Frommer's Las Vegas 2004

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CHAPTER 5 . WHERE TO STAY
195 E. Tropicana Ave. (at Koval Lane), Las Vegas, NV 89109. & 800/4-MOTEL-6 (466-8356) or 702/798-0728.
Fax 702/798-5657. 602 units. Sun–Thurs $35 and up single, Fri–Sat $58 and up single. Extra person $6. Children
under 17 stay free in parent’s room. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Free parking at your room door. Amenities: 2 outdoor
pools; Jacuzzi; tour desk; coin-op washers; nonsmoking rooms. In room: A/C, TV w/pay movies.
Super 8 Motel Billing itself as “the world’s largest Super 8 Motel,” this
friendly property occupies a vaguely Tudor-style stone-and-stucco building. Free
coffee is served in a pleasant little lobby furnished with comfortable sofas and
wing chairs. Rooms are clean and well maintained.
The nautically themed Ellis Island Restaurant, open 24 hours, offers typical
coffee-shop fare at reasonable prices. In the adjoining bar—a library-like setting
with shelves of books and green marble tables—sporting events are aired on TV
monitors. The Ellis Island casino (actually located next door) has a race book
and 50 slot/poker/21 machines; a bar here has a karaoke machine.
4250 Koval Lane (just south of Flamingo Rd.), Las Vegas, NV 89109.& 800/800-8000 or 702/794-0888. 290
units. Sun–Thurs $41 and up double, Fri–Sat $56 and up double. Extra person $8. Children under 13 stay free
in parent’s room. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Pets $8 per night (1 pet only). Free self-parking. Amenities: Casino
next door; restaurant; outdoor pool; Jacuzzi; tour desk; car-rental desk; airport shuttle; coin-op washers; nonsmoking
rooms. In room: A/C, TV w/pay movies.
Terrible’s Finds First of all, this place isn’t terrible at all (the owner is Ed
“Terrible” Herbst, who operates a chain of convenience stores and gas stations).
Second, it isn’t a bit like the hotel it took over, the rattrap known as the Continental.
The Continental is gone, and good riddance. In its place is an unexpected
bargain, a hotel with ridiculously low prices offered frequently. Try this
on for size: $29 a night! Near the Strip! Near a bunch of really good restaurants!
Hot diggity! So what are we getting? Well, don’t expect much in the way of
memorable rooms; they are as basic as can be (despite some sweet attempts with
artwork depicting European idylls), and some have views of a wall (though even
those get plenty of natural light). Some, however, are considerably larger than
others, so ask. The pool area is a surprise; it looks like what you might find in a
nice apartment complex (which, actually, is what Terrible’s resembles on the outside),
with plenty of palms and other foliage. There’s a small but thoroughly
stocked casino (not to mention penny slots, continuing the budget theme) plus
a very good 24-hour coffee shop. How could you want for anything more? Did
we mention price and location? Plus a free airport shuttle? Okay, so we all wish
they had used a bit more imagination with the rooms.
4100 Paradise Rd. (at Flamingo Rd.), Las Vegas, NV 89109 & 800/640-9777 or 702/733-7000. Fax 702/765-
5109. www.terribleherbst.com/casinos/terriblescasinolasvegas. 374 units. Sun–Thurs $29 and up double,
Fri–Sat $59 and up double. Extra person $10. Children under 13 stay free in parent’s room. AE, DC, DISC, MC,
V. Free self- and valet parking. Amenities: 3 restaurants; outdoor pool; 24-hr. room service; laundry service;
nonsmoking rooms. In room: A/C, TV w/pay movies, dataport, pay-per-use Nintendo, coffeemaker, hair dryer.
7 Downtown
EXPENSIVE
Castaways Close to neither the Strip nor Downtown, this nearly 50-yearold
hotel has gone through a few incarnations, but none quite so significant as
the latest, which saw a name and theme change. In other words, if you are looking
for the venerable Showboat, it’s here, under the Tom Hanks movie title
name. Gone is the most recent Mardi Gras theme and in its place is a tropical/Polynesian
atmosphere; nothing this town doesn’t have bigger and better
elsewhere, but the public areas do look improved with their foliage (real and