Hi. A group or us will be heading to Vegas the third weekend in June. We are between the ages of 25-32. We are going Thurs- Sun to have some fun and to get out of town. I was there once on an overnight when I was an FA, other then that none of us have done the Vegas thing. When I was there for my overnight they put us up in the Howard Johnson across the steet from the airport. We are looking for something alittle nicer then that but nothing to grand. I heard that staying downtown is cheaper, but there is nothing really going on in that area and cabs are expensive to get to the strip. Any helpful hints on where to stay that are not to expensive. Is staying on the strip worth the extra cost? Also, any ideas for things that are a must to do while in vegas? Thank You

If it's not sold out already, GoldCoastCasino.com would be perfect for you. Right across the street from the Rio (and Voodoo Lounge), also across from THE PALMS (made famous on Real World). All three hotels have free shuttle services to the strip which is a short distance. Not sure how late the shuttles run, but a cab ride back from center strip wouldn't be too expensive.

My second choice would probably be SanRemoLasVegas.com

i had a layover and did downtown rather than the strip because of price i didn't plan the night out, the cab only made the room a little cheaper and i was not pleased with the room but i only needed to sleep.

do the math and decide if you can spring for staying at the strip do it. but the plan to travel to and from is doable. it's just that you might find it more exciting to have the strip at your door and not a cab ride away.

i think you might have a better time and just go for it at the strip

Downtown is okay but the only fun thing to do (other than gamble) is to watch the light show at night. I would stay on the strip--so much to see and do, without worrying about transportion. Check out the hotel websites for good deals--would imagine they'd be plentiful in late June.

In your situation I would definitely stay on the Strip. For someone going to Vegas for the first time, staying in a slightly worse hotel on or near the Strip would be preferable to staying Downtown. Cabs aren't expensive but by the time you have factored in the additional cost and time of getting to/from the Strip area each day, I would say it's not worth staying Downtown.

If you give an indication of your budget then I'm sure people here will have some ideas of whether you can get a room on the Strip for your price.

I'll agree that the strip is where to be for people your age! Here is a great site that rates all of the Vegas hotels: www.cheapovegas.com

If you do want to go downtown, take the CAT BUS!! It is $1.25 each way per person, which will be a LOT cheaper than a cab.

Definitely the Strip for your age group. Without question. Downtown is interesting to visit once at night and see the light show, but not nearly as fun to be staying down there. The Strip is a blast! New York New York is a fun, nice, reaonably-priced hotel in a great location.

This is hard to do for a group. You don't say how many is in the group.

But for 2 of us and at this "late" date to make reservations etc. I would always try priceline.com or hotwire.com

If your entire group wants to be at the same place and you need x amount of rooms I would try hotwire.com and have several of you book it. Money is charged immediately upfront and it is not cancellable. Make sure you are picking the same property. You don't know the name, but you can guess from the amenities/location etc.

I have gotten Rio for $60 on a weekend night last minute (suite rooms-huge). And another time I got on strip for $75 and I think it was M.Carlo at the very last minute when everyone said they were booked or it was over $129 by phone/rack rate.

If you want very cheap on strip you can get Circus Circus (rundown),Imperial Palace (the same but good location) or Harrah's or Bally's for specials/ deals also- if you search. Orleans is GREAT off the strip and would be my top suggestion for a group anyway. Every time one ski club I know goes in a group they always go to Orleans. You can get to/see the strip easily and it's a more than decent casino etc.

There is no need to be away downtown to save money, you just have to know how to book and do it ahead. Do not wait any longer.

I'm probably in the minority here, but I ALWAYS prefer Downtown to the Strip. But that's because I've been to Vegas a million times and I've already seen and experienced the Strip. Plus, Downtown is also a LOT less crowded. So if you're just going to Vegas for the "basics"...gambling and eating, then Downtown will do the trick. But if it's your first time to Vegas, then you might want to stay on the Strip. True, Downtown usually does have much cheaper rooms, but some Strip hotels have good deals going on too. Excalibur is usually pretty good, but it's also one of the more crowded hotels. Lots of families and kids. The Boardwalk is usually good too as well as the Flamingo Hilton and the Imperial Palace. I've never stayed at the Boardwalk or the Imperial Palace so I'm not sure how nice their rooms are. Sometimes when I do stay on the Strip, I'll still go Downtown to gamble. Mostly because the tables are cheaper and it's less crowded, especially on the weekends.

Stay on the Strip!!!! No doubt about it. Call several hotels and ask if they are offering any promotions. Also try Expedia. I've booked with them and have found them to be very reliable. The Flamingo Hotel is decent and has a nice pool. The rates shouldn't be too high. Have fun.

