The LINQ Hotel & Casino

The LINQ Hotel & Casino is a large budget-friendly casino hotel that draws a party crowd looking for a good time on the cheap. The clientele isn't there for the decor, ambience, or amenities, though updates to the rooms, common areas, pool, and casino in the mid-2010s have spruced the place up quite a bit. There's also a space called the Vortex full of color-changing lights and an observation deck that guests can rent out for events. It's still not the type of place most people visit as a destination, and families might not be into the fact that the pool is 21-and-over. Kids might enjoy the ferris wheel, but the nearby New York New York has similar rates and a roller coaster, and is better at accommodating families. Those with a little extra room in the budget might also want to consider Mandalay Bay, which often isn't much pricier. 

The LINQ Hotel & Casino is right in the center of the Las Vegas Strip, in between Harrah's and the Flamingo, and across from Caesar's. Guests can walk to all the hotels on the Strip from here and public transportation is easily available. The hotel has direct access to a monorail stop (shared with Harrah's); the monorail also stops at Bally's, Caesars Palace, the Las Vegas Convention Center, the Westgate, and the SLS. Cabs are easy to find at virtually any time of day or night; travelers can also hop on the Deuce, a double-decker bus that runs up and down the strip 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It's a 10- to 12-minute cab ride from McCarran International Airport. Guests with their own cars should note that it's a long walk from the unregulated parking garage to the hotel through a series of passageways. 

There are five towers of rooms at the LINQ, and most units were renovated as part of the hotel's rebranding. They now sport a basic, modern look -- white bedding, streamlined, light wood veneer furniture, and photo accent walls behind the bed that add pops of color. Noise complaints are common. Amenities include mini-fridges, big flat-screen TVs, USB charging stations, lots of convenient electrical outlets, older wall-mounted AC units, and safes (for a fee). King Suites add separate bedrooms, and a Penthouse Suite with a bar and kitchenette are also available. There are also rooms with bunk beds, which might appeal to families, but are probably best suited for groups of young partiers looking to save money by sharing space. The main selling points are that rooms here are cheap and centrally located. 

The LINQ has a renovated casino, and minimum bets are lower here than at other major hotels along the Strip, drawing a crowd looking for the most bang for their buck. The resort also has a rotating schedule of events and concerts, including magic shows and drag queen performances. The LINQ Promenade is where much of the hotel's action takes place, and here you'll find the High Roller, an enormous Ferris Wheel (it's bigger than the London Eye) with 28 glassed-in cabins offering panoramic views of the city. There are also plenty of shops here, selling everything from hats to running shoes. The Promenade also features a variety of restaurants, including Guy Fieri's Vegas Kitchen and Bar (his only Vegas restaurant) as well as the Chayo Mexican Kitchen + Tequila Bar, which has a patio and great views of the High Roller. Off the Strip is more upscale and offers classic European fare and three bars. Yard House is a hit with beer drinkers, with around 160 taps featuring domestic and imported brews. Flur & Barley serves cocktails and brick oven-fired pizza, while Tilted Kilt Pub & Eatery has a faux-Irish vibe and TVs showing sports games. Haute Doggery serves hot dogs with some artisanal twists (think goat cheddar and aioli toppings), and there are a Starbucks, a cupcake shop, a juice bar, and a Ghirardelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop. Other options right at the hotel include Hash House a Go Go (serving breakfast items), Nook Cafe and Nook Express, which offer sandwiches and casual fare. Virgil's Real Barbecue, serving Southern favorites, is set to open in the autumn of 2016.The on-site Auto Collections Car Museum is a perk for car lovers (entry is free). There's also an outdoor pool area with padded sunbeds, but it's only open to guests ages 21 and over. The fitness center is well-stocked with treadmills, ellipticals, and a variety of weight-training equipment, but it has old carpets and some of the machines look dated. Other amenities include free Wi-Fi throughout the property as well as free on-site parking, though the lot is a bit removed from the main hotel.