Downtown, Locals or The Strip (which one and why?)

Ironically this was the conundrum facing me when trying to book our upcoming trip the end of March.
I had multiple offers and booked Gold Coast, Bellagio and Stratosphere (kind of sort of down town)
1. I will primarily stay and play at the Gold Coast (locals)
2. I will use my free play and food at Bellagio and Strat, and likely wander downtown to enjoy Main Street Station/4 Queens.
It comes down to best gaming, then best offers/food and then ambiance.

Of course some of the replies make me to want to head over to Boulder Station.

I like the resort experience, which local hotels and downtown hotels can't deliver. While the strip is more, the resort hotels are still priced far less than comparable hotels in other cities.

I laugh as I read about people more concerned with " keeping up with the Jones' " and their ability to justify overpaying for a little used room on the Strip in Vegas and then cite their justification for being gouged by comparing room costs in another city - as if that has anything to do with room costs in Vegas. Some people have more money then sense, in my opinion. For my money, give me any of the off strip or downtown locations for my lodging. I can and do rent a car to visit the high priced casinos- and I save money. Anyone paying for a strip room and their outrageous ripoff "resort " fees will find they are getting little in return and are just much lighter in the wallet.

1. Downtown
2. Strip
3. Locals

As everyone else has stated, I adore downtown for its bargain prices on food, rooms, shows.
I love the ease of getting from one place to another.

I am sure I would like the locals but I don't want to be limited to just one casino and I don't drive.

Well I'm glad I gave you a good laugh. You didn't get what I said at all. Why do you bother to even come to Vegas? Most of what you find off the strip you can find in your state. I just recently stayed in the Mandalay Bay for $28 per night (courtesy of MyVegas.com). How does that compare to what you just paid?

Just returned from 8 days in Vegas - paid $0. for my rooms - all comped with no ripoff "resort" fees. Next question...?

We have different tastes Doc. I'm sure your attitude is why go to the nice steak house when you can go to the local Sizzler, right? Why go to the nice suit place, when you can buy a suit at Walmart, right? Why get leather soul shoes, when you can get plastic souls that last longer, right?

The strip is what separates Vegas from any other city in the world. The resort hotels are still a bargain compared to comparable hotels in other cities. Put that down all you want, but those still remain the facts.

May I be the first to reply that I like it all. I make the most of whatever the environment. Never a bad experience.

For us it's a mixed bag. Though I must admit we have never stayed at any of the local casinos.

I'm selectively cheap. So I like downtown. Our last two trips were even comped "suites" (if you can call them suites) at the Golden Gate. Low limits at the casinos and a decent poker scene at the GN and Binion's.

In late May the wife has a trip planned that is a mix of business and pleasure. She has us staying at MGM's Sky Lofts. Its like the complete polar opposite of my usual Vegas trip.

I have to admit, I like the strip for the shows and restaurants. The pools. The Spas. The people. It's all just a little bit classier (there are always exceptions) on the strip. But for my gambling and poker, I prefer downtown.

While the strip hotels may "be a bargain", I can still enjoy the strip and the casinos without paying inflated room and ripoff "resort" fees - a car and off strip lodging allow me to spend my money as I see fit, while knowing I am not being gouged. After all, the Advisor has always been about saving money while enjoying what Vegas has to offer. Save some money, stay off strip and rent a car. You will enjoy Vegas more and spend less- trust me, I have been doing that for years. But to each their own....