The budget Strip in 2026
The cheap end of the Boulevard has changed. Several long-time budget names have closed (the Tropicana, the Mirage for rebuilding) and others have been renovated, so advice from a few years ago is often wrong. Today's budget Strip is roughly: Circus Circus, the Strat and Sahara at the north end; the Flamingo, Harrah's, the LINQ Hotel, Horseshoe and Treasure Island in the middle; and Excalibur and Luxor at the south end. Midweek off-peak, all of them regularly sell rooms in the $35 to $80 range before fees as of 2026; weekends usually double that.
Every one charges a resort fee, generally $35 to $45 plus tax at the MGM and Caesars budget properties and somewhat less at the independents, and most charge for parking, with Sahara, Circus Circus, the Strat and Treasure Island the free exceptions at the time of writing. Check the current figures on each hotel site; they change without notice.
South end: Excalibur and Luxor
Excalibur is the cheapest of the MGM resorts and the most reliable budget pick on the south Strip. The Royal tower rooms were renovated and are simple but clean; the older ones are not worth the small saving. It has a big pool, a food court, the Tournament of Kings show and a tram to Luxor and Mandalay Bay. Expect a busy, family-and-bachelor-party crowd.
Luxor is a step up in style for a few dollars more: pyramid rooms have slanted walls and inclinator elevators (fun once), tower rooms are more conventional and generally nicer. The pool deck is large, and the resort hosts several shows and exhibits. Both are a 20 to 30 minute walk from Bellagio, so plan on the tram plus a ride or the Deuce bus for center-Strip evenings.
Center Strip: Flamingo, Harrah's, LINQ and Horseshoe
These Caesars properties are the cheapest way to be in the middle of the Strip. The Flamingo has the best location of any budget resort, a pool with a wildlife habitat and renovated rooms that are fine; the unrenovated ones are notably tired, so book the renovated category. Harrah's is plain, central and often the cheapest of the four. The LINQ Hotel is modern, compact and attached to the LINQ Promenade and High Roller; rooms are small and the crowd is young and loud at weekends. Horseshoe (formerly Bally's) has large rooms, a monorail stop and sits opposite Bellagio; the Jubilee tower rooms are the better ones.
All share Caesars Rewards, which means joining before booking often knocks money off immediately. Resort fees here are at the higher end of the budget category.
North end: Sahara, the Strat and Circus Circus
Sahara is the hidden gem of the budget Strip: fully renovated with genuinely nice rooms in the Blanca and Marra towers, free parking, a monorail stop and rates that are often the lowest for the quality on the whole Boulevard. The catch is location, a long walk from anything beyond Fontainebleau and Resorts World. The Strat sits even further north with an observation tower and thrill rides included or discounted for guests; renovated rooms are decent, and a car or rideshare is essential. Circus Circus is the cheapest of all, with tower rooms that range from acceptable to tired and the Adventuredome for families.
If you have a car or do not mind rides, Sahara at a midweek rate is arguably the best-value room on the Strip.
Treasure Island and the independents
Treasure Island is independently owned, which means no MGM or Caesars loyalty offers but also free self-parking, a lower resort fee than its neighbours and a solid location opposite the Venetian with a tram to the Mirage site. Rooms are dated but well kept. Casino Royale, a tiny hotel between the Venetian and Harrah's, is a Best Western with no resort fee and one of the most central addresses on the Strip; it is basic and books out fast. OYO (the former Hooters hotel) sits just off the Strip behind the Tropicana site and is very cheap but very variable.
For the full no-fee list see hotels without resort fees.
Reading the real price
A worked example, using typical 2026 midweek figures. Excalibur at $45, plus a resort fee around $40, plus roughly 13 percent room tax on both, plus self-parking about $18 if you drive: roughly $114 a night. Sahara at $60 with a similar fee and free parking: roughly $113. Casino Royale at $95 with no fee and parking included in a nearby garage: about $107. The rooms are wildly different in quality and location, and the totals are almost identical. This is why the sticker rate is nearly useless on its own.
The hotel sites now show the resort fee in the total, so use them as the final check even if you found the rate elsewhere.
Tips for the budget Strip
- Book the renovated room category by name (Royal at Excalibur, Blanca or Marra at Sahara, renovated at Flamingo). It is the difference between fine and grim.
- Two nights Sunday to Thursday is the easiest cheap booking; a single Saturday is the hardest.
- Use the loyalty programs; MGM Rewards and Caesars Rewards cover almost every hotel on this page.
- Ignore "kids stay free" packages that force an unrenovated tower.
- Bring your own water and snacks; every budget resort has a drugstore within a short walk.
Compare with the Downtown bargains before you decide; for a similar total you often get a better room there.
