Vegas for someone who doesn't like casinos much

October 15, 2008 9:45 PM

Where can I stay in Vegas next weekend whilst volunteering for Obama?

I'm flying into Vegas Fri. night and out Mon. morning to work for the Obama campaign. There is a list of special-rate hotels from the campaign.

But, i really don't want to stay at any of them, unless one is more decent than all available info implies (the ones on the Strip like Bally's dont have a good rate for the weekend I'm going, 24th-27th- its like $180 and I'd really prefer to stay under $100.)

Some of the reviews for the others are just brutal, and just the word "Fremont St." makes me want to run for the hills. I would just to stay somewhere clean, quiet, and affordable. I want to avoid that whole desperate, hooker-y, "gambling away your last $5" milieu if I can. I don't know the location of where I'll be working, but I'll be renting a car i think.

I am also strongly considering airbedandbreakfast.com, which was also recommended by the campaign. Anyone have any experience with them?

Or is there another option I'm not thinking of?

Thanks!

posted by drjimmy11 to travel & transportation (7 comments total)

Have you asked the campaign if they have any housing available for free at someone's house? I'm staying at an Obama supporter's house in Indiana, and I assumed they worked the same deals everywhere.
posted by ignignokt at 10:06 PM on October 15, 2008

Have you asked the campaign if they have any housing available for free at someone's house? I'm staying at an Obama supporter's house in Indiana, and I assumed they worked the same deals everywhere.

Thanks, but on the Nevada page they say:

Due to the large number of volunteers, the campaign is unable to provide housing during your trip.

I guess too many people from L.A. are going.
posted by drjimmy11 at 10:37 PM on October 15, 2008

Well, if you're traveling by rental car, I don't really see why you'd have to interact with any desperation or hookeriness. You just go from your room to your car to work to food and back. I have always found the IP quiet and clean, always stayed there with my young, cheap milieu, but that was because we like centrality and its (until recently) independent ownership. The Rio is well off the strip and I find The Fremont Street Experience to be so juvenile as to be adorable, so I can't conceive of what might be soul-crushing there. I think Vegas is how you choose to see it.

I was there last weekend en route to Zion, and we stayed at the Monte Carlo, which is undergoing construction and might have better than usual rates. I would look into the off-strip resorts, like the places in Henderson, but having been to a couple of them, they give off much more of a desperate gambling-problem vibe then the good ol' IP.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 12:27 AM on October 16, 2008

Due to the large number of volunteers, the campaign is unable to provide housing during your trip.

This could also have something to do with why they'd like Obama reps supporting hotels and restaurants, particularly in Vegas. With that in mind you might use the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union website's union hotel finder tool.
posted by Pollomacho at 4:47 AM on October 16, 2008

I once stayed at Fitzgerald's (one of the hotels on the list; $92/night) and found it to be totally fine. Not fancy, but not even close to fleabag, either. The staff was nice and accommodating, and the place was centrally located (downtown).
posted by Dr. Wu at 5:24 AM on October 16, 2008

I stayed at the Flamingo in June, and it was very nice. You can get out of the casino without passing through the gambling areas, too.
posted by tomble at 5:29 AM on October 16, 2008

The Renaissance is geared towards business travelers (next to convention center) and its non-gaming. But, its pricey ($230-ish).

Also, hotwire has searches by area (but not by casino/non-casino), maybe the ones of the strip might be easier to get in/out of. They have a couple of condos and even an all-inclusive resort (whatever that means).

Good luck...I feel your pain.
posted by hazel at 5:11 PM on October 16, 2008