Las Vegas, Nevada - Accommodations

Sleep

The vast majority of visitors to Las Vegas arrive on Friday or Saturday nights and stay for the weekend. As such, room rates can seem ridiculously cheap from Sunday-Thursday night but zoom upwards on weekends. Travelers can plan a trip to their advantage: by staying, say, Sunday through Thursday, one can not only save a bundle on hotel rates, but also take advantage of package deals that may include a show, meals, and gambling coupons -- occasionally worth more than the cost of the hotel room itself.

Be aware that many amenities that are included for free in other cities may be quite expensive in Las Vegas; most hotels charge for use of the fitness center with rates around $20 to $40 per visit, local calls are usually billed, and wireless internet is generally at least $12 per day. In Las Vegas parlance, the words "hotel" and "casino" are interchangeable.

On The Strip

• Bally's, 3645 Las Vegas Blvd South, 888-742-9248. [1] A moderate hotel and casino, but the location at the center of the strip makes it one of the best values around.

• Bellagio, 3600 S. Las Vegas Blvd, 702-693-7111, 1 888 987-6667. [2] One of the most upscale hotels in Las Vegas, the Bellagio features an art gallery, a massive indoor flower garden, and the Cirque du Soleil show O.

• Bill's Gamblin' Hall & Saloon, 3595 Las Vegas Blvd. South, at Flamingo Blvd, 702-737-2100, 866-BILLS-45. [3] An excellent value hotel in the middle of the strip between Bally's and Flamingo, across from Caesar's palace and Bellagio.

• Caesars Palace, 3570 Las Vegas Blvd South, 877-427-7243. [4] Renowned for its originality and features, Caesars Palace offers 3,300 hotel rooms, more than 26 different restaurants and cafes, and a special and unique hotel experience.

• Circus Circus, 2880 Las Vegas Blvd South, 877-224-7287, $50-60. [5] A cheaper and less upscale casino that caters to families. The Manor is in poor shape, the Tower rooms are somewhat better. Scheduled for demolition and rebuilding.

• Excalibur, 3850 Las Vegas Boulevard South, 800-697-1791. [6] Named after the mythical sword of King Arthur, this family friendly hotel has a large pool and rides for the kids.

• Flamingo, 3555 Las Vegas Blvd South, 702-733-3111, 888-308-8899, 702-733-3528. [7]

• Four Seasons, 3960 Las Vegas Blvd. South, 702-632-5000, 702-632-5195. [8] Occupying the top four floors of Mandalay Bay's main building, the Four Seasons is one of the most exclusive and high-end accommodations in Las Vegas. Exceeding expectations, it creates new ones with its luxurious furnishings and array of personalized services.

• Hard Rock, 4455 Paradise Road, 702-693-5000. [9] A premier destination entertainment resort located on 16.7 acres on the corner of Harmon and Paradise Road, inside the Paradise Corridor.

• Harrah's, 3475 S Las Vegas Blvd, 702-369-5000. [10]

• Imperial Palace, 3535 Las Vegas Blvd South, 702-731-3311, 800-634-6441. [11]

• Luxor Resort and Casino, 3900 S. Las Vegas Blvd, 702-262-4100. [12] An Egyptian-themed hotel with a massive pyramid that offers interesting room layouts. This hotel is a good option for those looking for a lower-priced but still upscale room on the Strip.

• Mandalay Bay, 3950 S. Las Vegas Blvd, 702-632-7777. [13] Located at the far southern end of the Strip next to the Luxor.

• Mirage, 3400 S. Las Vegas Blvd., 702-791-7111, 800-374-9000. Room rates vary from $75 per night to upwards of $500 per night, depending on time of year and method of booking. [14] An upscale hotel located near the middle of the Strip, the Mirage features a volcano that erupts every hour, a white tiger exhibit, a 200,000 gallon tropical aquarium, and a tropical rain forest.

• MGM Grand, 3799 Las Vegas Blvd South, 702-891-7777. [15] checkin 3PM, checkout 11AM, Standard rooms start anywhere from $79. Opened in 1993, this Hollywood themed resort has 5,044 guest rooms. The theme Maximum Vegas refers to the point that almost anyone can find something to do. With 6.6 acres of swimming area, 2 wedding chapels, 3 theaters, a lion habitat, multitudes of restaurants, a spa and salon, a 380,000 square foot conference center, shops galore, and 165,000 square feet of casino floor, it would be impossible to become bored. Rooms for every budget, and customer service that will surpass your expectations.

