apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I've stayed in the Tropicana and the Las Vegas Club. Both chosen for their respective cheapness. I actually really like the pool area at the Tropicana. The rooms are kind of meh though. Las Vegas Club was on Freemont, and only $30 a night when I stayed there. It was impressively non-gross for that price point, but also nothing special.

We stayed at Green Valley Ranch. It's off the strip - about 10 minutes away and there's a free shuttle. It was a very nice place with a beautiful outdoor pool/lounging area. I would definitely go back.

I think Las Vegas is hell with brighter lights. But if you really have to go, stay at the Bellagio or the Wynn. Or better yet, keep driving.

As a Las Vegas Local, I cannot express how super the rooms at the Red Rock are!! They are done up in a modern, sleek way, the tubs are huge, and you either get a view of the strip or the mountains.... It is off the strip, but 10 min on the 215 and you are there. This is one of the best I have seen!!!

"impressively non-gross for that price point"

You're singin' my tune...

Great topic!
We stayed at the Tropicana recently and were so skeeved out it wasn't even funny. We actually spent most of our time in the place contemplating the date of its demise.
The Wynn is pretty incredible, but not sure if its worth the $$. Mandalay Bay has always been my favorite among the fancy-pants spots. The Westin, just a block or so off the strip is a hidden gem I think. Quiet, with only a small casino and lovely lovely beds.

I've stayed at the MGM Grand, Tropicana, Treasure Island, Venetian and Palms. In my opinion, The Venetian has the best rooms - each room is a huge suite with bathrooms the size of my bedroom... although the MGM has the most comfortable beds. I'm not a huge Vegas person but I've scored great room rates just by signing up for their players club (doesn't cost anything) - once stayed at the MGM for $25 a night.

We stayed at Mandalay some time back. Last trip we decided that it had the best HVAC system on the strip because our eyes didn't itch from the smoke. The rooms are lovely, too, as is the pool.

The Wynn, according to my folks, is amazing.

I've liked staying at the Green Valley Ranch also. The pool is excellent, it has a beach that flows seamlessly into the water and the whole pool/spa area is really lovely.

I agree about the hidden gem that is the Westin off the strip. It was indeed very lovely.

thanks for all the info everyone-- I'm itching to check out what you've recommended!

I've stayed at Mandalay (great pool), Paris (pretty standard rooms, good location), Excalibur (a decade ago, and it was cheesey then, too) and THE Hotel (twice). THE Hotel is by far my favorite... it's connected to the Mandalay casino but when you head back to your room, you actually feel like you've retreated away from the strip. It has a bit of an urban boutique hotel vibe.

the wynn. palms. hard rock. and of course, the four seasons.

I would never stay anywhere other than the MGM Grand.

The Wynn for the win! It is really amazing in person. The colors in the photo are a little washed out. When you are there it feels like every aspect of the hotel was designed by someone on a very good trip. Magical.

Las Vagas in general is not my taste at all, but it's a cheap vacation if you don't gamble. Great selection of shows, too.

I have a passion for Vegas, It's very odd, because I don't gamble and... it's a tacky city, but I love and here's my opinion...
DO NOT STAY AT: Excalibur (who in their right mind brings kids to Vegas?), Luxor (It really feels like you are in a tomb, the ventilation sucks!), NYNY (I got a kick out of the "art deco" room, but it's pretty lame), and I don't even have to mention the Hooters Casino (I went in there to get a shirt from my brother, it was awful), The Flamingo, Circus Circus, Or really anything with a theme.
Try these: THE Hotel at Mandalay, The Wynn, Green Valley Ranch (sweet pool!), Red Rock, The Venetian (It's got a theme, but the rooms are sweet). That's my Vegas wrap up... I could go on and on...But I won't.

The Wynn is the best. I'd say it depends on how old you are though. If you are 21 - 25 you want to stay at the Hard Rock or Palms. If you are over 30 try The Wynn, Bellagio or Green Valley Ranch. Red Rocks is beautiful but a hike from the strip.

