Harrah's, the creepy clown place, where the bottom feeders go
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Just kidding, I've stayed there. Nothing fancy, but nothing wrong with it either. Harrah's, Mirage, and Treasure Island are the most convenient other than Venetian/Palazzo themselves. Harrah's would be the cheapest, Mirage and TI may be a little more convenient. When you cross the Mirage and TI bridge it puts you right inside the Venetian. Harrah's is up the street from Venetian on the same side. The other downside with Harrah's you have already mentioned, Randy stays there. We are staying at TI.
Yeah, I like the early-bird forums as well. I can't imagine that they have scrapped them. Nothing else seems very appealing to me this year.