Downtown Las Vegas' star hotel, the Golden Nugget is run by MGM Mirage, meaning that you get the same Strip-style amenities—including a cabana-ringed pool with a 200,00-gallon shark tank, three-story waterslide, and mist-cooled deck as well as a fitness center and full-service spa—at discount prices. Everything is cheaper downtown, including the gambling minimums, but the Nugget upholds elegant standards with a marble-trimmed lobby just off raucous Fremont Street. Among entertainment options, the International Beer Bar pours 40 foreign brands, and Zax serves an eclectic sushi-to-tostada menu through dinner, drinking, and dancing into the wee hours.

Golden Nugget Hotel And Casino Amenities:

• 1,907 rooms, 22 story. Check-in 3 pm, check-out noon. High-speed Internet access, wireless Internet access. Five restaurants, four bars. Fitness room, spa. Outdoor pool, whirlpool. Business center. Casino.