I am sure this question is being asked a thousand times..but still i am doing it.

Will be in Vegas next weekend (2 days, 2 nights). Looking for hotel which is convenient or centrally located, as i have no idea how Vegas is. Though budget is another issue, around $150 a night. If possible Hilton family hotels!

And i don't know what to do and see (no gambling for me). Is it possible to do the Canyon and Hoover Dam on a day trip (say by renting a car)?

Any hotel on the Strip is "convenient". The Hilton is off the Strip but it is connected to it by the monorail. Doing the Grand Canyon in a day by car would mean a lot of driving. The much closer Red Rock Canyon while obviously not impressive is still nice to see. The Hoover dam is quite close but the traffice can be heavy so you need to allow plenty of time to do that trip.

Not sure if it still the case, but it used to be that most Vegas hotels did not allow check-ins on a Saturday. Also weekends are normally the most expensive days.

Good Luck!

John

A good general information web site: www.a2zlasvegas.com. The site has links for about everything. Gary

While the Hoover dam is easily doable for a day trip, Grand Canyon takes about 5 hours to get there + 5 hours back !!!!! As is said above Red Rock Canyon can be done, also Valley of Fire State Park.

You may be able to get good deals on strip hotels during the week, I would try expedia.com to get a feel on what the rates are, then check individual hotels.

It sounds like you've never been to Las Vegas before, and for a first time trip, you'll be occupied enough looking at the hotels and at what they have to offer. But, if you want to do day trips there is a lot to do. They are plenty of bus tours you can book if you don't want to drive to the Grand Canyon, that would be a 12-14 hour day.

I happen to be looking for a great rate on the strip for March of next year as I will be celebrating my 50th birthday and my daughter (within 2 days) will be celebrating her 21st birthday. Getting a group of family of friends to go and want to get the best price for all of us. Most of the hotels are pretty pricey but found the Tropicana to be very reasonable. I haven't stayed there before but I heared it's a decent hotel.

Grace, If you are running into high room prices in March, your travel dates may coincide with a large, or several, conventions. You can check that out on the web fairly easily. If the gas prices hold, and they have a bad summer and fall in Las Vegas, the prices will likely drop as well. Gary

I'm partial to the Monte Carlo. It's a little cheaper than some of the other hotels and it has a river pool. It's in a good location.

For myself, price is never an issue. I prefer to stay at a nice hotel vs. a cheap hotel. But, getting my family and friends to go to Vegas with us is a whole other story. So, the Tropicana gave me a $119 per night rate for us as a group. The Monte Carlo is probably the best deal in town - nice hotel for a reasonable but probably more than $150 per night.

I don't think I have ever heard that the economy has affected Vegas. Like you said, Gary, with all the conventions and events going on there all the time, I'm surprised it doesn't cost more to stay at a hotel. I've been in Vegas before where there was no occupancy in any of the hotels. I know people who share and rent condos off the strip to save on a week long stay for a convention.

Jimmy, lots to see and do in Vegas besides gambling. Definitely, go to a show! Lots to choose from. Ride a roller coaster. See the lions eat at the MGM. Enjoy the food - some of the very best restaurants ever in Vegas! Robert DeNiro just opened up a restaurant called Ago. I'm sure you'll have to make reservations in advance to eat there. Maybe get a chance at see DeNiro there! Fun!

$150 can get you a lot in Vegas!

Weekend rates however DOUBLE in price than weekday rates.

Check the prices for MGM Grand, Luxor, and Treasure Island.

I ended up putting up the weekend in Flamingo @ $100+$9 for tax. Centrally located but the room a little old (probably stayed in the old wing, as i saw some newer rooms on the other wing, by way of the paint along the corridor).

It was a good experience for the 2 nights, mainly on visiting all the nice hotels along the strip. Remember to have a pair of good walking shoe!!