For the price, the Golden Nugget is a steal, provided you don't mind staying in Vegas' older downtown neighborhood instead of the newer, livelier Strip. In exchange for giving up the prime location, guests can enjoy clean, well-appointed rooms, excellent service -- and a top-notch pool complete with a shark tank.

Since 1966, the 2,419-room Caesars Palace has defined excess on the Strip -- a massive spa with Roman baths; elaborate mosaics and classical architecture around the pools; one of the biggest casinos in Vegas. But base-level "Classic Rooms" are smaller, more drab, and older than the Vegas norm. You can upgrade to a more recently renovated room, but check the Venetian's rates first.

This lower-middle-range hotel on the northern end of the Las Vegas Strip has two main selling points: its super cheap rates, and its abundance of family-friendly activities. These include circus performances every 30 minutes and indoor Adventure Dome amusement park with numerous rides, bungee jumping, rock climbing, and 4D theaters. With the exception of the solid steakhouse, the restaurants tend to be unexceptional but satisfying, serving hearty comfort fare -- options include a pizzeria, a barbecue restaurant, a buffet, and a Mexican joint. The hotel is a behemoth, and the 3,700-plus rooms aren't bad for the price, offering flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi.