Best Vegas hotel?

[tinagirl]

Hi guys, I know this is off topic, but I needed my Disneyland peoples to help me out.

I am going to Las Vegas in September (6-8) for the first time since I was 12. What do you guys feel is the best hotel on the strip, for the best value. We want to be on the strip itself, as we don't want to pay for parking from an "outer rim hotel" to see the strip. Going with my friend, so romance isn't important, and we have no kids with us.

Have you guys heard any good prices? Packages? Deals?

Opinions are heartily welcomed.

~Tina.

 

[bubbasmom99]

It's been several years since we've been, but Treasure Island is a good value for the money, I think. Our room faced the strip and we could see straight down the street. Room rates tend to be lower at Treasure Island compared to it's sister resort The Mirage, and they're owned by the same company so the quality of service is the same. The rooms were pretty sizeable too.

We've also stayed at the MGM Grand, but it was almost too big of a resort for my tastes. Everything seemed too spread out. The rates there were pretty reasonable too, though.

 

[jlima]

Try Ballys or the Flamingo . . . you'll be in a good location near the Bellagio and Caesars, and Bally's has a monorail to the MGM (it's actually a former Disney monorail!). Try booking your room on the internet insteal of calling; most Vegas hotels have internet only specials.

Regarding parking, virtually everywhere has free parking; if you valet just tip the driver a buck or two. Even if you stay at Palace Station and move your car to Caesars during the day you won't pay for parking; but you will have to deal with traffic and getting back to whatever hotel you left your car at, if you walk to different hotels.

Whatever you do, don't change your plans to the following weekend; there's a Delahoya fight on Sept 14 at Mandalay Bay and the whole city will be sold out.

 

[Peter Pan Fan]

We are going at the end of the month & I agree with jlima, you can get better rates on the hotel's own internet site than if you call the hotel. We have stayed at Treasure Island, Paris, Excalibur, NY NY & Luxor. Paris was by far my favorite, the rooms are absolutely beautiful. Next would be Treasure Island, really nice as well. Luxor & NY NY were really nice when we stayed there, but that was several years ago. The only one I wouldn't recommend unless you are on a budget is Excalibur. That was a great place to stay when we were starving college students, but not very nice now

We are going the week before you and saw rates at Paris for as low as $69, Monte Carlo for $59 and Mandalay Bay for $109. Of course, those are Sunday - Thursday rates, weekends will be higher. We have it narrowed down to Monte Carlo and Mandalay Bay..we have to choose which one.

Hope you find a good rate!

 

[jlima]

My mom stayed at TI 2 years ago, and their rooms were beautiful. I loved the half canopy beds! Their room was on a high floor and had a south-facing view and at night had an INCREDIBLE view of the Strip in all its neon glory. Don't know what she paid as it was a tour group that was all-inclusive.

Peter Pan Fan - when did you stay at Paris & what was your rate? I agree their rooms are beautiful.

 

[LuvTigger]

I've heard of good deals at Excalibur, MGM, Monte Carlo, Flamingo and Stardust.

 

[princessKT]

Mandalay Bay! I'm not sure if they'll have their cheap rates still for that time, but it is worth checking out. Most of the hotels are around the same price for a normal room. The Venetian is higher because it's all suites, same thing with The Rio. The Mirage and Treasure Island usually have pretty decent deals. You don't want to stay at the Excalibur, it's awful. The Monte Carlo is pretty nice as well. The Aladdin is all redone and new, not sure what their prices are like. The Palm's, although off strip, is very nice, I hear, and they have some sort of a shuttle. You can't go wrong with Caesar's Palace and Bellagio, but those are usually a little more spendy. (but sometimes you can still get good deals!)

I would say pick anything but Circus Circus, Tropicana, Excalibur, Harrah's, Stardust, The Riviera...and I think those are the worst.

 

[Peter Pan Fan]

jlima - we stayed at Paris last year during the first week in August. I can't remember exactly, but I believe the rate was around $125/night.

Funny story; we checked in really late and asked the friendly desk attendant if it was possible to have a view of the strip. She checked and then apologized saying that it was really late and all of the strip view rooms had been given out. I responded by saying that was OK since we didn't pay for a strip room, it just never hurts to ask, etc. Well she said she was impressed with our 'attitude', she said that people always demand an upgrade, etc. and that we were 'refreshing'. It was funny, so she ends up giving us an upgrade to a 'larger room'. When we get in the elevator we determine that we need our card key to access our floor. Well now we started feeling pretty special! We get up there and sure enough, we are on the concierge floor (or so I thought). My only experience w/concierge has been at Disney where, if you are on the floor, then you are a concierge guest (I think this is how it works at least). So, I assume we have been given a concierge upgrade. The first morning we check out the concierge lounge (we had to use our key to get us in), grab some water and leave. That night we come back to snack a bit before dinner. As we walk in, they ask us our room number. About 10 minutes later as we are eating our snacks, the concierge guy comes over...squats down next to our table and whispers to us that we are not on the 'rendesvouz package' (sorry can't spell that word) and therefore we don't have access to the lounge. He was extremely kind and quiet about it and told us to stay and enjoy ourselves since we were there, but of course we hightailed it out of there asap, quite red-faced. At least we have a funny story to tell people! My question is why did our key work if we weren't supposed to have access to the locked lounge? Wierd situation!

