Frugal stip opportunities drying up

[dewey089]

With Bill's becoming very upscale, and probably the Quad to follow as well as resort fees now at Harrah's, it seems to me that more and more visitors who want a frugal experience will choose to stay off the strip.
Even car rentals seem more attractive since the resort fee will pay the price of the car.
The Orleans, Gold Coast and Sam's Town all have very small resort fees, so often those are not deal breakers.
Meanwhile downtown Boyd casinos have no resort fees, in fact, they have deals for free Tuesdays.

I have always stayed at the Quad on very cheap rates based on live poker play. That will change now as that $10 resort fee will double what they often charge. Also, in spite of all the new renovation I've heard from friends that long check in lines still exist, sometimes as much a 3 hours long. I guess the best strategy is to be there by 2 PM and wait almost an hour. So, already I don't make that my first casino from the airport.

I'm attracted by many of the downtown casinos and also now by Terribles which can put me on the strip fairly quickly by 202 bus and deliver me safely at the edge of the parking lot even late at night.

But I have to sort through all the options again and think about what I really want.
What are you frugal guys thinking?

[scrappy]

Re: Frugal stip opportunities drying up

With Bill's becoming very upscale, and probably the Quad to follow as well as resort fees now at Harrah's, it seems to me that more and more visitors who want a frugal experience will choose to stay off the strip.
Even car rentals seem more attractive since the resort fee will pay the price of the car.
The Orleans, Gold Coast and Sam's Town all have very small resort fees, so often those are not deal breakers.
Meanwhile downtown Boyd casinos have no resort fees, in fact, they have deals for free Tuesdays.

I have always stayed at the Quad on very cheap rates based on live poker play. That will change now as that $10 resort fee will double what they often charge. Also, in spite of all the new renovation I've heard from friends that long check in lines still exist, sometimes as much a 3 hours long. I guess the best strategy is to be there by 2 PM and wait almost an hour. So, already I don't make that my first casino from the airport.

I'm attracted by many of the downtown casinos and also now by Terribles which can put me on the strip fairly quickly by 202 bus and deliver me safely at the edge of the parking lot even late at night.

But I have to sort through all the options again and think about what I really want.
What are you frugal guys thinking?

I agree with all of this, I mostly stay off strip or downtown because of price or comps. If you must stay on the strip, your cheapest options are either stratosphere, circus circus or excaliber, and maybe riviera. If you need a better location, then the Casino Royale is your best bet.