From someone just over 50 I think this is a great idea. We stayed at the Mirage twice last year for conference and family events and had little wait to check in. I agree with other comments about clientele here, you should feel comfortable. We were upgraded to strip view room on both trips, ask for an upper floor when you reserve and you may get lucky. We like this location because we could easily walk to Venetian, Wynn, Caesars. We even walked to Paris & shopping at Aladdin. Go online to several hotel's sites and sign up for newsletters which include promotional rates. This is the only Vegas high rise I have stayed in with windows that open for ventilation.

If you are renting a car, my husband really likes the Luxor but it is at the south end of the strip. The corner suites in the pyramid are fabulous and the tower rooms have great bathrooms. MGM, Mandalay Bay and NYNY are in walking distance. We highly recommend Mystere at Treasure Island.

AAA rates:

The discount is off their standard rate and does not apply to promotions, but the non-promotional rates for most hotels vary enough that you can get a low non-promotional rate directly from the hotel if you keep an eye out for it. Booking early helps since the rates will go up when a big event or conference gets announced.
Remember, most places will let you cancel or rebook with no penalty as long as you do it more than 48 hours before you are supposed to arrive. This is only true when done directly through the hotel, though.

When I have used the AAA discount, I have booked through the hotel and they have taken the 10% off of that rate instead of giving me a fixed 'AAA' rate.

Gracie,

I just returned after Xmas from a stay at the MGM Grand. DO NOT BOOK THERE. It was horrible. The lobby was literally like Grand Central Station in NYC with 5000 people in it, the room was large but old, decaying, cracks in the ceiling- and I paid top dollar. Besides it was not in the middle of everything. I would agree with the Venetian,(gorgeous), Bally's, or the Bellagio which are right in the middle of everything making walking to all easy. And do book hotel + airfare online - there are lots of specials and you'll pay 1/3 of what I did for both. take a look at something called
www tripres com . They also give extras like dinners or stuff, best to call the number and speak with res agent to get the whole information.
Happy hunting for the best price.

P.S.
yes I did check in for the hotel at the airport which saved me joining the mob scene at the desk at the hotel - and I do mean a mob scene. Also the shuttle to the hotel was perfectly acceptable and gave me the opportunity to see all the other hotels.

I stayed at the Excaliber for my 50th birthday and we checked in and out of our room using the self-check kiosk found in the lobby. There were several machines available and we could not figure out why folks were standing in a long line to check in at the counter! It was easy and we had no problems with it.

Thank you for all the wonderful suggestions!! I think we would be happy with just about any of the hotels you have mentioned. I am so excited to be planning this surprise for my new husband. He is a great guy and always thinks of others before himself.

It looks like we will have to go a little earlier -- March 23-26. I have narrowed down the hotel choices to Bally's, Flamingo, or Barbary Coast. Is there constuction going on that would impede our stay at any of the above choices? Which would you pick and why?

We are going to Vegas for our first time in November as my daughter will be getting married at the Aladdin and it is my 50th birthday that week.

Is November a slow time? When should I start looking for rates? Aladdin said midweek we could get 135.00 booking through the bridal chapel but shouldnt I be able to find better deals than that? I am just not sure how to start or when.