Bally's Las Vegas Hotel & Casino is one of the cheapest offerings on the Strip with prices regularly under $50 - but a recent renovation means there's no sacrifice on comfort or style

Like many Vegas hotels, gold accents and mirrored surfaces greeted me as I walked through the main entrance of Bally's.

What was nice about this hotel design, in particular, was that I didn't have to wind through the casino in order to reach the lobby or guestroom elevators. Though if you do want to gamble straight away, the casino is right next to the registration desks.

When I arrived around 4 p.m., the check-in line was packed with dozens of fellow conference attendees and I began to resign myself to the possibility of a long wait. That is until I spotted the express check-in/out machines.

As I only had an hour until my first conference events, these were a huge help, and were quite intuitive to use.

Use these if you're in a hurry and don't need to speak to a human representative as it can take longer if you do run into problems. The whole check-in process takes me about five minutes with only my confirmation details and a form of ID.

In addition to my room key cards, the machine spit out directions to my room, which was really helpful given how large and confusing Las Vegas hotel lobbies can be once you start wandering through the casino floor.

I headed up to my room and noticed that the resort's elevators needed maintenance. While this wasn't a deal breaker, their doors opened and closed extremely slowly, which was frustrating when I simply wanted to get up and down quickly.

While the elevators looked like they needed work, but my King room did not. It was located in the Resort Tower, which was clearly updated and fresh following a 2018 renovation. The room felt spacious and modern, with 450 square feet and bold red accents throughout.

I didn't find any signs of wear and tear and everything still looked new and was laid out neatly. Truthfully, I struggled to find any problems, small or large.

The bed was comfortable and medium-firm. I slept well, in part because I was exhausted each night, but also thanks to the crisp, comfortable sheets. Though I had a room next to the street, it wasn't loud because Bally's sits along Flamingo Road rather than the actual Strip (Las Vegas Boulevard). This also felt like a Las Vegas rarity, where outside noise or that from late-night revelers in the hall are all too common. I experienced none of that and slept quite well for all four nights of my stay.

I loved that there were two vanities in the room, with one located outside the "real" bathroom.

If you're staying as part of a couple or with multiple people, this design means that you can get ready — brush your teeth, do your makeup, etc. — at the same time without disturbing anyone in the shower or toilet.

The bathroom was as standard as they go, with a sizable vanity, quality towels, and ample space for one or two people.

There was no tub in my room, simply a shower with good water pressure and the usual body care products.

However, if you do want to luxuriate in a hot bath during your time in Vegas, Bally's offers Resort Executive Suites that have a soaking tub in the middle of the room, and might be worth the small splurge of about $100 more per night.

If you're in Vegas for work as I was, the room's long desk is a great place to spread out with electronics and files for a productive few hours. I spent plenty of time here organizing and writing up all my conference findings and found the set-up comfortable and effective.

There are plenty of on-site amenities that make Bally's a good hotel pick.

Squeeze in a workout in the large fitness center (cardio machines, free weights, and circuit training stations included), eat and shop at the Grand Bazaar Shops, and play arcade games or mini-golf on-site.

Bally's also holds the distinctions of having the Strip's largest tennis complex and the first Wahlburger's Las Vegas location.

Conference attendees who need to get to the Las Vegas Convention Center will love that Bally's has a Monorail stop. With so much going on at CES, I was glad to know I had easy and convenient transportation readily available.

There's also a full bar and Lavazza espresso bar to tempt you as you enter and exit the hotel every day. They'll provide nearly instant, albeit pricey, beverage options in case you need caffeine.

There is a mandatory daily resort fee of $35 per room, per night.

As my room view revealed, you're just across the street from the LINQ Promenade. In 10 minutes, you can walk to the High Roller, the world's tallest observation wheel, as well as live music and bowling venue Brooklyn Bowl, West Coast burger staple In-N-Out, and Jimmy Kimmel's Comedy Club.

Bally's is centrally located on the Strip. Go in any direction and you're not too far from shopping and entertainment options at hotels like The Venetian, Caesars Palace, Bellagio, and The Cosmopolitan. It also connects directly to Paris Las Vegas.

Bally's has an 8 out of 10 "Very Good" rating from more than 14,000 guest reviews on Hotels.com. On Trip Advisor, it has 4 out of 5 stars from more than 26,000 reviews and is ranked 64 out of 274 hotels in Las Vegas, at the time of this publishing.

Like me, other guests called out the superb cleanliness, great location, comfortable beds, and accommodating staff. The general consensus on these review sites is that Bally's provides a solid experience for your money, though it's not necessarily the most memorable Las Vegas hotel you can stay at.

The most common complaints were the variety of fees (resort, parking, etc.) tacked on that inflated an otherwise cheap price, and some inconsistencies in housekeeping services.

Who stays here: Conference attendees, families, and couples who prefer value and convenience over a ritzy resort setting.

We like: The clean, modern, and comfortable room. The standard King Resort room wasn't as flashy or extravagant as some five-star Vegas accommodations, but it's not dingey or questionable, either. I enjoyed my downtime in the room and slept well during my four-night stay.

We love (don't miss this feature!): Bally's is very close to all the major Las Vegas action, entertainment, and shopping, and so much cheaper than many competitors. The on-site Monorail station is a definite plus if you want to get around efficiently or you have a show at the convention center to attend.

We think you should know: Free Wi-Fi is only available for up to two devices per room. If you're bringing multiple devices or are traveling in a group, be prepared to pay extra for additional devices, or you'll need to rely on your existing data plan. In addition, you can no longer take free parking in Vegas for granted. While free for the first hour, parking is $15 per day. Also, a daily resort fee of $35 might be more than the nightly rate in some instances.

We'd do this differently next time: Work out in the fitness center. Despite my best intentions and the one set of gym clothes that sat in my suitcase the entire trip, I would've loved to work out in what looked like a bustling and accommodating fitness center.

Bally's Las Vegas Hotel & Casino is one of the oldest properties on the Strip, and for that reason, many travelers overlook it, wrongly assuming it's outdated or dirty, given the sometimes extremely low price tag.

Following that line of thinking would be a mistake, as a recent full guest room renovation has left the hotel feeling modern and stylish, with generously-sized rooms for a fraction of the price you might pay elsewhere.

And while the overall hotel experience might not be as extravagant as many of its luxury counterparts on the Strip, Bally's offers everything a budget-conscious traveler needs. With well-appointed amenities, easy access to nearby attractions, and updated and comfortable rooms, the hotel is a great base to explore whatever it is that brought you to Vegas and save your money for the casino floor.