I've never stayed at either the Trop or the Orleans but from my point-of-view the Trop. is a much better location, especially if you've flown in and don't have a car. From the Tropicana you can go to either the MGM Grand or New York, New York (or the Excalibur but that doesn't interest me much.) And there are the two monorails on that corner that will take you up to Ballys or down to the Mandalay Bay. The Orleans is off by itself so you have a hike, don't you, (possibly through 110 degree heat in the summer) to get ANYWHERE.