| Would you like to visit Las Vegas for less than you | | | | Strip, by Bellagio, Paris, Caesar's Palace, Mirage, |
| pay to stay home? How long has it been since | | | | Venetian, Palazzo and the Wynn - all of which charge |
| you've really had a blast? Learn what the locals | | | | much, much more. |
| know about having a good time on a budget. Their | | | | Bill's Gamblin' Hall & Saloonused to be smoke infested, |
| Staycation just may be your dream! Las Vegas | | | | and looks like a dive. But they have cleaned it up |
| casinos are giving away less and charging more in an | | | | now that it is no longer the Barbary Coast. Bill's is |
| effort to survive the current economic times. Here | | | | on the corner of Flamingo Road and Las Vegas |
| are a few ways to tip the balance in your favor! | | | | Boulevard with the Flamingo next door. Bill's sits on |
| Rates tend to change on a daily basis; so there is no | | | | the very same corner as Caesars Palace, Bellagio, and |
| one place that is always a better deal. Whether | | | | Bally's, right in the middle of The Strip. And they do |
| traveling as a couple, or with the kids, you'll likely | | | | have free covered parking in their garage. |
| save money by staying somewhere near the | | | | Furthermore, there is now an over-the-street |
| activities you want to enjoy. That said, the | | | | walkway for the entire intersection, so there is no |
| "Downtown" hotels and the "Neighborhood" casinos | | | | way to beat the price for the location. |
| usually charge much less than in the heart of "The | | | | The ImperialPalace is only a few doors north of Bill's, |
| Strip." But most of the parking Downtown is only | | | | which makes it closer to the Mirage, Treasure Island, |
| free with validation. | | | | Harrah's, Venetian, Palazzo and the Wynn. Like |
| The hotels that have everything going on can easily | | | | everyone else on The Strip, there is free covered |
| get higher room rates. So the trick here is to look | | | | parking. There is also a free trolley across the |
| for a hotel that is either next door or across the | | | | street at the Mirage that goes to Treasure Island |
| street form where you want to hang out, and stay | | | | every fifteen minutes (which is on the same street |
| there for less cost when possible. Transportation | | | | corner as the Fashion Show Mall, Wynn, and Palazzo.) |
| also makes a difference in that cheaper doesn't work | | | | The Downtown Area |
| if you end up spending the difference just getting | | | | The Downtown Areagenerally has some of the |
| around. | | | | lowest priced rooms in town, and everything is within |
| So, before getting started, you will want to ask | | | | a block of the Fremont Experience. For the lowest |
| yourself a few questions: | | | | prices the Four Queens, Fitzgerald's, and the Las |
| Am I traveling with the family, or is this an all adult | | | | Vegas Club usually have rooms starting around $29. |
| excursion? If traveling with the family, and you'd like | | | | Downtown the hotels will validate parking in their |
| the children to have a good time too, the downtown | | | | own garage, for their hotel and casino guests. The |
| hotels are near Neonopolis which is a large open-air | | | | Las Vegas Club is one of the very few that have |
| entertainment center with 14 movie theaters, a video | | | | free parking for everyone. |
| and game center, a bowling alley, a food court, and | | | | Nearby Neighborhoods or Off Strip Locations |
| restaurants. Fitzgerald's is the closest of the | | | | The best value in Nearby Neighborhoods or Off Strip |
| affordable hotels in this article to Neonopolis. | | | | Locations is usually found at the Station Casinos, |
| Do I want to be near any specific Hotel/Casino for | | | | where rooms are sometimes as low as $14 a night. |
| my stay? Please notice that many of the | | | | The closest Station Casino to The Strip is Palace |
| suggested hotels are next door to, across the street | | | | Station, less than a mile away, located on Sahara |
| from, or connected by a free tram to many of the | | | | Boulevard by Highway 15, with easy freeway |
| convention/event hotels in town. | | | | access. Sahara Avenue crosses The Strip on the |
| Am I looking for a pampered, luxury experience? If | | | | north end next to the Stratosphere, Sahara, Riviera, |
| so, then expect to pay more, and you likely won't | | | | and Circus Circus. An important note is that Palace |
