Eastside Cannery Casino & Hotel

The Eastside Cannery Casino Hotel caters to budget travelers and tour bus groups, along with air force personnel training at (or visiting) nearby Nellis Air Force Base. That's in part because the hotel -- like so many that line the streets of the Vegas area -- can accommodated everything from feverish gamblers to business conventions. The style throughout the hotel is fairly straightforward, with pleasantly modern interiors that recall nearly any mid-range chain hotel across the country. Expect to see pleather seating, a touch of marble here and there, and patterned carpets. The lobby is open to the casino, beckoning to most, but may ward some guests off with a noteworthy stench of cigarette smoke. Outside, a towering sign advertising its gaming options and live acts announces its attempts to recreate some of the Strip's action for guests who would otherwise feel the need to spend their money elsewhere. It's also a bit of a locals haunt, drawing residents with its slots and restaurants. 

This hotel is in North Las Vegas, near a few other casino hotels, but the area is not as exciting as the Strip or Fremont Street, and dining options outside of the property are limited. Surrounding neighbors include fast food joints and a few chain stores, but otherwise there's little of note to see or do. Plan to drive 20 minutes to most of Las Vegas' sights and attractions. It's a 15-minute drive to the Las Vegas Convention Center and about a 20-minute drive to McCarran International Airport.

The hotel's 307 rooms are all on the large side, with Standard Queens clocking in at a comfortable 450 square feet (42 square meters). The style across the board is modern, if not exactly memorable, with cream yellow walls, dark wood furniture with clean lines, and floor-to-ceiling windows -- some have excellent city views. Padded statement headboards add a touch of class, though the striped bed runners and carpets are reminiscent of chain hotels. Sitting areas have tables with two armchairs, and plush purple easy chairs. Free Wi-Fi comes standard, along with 42-inch flat-screens and mini-fridges, but there are no coffeemakers. The bathrooms in lower-category rooms have big separate vanities and retro wallpaper with shower/tub combos and pump-dispensed toiletries. Suites jump up to 650 square feet (60 square meters) and add wet bars, but amazingly there are still no coffeemakers to be found. Even stranger, the flat-screens tend to be smaller 37-inch models. The real upgrade in these rooms are the bathrooms with walk-in showers and whirlpool baths that can be opened to the room via sliding doors.

The centerpiece at this hotel is its sprawling 65,000-square-foot casino (6,039 square meters) that's packed with more than 2,000 slots and video poker machines. It also has 19 table games from blackjack, craps, and poker, to roulette. A large bingo hall has 450 seats, and race and sports betting are available at an adjacent bar. Another bar, Marilyn's Lounge has regular entertainment and live music, while Pin-Ups Eastside is open 24 hours and has a retro themed lounge plus bar-top video gambling machines. Dining options include a typical steakhouse called Carve, a vast buffet at Cannery Row, and '60s themed American standards like burgers and chicken wings at Snaps, which is open 24 hours. Snaps also has an expansive breakfast menu, though it's not included in room rates. There's a sit-down deli and a coffee shop, though the latter is closed on most weekdays. Guests sensitive to smoke should note that none of the restaurants are free of it, since they're all adjoining the smoke-filled casino. The hotel has its own 20,000 square-foot Eastside Event Center comprised of a huge main ballroom that hosts live entertainment and some national musical acts, along with three other ballrooms and an additional four smaller meeting rooms. Another 16th floor lounge with panoramic views of the city skyline is available for private parties, when not being used as venue space for seasonal holiday events. There's also an outdoor pool and a hot tub set in a courtyard with a sun deck and a few loungers with shade canopies. Parking and Wi-Fi are both free. Somewhat surprisingly, there is not shuttle offered to the Strip or the airport. It's worth noting that the hotel doesn't charge resort fees, which can be a rarity in this region.