Thought about putting this in the general thread, but wanted to get multiple opinions since I made a slight mistake and need to make a decision quickly (my Flamingo reservation becomes nonrefundable in 24 hrs, which I didn't realize).

I'm saving $20/nt by staying at Flamingo and we have a Go Deluxe room there. Standard room at TI. 4 nights in the summer with my gf and it's her first time in Vegas, but she doesn't need much in the way of fancy resorts.

I know the Flamingo pool blows TI out of the water and the location is better too. But I've never really stepped foot in the Flamingo so I don't know how the place is. Is the Flamingo going to feel like a total piece of crap inside or is it a fairly nice hotel (obv not Wynn/Venetian level, but not run down is my hope).

Are the Go Deluxe rooms nice and comparable to the standard TI rooms?

Flamingo pool worth staying there for if we want to do a few hours at the pool a couple of days while there?

Any feedback on these two places would be appreciated as I have to make a decision pretty soon. Thanks.

Are you factoring in the compulsory $25/day resort fee at TI?

My 2 cents:

TI has:

MUCH better restaurants
Better poker room
Better (standard) rooms

Flamingo has:

MUCH better pool area
MUCH better strip location for walking

The combination of these two points clinch the deal for me with Flamingo. When I stay there, I always walk elsewhere to eat, whether it be to Caesars across the street for lots of upmarket goodness, to HHAGG @ IP, or even to Burger King/Subway @ OSheas.

The Flamingo pool area is large and awesome. If you are committed to sitting by the pool daily, then look no further amongst the Vegas budget resorts.

However, the general feel of TI is quite a bit nicer than Flamingo. Flamingo IS a bit run-down, but then you are staying in the oldest standing resort in Vegas.

Yes. I actually got TI for $5/nt cheaper, but the $25 resort fee makes Flamingo $20/nt cheaper.

I don't care about the poker room. Likely won't be playing at either one.

Restaurants aren't really important, if I'm going to a nice meal out, I can travel outside the hotel I'm staying at. More important is a nearby place to get a cheap breakfast/snack and I'm guessing Flamingo is way better for that.

Are the standard TI rooms really nicer than the Go Rooms at Flamingo? This is an important distinction that I'm getting a standard TI room but a Go Room at Flamingo as from what I've read the standard Flamingo rooms can't compare to TI at all.

I think room quality is the only thing I'm sorta concerned about with Flamingo (well I guess that and the actual casino just being total crap). For this reason I did get a Go room, so I'm hoping that brings the room quality up to TI level, but I don't really know for sure.

I appreciate the input. It's kinda shameful that I used to live in Vegas but I've never stepped foot in Flamingo.

How is the pool going to be on a Mon-Wed in July? Am I going to be able to get a lounger without much trouble or should I look into reserving a daybed? The GO Pool is free for hotel guests right? Does the area get crowded?

It was mostly the realization that the TI pool is total crap that made me consider switching to Flamingo and it's a bit harder than you'd think to find good information about the details online.

Check this site out for cool 360 degree pool panoramas.

http://www.destination360.com/north-...as-vegas-pools

The main Flamingo pool area has so many loungers that I never had a problem finding one in July last year. It is so damn hot in the sun that most people only seem to stay for an hour in July anyway, so there is always lots of turnover.

I never used the GO pool, but it looks very small from the overhead shots, so I would stick to the main pool, if I were you.

That's what I was going to mention - are you really going to spend much time at the pool in July?

I know very little about the Flamingo but am pretty familiar with TI. It's just fine for cheap breakfasts and snacks. Well, what passes for "cheap" in Vegas. Everything is relative. Besides the coffee shop they have Kahunaville, which has a wide variety of stuff for good prices, plus a fairly "active" bar area. There's also the Deli, and a pizza joint. The Mexican place is a somewhat formal restaurant, but has reasonable prices, as most Mexican places do.

If you have to leave the Flamingo for everything, the gf is going to get tired of walking in July pretty quick. Also, going somewhere else for everything says "this dumpy hotel isn't good enough to eat at, but is okay for sleeping" which is something chicks don't dig.

TI wins. Upgrading your room (to a GO) is all very well, but as soon as you step outside the room, you are still in the same crappy casino that you would be had you got a standard room. Depends how "cheap" you want and how "bad" you are prepared to overlook in order to get "cheap".

TI does have some decent options as ^^ but even for a Brit getting £1 = $1.60 the prices in the Deli etc are a little high. But, it's Vegas and you quickly regrade " a little high" as "hey it's Vegas"


TI's weak point is a very tiny pool area.

