Bill Harrah opened his first bingo parlor in Reno in 1937, but never lived to see his eponymous hotel-casino open in the middle of the Las Vegas Strip (it would have been a long wait; Harrah’s opened as a replacement for the Holiday Casino in 1992). The rooms are pretty much what you’d expect from a hotel built in the early nineties (muted colors, standard-issue furniture) but they’re spacious and clean, and some even have Nintendo (just don’t expect Wiis). The most updated rooms are in the Mardi Gras Tower, but even these are frill-free. The Carnaval theme (think Rio pre-Lent) spills out onto the street, where the outdoor Carnaval Court Bar & Grill offers a stage with live bands, a busy bar featuring “flair” bartenders and blackjack tables (on weekends).

Harrah's Las Vegas Amenities:

• 2,640 rooms. High-speed Internet access. Restaurant, bar. Fitness center. Pool. Spa. Business center.