What are some of the cheaper hotels that are close to the action? Anything within walking distance? Not looking for anything fancy, just a place to hang my hat at night.

Trying to put a last minute trip together and I have never been out there, so any advice would be appreciated.

I stay at the Days Inn very close to the street party, and walking distance to the bridge.

[QUOTE=TEAMBAJA;3869366]What are some of the cheaper hotels that are close to the action? Anything within walking distance? Not looking for anything fancy, just a place to hang my hat at night.

Trying to put a last minute trip together and I have never been out there, so any advice would be appreciated.

IMHO I use vacation homes. Got a very nice 3200 sq ft Spanish hacienda with covered patio, covered outdoor bar, pool, hot tub, etc. At $175 a night it is very reasonable. 2 friends coming and splitting cost. Havasu is a small town, everything 15 min to the action.

Lots of homes for rent less than $125 a night avail. Lots want $500 a night for desert storm...

The best western, motel 6, super 8, days inn, holiday inn, travel lodge, Hampton inn, quality inn, are all within a mile of the London bridge. Problem is the nautical hotel (where everything happens) is another mile into the island.

I agree, you can find a house (many for 100 a night) that will be clean and a taxi ride away.

Is the bridge close to the street party?

Can you see the "on water" action from the bridge?

Plenty of nice scenery, but ya u can see the parade through the channel from the bridge of course

Is it like LOTO with venders selling things?

Checkout the Island Inn Hotel. Its on the island close to the bridge and Nautical Inn.

Yes vendors will be selling and handing out things.

Street party is a 1-2 mile from london bridge. It is MUCH larger with more boats and vendors than LOTO's parade.

We woke up too late Friday morning to launch the boat and beach in the Channel for the parade so we watched from the Bridge above. Bridge gave a decent view but I think the channel would have been closer to the parade boats and more comfortable on the swim deck than above.
Overall the boat parade was a little anti-climatic. I had seen the boats up close at the Street Party and they were just idling by at a distance so you could not really appreciate their power.

Next time I am considering get up early enough to launch and hang out in the bay as everyone waits to assemble their flights. See the boats as close or closer as they mill around. Hope that is not viewed as too much of being in the way?
Then after the first flights start though the Channel, head down stream to the big straight away where you can watch them roar by at full speed to the first card stop, then pass by again on the return. (It takes about 20min to make it though the channel plus get together before dropping the hammer to head South so determine how long it will take your boat). Keep to the shore line while under way in case they come roaring by before getting to the anchor destination.
Pack a lunch and head to Copper Canyon for a couple drinks just to say you were there. Its Friday and not many boats will be there compared to Spring break pics. Roll back to the Channel to people watch then put the boat on the trailer and head to the Natuical Inn cove by 5-6ish as the boats come back in and eat dinner.

Saturday are the speed runs but I found them a little disappointing compared to Shootout. The runs were slow and the spectator fleet is 1/10th the size. Many spectator boats have no clue how to raft up, have no anchors or not enough rode. (they all normally beach on the sand in the Channel or Sandbar or are packed so tight in CC its a non issue) When you get bored with the speed runs, either head back to the Channel or north to the Sandbar. Its the weekend and more recreational social boats are on the water.
Personally, I would wait and head upstream to the Sandbar for Sunday. Its a 20ish mile run.