Ellis Island Hotel Super 8 Las Vegas

This hotel from the Super 8 chain attracts budget travelers looking to save during their Vegas stay. The amount of features is surprising -- there's a casino on-site, several dining options, and even a brewery -- making it a great value. The three-story structure has a porte-cochere entrance and is surrounded by the property's parking lot. Interiors are what you would expect from a motel, but they're clean. The waiting room-like lobby has a couple of sofas and other seating, while wall-mounted flat-screen TVs provide some entertainment. The functional space also has a vending machine and soda fountain. The hotel's barbecue restaurant has a more cozy vibe with its wooden floors, walls, and ceiling. Tufted booth seating lines the walls, while the rest of this casual space is filled with tables and chairs.Overall, the Ellis Island Hotel is a great choice for budget travelers, and though rooms are simple and decor is nothing to write home about, the spaces are clean and amenities are contemporary. Though rates are cheap, note that a daily resort fee is added and can nearly double rates sometimes.

The motel is about a 15-minute walk to the Vegas strip, a densely packed three-and-a-half mile long stretch of hotel casinos on Las Vegas Boulevard and the city's main artery and tourist center. The property is situated around the corner from the Westin Las Vegas, while the Bellagio and Caesar's Palace are both an 18-minute walk away, or about a five-minute drive. There are plenty of casual dining options within a 15- to 20-minute walk or five-minute drive of the property.Other area attractions include: the iconic "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign, which takes about 10 minutes to reach by car; the Neon Museum -- which has a collection of old Las Vegas signs -- is a 15-minute drive from the property; downtown Las Vegas, where guests can visit the busker-filled Fremont Street Experience, is also about a 15-minute trip. McCarran International Airport is a 10-minute drive from the hotel (depending on traffic). Travelers that want to venture further have about a 50-minute drive to the Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon can be reached in around four-and-a-half hours.

The hotel offers a handful of different room categories, including some suites. Decor is simple and no-frills, but the spaces are clean. Patterned carpeting covers the floors and dark wood furnishings include work desks and large headboards framing beds that are topped with white linens. Wooden window shutters frame the windows. Framed prints hang on the walls.Standard amenities include flat-screen TVs with cable channels, coffeemakers, mini-fridges, air-conditioning, irons/ironing boards, bottled water, electronic safes, and freebies like newspapers and 32-ounce growlers that come with a fill of Ellis Island beer or root beer -- but there are no microwaves. Upgraded suites add Keurig coffee machines. Bathrooms are simple, but clean, with shower/tub combos. Individual toiletries are supplied, with higher-quality products in upgraded rooms.

The property offers a surprising array of features for a budget motel, including a casino, several dining options, and an outdoor pool. The heated outdoor pool is small, but nice, and there's a hot tub too. They're situated in the property's courtyard, which is studded with a tall palm and some greenery and has loungers lining the pool deck.The property's casino offers slots and table games including blackjack, roulette, and craps. Karaoke is also available, plus the property even has a microbrewery that brews several different types of beer and seasonal flavors. There are a couple of casual dining options too, including a taco stand and pizza. The hotel is also home to a barbecue restaurant and the Village Pub and Cafe that's open 24-hours, offering a solid amount of dining options -- and food is well priced. Breakfast is available, but it gets mediocre reviews.Other features include a meeting room, plus free Wi-Fi (technically paid for via the resort fee) throughout the property. Parking on the hotel's lot is also free.