What is the best hotel to stay at in Las Vegas and why?

My wife and I are going to Las Vegas for our one year wedding anniversary and are trying to decided where to stay on our trip. We are trying to stay within a budget so that limits our choices (i.e. cannot stay at the Bellagio like we do in our dreams, LOL.).

Where would you recommend staying that is on/close to the Strip, affordable, and just plain great to stay at?

I like Tropicana, the Imperial Palace, Excalibur, Harrah's.

Here is a link to read about each one.

http://www.vegas.com/resorts/

My fiance & I visited on a budget and we stayed at the Sahara. It was one of the lower priced hotels on the strip.

Kinda out of the way, but it was alright because the monorail has a stop at the Sahara, walk out of the hotel and you're on the platform! Then you can take it down to the busier part of the strip easily. You don't have to fight buses or taxi's... plus it's a very fun ride... in my opinion anyway.

The hotel itself isn't overly fancy, and has just a basic pool, but for the price it was pretty good. It's an older place. They had a great buffet, some fun rides (if you're into that) and a cool arcade. The casino was fine as well, not huge, but fun. We loved the steakhouse & the other 'regular' restaurant. It also had an arcade.

It was either the Sahara or the Stratosphere, but at the Stratosphere you're so far away from the rest of the strip, and there's no monorail... (2-3 block walk to the monorail, painful when you're on your feet all day)

That's all the info I can give you, it was a great trip & we cant wait to go back. Hope you two have fun! Oh, happy anniversary!

When we went to Vegas we stayed at the Best Western Mardi Gras. It is about a mile from the strip and they have a shuttle that drops you off right in the middle of the strip. It stopped running about 11 so we would take it down there and either catch a cab or walk back (though I don't recommend walking as you pass through a shady part of town between the strip and the hotel).

We got a great rate online (no more than $60 a night) and the rooms are suite style so we had a kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, and living room. Amazing deal for being so near the strip at Vegas.

Check www.lasvegasnow.com which is Channel 8's web site with great links.

Right now there are all kinds of deals if you don't go thru a price line type reservation system but directly thru the hotel casino

If you want nice but not on Strip but near but not walking distance

Gold Coast - west of Caesars

Orleans - west of Excalibur

SOuth Point - couple miles south of Mandalay Bay

But on Strip look at Excalibur, Tropicana or Sahara, all with deals

I suggest these hotels

Venetian Resort Hotel Casino Las Vegas http://hotels.americacheaphotels.com/Hotel/Venetian_Resort_Hotel_Casino_Las_Vegas.htm

Bellagio Casino & Hotel Las Vegas http://hotels.americacheaphotels.com/Hotel/Bellagio_Casino_Hotel_Las_Vegas.htm

Mgm Grand Hotel & Casino Las Vegas http://hotels.americacheaphotels.com/Hotel/MGM_Grand_Hotel_Casino_Las_Vegas.htm

Mandalay Bay Resort And Casino Las Vegas http://hotels.americacheaphotels.com/Hotel/Mandalay_Bay_Resort_and_Casino_Las_Vegas.htm

Treasure Island Hotel Las Vegas http://hotels.americacheaphotels.com/Hotel/Treasure_Island_Hotel_Las_Vegas.htm

Cheapest hotels on the strip in Las Vegas

Tropicana Resort And Casino Las Vegas - on the strip

http://hotels.americacheaphotels.com/Hotel/Tropicana_Resort_And_Casino_Las_Vegas.htm

Excalibur Hotel and Casino Las Vegas - south strip - adjacent to MGM Grand Hotel and Casino and New York New York Hotel & Casino

http://hotels.americacheaphotels.com/Hotel/Excalibur_Hotel_and_Casino_Las_Vegas.htm

Imperial Palace Hotel & Casino Las Vegas - in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip

http://hotels.americacheaphotels.com/Hotel/Imperial_Palace_Hotel_Casino_Las_Vegas.htm

Circus Circus Hotel Las Vegas - is at the north end of the strip.

http://hotels.americacheaphotels.com/Hotel/Circus_Circus_Hotel_Las_Vegas.htm

Stratosphere Hotel & Casino Las Vegas - at the top of the strip

http://hotels.americacheaphotels.com/Hotel/Stratosphere_Hotel_Casino_Las_Vegas.htm

It seems as if the older the hotel the less expensive the room, if you want to stay at a nice play, I would suggest going to some of the travel sites, Expedia, Travelocity and see what they can offer on the strip at a reasonable rate.

Tropicana is on the strip, cheap, and mirrors on the walls and celeing above your bed, and a nice pool. Or look at vegas.com at like Planet Hollywood its real nice gives you the rich feeling and in a real prime spot on the strip.

The Luxor, Excalibur or MGM Grand and good bargains for the money. Book directly from the hotels, using their promo code to get the best rates.

Red Rock Casino Resort Spa

Circus Circus Hotel, Casino and Theme Park

well I live in Las Vegas So I would have to say that the Rio is the best. It's right off the strip and it has a good buy