Where Would You Stay - California or Main Street Station?

I am thinking of spending two nights downtown in May. I'm pretty sure I have my choice narrowed down to either California or Main Street Station. If anyone on the board has stayed at these two places, could you tell me about your experience. Are they similar properties, or would one be better than the other. I do enjoy playing video poker. Thanks for any information!

I have stayed at both properties many times and find it hard to see much difference between the two.

The Cal has more options for dining with a larger casino. Just a bit closer to Fremont street than the Main Street. There is also a sports book upstairs at the Cal. The Cal also has what they call a "swimming pool" but it is really small with no ammenities. The rooms are just fine and maybe better than anything but the Golden Nugget downtown.

Main Street Station has two dinning options a buffet and sports bar type of brewery. The atmosphere in the casino feels a little nicer with the wondeful cielings. The biggest plus here is the scratch cards for four of a kind or better at the video poker machines. These have been scaled back over the years as to where now you only get $2 each time and maybe a $3 once a trip. But if you are grinding out many hours of video poker it does add up. Rooms are on par with those at the Cal but can be noisy if you get stuck near the train tracks.

All in all I can't really tell much of a difference between the two. You can walk between both through an indoor walkway which makes staying at either one basically the same to me. It kind of gives me the feel of staying at a much larger resort on the strip when you combine them together.

Oh and the bus to Sams Town stops at the Cal but not Main Street.

irishjames- we would completely agree with your review. For us, the scratch cards at Main Street are the deciding factor. Over three days, we find it will add About $100-give or take to our bottom line.
We enjoy both places very much.

Dave

I have never stayed at the California, so I can't compare the two. I have stayed at Main Street Station many times over the years, and have always enjoyed my stay there. The buffet, while basic, has good food for a very reasonable price. The casino just seems comfortable, not too large, etc. The staff have always provided excellent service IMHO. The only drawback to be aware of is that some rooms are very near the railroad tracks, and the noise can wake you up at night. If you do decide to stay at MSS ask for a room farther away from the noise.

I stayed at both and do not see a difference especially since they are connected anyway.

I like the coffee shop at the Cal for the evening specials and it is closer to Freemont.

MSS has good beer and beer specials.

The price tips the scales for me as this is a toss up to me.

Once I had no hot water at MSS but I think that can happen anywhere downtown I suspect.

V

MSS for the beer, bartop 9/6JOB, and so I don't feel always feel freakishly tall (unless I'm in the shower).

Pack

The MSS website also shows what appears to be an upscale dining room - The Pullman. The weird thing is, it doesn't show up when you click on the "Dining" button on their homepage, but if you go to the Virtual Tours, there are photos and a short write-up of the restaurant. Anybody know anything about this place?

Pullman grill has been closed for about 2 years now.

I have stayed recently in both and Mainstreet has much better rooms. I changed rooms 3 times at the Cal last fall and could not get an air conditioner that worked. The mattress had serious sag as well. Try a high (17) floor room at Mainstreet.

Both places have good video poker. I have stayed at both and found the rooms similar. I think the decor at MSS is a little more attractive but the Cal is a little closer to the Fremont Street area. The Cal tends to have a lot of Asian customers from Hawaii and the state of California...not sure if that would be plus or a minus for you but just putting that out there.

Basically they are both nice and there is not a big difference between the two. Flip and coin and pick one...you won't go wrong with either choice. Also they are so close and they have a skybridge connecting the two so you can easily walk back and forth between the two and see which one you prefer. The players cards are connected so once again no big difference there either.