• Monte Carlo, 3770 Las Vegas Blvd South, 702-730-7777, 888-529-4828. [16] Modeled after the opulent Place du Casino in Monte Carlo.

• New Frontier, 3120 Las Vegas Blvd South, 702-794-8200, 800-634-6966. Rates start at $45 per night. [17]

• Owners Suites at Signature, 125-145 Harmon Avenue, 888-7512-4446. Rates start at $99 per night [18] Luxury condos on top of the MGM Grand.

• Paris, 3655 Las Vegas Boulevard South, 702-946-7000, 877-796-2096. [19]

• Planet Hollywood Resort, 3667 S Las Vegas Blvd, 702-785-5555, 877-333-9474. [20]

• Riviera, 2901 Las Vegas Blvd. South, 702-734-5110, 800-634-3420. Rates start at $49 per night. [21]

• Sahara, 2535 Las Vegas Blvd South, 702-737-2654, 866-382-8884. Rates from $41 per night. [22] One of the cheapest hotels located on the strip, also served by the monorail. Has a large casino floor, swimming pool, a buffet diner, several restaurants and a NASCAR exhibition.

• Stratosphere, 2000 Las Vegas Blvd South, 702-380-7777, 800-998-6937. Rates from $30 per night. [23] The 1,149-foot Stratosphere Tower is a Las Vegas landmark.

• Treasure Island, 3300 Las Vegas Blvd South, 702-894-7111, 800-288-7206. Rates from $99 per night. [24]

• Tropicana, 3801 Las Vegas Blvd South, 888-826-8767. Rates from $36 per night. [25]

• The Palazzo, 3339 Las Vegas Blvd., 1-877-444-5777. reservations@palazzolasvegas.com [26] The newest addition to The Venetian, taking luxury to a whole new level.

• The Signature at MGM Grand, 3799 Las Vegas Blvd South. [27] A luxury suite hotel behind the MGM Grand.

• The Venetian, 3355 Las Vegas Blvd South, 702-414-4100. [28] A high-end hotel located near the center of the Strip and offering everything from the Grand Canal shops to the incredible Blue Man Group show.

• Wynn Las Vegas, 3131 Las Vegas Blvd South, 702-770-7000. Rooms from $250. [29] Built at a cost of $2.7 billion, this is the most expensive resort in the world, with the money plowed into (among other things) a private golf course, an artificial mountain with a 5-story waterfall and a million-gallon water tank for the nightly show.

Off The Strip

• AmeriSuites Las Vegas/Paradise Road, 4520 Paradise Road, 702-369-3366. [30] Located in the heart of Las Vegas, adjacent to the Hard Rock Casino.

• Clarion Hotel & Suites Emerald Springs, 325 E. Flamingo Rd., 702-732-9100. [31] Only three blocks away from the strip and less than two miles away from The University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV). Free complimentary airport shuttle service

• Comfort Inn, 4350 Paradise Road, 702-938-2000. [32] Within walking distance of UNLV and the Thomas and Mack Center sports arena.

• Westgate Flamingo Bay, 5625 W. Flamingo Road Las Vegas, Nevada 89103, [33]. Only two and a half miles from the Las Vegas Strip with all the amenities of home in one and two bedroom villas equipped with a full kitchen, whirlpool tub, spacious living room and a fireplace.

• Gold Coast Hotel & Casino, 4000 West Flamingo Road, 702-367-7111, 1-888-402-6278. [34] A full service hotel with a casino, eight restaurants, a seventy lane bowling alley, 711 hotel rooms. Free shuttle to the strip, free valet parking, fitness center. The hotel has views of the strip and great value.

• The Desert Rose, 5051 Duke Ellington Way, 702-739-7000. [35]. Spacious 284 condo-styled suites with the comforts of a vacation resort. Sparkling resort pool and hot tub, surrounded by lush foliage.

• Hawthorn Suites, (Las Vegas Strip), 5051 Duke Ellington Way, [36]

• Las Vegas Hilton, 3000 Paradise Rd., 1-888-732-7117. [37] This 3000 room hotel/casino is situated just north of the Las Vegas Convention Center, a couple of blocks east of the strip. A monorail station is located next to the lobby.

• Hooters Casino Hotel, 115 East Tropicana Avenue, 702-739-9000. [38] Located right behind the Tropicana and quick walk to the strip or monorail, this is a perfect hotel for the cheap traveler.

