If you want cheap and you want to wander around consider downtown on Fremont Street. Loads of fun and great people watching. You can ramble from one casino to another in mere minutes instead of walking a country mile. Inexpensive hotel rates at The Golden Nugget (a five-star hotel cheaper than most 3-stars on the strip)  and even cheaper rates at the newly refurbished Plaza. Great food downtown and lower bet limits, too.

All of those are decent hotels. I like TI and Flamingo. I also like to stay at the Golden Nugget and the Plaza downtown. They have great room rates. Also check out VEGAS.com and see if they are running and deals/specials.

http://www.lvmonorail.com

I've stayed at the LVH (formally the Hilton) multiple times, mostly due to the low price deals they gave.  It has a monorail stop, so you can get to the strip easily.  Though I usually get a rental car so I can go to the strip clubs, to see my favorite incall girl, and to go to Blueberry Hill.  Nice, clean rooms with an in-room safe.

Also, a benefit to the LVH is that there's no security at the elevators.  

The Excalibur is my second choice.  If you are like me, you don't need a fancy room in a fancy hotel.  Just some place to sleep that's not a flea-bag (and not an embarrassment for your outcall date).  It's right next to MGM and NYNY, and close to Luxor, so you have good walking options.  Though admittedly not as many as if you stayed more central on the strip like TI or Mirage.  And the closest monorail stop is in the MGM.  It might not seem far, but it's quite a hike to get to the station.

The Excalibur will often have security at the elevators.  I'll often 'lose' my key and request a replacement.  The hotel will deactivate your original keys and give you new ones.  These dead keys can be given to your date downstairs, so you and she can go to the elevators separately.

There's a half-price ticket office close to the Excalibur too, if you want to try to get cheap tickets for a non sold-out show.  I think they open at noon, and it's nice to be able to just walk down there easily and not make it an ordeal.

The bridges that connect the 4 corners around the Excalibur are often populated with working girls, if you are into that sort of play.  The LVH can sometimes have casino girl action, since it's a prime convention center hotel option

I greatly appreciate the info so far.
I am still leaning towards Excalibur even though I have been there a few times but it is a nice, affordable place to stay. They have a great deal on an all day buffet good at Lux or Excal for $35 ! I'm not into fancy eats so they have a lot of great food court options that make me happy. Might take advantage of their shows and the exhibits at the Lux

Still like the idea of TI for about the same price and higher ratings ! They offer 2 free buffets!! Traveling alone means I get to eat twice free

Hmmmm I just need to suck it up and pick a place and go !

Re: Where to stay advise !

Ive stayed at LVH years ago, wasnt bad. Excalibur and Luxor are nice as well; Luxor has a side-to-side elevator thats so fun to ride on. Never stayed at TI but I always eat at Carnegie's there when im in Vegas (its pricy but the portions are huge). Never stayed at Harrahs but from previous posts on here, their security is very strict/sometimes very rude about who can go on some of the elevators to the hotel rooms.