Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
month or so, this pattern is extended as another 8,000 people move into the city,
encroaching farther into the desert.
All that said, the area directly East of the Strip, contains some of the best eat-
ing options in town; and a handful of swell casinos to hang out in, including the
ultrahip Hard Rock Hotel, the geek-chic Hilton (home to both Barry Manilow
and Star Trek: The Experience), and all of the budget wonders of the Boulder
Highway area. Some hotels below are close enough to the Strip for walkers,
though most will not be.
$-$$$
Time was, if you were looking for the cheapest decent room in Vegas,
you went directly to
Terrible's Hotel & Casino
5
9
(4100 Paradise Rd., at
Flamingo Rd.;
%
800/640-9777 or 702/733-7000; www.terribleherbst.com; AE,
DC, MC, V).
And not because it actually was . . . well, terrible. That moniker comes
from the nickname of the owner, Ed “Terrible” Herbst. No, Terrible's simply had
the reputation for always undercutting the prices of every casino-hotel in town.
In 2006, however, an extensive renovation plan shut down a good number of its
rooms and it's been forced to raise rates, a hair, on the remaining ones just to keep
afloat (it'll be interesting to see if they go back to rock, rock bottom after the work
is done). So, they may come in slightly pricier than the El Cortez nowadays
(p. 46)—off-season, they range from $29 to $39 midweek and $59 to $99 on
weekends; in high season they range from $39 to $59 midweek and $99 to $149
weekends. But Terrible's has so many extras and discounts it could well end up
being the cheaper place to stay. A complimentary shuttle brings guests to and
from the airport (and will sometimes chug up to the Strip for you if it's not too
busy); a bundle of discount coupons is set under each pillow, with such money-
savers as 2-for-1 coupons to the onsite buffet; and there are frequently gas
coupons, extra points, and even six-packs of beer given away to those who stay or
gamble here during slow periods. “We're looking for traffic more than high room
rates,” a staffer confided to me. Which is good news for vacationers, as the rooms
here are clean and pretty comfy (with brand new bedding as of 2006), though I
do wish they used a slightly less industrial grade rug on the floors, and the lack of
a closet in most rooms is an inconvenience. Nevertheless, the rooms are just fine.
There's also an onsite pool that's open year round, with a wading pool for kids;
and a medium-sized fitness room (with two treadmills and free weights). Best of
all, once you've stayed here you can brag to your friends that you stayed in the
most “Terrible” hotel in town.
Booking tip:
Never reserve a room here directly.
You'll almost always pay less by going through such companies as Travelworm or
Hotels.com (p. 24).
$-$$$$
Half as glamorous but twice as affordable as the Strip, Vegas' second
Strip, the Boulder Highway, is home to half a dozen large, bustling casino resorts.
It's a hot spot among local gamblers, for slots that are reportedly loosey-goosey,
and though it's a 15-minute drive east of the Strip, there's so much here to keep
visitors busy that many end up spending the majority of their time here. That's
especially true of those who stay at
Sam's Town Hotel & Gambling Hall
555
(5111 Boulder Hwy., at Flamingo Rd.;
%
800/634-6371 or 702/456-7777;
www.samstownlv.com; AE, DC, DISC, MC, V),
which has a number of Strip-type fea-
tures, plus amenities that go way beyond any you'll find on that famous boule-
vard. In the “just as fun as the Strip” category, the centerpiece of the place is a
