Barbary Coast
The Barbary Coast was the red-light district of San Francisco in Victorian times. The guestrooms of this hotel are decorated in like style, with flocked red velvet wallpaper, Victorian reproduction furniture and faux Tiffany-style lamps. Its location and price make it a favorite of those who don't need the themed resort hotels, center Strip between The Flamingo and Bally's, across the street from Bellagio and Caesar's Palace. One of the neatest things about this smallish hotel is the wrought-iron balconies in the guest rooms, unusual for Vegas. The location is extremely noisy so keeping the soundproofed glass doors closed is probably preferable, but if you're lucky, you can get a room with a line of sight to Bellagio's fountain displays.


Circus Circus
One of the oldest casino hotels still standing on the Strip, Circus has always offered an exceptional value to its guests. Old it might be, but the renovations have made the rooms snappy and classy; gone is the garish red and pink fluff... in are cool blues and greens. Located at the north end of The Strip, this hotel is the best place to stay with young children. The circus midway provides free acts all day and there are tons of games "of chance." (In fact, you might spend more money on your kid trying to win a stuffed ducky than you spend downstairs in the casino...)


Flamingo
It appears that the multi-mega-millions they trumpet for their renovations only applies to the money pit. No question, the casino is stunning in its new white marble, but the guest levels leave a lot to be desired. Garish fluorescent lighting guides your way down endless dirty hallways; the overpriced rooms (at least the two we stayed in) are worn and ugly with dirty furniture that looks like it is left over from the 1950s, and cheap shiny bedspreads that were probably purchased from a dime store. The only saving grace is that most rooms have huge windows. Customer service stinks: The reception desk people are surly and behave as though the guests are an impediment to their day. Unless you get an astonishing deal, come to see the flamingos and the lovely gardens; stay somewhere else.


Harrahs
For years, this was our favorite Las Vegas hotel, from the time it was the Riverboat Casino and then the Holiday Inn Riverboat. During its latest reinvention (from its Mardi Gras theme to Carnaval,) the hotel rooms got expensive and its Gold Card club got really cheap-o. Still, the location in the heart of the Strip - across from the Mirage and Caesar's Palace, a block each from the Flamingo and the Venetian - is ideal, and the older rooms in the lowrise front portion have balconies and great strip views as long as you are above the ninth floor.


Imperial Palace
In terms of location and price, this old-timer is probably the best value on the Strip. Sandwiched between the Flamingo and Harrahs, (and dwarfed by their new towers,) across from Caesars Palace and the Mirage, the Palace's typically low rates are a real bargain. Renovated rooms are just average, those that haven't yet been spruced up are icky, but they all have balconies and both the price and location are right.


La Quinta Inn/Strip
Located next to New York, New York Hotel and Casino on the south Strip, this small 3-story 114 room lowrise is a great option for families. It's inexpensive, offers free Continental breakfast, a coffee pot in the room, iron and ironing board, cable TV, and kids stay free. This hotel also allows small pets.


Mandalay Bay
It's hard to believe that this luxury hotel was developed by the Circus Circus team, but there you have it... This hotel has one of the most elaborate pool complexes in Las Vegas, has a House of Blues Theatre, and even has a four-story Four Seasons Resort on the top floors. Room decor is tropical. It's located at the far south end of The Strip, making it difficult to venture out to other properties or the shopping malls, but if you want a "destination resort" and don't want to do much except lie around the pool, play in the casino, or eat in one of the many excellent restaurants, this is an ideal spot.


Monte Carlo
The 3000+-room south Strip hotel promises "the charms of the Mediterranean," but it offers much more. The hotel's pool area is a virtual waterpark, with a waterfall-endowed "lagoon pool," a wave pool and a meandering "Easy River" ride. Plus there's a separate kid's pool. The rooms are nicely decorated in a Mediterranean theme with dark wood furnishings. The rates are really good for a hotel of this calibre.


New York New York
Located on the south end of the Strip, across from MGM Grand and next to Monte Carlo, this is The Big Apple, Vegas-style. With a Statue of Liberty and a Coney Ilsand roller coaster, the hotel also has a profile remeniscent of the New York skyline. Offering multiple room categories out of its 2024 guest rooms and suites, there is surely something for every budget and requirement, but we have heard that getting from one part of the building to another is a nightmare of escalators, elevators and stairs. We haven't experienced it but based on these reports, it probably isn't an ideal stop for guests with access challenges.


The Palms
A "destination resort," the Palms is located about a mile off the Strip, near The Hard Rock Hotel. The new 42-story hotel offers large rooms with incredible views and soft earthtone styling. Extra amenities in the guestrooms include coffee makers and complimentary coffee, European-style duvets, and elegant bathrooms with upscale bath products.


Treasure Island at the Mirage
We absolutely love this hotel, located in the center of The Strip next to The Mirage and across from the chi-chi Venetian. The elaborate outdoor pirate show is fun, the rooms and suites are gorgeous, but the staff is what makes this hotel shine. Read our review.