• The Palms Hotel, 4321 West Flamingo Road, 702-942-7777, 1-866-942-7777. [39] A bit off the strip this hotel offers gambling and also a great view of the strip from the Ghostbar.

• The Platinum Hotel, 211 East Flamingo Road, 1-877-211-9211. [40] Boutique non-gaming hotel, all guest rooms are suites with kitchen and private balcony. Two blocks from The Strip, nearby Bellagio.

• Renaissance Las Vegas Hotel, 3400 Paradise Road, 702-784-5700, 1-800-750-0980. [41] Non-gaming, non-smoking hotel convenient to Las Vegas Convention Center, McCarran Airport, Monorail, and The Strip.

• Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino, 3700 West Flamingo Road, 702-777-7777, 1-800-PLAY-RIO. [42] Home to the world famous buffet, and some of the largest standard rooms in Las Vegas.

• Super 8, Koval Lane, Cheap, clean and only 1 block away from the Strip

• Westin Casuarina Casino & Spa, 160 East Flamingo Road, (702) 836-5900. [43] Guest rooms and suites offer understated style and the utmost elegance.

• Fiesta Henderson Hotel/Casino, intersection of I-515 and I-215 in Henderson, Clean, modern hotel offers standard rooms in location away from bustle of the Strip but with fast access to Strip and downtown by car. Players can obtain excellent rates. Restaurants range from steak house to large buffet, and a cafe with unusually good (not fancy) breakfasts and Chinese at modest costs. Very friendly staff.

Downtown

• Binion's Gambling Hall and Hotel, 128 Fremont Street, 702-382-1600. [44]

• El Cortez Hotel and Casino, 600 E. Fremont Street, (702)385-, 1-800-634-6703. checkin 3PM, checkout 11A, price~$35+. [45] 300 room Hotel on Fremont St, 2 restaurants and a chinese buffet. Recently remodeled with a great rewards program! Great place to stay for cheap if you have a rental car, but as long as you walk to the Fremont St Exp, you should be fine.

• Fremont Hotel & Casino, 200 East Fremont Street, 1-800-634-6460, [46] 32,000 square foot casino and 4.5 restaurants, plus right next to the Fremont Street Experience light show.

• Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino, 129 Fremont Street, 702-385-7111. [47]

• Main Street Station Hotel and Casino, 200 North Main Street, 1-800-713-8933. [48] Hotel with Victorian theme, and the not-to-be-missed Garden Court Buffet.

• Plaza Hotel and Casino, 1 South Main Street, 702-386-2110. [49]

• USA Hostels Las Vegas, 1322 Fremont Street, 702-385-1150. [50] A definite budget option. A reasonably well kept hostel with very friendly staff. Free beer and BBQ at the weekend is not to be missed. Surrounding area is not overly safe. Walking alone at night is not recommended. The pizza parlour next door does a deal on a soda and a generous slice of pizza for around $3. Fremont Experience is roughly a 20 minute walk from the hostel.

Suburbs

Many modest hotels, well-away from the Strip and downtown, cater to "locals"; many offer lower rates and (often) better games. Among them are:

• The Station Casinos. Located throughout the greater LV area, to include deluxe resort properties.

• Sam's Town. On Boulder Highway toward Henderson. Large property with considerable parking, to include excellent facilities for RVs.

• Fiesta Henderson. At intersection of I-215 and I-515. Standard rooms, economical and tasty dining, and excellent games. Room rates for players are especially attractive.

Bed & Breakfast

• Michele's French Country Cottage, 4429 Casa Sencia, 702-454-6992. When the flashing neon lights of Vegas get too much, try this great alternative. Capturing the essence of an Alsace-Lorraine French country farmhouse, Michele and her attentive staff will charm and endear you.

Camping

• Arizona Charlie's Boulder Casino, Hotel and RV Park, 4445 Boulder Hwy, 702 951-9000, 1800 970-7280, 702 951-9211. [51] Easy access from interstate and reasonable prices; great for overnight stays passing through Vegas.

• Hitchin' Post RV Park and Motel, 3640 Las Vegas Blvd North, 702 644-1043, 1888 433-8402, 702 644-8359. [52] Sites are cramped but cheap. They take your name but don't take reservations if they are nearly full (beware!).

• Oasis Las Vegas RV Resort, 2711 W. Windmill Lane, Las Vegas, NV 89123. 800 566-4707. [53] Nice clean RV park south of the strip, 50 amp full service hookups. Two pools and hot tubs. Need to drive or take shuttle to the strip. Easy access from I15.