Those paying attention to that last statement might say, wait... O'Shea's casino is in between Imperial Palace and Flamingo. Yep, but not for much longer. O'Shea's will be torn down to make way for the new development.

The $550 million project, code named Linq, will go into the space were O'Sheas and an alley are currently located and will feature more than 30 restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues plus an open air market patterned after The Grove in Los Angeles. It will funnel people to the centerpiece of the project, the Las Vegas High Roller, a 550-foot tall observation wheel that will be the biggest of its kind in the world.

The Imperial Palace will get a major makeover including a new facade and entryway, a remodeled casino, and (eventually) remodled rooms. The new name has not been chosen yet but Caesars Entertainment is determined to do away with the old IP name since it has to pay a licensing fee to use it.

It's likely that it will be renamed to one of Caesars existing brands such as Horseshoe. Caesars has been wanting to bring that name back to Vegas for years so it wouldn't surprise me to see it make a comeback here.

So what does all this mean to to you? Well, the biggest thing is that there will be construction on and around the hotel for the next couple of years. For the often insanely low rates they charge here, it might just be worth putting up with. It will also probably mean that those insanely low rates will go up eventually, but that's a discussion for after the remodeling is all done.

The Vegas Strip is designed for people with a short attention span. "Hey, look over here!" "No, look over here!" With such grand, attention-getting places like Bellagio, Mirage, Caesars, Treasure Island, and The Venetian just feet away it is easy to understand why The Imperial Palace is often overlooked by Vegas visitors. That's too bad because while it may not be as flashy or as posh as those hotels, it's a perfectly respectable place to visit and you can usually save yourself a ton of dough in the process.

The I.P. has not received any serious remodeling since the bulk of it was built in the late '70s and '80s - at least not to the level of places like Harrah's or The Flamingo where a series of overhauls has attempted to keep up with the Joneses. The result is the hotel feels old, something that can be both a good and not so good thing. Good because "old Vegas" is rare, especially on The Strip, and the I.P. gives off a comfy Downtown vibe like The Four Queens or the Fremont. Not so good because if you walk from the gleaming marble and muted earth tones of The Venetian for example into the I.P. it's going to seem kind of dingy in comparison. Step out of the elevators into the hotel towers and the industrial vibe is almost shocking compared to the plush surroundings of other places.

But all you have to do is keep repeating this mantra in your head - "I'm saving hundreds of dollars a night. I'm saving hundreds of dollars a night." Trust me, it'll make you feel better about everything. And you can remind yourself of that when the hotel is all sparkly and new in a few years and you are paying twice what you used to pay.

The Imperial Palace has an Asian theme running throughout from its pagoda style roof to the ornate dragon sculptures. The casino is long, narrow, and has a very low ceiling so it isn't one of the bright and airy types of places that I prefer but it isn't an awful place to lose your money. There certainly is no lack of gaming options - all of the table games (with lower limits than most Strip casinos), tons of slots (from penny to $25), a race and sports book, keno, and much more.

Around the edges of the casino are the front desk, a lounge offering live entertainment, a bar or two, and some shopping options. On the fifth floor (accessible by elevator or escalators) are several restaurants, nightclubs and lounges, some entertainment options (shows, etc.), a large pool deck where they host Hawaiian Luaus every summer, and more. Check the related reviews for a selection of the noteworthy things you can do at the Imperial Palace.

The biggest best news for the IP in a long time is the addition of a branch of the fabulous Hash House a Go Go. That's reason enough to visit the place right there.

The rooms are motel basic and not much more. Most of the standard accommodations come with two double beds (not queens) or one king, small televisions with pay-per-view movies and Nintendo style games, a hair dryer, an iron and board, and wireless Internet. The furnishings are fine but obviously cheap - just keeping repeating your mantra.

There are more expensive and larger suites, including the amusingly named "Luv-Tub" rooms, complete with a large Roman tub for... well, whatever you may choose to use such a tub for.

One cool note is that most of the rooms have very small but functioning balconies, something that is unheard of in this city.

It's worth noting that Imperial Palace allows pets. For an extra $20-25 per night, guests can bring up to two dogs, each weighing up to 50 pounds. Once in the room, Fido or Fluffy will be greeted with water and food bowls, a special doggie mat, treats, and even a special room service menu. In addition, you will receive packets that direct you to special dog walking areas and the disposable waste bags to take care of their business afterward. They even have a doggie concierge of sorts that can give you information about local pet services including grooming, walking, and vet care.

Also similar to Downtown is the service. Everyone I ran into at the I.P. went out of their way to treat me with a great deal of care, even those that didn't know I was there to review the hotel. Stories I have heard from other sources back up the assertion that this is one of the friendliest places in town.

If you can get over the not-as-nice-as-Bellagio surroundings you will rarely find this good of a deal anywhere in this neighborhood. There are lots of reasons to recommend this hotel but that price thing has to be at the top.

Hopefully when the hotel is remodeled and has a new name it still will be.

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