Yes. And we keep hearing the same comment, that paying for parking in downtown garages is nothing new. But there are two big differences.
First, valet parking is free. Pull up, collect your parking stub, and you're off and running. Sure, you have to tip, but it's a small price to pay for the convenience, especially when the fees to park yourself in the garages are comparable to a valet toke.
And second, when you park downtown, you can validate your ticket in various ways (by a floorman or pit boss, a slot attendant, a restaurant host or manager, a bartender, sometimes even a cashier, though the days of stamping your parking-garage ticket in an easy-access machine at the cage are long gone) and get the fee waived. The downtown model gives legitimate customers an avenue for avoiding the additional fee; the Strip model does not.
Here’s the rundown of fees.
At Binion's, parking in one of the two garages costs $1.50 per hour without validation; with validation, parking is free for up to three hours.
At Boyd properties (California, Main Street Station, and Fremont), you pay a flat rate, $3, on Sunday through Thursday and $5 Friday and Saturday. Parking is free for hotel guests, gamblers, restaurant-goers, and Emerald and Sapphire players club members.
The D: $2 an hour; hotel guests are free, validation good for four hours.
Downtown Grand: $5 for the first two hours, $1 thereafter up to a daily max of $9; for hotel guests, and Silver/Black players club members, it’s free.
El Cortez: At the main garage, hotel guests and Club Cortez premium members only; always free. They may park at the second garage too, which is also free for everyone till 5 p.m.; after that, Sunday-Thursday it’s $5, Friday and Saturday $10, without validation.
Four Queens: Fees: $4 per hour up to three hours, then $1 an hour (max $16); hotel guests free; reduced rate with validation for players and diners.
Fremont Street Experience: $2 per hour (max $10); park between 6-9 a.m. and 6 p.m. for $3 total; validation at participating hotels. Golden Nugget: $2 an hour; free for guests; validation good for three hours.
Neonopolis: first hour free, then $1 per ($5 max up to 24 hours).
Plaza: $5 flat rate; guests free; fee refundable with validation.
