Downtown vs. strip

I%26#39;m sure this question has been asked a lot but there are just too many posts on the Vegas forum to read them all.

First time going to Vegas. Should we stay on the strip or downtown (Freemont st. area)? We are budget travellers. We%26#39;d like a lot of dining/entertainment options throughout the day and night but don%26#39;t want to travel too far. We will not have a car as we flying from North Dakota. How difficult is it to get to the strip from downtown and vice-versa with no car (and what%26#39;s the transportation cost)?

Thanks!

Downtown vs. strip

You%26#39;ll definitely get good value Downtown but there are bargains to be had on the Strip. For first timers I would recommend staying on the Strip (or in a good off-strip hotel with free shuttle service). If you tell us your approx hotel budget and (if possible) dates, you%26#39;ll get some good advice on here.

To get to Downtown from the Strip the Deuce bus costs $2 or $5 for a 24 hour pass. It can get horrrendously crowded at busy times and can take well over an hour. A taxi costs about $20 each way.

Downtown vs. strip

First time to Vegas, go to the Strip! This is Vegas. Downtown has less expensive table games and a few good dining areas,but nothing to write home about.

On the strip you see Monte Carlo, NYNY, Egypt, Venice, Rome, Paris and Maracco just to mention a few sites.

You can stay @ the Barbary Coast just as cheap as downtown (no pool though). Stay @ a central strip hotel. On a budget check the Flamingo, Riveria and other hotel web sites and sign up for the special notices. Even,I hate to say it, the Excalibur has inexpensive rooms and you can find great dining options all around.

Cost to downtown is about $25 by cab, take the bus for a couple of bucks. You can take the trolley to the end of their route and get a cab for about $10. There is a mono-rail that goes to the Hilton, but I do not know the cost of a cab from there and its a walk back to the strip.

Take comfortable shoes and if you are going soon it will be hot even @ 10:00 PM.

The strip is all glitz with restaurants, shows, attractions, noise, crowds , clubs, etc. with many things that will keep you busy all day and night. Downtown has a different kind of feel to it. It is more compact- you can easily walk from one casino to another-something that isn%26#39;t so easy on the strip. There isn%26#39;t a great deal to do downtown other than gamble. Some people love it because things are generally cheaper and it has an Old Vegas feel to it.

I would suggest staying on the strip for your first visit and going downtown once at night. You may love it or hate it but you should experience it for yourself. You can get downtown by bus- but it is usually very very crowded at night, you may have to wait a while for it (if it is full they will pass you by) and at night it can take forever to get there- some people have said it took them 1 1/2 hours!. A cab will cost you $20-25 plus tip one way. You can take the monorail ($5) to Sahara and then take a cab from there- it will be cheaper but some of the monorail stations are set way back from the strip and it could be a hike just to get there.

If you stay on the strip you will have to bring the most comfortable shoes you have. You are going to do more walking than you can imagine! Still, for my first trip I would choose the strip over downtown-especially without a car.

You%26#39;ve received good advice here. Stay on the strip (I suggest Center) and either take the Deuce or taxi to downtown for a visit. There is soooooooooo much more to do on the Strip . . . much at little or no cost. Yet, downtown is fun for a visit.

I%26#39;d spend the $2 for a ride on the Deuce from the strip to downtown (allow lots of extra time . . . make an ';outing'; of it . . . try to sit on the upper level . . . toward the front . . . fun view!). Then taxi back to the strip. You%26#39;ll find taxis lined up on the street that intersects Fremont Street at the Gold Nugget (sorry . . . can%26#39;t remember street%26#39;s name).

I don%26#39;t think it was suggested before to visit the Web sites of the hotels that interest you and sign up for their email specials. Book directly with the hotel. If the price goes down, ask for a rate adjustment. My recommendations for places to try (based on price and common availability of specials -- depending on when you travel) . . . Barbary Coast, Monte Carlo, TI, MGM.

One other thing: Try to plan your trip to stay Sunday through Thursday nights. You%26#39;ll save a good deal of money!

As stated above, you have received a lot of good information. The Strip and Downtown are very different areas, so where you go depends upon what you are looking for. For example, I used to always stay on the Strip. Now,(I%26#39;m 55+ years old), I always stay DTown and usually take one trip for a few hours to the Strip. It just depends what you%26#39;re looking for.

All good advice!! If it%26#39;s your first time to Vegas, you should probably stay on the Strip so you can see everything and be close to all the ';attractions.'; It%26#39;s not that hard to get to and from Downtown though. We always prefer Downtown now because it%26#39;s SO less crowded. Depending on what your budget is for a hotel and depending on when you%26#39;re going, you should be able to find something on the Strip.

Downtown???

No, nyet, negative, nada, no way

see Expedia, etc

Stratosphere., or Sahara. bad location north strip, but

cheap, and a 20 minute walk to mid strip

..even closer, but tackier yet..CircusCircus, Imperial palace, Riviera

Check rates at Hooters...good location next to a lot of Mega-casino properties..Excalibur, ditto. Sometimes even the very-nice Monte Carlo throws out a good rate..Flamingo-sometimes low, best llocation for a cheepie

The bus is crowded and horrid..if going only 1-2 miles, just walk

(with a hat, water, and on the shady side of the strip) Taxis are high priced