El Cortez short weekend

Day 1 - Sunday

My host at the Plaza didn’t get back to me in time so I booked the offer from El Cortez that sailed in out of the blue after nothing from them since late 2024.  They offered 3 free nights (no resort fees) in a premium king room, $25 food and $25 free play.

I arrived Sunday morning at around 8am, picked up my rental car from a Costco booking for a low price and a free upgrade through Budget where I can use Fastbreak.

As usual my name was not on the Fastbreak list but I knew to head downstairs to the garage booth.  Instant service and I was soon busy taking pictures of the car from all angles including inside.  Someone had sneakily curbed the front bumper so I noted that and my usual addition of ‘stains on seats’ because they are always there and I am not paying for that.  my car came with a free pink Redbull in the backseat as a bonus, though it wasn’t something I drink, later I left it for the maids in my room.

Did some driving around, noted the easy flow on the freeway now that construction is done.  Nice.

Stopped at a Lee’s Discount Liquor to pick up a bottle of Lalo, also hit up Smiths for limes, fizzy water, cups, a small knife and a citrus squeezer for easy Ranch Waters since the bars never make them right with club soda or whatever they have, syrups and other unnecessary additions.  Always good to have a nice cool drink for walking Fremont.  Chatted with the sales guy about Lee’s yearly Tequila bash, definitely need to schedule that in soon.

Parked at El Cortez after showing the guard my reservation, though he should have let me in with my Sapphire status, but whatever.

Early checkin is 1pm so I had some time to kill.  Played some Queenie slot at 1.50, 2.50.  Lost a hundred.  Hit up some Stack Em High, hit 5 pairs of quads for a decent win.  Also played some Triple Triple video poker, and expected loss.

Started to get hungry around 11, headed to Evel Pie for an Evel Ale and a Sweat Heat pizza slice, $13 + 6 tip, was delicious.  The bar was nice and cool, good music and friendly staff as usual.

Walked to Plaza, got a Holy Cannoli from Pinkbox, delicious.

Checked Plaza offers, had $50 per day free play and a $25 food comp.  Also did the LvA coupon, did a spin and won 400 points.  Or maybe that was another promo, I don’t remember, either way it sucked.  I did do one LVA whatever it was, maybe $15 free play, don’t remember.

Headed to the bar, played a crappy Triple Double game  and hit quad aces and a kicker for a grand at .50 credits for $200 in.  Nice!

Checked in at 1pm, offer was for a lower floor premium room, but I know you want Mountain View and as high as possible or you’ll be nighclubbed all night 24/7.

I asked, she said, no problem got me on the 14th floor in the middle facing the mountain.  I gave her a 20, usually the first tip goes to the check in.  In these rooms you do get freeway noise that will come through if there are racers or emergency vehicles, but other than a few of those it was a clean, comfortable King in a nice sized room, and super quiet except for some idiot playing harmonica in his room in the afternoons.   At least he was decent, but still an ahole for doing that, people have varied hours in Vegas for sleeping.

More gaming, mostly losses.  Around 530pm I headed to Top of Binions to use the LVA coupon.  It was actually one of the best meals I’ve had there.  2 kinds of butter, 3 kinds of salt, and a hot bread as a complementary starter.  Very good.  Wedge Salad, added anchovies, excellent though they still serve with wimpy non crispy bacon.  They brought out a palette cleanser, then I had a rib cap with a loaded baked potato and green beans.  It was excellent.  Total after LVA coupon $82, I left $30 gratuity, the 3 guys working my table were very personable though slow getting the Manhattan.  I guess he had to get a bottle of vermouth from under the bar in some weird cabinet.

The view and restaurant were classy and classic old Vegas, so do love that.  Sure, worn around the edges but fun to do and see.

More gaming, broke even for the session.  In bed by 9pm, had been up since 3am.

Maybe more later..

The noise level at the El Corpse has always fluctuated from room to room depending on direction, height, and oddnesses like which side of the corridor you're on. One problem that didn't exist before is Container Park, which is LOUD if you happen to be someplace where the sound tsunamis reflect off of other buildings. And the bars between LV Blvd and the EC crank it up until 4 in the morning.

The good news is that the front desklings know EXACTLY which rooms will afford you a quiet night's sleep and which won't. I had one confide in me, they give out the noisy rooms first to people who don't know the difference and save the quiet rooms as "premiums" for those who ask/bribe. He proudly told me that he doubled his daily pay on weekends with those "gratuities." I balked at that, so back when I would visit the Corpse four-plus times a year, I got hold of a room map and asked for specific rooms when I made my reservation. Oh and BTW, the Ogden House across the street is a much quieter refuge, if it comes to that.

I can't abide people who make noise in hotel rooms just because THEY are wide awake. That harmonica player should have been castrated with a rusty bread knife.

Sounds like a full day.  Thanks for posting.

Day 2 - Monday

Woke up refreshed at 530am, which is sleeping late in for me, my senior dog needs to go out at 3:20am so that’s when I usually start my day.

Looked for something open for breakfast, knowing modern Vegas doesn’t have many 24 hour options.  Decided on Siegel's Bagelmania since I’d never been and heard it was good.

Short drive playing some Dayseeker Replica Acoustic…arrived and noticed they had a Pinkbox Donuts inside…mmm.  Did an inspection of the bagels and deli offerings then got a seat in the dining area.  Ordered a scoop of Chopped liver and pumpernickel bagel and a side of wine herring.  Why not.  I’d never eaten chopped liver before and is my custom, I order things I have never had.  Herring is a favorite, so that was an easy one.

