The Lady Luck may have once been the premier hotel in the region, but with the decline of the Old Town, so has it. The hotel itself is just okay. The main casino feels like any other casino, and even a little rundown in some of the areas. The hotel is reminiscent of the Las Vegas 10 years ago. And since it’s a few blocks away from the Old Town, Freemont Street, where most of the excitement happens, its location must have dampened its tourist population greatly.

For our stay, we found that check-in was just alright and the rooms were moderate at best. There are no in-house restaurants, which is inconvenient. If you have traveled all the way to Las Vegas and are looking for an unforgettable trip, this may not be the best place to stay.

The Lady Luck focuses on gambling, not posh rooms or amenities. There is a pool, but it is a small roadside Inn variety. As of March, there was no show in the Lady Luck, other than watching the casino denizens react to their gambling wins or losses. Many people seem to be repeat customers, and for good reason. Members of the Lady Luck club (Mad Money) get offers for rates as low as $12 during the week. The casino is small, but well-equipped and the drink service is good. We didn't sample the buffet, but the rumor was it is not nearly as good as the Golden Nugget just down the street.

Lady Luck's location just down from the Freemont Street Experience makes it a very good budget choice. There is a bus that runs from Freemont Street to the Strip for $2 in about 15 minutes, which makes it possible to stay cheaply at the Lady Luck and sample the higher-end dining and amusements of upscale Vegas.