Trip to Las Vegas
 

My hubby and I are planning a last minute trip to Vegas Memorial Day week. Can someone please give me suggestions of a nice place to stay on a budget? Does anyone know anything about Bill's Gamblin Hall & Saloon? It has good reviews on Expedia and it's cheap.
What about tours to the Grand Canyon? Thanks for any advice!

www.cheapovegas.com has good reviews of all the places to stay, including Bill's (formerly known as The Barbary Coast).

Grand Canyon tours will take a whole day.

What's the budget? I often check Broadwaybox.com/lasvegas for hotel deals.

We'd like to stay for less than $100 per night if possible. We really don't need a posh hotel, just something clean, safe, and comfortable.

We know that the GC will be a day trip. Is it worth it? Would you rent a car or take a tour?

Last minute to Vegas is going to be tough to find a place for under $100 but I went on Expedia and Palace Station is $106 a night and Excaliber Hotel is $152 a night..
Have fun and good luck!

Try to stay on the Strip. We'll be there during/right after the holiday, Tropicana Sunday is expensive, then it goes down to $55. Check out Sahara.

There is a bus running along the strip, so it's not very important which hotel, just make sure it's on the strip. I wouldn't stay at the Stratosphere, though, not safe to use the bus there.

Go to Expedia, put in your dates, get a list of hotels, open drop-down menu, choose "the strip" then click on sort by price. Plenty of hotels within your budget!

Don't reccomend Grand Canyon on a short vist. Too much driving, too little time to enjoy. Try the Hoover Dam and lLake Mead trip. Its only an hour away from Vegas.

Your best bet for a budget room in Las Vegas during Memorial Day weekend will be downtown.

We just returned from LV, stayed at the Sahara. Was VERY skeptical as reviews were only a one star. I was pleasingly surprised, good view and clean. We were put up there free to listen to time share. Hotel was adequate, breakfast was great and the tram left from the back of casino. Would recommend if on a budget.

JB, I absolutely agree with you!

Stayed at Sahara twice, this time going to the other end of the strip, but thinking of going to the buffet for breakfast - for their price, very adequate! And the pool is not bad!

Location-wise it's safe, on the strip bus's stop, and on the monorail. One year it was raining heavily, the monorail was leaking a bit, but running regularly.

If you are able to get a room at Bill's that fits your budget, I would grab it. Formerly the Barbary Coast, I haven't stayed there since it was renovated. I've got reservations to stay there in August, so I'm interested to see how the rooms look now.

IMO it has one of the best locations on the strip and with its inexpensive rates, it's a real bargain. When in Vegas, I like to stay at one of the hotels on that intersection because it's so central to everything on the strip.

It's definitely a smaller hotel with only about 200 rooms, but I like not having to walk miles to get to my room from the elevator.

Bill's is great for location and convenience, but keep in mind that they do not have a pool.

I read recently on some Trip Advisor reviews that now that Bill's is owned by Harrah's, guests are allowed to use the pool at the Flamingo.

Not sure if that's accurate, but if a pool is important, you could ask before making the reservation.

If your visiting Las Vegas for the first time, i suggest taking a look at this site called www.lasvegaselitetours.com They provide all kinds of tour package for las vegas. They have great grand canyon packages, and also free comps for all kinds of casinos. Me and my mom took a trip to the Grand Canyon on a helicopter they provided. It was a memoral experience, its unbelievable how great the view is of the grand canyon from the sky. Take a look

Jack - you don't happen to work for this company do you?

Advertising alert!!!! Click on his name - one-time poster.

yes FA! He did it on another thread too for LV. He isn't so subtle is he?

hmm...

I for one will be too busy sunning, shopping and playing video poker...
and oh yeah, sipping drinks next to strangers, to take any stuffy l'il airplane rides..((D))

Ditto, me too jetset. In 5 short weeks. ;-)

We just stayed at "Bills" on May 1st for the luxury rate of $50! What a great deal this was..we called before their website was up & running & later saw it was anywhere from $25-50 more for the same night. We had requested a high floor with fountain views, but got a 2pm check-in & the first floor overlooking the big Flamingo sign instead. It was lovely for the few minutes we were in the rm. Totally loved the bed & pillows as others have commented. Very clean, lots of room & fabulous being able to walk right out onto the Strip, without going down huge long driveways & hallways. We have stayed at Bellagio, Venetian, Mirage, & Aladdin and I would have to say for the price, it was SIMPLY Delightful & I would staye here again! (though I would prbly ask for a higher floor. I could hear a slight thumping from the live band, but not enough to keep me up). Bathrm isn't big & grand, but nice & clean. My son had stayed here last Aug. and gave it the same review.

Thanks so much for all the info. Now I'm not so worried about Bills. We are now trying to decide about day trips to the Grand Canyon. Which rim should we travel to? We are also trying to decide whether we should go to Zion or Bryce Canyon.

If you are going to Zion and Bryce, the North Rim may be your best bet. If not, then the South Rim is closer to Vegas.

For budget eating in Vegas, Ellis Island Casino has consistently good food at budget prices.

imperial palace is starting at $114/night starting on friday night for 3 nights. that's pretty close to $100 adn that's center strip. good location. www.imperialpalace.com

oh, and do south rim, it's closer to you and the views are more amazing than north rim (although I like north rim because it's quieter but then again, i've been to both). I like Zion alot but it requires more time to get to know. If you're doing this as anotehr day trip, then I say go to Bryce. It's spectacular.

Well, the Grand Canyon would be one day trip then we'd drive back to Vegas only to head to Bryce or Zion for a second day trip. I know its alot of driving but I'm willing b/c I want to see all that I can in this short trip. Can you see both Bryce and Zion in one day? Which one is closer to Vegas? I must start researching the maps! We only have a couple of weeks before our big trip.

Zion is closer and techinally, yes you can. Bryce and Zion are only about an hour and half away from each other - more if there's traffic. I guess you can drive through Zion and stop at some lookout points. You can do a mini stroll at the weeping rock or walk the river walk. then head to bryce and just do the overlooks too.

Oooops. I meant a couple of hours or so from each other and again, more if there's traffic.

Thanks Maria! You have been very helpful. I think it was your pictures I looked at and enjoyed! Great photography.
My hubby and I probably will not be doing any hiking. I think stopping at the overlooks will be about all we will have time for on this trip. Maybe we can tour both Zion and Bryce!

No problem. Just trying to return the favor. So many fodorites have helped me in my trips in the past, I just thought I should reciprocate. Enjoy your trip!