Good mid-range hotel the Las Vegas experience
 

I'm planning to travel to Las Vegas for a few days in September. I'd like to find a hotel (on or really near the strip) that provides a good representation of the "Las Vegas Experience" without being on the high-end of rates scale. Can anyone recomend a mid-range hotel that's a good one?

What do you think the Las Vegas Experience is ? To some it's topless women, to others it's the Bellagio fountains doing their thing to "God Bless the USA" ... lots of room inbetween these two examples as well.

Today's Las Vegas Experience is vasty different then years ago. Today it is often about fine dining and state of the art shows. If this is what you mean any of the major strip hotels can fill the bill.

All the major strip hotels have fluctuating rates - some days/weeks rates are lower/higher then others. I'd check all the strip hotels for the dates you are planning on going and choosing a hotel that meets your budget needs.

If you are an Auto Club member some hotels give a 10% discount if the room rate is not already a promotional rate.

Two weeks ago I stayed at the Flamingo for $81/nt weekday and $99/nt weekend. I can't remember where I got the rates- not directly on the hotel's website but a discounter.

Flamingo is a middle of the road hotel but right in the middle of all of the action. Caesar's Palace is across the street, Bellagio is across the street and down a block, Paris is two hotels down, Venetian is a couple hotels in the other direction. It has highly rated pools too.

Don't stay at the Imperial Palace. I stayed there for a conference and every conference attendee but one (who happened to have a sauna in their room) hated the hotel. If you can find a good rate I would suggest either Caesars Palace or the Mirage.

I also know that the Excaliber is cheaper but it is on the wrong side of the strip. All the action (and I am not talking women and booze) were on the other side. I don't drink and just wandered around and took in the experience and it was too quiet by the Luxor and Excaliber. Probably because the hotels are joined by a monorail so you don't see anyone on the streets (very scary actually). If you stay at the Mirage or Caesars Palace you can still walk to NY NY, Paris, or most other places you want to go. Plus you have a front row seat to the erupting volcano at the Mirage and the water show at the Bellagio.

I would say that Ballys is a mid-range hotel that will give you a good Vegas experience. Jubilee is the hotel's signature show (it's been going on for years) and is classic old Vegas with chorus girls, dancing, etc. (even a replica of the Titanic sinking!). The hotel's location is great and the standard rooms are some of the largest in Las Vegas. I've heard they have recently been doing room remodels--ask for a remodeled room.

Oh, one more thing. Ballys is connected to Paris via a walkway--this is perfect since Paris has some ooh la la restaurants.

I would say Flamingo or Bally's would be a good choice for you. You would get the "Las Vegas Experience" at either of these hotels.

I agree with the other poster who advised you not to stay at the Imperial Palace. That is not the experience you are looking for.

Other good choices would be Caesar's, Mirage, Paris, Venetian or Treasure Island. It depends on what you want to spend.

I stayed at Bally's and ate at Paris, via the connected walkway. It was a good choice (nice big rooms), and great location.

If you call around, you will find some pretty good deals. If money is an issue, I would highly recommend that you go during the week since the rates seem to jump on Fridays and Saturdays. During my recent trip I stayed at Ceasers Palace which was under construction for the addition of a new tower. Nonetheless, I loved it. To me this hotel is Vegas. Also everything is right there - good restaurants and a large shopping mall. In addition it is centrally located for easy walking to the other popular hotels. Others I stayed at were the Aladin - okay - new but a little cramped. Circus Circus - older - less expensive but further away from all the hoopla (i.e. not a convienent walk to anything popular). Monte Carlo - okay - nothing really fancy. Hope this helps.