Fall 2011--Oct 23 to Oct 27 trip report.
FLIGHIT:
--flights were a pain in the arse as we were flying on airline employee passes (sooo, standby).
But we got there same day and 2 didn't.
ROOM #1
--'comped' room at Bally's that was only comped because it was booked under 2 Total Rewards #'s. But being the paranoid traveller and knowing how annoying airline employee standby can be I also booked some dirt cheap rooms downtown at the Plaza (something silly like 16.97 a night or something like that) on govegas.com (which the lady at the hotel referred to as my orbitz booking, so maybe they are related). Good call about the standby room as the check in agent at Ballys asked for the 2nd person on the booking. Before you ask why the 2 comped room players card holders didn't take the first 2 seats, it's because you need the employee to fly with a non-employee. So, he did say as soon as the other arrives you can be reimbursed the room rate, but until then he would need to charge me $475.00 for the set res days. Not knowing when the 2nd part of the group would arrive I opted to head dt.
CABS:
--Cab from Bally's to Plaza was $23, + tip.
--Cab from Plaza to North Premium Outlet Mall, $10 + tip. Could have easily walked, but didn't
--Cab from Plaza to airport, $30, + tip
BUS:
--notable is that you need to get your ticket from the machine, AND, it's exact change only, so don't go sticking a $20 in it, as your bill will come right back out and say overpaid. Also, 2 things will print, the receipt, and the actual bus pass. Make sure you don't just grab the receipt and leave.
--$5 for 2 hours (the $2 one way no longer an option)
--$7 for 24
--other options available, but we only needed it once
HOTEL:
--Upon leaving the cab you immediately get the wiff of the scented air that many have talked about in reviews. It's right from the drive court in through the lobby and the casino. Plus some places do have the undertones of sewage. Nothing nauseating, just noticeable. Also worth mentioning, as I'm a safety freak, there is a guard posted at the elevator entrance asking for room keys to gain entry to the elevators.
--Plaza, check in a breeze at 11:30 pm. Got room 1925 and a page of coupons. The coupons were 20% off at Hash House, $5 for signing up for players club, and some 2 for 1 meal at the Vegas Club.
--The room is as called out by many. It's reno'd, but with a few caveats. The furnishings all new. The linens nice. The lighting was messed up.....the lighting fixtures were great looking, but the light switch on wall does nothing. You have to feel your way around the room for any light fixture. In our case it was one in between the beds and upon feeling it up there was no switch or cord, but rather you had to screw the bulb in. Voila, there was light. So, we moved the big silver lamp with no on/off switch to the desk and moved the desk one, with a push switch to the bedside table. Let's move on. Ok, so again, the walls weren't redone and just looked old with a paint job. The sink/counter was brand new and very nice looking. The tub, not new, but functional. We didn't experience any of the backing up of water that some spoke of. The bath amenities are basic basic basic, shampoo, body wash, moisturizer, bar soap. Towels were sufficient and there were 4 of everything. More towels are avail on the pool level. Other then that, great flat panel tv with good selection of channels.
--first night, 2:30 am phone call...."hello".."yes, I heard you were looking for girls?"...."ummm NO"..."room 1925?", "yep, but still not looking"...."ok, take care". What the...??? Then I was waiting for the banging on the door that I've read about at other downtown hotels on reviews. But nope, nothing that night or any night.
--water pressure fine in this room
--hot water was HOT...figuring there is no coffee pot, so I had a semi-boiled tea in the a.m.
--never had to wait long for elevators
--subway just beside lobby, as well as a very well stocked hotel store
--pool level is kinda funny as the entrance is very prison feeling, with the big mesh/metal gate
--pool area is very plain. Big pool. Water felt around 80-82, very comfortable temp
--seating in the pool area did seem limited and I can imagine they'd run out of chairs during a 'busy' time, but who knows, maybe they packed some away as the season is over.
--in the end I would stay here again, BUT, max $50 a night (weeknights0
GAMBLING:
--I'm just into the machines, the video slots and can't speak about the tables.
--I'm a low/no roller and play the pennies, and I have to say with my little play the points added up quick, which was surprising. The sign up bonus was based on the first 24 hrs of play... get 250 points, get $10 slot play, get 250 more, get $20 slot play, get 500 more, get ???, I want to say $50, but I missed the window, so I got nothing. I found it generous, and should have concentrated my first 24hrs of play to just this hotel and the linked player's club at the vegas club.
