another where should I stay poll

[kristen821]

I am looking for a place to stay on the strip. I don't want the most expensive, but I don't want super cheap.

[KKB]

It is important to know your dates & budget. Prices vary wildly in Vegas--weekdays usually a lot cheaper than weekends UNLESS there is a huge convention in town; big holidays/events make rooms much more expensive.

That being said, Vegas is one of the best priced cities in the world for hotel rooms. We don't blink to spend $150/nt for an average room, while that will often get you a luxurious room in Vegas.

Midrange--Mirage, Planet Hollywood are on the upper end of middle; Ballys, Monte Carlo or Harrahs are on the lower end. But again, depending on your dates, you may find nicer (or worse!) hotels more fitting to your range. (btw, Mirage & MC you need to add $25/nt to any price you see for "resort fees")

[kristen821]

We are planning on going in February. So far I am seeing 140 at Harrah's for 4 nights and about 340 for Treasure Island and Monte Carlo (including the fees)
Is it worth the extra 200 dollars. My husband and I disagree. I feel we won't spend time in the room anyway, my husband feels we should splurge a little since we never go on vacations just the 2 of us

[KKB]

I have stayed at all of these...I would choose Ballys for $200 cheaper every time.
NOW...I do want to point out. Bally's south tower, while they have great strip views, are VERY dated. BUT the north tower was renovated in 2004 & are at least as nice as TI & MC--larger & more central, so better, IMO. They will nearly always upgrade you to north tower--either they will send you an email for something like and extra $10/nt you can upgrade...or when you give the clerk your ID & credit card, have a $20 sandwiched in between them & ask if there is any availability in the north tower. Nearly always there is & they will upgrade you.
Casino-wise, none of these 3 is that great. They are all pretty dark & nondescript...but at least Ballys has high ceilings. But we wander all over the strip, so the central location is key.
I like Aria, Cosmo & PH casinos--nice & close to Ballys!
Have fun!

[Thumper_Man]

Still searching I see.

I still stand by my first vote for Monte Carlo. I would also vote for MGM Grand. DW and I are also going in February and this is where we might stay. We usually try to go at least once a year.

Harrah's (IMO) would fall under your definition of cheap. So would Bally's. Both are pretty old and haven't been renovated for quite a while.

If you considered Harrah's, then I would stay at TI. It's in the general location of Harrah's.

I'm sure you'll get a lot of votes for the following places:
Bellagio
Aria
Caesar's
Venetian
Palazzo
Wynn
Encore
Cosmopolitan
Mirage

These are all very expensive places to stay. I will agree, they are nice; but if you're not going to be spending a lot of time in the room, it would be wasted money IMO. Stay at NY NY, Planet Hollywood or Monte Carlo; save the money, go out and splurge on dinner or a show.

[KKB]

Originally Posted by Thumper_Man

Still searching I see.

Harrah's (IMO) would fall under your definition of cheap. So would Bally's. Both are pretty old and haven't been renovated for quite a while.

You are wrong here--Ballys & Harrahs were both renovated in the last 20 years; Harrahs in '97 & Ballys north tower in '04. Both are done in neutral decor, both solid rooms--compare to Hampton Inn.

I have stayed at MGM, Monte Carlo, Ballys & Harrahs. I don't like MGM as the casino is massive, the hotel is on the east side of the property, so a LONG walk to the strip. I also prefer center strip. I find Harrahs & Ballys rooms to be a tad nicer than Monte Carlo--and likely cheaper if you figure in the $25/nt resort fee that MC will charge you.
I am a fan of PH--a step above Ballys, Harrahs & MC.

[Thumper_Man]

Originally Posted by KKB

You are wrong here--Ballys & Harrahs were both renovated in the last 20 years; Harrahs in '97 & Ballys north tower in '04. Both are done in neutral decor, both solid rooms--compare to Hampton Inn.

I'm not going to get into a who's wrong or who's right here, but to say I'm wrong is a pretty bold statement. I don't feel I'm wrong and really there is no right or wrong answer. My interpretation of old may not be the same as yours. It's been 15 years since Harrah's has been renovated, and 8 years for Bally's North Tower; that's still quite a long time for each one and by my interpretation, makes them pretty old. There are also no guarantees you'll get the the North Tower at Bally's. Could get the South tower which hasn't been renovated since it was built back in 1981.

Also take into account when they were built.

Bally's opened in 1973 with the 2nd tower opening in 1981. The North tower was renovated in 2004 and the 2nd tower has yet to be renovated, that I know of.
Harrah's also opened in 1973 and only remodeled once in 1997 since it opened.
Monte Carlo opened in 1996 and was recently renovated in 2009.
Paris opened in 1999 and recently renovated between 2010-2011.
MGM opened in 1993 and renovated in 1996, 2005 and is currently renovating their rooms and should be completed by the end of the year.
Planet Hollywood originally opened in 2000 as the Aladdin and was renovated in 2007 when Planet Hollywood took over.

So when you take into account that some of these hotels have been renovated within the past 3-5 years, Bally's and Harrah's are pretty old in comparison. Well IMO anyways.

Originally Posted by KKB

I have stayed at MGM, Monte Carlo, Ballys & Harrahs. I don't like MGM as the casino is massive, the hotel is on the east side of the property, so a LONG walk to the strip. I also prefer center strip. I find Harrahs & Ballys rooms to be a tad nicer than Monte Carlo--and likely cheaper if you figure in the $25/nt resort fee that MC will charge you.
I am a fan of PH--a step above Ballys, Harrahs & MC.

Depending on one's preferences, interests and plans often depends on where to stay. Also depends on how one plan's to get from one side of the strip to the other. I can stay at MGM and very easily get to the other side of the strip via monorail, taxi or drive if I rented a car, or drove my own. I've been there enough to know my way around. Anyone planning a first time trip may not know. We always rent a car. We used to take taxis, but what we spent on taxi fare, we learned we can spend on a rental car and be cheaper in the long run.

Monorail takes you from MGM to the other side of the strip. Can buy a day pass or multi-day pass.

True, walking from one side of the strip to the other is LONG; but I find any walk is long. If I'm staying at MGM and want to go to Bally's, it's a long walk. If I'm at Bally's and want to go to MGM, well its still a long walk. So again, depending on one's plans will depend on where to stay. If a person doesn't plan to visit MGM, Luxor and the hotel/casinos on that side of the strip, then makes more sense to stay in the center or further West and vice versa. It all comes down to personal preferences.