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What is the cheapest Vegas hotel worth staying at?

The other day, Web Watch was chatting with friends who were about to embark on their very first weekend trip to Las Vegas.

Being recently out of college, they were concerned that they wouldn’t have enough money to have a decent hotel room, food other than a $0.99 foot-long hot dog, some gambling, some clubbing, taxis… well, you get the drift.

One of the questions they asked us was for recommendations on saving a little bit of money – but not to go all crazy. After all, this is VEGAS we’re talking about, and they really wanted to live it up BIG on whatever money they could afford to spend.

Las Vegas Little Black Book: A Guy's Guide to the Perfect Vegas Getaway
Las Vegas Little Black Book:
A Guy’s Guide to the Perfect Vegas Getaway

We’ve been lucky enough to stay at almost every hotel on the Las Vegas Strip over the years – and we can definitely tell the difference between what a $20 tip at the front desk can give you compared to buying the room outright, if you know what we mean.

And with CASINO RESORT FEES becoming more and more outrageous every year, it’s about time some enterprising folks would get together and figure out the answer to the perennial question: HOW MUCH MONEY DOES YOUR VEGAS HOTEL ROOM REALLY COST?

Because let’s face it – a room rate is only going to get you so far.  Taxes will be about the same all the way around, and some hotels are starting to add on optional fees for things that used to be available merely by asking.

King bed?  Certainly.

Non-smoking room on a high floor with a view of the Strip?  We can make that happen, it’s in your reservation.

But now being charged $10 apiece for each desired room customization element?  That’s just crazy talk.

The hotels might as well just bundle the extras into the rate of the room.  But they can’t do that, as you have to keep up with the Joneses in your industry.  “Keeper of the House”, indeed.

So if you price out all the hotels with their average weekend rates, which hotels are giving you the best bargain?  The most Bang for your Buck?

If the base rate for the room is all we’re looking at, here are the TOP FIVE LEAST EXPENSIVE LAS VEGAS RESORT HOTELS:

  1. Golden Nugget
  2. Planet Hollywood
  3. THEhotel
  4. ARIA
  5. Caesars

Granted, the list only represented 16 of the four-star and five-star hotels out there.  Don’t blame us if you want to stay at a lowly three-star or lower resort.  You’ll definitely save your money staying at one of those places, but you may come home with something you don’t want to share with others.

What do you think?  Are Vegas hotel prices getting out of hand?  Other than using your Players Card to get comp nights or discounted rates, what other tips do you have for getting a lower room rate at your favorite casino?