Close proximity to the Strip, as well as having the more upscale Rio and Palms within throwing distance, makes this budget-friendly hotel a contender for those who want to be near the action without necessarily paying for it. Definitely a locals favorite thanks to cheaper room rates and well-prepared, well-priced drinks and meals, Gold Coast isn’t the most glamorous of hotels, but it gets the job done.

The rooms start on the small side, at about 320 square feet, but they’re appointed as nicely as anywhere else. What they lack in space they make up for in style, with contemporary furniture and textures in a space that won’t for a second make you think you’ve opted for a second-rate hotel room. Flatscreen TVs, in-room coffeemakers and hair dryers are among the amenities; bathrooms are a little tight, but are efficient with the space available, and spotless.

The 86,000-square-foot casino is always teeming with locals who know the right places to make their bets, with nearly 2,000 slot and video poker machines at the ready. There’s also a 70-lane bowling alley should you want to throw a few rocks, and Ping Pang Pong, long considered one of the best Chinese restaurants in Las Vegas.

Shuttle service takes you where you want to go on the Strip, as well as to sister property The Orleans.