The Best Cheap Hotels to Book in Reno, Nevada

9mi (15km) south of Central Reno, Sonesta ES epitomizes the alternative to the ubiquitous casino-hotels this town is known for. Studios and one- or two-bedroom suites are decked out in classic creams and browns, with bright yellow statement walls, and come with fully stocked kitchens. Fire up the barbecue outside, or mingle with fellow guests in the Nest common area. In winter, you’re a mere 15-minute drive from the Mt Rose – Ski Tahoe resort, and you’ll appreciate the heated outdoor pool after a day on the slopes.

If you’re looking to join a game of poker or blackjack, followed by a massage, the Courtyard’s proximity to the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa makes it a solid choice in South Reno. While wood, grey and earth tones dominate the high-ceilinged communal areas, the rooms add dabs of cream and sky-blue, creating an overall feel of lightness and space, while suites add plush folding sofa beds and partitions for privacy. There’s a Starbucks on site, and the full American breakfast costs $8 (£6). For all your shopping needs, Meadowood Mall is a 10-minute stroll away.

This hotel in South Reno is particularly well-placed for travelers wanting to day-trip to Lake Tahoe or hike the many trails around Mt Rose: you’re within a half-hour drive of some of the top natural attractions in the area. Come snowfall, head for the Diamond Peak or Mt Rose ski resorts for a day on powder. Then, come back to your comfy room, where Grand beds, 250-thread-count sheets and blackout curtains guarantee a proper night’s rest. And, if you have to catch up on emails in between hiking and skiing, ergonomic Mirra desk chairs guarantee that you won’t get a backache.

Aimed at travelers with early flights to catch, the Comfort Inn is a pleasant hotel and quite a bargain to boot. If you are here for more than an overnighter, the pleasures of Atlantis and Peppermills Casinos are close at hand. Cream, scarlet and gold decor are pretty much standard in guestrooms and suites, as are microwaves and pillow-top mattresses. If you’re returning from a hiking or skiing location and don’t want to take your dirty togs home, get them laundered here, and perk up for the journey ahead over morning coffee and a complimentary hot breakfast with generous portions of waffles.

Selling itself as an access point to the ski resorts of Lake Tahoe, about 30 to 45 minutes away by car, Club Lakeridge is actually quite urban and only 4mi (6km) from the casinos in Central Reno and a 10-minute drive from the Nevada Museum of Art. It’s handy for both outdoor and indoor pursuits, really, and its off-white rooms and condos are good value. Clad in clay-colored timber, it’s charmingly retro when compared to the newest hotels in Reno, but no less comfortable for it. The two-bedroom condos, with two queen beds and a queen-sized sofa bed, can sleep six. If you don’t feel like cooking, locally popular Smiling With Hope Pizza is a 5-minute walk away.

5mi (8km) west of Central Reno, the Hampton Inn and Suites is best suited to those heading for attractions out of town. Hikers will appreciate the Tom Cooke Trail and Hunter Creek Trailhead a short drive away, while golfers have their pick of courses, all within a 20-minute radius. But this is also a decent overnighter for those who need to stop driving and get their head down. The classic cream-and-brown double-queen suites sleep six, which works out nicely for traveling groups and families, while the fitness center and pool provide a welcome respite from life in transit.

Petrolheads and poker hands alike will appreciate this hotel’s location, a short drive from the National Automobile Museum and the Grand Sierra Casino. While you’re removed from the hustle and bustle of Downtown, what the hotel lacks in nearby attractions it compensates for in solid comforts, including free hot breakfast with pancakes and eggs cooked the way you like it, a fitness center and a pool. All rooms feature Hampton’s super-comfortable signature bed; splurge on a suite for a soak in a whirlpool tub. This cheap hotel in Reno gets extra credit for its good selection of wheelchair-accessible rooms, including twin queens with tubs.