Thanks for the updates about Ballys. Good to hear from people that have recently been there. I guess another thing I am concerned about wherever we stay is smoke. Do people smoke in all of the casinos? Coming from a state that is smoke free (which is appreciate very much) I am wondering if it is possible to get away from smoke at the casinos. Are there any that are smoke free?

We did not spend time in casinos, so I can not answer. However, I find the following in internet and this maybe give you an answer:

http://www.lvlg.com/faqpage.htm

http://govegas.about.com/od/lasvegas.../a/smoking.htm

Hope that this helps.

I have stayed at Bally's a few times in the past two years. There are two towers: the South tower rooms are dated and a little worn, but the North tower rooms are updated and quite nice, especially for the price.

Imho, the Bally's North tower rooms are one of the best bargains on the strip. Plus, Bally's is attached to Paris, and you have all the dining options of Paris combined with Bally's because it feels like one complex.

All the casinos allow smoking. The newer casinos do a much better job at filtering the smoke - the Palazzo, Encore and Aria casinos are generally considered the best. I like the Palazzo in particular because the wide corridors are smoke-free and there is a smoke-free area in the casino.

Avoid the smaller older casinos like Bill's, O'Shea's, the Tropicana, etc. because they can be unbearably smoky.

Hi Yellowrose,

In my Sunday Los Angeles Times newspaper today, Mandalay Bay Casino/Hotel is having a special (thru next January). I've never stayed there but you can always check Yelp or Trip Advisor for room reviews.

Anyway, the special is a 2-night stay at $66 per night and it includes two all-day buffets (breakfast, lunch and dinner). The special code is: PADBEM. You can do this online <www.mandalaybay.com> or by phone (877) 632-7800.

The special offer for Mandalay seems good for the price. However, I would prefer a hotel located more central.

I was also one of those people who, if I didn't have a reason to go there, probably never would have gone to Las Vegas. As I have family who relocated out there several years ago, I honestly fell in love with the place! There is so much more to do out there then gamble. It can be kitschy, it can be crazy, but you can find really neat things there you can't see any place else.

I don't know if you have booked your stay yet, however, Palace Station is a very short (off-strip) distance from Circus-Circus. There are many Station properties around Las Vegas. It's affordable, but you aren't going to get a spa or a ritzy pool. It is more quiet than strip resorts.
http://www.palacestation.com/index.php

I don't know what the resort fee is, but I stayed at Boulder Station a few years ago, booking at the last minute and I think I paid around $50 a night with the resort fee.

Even if you don't stay there, keep it in mind for dining options. Any Station Casino will have good, solid dining options. Their buffets are solid with the standard fare they serve (American, Mexican, Italian, etc.) Take the time to sign up for a Boarding Pass (the Player's Club card.) A few minutes of your time will give you a buck or two off the buffet prices, if you present the card. Pasta Palace was also very good too. Other dining options include The Steakhouse at Circus Circus which always gets good reviews. If you don't mind a drive and a bit of a wait in a small and crowded casino, Ellis Island has a $7 steak dinner. It's not on the menu, so you have to ask for it. It comes with a salad, your choice of potato and very yummy green beans. They also throw in one of their microbrews or root beer to boot.

As far as things to do: If you have the time, do get out to the Freemont Street Experience at night. There is an overhead canopy which is a plasma TV which extends 5 blocks. There are nightly shows. It's fun just to walk around as well--there is usually music and there is at least one souvenir shop. In addition, there is another gigantic souvenir shop on the western corner of Las Vegas Blvd and Sahara called Bonanza. You can easily spend an hour there browsing through all they have there. Bellagio Fountains are always fun to see as well as the conservatory within the resort.

Here's another website I have found useful for planning my trips out there:

http://www.vegas4visitors.com/index.htm

Enjoy your time there!

I booked a quick trip to vegas since chiming in on this thread in august. I got the Hard rock hotel for $48/night. With all taxes, it came to $53. It is not on the strip but I have a rental car.

Quiet, smoke-free, pools....seems to me the logical choice is the Hilton Vacation Club near Circus Circus. You are not going to find "quiet" or "smoke free" at any of the casino hotels. Or what about the Trump place? That's not far from Circus Circus and doesn't have a casino.

My boyfriend and I are going to vegas at the end of the month and have booked the Signature. It is a smoke free hotel. No casino though. It is more expensive than Bally's, etc. but they give 20% discount with AAA card. The pictures on their website look great. They do have a $20 a night resort fee but have a gym and pool and free valet parking. The standard (cheapest)room has jet tub and balcony, 450 square feet.

yellowrose,

I am somewhat allergic to smoke, so I know what you mean. It can get pretty bad inside the casinos. Although venting seems to be better in others, when you are sensitive to it, it can be heavy. Since you are not really going to be inside the casinos, it won't be so much of a problem - but it will seem like EVERYONE over the age of 15 is smoking in Vegas.

I know you will ask for a non-smoking hotel room... if you get there and the room smells of smoke, call the front desk and ask to be moved. Otherwise they will just come in with tons of cloying spray and tell you they 'fixed' the problem - ugh! The entire FLOOR you stay on should be non-smoking, but people have been known to ignore the rules.

Hi - Thanks for all of the great advice. We are leaving next next week. My hubby made the decision to stay at the Platinum. We got a suite for a very reasonable price and he wanted to be off the strip a little bit. We are still debating on day trips. His main reason for wanting to go to Vegas was to see Hoover Dam so I know that is on our list to do. Have any of you gone to the Valley of Fire? That is on my list of things to do. I want to see the Freemont Street Experience as well. I hope to win a million bucks so I can retire! LOL

I was just reading a review this morning in my local paper from a man who went to the Valley of Fire and said it was his BEST trip ever - he took 225 pictures in one day and can't wait to go back! Please come back and give us your trip report - and GOOD LUCK!

When you go to Valley of Fire, do check out the petroglyphs. They are at atl atl rock, all along the path to Mouse's tank (hundreds) and also near the CCC cabins that we have found.

The rock formations are very interesting as is the history of the valley.

For a great full day, go north on 95 to Beatty, then west towards Death Valley. Stop in at the ghost time Rhyolite, just a couple of minutes off the road, stop at the bathrooms at the top of the hill and check the panoramic view of DV. Then go down into DV, stop at the Borax works, Furnace Creek VC, Devil's Golf course, Badwater, then loop back to Artists Pallet drive, and back with a stop at Zabriski point and through Parumph to Vegas. fantastic!!

Have a great trip.

wo wemally - sounds just wonderful! We may just follow this to the letter:)