Las Vegas travel guide,Sleep

Sleep

The vast majority of visitors to Las Vegas arrive on Friday or Saturday nights and stay for the weekend. As such, room rates can seem ridiculously cheap from Sunday-Thursday night but zoom upwards on weekends. Travelers can plan a trip to their advantage: by staying, say, Sunday through Thursday, one can not only save a bundle on hotel rates, but also take advantage of package deals that may include a show, meals, and gambling coupons -- occasionally worth more than the cost of the hotel room itself.

Be aware that many amenities that are included for free in other cities may be quite expensive in Las Vegas; most hotels charge for use of the fitness center with rates around $20 to $40 per visit, local calls are usually billed, and wireless internet is generally at least $12 per day. In Las Vegas parlance, the words "hotel" and "casino" are interchangeable.

On The Strip

• Aladdin, 3667 S Las Vegas Blvd, ☎ +1-702-785-5555 (toll free: +1-877-333-9474). Aladdin is currently open but undergoing renovation as it is transformed into the Planet Hollywood Casino.

• Bally's, 3645 Las Vegas Blvd South (toll free: +1-888-742-9248)

• Bellagio, 3600 S. Las Vegas Blvd, ☎ +1-702-693-7111. One of the most upscale hotels in Las Vegas, the Bellagio features an art gallery, a massive indoor flower garden, and the Cirque du Soleil show "O".

• Bill's Gamblin' Hall & Saloon, 3595 Las Vegas Blvd. South, ☎ +1-702-737-2100 (toll free: +1-866-BILLS-45). An excellent value hotel in the middle of the strip between Bally's and Flamingo, across from Ceasar's palace and Bellagio.

• Caesars Palace, 3570 Las Vegas Blvd South (toll free: +1-877-427-7243).

• Circus Circus, 2880 Las Vegas Blvd South (toll free: +1-877-224-7287). A cheaper and less upscale casino that caters to families. The Manor is in poor shape, the Tower rooms are somewhat better. Scheduled for demolition and rebuilding. $50-60.

• City Center (opens late 2009), 3780 Las Vegas Blvd. South, ☎ +1-702-590-5999 (toll free: +1-866-722-7171). The iconic 61-story, resort-casino will set a new global standard in hospitality with approximately 3,438 rooms and 564 suites. The resort-casino will deliver the unprecedented dining, entertainment, shopping and spa experiences for which MGM MIRAGE is renowned. It will feature a phenomenal new Cirque du Soleil production celebrating the legacy of Elvis Presley and approximately 300,000 square feet of ballroom, meeting space and prefunction area.

• Excalibur, 3850 Las Vegas Boulevard South, ☎ +1-800-697-1791. Named after the mythical sword of King Arthur, this family friendly hotel has a large pool a rides for kids.

• Flamingo, 3555 Las Vegas Blvd South, ☎ +1-702-733-3111 (toll free: +1-888-308-8899).

• Four Seasons, 3960 Las Vegas Blvd. South, ☎ +1-702-632-5000 (fax: +1-702-632-5195). Occupying the top four floors of Mandalay Bay's main building, the Four Seasons is one of the most exclusive and high-end accommodations in Las Vegas.

• Harrah's, 3475 S Las Vegas Blvd, ☎ +1-702-369-5000.

• Imperial Palace, 3535 Las Vegas Blvd South, ☎ +1-702-731-3311 (toll free: +1-800-634-6441).

• Luxor Resort and Casino, 3900 S. Las Vegas Blvd., ☎ +1-702-262-4100. An Egyptian-themed hotel with a massive pyramid that offers interesting room layouts. This hotel is a good option for those looking for a lower-priced but still upscale room on the Strip.

• Mandalay Bay, 3950 S. Las Vegas Blvd, ☎ +1-702-632-7777. Located at the far southern end of the Strip next to the Luxor.

• Mirage, 3400 S. Las Vegas Blvd., ☎ +1-702-791-7111 (toll free: +1-800-374-9000). An upscale hotel located near the middle of the Strip, the Mirage features a "volcano" that erupts every hour, a white tiger exhibit, a 200,000 gallon tropical aquarium, and a tropical rain forest. Room rates vary from $75 per night to upwards of $500 per night, depending on time of year and method of booking.

• MGM Grand, 3799 Las Vegas Boulevard South, ☎ +1-702-891-7777. checkin: 3PM; checkout: 11AM. Opened in 1933, this Hollywood themed resort has 5,044 guest rooms. The rooms are nicer than what you would find at most chain hotels, but don't expect the quiet or luxuries that are offered by the high-end casinos such as Bellagio or Wynn. Standard rooms start anywhere from $80 to $300 per night.

• Monte Carlo, 3770 Las Vegas Blvd South, ☎ +1-702-730-7777 (toll free: +1-888-529-4828). Modeled after the opulent Place du Casino in Monte Carlo.

• New Frontier, 3120 Las Vegas Blvd South, ☎ +1-702-794-8200 (toll free: +1-800-634-6966). Rates start at $45 per night.

• Paris, 3655 Las Vegas Boulevard South, ☎ +1-702-946-7000 (toll free: +1-877-796-2096),.

• Riviera, 2901 Las Vegas Blvd. South, ☎ +1-702-734-5110 (toll free: +1-800-634-3420). Rates start at $49 per night.

