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First Time Visiting - Hotel Recommendations

Discussion in 'LV Strip Hotels' started by Scotlad30, Mar 3, 2016.

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  1. Scotlad30

    Scotlad30 Tourist

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    Hi everyone :)

    Myself and my partner are due to come to Vegas in June for 11 nights (June 16th - June 27th) to celebrate our 30th birthdays. The flights are booked but we now need to book accommodation. It will be our first time in Vegas and we are having trouble deciding which hotel to stay at. There are so many to choose from!!!

    We would like as much spending money as possible so are budgeting about £1500 for the hotel (including daily hotel fees and tax). The following hotels seem to be our best option:

    Treasure Island
    New York New York
    The Mirage
    Planet Hollywood
    Paris Las Vegas
    Luxor
    Monte Carlo
    Excalibur
    Ballys Las Vegas hotel and casino

    I was wondering which ones people would recommend? I suppose we are looking at being quite central on the strip although don't mind walking too far. Thanks everyone for your advice in advance!!!
     
  2. DJ Ran

    DJ Ran VIP Whale

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    It's pool weather so its very easy to narrow this list down. Mirage would be my first choice followed by Paris, TI and Monte Carlo. Forget Excalibur, it's kiddie land. The Pools at NYNY and PH are awful so I'd pass on those as well.
     
  3. Sonya

    Sonya Queen of VMB

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    Our budgets for hotels seems similar. I find that I gravitate mostly to TI, Mirage, Planet Hollywood (although I don't enjoy their casino as much), and Paris. I have had many friends stay at NYNY, but I haven't stayed there before.

    More info about what you are specifically looking for in a hotel would be helpful in narrowing down which works best for YOU. Do you want a nice pool (as suggested below), good spa, cheap food options, best view, best casino for your favorite game, etc? Every hotel has certain things it does better than another, so knowing what's important to you helps us give you a better answer.
     
  4. jtdestef

    jtdestef Low-Roller

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    The best out of that group in my opinion is the Mirage. I'm not sure what the price difference is, but places like TI, Bally's and Monte Carlo are plenty nice and are usually cheaper. Planet Hollywood has a fun vibe and a great location, but I'm assuming that's probably the most expensive in the group. Paris has great location and has a cool Vegas theme, but I thought my parents' room was dated looking for what they paid and that was a few years ago. Luxor and Excalibur are really far down for first timers. If you want a budget resort, I'd look at places like Harrah's and Flamingo before going to Excalibur or Luxor even though the rooms at Luxor are probably nicer.

    To recap, I'd pick Mirage as the best and one of TI, Bally's or Monte Carlo for best bang for your buck. It's really a matter of opinion for most. None of these choices are terrible.
     
  5. Scotlad30

    Scotlad30 Tourist

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    Thank you everyone for your quick replies. I suppose a nice pool would be good so we can relax in the sun when we feel we need a rest from gambling and sightseeing :) It would be good to be quite central so we could easily visit other hotels and be close to the hustle and bustle of the strip and cheap food is always good. In terms of the room, a nice view would be preferred and something quite modern and clean.
     
  6. spdandpwr

    spdandpwr VIP Whale

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    Are you loyal to any of the loyalty programs for the mentioned properties? If you snag the 25% off deal that MGM is currently running, you could get a great deal. That said, I think the Mirage is the best property on the list. Personally, I'd go with Ballys because it is so central and the Jubilee rooms are better than the equivalent priced rooms at the Paris and PH. Surprised you didn't mention MGM Grand, that's much more central than some of the other properties you mention.
     
  7. Shigeru

    Shigeru Newbie

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    I would vote to avoid Luxor and Excalibur unless you need the lower prices they offer.

    Monte Carlo's rooms are little run-down (marble is cracked, bath fixtures are rusty) but it offers a good "value." They have a very nice pool, including a lazy river, wave pool, and sand beach. The property was clean and the employees were very courteous. It definitely has glimmers of luxury with all the marble and the remnants of the European theme. I appreciated its proximity to Aria/Bellagio/Cosmo, and how the property offered lower priced options at the Food Court.

    NYNY is slightly more expensive than MC, and Mirage is above that, and for the most part the resorts' conditions reflect that. Mirage probably has a slightly worse location, but it depends what other properties you want to be close to.

    I don't have much experience with the Caesars properties, but while dining at Paris is excellent, the room prices give me pause considering the lack of room remodels.
     
  8. Scotlad30

    Scotlad30 Tourist

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    I'm not a member of any loyalty programs unfortunately. How do these work and how would I become a member?

    The MGM grand would be an option I suppose but appears to be the most expensive out of all the hotels listed and slightly above my budget. But I would be willing to pay a little bit more if it would be worth it.
     
  9. smerrian

    smerrian View from Bally's

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    The best response was from Sonya:

    More info about what you are specifically looking for in a hotel would be helpful in narrowing down which works best for YOU. Do you want a nice pool (as suggested below), good spa, cheap food options, best view, best casino for your favorite game, etc? Every hotel has certain things it does better than another, so knowing what's important to you helps us give you a better answer.

    And the clarifying remark from someone who is truly 'lost':

    Thank you everyone for your quick replies. I suppose a nice pool would be good so we can relax in the sun when we feel we need a rest from gambling and sightseeing Click or hover your mouse to enlarge image It would be good to be quite central so we could easily visit other hotels and be close to the hustle and bustle of the strip and cheap food is always good. In terms of the room, a nice view would be preferred and something quite modern and clean.

    :beer:

    Scotlad30. What Sonya was asking you was, "Which of these items do you prioritize as most important to you. Yes, we all want all of them. If you want ALL of them just book the Wynn at $600/night. She wanted to know which items are the most important to you. Then we can tell you which hotel does that best.
     
