Sam's Town or Gold Coast?

Never stayed at either place. Trying to stay at 50 hotel casinos, currently at 30. Would appreciate all input, both favorable and negative, on these properties.

Initially was looking at South Coast but won't have a vehicle

We normally stay at Sam's Town but have stayed at Gold Coast once as well. The rooms at Sam's Town are bigger than the Gold Coast. The biggest plus to the rooms are the bathrooms. The bathroom at Gold Coast was way too tiny for us. Felt almost claustrophobic in there. I will say that the Gold Coast room seemed slightly newer.

We enjoy both casinos. Sam's has Let It Ride which we enjoy but Gold Coast doesn't.

We like Billy Bob's at Sam's Town (great steak). Buffet is slightly better at Sam's but neither is great. There is a TGIFridays at both.

One nice thing for those that don't have a rental car, Gold Coast has Rio and Palms within walking distance. Sam's does have shuttle service to help you get around too.

Overall I would say we prefer Sam's better.

Hope this info helps!

I have stayed at both.

I prefer Sam's Town for the much better video poker. The buffets at both are bad.

You stated something about not staying at South Coast w/o a car, if you are thinking South Point, they have free shuttle to and from the airport, as a guest. There is a shuttle from SP to the strip operated by a private contractor for $8.00 RT

And between the places listed, SP is way better then Sams or GC. Sams is hurting-feeling the effect of the economy and Eastside Cannery. We stayed many times at Sams and were gold card, but we have since left as they continue to cut corners there whether pulling machines out or restaruants closing. GC gambling is very good and location is very good, but the rooms are only so-so. SP, everthing-rooms,gambling,food are great.

Gold Coast pros :
- gives you better access to the entertainment (RIO / PALMS).
- two really good, reasonably priced restaurants in Ping-Pang-Pong, and the Cortez Room (prime rib).
- casino has decent games. Palms has really good games.

Gold Coast Cons :
- casino is smokey and dingy. Needs a makeover.
- Rooms are large and clean but also in need of a makeover.
- The buffet is dog food.

Sams Town pros :
- nicer rooms than GC. They all open up to the atrium which is a beautiful botanical garden with waterfall.
- casino seems more spruced up with lots of energy and good games.
- Billy Bobs Steakhouse is good and resonably priced

Sams Town cons:
- Nothing to do besides gamble and eat.
- The buffet is slightly higher quality dog food than Gold Coast's


If I had to choose I'd pick Sam's Town.

We go to Sam's Town a lot. We used to love it, but with the downgrade in comps (see Jokare's comments, above) it has dropped substantially, but not completely off, our "list."

If you are going between Thanksgiving and Christmas the answer is definitely Sam's Town. Beautiful decorations and gigantic tree in the atrium (Mystic Falls Park), and cheerful atmosphere. Let's hope they don't skimp on that the way they skimp on everything else these days.

The Saturday/Sunday brunch is okay, if you must eat the buffet. On other days, I would choose the Sports Deli instead. Great sandwiches and a great staff. TGIF is out of the question.

We have noticed more homeless people at Sam's lately. In the park, in the elevators, and hovering near the buffet.

Also, with some room rates at $29, large families with kids carrying sleeping bags are often seen waiting for the elevator.

We still like Sam's and we still stay there, but it saddens us to see it this way.

Consider the Suncoast, it has the best rooms of all the Boyd properties.

- bcc

I second Suncoast-very nice rooms, buffet good and a coffee shop and still good gambling.

I third the Suncoast but you're pretty isolated out there without a car. Suncoast does have fridges in all of the rooms, which is nice.
I don't care for either of the buffets at GS or ST. ST has the better steakhouse, but nothing to compare with PPP at the GC. I would say pick the GC if only because you're in walking proximity to Rio and Palms - sometimes you just need a change of scenery.

fredo

I've stayed at the Gold Coast twice and visited nearly every time I come to town. It has very good video poker at the 50 cent level and above (some for quarters), decent blackjack & craps with $5 minimums. Despite what other people have said here, I really like their buffet. It's not super high quality stuff and the selection can be limited, but for $6-12 I've never had a bad meal here. It's relatively close to the Strip (walkable, if you're ambitious). The rooms are OK; the renovated rooms are better if you can get one. One con that I haven't heard mentioned yet is that they don't have a true coffee shop - TGI Fridays takes that function. No thanks.

I've visited Sam's Town a few times but never stayed there, so I have no idea how their rooms are. The casino sprawls too much for my liking. You'll probably get used to it if you stay there for a few days. They do have some good games here - including full-pay deuces. It's a few miles to the Strip, if that's important to you.

One note about both the Gold Coast and Sam's Town is that they each have the most elderly clientele I've seen in Las Vegas - ST a little more so than GC. It might be a little disorienting if you don't have your AARP card, but if you think Diana Ross should've never gone solo, you'll be right at home.