[lyra33]

Originally Posted by Exaday

People should consider staying off the strip and in a place like the Red Rock which has very nice rooms. I stayed at Mirage friday night and Red Rock on Saturday. Red Rock was so much nicer.

I do live here but I stay at the hotels a lot. Mandalay Bay theHotel is my fav.

My point is find a nice hotel and spend time there. All this getting out an seeing stuff is great and all, perhaps do that one day for a few hours. Spend time in a nice Hotel though. Visit there dining and spas. Take in a show. Order breakfast in bed Relax.

+1 for Red Rock Casino. That's where a lot of locals hang out for good reason! Plus you are just a hop and a skip from visiting Red Rock....and you just might have a fantastic sunny day to do a little hiking. Or you can always take the loop by car and get out a little if it's too cold. As for me as Red Rock is a year long pursuit and I go there often.

However, since you are new to the Strip I personally don't think it would be a good idea as you are not familiar with the city and you might want to stay on the Strip you r first time here. If you are adventurous I say go for it!

[Exaday]

Originally Posted by Castle Cliff

Walgreens to the rescue! I know nothing of the golden nugget sorry. Better brush up on my history? Before I hit the big V? I suppose I should, as I don't want a lot of hidden meanings in LV to brush past me...

Not a whole lot of history to tell you.

El Cortez still has the Original facade.

Where the plaza is you will see a train next too it and that's because that's where the train station once was that was vital to Las Vegas.

Aside from a few bits here and there it's all just movie trivia.

[jfkIII]

Originally Posted by Exaday

Have you ever stayed at any of the hotels because Red Rock is a little nicer than the Orleans. I means it's a pretty huge difference. In fact Red Rock is nicer than many Hotels on the strip. Nicer than the Mirage for certain.

I've stayed at many of them. Typicals suites and skyvillas you name it. From Strato to the Bay. El Cortez to the Golden Nugget.

I appreciate people want to see the strip and you get a great view of it from Red Rock. Take a cab up to Flemmings Steak house and take in some fine dining that's likely better than what they will have on the strip.

The Red Rock will hold it's own.

Many hotels are much nicer than The Orleans. OP was asking about the cheaper to moderate hotels. The Orleans is an exceptional value for the money, IMO. I would be hard pressed to find a nicer hotel in its price range.

[jfkIII]

Originally Posted by DKJJ

You must know that cowboy neon sign, waiving his arm, thumbs up...
I think that's from some Fremont St casino too, or it's from an old casino on the strip, not really sure.

Vegas Vic is his official name. A similar neon girl was Sassy Sally.

[Exaday]

Originally Posted by jfkIII

Many hotels are much nicer than The Orleans. OP was asking about the cheaper to moderate hotels. The Orleans is an exceptional value for the money, IMO. I would be hard pressed to find a nicer hotel in its price range.

Yeah they are plenty cheap :-P

I have a warped perspective though, I've stayed in so many of the hotels that some that people might consider nice I consider garbage. Plus I get local discounts. Red Rock is pretty cheap and a nice view.

Orleans would be Okay for someone too though. They have shuttles to the strip. Bus stop is right outside the hotel too. I don't think they have a good spa.

I grew up eating at coast casinos so all the food taste the same to me and now I can't eat there.

Hooters is a good bargain I'd imagine though.

[Buzz123]

If you're going to be here two weeks, then rent a car (or 'hire' a car if you will). I hope you can drive from the "correct" driver's side on the "correct" side of the street.

If you plan to casino hop, then stay on the Strip. Parking is free, and it's not too difficult getting in and out of the parking garages. Although, if you are in and out a lot, tourists that can't drive might get on your last nerve. So, if you plan to mostly be in and out driving around looking at homes for sale, and visiting our natural attractions, then the Red Rock Hotel and Casino is not a bad idea. For one thing, the views from that hotel have to be some of the best in town. They also have some good places to eat, both in the hotel, and nearby. Salt Lick BBQ is one of our favorites since Texas style BBQ is the best.

The Golden Nugget used to be a small, one story, crappy casino, downtown. It's main claim to fame was that it had, at the time, the biggest, brightest sign in town. Because of that sign, and others, the light on the corner of Fremont St. and 2nd St., was measurably brighter at night than at noon in the summer time. Then along came Steve Wynn who made it his first project in Las Vegas, proving he was the only owner with any taste. All other hotels until then were in the style I refer to as "Early Al Capone". Wynn turned the site into a luxury hotel, the first one (maybe the only one?) downtown. The city even let him have Carson Street between 1st St., and 2nd St. (now Casino Center BL), to build his hotel on.

Vegas Vic, the iconic Cowboy sign, used to repeat over and over, ad nauseam, "Howdy Partner". Finally, it bothered people in the rooms facing Fremont Street at The Mint, across the street, so they took out his vocal cords. In 1966, when they were filming "The Professionals" at Valley of Fire, the cast stayed at the Mint. It was keeping Lee Marvin and Woody Strode awake. Woody's character carried a long bow, which he apparently kept with him off set for practice, so he and Lee started shooting arrows out their hotel window at Vegas Vic.

Knowing Claudia Cardinale was in town kept me awake.

[Buzz123]

Originally Posted by Exaday

Not a whole lot of history to tell you.

El Cortez still has the Original facade.

Where the plaza is you will see a train next too it and that's because that's where the train station once was that was vital to Las Vegas.

Aside from a few bits here and there it's all just movie trivia.

That train might have something to do with the old train station, but I'm pretty sure it was put there by the original owner of Main Street Station as a restaurant. He came to town to show us rubes how it was done in Orlando, and got his a$$ kicked. Every time anyone comes here thinking they have just reinvented the wheel, they get their a$$ kicked.

The Plaza was originally The Union Plaza Hotel, for the Union Pacific Railroad trains that continued to stop at the back door after the old station (seen here:Art Deco Train Stations) was replaced by the hotel. I had the privilege to take a train to Delta Utah from the old train station when I was a bit younger. Then I worked at the Union Plaza when it was first built. That place is the site where the city first began with a land auction instigated by Senator William A. Clark from Utah, the man the county is named for.

[jfkIII]

Originally Posted by Exaday

Orleans would be Okay for someone too though. They have shuttles to the strip. Bus stop is right outside the hotel too. I don't think they have a good spa.

Been to their spa a couple of times and it was very nice.

[Exaday]

Originally Posted by Buzz123

That train might have something to do with the old train station, but I'm pretty sure it was put there by the original owner of Main Street Station as a restaurant. He came to town to show us rubes how it was done in Orlando, and got his a$$ kicked. Every time anyone comes here thinking they have just reinvented the wheel, they get their a$$ kicked.

The Plaza was originally The Union Plaza Hotel, for the Union Pacific Railroad trains that continued to stop at the back door after the old station (seen here:Art Deco Train Stations) was replaced by the hotel. I had the privilege to take a train to Delta Utah from the old train station when I was a bit younger. Then I worked at the Union Plaza when it was first built. That place is the site where the city first began with a land auction instigated by Senator William A. Clark from Utah, the man the county is named for.

That's super cool Buzz. You've been here a lot longer than I have for sure. And here I thought remembering when you could actually drive up Fremont made me a relic. lol

[Exaday]

Originally Posted by jfkIII

Been to their spa a couple of times and it was very nice.

I like the shows they have over there. Real cheap and good. Seen a few legends there like George Carlin right before he died. Smothers Brothers can't think of them all.

Spent more than one Thanksgiving at their buffet too. My grandma has the emerald card so we even get to skip the line.