Contrasts of staying on the strip vs. downtown?

Question

We've finally decided on where we're going for Christmas - Vegas! Bc it will be cold and windy and we won't be renting a car, I just want to make sure we are staying near all the action--inexpensive shows and restaurants and stuff. So should we stay downtown or on the strip, or is there not really a difference? I know some casinos have free shuttles, but if we don't stay at one of those places, what's the next best transportation mode around downtown, the strip, and between the two? (We'd rather not walk in the cold!)
Also, do you recommend any dance clubs, and how can we get free or cheap admission?
Are there any reasonably priced hotels with hot tub rooms? So far I've looked into the Golden Nugget, which fits those specifications. Any others?

Answer 1

Christmas in Vegas is great! I've also been for Thanksgiving and New Year's.

Downtown: hotels are less expensive. The Golden Nugget is really nice. Smaller casinos, very smokey! Fremont street is "somewhat" enclosed and everything is easy to get to.

Strip: hotels are more expensive. However, there is much more to see and do: casinos, popular shows, lounge acts, amusement park rides, excellent buffets, sports bars/restaurants, etc. There are some resonably priced hotels on the strip that are also nice like The Monte Carlo, Flamingo, New York New York, and Bally's. Circus Circus is probably the least expensive. Unfortunately, the rooms are low budget and run down.

Transportation: Cab prices start to add up. Walking is always an option. But it can be a lot and it can get cold. The bus is usually a good choice. You can buy a pass for $5 and ride all day back and forth on the strip to downtown. Hopefully the busses will be running. The last time I went there was only one bus and it was awful! We were piled in like sardines, people were cursing one another out, and the bus driver just stopped picking people up. In spite of that, I still like the bus system.

Have a great time!

Merry Christmas!

Answer 2

Christmas is the cheapest time to book a room in Vegas, so you should be able to book a good room at a reasonable rate. But some of the shows are "dark" (closed) that week, so it really will take some snooping to figure out where the best value can be found and what will be open that week.

As for Downtown versus The Strip, the difference is night and day. The problem is, you won't find a room with a hot tub on the Strip for less than $200 a night, even at Christmas.

I assume you are young, since you are asking about dance clubs. I would recommend either the Palms or the Rio. Both are a quick shuttle ride to the Strip, and cater to people in their 20's and 30's. I know both have busy nightclubs, I don't know what the prices are like. Vegas.com does a pretty good job of describing what each hotel offers (better than the large travel sites). But be sure to check with the hotel itself to be sure that stuff is open that week.

Answer 3

Lucky you. I couldn't think of a better way to spend Christmas.

My husband and I have been to Vegas 7 times in last 6 years and have only stayed downtown once. It wasn't too bad, but it is older and there are not as many things to do there as on the strip. There are several casinos downtown, but they are much smaller and many are very old. The best part of downtown is the Fremont Street Experience. Staying downtown is cheaper than on the strip most of the time, but you can find really great deals on the strip at pretty nice hotels.

I have read that the Las Vegas transit system now has a route called The Deuce that stops in front of most of the strip casinos and also goes downtown to Fremont for a really affordable price. We haven't been to Vegas since The Deuce was introduced, but it sounds like a great idea and would make staying downtown much better as it would be much more affordable to get to the strip.

The monorail is also nice to take up and down the strip, especially when it's cold, but they have increased the prices since the last time we were there. Not sure how affordable that is now, but I'm sure it's still cheaper than taking a cab.

There is also the Strip Trolley that goes up and down the strip (not to downtown) that stops at many of the hotels. It's pretty cheap also, but could take a while depending on traffic.

We never go to dance clubs, so can't help you with that.

Have a fabulous time in Vegas!

Answer 4

I have been to both and matter of fact just stayed for the first time downtown. If you have a car, it is cheaper to stay downtown. I stayed at the golden nugget and it was great. It was a nice hotel with nice amenities. They even have a swimming pool with a shark tank within in. Pretty cool. The food in the golden nugget was reasonable but you can find that in a lot of places in Vegas.

It is more exciting to be on the strip in my opinion. If it is a first time there, go spend the extra cash if you have it to stay on the strip, it really is where all of the action is. I think that the food is still reasonable if you go to the buffets on the strip. They also have deals often for their rooms.

If you stay downtown, steer clear of Binions and 4 queens, they are old and not in great shape. Definitely consider the Golden Nugget and request a room in the newer tower. They have an older one that is not as nice. The Stratosphere is another hotel in the vicinity of downtown that you might want to consider.

If you stay on the strip, there are a ton of great hotels, the only one that is a bit pricey is the Bellagio. I would maybe try to see if MGM is running any deals or the Monte Carlo. Both are wonderful and run specials more than the others.

Vegas is a great and fun town, I think you will have fun no matter where you stay. There are a ton of great clubs in Caesar's and the RIO.

Answer 5

I hate downtown. The strip is SOOOOO much nicer and cleaner and has good people. Downtown is the opposite. I suggest the Flamingo hotel. It's smack dab in the middle of everything. And it's reasonably priced.

They have a new "people mover" type monorail that takes you up and down the entire strip.

You can find some fantastic deals in Vegas, but I highly recommend you "splurge" a little bit and get yourself a nice 5 star hotel. I'd also go when it's warm, cause all the major hotels have beautiful pools. Seriously, Vegas is wonderful when it's warm outside....I'd wait for warm or hot weather to go there. Pick somewhere else for Christmas. Save Vegas for hot weather.

Answer 6

I would recommend downtown & then using some of the money you are saving on renting a car for a couple of days you are there.

The monorail is great if you are staying on the strip in the summer but with the cold weather you still have to do quite a bit of outside walking. If you do stay on the strip, Harrah's or Imperial Palace are the best hotels for the money and they are located right in the middle of the strip.

Answer 7

Downtown fine. Cheaper + Deuce doubl;e-decker buses & the like go back & forth to Strip constantly. Since you are stuck on the hot tub GN best though expensive for Downtown. The comments above on 4 Queens are ridiculous - fine. The California may have hot tub rooms. Just no reason to spend $$ on room in Vegas.

Answer 8

I live here so for excitment and close proximity the strip is better but more expensive, there are lots of trams in between casinos so its all preference.