip from there.

It really depends on what you think you will be doing: casino hopping or staying in one place? Casino Royale is or has recently upgraded its rooms but its still a noisy hectic casino with unimpressive food offerings.

Good luck in making your selections.

This would have made a good poll. I would have voted for the Luxor.

Quote: weaselman

It's been more than ten years since I last visited Vegas, thinking about going again some time in September.
Which strip hotels would you guys recommend for a budget-oriented couple?
I was looking an Circus Circus, Luxor, Excalibur and Stratosphere, mostly, because of their attractive prices, because I don't really know very much about either of them (I did stay at Stratosphere once, and found it ok, but that was sufficiently long ago to say I was a different person then).
Which one of these is better than the others? Which of the others would you recommend that I look at?

I wouldn't stay on the Strip at all. Those offerings that aren't insanely, hideously overpriced (I can't imagine paying anything over $50 to stay in a box with a bed and a toilet for 20 hours, so even something like $169 seems way too high to me) are generally low-quality. The Imperial Palace often has some very good deals, however, even though it's a Harrah's property. There, at least you would have the benefit of location, although the gambling there would suck (but the gambling on the entire Strip sucks these days).

So my recommendation is to stay at the Gold Coast. Rooms are in the $39-69 range (sometimes even less), the food is good, there are many non-gambling diversions available, and the games are more liberal than on the Strip (and the limits are lower). Best of all, there is a frequent free shuttle that stops at Bill's on the corner of the Strip and Flamingo--right in the midst of all the exploding lions, or whatever they have on the Strip these days.

Out of your choices, I'd vote for Luxor. Be sure to log in with your player's card number whenever you book with Harrah's or MGM Resorts. They'll take off 20 bucks a night or so even if you rarely play.

Even better than Luxor is Casino Royale in my opinion. The location is great and the rooms are newly remodeled and come with a fridge. The casino floor looks crappy, but the rooms are nice.

Thanks a lot for your input!
What do you guys have to say about Mandalay Bay, Bally's and Flamingo?

Quote: weaselman

It's been more than ten years since I last visited Vegas, thinking about going again some time in September.
Which strip hotels would you guys recommend for a budget-oriented couple?
I was looking an Circus Circus, Luxor, Excalibur and Stratosphere, mostly, because of their attractive prices, because I don't really know very much about either of them (I did stay at Stratosphere once, and found it ok, but that was sufficiently long ago to say I was a different person then).
Which one of these is better than the others? Which of the others would you recommend that I look at?

You didn't mention if you will be renting a car but you did say the strip. I'd stay away from the north end and go with Luxor or Excalibur which will be cheaper. Use the $20 sandwich if you are so inclined. That should get you a room in tower 2 with a flat screen and a good view. Don't worry about the kids. They don't bite-usually.

You'll have the bridges to MGM,Tropicana,NYNY,and the tram to Luxor and Mandalay Bay. It's a brief walk to Monte Carlo where you can board another tram to Bellagio and Caesars- all free. Excalibur is a good value,but Luxor is nicer. Personally I would opt for the cheaper of these two properties.

Oh yeah, don't forget the resort fees.

What is "$20 sandwich"?
Also, one more to throw into the mix is Sahara. What about that one?

Have you thought about staying at Bills?

I've never stayed there personally, but there's tons of great reviews for them on Trip Advisor, and some people swear by Bills. You can seemingly get it for a really good price, too.

A "$20 sandwich" is when you fold up a $20 bill, put it between a credit card and ID, hand it to the front desk person, and ask if there are any complementary upgrades available. A lot of times you'll get upgraded to a better room for your entire stay, just for slyly tipping the front desk person $20.

Quote: weaselman

What is "$20 sandwich"?
Also, one more to throw into the mix is Sahara. What about that one?

Go to VegasClick.com and click on hotel rooms for an explanation of the $20 sandwich or $20 trick as it is sometimes called.

The Sahara is too far north and not great. They don't even have a buffet anymore not that it was ever any good.

This might not be for everyone, but the HILTON GRAND VACATION CLUB also rents rooms like a hotel. One of them is near the Las Vegas Hilton, and was very very nice. We stayed there for 2 days this trip.

You can check out rates on HILTON.com. We usually rent a car, but this is a super easy walk to the MONORAIL.

The MGM Grand's Signature condos can also be rented on a day by day basis. Some of the owners enter what is called the "rental pool." The Signature handles all the formalities. They have a check in desk, just like any hotel. There is also a passage that leads directly to the MGM, you never have to go outdoors to get there. If I needed something more home-like in Vegas, I'd definitely consider it.

Quote: weaselman

What is "$20 sandwich"?
Also, one more to throw into the mix is Sahara. What about that one?