I would say Mandalay Bay, The Venetian or gasp... The Palms, just not Thursday thru Sunday. The pool at The Palms is amazing and it has great restaurants. The rooms are average but CHEAP, we stayed there Sunday thru Tuesday for $80 a night. Mandalay Bay is a great retreat on the strip, with a great spa, good restaurants and fantastic pool. You can not beat the rooms at The Venetian, all suites with beautiful bathrooms and a great spa.

I'd stay at my friend's casa in PS if I were you!! 3br and a pool!!! www.midcentury-moderndesertrental.com

We are booked in at the MGM Signature for the end of August. It consists of three towers on the MGM property. It is rated high on review sites such as Trip Advisor. This link will take you to traveler pics:

http://las-vegas-hotels.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotos-g45963-d601419-Signature_at_MGM_Grand-Las_Vegas_Nevada.html

The towers do not have casinos so I am hoping that the hotel will feel nice and relaxing!

I've stayed at:
Paris: decent rooms, good location, cheesy interior. This was several years ago.
Aladdin: is no more
Luxor: one of the cheapest hotels on the Strip. The pyramid rooms are cool. I remember it being really dark. Again, this was several years ago.
MGM Grand: crazy with people. The best blackout curtains I've ever seen (room was pitch black at 8 am!). Good soundproofing on the exterior, terrible on the interior. Cool lion habitat (it is actually a good system, not cruel to the animals). Good breakfast buffet! Really cool artificial river. I liked it fine, but the crush of humanity drove my bf nuts. We just got back from this trip.
On our next trip, we are probably going to stay at that Marriot at the end of the Strip, and go in the middle of the week. It will be cheaper, hopefully less crowded, and just as much fun!
One of these days, I really want to stay at the Bellagio or the Venetian.

I am not a fan of Vegas, period. But on our trip, stayed at the Rio, which is off the strip. The design on the exterior and in the lobby/gambling area/shops is atrocious, but the suites were very tastefully decorated and reasonably priced, if booked in advanced. They offer free shuttle service to/from the strip.

Believe it or not, Treasure Island (now trying to distance itself from the whole lame pirate thing by calling itself T.I.) has a great pool, and modern rooms that have recently been redone. It's right in the middle of the strip, (right next door to Caesar's, I think) so you are close to lots of good food options. The price was also super-reasonable.

We stayed at the Palazzo in February and it was N.I.C.E! Big suites like the Venetian but done in a swank, modern style. Three plasmas (one in the bathroom) and even the casino was very non-cheesy. The pool wasn't open yet so I think we got a deal on the price. (Looking now it's a tad bit expensive. Wynn prices, but a better room.)

Golden Nugget Hotel in downtown Las Vegas is great to get away from the party atmosphere and its only 5-10 minutes away from the strip. It has an amazing swimming pool with a shark tank, also a water slide that travels through the shark tank. I defiantly recommend that hotel if you want something in the 4 star category but don't want to spend over an hundred dollars a night.

The Grotto restaurant has delicious pizza and mojitos too!

I live in Vegas and send all my guests to the Golden Nugget downtown. Their recent renovations are crowned by a gorgeous courtyard pool that contains a shark aquarium in the center with a glass tube slide within. The gaming areas are well-ventilated and have warm amber lighting. My crowd prefers a less Disney-fied scene than the Strip, where everything is overpriced, faux finished, and crowded with douchebags or fanny-packers. Cabs are cheap or some places offer free shuttles. Freemont Street is cheaper and better paying for gamblers, it has colorful people-watching on the low end, free live music often, and a few fabulous bars and music venues in East Freemont (though I wouldn't wander too far past the touristy areas, downtown's getting better but it isn't nice beyond the casino-security view; and the majority of the hotels down there are bargain-basement, emphasis on basement.)

Specifically, the Beauty Bar and Griffin are posh; and the downtown area hosts an outdoor art fair and gallery soiree on the first Friday of every month, free shuttle from El Cortez. The walking areas during FF contain some fun shopping for antiques, kitche, furniture, and thrift shops.