RIO, Ballys, suggestions??

So, my boyfriend and I will be celebrating his 30th birthday with another couple April 30th-May 4th. We are trying to figure out where to stay, as we don%26#39;t have a very large budget! We%26#39;ve been looking at RIO, Ballys, Luxor, Excalibur, Las Vegas Hilton, Stratosphere, Imperial, and Paris... with Stratosphere, RIO and Ballys being the ';best'; deal that I have seen (I think!) between Expedia and Bookit.com. This will be my first trip to Vegas, his second.

Our room will be mostly used for sleeping so it need not be extravagant, but definitely CLEAN! At the same time, I don%26#39;t necessarily want to feel like I%26#39;m in the Holiday Inn...

I%26#39;ve heard great things, and horror stories, about all places so I%26#39;m confused! All advice and input is greatly appreciated!!

RIO, Ballys, suggestions??

Of your list I personally would not stay at:

The Stat

IP

Excalibur

So that leaves

LV Hilton

Rio

Paris

Luxor

Bally%26#39;s

Since you have never been to Vegas I assume you want to stay on the Strip?

That eliminates:

Rio

LV Hilton

Leaving:

Luxor

Bally%26#39;s

Paris

Of those 3 Id stay at Paris, then Bally%26#39;s, then Luxor.

RIO, Ballys, suggestions??

If you don%26#39;t care about being on the strip, Rio is nice. It%26#39;s a little too far to walk to the strip from Rio, but there is a shuttle that runs regularly, about every half hour. Bally%26#39;s is also nice if you can get a room in the north tower. It%26#39;s right on the strip and is connected to Paris with a long hallway. Las Vegas Hilton has nice rooms, like most Hiltons. It%26#39;s not on the strip either, but the monorail runs to the Hilton so it%26#39;s pretty easy to get back and forth. Paris is a little fancier than Bally%26#39;s. Statosphere is probably too isolated for you unless you have a car. It%26#39;s pretty far away from most of the rest of the strip. I haven%26#39;t stayed at the others. You might also look at Harrah%26#39;s and Flamingo. Have have good deals sometimes. You can look right on their website and probably get a good deal. Have fun!

Rio is nice but for first trip I would vote for a strip property. My vote would be Paris, as stated a little bit more upscale than Ballys. Very good location. Mid-level property. However, if the deal is way better Ballys would be fine. For a first trip on a budget I would go for one of those two mostly for location and enough stuff close by.. reasonably priced eats,Bellagio fountains and a relatively easy walk to lots! Planet Holleywood and Miracle Mile shops right next door, etc. By the way, would check on the rate at Planet Hollewood too as it is right there in the mix. Good luck and have fun!

Bally%26#39;s.. good choice.. always feel safe there and fun to gamble at late at night.

Nice thing you%26#39;re right on the strip so you can walk any direction and find something... at the RIO you%26#39;re not within walking distance of anywhere but Gold Coast...

Go Ballys its adequate you can walk right outside and go over to Bellagio gfountains, its a must see, you got bills and flamingo right across the street. Dont spend more than you have to spend. As long as your hotel door locks and no stranger that you dont know end up in your bed or your room and the plumbing works your in good shape

Thank you everyone! I think we will decide on Ballys... especially since our friends will be staying at Paris and I just found out they are connected. Ballys is about $200 cheaper than Paris right now. Thanks again for the input!

For $200 less, Ballys is definitely the better choice. GREAT location, huge rooms. When you check in, politely inquire if there are north rooms available...they will likely upgrade you if there are any available. These are the renovated rooms, and I found them much nicer than my folks%26#39; room at Paris.

South tower rooms are just as large, with better views, but the furnishings are very dated...but the rooms are always very clean.

Have fun!

(PS your other choices are really off the list due to rotten location; except IP...but it is the most modest property on the strip)

We just stayed at Bally%26#39;s and really enjoyed the experience overall. The best part was the super location on the strip and the price! The convenient walkway to Paris was nice as well. We booked a South Tower room but asked nicely to be moved to a north tower and was without any trouble. It was a very nice, comfy room to call home for a couple of days. Fast elevators, good housekeepers - it was a great stay. We would go back in a heartbeat.