Non-Casino Lodging

I am arriving Friday March 16th to await arrival on St. Patrick's Day of two European colleagues who have never been to LV . They are staying for 3 nights and I booked them with (relatively) reasonable rates at Flamingo. The Friday/Saturday rates on the Strip that weekend are too rich for my blood, and I ended up booking those two nights at the Best Western on Paradise across from the Hilton for $147 all-in (for both nights). My question is: anybody have recommendations for situations like this where to stay at clean, convenient, economical motels/hotels near the Strip?

Maybe try downtown the other 2 nights.

Yuk...that hotel gets bad reviews.
I stayed at the Platinum Hotel & Spa last June...it's awesome! Non-smoking hotel. All suites. Jacuzzi tub. Balconies overlooking the strip. I got a travelzoo sniqueaway rate of $75/night...deal of the year! It's at Koval & Flamingo...next to Ellis Island. Short walk to get the $7.95 steak dinner!
I've stayed at every one of the Hilton Grand Vacations Clubs in LV, too. One's in the back of the Flamingo, one is next to the former Las Vegas Hilton, and one is north of Circus Circus. The Embassy Suites on Paradise just south of that Best Western is also a good place to stay. Go to hiltonhhonors.com to check rates.

For non-casino lodging on the Strip, maybe you should check out (although I have no idea what their prices are) the Travelodge Hotel which is just to the right of Circus-Circus.

RecVPPlayer

My recommendations for weekends:

Downtown: California, Fremont, Plaza
Off-Strip: South Point, Terribles (if you're desperate for a cheap room).

I can't see flying across country to stay at a NON-casino hotel.

Well, it was just for Friday & Saturday. I comped for 4 nights at Orleans starting on Sunday and then staying at Rio for two nights after that. I did some further checking on the Best Western after I read the comments and also found some bad reviews, so I switched to Gold Coast for Friday & Saturday. Thanks to all for the feedback!

How about Tuscany near Ellis Island and the Flamingo...... Easy walk from the Flamingo monorail station.

Also, look under the gambling forum, and then under the subject of Tuscany verses Terribles for info.

But I think your switch to the Gold Coast is the best idea yet! Please tells us what the room experience was like there, for I will likely get some future room comp offers after my next play there.

Sorry for the tardy response, nmtertv. Tax season. Anyway, the Gold Coast was great. I highly recommend the Premium rooms, they are reasonably priced and very nice. And some of the Gold Coast's smoking patrons must have passed on because the casino was nowhere near as smoky as I remember.