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Which would you choose: Bills Gamblin Hall or Excalibur?

Discussion in 'LV Strip Hotels' started by englishmanincan, Apr 25, 2012.

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  1. englishmanincan

    englishmanincan Tourist

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    Ended up booking flights that leave a day later than the hotel we booked at the Flamingo as it was much cheaper. Therefore need to book another night in a hotel where we can check out about 3am and pick up our flight from the airport that leaves at 6am.

    Narrowed it down to two cheap hotels, Bills and Excalibur.

    Which would you pick? Been reading lots of reviews and read lots of bad things about bed bugs at Excalibur, is it that big of a problem?

    Are the upgraded widescreen rooms much better in the Excalibur?

    Any good reasons to go for Bills?

    How much would a taxi be from the hotel to Airport at 3am in the morning if anyone knows?

    In terms of stuff to do were not really that bothered as its just a place to crash for the night really and occupy some time the day before..(pool/eats/look around other hotels) If its any help, we booked the Flamingo GO rooms as we didnt like the look and reviews of the shabby older ones..



    any comments would be greatly appreciated!
     
  2. LushLife

    LushLife Tourist

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    I've won a bit at Bills, but I"ve stayed at the Widescreen rooms at Excalibur, and I was impressed. They are updated and nice for a cheap.

    I haven't heard anything about bed bugs. The only thing I would say is Bills is a better location, although my favorite part of the strip is the South.
     
  3. englishmanincan

    englishmanincan Tourist

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    thanks for the reply. Well we are staying at the Flamingo for 5 nights prior so i think in terms of location we will have covered much of what we want to do.. maybe the change of scenery would be nice - any reason why you prefer the south of the strip?
     
  4. IxAccDnf

    IxAccDnf VIP Whale

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    Aside from the fact Bill's has always been at/or near the top of my favorites list, I would choose it just to minimize the grief factor.Easy to move there from Flamingo,easy check-in with short or no line at all.
     
  5. wigwam_salesman

    wigwam_salesman VIP Whale

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    I'd do excalibur. You can visit the north strip when at flamingo and the south when at excalibur.
     
  6. Auggie

    Auggie Dovahkiin

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    For all the bed bug banter that's been going back and forth I don't remember ever seeing Excalibur's name come up. Because its a cheap place people just assume its a crappy dump, but the widescreen rooms are actually pretty nice.

    That said, since you are just looking for a place to spend a few hours I'd probably go with Bill's. I have no interest in staying there, but it just seems so convenient to just check out of Flamingo and basically wheel your luggage next door and check in.

    Taxi to the airport is around $10-15 most times of the day from most places on The Strip, doesn't really matter if its mid afternoon or the middle of the night.
     
  7. englishmanincan

    englishmanincan Tourist

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    So the impression I get then is that Excalbiur Widescreen rooms are nicer..

    Just checked the prices and both are the same at $50 for Bills and $49 for Widescreen Room at Excalibur..so very tempting to just go Excalibur. We are not that bothered about travelling down to the south End, would probably be nice to see that part too after spending 5 days in the central part. I just needed some clarification about the condition of the Excalibur!
     
  8. raraavis

    raraavis VIP Whale

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    does that $49 at excal include their resort fee??? (bill's doesn't have a resort fee :))

    i haven't stayed at either, but i know i would choose bill's in a heart beat. it's really just about convenience and location (switching to flamingo will be a breeze). all that being said, i do like the south strip a lot and try to make it down there for a visit when staying center strip. oh and stage door is right behind bill's too. stock up on some alcohol for the room :thumbsup:
     
  9. Shot Clock

    Shot Clock Tourist

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    Bill's, no question.
     
  10. vegas_or_bust

    vegas_or_bust High-Roller

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    FWIW--Bill's just doesn't give me the feeling that I am in Vegas. It reminds me of a nearby local's casinos with it's three story building.

    Excalibur has much more of a vegas-resort feel to me as compared to Bill's. More dining/bars/attractions etc.

    It should be noted that I prefer the huge mega-resort and casino feeling when choosing a hotel in Vegas.

    South strip is fun. Excal might give you a chance to check things out down there and see if you like it.
     
  11. voltron12

    voltron12 Low-Roller

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    Bills you can want your luggage easily from the flamingo. To excaliber it would be a haul and maybe a pain to walk luggage that far so a cab will cost more. Also, with resort fee will be 10-20 more expensive. Excaliber room will be a little better, but not by much. All of bills rooms have flat screens also now. So very simliar rooms. Bills also only has 4 floors so elevator use will be easy. If you are looking for a reason to visit the south end of the strip and hit up those hotels, then excaliber is an ok choice, but i would go bills easily.
     
