Michele

This is my first time to Vegas with my husband. We will be going out for a wedding at MGM. THe prices for rooms at MGM are quite expensive, so I located the Thunderbird Hotel. Has anyone heard of this and how scary of a place is it? I am looking for something inexpensive and close to MGM. Please help!!

Sam

Not familiar with the Thunderbird Hotel, but you can frequently get very good rates ($69/$79 per night or lower) at the Monte Carlo, which is pretty much right across the street from MGM and is a very nice hotel. Very elegant, good service, nice rooms, fantastic Strip views from the higher floors. I think you can also often get similar rates at New York New York, which is also right across the street from MGM.

Excalibur also often has good rates and it's diagonally across the street from MGM, but I don't really like it. I haven't ever stayed there, but the time I have spent there gambling hasn't been very pleasant because the place is just overrun with kids, and is pretty cheesy and feels kind of rundown. Again, though, I don't know what the rooms are like.

Keep in mind also that you can stay just about anywhere along the Strip and take a cab to the MGM for the wedding. You don't necessarily have to stay super-close to the MGM. There are a lot of great hotels along the Strip that offer super deals, and since this is your first trip to Vegas, you ought to do it right.

When are you going? I know you can't control it too much since you're going for a wedding, but keep in mind that room rates in Vegas are MUCH higher on Fri/Sat nights than the rest of the week.

Good luck!

Sam

Michele, I just found the Thunderbird's web site and they say they are a stone's throw from the Stratosphere, which is completely at the opposite end of the Strip from MGM. You couldn't possibly find anyplace on the Strip that is farther away from MGM.

gamblin

If I am not mistaken, the Thunderbird is one of the original old Vegas hotels.Not the area that I would want to be in and it makes no sense that it is expensive.What is expensive to you?

gamblin

sorry,Michelle, I re read your post.But what is the amount you would like to spend in LV? Maybe if you look at the places off Strip like the Orleans,that might be easier on the wallet and not so far away and in such a lousy area.

Gary

Plenty of better known properties to stay at. If you want to save money go to www.mandalayresortgroup.com or www.imperialpalace.com or www.harrahs.com. I've stayed at Excalibur plenty of times and it's a good property. Check-in lines can be long at times but the rooms are clean and inexpensive and it's not "run down" IMHO. The other close properties to MGM are New York New York and the Tropicana. The Trop had cheaper rooms last itme I checked. The absolute cheapest place on the strip is Westward Ho. I stayed there last December for 29 dollars. It's bare bones, though.

sally

More like Westward Heave-Ho..I wouldn't put my dog there!

Gary

I didn't say the West Ho was a five star property. I said it was cheap, and I think it's plenty fit for your (and my) dog.

Rich

Casino Royale is also on the Strip, is cheap, and the rooms are clean. Not fancy, but not scary or gross.

mare

The following are better choices than the Thunderbird, listed in order of close-proximity to the MGM:
1.www.sanremolasvegas.com
2.Travelodge South Strip
3.La Quinta Motor Inn South Strip
4.Motel 6 on Tropicana Blvd
5.Holiday Inn Boardwalk

There's also a Rodeway Inn that is very close to the MGM, but it's not much nicer than the Thunderbird.

vegas

Stayed at the Thunderbird 30 years ago and it was pretty much a dump then. Go elsewhere.

jimbojones

Stay at the Palace Station. Their free shuttle bus will drop you off right next door to the MGM. As long as you don't need to shuttle after midnight you'll be fine.

www.stationcasinos.com

Sam's Town is another choice with a shuttle. www.samstown.com