--I didn't find the machines tight, as I had many ups, with less downs. The bonuses, although not necessarily arriving often, for the most part paid well above 'my play'. I had several $40+ bonus rounds. These were had on Godzilla, Alice, Lord of the rings (which has many different fun surprises), Coyote Moon and Break the vault.
--drink service at the Plaza was good to great (as was Gold nugget, Vegas Club, Freemont st, and Main St. Station). Came around often and returned really quick
DINING:
--we really took the staying downtown to heart and ate dt every meal. We aren't food diva's, and couldn't complain about the buffets as we printed and redeemed the 2 for coupons for both Main St Station and Freemont St casino buffets. I can't remember what website, but it was found via a search for "freemont street buffet coupons". Notable about the coupon is that the coupon needs to be redeemed at the players club booth and it's one per players card, but 3 month time period. (not 100% sure about the 3 month period, but the coupon did state once per October 2011-December 2011 as I've heard others mention it's once per year). Anyways, I was happy with both as it's a buffet and I have control over what I pick on it and both had healthy choices and comfort foods and some surprises. Both had a decent breakfast, especially for the price. Dinner, also sufficient, although the bogo really made that easy, but I would have been alright even at full price. I do have to say for t-bone steak night, I think they use that liquid smoke which really took away from such a good cut of beef. But many other options to choose from. Prime-rib night at Freemont was not bad at all. We did no sit down, table service restaurants, so I can't speak to that.
FREEMONT: (the street, not the hotel)
--felt very safe at night
--the 'street kids' were harmless, and kind of amusing
--only one or two people begging, but very non-aggresively
--until now never stayed off the strip, but really like the convenience of everything.
--several stores for convenience items/booze/beer--such as Walgreens, ABC store
--free wi-fi at Krispy Kreme, set your phone up once on their wi-fi and everytime you
walk by the phone would grab a signal, update my email
--great entertainment in the evening with 3 stages (if you didn't like the music near one venue, move to the next, and the next)
--just all around fun
--i'd stay dt again
Take care,
JRS101
FLIGHIT:
--flights were a pain in the arse as we were flying on airline employee passes (sooo, standby).
But we got there same day and 2 didn't.
ROOM #1
--'comped' room at Bally's that was only comped because it was booked under 2 Total Rewards #'s. But being the paranoid traveller and knowing how annoying airline employee standby can be I also booked some dirt cheap rooms downtown at the Plaza (something silly like 16.97 a night or something like that) on govegas.com (which the lady at the hotel referred to as my orbitz booking, so maybe they are related). Good call about the standby room as the check in agent at Ballys asked for the 2nd person on the booking. Before you ask why the 2 comped room players card holders didn't take the first 2 seats, it's because you need the employee to fly with a non-employee. So, he did say as soon as the other arrives you can be reimbursed the room rate, but until then he would need to charge me $475.00 for the set res days. Not knowing when the 2nd part of the group would arrive I opted to head dt.
CABS:
--Cab from Bally's to Plaza was $23, + tip.
--Cab from Plaza to North Premium Outlet Mall, $10 + tip. Could have easily walked, but didn't
--Cab from Plaza to airport, $30, + tip
BUS:
--notable is that you need to get your ticket from the machine, AND, it's exact change only, so don't go sticking a $20 in it, as your bill will come right back out and say overpaid. Also, 2 things will print, the receipt, and the actual bus pass. Make sure you don't just grab the receipt and leave.
--$5 for 2 hours (the $2 one way no longer an option)
--$7 for 24
--other options available, but we only needed it once
HOTEL:
--Upon leaving the cab you immediately get the wiff of the scented air that many have talked about in reviews. It's right from the drive court in through the lobby and the casino. Plus some places do have the undertones of sewage. Nothing nauseating, just noticeable. Also worth mentioning, as I'm a safety freak, there is a guard posted at the elevator entrance asking for room keys to gain entry to the elevators.
--Plaza, check in a breeze at 11:30 pm. Got room 1925 and a page of coupons. The coupons were 20% off at Hash House, $5 for signing up for players club, and some 2 for 1 meal at the Vegas Club.
