Yup stay where you want, but don't bother driving "The Strip" unless you want to do it once for the experience. It can take from a lifetime to something short of eternity to get from Excalibur to Downtown.

Easy way, is jump on I-15, head North, take I-95 East. The exit for Fremont Street drops you a couple of blocks from Binion's parking lot. Almost painless...

Stay anywhere, but don't miss downtown for a walking experience. You can hop from casino to casino and have a great time, good food, people watch, gamble, pick up all kinds of chips, FSE is fun at night.

(can you guess I'm not one for the lavish shows?)