Everything is easier there and less expensive, which leaves more money for the hobby. Many of the hotels have been renovated or expanded... The D, The Plaza, The Grand, The Golden Nugget, even the Golden Gate. There are cheaper hotel rates, cheaper restaurant prices without sacrificing quality, cheaper table limits and everything is closer and within easy walking distance. I have stayed at The Plaza, the Nugget, the D, and the El Cortez and have been more than satisfied each time. The Plaza underwent a $32 million renovation and the rooms are nice. The Nugget easily has the nicest rooms downtown. The Grand is spanking new. If staying at The El Cortez get the King jacuzzi suite...great price on a nice room. The people watching on Fremont is fun and you can always catch a free concert with quality performers. The Golden Gate and The Vegas Club have fun, cheap blackjack with HOT dealers. As far as the noise on Fremont I avoid that by staying in the South Tower King Suite at the Plaza and don't hear so much as a whisper or at The El Cortez, which is a block past the Fremont Street Experience in the newly gentrified Fremont East District. There are some really good restaurants and lounges at Fremont East and the Container Park is cool. My favorite restaurants Downtown are Triple George's across from The Grand, Oscar's at The Plaza, Charterhouse at The Nugget, Triple 7's Pub at the Main Street Station, The Redwood Grille at The Fremont, and the Dupaur's cafe at The Golden Gate, to name just a few. Downtown is fun!
Vs center strip. Seems as though they have pools and casinos and only a quick ride to wherever.
And much more reasonable. I have stayed mid strip many times. (MC)
I have stayed at the plaza, four queens and golden nugget rush tower in the past. No pool at four queens but you may use the one at binions. Rooms there are ok but bathrooms need a facelift and can get noisy in the middle of the night hearing everyone walk down the hallways .Rush tower being new construction a few years ago is modern and up to date and the nugget has a cool pool with a waterslide that goes through an aquarium. Nugget also has a nice steakhouse, vic and anthonys. Stayed at the plaza before the remodel so not sure about it now but i didnt care for it at all then. Very old and smokey smell and nasty carpets and baths. Im not a night owl by any means so if you hit the bed before midnight you may want to ask for a room away from fremont street experience as it can get noisy during the light shows.the food and drink prices and table game minimums are way better than the strip so if your on a budget its a wise choice. Also alot easier getting from casino to casino, you can walk down and see each one in a matter of minutes. I personally stay on the strip now just because my rooms get comped but if i went downtown again i would choose the nugget rush tower.
In addition what has been already said:
downtown can be very noisy if your room faces onto fremont experience.
Golden nugget has a nice pool yes but with the water slide etc its a hotspot for families and as its currently school vacation it will be absolutely swarming with families with kids. I was there recently - couldnt get a sunbed, coudnt get into the jacuzzi as it was wall to wall wth kids packed in like sardines and had to wait over 45 minutes for a towel!!! :-O
Rush tower is very nice.
Benefits of downtown:
Dont have to walk a mile from door to room.
Dont have to drive/sit in strip traffic.
Central to highways - get to anywhere in vegas quickly.
Some hotels downtown dont charge the extortion errr I mean resort Fees. Fremont and Four queens dont charge resort fee, someothers also may not. those 2 for sure.
its closer to go from hotel to hotel
24 hour stores withi short distance
old school vegas - emphasis is on gaming not on $800 bottls/e table service nghtclubs
My recomndations DT:
Rush Tower and Downtown Gran
The Nugget does, but the ramp is a pay ramp. I believe your room key will let you out, but still have to pass through an attended gate. Was at the Nugget a couple of weeks ago and the ramp was atrocious. Only one of two elevators worked and they only put a sign up on the first floor. Lots of folks waiting forever for an elevator cab only to have it be completely filled when the doors opened.
Now some of these hotels might have changed but here goes my downtown parking list recalling from memory.lol
Golden Nugget as one person mentioned they do charge for you to park in their self-parking garage.
However when entering the parking garage and you are handed a ticket to enter once you are in the hotel take that parking ticket with you.
Ask anyone that works in the hotel to validate it for you.They will stamp the ticket.Or there used to be a machine(not sure if it is still there) that you could slide the ticket through to get validated.
That way when leaving the parking garage and you hand the attendant the ticket there will be NO Charge for parking.
Downtown grand if I remember correctly I did valet and there was a fee I can't recall how much.
The parking garage is across the street from the hotel used to be the old Lady Luck Hotel uses that same parking garage.Not sure if there is a fee for parking garage.
