<p>I want to attend a convention in June (I know, the heat will be horrible!) that’s being held at the Riviera. Haven’t read many good reviews about that hotel. Can anyone suggest someplace else close by the Riviera? Please keep in mind that I’m a non-smoker.</p>
<p>There are a couple of newer non-casino hotels near the Riviera. There is lot’s of smoking everywhere in LV. A NS room is about the best you can do.</p>
<p>I went to Las Vegas for the first, last and only time last winter (not a gambler, etc- we drove from CA with relatives). In December '06 they passed new rules, making restaurants, lobbies and hotel hallways nonsmoking- unfortunately you still have to pass through/near smoking area casinos to get anywhere, but at least you can stand in line in the lobbies and still breathe, plus eat. I saw the new rules on a sign in one of the hotels- but not most- we booked via Priceline the night before, ended up at the MGM Grand during the Basketball All Stars (we were lucky- H even had a 125% return on the dollar he spent in a slot machine while waiting to leave). Based on my touring the hotels up and down the street I would go for price/amenities combo you prefer and eat, etc wherever you choose. BTW- in the M&M store it is worth going upstairs… There are walkway overpasses across some corners, helpful in avoiding traffic when crossing the street. Fortunately for you they definitely believe in air condtioning and the time to see things is after sunset. Good luck and enjoy.</p>
<p>It won’t matter which hotel you pick. If you are attending a convention, your days will be full and it is unlikely that you will spend much of your free time in your hotel room.</p>
<p>It is actually bit early for June. You can visit many of the casino web site and sign up to get e-mail specials. You don’t have to go to every sight - many of the properties are owned by the same company. For example Harrah’s owns Harrahs, Bally, Caesar’s, and Rio. MGM owns MGM, Bellagio, Treasure Island,Luxor, Mandalay Bay, New York New York and the Mirage.</p>
<p>Rivera is a dump like Circus Circus.</p>
<p>I don’t know how close is close enough, but I recommend the Venetian.</p>
<p>Thanks for your replies. I just want someplace that isn’t a “dump” and is close enough that I can get to the Riviera easily. I’ve never been to Las Vegas before, but someone told me that “1 block away” there isn’t quite the same as the city blocks I’m used to!</p>
<p>Go to expedia. Pick las vegas and then hotels on the strip. They have a map of all the properties. As a benchmark, Stratosphere (north) and Mandlay Bay (south) are at the two ends of the strip. In case you didn’t know, Parking is free at all the casinos. Yes one block is a long block ~ 2 regular blocks. If I recall correctly Rivera is very close to MGM, Excalibur and Luxor. (Four corners of an intersection).</p>
<p>Summer is a ‘cheap’ season in Vegas.</p>
<p>Distances are deceiving in LV. Even going to the hotel that looks to be just across the street can take almost 30 minutes from your room.</p>
<p>a tiny bit off topic, but still LV-
My SIL just sent a email that she will be in Vegas next week for step son wedding, there Mon-Sunday. She didn’t realize that w/o traffic we are just 3+ hrs away. Trying to figure our a last minute get away-if sitter can come for dog.
Question-
When is best time to travel from so cal-Fri afternoon, Fri night, Sat early am
and same for return-lv early Sun am or noon. Haven’t been there in ages but know traffic on 15 can be terrible.
They will be at Excalibur.</p>
<p>Hotels.com has excellent features for finding a hotel. (You can always book directly through the hotel after you get the information you need.)<br>
[Reviews</a> of vacations, hotels, resorts, vacation and travel packages - TripAdvisor](<a href=“http://www.tripadvisor.com%5DReviews”>http://www.tripadvisor.com) has all kinds of reviews of hotels, etc.</p>
<p>[THE</a> Las Vegas Map](<a href=“http://vegastodayandtomorrow.com/condomap.htm]THE”>http://vegastodayandtomorrow.com/condomap.htm)
has a map of all the hotels. The Riviera is at the north end of the strip, across from Circus Circus. Marriott has several properties in that area, near the convention center, and all Marriotts are non-smoking. They are hotels, not casinos: Marriott Suites, Residence Inn, Courtyard and the Renaissance. You will not be able to beat the price at the Riviera, but…</p>
<p>Use Midwesterner’s map link above. Anything north of the Wynn is tacky and dumpy, most of the big hotels from the Wynn south are very nice but expensive (Venetian, Caesar’s, Bellagio, Paris, Aladdin, NYNY, MGM Grand, Mandalay, Luxor, etc). Harrah’s might be affordable.</p>
<p>Simba is wrong, the Riviera is at the opposite end from the MGM Grand, Luxor, etc.</p>
<p>Don’t try to get a cab in Vegas, it takes all day to go a few blocks. You can walk, but wear comfy shoes. Caesar’s alone must be 1/2 mile wide.</p>
<p>I’d check out the Mirage or Treasure Island. They’re near that end of the strip and looked pretty nice when I was there 2 years ago.</p>
<p>I just got back from Las Vegas Friday morning. Stayed at the Mandalay Bay. Very nice, but also expensive. There is a tram between the Mandalay Bay and the Luxor and the Excalibur. Starting at the MGM Grand, there is a monorail that has several stops between the MGM and the Sahara (which is one hotel from the Riviera). [Las</a> Vegas Monorail - Home](<a href=“http://www.lvmonorail.com/]Las”>http://www.lvmonorail.com/)</p>
<p>lamom, we made the trip from LA to Vegas last December on a Friday afternoon. The traffic was really heavy. I think it took almost 6 hours!</p>
<p>“Simba is wrong, the Riviera is at the opposite end from the MGM Grand, Luxor, etc.”</p>
<p>Yes I was wrong. I was confused between another dumpy hotel Tropicana.</p>
<p>But give some slack to an old man like me.</p>
<p>My s was there last August, And we’ve been a few times. You should be able to get plenty of good deals. He stayed at the Luxor for a few days (which is getting a facelift) and at NYNY a few days, with all sorts of extra goodies thrown in (free meals, discounts on shows, discounts on the room, etc). He even found some deal that got him $300 Cirque de Soleil tix (good seats) for $50! He is not a gambler and not a smoker, and did just fine. He did use the Monorail, but it too requires a lot of walking.</p>
<p>Momofchris,
Thanks, my husband is already complaining about the traffic. But we don’t get to see his sister very often.
Flying there-many of the flights stop in AZ and so it’s 1 hr to airport, 1 hr early, 1-4 hrs before we arrive.</p>
<p>The Hilton is behind the Riviera and also has a monorail station to easily get to the other end of the strip.
It looked very nice to us but we did not stay there</p>
<p>I’ve stayed at both the Hilton and the Riviera for conventions. The Riviera is very convenient and within a reasonable walking distance, but there are definitely nicer, pricier places to stay. The crowd there tends to be either the older tourists who are price-conscious or serious convention goers. </p>
<p>The traffic on the strip is horrendous - so if you stay mid-strip or down strip, you should plan on extra hours getting to and from the convention center. If you need to be at the convention center on a fixed schedule, then stay close by. If your comings and goings are flexible, then stay elsewhere. (If you can afford the Hilton - grab it.)</p>
<p>Wear comfortable walking shoes even if you stay at the Hilton or the Riviera. I’ve actually taken a cab from the Hilton to the CC when I had to carry a lot of items - it can be a good mile walk from the hotel room to the convention center.</p>
<p>I’ve stayed at the Hilton and Venetian. I think Venetian is nicer. For the Hilton, the rooms were ok and I got some cheap deals with a free $25 off 1/2 massage. Anyway, I suggest to skip the massage room because the people that worked there were so rude. A bunch of customers walked out giving tips.</p>