For The Value Conscious Las Vegas Traveler, The Medieval Excalibur Hotel

The Excalibur Hotel & Casino opened in 1990 with 4,008 rooms and was one of the original themed resorts on the Las Vegas Strip. The medieval theme can not be denied with the white castle jetting up into the sky surround by the two room towers on either side, Camelot roaming the resort and a live medieval dinner show. And don't let the fact that Excalibur is nearly 20 years old concern you, the resort has recently undergone an extensive renovation.

Conveniently located at the intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard and Tropicana Avenue, you will find yourself next door to the Luxor, and across the street from New York-New York Hotel & Casino, the Tropicana and MGM Grand. And visiting Mandalay Bay or the Luxor couldn't be any easier. You can either take the monorail that connects the three hotels or you can beat the heat and walk from one hotel to the other without ever stepping outdoors.

Room rates are certainly a value at Excalibur. Depending on what time of year you visit Las Vegas and what events are taking place in the city you can get rooms for as little as $70 per night. You will pay at least three times that amount at some of the newer resorts on the Strip. In addition, a number of their rooms have been refurbished to include pillow top mattresses and widescreen televisions. Of course, these rooms will have a slighter higher nightly rate than the standard rooms, but they can still be considered a good value.

Although most resorts in Las Vegas no longer cater to families, as most resorts did back in the early 1990's, Excalibur still welcomes vacationing families. The entire family will enjoy the Tournament of Kings dinner Show. Jousting, fireworks, horses, dancing and singing, what more could one ask for? Maybe eating dinner with your fingers? Other attractions include the newly-renovated pool area and the Fantasy Faire midway where you and the kids can test your skills at arcade and carnival style games.

The casino isn't for the kids but it does cover over 100,000 square feet. The Excalibur casino floor features hundreds of the latest slot machines with denominations from $.01 to $100, for those of you who like to think of yourself as high rollers. You can also spend time wagering on your favorite sports teams or the horse races in the full-service Race and Sports Book. And if poker is your game you won't be disappointed by the Poker Room.

In the dining category, Excalibur offers something for every taste. Try the RoundTable Buffet or the 24-hour Sherwood Forest Cafe. A recent addition is Dick's Las Resort, very casual and very fun, the menu includes Macho Nachos, Ride'm Cowboy Rib Eye and a Case O' King Crabs. For a dining experience that is more high-end you can tempt yourself at Sir Galahad's, a pub and prime-rib house, or The Steakhouse at Camelot.

Coming to Las Vegas to get married? How about getting married as the king and queen of Camelot? The Canterbury Wedding Chapel has period costumes based on the Renaissance period. If you prefer something a little more on the traditional side you should explore the many wedding packages that are available.

The best values at Excalibur start with the room rates. But those values also extend to all the other amenities the resort offers. And the best part? Being located on the south Strip allows you to step out from under the castle and explore the five other resorts that are literally located next door. Plan your Las Vegas vacation at Excalibur and live like a king or a queen for a few days!