A good friend of mine called the other day and wanted my advice on a Las Vegas trip that he and his wife were planning. He wanted to know which property I would choose between Paris or Ballys. Those two hotels are part of the TotalRewards properties, which I am a big fan of, so this was right in my wheelhouse. The two hotels are connected by an indoor walkway so staying in either gives you quick access to the other.
Why I Choose Ballys Over Paris 
So I told my good friend that, with everything being equal, I would choose Ballys. I say with everything being equal because there are other factors such as room offers , casino free play offers and things of that nature. I have had complimentary standard rooms in both hotels and I am basing my opinion from those stays. I actually prefer the casino over at Paris. I believe it has a better atmosphere, especially on nights when there is a live band playing. My wife and I tend to find the Ballys casino uncomfortably warm and smoky. We will, however, occasionally play in the high limit area at Ballys on the machines that reward you with double Total Rewards credits. The rooms at Ballys are slightly larger than the average hotel room, which I consider a big plus. They have added a number of shops and restaurants between the strip and the front entrance and the giant CVS store in front is a nice convenience. I keep meaning to hit the new Giordano there, maybe next time.
May I Suggest Harrahs?
One of the big reasons I prefer Ballys to Paris is the location. We tend to spend most of our time around the Linq area and the surrounding casinos, so staying at Ballys is just one less property to navigate through. Which is why, again with everything being equal, I would prefer Harrahs if you were considering all three properties. The one thing that would rule Harrahs out for me is if you were booking during pool season. I am not a big fan of the smallish Harrahs pool in comparison to the others. If the pool is not a factor, then Harrahs would be my choice. The rooms are pretty standard, but I have had better luck with complimentary upgrades at Harrahs than I have with other properties. The casino is our favorite of the three mentioned here(maybe of all the Vegas Total Rewards properties), and it is a quick walk to other casinos if you need to change up your mojo.
It Comes Down To Priorities
There may be no city like Las Vegas when it comes to priorites for your trip. The younger crowd may be more concerned with cost while an older vacationer may be more wary of the room type and nearby dining. Vegas offers so much that it is really up to the traveler to customize their own trip. That is why if you really want detailed information and reviews I always suggest starting your research with TripAdvisor. Websites like www.vegasmessageboard.com. have also given me a great deal of information over the years. You may find many like minded people there and can learn a lot from some Vegas veterans. With nearly 60 Las Vegas trips under my belt I may be considered a veteran as well, but I realize everyone has different approaches on how to spend a few days in the desert. That's why I highly recommend the sites mentioned above as a starting point. I hope you enjoy the planning process as much as I do. Thanks so much for reading and have safe travels.