| care much for the less pricy hotels mentioned here. | | | | Station has recently raised their "resort fee" to |
| Online reviews of these hotels tend to reflect a 25% | | | | $16.79 per night, effectively raising the cost of the |
| to 40% disappointment rate; usually by visitors that | | | | room to around $30. |
| were looking for more luxury. I have personally | | | | Free Public Transportation & Parking |
| stayed at all of the mentioned hotels. The hotels in | | | | The trams on the west side of The Strip connect to |
| this article are not dumps; but they are not top of | | | | all but two of the major casinos. Neither New York |
| the line either. | | | | New York nor Caesars Palace have a tram |
| Will I be driving or flying into Las Vegas? If you | | | | connection; so there is a short walk between trams |
| have chosen to fly, not to rent a car, and not to pay | | | | when going around these two casinos. On the east |
| for several expensive taxis, then you will want to | | | | side of The Strip there is a monorail that runs |
| stay in a location that is transportation friendly. | | | | between the MGM Grand and the Sahara; |
| Everything downtown is within about five short | | | | unfortunately it is very pricy for a family to use. |
| blocks of each other - very walkable - and The Four | | | | Parking is free almost everywhere in Las Vegas. |
| Queens is smack in the middle of it. Most of the | | | | The major exception is downtown, like in any major |
| free trolleys are by the hotels listed on the south | | | | city. Since The Strip is not downtown, there are |
| end of the strip. Bill's Gamblin' Hall is near the exact | | | | quite a few free parking garages in addition to the |
| center of The Strip. And The Deuce (bus) runs day | | | | many free parking lots. Due to the extreme |
| and night to connect you affordably with any other | | | | temperatures, I would recommend using a garage |
| part of The Strip. | | | | whenever possible. |
| We'll be looking at four different areas that will cover | | | | There are four casinos that offer free parking in the |
| most of your desired activities, yet still save on the | | | | downtown area; El Cortez, Main Street Station, the |
| room rate. The areas will be: The Southern End of | | | | Plaza, and the Las Vegas Club. Everyone else |
| The Strip, Northern End of The Strip, The Downtown | | | | requires validation. The only warning you may need |
| Area, and Nearby Neighborhoods or Off Strip | | | | to know is that the garage at the Plaza has very low |
| Locations. Then we'll address transportation and | | | | ceilings and tight turns, so not every vehicle will be |
| parking. | | | | able to use their garage. |
| If you'd like some help figuring what part of town | | | | Other Transportation & Parking |
| you'd like to be near, and what you'd like to see or | | | | If you happen to be coming to Las Vegas in an RV, |
| do in Las Vegas other than go to a casino, there are | | | | or a Big Rig, you will be glad to hear that you can |
| several suggestions listed in the other subtitles to this | | | | park and hookup at Circus Circus. This is a KOA |
| "Enjoy Las Vegas on Next To Nothing" series. For | | | | with drive-through spaces and a slightly higher daily |
| your convenience, there is a list at the end of this | | | | fee than most. But with their "On The Strip" |
| article. | | | | location you will recover the cost in lower |
| The Southern End of The Strip | | | | transportation expenses. Their RV park has 399 |
| The Southern End of The Strip'sbest value is usually | | | | spaces, and each of them have full service utility |
| at either the Monte Carlo, the Tropicana, or at the | | | | hookups. There is also a convenience store, an |
| Excaliburif you have children - all located on The Strip | | | | arcade, laundromat, playground, pet runs, and disposal |
| at Tropicana Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard. | | | | stations. This will allow you to stay on the north end |
| These three casino/hotels usually have rates that are | | | | of The Strip, then use public transportation to get |
| about one-third the cost of their neighbors; and they | | | | around. |
| sit between the MGM Grand, Luxor, Mandalay Bay, | | | | The least expensive paid transportation in Las Vegas |
| New York New York, and City Center where room | | | | is the city bus line. Las Vegas is a very spread out |
