lynn

Has anyone stayed here, it's a non-gaming hotel off the strip (about 1/2 mile it says), looks nice and very reasonable. The thing is we don't want to do the casinos and have heard that every hotel on strip takes you waliking through it's casino to get to your room, I don't like the idea of that, how can you get round it. we are going for sightseeing, etc. not casino.

hotel

If you're not interested in gambling (meaning you don't have an interest in it, and not that you like gambling but don't want to do it) then don't worry about having to walk thru the casino to get to the rooms. It's hard to visually avoid gambling in Vegas.

I have never stayed there personally, but on one trip in LV i ran into somebody that was staying there for a convention being held at that hotel, and he said the hotel was nice, but not run very well. During the convention the bar ran out of some liquor and beer selections (that was his complaint)

Are you sightseeing outside of LV (Red Rock Canyon, Hoover Dam, etc), or are you sightseeing the mega-resort hotels (Bellagio fountains, white tigers, etc)? If you're sightseeing the hotels i would just accept the fact that you'll be walking thru casinos and deal with it accordingly. Also, if sightseeing the hotels, you want to be ON THE STRIP for convenience.

Nice, but reasonable, on the strip include Flamingo Hilton, Barbary Coast (no pool here if that's important to you), Bally's, and Harrahs. Cheaper than the above but still great location is Casino Royale and Holiday Inn Boardwalk.

lynn

thanks, I suppose a bit of both types of sightseeing really, mostly out of town. But we will be wanting to look over the hotels as well I imagine they are interesting to see. In answer to your other question I realise gambling is hard to avoid being where it's at but would like to avoid having to go through the casinos if posssible - is it possible or is it like I asked that the hotels make sure you have to go through them to get to your rooms?

hotel

I would be difficult to not walk thru a casino, because many of the hotel's entrances from the strip lead directly into a "gaming area". Some are easier than others, like at the Bellagio you could see the fountains and smell the lobby flowers without entering a casino; at the Mirage you could see the fish tank (understatement) behind the front desk w/o entering a gaming area, but to see the white tigers once you're inside you'll have to walk thru a gaming area... unless you want to exit the hotel, walk around the outside, and enter thru a side door. Most of the theater shows require you walk thru some sort of gaming area.

I don't know what other casinos you've been to, but it is very UNLIKE Atlantic City where the casino is in a designated area... in LV the gaming area is spread out throughout most of the property (they're carefully designed like that for a reason).

I ALWAYS recommend first time visitors stay ON the strip, but only you know what is best for you and/or your family.

Whatever you decide, have a great trip and feel free to ask any add'l questions you may have. If you're traveling with kids, i have a list i can post or email that outlines a LOT of things to do in LV with kids... just post if you want it.

HowardR

I stayed there eight years ago for a conference. At that time, I was told it was the only LV hotel without any type of gambling.
The accommodations were fine. I can't remember how the food was!
It's a healthy walk to the strip. I did it and wish I had taken a cab!