Affordable Accomodations on the Strip and other Las Vegas, NV Hotel/Accommodation Reviews

The Luxor is a fine, middle-of-the-road hotel on the Strip. It looks like a giant pyramid - and it's said the shaft of light that shines through the top can be seen in space. The Egyptian theme is carried throughout the interior of the hotel as well. The rooms are nice sized, clean and adequate. The interior design is nothing special but it does it's job. My favorite thing about the rooms was the tub. Our bathroom had a separate shower and bathtub. The bathtub was deep and perfect for a relaxing soak. It is connected to Mandalay Bay and Excalibur by a monorail that runs frequently. Overall I would say that it's a perfectly fine hotel to stay in if you're looking for affordable accommodations on the Strip.

Unique Qualities: The Spa is nice. We were going to book spa treatments at Mandalay Bay but it was booked. The Spa at the Luxor is cheaper. If you book any spa treatments you are allowed to use the spa, steam room and saunas for as long as you like before and after your treatments for free. They also offer complementary bottled water, juices, coffee, tea, breakfast bars and muffins.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$80-120  » Currency Converter
Phone: 1-888-777-0188
Address: 3900 Las Vegas Blvd South, , LAS VEGAS, NEVADA 891
Directions: South Strip in between Mandalay Bay and Excalibur
Website: http://www.luxor.com/index-flash.php3

Mandalay Bay ranks up there as one of my favorite hotels in Las Vegas. Throughout the year you can find great rates on rooms, so keep your eyes peeled for specials. I also recommend joining their online newsletter - this way they will email you special rates not available, unless you're an insider. All the rooms are beautiful and spacious. The hallways do get a little confusing at times, but that's natural for any large hotel. The staff is friendly and the restaurants and casino here are beautiful, clean and trendy. If you're looking for cheap tables to gamble your money away, this might not be the place for you, but early in the day you might luck out with a $5 table. Also if you join The One Club (free) you will be eligible for discounts at all the corresponding hotels and casinos as you accrue points.

Unique Qualities: In my opinion Mandalay Bay features the best pool in Las Vegas. They have a wave pool, a lazy river as well as 2 regular pools. You can rent private cabanas complete with a/c, televisions and waitstaff if you desire. Lay out on the sand and catch some rays or have a snack at the beach shack. Just beware - if you want an inner tube for the lazy river rentals here are expensive - $20 a day! They only allow hotel guests with room keys in the pool area. They also offer concerts out on the "beach" during the Summer. The pool is open seasonally so call ahead for times and dates. They also have an aquarium featuring the only Hammerhead shark in captivity in North America. I believe that if you join the One Club you get a free admission. They also offer a free monorail that runs from Mandalay to Luxor to Excalibur and back.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$120-180  » Currency Converter
Phone: 877-632-7800
Address: 3950 Las Vegas Blvd. South, , Las Vegas, Nevada 89
Website: http://www.mandalaybay.com/home.jsp

When in Vegas there’s a hotel to fit every style and budget. Harrah’s is located in the middle of the Strip, making it a convenient destination for exploring all that Vegas has to offer. Harrah’s is one of the older hotels on the Strip but it’s middle-of-the-road in terms of quality and price. Once inside the Casino looks like any other, no real frills here. If you can find a deal on rooms here, great… but that can sometimes be a challenge depending on the time of year. Overall, I wasn’t terribly impressed by Harrah’s. It was probably the loudest hotel I’ve stayed in Las Vegas. The rooms were small, but adequately furnished. We were staying 4 to a room and had just enough space. The hotel walls are paper thin so we could hear everything going on all around us – next door, below, above and outside. Staying in the Mardi Gras Tower our “balcony” (read really narrow cement ledge with a railing) was directly above the pool and the outdoor bar. This time of year the pool was closed so noise there didn’t factor in, but the loud nightclub was going strong well into the night. Fortunately this didn’t affect us as we rarely arrived home until well after it closed. Our room was dirty when we checked in, leading to more disappointment with the facilities. Overall, it was just okay. If you are looking for something central on the Strip AND can find a deal then Harrah’s is fine, but it’s not worth paying the high rates you might sometimes encounter here.

Unique Qualities: Harrah’s is located smack dab in the middle of Las Vegas Blvd. making it very convenient to access the entire Strip on foot. It’s also located next to some of the “cheaper” casinos (lower table limits) if that’s where you want to gamble. In the summer months they have a pool. Harrah’s also features a gym and spa, but like many of the casinos, charges a fee to use them.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$80-120  » Currency Converter
Phone: (702) 369-5000
Address: 3475 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Website: http://www.harrahs.com/our_casinos/las/

Known affectionately by the Vegas regulars as IP, the Imperial Palace is a cheap alternative to the mega resort hotel / casinos on the Las Vegas Strip. It’s one of the older properties still left in this area and I probably in need of a bit of updating. Regardless, this hotel always fills up quickly on the busiest weekends in Las Vegas because it’s so affordable. If money is your concern and you’re only looking for a place to rest your head for the tow or three hours your planning to sleep during your stay you might want to check out IP. I must admit that I haven’t yet stayed here, although I have considered it, so it’s only circumstances that have kept me away, therefore I can’t comment on the quality of the rooms. I have, although, spent time in this casino. The table limits here are some of the lowest on the Strip so if you’re a novice gambler you might want to spend an evening here. It’s easy to make friends with the Pit Bosses and dealers, they’re more than helpful here. The casino, like the rest of the hotel, is dated but the low stakes keep people coming back.

