Help Quick. I don't have much time before I leave. Is the Tropicana OK (garden Room)?
Or would I be better off in the Golden Nugget?
It's just for a brief first time visit.
Let me know quickly, i leave Thursday.

Of those two, Tropicana. For a 1st time visitor to Vegas, you'll want to see attractions on the Strip and the Golden Nugget is far away - in Downtown.

If your visit is brief don't choose the GN, it's downtown which is a few miles from the main strip. Tropicana is at the south end of the strip and the garden rooms are like any 2story budget motel in the country, so take a look at your local Econo Lodge and if you'd be happy there, you'll enjoy the Trop garden.

If the rates at Imperialpalace.com, StardustLV.com, RivieraHotel.com or the Barbary Coast are anywhere near the Trop, I'd switch because the locations are a bit better and it's not such a hike from the back rooms.
GoldCoastCasino.com is a great budget choice but you have to take their shuttle bus(free) back and forth to the strip...a 4 minute trip.

I disagree with Tracy the Trop is not like an Econo Lodge - the pool area at the Trop is beautiful and a great place to spend time in the heat of the day. The garden rooms are very old, but clean.

I also disagree with Tracy, the Riviera, Stardust are not in a better location. The Trop is obviously an old hotel, but the pool is gorgeous and it is in a prime location on the Strip with NY, NY and MGM just across the street. If you have time, go see the Comedy Stop at the Trop, it is SO FUNNY!!!! The first show, its either 8 or 8:30 is always non-smoking as well. You will have fun!!

I personally don't think you can go wrong with either the Trop or the Golden Nugget. Although I have never stayed at the Trop, so you will have to take others' advice on the rooms - the location is good & the pool area is supposed to be lovely. I wouldn't hesitate to stay there - except for the fact that my 'first love' on the strip is the Monte Carlo...I'm probably just stuck in a rut, though!

I wouldn't totally discount the Golden Nugget - I stayed there on my first trip to Vegas. It is a very nice hotel, the class of downtown. I actually really liked the downtown/Fremont Street area, with all the older casinos in such close proximity - easy to move on to the next casino to change your luck! We did go down & walk around the strip for a day as well to get that experience. Conventional wisdom is 'stay on the strip', and I have now done that MANY times, but I still like downtown, and I don't think my very first trip was spoiled by staying downtown.

Have a great time, whatever you choose!

It depends Sundancer. Do you prefer the Strip or Downtown Vegas? If you want to be on the Strip, the Tropicana is in a good location. I've stayed at both and the Golden Nugget is a LOT nicer than the Tropicana. But again, does that matter to you?? The Tropicana is OK, but not great.

Thanks folks. Guidebook gave high ratings to Trop, but when I check out travel advisor I got frightened by the number of negative reviews. I would prefer to stay on the Strip, but it's only for one night and it's a Saturday, so I'm not getting very cheap rates anywhere but at the Trop.

I don't know what type of guidebook would give high ratings to the Trop, unless it is a very old guidebook. Trop is an old property, and it's low-end except for the pool. We stayed in an island tower room, and it was fine for the price (cheap). The bed wasn't particularly comfortable, but the room was clean and large. We did have a decent view. The garden rooms really are like old motel rooms - the buildings are only a couple of stories high, so no view, and the rooms are, I believe, accessed from outside doors. If you can swing an upgrade to one of the tower rooms, you'll probably enjoy it more. But otherwise, just don't be expecting anything luxurious and you'll be fine. The Trop is safe, clean and does have a nice pool area.

If you are looking for cheap & not updated since the '70's then the Trop is right up your alley. This time of year I would expect you can get all kinds of deals at much better properties though.

I don't know what I'm doing wrong, but I can't seem to find anything for the same price or less.

There's clearly something big going on in Vegas that weekend, but I don't know what.

Do you already have your room booked at Tropicana? If not, you may be out of luck as they appear to be sold out according to their website. I found a room for $210 at Flamingo, but TI and Bally's are also sold out.

Check Vegas.com - they have Monte CArlo listed cheaper than Trop. for Sat. of this weekend. I would sure stay at MC before Trop. They also had San Remo listed, which is right beside the Trop. We stayed there one night and it's clean, quiet and cheap. Good luck.

sundancer - Yes, the Trop is older, but it's a comfortable place to stay and as the other posters say - the pool is great. They also have a 24 hr outdoor jacuzzi. I live here in Sin City and frequently rent a garden room at the Trop when my nieces visit - we enjoy the pool and the convenience of getting back & forth from our room without having to parade through the casino or lobby like you do in most other Strip hotels. Since it's only one night I don't think you can beat it if you got a good rate. The location is terrific and I think it will be a good choice.

Thanks for helping, but that's it I've stopped looking. Good or bad, the Trop it. Leaving hoem tomorrow AM, will report back in 2 1/2 wks.
Thanks again