Interested in knowing your all-time favorite Vegas hotel. If you are like me, I hit a different one every time I visit the "city that never sleeps"! Need your input on rooms, food and best slots.

Thanks.

I have stayed at Mirage, Ballys,MGM, Monte Carlo,Treasure Island and Ceasars Palace. I would have to say my favourite is Ceasars. The room was very big,beautiful with sunken roman tub and private bath. The restaurants and buffet are excellent. Palace Court and Neros is our favourite-excellent food and service. Also The Forum Shops make staying there perfect. Great atmosphere and first class resort.

The above message pretty well sums up the hotel situation. Caesar's is great but a little pricey if that is a concern. The best place to play depends on your preferences. Are you a serious gamer or just a recreational one. I am a fairly serious player. I don't play much in Las Vegas as it is not my choice to play. I prefer Barona Casino in San Diego, Reno, and Laughlin in that order as places to play. However, you asked about Las Vegas. I do visit Las Vegas though it is not my choice as a place to play. There are some great sights and places to visit there. First, as a serious gamer, I don't like any place that has too many tourists hanging around. I like to be surrounded by other serious gamers that understand good casino behavior. The loosest slots are where the locals play. One place is Palace Station. Usually casinos with no hotel have the best odds. They have to attract others to play there where a casino with a hotel has a built in clientelle. I personally do NOT look for the place with the greatest odds. The differences in payback are not nearly as important as your luck at the time. I choose places that I like to play at because of clientelle, service, etc. The strip in general is not a good place to play. Downtown is better if you stay away from the biggies like the Golden Nugget. Visit downtown for the experience. The laser show is awesome. There are many excellent casinos that are not downtown or on the strip. You just have to poke around and find what you like.

Good luck!!

The Excalibur presents a good, lower-cost alternative. Great location and nice rooms. I've also always been partial to the Frontier (now renamed the New Frontier), although I haven't been there since the ownership change. They have reasonable prices, a relaxed, although smoky casino, and a great Mexican restaurant.

As for the gambling, Las Vegas is by far the best for it. The gambling in Laughling and Reno are laughable by comparison. (Nothing personal, it's all just a matter of indivudial preference.) Las Vegas offers all the alternatives and the best options for gamblers of all stripes. Nothing compares to it.

Hi, I just got back from a four day stay in Vegas yesterday! Am a frequent visitor, have stayed at Caesar's, Treasure Island, Frontier, Circus Circus, The Plaza, Riviera, Whiskey Pete's (Primm, Nv), Tropicana, and Sahara. The best by far is Caesar's Palace, which is where we stayed. For a less pricey alternative, I would recommend the Riviera, the casino area needs a little renovation, but the rooms are surprisingly large and pleasant, not to mention much cheaper. If you are looking for a good buffet, I would have to recommend the Rio, but a new casino downtown called Palace Station is also very nice and has lots of variety. I find it best to stay away from all Circus Circus properties, ie Excalibur, Circus Circus, Luxor. The quality is just not there for anything. If you would like to see a show, Mystere at Treasure Island is the best. The best place to gamble by far is Binion's Horseshoe. Yes, it is old, it is kind of decrepit, but the limits on the tables are some of the best in town. Don't really play slots, so sorry I can't help you out on that one. Hope I have given you some useful information!

I just wanted to add a couple of comments. I definitely agree with Gina on staying away from any Circus Circus property. I personally stay at the Flamingo Hilton but that is mainly because I am a Casino VIP and am comped for everything at all of the Flamingo Hilton's. I prefer the Flamingo Hilton for many reasons that probably doesn't have anything to do with this discussion.

David's comments about Reno and Laughlin are ridiculous. Las Vegas offers much more variety but Reno and Laughlin are definitely good alternatives for people that want a more laid back hospitable environment. His comment about a smoke filled casino indicates that he is not a real player. You have to be a serious player to appreciate why Reno and/or Laughlin may be preferable. If glitz and glamor is your bag, then Las Vegas wins in spades. As I said earlier, Barona in San Diego is my casino of choice for a place to play.

Ha! That's a good post. I got a smile out of that one. Does anyone else suspect that LVLarry is a 14 year old boy? Hmmm...he's a "casino VIP" at the Flamingo Hilton? Yeah, right...and my maiden Aunt Bessy looks like Sharon Stone.

(Why would a Las Vegas casino exec try to make everyone believe that the gambling is better in other places than Las Vegas? And why would he have a phony email address?)

Ask any true serious gambler and s/he will tell you that the gambling in Las Vegas is by far the best. (As for the Indian reservation...whooey!! Give me a break!) The table limits and the rules are the best in LV. As the previous post mentioned, Binion's downtown is favored by many gamblers, as is the Golden Nugget. The Mirage on the Strip is also a hot spot. (Since when do gamblers like a "laid-back" atmosphere?? They like action!)

In short, go download some porn Leisure Suit Larry--and leave the Big Room to the Big Boys (and Girls)!

I'm not going to get into a p***ing match, which is why I didn't personalize my remarks. As I stated, it's a matter of personal preference. However, I believe (and all the gamblers I've known and talked to and read about believe) that Las Vegas is the best for gambling. Like Jim said, the rules and limits are geared towards the gambler in Las Vegas--not to mention the sheer variety. You can find everything in LV that you could in those other places, plus a whole lot more. Again, though, I'm not trying to start an argument, in case that fact passed by some of you.

The casino downtown with the good buffet that Gina mentioned is actually the Main Street Station. The Palace Station is a difference place, also with a good buffet.

As for the Circus Circus hotels, I've always had a good experience at them. (Have you checked out the Monte Carlo?)

At any rate, everyone go and have a good time and find out for yourselves. There's plenty for all. The action awaits!! =)

Ooops, sorry! David is right that I messed up the name of the buffet, thanks for the correction. Maybe we can keep the comments a little more impersonal next time, all the recommendations are only opinions, not facts!

The Imperial Palace is a nice and inexpensive place in a superb location (across from Ceasar's). Serious gamblers are leaving Binion's in droves. New management there has changed the long standing liberal gambling rules. For example, 10x odd on craps now, no 100x free odds... Check out discussion pages on lvol.com

Boy this has turned out to be some fun. First, David, I salute you. You are a good sport and a gentleman. I absolutley agree with you that it is strictly personal preference as to where one wishes to play.

Let me make one thing clear. There have been some false assumptions made here. I do not play the tables. If I did then Las Vegas would probably be the best. I play video poker and slots. Used to play a lot of Blackjack at the tables but it became rather boring. Being a casino VIP does NOT mean that I work for them, It simply means that the Flamingo Hilton appreciates my business and comps us for everything. Casino VIP is a term that the casinos use for comped players. Most people who frequent the casinos know that. Next time you check into one of the hotels, take a look and you will see the check in for Casino VIP's. I sold my last leisure suit a few years back. Not all serious players want noise and action. Many of us have grown past that stage. Last but not least, I have won far more money at Barona then in Nevada. Last fall I was lucky enough to fatten the bank account by $47,000.00 on one 5 cent slot jacpot and a few Royal Flushes on the $1.00 video poker machines. Who is not going to like a place when you win?

In any event, everybody should enjoy what ever turns them on. If you prefer Las Vegas, then that is where you should go. Heck, I am going there for a week at the HGVC in a few months. We expect to enjoy it all very much.

Oops! Forgot to mention THE best Las Vegas page: www.in-vegas.com In the buffet links is a superbly detailed and finely judged review of the best. Also essential before any trip you must check out the "best of" link at in-vegas. Have too much fun!

I am the originator of the original message and didn't mean to start a debate - as lively as it has been! I am a lover of Las Vegas. Have not been to Laughlin, Reno or any other gambling haunts - other than Nassau, Bahamas. I feel Vegas has everything or everybody - let's all enjoy!
VIVA LAS VEGAS, BABY YEAH!!

I've got to say, this discussion has really got my heart pumping. I want to go to Vegas, baby!!

Do you think I can last until December??

The agony!!

just returned from 4 days in Vegas. No one has mentioned the Stratosphere.....i ALWAYS stay there and gamble there. I think it is always overlooked as it is at the very end of the strip. I usually take a cab to the Luxor at the other end of the strip and walk back...stopping in all the casinos on the way (ha). Anyway, the food is great, the rooms are beautiful and comfy, and the slots are very loose. Also has the tower for an attraction, the roller coaster on top of the tower.....
It was weird there last Sunday...big thunder storm...streets were flooded, strip lost power for a few hours (no a/c), the one casino was struck by lightning and caught fire...the roof collasped...really something! I also called "Escape The City Streets"....they will pick you up at the casino...drive you out to Red Rock canyon and give you a mountain bike...great!!! (though it was 114 degrees).
gary

Sorry, but I can't recommend the Stratosphere. It's way the hell out on the North end of the strip in a pretty suspect area. I've never been in the room, but I've heard bad notices about them. Also, I had a friend get food poisoning in one of their restaurants. (Yes, I know it can happen anywhere...but it definitely did happen there.)

I don't think the place is safe...remember when it caught on fire while they were building it? I would never stay in a Bob Stupak property. I just don't trust the man.

Even if you want to go cheap and save a few bucks, there are better alternatives. By the way, if someone really walked all the way from the Luxor to the Stratosphere during the summer, they're a maniac! You're risking heat stroke big time.

Been to Vegas on several occasions and have to say the best place to stay is Rio. Nice size, quiet rooms and a great buffet. The hotel buffet is very popular but if you are staying at the hotel you can enter through a seperate entrance.
Since I always rent a car, I go some casinos out of the strip, such as Santa Fe.

In response to David..I STILL highly recommend the STRATOSPHERE! Number one: when was the last time you were there? I have been to Vegas for 12 years straight......the casino USE to have a bad rep...not in the last 2 years. It has new management...one of the best restaurants....clean rooms.....and loose slots. You said it's an "unsafe area"?????? Do not have the foggiest idea about that...I was up and out all hours...never a second thought. And the "craziness" of walking the strip....maybe you should concentrate on your physical condition and try it yourself. You could walk 1 block and duck in a casino to rest..it is really not a bad walk!

If you like the Strat, by all means stay there. I would not recommend it.

There are many far superior choices in LV, especially now considering the abundance of excellent rates available to visitors. LV tourism is down, so good deals are up. There is no reason to stay at an inferior property like the Stratosphere when you can stay somewhere nicer, safer, and with a more convenient location for the same money.

But hey, if you like it, knock yourself out!

A brief follow-up regarding saftey, crime, and the Stratosphere.

I wanted to pass along some info from Ed "Couponman" Davies, a well-known netizen and Las Vegas insider:

>

I'm not trying to alarm anyone, but Las Vegas is a town where it pays to be careful and stay safe. You're already risking your money--why risk your life?

Good luck!