Unique Qualities: Low table limits and cheap rates keep this Vegas institution in business.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$40-80  » Currency Converter
Phone: 800.634.6441
Address: 3535 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Directions: Next to Harrah's and across from Caesers Palace on the Strip.
Website: http://www.imperialpalace.com/

Caesars Palace is a Las Vegas institution. On the ever-changing Strip this is one hotel that competes to keep up with the newer, trendier casinos lining Las Vegas Boulevard. Several years ago this facility underwent a major interior renovations, which have since been completed, in an attempt to update the casino level. I have never stayed here, so unfortunately I cannot comment first-hand on the rooms, but I have heard good thins from my friends who have had the Caesars experience. I have spent time in the Casino, restaurants, bars and shopping areas which are great and follow right along with the Ancient Roman theme. The Forum shops are a major tourist draw and the recent addition to the mall only adds to the glory of the Forum shops. Caesars is one of the mid-range hotels on the Strip – it’s not the Bellagio but it’s not Imperial Palace either. A good bet on any trip to Vegas.

Unique Qualities: The Forum Shops are outstanding. Be sure to look up as you're shopping. The sky changes constantly... every hour you're there the sky will go through an entire day's rotation.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$120-180  » Currency Converter
Phone: 877-427-7243
Address: 3570 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Directions: Across from Harrah's and Imperial Palace
Website: http://www.caesars.com/caesars/lasvegas

Located toward the middle of the Strip, The Venetian is one of the newer additions to the burgeoning resort hotel scene in Las Vegas. Loosely styled after the Italian city of Venice, this hotel even features the canals that made it’s namesake so famous. People can take a romantic ride in a gondola – rides are available everyday from a launch site in the Venetian shops for a fee. This all-suite hotel offers luxurious suites for every patron. It is a little more on the expensive side compared to some of the hotels you find on the Strip, but worth every extra penny. And, like every hotel in Las Vegas, there are deals to be found if you’re looking at the right time. This elegant hotel features some of Las Vegas’ finest shops and restaurants. Simply put, it’s a beautiful hotel that inspires romance while being in the middle of all the action.

Unique Qualities: All the guest rooms in the Venetian are suites so you get more space than normal in Las Vegas. The Venetian is also home to The Grand Canal Shoppes and the Guggenheim Hermitage Museum.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$120-180  » Currency Converter
Phone: 1-877-857-1861
Address: 3355 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Website: http://www.venetian.com/

This tragically hip, strip adjacent hotel still hasn’t lost its edge. The young, famous and beautiful still frequent this Vegas institution. Hip music follows throughout the grounds and the rooms are comfortable and affordable. The downside: the service. Overall we were totally unimpressed with the service all around, from check in to maid service to the pool staff. The staff was unaccommodating and slow throughout our stay.

Unique Qualities: The pool is still one of the best in Vegas, featuring swim-up blackjack, a sandy beach and even a waterslide. Cabana rentals fill up fast – call at 9 am exactly one week to the day you want to rent one. If you’re out of luck, sign up on the waiting list the morning of, poolside. And Sundays expect to fight the crowds at their weekly poolside “Rehab”.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$80-120  » Currency Converter
Phone: 1-800-HRD-ROCK
Address: 4455 PARADISE ROAD, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Website: http://www.hardrockhotel.com/home.php

Despite its off-Strip location, this hotel never ceases to draw the celebrities and crowds hoping to catch a glimpse of them. As ultra-hip as The Palms claims to be, it still caters to the masses. The service was friendly and much better than the service at the Hard Rock. When we checked in we were upgraded to a suite, without request. Although the décor was lacking, the suite was large and we had an excellent view of the Strip. The bathroom included a large bathtub (read big enough for 2) and robes (an amenity lacking at other hotels). I would return to the Palms, despite its off-Strip address, simply based on the quality of service provided alone. Their new tower features "Fantasy Suites" for those wanting an unique experience.

Unique Qualities: The pools are small, but do the trick. There are plenty of cabanas for rent surrounding the pool. The trendy pool bar separates the two main pools and is underneath the VIP pool. Waitresses patrol the area, but can be difficult to flag down on the weekends or during their weekly “Ditch Fridays” party. Several great restaurants are on property as well as the famous Ghost Bar and nightclub Rain. Admission to both and line passes are included with your stay.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$80-120  » Currency Converter
Address: 4321 W Flamingo Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89103
Website: www.palms.com