Where to Stay?

Just about had my mind set on staying at the Sahara. Am now considering staying at the Excalibur instead. (It'd cost an extra $100/person to stay there for 5 nites, so an extra $200 for my wife and I).

Any advice? Some info to consider.
We want to see the BIG HOTELS, but probably won't play in their casinos.
So, we'd have to take the monorail or taxi to see them.
I will likely limit my BJ playing to whatever hotel we stay at, while my wife spends time by the pool or naps. She will also play some BJ.

I will be there for SUN nite through THURS nite.
Will NOT have a car.
Must stay ON THE STRIP.
Don't want to play more than $3 or $5 min tables -- so will mostly play at the hotel that I stay in vs. the biggies like NY-NY, MGM, Bellagio.
Anyone know what kind of minimum bets the EXCALIBUR has for BJ?


So here's the QUESTION...
Where would you stay?
SAHARA
Advantage: Best Price, Low Min BJ tables
DisAdvntg: Crappy reviews for rooms, Further from center, more transportation expense for seeing big hotels and shows on center or south strip

EXCALIBUR
Adv: Better location (close to the BIG hotels/shows); better reviews
Disadv: Higher price
Unknown: Min bets for BJ

One last question...
I can get in the STRATOSPHERE for about the same as the SAHARA.
Would it be any better? Min bets for BJ?
I realize the location is even further from the biggies.
If I stay at SAHARA or STRATOSPHERE we'll be using the monorail DAILY.

SORRY this is rather long.
THANKS for any advice anyone can give.

I sometimes stay at the Imperial palace. I saw a web special for $59 a nite.I think you get a funbook with 2 buffets and $20 in matchplay for a two nite stay.Decent BJ as well.
Stardust and New Frontier run internet specials all the time. Better than the Sahara,not as good as IP

I also like the Imperial Palace. The location is perfect. Near the big places but right in the middle of the strip where you can shop aroung for the best games without having to walk 2 miles between casinos. Also have an adaquit pool for the wife. Easy cab access and the monorail runs behind it. Since my wife insists on staying on the strip instead of DT which I like we find it a good comprimise.

Zman,

Now, I stay at The Tropicana. Location, Location, Location, and price. From the Trop, you can walk across the street (pedestian bridges) to The MGM, New York, New York, and the Excalibur. From Excaliber, you can take a short, free Monorail to The Luxor and The Mandala Bay. Six Major Casinos within 20 minutes free transit time. Tropicana usually has $5 dollar tables, but the rules are not great, but playable. For ten and up, you can find the better player advantage rules at several of the other casinos in walking distance. The best rules from walkable casinos from this location are $25 min and up. MGM and Mandalay Bay have good $15 min six deck game with a house advantage of .26, requires counting to beat ofcourse.

Unless your in it for comps, Tropicana and the Excalibur are not worth the time. I play at Trop just enough to comp the room, because the location is great for the better green chip games at nearby Casinos. When not comped, I still stay at Trop because it is still cheaper than most on the strip, at least through Expedia.com.

If I were just starting out on a minimum bankroll and budget today, I would book a stay at The Golden Nugget first, or The Plaza. 4 Queens is usually cheapest, but I don't want to take the wife there. There are several good 1 and 2 deck games with $5 min or less, all within walking distance of each other in theFreemont/downtown area. Generally, the room rates are lower than the strip as well.

The Stratosphere has the same problem as Sahara. It's on the wrong side of the strip. It's not too safe to walk out the front door and not get into a cab. Additionally, from the Stratosphere, you have to walk to the Sahara to catch the Monorail. Seems to me that whatever was saved on the rack rate at the Stratosphere would quickly be eaten up in cab fare or worse, theft and hospital bills.

Just my opinion. Good Luck!

P. S.

The Tropicana Pool is highly rated!

Why not stay a few night in two different places. One midstrip,one south strip.
BTW-The monorail just had a huge price increase. From$3 to $5 on a one way,so its $20 RT for two people.

