Hi. Looking for some ideas for hotels for my daughter and her friends, about 6 of them, in Vegas. All will be 21-22, so they need some place cheaper, but not dirty/unsafe. They would be going in the summer, so June or July. I'm assuming that rates are cheaper in the summer since it is so hot. I know they would want a great pool too. Any suggestions would be much appreciated!! Thanks!

Define "cheaper". Weekday or weekend? Midweeks at Mandalay were $120 this past July. THE Hotel was $160. Cheaper than that? Does it need to be on the strip? The next step down with a great pool might be Mirage. But it's way too soon to get a fix on rates for June/July. 6 weeks out is usually a good time to start picking up deals.

Sun_Thurs they should be able to get a room for $100 or less at the following strip hotels: Harrahs, Flamingo, Bally's, Monte Carlo and NYNY or Excalibur (I do not recommend this one). For approx $100-$150 nt they could get Paris, MGM, Treasure Island or possible Mandalay, Mirage & Venetian.

Not sure of the price, but Hardrock & Palms are the places to see and be seen (younger set)

What about renting a timeshare condo? www.tug2.net has people who list theirs for rental. A 2 bedroom one will sleep 6.

Well if they get two rooms, I would say a room that is around $150-$200 max a night would be great. They wouldn't have to be on the strip, but I'm guessing that would want to because it's close to everything, and they could just walk instead of taking a cab. I'll share all of my ideas with my daughter.

Timeshare was a good idea, I'll have them check into that. We were just looking for some decent hotels that aren't too scummy, and are safe. Thanks again!

All the hotels on the strip would be fine, and almost all of them should be available in your price range. Last summer I was getting email ads for the Venetian for $159 a night. I would guess only the Wynn and Bellagio might NOT be availalble in that price range.

I think one of the best hotel bargains in Vegas is Bill's Gamblin' Hall and Saloon - the former Barbary Coast.

It's located midstrip at the intersection with Flamingo, Bally's and Caesar's, which is my ideal location to stay.

Rates are very reasonable, we were there last August and midweek it was about $80, weekend about $120. Rooms were renovated sometime over the last couple years and I found our room to be nice. Guests are given pool privileges across the street at the Flamingo.

It's a small hotel, so there isn't the super long trek to your room. Casino is rather smoky and is not the big glitzy type like most others, but with the location, you can be at any of the other big casinos rather quickly.

Really, just about any of the hotels on the strip would be good. Some with very good pools include Caesar's, Mirage, Mandalay Bay, Flamingo, and Bellagio. Hard Rock has a good pool scene too for twenty-somethings, although it is off strip. I think you can get rooms in the $150-200 range for most of these properties in the summer.

Oh, forget to mention, the strip hotels I would stay away from include Harrahs (the pool is really bad), Excalibur, Circus Circus and Stratosphere.

Thank you for all of the suggestions, and for the hotels to stay away from!

Pool party on Sunday at The Hard Rock is a do not miss.

If they can swing it, definitely stay at The Hard Rock or The Palms.

You can try the Las Vegas Strip Hotel Matcher: http://www.vegashotelspecial.com/ind...match-service/

That might give you a few good ideas for hotels.

Also, to get the best rate, book with a hotel now, and then keep checking for specials. When you find a better deal, cancel the old reservation and book the new one. We always do that, sometimes we switch around to 3 or 4 hotels, always getting better rates.

To add to tom42's list I would put the riviera as another hotel to avoid- the location is just too far from everything and the hotel doesn't have much going on anymore.

Someone else on here suggested www.smartervegas.com and that was where I found the best prices.

Imperial Palace, right on the strip, seemed to be very popular with that age group when I was in Vegas a couple of years back.

www.imperialpalace.com

Deb

I agree with GoT; for twenties, I think Palms, Hard Rock and maybe the Rio.

Thank you for all of the suggestions. I'll start looking!

I forgot about the Imperial Palace but I would add that hotel to the list of places I wouldn't recommend, especially if your daughter and her friends are looking for a hip hotel with a good pool scene.