My boyfriend and I are going to Vegas May 20th thru the 24th. Where do you recommend staying? Is it better just to go with something like the econolodge or one of the big hotels. Pros and Cons would be greatly appreciated!

Your first time? Your 100th time? How much do you want to spend? We're gonna need a bit more background here....

My off-the-cuff answer is: "First time? Go the whole nine yards and stay in one of the Big Hotels on the Strip!" If money's no object, Mandalay Bay or the Venetian. Several steps down, but relatively cheap, are Harrah's and the Mirage, which are old Vegas in feel but just fine.

Start making reservations NOW, as that's spilling into Memorial Day weekend.

Sorry! This is our first time. I guess we're trying to stay below the 130 range. Is that bad?

Someone on this board recommended cheapovegas.com for this type of info, and the website strikes me as quite well-informed, if a bit flip. There have to be any number of message threads here on using Priceline for getting cheap rooms on the Strip. Search for "Vegas cheap hotel" and you should have plenty to work with.

$130/night is doable on the Strip, but you will have to act NOW. You may want to use Travelocity to get a feel for the "going" rates, as well as available properties.

Check out the website cheapovegas.com
Also, I found some great rates at New York New York and MGM Grand.
You may also want to download travelaxe.com..........They do all of the searching for you..
Have fun, and definitely stay on the strip. You should be able to find a decent rate.

Try http://www.travelworm.com for good rates on Vegas and Reno hotels.

Andrew

where are you flying from? you can usually get really good deals from Soutwest vacations.

I have yet to find a package deal to LV which is cheaper than I can put together on my own. By searching carefully I've always found a la carte to be cheaper.
Rates for the 22nd-24th are still pretty reasonable.
Lots of good choices in the <$130 range.
DEFINITELY stay in a major casino hotel on the strip. That's half the fun of going to LV.

I agree 100% with Travleis on the vacation package thing. $130 will be plenty for weekdays but could get tight for weekends. Look into Mirage, TI, Bally's, Aladdin, Paris. The best deals are usually through the individual hotel websites because they run seasonal specials. Mandalay has a special for 99-109 for some weekdays. Priceline is typically only used for the Venetian, the rest of the hotels don't price cheap enough through Priceline to make it worthwhile. Some weeknights at V have been going for 89-99 through Priceline.

What about the Monte Carlo? Nobody really says anything about this hotel.

Monte Carlo is very nice, but will be expensive on Fri and Sat.

For a great rate, use quikbook.com and select the Imperial Palace Hotel. This is a tired old Vegas legend of a hotel, but very clean and a good step up from an Econo Lodge. Best of all it is smack dab in the middle of the action, great location for first timers.

For a greater bargain, use tripreservations.com and book the Gold Coast Hotel. This hotel is off the strip, old and clean, very good restaurants and next door to the fabulous Rio and Palms Hotels where lots of young folks hang out. (Great nightclubs).

You can check out these hotels on their websites (imperialpalace.com and goldcoastcasino.com) but I think the rates will be lower through the above-mention sites. Be sure to check the cancellation policy however, since the discount sites usually have stricter refund policies than the hotels themselves.
Get a bargain room, you won't spend much time in it, too much to see your first time in town. Spend the extra cash on great meals or a fun show.

We were there just a few weeks ago, booked our own airfare out of NY for $158 r/t directly with America West; and after getting screwed by lasvegas.com on a room, we booked great rates directly with Ballys, weeknights at 55, weekend nights at 95. That's what I'm doing from now on!

I just got this email from Travelzoo.com the suites are 115 at venetian i think for the dates you're going. wow, a great deal.

$115 -- Vegas in Style: 65% OFF Luxury Suite
http://www.travelzoo.com/Top20.asp?id=103101645
Source: The Venetian