I'm hearing more votes for Imperial Palace. Location is DEFINITELY better. It too is about $100 per person higher for our trip.
Looking to hear more about the casino.
How big? Mininum bet amounts?
BJ rules?
Will definitely CONSIDER switching from Sahara to IP.

Thanks for your inputs.

Luckily, I have time to decide and still book. Planning a September vacation there.

Palace is mid-strip,next to Harrahs,across from Caesars.
rooms are average LV hotel rooms. Bj is anything from DD to shoes. $5 minimum in daytime,they raise it as tables fill. Have both 3-2 and 6-5 games.
casino has two buffets,nothing special. good coffe shop. They have a party pit where dealers dress like performers-Prince,Rod Stewart,Madonna,ect,and they do a set of songs every hour or so. Entertaining,but distracting.cuts down on the number of hands an hour you play,which means you lose less.
I have a flyer that is offering $49 a nite,two nite minimum. You get 4 matchplays and two buffets.You must ask for the Great Escape package thru the casino marketing dept.8006346441ex2. If they give you a hard time,pm me-perhaps I can help.
its not the greatest place,but its cheap,the Bj is okay and its a fun casino.Its got a good karoke bar,cheap drinks and the worlds largest auto museum is in the casino.

NYBear - Thanks for the more detailed casino info - what I was looking for.
I think I will give them a call at the number you gave (THANKS for that)

Your idea of staying a couple of different places was interesting.
I don't think the wife will go for the packing and unpacking once settled in.
But, hey, not a bad idea. I could do a Hotel Sampler platter and stay in 2, 3, 4 or 5 different ones. Then, I'd find out which we like best for our next trip!

I missed where you said you'd be going in September.
Now,unless its a major convention week,you generally get better room rates as time gets closer,so I would book the rooms now,and keep looking. Almost every hotel lets you cancel 72 hours ahead of time.
I'm going next week and had been planning on staying at
the Plaza but found a deal at Mandalay Bay, a suite for $63 a day.

I just got an offer in the mail from Plaza yesterday. Basically, between now and the end of April, I can stay for free Sunday thru Thursday and weekends for the most part are only $19.95. I raised hell with the pit crew at Plaza about the change in BJ rules. I think they want me to give it another chance <LOL> I didn't stiff them the last time out, but I sure restricted my play there!

Mike,
Did you get to Laughlin last trip?

Zman,
I find the trick to enjoying vegas on a budget is to stay off strip,and gamble in the smaller hotels. You get better room offers, so you save money to allow you can rent a car.There is so much more to vegas than the strip.Red Rock canyon,Hoover Dam,Fremont St.Boulder Strip,ect,ect.

No to Laughlin

No, NYB, we didn't make it to Laughlin. We only had the rental car for one day before turning it over to the kids. They wanted to go to Red Rock. Anyway, we talked about it and it would have been about 6 hours of driving and would have eaten up most of that one day. Instead, we drove up to Stardust and Frontier. Wanted to visit them before them implode them next year. Sure had a good time though.

You do know there are free buses from Vegas to Laughlin,don't you? Free bus,free lunch and decent funbook.

It's about "time" NYB. When in Vegas, it's all about time....or lack thereof. One of these years, we'll forego Vegas and just go to some of the other places....Laughlin, Reno and maybe Tahoe. We've talked about driving to the coast next year (2007) and could hit all of that area then.

NY Bear did not know they had free buses from LV to Laughlin. Could you tell me/us alittle more about this. Where? when? how often? Thanks for the tip.

There are several companies that do free day trips from Vegas to Laughlin. Most of the tour companies that do the Canyon,ring of fire,ect provide them. You get about 6 hours there and a fun book with assorted freebies. Any of the magazines giving info on Vegas has numerous ads for them.They will pick you up at almot every strip hotel and take you to the staging area. No luggage allowed,no overnite stays.

Thanks NY Bear for the info