 

[Captain Crook]

We prefe to stay on Freemont street. It's more of a party & walking everywhere is a breeze. The drive down to the strip to a parking gaage is easy & this way you get the best of both worlds.

Don't stay at the Sahara (to far down the strip). Mandalay Bay looked best to me but pricey. The Luxor looked gret & I think some very good rates can be had there. There is a tram that links the Mandalay Bay/Luxor/Excaliber...

 

[kincal]

Just stayed at both Paris and Mandalay Bay in July. Stayed at the Venetian last August. The rooms at Venetian are huge and the shop area is really cool. Paris was also nice - I was not as impressed by the rooms as others were - they were nice but not anything special. Mandalay Bay was by far my favorite - our room did not look out on the strip, it looked out on the pool area which is wonderful. The lobby is gorgeous and there are some excellent restaurants there. But the biggest draw to me was the pool area - the wave pool was devine - groups of people just congregate out there and float around when a swell comes by. Raise the flag on your lounge and the cocktail lady comes by to take your order. It is all the way at the end of the strip, not sure if there is a monorail from there to anywhere else - but it couldn't be more than a few dollar cab ride to Bellagio or one of the more centrally located casinos to start a walking tour from.

 

[jdm]

We've been to Vegas many times and usually stay at the Rio. We love it there but it is off strip and we wanted to try somthing new so ........ in May we stayed at Tresure Island and was very unimpressed. Unfriendly staff, very basic, standard type rooms and lousy pool area. It was one pool that was surrounded by zillions of lounge chairs. Didn't like it there at all.

We went on a very spare of the moment weekend the next month and the only accomodations I could find for a decent price was the MGM. I was worried as I'd been told it was very big and impersonal. Well, we LOVED it! We stayed in the Grand Tower for $89 a night for the weekend. The view was unbelievable, the room was large and convenient to everything. If you like nice pools, this is the place (if you can't afford Madalay Bay of course). They have 5 pools and one of them is a lazy river.
It is large but I liked having everything right there from Rainforest Cafe to Krispy Kreme donuts. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful. I think it's our new place! Slots weren't that tight either.

Good luck in whatever you decide..

Oh and I agree to AVOID the Excalibur. TERRIBLE! The Monte Carlo was pretty good when we stayed there 6 years ago when they first opened.

Jenn

 

[princessKT]

The Mirage also has a very nice pool. My cousin was in town once and my brother and I got to go to it for a day. It was very nice

 

[DisneyAlly]

Tinagirl,

Check out this link for advertised Las Vegas special.

http://off2vegas.com/hotspecials.html

Most specials are usually valid only Sun-Thurs, but a few do offer specials for Fri and Sat stays too. Like one poster here said here, go the individual hotel websites and check their specials page. You can probably get a weekend rate of $125 or so at in NY, NY and Paris on their website. You can always try using Priceline and Hotwire if you are looking for value rather than a specific hotel.
I have not stayed at Paris but really liked the decor and atmosphere.

I have used Hotwire to purchase a room and gotten Venetian for $129 on a weeknight, which beat the hotel's lowest, internet rate of $149. Venetian's suite was beautifully decorated and we love the gondolas and ST. Mark's Square. I thought we got a lot for our money. However the standard suite is a ONE king sized bed. Which may not be convenient for you and your friend.

 

[kazzie]

I was going to ask a very similiar question on Las Vegas myself

My priority would be a hotel with the best (or great pool area)

From my brochures I can see Mandalay Bay,Monte Carlo,Flamingo,Mirage,Luxor and MGM Grand have some of the best pools.As we are travelling with 2 teens age 13 & 16 would you reccomend one of those above the others for me please?

The MGM may be more geared to stay at with children?

Is it possible to pay and use other hotels pool areas if you're not staying there??

Peter pan Fan....how embarrassing

TIA

 

[DisneyAlly]

If you have teens and you want a great pool, nothing beats Mandalay Bay.

Check this site out about Vegas pools.
http://www.vegas.com/resorts/pools/

Mandalay Bay is also connected by a tram to Luxor and Excalibur.
Luxor has an King Tut's tomb display, arcade, 3-D rides area. Excalibur has the Tournament of King shows. From Excalibur they can cross to NY,NY to check out the roller coaster. They will enjoy the recreation of New York, New York's downtown streets. Across NY, NY is the MGM Grand (Lion Habitat).

 

[kazzie]

Disney Alley

Thanks,That site was just what I was searching for.

I'm almost certain I'll go for Mandalay Bay

 

[Itchette]

Try Expedia.com. They usually have good rates.

 

[mickey4ver]

My vote is for the Mirage, of course its the only place I've ever been on my one and only trip to Vegas! Want to go back though, and would consider Mirage again, very nice and close to Caesars Forum shops etc.