I need to go to Reno for a few days on business. My wife is coming along. We don’t drink or gamble (and really don’t like the “casino atmosphere”). My business is at the Reno/Steadman Airport. I’ve looked at all of the chain motels on the web and they’re all “in town” (and most in a kind of crappy part of town). I’m looking for something at less than $100 an night up on the north side, closer to Steadman the better. Can any of my ST friends help? Thanks.
I’m not in Reno, so take this advice for what its worth. As you say, in the downtown area there are big casinos, and there are very scary dive hotels. In downtown I would stay at a name-brand casino. Even without drinking or gambling, they are nicer, have restaurants and other services, and aren’t scary. Reno/sparks isn’t a huge area, and it is pretty easy to get around. If you have a car, nothing is more than a few minutes away.
A little bit away from downtown, but close to the airport, is the Grand Sierra (formerly Reno Hilton), which is a nice hotel/casino and not in the hustle and dive of downtown. Has a nice golf driving range too. They have outdoor concerts and events frequently, so if you have an early morning meeting, you may ask to stay on the side away from their concert venue.
Last time I passed through I stayed at the Western Village Inn in Sparks. It is by no means fancy, but it was completely adequate for a hotel. It is mostly a casino for truckers and older folks. On the plus side: very reasonable rates, including coupons for their restaurant adjacent to Sparks Marina Park, which is a nice little man-made lake with a running path (about 2 miles), kayaking, swimming, dog park, etc Scheels superstore and a shopping mall is easy walking distance on the other side of the lake
Thanks Rokko. The Grand Sierra is too rich for what we’re doing. Just need a bed and a shower in a place we won’t get mugged in the parking lot. I’ll check out the Western Village. That’s more of what I had in mind.
Anyone else??
As long as you’re not looking for fancy, the Western Village is good. The hotel rooms are in a separate building (a whopping three stories tall I think, maybe 2). The hotel and restaurants are adjacent. The main cafe was honest food for a reasonable price. You do have to walk through a small casino decked out in fuchsia and turquoise neon (think 1980’s) to get there. In fact, the whole place is 80’s obnoxious colored. The rooms were every bit adequate for a hotel: they had a bed, shower, clean, roomy, etc. If it weren’t for the park next door, it would be nothing special at all. But it is a nice little park. Incidentally, if you have a dog, the dog park goes into the lake, so Killer can go for a swim (and the hotel will allow dogs to stay there).
That’s Stead, not Steadman. May have trouble getting directions 
The only motel that really meets your requirements is the Super 8 on N Virginia St. Across from UNR.
I’d personally suggest one of the casinos as they’re quite cheap and quite nice. Plenty of affordable food in Reno casinos, too. Check out the Peppermill. “Wrong” side of town, but only about a 10 minute penalty compared to staying at that Super 8. All of the casinos should be well under $100 given vacancy rates and whatnot. Grand Sierra has had $30ish rates on weekdays in the recent past.
Thanks Renorider. I looked at the Grand Sierra but the rates I saw were $400 plus. I guess I looked at the wrong place; I’ll look again. Super 8 is out with the wife. We did that once and she was “really” disappointed. If nothing else works out I guess we’ll try the casinos. Thanks.
University Inn maybe? How are you getting tot he stead airport?
There are some cheaper hotels downtown that should be good. How about the Sands?
Check these places:
Eldorado
Circus Circus
Sands
Silver Legacy
Harahs
I’m guessing you can get a room for around 50 bucks or less in any of those places AND get really cheap food. (if you go to the right places.)
You can also try the sienna which is a little nicer and the Cal neva which is not so nice.
Just checked some prices. The sands is 29-33 bucks a night on the week days. It’s nice enough and puts you downtown. If your wife heads towards the river there are some nice coffee shops/restaurants/movie theater.
If you’re going to be there on a saturday you should come out to our drop ride! 
Whoa… I’ve stayed at the Grand Sierra (and Hilton) many times. I don’t think I’ve ever paid more than $75 for a room on a weekend. $400 is way out of line, unless maybe you’re looking at the penthouse (or was that a weekly rate?). I’ve also had better luck calling them and asking for a good rate than booking online.
I haven’t stayed there in a while, but they used to have nice shops, arcade, bowling alley, etc… so it’s not all gambling/drinking/smoking.