• Sahara, 2535 Las Vegas Blvd South, ☎ +1-702-737-2654 (toll free: +1-866-382-8884) One of the cheapest hotels located on the strip, also served by the monorail. Has a large casino floor, swimming pool, a buffet diner, several restaurants and a NASCAR exhibition. Rates from $41 per night.

• Stratosphere, 2000 Las Vegas Blvd South, ☎ +1-702-380-7777 (toll free: +1-800-998-6937). The 1,149-foot Stratosphere Tower is a Las Vegas landmark. Rates from $30 per night.

• Treasure Island, 3300 Las Vegas Blvd South, ☎ +1-702-894-7111 (toll free: +1-800-288-7206). Rates from $99 per night.

• Tropicana, 3801 Las Vegas Blvd South (toll free: +1-888-826-8767). Rates from $36 per night.

• The Signature at MGM Grand, 3799 Las Vegas Blvd South. A Luxury suite hotel behind the MGM Grand.

• The Venetian, 3355 Las Vegas Blvd South, ☎ +1-702-414-4100. A high-end hotel located near the center of the Strip and offering everything from the Grand Canal shops to the incredible Blue Man Group show.

• Wynn Las Vegas, 3131 Las Vegas Blvd South (directions), ☎ +1-702-770-7000. Built at a cost of $2.7 billion, this is the most expensive resort in the world, with the money plowed into (among other things) a private golf course, an artificial mountain with a 5-story waterfall and a million-gallon water tank for the nightly show. Rooms from $250.

Off The Strip

• AmeriSuites Las Vegas/Paradise Road, 4520 Paradise Road, ☎ +1-702-369-3366. Located in the heart of Las Vegas, adjacent to the Hard Rock Casino.

• Gold Coast Hotel & Casino, 4000 West Flamingo Road, ☎ +1-702-367-7111 (toll free: +1-888-402-6278). A full service hotel with a casino, eight restaurants, a seventy lane bowling alley, 711 hotel rooms. Free shuttle to the strip, free valet parking, fitness center. The hotel has views of the strip and great value.

• Hawthorn Suites (Las Vegas Strip), 5051 Duke Ellington Way.

• Las Vegas Hilton, 3000 Paradise Rd. (toll free: +1-888-732-7117). This 3000 room hotel/casino is situated just north of the Las Vegas Convention Center, a couple of blocks east of the strip. A monorail station is located next to the lobby.

• Hooters Casino Hotel, 115 East Tropicana Avenue, ☎ +1-702-739-9000. Located right behind the Tropicana and quick walk to the strip or monorail, this is a perfect hotel for the cheap traveler.

• The Palms Hotel, 4321 West Flamingo Road, ☎ +1-702-942-7777 (toll free: +1-866-942-7777). A bit off the strip this hotel offers gambling and also a great view of the strip from the Ghostbar.

• The Platinum Hotel, 211 East Flamingo Road (toll free: +1-877-211-9211). Boutique non-gaming hotel, all guest rooms are suites with kitchen and private balcony. Two blocks from The Strip, nearby Bellagio.

• Renaissance Las Vegas Hotel, 3400 Paradise Road, ☎ +1-702-784-5700 (toll free: +1-800-750-0980). Non-gaming, non-smoking hotel convenient to Las Vegas Convention Center, McCarran Airport, Monorail, and The Strip.

• Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino, 3700 West Flamingo Road, ☎ +1-702-777-7777 (toll free: +1-800-PLAY-RIO). Home to the world famous buffet, and some of the largest standard rooms in Las Vegas.

Downtown

• Binion's Gambling Hall and Hotel, 128 Fremont Street, ☎ +1-702-382-1600.

• El Cortez Hotel and Casino, 600 E. Fremont Street, ☎ (702)385-5200 (toll free: 1-800-634-6703). checkin: 3PM; checkout: 11A. 300 room Hotel on Fremont St, 2 restaurants and a chinese buffet. Recently Remodeled with a great rewards program! Great place to stay for cheap if you have a rental car, but as long as you walk to the Fremont St Exp, you should be fine. ~$35+.

• Fremont Hotel & Casino, 200 East Fremont Street (toll free: +1-800-634-6460). 32,000 square foot casino and 4.5 restaurants, plus right next to the Fremont Street Experience light show.

• Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino, 129 Fremont St, ☎ +1-702-385-7111.

• Main Street Station Hotel and Casino, 200 North Main Street (toll free: +1-800-713-8933). Hotel with Victorian theme, and the not-to-be-missed Garden Court Buffet.

• Plaza Hotel and Casino, 1 South Main Street, ☎ +1-702-386-2110.

• USA Hostels Las Vegas, 1322 Fremont Street, ☎ +1-702-385-1150. A definite budget option. A reasonably well kept hostel with very friendly staff. Free beer and BBQ at the weekend is not to be missed. Surrounding area is not overly safe. Walking alone at night is not recommended. The pizza parlour next door does a deal on a soda and a generous slice of pizza for around $3. Fremont Experience is roughly a 20 minute walk from the hostel.

Camping

• Arizona Charlie's Boulder Casino, Hotel and RV Park, 4445 Boulder Hwy, ☎ +1-702-951-9000 (toll free: +1-800-970-7280, fax: +1-702-951-9211). Easy access from interstate and reasonable prices; great for overnight stays passing through Vegas.

• Hitchin' Post RV Park and Motel, 3640 Las Vegas Blvd North, ☎ +1-702-644-1043 (toll free: 1-888-433-8402, fax: +1-702-644-8359) Sites are cramped but cheap. They take your name but don't take reservations if they are nearly full (beware!).