With a gf, being in a nicer standard hotel should be more of a consideration than $2 on a sandwich.

My advice would be to not have her first experience of Vegas in a dump that all you want to do is get outside of asap. In this regard alone, TI wipes the floor with Flamingo.

And that's my concern. Hmm, Flamingo really that dumpy? I'm not concerned about saving any money but I wasn't sure which is better. Still unsure since people seem kinda split.

I'd say neither. There are many better options available.

Find me a better option for $75 incl. resort fees. I'm all ears.

Pay me. An hour of research online will get you a long way.

You really think I haven't done any research on this? I've wasted way too damn long and could've just stayed at Wynn long ago if I worked instead, but I like a deal for deals sake so I've spent more time than I ever should looking stuff up. Consider it a hobby.

The resorts that are nicer than TI imo are:

Bellagio, Wynn, Encore, Mirage, Venetian, Aria, and Palazzo.

There is no way you are getting any of those for $75/nt w/ resort fee. The cheapest I've found is Mirage at mid $80's + resort fee and the rooms aren't really any nicer just the resort; Aria is next around $104/nt + $25 resort fee. TI is by far the value play here.

I have stayed in places like Bellagio, Venetian and Ceasar´s Palace, but for some reason I love Flamingo. Maybe I´m just such a redneck and most likely your girlfriend does not appreciate same things than I do. (easy-going atmosphere and poker room with fast drink service)

Anyway, I wouldn´t stay there with my girlfriend. (With her we would most likely choose Aria.)

Starting to lean back towards TI.

You asked if TI or Falmingo is the better place. I offered my opinion, but nobody is going book your trip for you. You also left out at least 5 places that are nicer than TI in your list. Get a new hobby.

Well Vegas.com is a bunch of chizzling bastards so TI wins for now.


Thousand Tigers, you are right. I forgot Caesar's. The ones that are close in south strip don't really interest me (MGM, Mandalay, maybe Monte Carlo/Paris) so I didn't include them.


If I decide to upgrade it's probably going to be Mirage or maaaybe Aria if I get a smashing deal.

Mirage might even be worth the $25/nt more than TI that it is right now. Actually part of me wants to stay 2 nights at TI, 2 nights at Mirage.

Dont mind Thousand Tigers, he acts like a douche most of the time. I've stayed at Flamingo. I didn't choose it, as my friend was getting married there. However, I really liked it based on price and location. I used their pool and it seemed fine. I haven't really stayed anywhere else yet besides Rio, Flamingo, and IP, so I don't know about TI. most of the time when we go, we don't care about the room and rather blow money elsewhere, so we get cheaper+best location. I'm sure you'll go back to Vegas some other time, so just pick one, then stay at another the next time you go.

OP, it's really up to you. Sure there are tons of nicer places to stay in Vegas than your two choices. But it's really up to you with how much you want to spend, where you want to be located, where you are walking to, etc. You kind of get what you pay for. A room is just a room unless you are upgrading to other types of rooms. Like I said, I'd choose an area and a budget on rooms, then pick out of the available choices.

Not sure if it's too far from main strip, but Palms has a 50% sale currently, rooms start at $60 for weekdays (not sure what dates you are going)

Correction: I act like a douche ALL of the time.

I found TI a complete dump when I was there last fall.

You must have really high standards for TI to be a complete dump.

In any event, I think I've managed to jump through enough hoops to get Mirage for $80/nt including resort fees so I think I'm going to go with that now.

Prolly a good idea to stretch yourself to a 2nd sentence to add some context?

Everything is relative to what you are used to. If you were forced to eat your dinner off the floor of TI or Flamingo, you'd choose TI. People advocating Flamingo aren't really picking it for the same reasons some guys' girlfriend is going to pick it. 6 deep fried twinkies for a dollar and fast beer in the poker room may be great, but I'm guessing it is more likely she would rather stay somewhere that she will totally feel comfortable.

To that end, first trip, it is prolly a smart play to splash a little and go for the 5* - for a short stay it doesn't add up to THAT much extra.

But only this guy knows his gf. Will she be impresssed by $2/bottles and $1 steak'n'eggs or will she be impressed by a nice spa, good room service, new bedding, nice bathroom etc..

As he specifically asked about TI -v-Flamingo taking his gf, it is best to take some of that into account when answering.

And as you posted while I was typing, Mirage for $80 incl is a deal. Aria/Palazzo etc for a little more would arguably be even better value still.

BUT - the Mirage has a very nice pool area, which definitely seemed to be part of the criteria.