The smaller hotels and also the Coast

As we have gotten older the off-strip properties look more and more attractive.

A few thoughts echoing all of the positives noted here:

1. Orleans...good food selection, lots of VP with favorable schedules...rooms are nice, easy in and out for parking and a free shuttle to the strip and the Gold Coast...I think the buffet is excellent there. They also offer special daily deals including alot of extras for those over 50 years old (so does CG)

2. Gold Coast...probably our favorite, right next to Rio and the Palms so you can walk to either. Excellent Chinese food (two choices) plus a great "old school" steak house. Buffet...no so good in my opinion. Again, many VP options and you feel like you can win. Parking is easy...same shuttle service as The Orleans. Someone previously talked about the rooms...it is a serious downgrade if you don't get a rennovated room. A bonus, if you like horse races you can watch them in the room.

3. SouthPoint...CG is only a slight fav simply because of location. SP has great food offerings including the best sports deli in town. Tequila happy hour offers every drink for $2. Good bonus program for slot play and we usually get all room costs comped...even got a haircut comped when checking out...very generous. Very nice spa. It is isolated and you can't walk anywhere. They do offer a shuttle to the airport. I would definitely recommend staying here. Rooms are nicer than Orleans or CG.

We've also stayed at the M but, that property has really dropped in value lately so I can no longer recommend it especially due to its location. Too bad as they were on a roll after opening and we went out of our way to stay there. We've never stayed at the Palms but, have gambled there often. Cantor took over their sports book so that is a concern to me. They do have a movie theather which you can get to easily if you are staying at the GC.

Hope this is helpful.

Although technically no longer a Coast property, Bill's (formerly the barbary Coast) has decent enough rooms for the money and has a downtown feel because the property is small and cozy. You won't get the same good paytables because Harrah's owns the place now, but sometimes it's just about the "feel" of the property.

At the risk of being repetitive.....while I have not stayed there, the Gold Coast is a great place to gamble and eat. Palms/Rio are right there, and it is not that far off the center of the strip action. I always stay on the strip, but given it's location and food/gambling options, I would consider staying at the Gold Coast in the future!