Suncoast vs. other Boyd properties

Just got back from Las Vegas and four nights at the Orleans. I plan on returning this summer and may want to try something different. I'm thinking about Suncoast or Gold Coast just for a change of pace. Haven't stayed at the Gold Coast for years, and have never even set foot in the Suncoast. I like Boyd casinos, and am curious about how those of you with experience in their casinos would rank them. I like MSS and stay their regularly but would like access to a pool this time around - even a small one. I play DW or JoB Video Poker (multi-play or dollar level more often than not), dollar slots, and BJ with a $10-$25 minimum bet depending on my mood and luck. I'm traveling solo and will stay for three days with the emphasis on casino time and prefer to play where I stay. The hotel room is of secondary importance. Is the Suncoast casino comparable in size to Orleans? Does the Gold Coast give better value for VP? Or all things considered, is the Orleans the best of the bunch? Thanks in advance for your opinions!

I like Orleans a lot and have picked it as my favorite Boyd property. Don't really care for Gold Coast atmosphere. Have you tried Sams Town it would be my favorite except for the distance back to the strip. It's got an excellent selection of VP and some very nice restaurants.

We like the SunCoast, especially the video poker and the Senior Days (Tues. and Thurs.). We like the hotel rooms.

They do not have FPDW. They have a lot of Bonus Deuces (with progressives), and they have Illinois-type deuces (4/4 not NSUD). They also were one of the few casinos with 9/6 Bonus Poker Deluxe, but now that Stations have it too, we are less interested in SunCoast. The SunCoast has very few slant-top machines. They are almost all uprights or bar machines.

The chairs/seats at SunCoast are uncomfortable. They are like upright dining room chairs. Not plush, older, and no adjustable up/down. Just like a hard, thinly padded dining room chair.

They have a GREAT coffee shop with a good-old-fashioned casino coffee shop menu.

If you play a lot, check the kisoke for a same-day free buffet or coffee shop comp.

They also have a GREAT Italian restaurant, and a not-so-great steakhouse.

If you have a car you should also visit Red Rock while staying at Suncoast.

We Rank Boyd as follows:

1. Sam Town (#1 in casino, atmosphere, slant-top machines, multi-play machines, regular comps)
2. SunCoast (#1 in room niceness, variety of restaurants, kioske comps, Senior days)
3. Orleans (Closest to the strip, but not walkable)

We have never stayed at The Gold Coast, and have not stayed at MSS for over 10 years.

- bcc

If Gambling is more the criteria of your visit, than I believe the Suncoast casino/ hotel is a good choice. Their table games are geared more to the local market. (lower limits)
$3 Craps, $5 BJ, $5 Mini-baccarat, $5 Pai Gow, $5 Utimate Texas Hold’em. (During the week)
They have a decent sports book, small poker room and a bingo hall.

Their selection of slots and video poker is comparative to other Boyd properties.

I would rate their restaurants as good.
They have movie theaters, a bowling alley and a showroom theater for entertainment.

My preference for gambling would be:
1. Suncoast
2. Orleans
3. Gold Coast

I like the bartop machines near the sports book at Suncoast. They have good games in multi-denominations. I thought the DW on those machines was NSUD. Has this changed, Tony?

I also like the bagel deli near the book, and the hot dog cart.

Never stayed at the Suncoast, but the rooms look like those at the Orleans, more room than Gold Coast with a sitting area. It's newer than the Orleans so it's as frayed around the edges. You'll be a little isolated at the SC as it's fifteen minutes away from anything except the Rampart. On the other hand, the beltway is close and will get you to the south srtip in no time. One of these trips I'd like to stay there and play surrounding golf courses. There are four within five minutes, so I could hold up there for four or five days. I think I'd take the SC over the GC unless you're without a car or like to spend a lot of time on the strip.

Good Luck!
Ric at Joes

I'll let you know in a couple weeks as we'll be stying there 4 nites next week. If you've stayed at South Point, Michael Gaughn used his SC blue print to build South Point. We're Orleans faithful 3-4 times a year for the last 9 years but need to save our next 5 free nites for Aug with my in-laws, so SunCoast sent us 4 free nites and we're going to try them.

Sue, SunCoast does have NSUD in uprights, but they are upstairs, very out of the way, in an almost embarrassingly empty room (empty of people, that is). I've played those NSUD's a little, with no luck.

I have not played very much at bars (and never at the bar you mention), but those may be Illinois deuces, which are 75/45 instead of NSUD's 80/50. If they are NSUD, then I'd like to know.

SunCoast's rooms are nothing like the Orleans. They are huge, modern, with no "parlor" feel. It is a lot like a Sunset Station room, but much larger, and a bit nicer. The best thing about SC rooms is that you can get the golf course view. You could spend hours just watching that. You can also see the pool from that side of the building.

- bcc

Thanks to everyone who took the time to reply to my questions. The Forums are are always a superb resource for me. Little details like "very few slant top machines" and even the comfort of the chairs are great to know. When I go to Las Vegas, I go to gamble for a few days and I pretty much stay put. A decent room, good coffee shop, a nice pool (for a middle-ager), and lots of casino options is about all I need to make me a happy camper (though NSUD at 50 cents and above is always nice)! Sounds like Suncoast would be worth a shot if I liked the Orleans?

The rooms at Suncoast are larger than the rooms at Orleans. I think they are the best standard rooms of any of the Boyd properties in Las Vegas. Check out what Cheapo Las Vegas has to say about them for more details. Great rooms. The casino itself is like a smaller version of South Point; not surprising when you think about it. Probably our top 3 favorite places to stay when in Vegas are Red Rock, GVR and Suncoast (Red Rock is my favorite, but all three of those are darned nice.)