Vegas/Death Valley Advice

Figure about 2 or 3 hours, depending on where you're going. Mostly two-lane roads.

 

There's a cutie-pie waitress at the Denny's in Blythe; at least there was in 2001.

 

We stay at the Trop because my brother is legally blind, has been there frequently and can find his way around by himself. What Buck and Poin... said is pretty accurate about the Trop and Treasure Island. I don't think it's bluehair perfume, but whatever shit they use to try to cover up the cigarette smell.
The Trop is the oldest hotel on the Strip in a prime location. It has been rumored to be leveled for about the past 3 years, but the latest is they're gonna level all but the main tower/casino and rebuild around it to make it a luxury place.
As to the original question, you should be able to get a decent rate there. And across the streets are MGM, NY-NY and Excalibur. A short tram ride to Luxor and Mandalay Bay. Hooters is next door, but I was not impressed with it. Seemed like a cheap-ass place with a Tahiti Village booth in the casino (that's a fucking time-share spiel). Location is a significant advantage for the Trop over the Stratosphere, which is a the far end of the Strip and not near anything.
Trop still caters to the low-rollers, you can play $5 blackjack usually until midnight when they bump it up to $10. But it you're at the table at that time, you can still play $5 if you want. Last time I stayed at the Rio, table minimums were $50 on Friday and Saturday nights ... and the place was packed.

 

Golden Nugget has the best rooms downtown, by considerable margin . . . shop around, and you may not get nicked too badly.

 

Golden Nugget craps tables have been known to be generous to SJers.

 

The Tropicana is a dump these days.
I would stay off The Strip at the Orleans before I would ever stay at The Trop.
(And Blythe and Needles are the armpit of America.)

 

Ok, Golden Nugget downtown was around $300. And the hotels in Death Valley are booked.

So I'm considering this place called Tuscany. It's says it's about 1/2 off the Strip. But it's by the Bally's and Paris part of the Strip, which is the end I like better. (I'm so bummed Bally's is sold out.)

It's between that for around $124 and the Tropicana for around $150. I didn't remember the Tropicana being all that bad. I didn't go in any of the rooms though and I haven't been in a few years.

I don't need the place to be super nice and lots of high rollers like Bellagio or Venetian. I just need it to be clean (but that's important) and not scary (since I'll be alone). I generally stay in 2.5 to 3 star hotels. But I want them to be clean and, since I'm alone this time, I don't want it to be a place with a lot of scuzzy people looking to do Vegas on the cheap. And even though I like the action of the Strip I wouldn't mind if the hotel's casino had lower limit gaming. But not if it attracts icky clientele to the rooms.

I do appreciate the feedback so far.

 

I'd try Priceline, and specify a four-star strip hotel and offer $150. It won't be any worse than the Trop, anyway.

I've never heard of that Tuscany place.

 

The Trop is just fine. Not as scuzzy as some of the downtown places (California, Four Queens, etc.), but not as lush as some of the Strip places (Venetian, Bellagio, etc.). And the gambling's good for those on a low budget.

I've seen Tuscany from the outside. Looks OK, but it's a ways off the Strip (comparable to Rio/Palms). Know nothing else about it.

 

Lyman,

Is Tuscany walkable to Bally's/Paris - as in a few blocks away - or is it a hike - as in like 25 minutes plus? I don't mind walking some but I find in Vegas with all the walking up and down the strip and around the casinos I don't want to be hiking just to get to the strip. On one of the travel web sites, people were mixed about how far it was to the Strip - some people said medium walk while some people said get a car.

 

I wouldn't walk to the Strip from Tuscany. Take a cab for $5, or better yet, ride the bus.

Especially if you want to walk ON the Strip for most of the day; that's a shitload of walking. (And I'm someone who likes to walk a lot when I'm visiting a cool city. Spend your time walking the Strip, not walking to the Strip.)

 

I'd second Buck's advice. You're going to be walking enough in Vegas just up and down the Strip. (And I, too, like walking around cool cities.)