Vegas hotel question...strip or no strip??

[SonofDjugashvili]

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has anyone stayed at the 4 hotels mentioned and could voice an opinion on them?

Harrah's Hooters Las Vegas Hilton Bally's

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My buddy and I stayed at Hooter's our last poker trip in October - if you don't mind mullets and bad teeth, it's a very nice little hotel and it's conveniently located, being across the street from MGM. The rooms were nice and clean, pool was good, and everything is walking distance. But, it's the NASCAR crowd.

[sternroolz]

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People visiting Vegas for the first time shouldn't be doing poker rates. Unless you know you're mostly going to be playing poker, and are sure you'll be happy playing in the poker room of your hotel, that's a bad plan. If you want to take a day and play tourist and roam the strip, or spend a day downtown, or whatever, you'll constantly be thinking "man--now I gotta put in 12 hours tomorrow". If you've come with non-poker playing people, they will constantly be pressuring you to move along.

OP: Why no Imperial Palace on your list? Why no Sahara? These are usually much cheaper than Bally's and Harrah's. I wouldn't suggest Sahara since it's on the far north end of things, but IP is a wonderful location. It's a very rare package deal that actually works out to be cheaper than booking hotel and airfare separately, so do some more shopping. Hint: travelaxe.com

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Yeah, Bav is correct. You can probably do MUCH better than the package deal. You should be able to get IP for and average of $60-70 a night in July. There is a casino "gold rate" listed on their web page. Nearby crappy Casino Royale should be even cheaper(but no pool).

BTW, Hooters walking to Tropicana or MGM(ie the strip) is a less than 15 minute walk, let alone cab ride. Cab ride to say NYNY is like $5 at most. Also, if you do eventually have a car, consider Orleans. They have cheap midsummer rates, and its nicer rooms than anything else at comparable prices. Their regular rooms have a large business desk, a couch, chairs, and coffee table, and a large bathroom with hair dryer, coffee maker, and iron/ironing board. Kinda like a mini suite. It's nice. But don't stay there if you don't have a car. Cab rates will destroy you.

[CybrPunk]

The deuce is a bus that is only $5 per day for all-you-can-ride. It will get you up and down the entire strip and into downtown with no problem. Less expensive than a taxi. Only downside I see to the deuce is having to run on their schedule... which leaves you waiting on the bus to arrive at times and forces you to ride along as the driver stops along the strip.

[KipBond]

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So now the question is which is better out of the 2 hotels...harrahs is $200 cheaper in the package deal then ballys. From the research i have done they seem exactly alike...any reason that i should choose ballys over harrahs and pay a little extra money?

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Personally, I'd take the cheapest room. As long as it has a bed & a shower, that's all I need. You can walk or monorail to whatever casino or restaurant you want.

[thunderbolt]

summer in LV is hot. I dont walk anywhere.

[AndysDaddy]

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...if you don't mind mullets and bad teeth, it's a very nice little hotel...

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And guys are even uglier!
[img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[PorkchopDJG]

Since this is your first trip you should definitely stay on the strip. I would stay at like Bally's, Bill's, Flamingo, IP or Harrahs. All are relitvely cheap and close to all the big poker rooms. No need for a car just take a shuttle or cab there and you can walk anywhere you need to go.

[KappaSig215]

IP was a little over $1100 for the days you are planning on being there. I know that doesnt include airfare, but still $200 cheaper. Being two months away, you should be able to find a flight at a price around that, unless you are from somewhere way NE. I got roundtrip from Memphis for $218.

Never stayed at IP, but maybe calling them and asking for an extended rate may get you a cheaper rate? May work for another hotel on the strip? More experienced people can probably offer more advice on that.

[Diana Ross Fan]

Without a doubt, the Stratosphere was the cheapest when I booked mine. It does involve a car rental though unless you don't mind and hour of public T per day.

[SonofDjugashvili]

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...if you don't mind mullets and bad teeth, it's a very nice little hotel...

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And guys are even uglier!
[img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

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Yes, I should have clarified - mmmmmm, nothing sexier on a woman than a trailer-park mullet and a few tattoos. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] But, seriously, aside from the "down home" crowd, Hooters was an excellent base of operations.