  12. nostresshere

    nostresshere Mr. Anti Debit Card

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    If I read this right, you just want a hotel from when you check out of Flamingo until you leave for a 6am flight.

    For that, Bills is the best answer. You can just drag your bags over there by yourself. Assume you have wheeled bags.

    I would double check what sort of rate Flamingo will give you though.

    Getting cab will not be hard. Less than 15 minutes to airport. No traffic. No lines. You can leave hotel at 4:30 without a problem for 6am flight.
     
  13. blissfulignoramus

    blissfulignoramus 3:2, nothing else will do

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    I last stayed at Bill's a couple of years ago. I really like the place.

    THE GOOD:

    1. Location, location, location. Right at the center of the action on the strip. This is a HUGE advantage.
    2. Plus, it's small. A very short haul from sidewalk to your room.
    3. It's reasonably clean, comfortable, and of course, the price is right.
    4. Very convenient parking garage, if you're driving (sounds like you're not).
    5. Eye candy. Lots of attractive women there, probably for Drai's, the nighclub. A younger crowd.
    6. Cool bar.

    THE BAD:

    1. Not very well ventilated. It gets smoky. The smoke smell really gets up into the hallways upstairs. On the other hand, I have never really noticed it in the rooms.
    2. The table games are terrible: all of the typical Harrahs 6:5 blackjack BS, and lots of novelty games. The craps look okay. The sports book is tiny and pretty dull.
    3. The crowd, while young and attractive, gives it a Spring Break kind of atmosphere. Apparently they are moving the beer pong from O'Sheas to Bill's, which pretty much sums that up. Basically, the place is slowly turning into O'Sheas.

    I have always considered it one of the best places to stay on the strip for my needs (i.e., a convenient place to sleep and shower), and considered booking it for my next trip, but the news of beer pong made me think twice about it. We'll see how it all turns out in that part of the Strip with the Linq project and everything else going on.
     
  14. martay

    martay Low-Roller

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    For me, this is the answer. Excalibur's resort fee is currently $15 per night. Taking that into consideration, I would stay at Bill's. I also happen to really like Bill's and have stayed there several times.
     
  15. buffalo

    buffalo Low-Roller

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    There are two resorts oriented towards kids, Circus-Circus and Excal. After 5 days at the Flamingo, which can get crazy busy, the last place I'd want to go would be Excal. I've stayed at Bill's a few times and you can get from the casino to your room in about 30 seconds. The remodel at Bill's in 2007 is starting to show some age, but the TV's are big flat screens and you can still open the little window in the bathroom.
     
  16. Film-Noir

    Film-Noir High-Roller

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    Excal

    Excal, wide screen room!

    Bill's was fun back when it was Barbary Cost, but no more since CET has their
    tentacles running through it. Now it should become a parking garage, after it goes up in a nasty dust cloud.

    They call it maintenance CET, look it up:
    "upkeep: the general condition of something with respect to repairs"
     
  17. luvnvegas2

    luvnvegas2 Guest

    I would try to stay at Flamingo...after a five night stay they may comp you the sixth night assuming you give them some play time.
     
  18. rob889

    rob889 High-Roller

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    Bills...no contest. I've stayed in a nonsmoking widescreen room at Excalibur and when you'd first walk in the stale smokey smell would hit you every time.

    Pros:

    Beds at bills are comfortable

    Rooms are clean

    Great view of the fountains if you can get on that side

    Location is great for just about anything you'd want

    Takes 1-2 minutes to get from room to strip (some places take 10 minutes)

    Lower table limits in the casino

    Cafe is good

    Check in is a breeze..have yet to see more than one person at the front desk

    No resort fee (I'd still prefer bills over Excalibur even if it was $30-40 more)


    Cons:

    Casino is smokey

    Rooms get a lot of the outside noise since they are so close to the strip...loud people, sirens, etc.

    Showers often drain slow (Alka seltzer will fix that)

    No safe in room (unless you get a suite)


    Feel free to add to my list. Hope this helps. Whatever you ultimately decide hope you have fun
     
  19. LushLife

    LushLife Tourist

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    I like the Mandalay Bay for some reason and the monorail (free one). I like to go to THE Hotel. I also like PH which is still South right?
     
  20. bdg626

    bdg626 Low-Roller

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    never stayed excal but usually stay at aria but on two trips with friends found bill's more than suitable.

    as an mgm person, the resort fee doesn't really bother me, however, since you are only staying the room for about 12 hours, you probably won't need the resort fee amenities. i'd say go for bill's. convenient for your luggage, a good place to crash and still centrally located.

    :beer:
     
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