| rates are usually near $150 and up. | | | | city, with a very reasonably priced bus line. "The |
| The Excalibur is very child friendly with many | | | | Deuce" goes up and down The Strip continuously, |
| children's attractions. They are physically connected | | | | (from Mandalay Bay to the Fremont Street |
| to the Luxor by an enclosed walkway, they have a | | | | Experience) with double-deckers running about 10 |
| free garage for parking, and they have a free tram | | | | minutes apart during the day, and 30 minutes apart in |
| that runs every five minutes between the Excalibur, | | | | the middle of the night. The 3 day rate is only $15 |
| Luxor, and Mandalay Bay. There is also an | | | | per person with on-and-off privileges for all of the |
| over-the-street walkway to New York New York, | | | | city bus lines - you can't beat that! (Or $7 for a 24 |
| Tropicana, and MGM Grand. So for roughly one-third | | | | hour ticket.) If you drive to Las Vegas it is cheaper |
| the price, you are still in a prime location. | | | | to park the car (out of the sun) in one of the free |
| The Monte Carlo sits between New York New York | | | | covered garages at most every casino on The Strip, |
| and City Center, with a free tram that runs every | | | | and use The Deuce to get around, than to pay for |
| fifteen minutes through City Center and continues on | | | | the gas. |
| to the Bellagio. With that connection and the | | | | More bus information is available on their website at |
| previously mentioned accesses across from New | | | | Passes purchased online are not downloadable or |
| York New York, again there is no sacrifice in location | | | | available to print via your computer at time of |
| for the reduced cost of rooms. And like every | | | | purchase. When purchasing a pass online, please |
| casino in this area, they also have a free covered | | | | allow sufficient time (5 to 7 days) for delivery via |
| garage. | | | | USPS mail. Currently, all passes ordered online are |
| The Tropicana is in the process of being transformed | | | | delivered through USPS mail and sent to the address |
| into a major location. It is the last of the older | | | | you provide. Children six years of age and younger |
| casinos in the area to get a facelift. So ask for a | | | | ride free and must be accompanied by an adult. |
| room away from the construction, and enjoy the | | | | Transportation Passes may also be purchased in |
| prime location if nothing else. | | | | person at the Downtown Transportation Center, |
| Inside Tip: If your funds are extremely tight, you | | | | South Strip Transfer Terminal, RTC Administration |
| want to stay on this part of The Strip, and luxury is | | | | Building, vendor locations throughout town, and all Las |
| not on your list of important things, you may want | | | | Vegas Albertsons Grocery Stores. |
| to consider Hooters (which used to be the San | | | | Using public transportation can also make trips to the |
| Remo.) Rates can be as low as $25 a night. They | | | | Las Vegas Premium Outlets, the Las Vegas Outlet |
| are located by the back door of the Tropicana, and | | | | Center, and many of the other attractions a doable |
| directly across the street from the back entrance to | | | | thing - without using your car or an expensive taxi. |
| the MGM Grand. | | | | Inside Tip: For further savings and to avoid tipping |
| Northern End of The Strip | | | | situations, here are a few suggestions: |
| On the Northern End of The Strip all of the hotels | | | | Don't valet your car. Even though valet parking is |
| between the Stratosphere and Circus Circus have | | | | free at hotels, you will be expected to tip the |
| rooms available for less than $30 a night, but most | | | | attendant one or two dollars. Parking your own car |
| visitors feel they are too far from everything else in | | | | in one of the free garages and riding the elevator |
| town. If that doesn't bother you, check out The | | | | down will save you a few bucks you can have fun |
| Deuce bus line. Otherwise, the best value is usually | | | | with later. |
| at Bill's Gamblin' Hall & Saloon, or the Imperial Palace, | | | | Don't buy gasoline on The Strip. Gas prices are |
| which often have rooms starting under $39. These | | | | much cheaper at most stations that are two or more |
| two are located just north of the center of The | | | | miles from The Strip. |