My wife and I shopped for cheap hotels west of the strip to visit my father. We found a bargain at Suncoast!
$ Saving Tip: Visit suncoastcasino.com directly for last minute pricing if you are booking less than a month in advance--we saved 30% off of online booking agents' prices (hotline.com, lasvegas.com). Of course, I don't know if they always offer last-minute bargains, so you should still compare prices.
The place is a long way from the strip and downtown. They do have a shuttle, but I opted for a rental car as we had family to visit in the area. The free self-park requires a walk through the casino; they have an inexpensive valet service that we used the final day.
I was surprised how self-sufficient the hotel is. It has a bowling alley, movie theater, several dining establishments, coffee house, slots, large sports book, table games, a poker room, pool, spa, and an evening show for (at the time) $25.
The restaraunts were all affordable; although the food was nothing to write home about. The service staff were more typical of a roadhouse grill than a polished spot on the strip. They were pleasant but don't expect them to bow to your every whim. Room service pricing was reasonable--not a rip off.
I spent one fun weeknight playing 1/2 NL Hold'em, ordering free shots of Patron, and gabbing with a bunch of locals at the table. It was much more casual than the nail-biting poker on the strip. We finally called it quits at 9am!
The room was large and clean. it wasn't a suite--just a wide room. We had enough floor space in the middle to do aerobics! For those with kids, plenty of space for a rollaway or two. The size of the TV was disappointing (24 inch?). It has a good sized bath and plenty of closet and drawer space.
It think this would be a great family destination or a good change-of-pace from the glitz of the strip. I would describe Suncoast as a hometown experience.