Where do you stay downtown?

Thanks for the info on what to do. Now the question is where do you stay and why. Pros and Cons would be most appreciated for your 1 choice.

El Cortez in either Cabana Suites (across the street from the casino) or Tower rooms in the main building. Cabana rooms are kind of small but new and clean. Tower rooms are large, clean, and with kind of a small bathroom. Both are more than adequate and prices are great. Maybe one drawback is a bit of a walk to the Fremont Street Experience, but it is no big deal.

Four queens best offers
Golden Nugget best rooms
MSS good offers/good VP

Have stayed at the Golden Nugget, Fremont and California...Love all three, but for now we stay at the California. We (my husband and myself) enjoy the service and employee friendliness from the front desk to the Redwood Bar and Grill. The convenience of being able to go easily from California to Main Street can't be beat. We love the comps we receive and the Gold Card that can be used for all food at Fremont, California or Main Street. We like that it is a very short block to the Fremont Experience.

I have mixed it up between 3 spots downtown..

Plaza - stayed there numerous times.. but since the remodel, I can't really offer any pros or cons..
The biggest pro was the old school feel and the location. Plus, I always liked the pool. Cool view and never super packed - call me crazy, but I dont need a "rehab" pool scene for my Vegas trip..

Vegas Club - Pros: Good/Decent comps and easy to get free rooms. Loose slots (at least for me) and swift cocktail service. Cons: Needs a bath, in a bad way. And, last time I stayed there, the back room where the stage is, was full of gangster high school kids. The few times I walked thru at night was uncomfortable


Golden Gate - Pros: Shrimp Cocktail!!! Huge Bar. Updated rooms. Cons: - Updated, but tiny tiny tiny rooms. Thin walls (yup, couple next to me was very happy to see each other all weekend).

Good luck!
Marko..

Good Stuff. Definitely will stay downtown next year.

Golden Nugget rooms are quite nice- best POOL downtown by far. The pool is amazing... (cons)alittle tight on seating at times but a nice feature. After the pool is closed you can still play blackjack on the pool deck and order drinks for the pool bar ( tons of seats to relax and hang out). Grab your robe and head down to the hottub....sometimes it's nice to get away from the casino and the noise.

Golden Gate - Pros: Shrimp Cocktail!!! Updated rooms ,great frozen drinks, cheap rooms- coupon in LVA 241 rooms during mid week, we're staying in October for 35.60 for 2 night with tax!. Cons: - Updated, but tiny tiny tiny rooms. I think who cares your never in there! Keep in mind Golden Gate is Haunted....I've seen some things in there- and it wasn't that I was drunk either. Google Golden Gate ghosts sightings...you'll be shocked.

Fitz-Blah pros- Keno lounge, fast drink service, cheap cafe. cons- Hotel is very tired, pool is brutal ( by valet parking and street) only stay when comped...I'd never pay to stay there.

El Cortez- Pros- Flame is decent, late night breakie special is good in the cafe, I love hashbrowns with onions and peppers! The bar by the cafe is awesome ....I can be drunk by noon and need a wine nap in the afternoon. Sports book is good, cabana rooms are nice, new matresses and mini fridges, gym( well worth the extra $10. Lva has a 241 mid-week too, we're staying in October 2 night for $50+tax. ) Cons- one block walk down fremont street in the NOT so nice part, all the hotel rooms are pretty tired, Tower rooms are the best choice. Tired but large rooms...with the bathroom at the back. Separate shower/toilet area with window, separate sink/vanity area too- nice for getting ready.

We now stay at MSS. Fremont used to be our home Boyd casino. Staff at both places are friendly. The only reason for the move was Fremont changed to less desirable VP machines. The bathroom at MSS is slightly larger. The crap table has 20x odds. The disadvantage (small) is the longer walk to FSE and to the neighboring casinos like Binions, 4Queens and Fitzgerald.

4 Queens---We play quarter 10-7 double bonus progressive. $200 free play is by far the best offer we receive. Good cash back and they comp our food up front so we don't have to wonder if it will be comped. Host Jen is wonderful!

I have stayed at the Golden Nugget, the Golden gate, Four Queens and the Plaza before the renovations

Do yourself a favor and cross the Golden Gate off the list. I dont care if they pay you $19 a night to stay there! That said, the casino itself is one of my favorites

I liked the Four queens, but had issues with extreamly soft mattresses. It was clean, had four walls and a TV, if I recieved good enough offers I would stay there again. Craps tables were always over $10 minimum bet (too rich for my blood)

I have stayed at the Golden Nugget in the Carson Tower and Rush tower, both with excellant results. The rooms were Clean , and modern. Great pool, nice casino The only issue with the nugget is that damned check in line seems to always be 10 familys deep when I get there. The buffet is smallish and slightly over priced, they tend to have higher table minimums also

I havent stayed at the El Cortez because of that walk between there and the rest of fremont street. I am a big guy, ex military and just didnt feel comfortable walking that area with my wife and/or money in my pocket. Not scared mind you- just un comfortable enough not to stay there. They have a pretty good police presence on bikes, etc in that area, but that just tells me they have issues there!

I am staying at the Fremont at the end of September and will report on it when I get back. They have $3 craps, .99 cent Margaritas, the best buffet on Fremont street and is right in the middle of Fremont street (easy access to evrything). Havent seen the rooms, but I assume Frank "Lefty" Roesenthal (AKA Ace Rothstein) left orders to keep them clean when he left!

Binions Hotel is shut down (I am pretty sure anyway),so cross that off the list.

I will stay at the Plaza again next spring (god willing) after I see some reviews. The whole casino was run down when I stayed there before but I had good luck in there, $5 craps. I liked the show room (saw the Rat Pack) and was treated well by the hosts. The buffet cost $7.77 (back then) and had 33 itiems on it. I would have stayed there this trip but when I checked they simply were asking too much per night, but have since come down to reality.

I havent been in the California or Main Street Stations rooms and probably never will because of the short walk from there to the Fremont street, might as well stay right on the Fremont street for the same price right?.....maybe if they gave me a good offer? Besides, I "never' win in either of them!

"And thats all I have to say about that!".....Forrest Gump July 6, 1994

weggie