But at least it’s way faster to get to the center Strip if you stay at the Signature. And, same as at Vdara, you can get from your room into an Uber with a Starbucks coffee in your hand in 5-10 minutes.

The way from the Signature to the MGM pool might also be significantly shorter than from a regular MGM room, depending on the location of that room and which Signature tower you’re staying at.

I made the walk from MGM Signature to the Bellagio poker room (or back) > 100 times in my life and it really isn’t a bad one for people in decent walking shape.

Current status of all the Caesars Strip properties? Any of them stick out as being nice or crappy in terms of room amenities?

What are you looking for?

If it’s just a bed the best deal going is to angle your way into a valley tower room at harrah’s - never had an issue making a Mardi Gras tower reservation and asking/tipping for valley at check in

I can get comped rooms at most properties and relatively cheap rates at Cromwell and Caesars. Planning a trip with the wife and am wondering if Caesars properties for free are nice enough, or if it's worth it to spend the $$ on somewhere like Aria/Vdara/Cosmo.

stayed at Linq for the first time last week, room was much nicer than expected. Un-reno’d Harrah’s Mardi Gras room was a complete dump that had a curry scent baked into it.

Not Caesars but Westgate was way nicer than expected for the price and the monorail is v useful

Just spend the money for a legitimately nice property, especially if you're going with your wife.

Caesars properties are, without fail, complete trash. Caesars Palace is OK in terms of room quality, but the service, distance to room, terrible restaurant options, etc. are all awful.

Extremely happy with Aria and I went there alone!

I heard very good things about Vdara as well

Cromwell might be pretty cool? Very nice location.

Yeah I agree - I last stayed in the Augustus tower and while the room was spacious and the bathroom was nice, it didn’t really have those “extras” it sounds like zim might appreciate

The cromwell is just a bunch of old tiny rooms w boutique lipstick on them

The Cromwell is probably the worst hotel room on the strip IMO. Seems every view is the side of a building. I wouldn’t take my wife to any CET prop it I’d stay at PHo if solo

Driving through town the first weekend of March Madness for a couple nights

Not interested in the strip for this trip (downtown is a maybe if the price is right)

Any suggestions for something that is

1 - cheap (understand prices everywhere are gonna be up)
2 - good VP for small ballers
3 - a decent sports book (threshold for decent is low, just want something one step up from a kiosk or one window at the cashier)

Don’t really care about amenities, eating, proximity to the action per se as we’ll have a car

Thanks!

not a shill but Westgate prob meets all those reqs, unsure about VP...

https://www.vpfree2.com/casino/westgate-las-vegas

they have games listed so that’s a good sign

Look in to Ellis Island, but fisrst weekend will require a ticket which is pretty low cost. They will have a book, good food and $2.50 20 oz micro brews.

Second Ellis Island...or The Orleans. Ellis Island BBQ is so good though. Never stayed in rooms and I know the Orleans rooms are pretty decent for a low baller type like my wife and I.

Also, liked the Cal but no idea how their book is. It's downtown though so the proximity of multiple casinos is so simple.

Stayed in a 21st floor Go room at Flamingo in October with a view of the habitat and pool. Was very convenient elevators out to the Linq Promenade which is my 30 year old wife's favorite part of our Las Vegas adventures.

Room was pretty nice too. Although I'm always amazed what rooms people on this forum claim are ****ty. I must have no taste.

What do you mean by a ticket? To get in the casino or sit in the book?

Sorry, for the March Madness games. Just like all the properties with basketball viewing parties you need a ticket which costs. Comes with food and drinks usually but you need to ask each place for details as the cost can go from around $20 for a session or day to thousands of $$.

Hmmm ok I appreciate the input thus far, but I think I must have mistrepresented what I’m actually looking for that weekend so here goes another shot:

I happen to be driving through town the first weekend of March madness but will be priced off the strip and am not actively seeking the March madness scene, just want to get my VP on

So I think what I’m looking for is something off strip that will be least “infected” by March Madness while still having a book available (just to get bets down, zero interest in any watch parties) if that makes sense?

Thanks again 🤙🤙🤙

Me too. When I started to visit Vegas, I stayed in expensive hotels like Venetian and Bellagio but do not see any reason to do that any more. We have found out that even basic rooms in places like Excalibur and Linq are perfectly fine for me and my wife.

Only ****ty room I have ever stayed in Vegas was basic room at Flamingo before renovation.

And anyway we are there to play poker and not spending too much time in our hotel room.

Zimmer, If your expectations are Aria, Vdara, Cosmo then your only Harrahs property choice is Caesars. No other Harrahs property comes close to those including the reinventions like The Cromwell.

Wifey considerations, as mentioned by you, were considered in this post.

kkcountry


You could consider the Tuscany. Read the below that a former regular posted.

But the best mediocre place just off the strip for sports betting (Gonzaga?) would be The Westgate.
This might not fit your specific criteria but it is worth checking it out price-wise.

And I suppose I could mention the Motor Hotel Ellis Island and the attached casino which actually has a small book (last time I was recently there for dinner) and is only one block away from The Flamingo.

Check out Main Street Station downtown. Rates are usually very good, no resort fees, and parking is free (or at least, still was as of when I last stayed). Rooms are basic, but clean and spacious, and clientele is def better than downtown average. There's no sportsbook in MSM proper, but it is connected to the Cal via a very short walk on the skyway which has a decent-sized book.

Also has a micro-brewery/pub on site that is more upscale than Ellis Island's. And the micro-brews are free when you're playing VP.

kkcountry,

Additionally you can look East of the Strip to Boulder Highway or Southeast of the Strip to Henderson for casinos that check all of your boxes. Here's a trip report from last year of what March Madness is like at Arizona Charlies on Boulder: https://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/1...light=charlies

Sam's Town and Boulder Station are in the same vicinity and have bigger sports books and are generally nicer than AZ Charlies. Ascending the ladder of relative luxury are Fiesta Henderson, Sunset Station, and Green Valley Ranch. I don't know about the quality of VP at GVR but Fiesta and Sunset have some fairly good machines. Sunset Station's sports book is quite roomy and even on a "normal" winter's night (only NBA, NCAAB, and NHL games going) has 4 cashier stations open.

Keep in mind you'll be 20-30 drive from the Strip at these places rather than the 5 minute drive if you're at Ellis Island or Tuscany. If you have no desire to go to the Strip then these are worth investigating.

Eck,

Yeah I think that’s the direction I want to go in - thx for the leads 🙌

How is the Stratosphere and the rooms there? Going the first week of the WSOP and they have great rates there.