  10. Tammy58

    Tammy58 Frugal Slot Jockey

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    Another vote for Mirage as the best and my second choice would be Paris. Yes, Paris rooms are getting a bit tired but the location is fantastic! Not sure where you are checking rates but if you are booking direct with the hotel...check smartervegas for any discount codes. Have a great trip!
     
  11. sybgal

    sybgal VIP Whale

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    Understand Mirage can be very nice.....but so can Bally's & the Jubilee rooms are fantastic....you might be able to get upgraded upon check in so can always reserve a regular room. The location is the best of those mentioned....but, if you want a really nice pool, Flamingo could be a good choice too & the location is convenient to walk to almost everywhere...
     
  12. Scotlad30

    Scotlad30 Tourist

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    I suppose as we have never been before location is the most important so we can experience as much of Vegas as we can without walking for miles every day. A good choice of food close by would be good too since we will be there for 11 days.

    It's hard to get a sense of how long the strip is when you haven't been. If we were to stay in a hotel towards the end of the strip would it take some time to walk middle and the other end? I'm assuming it's relatively safe to walk abouf the strip at night?
     
  13. smerrian

    smerrian View from Bally's

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    Also vote for Mirage as the best overall. Also vote Paris as second. Paris has the best views (Bellagio fountains staight-on) and a great French theme done very well but their pool is crappy and the rooms are a bit worn. Flamingo and Caesars have the nicest pools in the Mid-Strip/Mid-priced category, by far. Flamingo has redone SOME of their rooms in a modern motif, but who guarantees you'll get one of those? Also, playing at any Caesars property gives you the 'play up 50 points and get a free buffet' offer. The Mirage is more modern, decent pool but not great, no great food deals. All of the hotels are a trade-off of some good stuff vs. some not so good stuff.
     
  14. Bommen

    Bommen High-Roller

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    Although its been a while since i stayed at any of these hotels i would say Mirage is you best option. You mentioned you were interested in Mgm, why not book the Mgm Signature through vrbo? You can easily get that for under 1500 usd for the dates that you mentioned so that will save some money while staying at a nicer property.
     
  15. smerrian

    smerrian View from Bally's

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    Wonderful input!

    All of these hotels are mid-Strip and have great access to each other. As far as location, they all are just what you're looking for TI, Mirage, Harrah's, Flamingo, Paris, PH, Caesars Palace, Bellagio, Forum Shops. As long as you're going to be there for such a nice long trip, plan on having a walking day to travel a bit up the Strip to check out some of the more upscale properties: Venecian/Palazzo, Wynn/Encore, Fashion Show Mall. Plan on having another day (maybe by monorail) to check out the south-Strip properties: MGM, Tropicanna, Mandalay Bay, Luxor, Excaliber, And another day to check out Cosmopolitan, Monte Carlo and Aria/Crystal Mall. There are free shuttles to many other off-Strip casinos, also. You can locate these on www.lasvegasadvisor.com . Many of these off-Strip casinos have really great meal deals that you won't find the likes of on the Strip (which is just a 'suck your money out of your pockets' machine). Also, a trip downtown. Cheap food and lots of really good gambling odds. At night they have live bands and a lot going on.
     
  16. flyguyfl

    flyguyfl MIA

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    The loyalty programs are based on your gambling risk (dollar/pound input) regardless of win or lose. The hotel/casinos track this by players cards similar to airline loyalty cards. You may be able to sign up on line or by a call to one of the Strip hotels. The two main competitors are MGM based casinos or MLife and Caesars Entrainment (CET). Even being a new person in the system may give you some discount on the rooms. Many here get essentially free rooms based on past play though these systems. It would be worth a call or two. to various hotels that interest you. That may fee some of the roughly $2100 dollars you have budgeted for rooms for other things You can find the hotel numbers on the web. Happy to have a new member from Scotland.

    Ask more of the many questions you will have as the people here are very accommodating.
     
  17. irishdave

    irishdave VIP Whale

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    For best location and bang for the buck on the room I'd recommend Ballys. I'm not high on Bally's casino, but you really can't beat the center strip location. It's connected to Paris, across the street from Bellagio and a short walk to the other major casinos there. It's not a bad walk up to V/P or even Wynn, and easy access to the monorail if you want to hit the MGM properties on the south. The rooms are average, not flashy, but clean and comfy and you definitely get the most square footage per money for anywhere on the strip.

    A cheaper option would be Flamingo, meh rooms from what I read, but again great location and one of the best pools for a mid-tier property. It does tend to be a party pool tho!

    Oh, don't worry about the food, if you're center strip you can casino hop and have almost any option available.
     
  18. flyguyfl

    flyguyfl MIA

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    The Strip being from The STRAT to Mandalay Bay is about 4.3 miles. You are looking at center Strip locations. I would think it is safe to walk about at night most anywhere on the Strip but you will encounter "entertainers" and pan handlers on some bridges.
    As for food, consider going a block behind Harrah's to Ellis Island for good low price food breakfast through dinner. There are many others too. Just search this site to get more info of use to you.
     
  19. JCLND

    JCLND Tourist

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    If the pool is important is look at the Golden Nugget.....tough to beat the pool. Also have Freemont street which is always entertaining. Also cheaper to drink and gamble.
     
  20. spdandpwr

    spdandpwr VIP Whale

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    I would like to caveat that more money to gamble / eat is more important than having a nice room. You'd be surprised how quickly your money goes when you're buying every meal / drink you consume for 4+ days...plus gambling and the hotel itself.
     
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