Las Vegas - Hotel Suggestions for a first time visitor

So many choices! So hard to narrow.

My best friend and I plan to go to LV for the first time. We definitely want to stay on the strip and would like stay at one of the nicer hotels. We are, unfortunately, constrained to going over President's Day Weekend.

Checking out expedia, something like the Bellagio is a bit too pricey (a deluxe room averages out at about 299/night). Something like Paris, however, averages out to $176/night. That's definitely within the range of what we'd be willing to pay.

Is Paris a good choice? Any other hotels that would be in that range that I should consider looking into?

In terms of interests . . . . I'd say we are primarily going just to go and see. And for us, staying at a nice hotel is all part of the experience. Neither of us are gamblers (and she only really plays the slots). Definitely more into shopping/window shopping, good food, and taking in a show. Not sure about her, but I'm also interested in a spa treatment.

Is Paris a good choice? Any other hotels that would be in that range that I should consider looking into?


Neither of us are gamblers (and she only really plays the slots).

That makes her a gambler be definition.

While I haven't stayed there, Paris should be a fairly good choice. Any of the 4* + hotels should be fine. Actually, I am quite surprised that the Bellagio is that cheap that weekend. Be aware, sans the Bellagio and the Venitian, there is a lot of difference between rooms at even the nicer hotels. I have stayed at the MGM Grand twice, once a very nice room, the other time not nice at all. I don't know Vegas well enough to tell you how to ensure you get one of the nicer ones, other than be really nice to the person who checks you in.

That makes her a gambler be definition.

True. I should have said neither of us are big gamblers. So differences between hotel casinos wouldn't matter much to us.

Thanks for the tip about rooms being very different.

StudentExploerer:
I'd recommend you check the rates at the Venetian. The rooms (small suites) there are really quite nice and they often run specials for something around the $130 area. I'd stay there more but I'm pretty hooked on Bellagio or if that's full, the Four Seasons. For the money, however the Venetian rooms are almost as nice as Bellagio with a seperate sitting area and pretty cool marble bathrooms. Personally I hate the rooms at Paris and would rate them very close to a Holiday Inn so if you can't get into the Venetian also look at Mirage or Treasure Island which are nice, well run places. If you want to go really cheap and still stay on the strip, try Luxor. The rooms are bad but at least cheap and you can always go next door to Mandalay Bay for the action. The only problem there is you are stuck way down at one end of the strip.

Since I mentioned the Four Seasons, I'd really recommend it to anyone who does not mind spending a bit more for a significant cut above. You are on the top floors of the Mandalay Bay building but in a totally different hotel with a different entrance. You can check in and avoid the huge crowds of crazed people and the mile long walk to the elevators to get to your room like at most Vegas hotels. The rooms are outstanding and the service is really excellent...near the very best of the FS group. You also get sort of a "secret" entrance into the Mandalay Bay lobby by the casino, should you wish to venture back out into the Las Vegas action. You can also charge MB meals, etc to your FS account and you have the use of the MB pool including the big wave pool but also the privacy of the FS pool that MB guests cannot use.

I'd recommend you check the rates at the Venetian. The rooms (small suites) there are really quite nice and they often run specials for something around the $130 area. I'd stay there more but I'm pretty hooked on Bellagio or if that's full, the Four Seasons.

I'm pretty hooked on the Venetian and stay there over other places but everyone is different and you can have a nice stay at almost any of the hotels. Personally I like the north side and only go to the south to take the kids to Mandalay Aquarium and walk them around MGM.

Venetian, Mandalay, Belagio, Caesars, MGM would be my order. The rest of them on the strip can all be about the same IMO, you can have a good room. Lowest end on the strip is Imperial Palace. If your not wanting to go higher costing hotels for your trip really any of the others ones is fine. I've had good experiences at Mirage and Paris.

If you like food but don't really like high end food, then Venetian does not have the best food service, no buffet or such. But you can of course walk to other hotels for the meal buffet if you want an all you can eat and such.

I stayed at Paris on my last visit and found it to be nicer than I expected. Standard rooms are about average size, bathroom has separate tub and walk-in shower. Good coffee shop for breakfast; also had good meal at Mon Ami Gabi. There's plenty of shopping nearby, including the Aladdin Desert Passage mall next door. It will cost you a few dollars more a night, but their Passport to Paris package comes with extras (like dining and attraction credits/deals) that can lower your overall price if you plan to use them.

I haven't stayed at Bally's next door in ages (it's connected to Paris), but I hear they have large rooms for less money than Paris. (Definitely not a 4 star, though.)

You might want to check Treasure Island as well. In my experience, it's the best priced 4 star on the Strip.

Edited to Add: As I recall, the Passport to Paris deal includes a discount on a spa treatment.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone!

Jedi: the Venetian does look really nice, but for President's day weekend, it's still out of the price range.

Any of these hotels would be good in terms of rooms and location:

MGM
Monte Carlo
Bellagio
Paris
Bally's
Caesars
Mirage
Treasure Island
Venetian

There may be one or two bad rooms at each of these places, but none of the regular rooms are spectacular or crappy. If you're not gamblers, choose on price. These all amount to be four star properties - clean, reasonably sized, marble bathrooms, etc.

Download Travelaxe (www.travelaxe.com) and it will compare all of the rates at all of the hotels, checking multiple sources. It's a great tool.

Download Travelaxe (www.travelaxe.com) and it will compare all of the rates at all of the hotels, checking multiple sources. It's a great tool.

Looks like it's only for Windows, is that right?

Any alternative tool for Mac OS?

I don't know Vegas well enough to tell you how to ensure you get one of the nicer ones, other than be really nice to the person who checks you in.

Agreed - we were on an el cheapo rate at the Paris & since we were patient while they were trying to find adjoining rooms that we had requested, the guy thanked us & upgraded us to beautiful view rooms of the 'Eiffel Tower' & Bellagio Fountains. We really enjoyed our stay there & I am used to the Venetian & Mandalay.

Looks like it's only for Windows, is that right?

Any alternative tool for Mac OS?
Maybe you could try an emulator or have a Windows friend check out those dates for you?

http://www.travelaxe.com/NewSite/Help_Macintosh.asp

Do check out rates at TI. We travel to LAS fairly often and like this hotel. The rooms were fairly recently refurbished and even the cheapest ones are very good. There is a skybridge walkway across the street to the Venetian, where you can enjoy that hotel without having to pay the higher room rates.

You won't find any bargains in LAS over a long weekend. I recommend trying to book as soon as possible. I always look at the hotel websites first, then google around for other rates. If you want a cheaper room, try the downtown hotels or the "Station" chain. Good luck!