Quote
Originally posted by: tonyrob
We visited downtown once a few years ago. This December we have booked 4 nights at the Golden Nugget.
I see that the Nugget doesn't have full-pay video poker so we'll probably play that at the Four Queens. Also read that the Nugget shows are quite good so we'll try them. Any other must sees/must do's? Also, are there any good buffets downtown? Thanks for any tips.
Well first off, welcome home, oh Prodigal Son of downtown. I actually stayed downtown for over a year before I even tried staying on the Strip. Every now and again, I'll take advantage of a really cheap room rate and pay my own way on the Strip, and either gamble elsewhere or not at all. But the vast majority of the time I'll stay downtown.
If you're there over the weekend or around the rodeo finals, you'll find multiple bands playing outside every night and with extremely rare exception, the bands are good. Typically tribute bands or bands that cover 60s-80s hits, but good nonetheless. During the rodeo, they have some name acts playing.
As for buffets, it has been several years since I had the buffet at the GN. I think the buffets at MSS are a better value and if you use the coupon sheet link, you can probably get a 2-fer coupon. In general, I'd prefer to eat at a coffee shop or at 777 than at a buffet. In general, the buffets downtown aren't much different than a Golden Corral (or whatever casual dining buffet places there are in your part of the country) - definitely not up to the better buffets on the Strip.
If you haven't eaten at either the Flame at El Cortez or Hugo's at the Four Queens, I'd suggest one of them. The old-school gourmet rooms on the strip have largely been replaced with celebrity restaurants and when I go to Vegas, I want old school. I've eaten at both several times and have yet to have a bad meal. You can use your coupon from the MRB or ACG at the Flame and get out of there pretty cheap.
Take some time to grab a cup of coffee at the Starbucks at the Nugget (the one facing Fremont St), then go out on the patio and people-watch. I've found that the best time is shortly after one of the light shows. The patio will clear out shortly after the show, then you can have a good perch for people watching until the next show. It's a great and cheap one-hour timekiller.
And since you're there in December, even though it's not downtown, get down to the Bellagio for the Christmas exhibit in the conservatory. It's pretty amazing.
