I don't have experience with the budget site you mentioned, but as far as cheap hotels go, I always count on the Flamingo. It is centrally located, the "Go Rooms" are affordable and quite nice, and the table limits are decent. The crowd is usually a mix of middle aged Midwesterners (due to Margaritaville) and southern California college students (due to the cheap drinks and awesome pool). If you're going during warm weather, Flamingo also has a large waterpark-style pool area, with lots of waterfalls, waterslides, bikini-clad cocktail waitresses, etc.
However, if your budget limits you to an unrenovated non-Go room, I'd probably lean towards a standard room at TI.

If you prefer the southern end of the Strip, then I'd recommend MGMGrand over Excalibur/Luxor, but I haven't stayed at any southern Strip property so someone else will have to chime in with recommendations there.