Las Vegas On A Budget 3 days

•  

Description:

Opened in 1966 with a mere 120 rooms, the Four Queens (named for the owner's four daughters) has evolved over the decades into a major Downtown property occupying an entire city block. One of the last bastions of original Vegas glamour that still exists, and if this isn't the luxurious place it once was -- and certainly it pales to the point of vanishing when compared with, say, The Palazzo -- there is still plenty to like here, including sometimes very low rates. As the staff says, this is the place to stay if you just want to gamble -- or if you want a genuine retro experience. A remodel has given the place a bit of a lift. Newly redone rooms come in a bright color palate, which is jarring given the monochromes that otherwise rule local decor. They can be rather wee, but the ones in the South Tower are a shade larger than the others, though we wouldn't hold any multi-person slumber parties in either. In most cases, rooms in the North Tower offer views of the Fremont Street Experience. The restaurant, Hugo's Cellar, has a cozy lounge with a working fireplace, and two bars serve the casino.

•  

Description:

Finally, a much-needed (as opposed to just done because everyone else is doing it) and well-conceived renovation has given an old-timer an unexpected new shot of life. The public areas are totally refreshed: Check out those cherrywood and oxidized metal panel sheets on the walls -- you just don't see something that contemporary and design-intensive all that often in Downtown. By daringly removing half the slot machines, the casino floor has been opened up and aired out. The new entrance exterior with its stonework, planters, hitching posts, and stone driveway feels like an entirely new hotel. Even more exciting, there are plans to take out a parking lot and turn it into a proper plaza with trees, fountains, and the like, which seems totally alien to the concept of Vegas. Additional plans include a South Beach-themed upscale annex in an adjacent, currently shabby property. Rooms (some quite large) have gotten new traditional furnishings; admittedly, nothing stands out, but with amenities like flatscreen TVs, nice new (if small) bathrooms, armoires with actual minifridges, and Wi-Fi (for a fee), they are right behind Main Street Station for recommendable affordable downtown lodgings....

read more

•  

Our Local Expert Says:

Schedule a tour of The Neon Museum Bone Yard in advance – it sells out quickly!

Description:

What happens to the signs when old casinos are torn down to make room for new resorts? They go to the Neon Museum! In The Neon Museum's Bone Yard you'll see Binion's Horseshoe, the famous Silver Slipper, signs from the Golden Nugget and the Sahara. These works of art are both classic pieces of Las Vegas history and visual reminders of times past. In mid-2009, the Neon Museum will open a permanent exhibit on the Las Vegas Strip in the rescued and historic La Concha Motel lobby, designed by internationally famous architect Paul Revere Williams.

•  

Description:

Poor Downtown. For years now, it's been overlooked in favor of the Strip. And no wonder: It's so . . . small . . . by comparison. Even its once-dazzling collection of hotel marquee lights seems like candles next to the klieg-light voltage of the Strip. But things are cheaper down here, people; and speaking of people, if you get tired of feeling not pretty or rich enough for the Strip, you are not alone. Come join us in admiring the project that closed off the heart of "Glitter Gulch" and turned it into a much more user-friendly pedestrian mall.

The Fremont Street Experience is a 5-block open-air landscaped strip of outdoor snack shops, vendor carts, and colorful kiosks purveying food and merchandise. Overhead is a 90-foot-high steel-mesh "celestial vault"; at night, it is the most successfully revamped Viva Vision, a high-tech light-and-laser show (the canopy is equipped with more than 12.5 million lights) enhanced by a concert-hall-quality sound system that takes place five times nightly. There are a number of different shows, and there's music between the light performances as well. Not only does the canopy provide shade, but it also cools the area through a misting system in summer...

read more

•  

Our Local Expert Says:

Now owned by Harrah's.

Description:

Serious gamblers absolutely love this place. It is a throwback to the original "old Las Vegas" hard-drinking and hard-playing atmosphere. The best view of downtown can be had at Binion's Ranch Steakhouse on the 23rd floor where you can dine on some of the best steaks and prime rib in Las Vegas. The guest accommodations are adequate and comfortable and the rooftop swimming pool is a great place to relax after a day at the tables.

Description:

This is a small, cheery room nestled inside one of the oldest existing hotels in Las Vegas, the Golden Gate. This eatery has all the charm of 1930s San Francisco, contrasting with the modern delights of the Fremont Street Experience. Counter seating and the mahogany interior with brass fixtures give the place a real "old-time" feel. Table seating is also available. Most famous for the "99-cent Shrimp Cocktail," it also offers a range of menu choices including breakfast and complete meals.

•  

Description:

Hit this attraction at the right time, and it's one of the best freebies in town. It's a large, multilevel glass enclosure in which various lions frolic during various times of day. In addition to regular viewing spots, you can walk through a glass tunnel and get a worm's-eye view of the underside of a lion (provided one is in position); note how very big Kitty's paws are. Multiple lions share show duties (about 6 hr. on and then 2 days off at a ranch for some free-range activity, so they're never cooped up here for long). You could see any combo, from one giant male to a pack of five females who have grown from cub to adult size during their MGM time. Each comes with a trainer or three, who are there to keep the lions busy with play so they don't act like the big cats they are and sleep the entire time. But obviously, photo ops are more likely to occur as the more frisky younger set tussles, so what you observe definitely depends on who is in residence when you drop by. And, of course, actually seeing anything depends on how many other people think this is a two-star attraction; hordes of tourists are often pressed against the glass, preventing you, not to mention your kids, from doing...

read more

•  

Description:

Located on a newly opened 15-acre park area behind the Flamingo Las Vegas, this animal habitat features some animals not normally found in the Nevada desert. Surrounded by waterfalls and breathtaking flora, you will find ponds filled with Catfish, Japanese Koi (giant goldfish), and turtles that swim freely. For bird-lovers, penguins, flamingos (naturally), swans and other rare birds make this park their home. Everyone in the family will have an enjoyable time especially the kids. Admission is free.

•  

Our Local Expert Says:

One of Las Vegas' most well-known sights. Shows begin daily at 3 p.m.

Description:

A visual water symphony choreographed to music provides an unforgettable welcome to the Bellagio Hotel Casino. The water jets span more than 1,000 feet and can shoot up to 240 feet in the air while seeming to dance to choreographed lights and romantic classical music. It is a spectacular sight and one worth taking the time to view while strolling along the boulevard. Be sure to bring a camera. There is no charge for admission.

•  

Description:

The buffet at the Sahara Hotel is enormous with more than 900 seats and a Middle Eastern theme. Menu items include carved meats, salads, turkey, seafood, chicken, Chinese food and an Italian cooking station. One nice feature is a "serve yourself" beverage station. The place has a comfortable ambiance making for a pleasant dining experience. Prices and menu may vary on holidays, holiday weekends, and during special events.

•  

Our Local Expert Says:

The Lost Creek Canyon-Children’s Discovery Trail is ideal for exploring the wonders of Red Rock Canyon. Look for the petroglyphs, but please don’t touch!

Description:

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is less than 15 miles from the Las Vegas Strip, yet until recently, it was almost unknown. For years a destination for rock climbers, the area has miles of hiking and biking trails, interpretive sites and more photographic opportunities than you can count. The 14 mile Scenic Drive provides desert vistas and stunning views of Las Vegas. Often during the winter, Red Rock enjoys rain and snow on its 6000 foot mountain tops.