The Sahara is on the far north end of the strip but it is also the last stop for the monorail so getting to the Hilton and most of the strip is relatively easy. The only place within easy walking distance is the Stratosphere.

I last stayed at the Sahara a year and a half ago and it really shows its age. But for 20 or 30 bucks a night, it is hard to complain too much. If you plan on gambling much I found it was also pretty easy to earn comps.

But unless your budget is really tight I'd suggest you consider staying somewhere a little bit nicer. Room prices right now are incredibly low and you can get a good room for far less then you could a year or two ago. If you are on a tight budget, but think you might return in the future, this may be the best chance you have to splurge a little.

Quote: weaselman

Thanks a lot for your input!
What do you guys have to say about Mandalay Bay, Bally's and Flamingo?

Bally's and Flamingo are both in good locations on the strip. I've never gotten a room at the Flamingo - I've heard their normal rooms are a bit dated but their Go rooms are nice (though sometimes pricey). I have stayed at Bally's several times and been very pleased with the rooms I've received. The base rate might be a bit higher than the Luxor and others but there is no resort fee if you don't need/want Internet and other amenities every day.

On the question of where to stay, I prefer to work backwards. Do you have any special plans while in town, like shows, restaurants, or gambling? If so, I would recommend staying close to, if not at, where your plans take you.

If your plans are open, then most of the posters ahead of me have covered the basics. I would like to recommend signing up for e-mail lists of all the hotels you're interested in - and some that you aren't. Some also have Facebook and Twitter presences for additional deals, if you're into that sort of thing.

Also, since you're budget-oriented, I would definitely keep in mind the "resort fees" that these hotels like to charge. They generally range from $5 to $20 a night, if they have them (some don't).

For specific recommendations based on price only:

North - Stratosphere, Sahara, Circus Circus
Center - Imperial Palace, Bally's, Harrah's, Flamingo
South - Monte Carlo, NY NY, MGM Grand, Tropicana, Excalibur, Luxor, Hooters*

* Hooters is off the strip, but just a couple of blocks

As for Mandalay Bay, it's not really a budget hotel. If you can stay there for anywhere near the price of, say, the Luxor, you want to stay there, assuming you can stand being at that end of the Strip.

Alot depends on specific preferences.
Sahara has dollar blackjack, dollar shots with glasses, dollar hotdogs, etc. Sahara also has a fairly good comp system for slot players and a great deal if you get their twitter offers of one-dollar rooms and respond instantly. Even with the six dollar resort fee a one dollar room at the Sahara is a pretty good deal.

If you plan on going to buffets, it doesn't matter how cheap the Imperial Palace is, its routinely described as the worst buffet on the strip and some say worst in all Las Vegas.

Monte Carlo offers rooms that have been described as exceptionally clean which would be important to many but not all.

Mandalay Bay is a bit pricier but it does have a great many specials and internet-only deals. If a pool is important to you, I would say the Mandalay Bay can't be beat.

The twenty dollar trick (bribe) at check in to get an upgrade is almost obscene to me. I loathe such things. You reserve a room. You show up. You take that room and don't try for some often mythical upgrade. Of course my companion insists on it and thinks she is really getting something for that twenty dollars!

Quote: FleaStiff

Mandalay Bay is a bit pricier but it does have a great many specials and internet-only deals. If a pool is important to you, I would say the Mandalay Bay can't be beat.

You are the second poster mentioning that Mandalay Bay is more expensive than my other choices, and it kinda gets me suspicious, that perhaps, we are not talking about the same place, because I am consistently getting quotes for Mandalay Bay that are a few bucks cheaper than Luxor.

I noticed that there are two hotels with "Mandalay Bay" in it - there is "Mandalay Bay Resort and Casion", and "THEhotel at Mandalay Bay" I noticed that the latter was indeed pricier, but what about the former? Is it still a better deal to get that for about the same price as Luxor?

personally I would rather stay more central strip.MB is really far from everything.

Quote: weaselman

I noticed that there are two hotels with "Mandalay Bay" in it - there is "Mandalay Bay Resort and Casion", and "THEhotel at Mandalay Bay" I noticed that the latter was indeed pricier, but what about the former? Is it still a better deal to get that for about the same price as Luxor?

Yes! Just watch out for the resort fees.

MB is rather pricey, but it's been running promotions and specials lately. When i planned my trip for last May, I very nearly chose MB for price.

Quote: Nareed

Yes! MB is rather pricey, but it's been running promotions and specials lately. When i planned my trip for last May, I very nearly chose MB for price.

Mandalay Bay was massively hit by the drop in convention business. It is not the first choice of many liesure travellers because of it's location. Afficiandos love the swimming pool.

MB and Luxor have been forced to drop prices to compete with this more leisure market. It has been one of the corporate sore spots.