Orleans

Located west of the Strip, The Orleans may be far from the French Quarter, but it’s got restaurants and bars that bring to mind the Big Easy as well as a movie theater and bowling alley to amuse all ages. The vibe: Saint City meets Sin City, locals oriented, cheaply priced rooms, multigenerational appeal What we love: While the N’awlins theme may seem corny, The Orleans wears it well. We love the large illuminated masked heads that hang over the casino floor. Also, check out the upside down piano on the ceiling of the Bourbon Street Cabaret. Order hurricanes (and other cocktails) at the Crawfish Bar, Mardi Gras Bar and Alligator Bar. And get freshly shucked oysters served with Creole flair at Big Al’s Oyster Bar. For an off-Strip property, the pool deck at The Orleans is really nice — and totally chill. Tucked in a lushly landscaped courtyard, it has an Olympic-size pool as well as a wading pool, a large hot tub, a spacious sundeck and five cabanas. The good times are always rolling at The Orleans. First off, there’s the Orleans Arena, which hosts about 200 events a year including concerts, sporting events and family shows like Disney on Ice. Then there’s the 850-seat Orleans Showroom, which offers a diverse lineup of musicians and comedians. Live music is always on tap in the resort’s bars and lounges too. Parking is a breeze at The Orleans. If you don’t find a spot in the surrounding surface lots when you pull in, theres a big, easy-to-navigate parking garage behind the property that’s never full. The Orleans has food for all tastes and budgets. Savor a fine dining experience The Prime Rib Loft. Enjoy a mid-range menu at Koji. Or dig into cheap eats at T.G.I. Friday’s, the 24-hour Courtyard Cafe and a food court (home to Vegas only Fuddruckers). Insider tips: Traveling with kids? Parents, when you want some alone time you can drop your young kids (ages 3 – 12) off at Kids Tyme. The professionally supervised facility offers everything from a giant jungle gym and imaginative crafts to a movie room and gaming systems. Find your bliss at Spa Orleans, where you can be pampered with a soothing massage, body wrap or facial that won’t cost you an arm and a leg. If you don’t want to go down to the food court for the “world’s greatest” burgers, Fuddruckers will deliver them to your room…for a small fee, of course. Good to know: The rooms aren’t extravagant but they are generously sized (starting at 450 square feet) and well kept. The base-level deluxe rooms were remodeled in 2012 while the premium rooms were redone in 2014 — so they have contemporary décor and come with flat-screen TVs and coffeemakers. Fridges are available for an additional fee. The Orleans is not located on the Strip. Although less than a mile away (0.8 miles to be exact), the distance isn’t walkable (you’d have to cross a busy freeway entrance and exit). If you don’t have a car, take advantage of the free shuttle service from The Orleans to the Strip at The Forum Shops at Caesars as well as to its sister property, the Gold Coast.