Vegas Vacation on a Budget

At the risk of this sounding like an advertisement, check out the Las Vegas Hilton next time you plan a trip to Sin City.

I've been to Vegas more than a dozen times, and it wasn't until two years ago that I stayed anywhere but the middle of the strip, within walking distance to most of the biggest and fanciest casino-hotels.

But my wife and I were just passing through, and didn't care to be in the middle of everything, so we booked a room at the Las Vegas Hilton, which is on the north end of the strip, about a block east of Las Vegas Boulevard near the Convention Center.

It's not quite as far away from all the action as the Stratosphere and Sahara are, but it's still far enough that I'd never really considered it. But for that quick stopover, it was perfect at less than $60 for a night.

While there, I signed up to receive offers from the hotel, and since then, we've returned twice and stayed at the LV Hilton both times.

The last trip was a three-night vacation that cost less than $100, including tax, for our hotel stay. I had received a special offer from the hotel for $30/night rooms, plus discounts on hotel dining and a couple of free drinks, so we jumped on it.

The standard guest rooms are, well, pretty standard, but the beds are comfortable and the bathrooms are clean, which is generally good enough for me.

The biggest problem I'd had with staying so far from the main cluster of strip hotels was being forced to take cabs any time I wanted to leave or return to the hotel. But then we discovered that the Las Vegas monorail has a stop at the Hilton, and for about $5, we could take it all the way to the MGM Grand.

There are several stops along the way, as well, including one that drops off right behind Bally's.

So, transportation issue solved.

I've stayed at about 10 different hotels in Vegas, and at many of them, I've paid more for a single night than I did on that last three-night stay at the Hilton. The city has some fantastic hotels, sure, but I'd rather save my money for shows, dinners and gaming than spend it on a more expensive room.

Besides, I've had less-than-ideal experiences at some of the "top-notch" Vegas hotels while paying as much as $200 a night for a room.

The Statosphere also offers some pretty good deals on nightly stays, and if you're into thrill rides, there are few better in town than the ones at the top of this casino. But the monorail doesn't run all the way to the Stratosphere - it stops at the Sahara - so it's a little inaccessible for my taste.

So, if you're looking for a budget Vegas vacation, I highly recommend checking out the Las Vegas Hilton.

And if you're going to use the monorail several times a day, consider purchasing a daily pass, which could save you money, as well.

Sources:
Las Vegas Strip Map, Vegas.com
Las Vegas Monorail
Las Vegas Hilton