After visiting the new Hooters Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, I'm firmly in the middle.

For those of you living in a cave or, perhaps somewhere with a slightly less tolerant attitude toward the "sex sells" mantra, Hooters is a chain of restaurants around the country that is mostly famous for its Hooters Girls - a bevy of buxom lasses that serve the food wearing very short shorts and very tight baby-doll t-shirts. You can say that it's more about the "we're in on the joke" humor, casual atmosphere, and generously portioned servings of hearty American food, but really let's all just accept the fact that it's about the women and move on with our lives, shall we?

The formerly dingy San Remo Hotel, located just behind the Tropicana on Tropicana Boulevard got a Hooters makeover a few years back, from the "Florida casual" theme (think lots of orange, bleached wood, and beach décor) to the aforementioned girls. It's miles, leagues, and light-years ahead of what the hotel used to be (a dump) but I have to say there is a certain amount of "painting the pig" going on. And the pig needs some more painting to be honest. Financial troubles have beset the owners almost since day one and they haven't been doing a great job of keeping up with the Vegas Joneses. It's not terrible by any stretch of the imagination and is still better than it used to be, but this should be viewed as budget accommodations and absolutely nothing else.

The main floor has a smallish casino with lots of slots and a few gaming tables, several of which are manned (or womaned, I suppose) by Hooters Girls. There are several restaurants around the perimeter plus bars, lounges, a gift shop, a small video arcade, and more. They have packed a lot into a very small area so personal space is at a minimum.

The rooms are a marked improvement over the old hotel's offerings, but still fairly basic. They have a beach theme, with plank wood headboards, armoire, desk, and vanities plus plenty of orange to go around. The beds are super-comfy and there's just about everything you need elsewhere including a nice, big TV with in-room movies, a dressing table, several mirrors, iron and board, coffee maker, safe, hair dryers, and high-speed Internet. While they aren't as big or luxuriously appointed as some Vegas rooms, they are just fine and more than the Average Joe will ever want or need.

Note that the dirt-cheap rates they offer (as low as $22 a night) are for the "Bungalow" rooms, located in two-story motel style buildings out by the pool. If price is your absolute main concern and you don't care about absolutely anything else (like comfort), go for it. Others will want to look elsewhere. By the way, rooms in the Bay View tower have balconies - a rarity in Las Vegas

And yes, there are Hooters Girls all over the place, from waitresses to blackjack dealers and everything in between, but keep in mind that there are other employees as well. Don't expect to have your room service delivered by a hot chick in tight shorts.

The staff was unfailingly polite and efficient with a real "down home" atmosphere -- employees calling you "sweetheart" and "darling." Whether you prefer that over being called "sir" or "ma'am" by one of those drones in a way-too-expensive suit is totally your call.

When they first opened they were charging some fairly ridiculous rates but that has calmed down a lot, with tower rooms going for as low as $59 a night during the week and $99 on the weekends. That's a pretty good deal for a hotel this well located but remember: you get what you pay for.

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