Harrah’s Las Vegas Hotel

One of the old stalwarts of the Las Vegas Strip, Harrah’s Las Vegas Hotel was first opened as the river boat-themed Holiday Inn Casino back in 1973. The riverboat theme is now gone, replaced by a New Orleans Mardi Gras themed facade during a remodel and expansion in the mid 1990′s.

Harrah's Las Vegas Hotel

Harrah’s is a good sized hotel these days, with 2,677 rooms set on 35 floors. There is a large casino that opens directly onto one of the most vibrant (and crowded) parts of the strip. If you are looking for a quiet place to get away from it all, this is probably not it.

But if you are looking for a reasonably priced room without all the high end amenities available at more expensive and newer resorts, then Harrah’s is a good choice to consider. It’s mid-strip location is excellent, and it has easy access to the Strip, much more so than the neighboring Imperial Palace, which requires crossing driveways and a single narrow passage to get out of the hotel.

Harrah’s has made some improvements since its last major facelift in 1997. The pool area has been spruced up, with beautiful deck chairs and greenery. And some of the rooms have new furnishings and bed coverings. But by and large, it is a bit dated.

Harrah's casino entrance

So if you are looking for the latest and greatest that Vegas has to offer, you are better off paying a bit more for a new hotel with all the amenities that come with a new place.

But if you just want a clean room in a great mid-strip location with a fun casino, then this could be a good place for you.

One thing to note about Harrah’s is that it is in the midst of what might be the loudest and most youth-oriented section of the Strip. This section includes casinos that are fun and easy going, but they also have a bit of a “spring break” vibe for a good part of the year. So if this does not appeal to you, you might want to either stay at another spot along the Strip or at a nearby hotel off the Strip.

But if you are going to Vegas to party, have fun, not necessarily spend a ton of money, and stay in a relaxed environment, then Harrah’s is definitely worth considering. The shops and restaurants out front of Harrah’s tend to be quite reasonably priced too, and this can help keep the cost of your vacation down.

Staying at a higher end place has its perqs, but everything can just cost far more at a new place, and this is a good reason to stay at Harrah’s or somewhere like it. Here you can get the full Vegas Strip experience, have a blast, and not pay a whole lot.