I wanted to ask some of the people who go there most often about which hotel is teh best bang for my buck. My wife and I are going to Vegas at the end of March and I found what I think are some great hotel deals. Please tell me what is the best deal (per night) out of these seven choices.

Statosphere $50
Harrah's $65
Monte Carlo $75
Luxor $75
Imperial Palace $75
Bally's $89
MGM(Emerald T) $89

We'll be staying for either 2 or 3 nights, haven't decided as of yet. Thanks for the help.

Dan

Dan,

You should probably give some details as to what you are looking for in a hotel.

Do you want to be close to the center of the strip?

Will you have a car?

Do you want a hotel with good restaurants in the hotel or do you plan on eating somewhere else?

Do you want to gamble at the hotel or are you planning on gambling at another hotel?

The prices all look to be scaled appropriately so it's a matter of what you'll be doing and what you need...

Dan,
I'll start with the hotels on your list that you should not stay at. Definitely take Imperial Palace out of your mix - it is at least one level lower than any of the other hotels you list. I would also take Stratosphere off - mainly for location purposes.

As for Harrah's, it is a decent hotel in a good location but if the pool area is important to you, then I would not recommend this hotel. It has one of the worst pool areas of any major strip hotel.

The remaining four choices - Monte Carlo, Luxor, Bally's, and MGM are all fairly comparable properties, each with their own advantages and disadvantages.

If I had to choose between the four, I think I would pick Bally's, especially if it was my first time to Vegas. Bally's has a good mid-strip location, the rooms are large, the tram stops right at the hotel, and the pool is decent (but, admittedly not as nice as the Monte Carlo's pool).

If you do not plan on spending any time at the pool, then Harrah's would be a good deal at $65/night (but make sure you get a room in the new tower).

Wow! Thanks for the quick reply.

I found a sight called cheapovegas.com. I found Bally's at $60 a night and the Luxor for $69 a night. I think that those two are in the drivers seat now, which would you stay at.

My wife and I are mainly going there because it's on our way back to Florida. We're driving across the country and I thought that it would be great to "see" America. We're not into gambling, how important IS a pool? I know that many people here talk about it. I'm from Florida, pools are not that big a deal to me.

Yes, we will have a car.

Mostly, I think we'll be there as a stop off and to sight-see on our way East. Check out the sights, people watch (one of my favorite activities) and eat some good food.

I was at the Pacific Islands Club on Guam last Fall and the only thing can beat their pool is a water park. THE thing was too awesome for words.

Thanks for your input.

Dan

I can't believe the IP is $75! Don't stay here! This place is a dive!

Harrah's is the friendliest place on the strip, centrally located and has a good medium size casino. But the others are right about the pool.

The Monte Carlo is beautiful, has a gorgeous pool and the Shark Reef which is cool. But the staff, dealers, etcd. are kind of rude- IMO. The also have a tram that runs to the Luxor and then to Excalibre where you can then walk over to NYNY and MGM.

Luxor- yuk, everyone I know who has stayed here hatd it. The hotel doors are placed looking out over the main hall- very Motel feeling and noisy. The dealers are RUDE!!!

I love Bally's for the central placement and friendly staff but know nothing about the pool.

MGM has a walkway to the NYNY, bit the casino is always a bit quieter then the others and again I have no knowledge of the pool area.

If it were me I would stay- in order-
Monte Carlo- for the pool
Harrah's- for the people
Bally's for the central local

I would pick Bally's at $60/night. (Regarding the pool thing - Many of the resorts in Vegas have very elaborate pool areas (Mandalay Bay, for example, has a man-made "beach" complete with waves and sand, as well as a river pool and a regular pool). Given your limited time in Vegas and the fact that it appears to be your first time there (and also the fact that at the end of March there is no guarantee that it'll be pool weather), you're probably not going to be lounging at the pool.)

If you do go with Bally's - there is a very good Italian restaurant at the hotel called Al Dente that you might want to try (there are many very good restaurants in Vegas, so you will have your pick).

i would pick Bally's because of location...The Luxor is great..I just stayed there...the above poster is talking about the pyramid rooms, the tower rooms are excellent, decent view of strip...dealers are not rude...you will find exceptions anywhere

First off, Shark Reef is at Mandalay, not Monte Carlo.
I would stay at Monte Carlo for a few reasons: 1. The lobby is small and it is a quick walk to the room, unlike some of the other hotels where you have a 1/2 mile hike. 2. They have a tram that goes right to the Bellagio, so the location is key. 3. It is much quieter than some of the bigger 'theme' hotels, but still has the elegance of the bigger hotels. IMO, Bally's and Harrah's had no personality, completely generic.

oops, Ellen is right! I confused Mandalay Bay with Monte Carlo.

The difference in harrah's and Bally's is not that they don't have any personality, they just don't go in for the big theme stuff! It really depends on what your tastes are- Mine happen to not be staying in a fake pyramid! haha!

Taking away my mistake of the Shark Reef I would only stay at either Harrah's or Bally's, assuming you won't be using the pool.

Of course all statements are IMO!

Dan: I would stay at the Monte Carlo, the newest of those you list and a great value. Also location is good, close to the newest hotels on the strip, Paris, Aladdin and Bellagio. My second choice would be the MGM, not a great location but a very nice hotel. Skip the others, particularly, IP, Stratosphere and Harrah's.

Between the 2 you've narrowed it down to, definitely choose Ballys.