stormbird

I have searched this forum but the posts regarding Caesars are now a bit dated so I am wondering any recent reports on either hotel.

Which one would you prefer? We will be there in March and would like to stay right on the strip but price is a factor.

I just don't know where to start really with a Vegas hotel - I know those two by name - I would love to stay at the Bellagio but think it might be out of our price range.

Thanks for your help

djkbooks

If price is a factor, and you want to stay right on the strip, have a look at Bill's! The location is absolutely perfect and rooms are large and just fine. One highlight is the Victorian Room within, 24/7, great food, low prices (and best Chinese in Las Vegas).

But, do check the TripAdvisor Las Vegas forum and all resources for discount codes. Also, Priceline and Hotwire (www.biddingfortravel.com and www.betterbidding.com are fabulous resources).

For March, you should be able to find some amazing hotel rates.

In the meantime, recommend booking Bill's...then keep shopping.

cferrb

The Monte Carlo has been really affordable lately because of the construction at the new City Centre. Prices may have gone up, but do check them out.

stumpworks73

March is a major convention month in Vegas and price availability will depend on whether a big crowd event is at the same time. If not, most of the properties have competitive prices and a little shopping should get you a great room at a reasonable rate. Even Belagio has competitive rooms at the right time.

Other good locations to check are Paris, Monte Carlo and MGM.

tom42

If Bellagio is out of your price range, Caesar's may be too. Have you actually priced anything out yet? Luxor should be significantly cheaper than Caesar's. Another thing to mention is that prices within Caesar's can vary a lot depending on the Tower. The Augustus and Palace Towers provide the nicest and largest rooms (another tower is being built but I am not sure when it is scheduled to open). The Forum Tower rooms have very recently been renovated so they should also be nice - although these rooms will be smaller than the Augustus/Palace rooms. The other towers include the Roman and Centurian Towers. Don't know if they have been renovated recently but the lowest room rates will be associated with those two towers.

I usually stay at Caesars (it is part of the Harrahs family and I try to do most of my gambling at Harrahs properties) when in Las Vegas and I do like it a lot. However, it is so big that sometimes it is a little overwhelming.

zootsi

We stayed at the Luxor a few years ago, and really enjoyed it. It has a more 'sedate' atmosphere than many of the other hotels - dimly lit, spacious lobby and hallways and two huge (but shallow) pools. We got a free upgrade to the tower suites which were very nice.

emalloy

We have stayed at the Luxor because we use it as a base for exploring the area and the small parking lot in back makes for very easy in and out. If you stay in the pyramid, you can go right out without having to go through the casino and then get out to the south end of the strip and out of town with relatively little hassle with traffic. Some of the rooms do need a little up date but the specials they run make it quite inexpensive.

ksucat

March is filled with conventions so I suggest you get your room now.
I use expedia to get a good idea of price and photos.
We usually stay at the Wynn and they are having great $109 midweek deals but probably not in March.
I would choose Caesars over Luxor.

K_Bot

As other posters have alluded to, your room price will depend heavily on what conventions might be in town during your visit (and March is typically a busy month for that), and the day of the week you visit. Typically, rates are great from Sunday through Thursday then go sky-high on weekends.

As to recommendations for specific properties, I've heard that Circus Circus and Stratosphere are best avoided. Granted, their rates are cheap, but 1. they're on the far north end of the Strip, 2. they've both gotten a bit run down and 3. travel agents, particularly overseas, are given huge commissions to book these properties.

Excalibur and Luxor usually have some good rates (South Strip), as do the New York New York and Imperial Palace (mid-strip, not famililar w/NYNY, don't like IP). Based on what you've said regarding price being a priority, I think you can rule out both Caesar's Palace and Bellagio. If staying on the Strip is negotiable, you might try some of the properties on the "periphery" such as Hooters, the Orleans, Rio, Palms, etc. Yes, they're off-strip, but their rates are usually quite competitive and they usually have free (or reasonably priced) shuttle service to the Strip.

Hope that helps.

Dayenu

If you don't like Caesar's price, what about across the strip Flamingo? Central location, if the pool will be opened, it's beautiful, and everything is right there!

coldplay

Try not to stay at the Luxor, it is a dump, rooms are very shabby and dark and not clean. Ceasers is ok but the walk through the casino from your room can take anything up to 45-60 minutes depending on whether you get lost or not. You could look at Bills Gambling Hall, Treasure Island or Harrahs if you want centre strip. If strip location is not essential then South Point about 5 minutes (in a car) south of Mandalay Bay is a lovely hotel with large clean rooms and spacious bathrooms. We stay there most times but you really need a car as the strip is about 10 minutes drive away and not really walkable.

tom42

Caesar's is big but coldplay is obviously exaggerating. If it takes more than 5-10 minutes to get through the casino from your room, you are crawling, not walking.

coldplay

tom42- I don't have a good sense of direction, honest!! Seriously though when I stayed there it took me 30 minutes once to find the front door that lead to the strip, my friend is still there somewhere!

Dayenu

LOL Coldplay, I feel your pain! how many times in all casinos/hotels I had to stop to ask for directions!

stormbird

Thanks for all your help. I have to say though that I checked out Bill's and it is looking pretty good to me. Rooms for $40 per night - I cannot believe that - $40!!! So the money we save on accommodation can go towards a show and a tour to Hoover Dam or somewhere.

I will have a littl meeting with my travel buddies and see what they think but so far I think Bill's is looking to be my favourite.

Thanks for the tip!

abram

We got back from Vegas an hour ago. We stayed at Bally's ($44 per night) and thought the location was perfect. Bill's is right across the street, so that location would be great, too--as would Caesar's, but it is enormous.

We rented a car ($118 for a week, all taxes and fees included), which I'd recommend. Every hotel has free parking, and it gave us the freedom to see things beyond walking distance at our own pace--Hoover Dam, Red Rock Canyon, Atomic Testing Museum, SPrings Preserve--all of which I'd recommend.

stormbird

Thanks for the feedback abram. We will probably be renting a car in Los Angeles and driving to Vegas and then probably take the car back to LA airport.

I figure if I can drive out of the Gare de L'Est in Paris and down to Tours etc I should be able to handle the drive from LA to Vegas - hope that's right!

Oh when you say free parking is that you just park the car yourself or does a valet do it and if so how much do you tip the valet?

bratsandbeer

You can park the car yourself at no charge. What works best for a group is to let the valet park the car (no charge) - saves a lot of walking. Not sure what we tipped - think it was a couple of dollars - depends on how much money you want to give them.

Everyone could put some money in a pot for tipping and just drive from casino to casino without walking the long walks from the parking garage to the main parts of the casino.

bratsandbeer

Don't like the Luxor although I have never stayed there. Try the Paris.

abram

We did a lot of walking, but drove to a couple of casinos. Usually, we did self park. When we used the valet, we tipped $2--I don't know if that was the right amount.