Hotels

In Laughlin, Nevada -- Laughlin, Nevada, currently has 10 huge hotel-and-casino complexes, eight of which are on the west bank of the Colorado River (the 9th is across the street from the river, and the 10th is on the river but several miles south of town). All offer cheap rooms (usually under $30 on weeknights) to lure potential gamblers. In addition to huge casinos with hundreds of slot machines and every sort of gaming table, these hotels have several restaurants (with ridiculously low prices in at least one restaurant, which usually has long lines), bars and lounges (usually with live country or pop music nightly), swimming pools, video arcades, ferry service to parking lots on the Arizona side of the river, valet parking, room service, car-rental desks, airport shuttles, gift shops, and gaming classes. The only real difference between most of these places is the theme each has adopted for its decor.

Should you wish to stay at one of these hotels, here's the information you'll need:

• Aquarius Casino Resort, 1900 S. Casino Dr., Laughlin, NV 89029 (tel. 888/662-5825 or 702/298-5111; www.aquariuscasinoresort.com)

• Avi Resort & Casino, 10000 Aha Macav Pkwy., Laughlin, NV 89029 (tel. 800/284-2946 or 702/535-5555; www.avicasino.com)

• Colorado Belle Hotel & Casino, 2100 S. Casino Dr., Laughlin, NV 89029 (tel. 877/460-0777 or 702/298-4000; www.coloradobelle.com)

• Edgewater Hotel & Casino, 2020 S. Casino Dr., Laughlin, NV 89029 (tel. 800/677-4837 or 702/298-2453; www.edgewater-casino.com)

• Golden Nugget Laughlin, 2300 S. Casino Dr., Laughlin, NV 89028 (tel. 800/955-7278 or 702/298-7111; www.gnlaughlin.com)

• Harrah's Laughlin, 2900 S. Casino Dr., Laughlin, NV 89029 (tel. 800/HARRAHS or 702/298-4600; www.harrahs.com)

• Pioneer Hotel & Gambling Hall, 2200 S. Casino Dr., Laughlin, NV 89029 (tel. 800/634-3469 or 702/298-2442; www.pioneerlaughlin.com)

• Ramada Express, 2121 S. Casino Dr., Laughlin, NV 89029 (tel. 800/243-6846 or 702/298-4200; www.ramadaexpress.com)

• River Palms Resort & Casino, 2700 Casino Dr., Laughlin, NV 89029 (tel. 800/835-7904 or 702/298-2242; www.river-palms.com)

• Riverside Resort Hotel & Casino, 1650 S. Casino Dr., Laughlin, NV 89029 (tel. 800/227-3849, 702/298-2535 or 928/763-7070; www.riversideresort.com)