I would not hesitate to stay at either the Orleans or the San Remo. Of the two, Orleans is much better, but the San Remo is just around the corner from the strip. The Orleans is a ways off the strip, but they do have a free shuttle to take you back and forth. You might have to wait for it for a bit.
We have stayed at Orleans the last few times we've gone to Vegas because we really like it. But then, we also have a rental car to get us back and forth. Have fun.

Nothing is cheap in Vegas anymore...but if you want to enjoy the city, the strip is the only place to stay. There are some older hotels in prime locations, such as Boardwalk, Flamingo Hilton and the Imperial Palace that have decent rates. If your set on cheap...go to Laughlin.

Definately the strip. We've been able to get incredible room deals at the Luxor, just go to their website. Usually for just $59 or $69 they throw in the buffet, 2 spa passes ($40 value) and King Tut museum or some other attraction. It is right near all the big hotels with so much going on. If you do stay there, request the tower room which are must nicer and newer than the pyramid.

Several people have mentioned the Imperial Palace. It's location is very good and from what I've heard, they have done some room renovations recently. Some friends of mine stayed there about a month ago and said it wasn't too bad. I think they paid around $65 a night. One thing I like about some of the smaller hotels is that they are much more manageable. You don't spend an hour walking through the casino figuring out how to get in and out of the hotel or where your room is.

admittedly mom and dad are much older but the imperial palace has been their choice in the past too. it's in a very convenient location, doesn't cost the earth and the personnel are very nice.

There are still quite a few hotels on the Strip that are USUALLY pretty cheap. If location isn't too much of a concern as long as you're on the Strip, you can also try places like the Frontier, the Stardust, or the Tropicana.

Definitely the Strip. Being in the glitzy action is probably why you want to visit Vegas on your first trip. Cabs are pretty reasonable, but if you can get a pretty good rate on the Strip, why not be there and save the time and cab fare?

As others have said, try priceline.com, hotwire.com travelocity.com, expedia.com, etc. (best options probably on the first two, but you never know.)

Others have mentioned the places that have the best budget rooms on the Strip, but also check the online sources and your needs. The Flamingo is usually alittle more, but often has good deals and a really nice swimming pool area (if you need a break, but maybe no one cares.) Also: I got a very good deal at Paris one time that included a nice continental breakfast buffet in the Club lounge -- nice not to have to deal with the crowds first thing in the morning. I forget if I got that deal through the hotel's website or a site like Travelocity.

Recognize that Thursday - Saturday usually have the higher room rates for the week at most hotels, unless a big convention is in town.

'Forgot to answer your last question.

Of course, a lot of what to recommend has to do with what YOU like to do.

Up front: I don't gamble much -- it's not why I go to Las Vegas.

Definitely just walk around the lobbies and casinos of the major Strip hotels. The spectacle is pretty amazing. Definitely Bellagio, the Venetian, Luxor, Paris, for more than glitz, but others are fun. We really liked our stay at Manadalay Bay, and that is a really nice environment, but it doesn't have some of over-the-top of Bellagio and the Venetian. Purists consider it all like Disneyland, but there are less attractive places to be.

Goofy fun: the Liberace Museum.

The shows are a big draw for me. Check other threads on this website about recommended shows. Many say Danny Gans is the one to see, but it is quite expensive. More reasonably priced ones that I've liked are Rita Rudner's comedy show at New York New York, and the classic: Wayne Newton. Wayne's voice quality goes up and down, but the show is more the classic lounge act than the circus-like performances of more recent shows (e.g. Cirque du Soleil,) and the back-up talent is very good.

For more sequins and feathers than you've ever seen in one place, try Jubilee, more of the show-girl type of scene ("tasteful topless," if you can agree with that concept.) This is a floorshow of music and costumes, with a few tired intermediate acts that allow for scene an costume changes. ..But it's a 'Vegas showgil thing.

If you need some "Hallelujah!" with your eggs, the Gospel Brunch at Manadalay Bay is great.

The bar atop the Rio is open-air fun if it's not too warm ,i.e. try past sundown in June.

Finally, the shopping is fantastic! Rather than take my chances at the tables or spend too much on the slots, I prefer to guarantee my luck by plunking down some money in the shops.

I forgot to mention, but if you don't mind driving, there are a LOT of non-casino hotels near and around the Strip. You still can't walk, but it's closer than Downtown. This last time we went, we stayed at one of the new Marriots (the Residence Inn) that's off the Strip right near the Mandalay Bay. Marriot also has a few hotels over on Paradise Rd. near the Convention Center. We stay there sometimes too.

If you can't get a low rate at Imperial Palace, go for the Gold Coast. Yes San Remo is close, but to the SOUTH strip. Gold Coast is more convenient due to the hotel shuttles to center strip. It's actually a better choice than, say, Circus or Sahara or Strat because their so-called "strip" locations are long long walks.

Orleans rooms are nicer but it is more secluded, your age group would have more fun at Gold Coast due to the Palms & Rio next door.