I used to attend the COMDEX computer show every fall. I stayed at the Vegas Hotel (about 100 yards from the 4-Queens downtown) for $18 a night. It was a dump, but virtually free. The Rio was new and had the best buffet. Then they built the Bellagio and they raised the heck out of buffet prices but upped the quality to excellent. When those prices went way up, I started staying out in Jean.
I had to do recovery work at the NTS after the one of the last underground nuke tests, unfortunately it was the same time as COMDEX and there wasn’t a room to be had in Vegas. Had to stay at a true craphole in Indian Springs, no dining options other than the Area 12 cafeteria and vending machines in Mercury. That week was the longest year of my life.