Everything was delicious, excellent bagel, service was good and with a latte and a hefty tip it was $45.  I considered a donut for the road but was too stuffed.

Headed back to Fremont, played some double double single line at .50, lost a couple of hundred, tossed $200 into $2 bets on Double Top Dollar and did not hit top dollar!  Way under expectation, I think it’s 1:56 or something or so I’ve been told.

Hours later it was lunch time, pizza sounded good, and I like the bar at Evel Pie, so repeated the previous lunch, taking my time just enjoying the cool dark bar.

Walked Fremont Street to Plaza keeping to the shady areas.  Found that around The D and then towards Golden Nugget the casinos were blasting their ACs with The doors open dropping the temperature considerably outside.  I’m guessing the 2 dancing gorillas liked the area cooler since they seem to only have one large fan near the butt portion blowing air inside.  I can’t imagine the suck that must be.

Picked up another $50 Free play and the $25 food voucher I’d use that night at Oscars.  Ordered a coffee with a shot of Jameson and cream, the bartender came back with a cup of Paddy’s Irish whiskey with a shot of coffee and a creamer.  Not really what I was expecting, but it made me laugh.  Had a few sips, but that 300ml of cheap Irish wasn’t going to sucker punch me so easily so it was left behind.

Played some wheel poker and some more triple double at the bar.  Both terrible choices but I find fun.  Losses as expected.

Back to Fremont, relaxed in the room for awhile, might have napped a bit listening to some Sleep Token.

Time for dinner, did the slog up to Plaza through a fair amount of people out and about in the heat.

Got a seat at the bar, strange being there on a Monday, no Chelsea of course, which seems weird, as every trip she’s been our bartender.  But always a friendly crew at the bar.

Ordered a consigliere, their version of a Manhattan with Heering Cherry Liquor added to the bourbon and vermouth.  I hadn’t tried it before and it was good but a bit too sweet.  I’d skip the addition next time and just get a Manhattan as designed.

Ordered 4 oysters from the happy hour menu, their chopped salad, a favorite of mine here and the beef carpaccio.   Everything fantastic except….one oyster was not right…immediately had visions of the only time I had gotten sick from oysters after literally thousands of oysters I’ve eaten.  It was one of the worst experiences of my life.  But I did not get sick that night or even to today, so I think all the bourbon and tequila drowned it out!  In any case, the salad was nice and the carpaccio was very good, though I prefer the classic style with arugula, chunky sea salt, black pepper and olive oil.  Oscars does it with greens, truffle oil and mushrooms..very good but not great.  With the comp and players card discount of 15% the total was $30 with $20 tip for the boys behind the bar.

Not much going on for bands on Fremont, just some DJs and some no names so went back to the El Cortez.  Played more triple triple, ended up a few hundred.  In bed by 11pm.

Last day perhaps tomorrow…

Great report.  Thanks for sharing.  No harmonica guy on Monday.  Excellent!

So glad you are giving Oscars some love.  I would love to see them back in the LVA coupons

I rarely miss a chance to go to Oscars, it's one of my favorites in Vegas!  

Day 3 - Tuesday

Up at 6:30am, spent the time before Siegel’s 1941 opened at 7am packing for my return flight.

I used my $25 comp to get their 2 eggs breakfast which comes with bacon (or sausage) hashbrowns and toast.  The Neuske’s bacon was good but needed more crisping.  $19 is a bit steep for this plate of food.  I also ordered a latte, which they charged a ridiculous $9.

If I didn’t have the comp to use I would have gone to PublicUs for a much tastier and varied menu.  PublicUs is a favorite breakfast spot of mine located on Fremont and Maryland.

I left a $10 tip for the waitress and paid for the meal with the comp and comp dollars.  Definitely overpriced, but the staff was pleasant and attentive.

With a few hours to fill before leaving, I played some triple triple bonus poker and after a couple hundred in (at .50) I hit deuces with a kicker for a grand.

If I would have stuck to video poker this would have ended up a winning trip, but the slot play took a chunk of the winnings leaving me with half my budget intact even after 2 nice poker wins.  Still a great trip overall.

I also had a match play for $25, which I didn’t use.  I just had no desire to hit the tables this trip, so I left money on the table by not using it.

I headed for the rental car return and it was an easy drive since the freeway bridge construction of the previous years was finally completed.  What a nice change.

No line at the return and only a small line for the bus to the airport.

Flight was out of the B gates and no one was in line for TSA so I skipped Clear.  What a change from the March Madness lines!  I’ve never seen a zero line at security in Vegas before, but then again I’ve never flown out on a Tuesday either.

The construction was completed for the new bar in the gates area so I had a seat there.  Ordered some kind of spicy melon margarita and a rather good quesadilla.  The chicken was roasted with a nice flavor and although it needed more salsa and crema on top it was a solid and tasty option for an airport meal.

Nice trip overall, good room at El Cortez.  Next trip is in August and at the Plaza so looking forward to it!

Excellent report.  Thanks for sharing.  Always nice to have a trip to look forward to.  Will be heading to Vegas in late August for wife's bday and our 25th anniversary.  

Super reporting, Inigo. 

I dislike un-crisp bacon, and often remember too late to specify "crispy" when ordering.   Some day I'll remember.

Thanks for informative TRs.

Candy