When this low-slung hotel near the airport was called Terrible’s—named after a local chain of gas stations—a common question arose: “Why would I go someplace called Terrible?” To be fair, this place was certainly not terrible when it was known by that unfortunate moniker, and under its recent name and management change, things have certainly taken a turn for the better. It’s the ultimate in budget Vegas vacation properties—low-limit gaming, easy-on-the-wallet accommodations and dining—without any hint of sketchiness.

The rooms in the newer tower feature calm blue and brown decor, and perfunctory amenities: flat-panel TVs, decent beds, and a smaller-than-average bathroom, but you get what you pay for. One bonus is that all of the rooms are non-smoking, so you don’t have to deal with the scent of the last guest’s habit. And while you may not like the idea of the daily resort fee, this one is only $21 and includes access to the fitness center, free Wi-Fi both in the rooms and at the Corona Cantina, and transportation to and from the Strip and McCarran International Airport.

The pool is nice little surprise in the middle of the hotel’s courtyard, an oasis away from the loud traffic from the surrounding Paradise and Flamingo Roads. Plus Tower Patio rooms do have a door adjacent to the pool deck, wiht private seating areas for you to lounge. If you’re really watching your pennies, there’s also a buffet, a 24-hour coffee shop, and a passable steak house, but you’re close enough to the Strip that you can eat better if you just take a little walk.