--The room is as called out by many. It's reno'd, but with a few caveats. The furnishings all new. The linens nice. The lighting was messed up.....the lighting fixtures were great looking, but the light switch on wall does nothing. You have to feel your way around the room for any light fixture. In our case it was one in between the beds and upon feeling it up there was no switch or cord, but rather you had to screw the bulb in. Voila, there was light. So, we moved the big silver lamp with no on/off switch to the desk and moved the desk one, with a push switch to the bedside table. Let's move on. Ok, so again, the walls weren't redone and just looked old with a paint job. The sink/counter was brand new and very nice looking. The tub, not new, but functional. We didn't experience any of the backing up of water that some spoke of. The bath amenities are basic basic basic, shampoo, body wash, moisturizer, bar soap. Towels were sufficient and there were 4 of everything. More towels are avail on the pool level. Other then that, great flat panel tv with good selection of channels.
--first night, 2:30 am phone call...."hello".."yes, I heard you were looking for girls?"...."ummm NO"..."room 1925?", "yep, but still not looking"...."ok, take care". What the...??? Then I was waiting for the banging on the door that I've read about at other downtown hotels on reviews. But nope, nothing that night or any night.
--water pressure fine in this room
--hot water was HOT...figuring there is no coffee pot, so I had a semi-boiled tea in the a.m.
--never had to wait long for elevators
--subway just beside lobby, as well as a very well stocked hotel store
--pool level is kinda funny as the entrance is very prison feeling, with the big mesh/metal gate
--pool area is very plain. Big pool. Water felt around 80-82, very comfortable temp
--seating in the pool area did seem limited and I can imagine they'd run out of chairs during a 'busy' time, but who knows, maybe they packed some away as the season is over.
--in the end I would stay here again, BUT, max $50 a night (weeknights0
GAMBLING:
--I'm just into the machines, the video slots and can't speak about the tables.
--I'm a low/no roller and play the pennies, and I have to say with my little play the points added up quick, which was surprising. The sign up bonus was based on the first 24 hrs of play... get 250 points, get $10 slot play, get 250 more, get $20 slot play, get 500 more, get ???, I want to say $50, but I missed the window, so I got nothing. I found it generous, and should have concentrated my first 24hrs of play to just this hotel and the linked player's club at the vegas club.
--I didn't find the machines tight, as I had many ups, with less downs. The bonuses, although not necessarily arriving often, for the most part paid well above 'my play'. I had several $40+ bonus rounds. These were had on Godzilla, Alice, Lord of the rings (which has many different fun surprises), Coyote Moon and Break the vault.
--drink service at the Plaza was good to great (as was Gold nugget, Vegas Club, Freemont st, and Main St. Station). Came around often and returned really quick
DINING:
--we really took the staying downtown to heart and ate dt every meal. We aren't food diva's, and couldn't complain about the buffets as we printed and redeemed the 2 for coupons for both Main St Station and Freemont St casino buffets. I can't remember what website, but it was found via a search for "freemont street buffet coupons". Notable about the coupon is that the coupon needs to be redeemed at the players club booth and it's one per players card, but 3 month time period. (not 100% sure about the 3 month period, but the coupon did state once per October 2011-December 2011 as I've heard others mention it's once per year). Anyways, I was happy with both as it's a buffet and I have control over what I pick on it and both had healthy choices and comfort foods and some surprises. Both had a decent breakfast, especially for the price. Dinner, also sufficient, although the bogo really made that easy, but I would have been alright even at full price. I do have to say for t-bone steak night, I think they use that liquid smoke which really took away from such a good cut of beef. But many other options to choose from. Prime-rib night at Freemont was not bad at all. We did no sit down, table service restaurants, so I can't speak to that.
FREEMONT: (the street, not the hotel)
--felt very safe at night
--the 'street kids' were harmless, and kind of amusing
--only one or two people begging, but very non-aggresively
--until now never stayed off the strip, but really like the convenience of everything.
--several stores for convenience items/booze/beer--such as Walgreens, ABC store
--free wi-fi at Krispy Kreme, set your phone up once on their wi-fi and everytime you
walk by the phone would grab a signal, update my email
--great entertainment in the evening with 3 stages (if you didn't like the music near one venue, move to the next, and the next)
--just all around fun
--i'd stay dt again
Take care,
JRS101