Fremont Hotel there is no parking garage you have to valet here.Or attempt to find some street parking around the corner of the hotel.(Personally I would just valet)
Binion's parking garage I don't recall paying a fee.
Four Queens you do have to pay for the parking garage unless you do like I mentioned regarding Golden Nugget with validating the ticket.
The Plaza hotel you have to pay for the parking in the garage I believe it is $5.00 you can also get ticket validated only sometimes.There has been occasions where they ask for $5 upfront when parking.
El Cortez I don't recall paying for parking in their garage or the California hotel either.
Main Street Station free to park in their parking garage.
Golden Gate hotel no garage I believe you have to valet or park on street.
Hope this helps anyone who is traveling and staying downtown or even locals who might not be aware
Do you have to get validated at the Main Street Station, or is it just really free parking ?
I was there which was a couple of years ago it was really free parking.
There was no attendant and you do not get a ticket when pulling in to the parking garage.
free, unless you use your player's card. Then you need to go to the Player card registration booth (left of the escalators) and they will check your player's card to see if you have actually played, and if you have, then they will validate stamp it (for only 3 hours). You can get a pit boss or manager at the table games to sign it for a longer time.
Otherwise, you just flash your room card as you hand your parking stub to the attendant and they will let you out for free.
Your posts are always so helpful.........and insightful.......beautiful. What a comprehensive overview of the downtown area! One would never be able to get this type of "quality" information from a Google search.
You continue to amaze me with your eloquence...........and your altruism.
Please have an amazing day.
Golden Nugget Rush Tower rooms are far and away the best rooms downtown. I stay there every time I visit. Lots of nice dining options at the GN, awesome pool and a great lounge (Rush Lounge) with great drinks and entertainment.
I really like the downtown vibe and the closeness of the casinos, lower limits, better paybacks on VP and better BJ rules. I still visit the strip, but my home base is the GN.
Have fun on your trip!!!
The Downtown Vibe is great so I've been spending more time down there than the strip in the past year.
casino's pay outs are better if you are into gambling
new vibe in community development is under way
old school casinos, like binions, if you like it
and as it said below, when question posed to George Costanza
and Seinfeld's response was, to this day:
When you're alone and life is making you lonely
You can always go, downtown
When you've got worries all the noise and the hurry
Seems to help I know, downtown
Just listen to the music of the traffic in the city
Linger on the sidewalk, where the neon signs are pretty
How can you lose? The lights are much brighter there
You can forget all your troubles, forget all your cares
So go
Downtown, things will be great when you're
Downtown, no finer place for sure
Downtown, every thing's waiting for you
Don't hang around and let your problems surround you
There are movie shows, downtown
Maybe you know some little places to go
To where they never close, downtown
Just listen to the rhythm of a gentle bossa nova
You'll be dancing with 'em too before the night is over happy again
The lights are much brighter there
You can forget all your troubles, forget all your cares
So go
Downtown, where all the lights are bright
Downtown, waiting for you tonight
Downtown, you're gonna be alright now
Downtown
And you may find somebody kind to help and understand you
Someone who is just like you and needs a gentle hand
To guide them along so maybe I'll see you there
We can forget all our troubles, forget all our cares
So go
Downtown, things will be great when you're
Downtown, don't wait a minute more
Downtown, everything is waiting for you
Downtown, downtown, downtown, downtown
Read more: Petula Clark - Downtown Lyrics
Everything is easier there and less expensive, which leaves more money for the hobby. Many of the hotels have been renovated or expanded... The D, The Plaza, The Grand, The Golden Nugget, even the Golden Gate. There are cheaper hotel rates, cheaper restaurant prices without sacrificing quality, cheaper table limits and everything is closer and within easy walking distance. I have stayed at The Plaza, the Nugget, the D, and the El Cortez and have been more than satisfied each time. The Plaza underwent a $32 million renovation and the rooms are nice. The Nugget easily has the nicest rooms downtown. The Grand is spanking new. If staying at The El Cortez get the King jacuzzi suite...great price on a nice room. The people watching on Fremont is fun and you can always catch a free concert with quality performers. The Golden Gate and The Vegas Club have fun, cheap blackjack with HOT dealers. As far as the noise on Fremont I avoid that by staying in the South Tower King Suite at the Plaza and don't hear so much as a whisper or at The El Cortez, which is a block past the Fremont Street Experience in the newly gentrified Fremont East District. There are some really good restaurants and lounges at Fremont East and the Container Park is cool. My favorite restaurants Downtown are Triple George's across from The Grand, Oscar's at The Plaza, Charterhouse at The Nugget, Triple 7's Pub at the Main Street Station, The Redwood Grille at The Fremont, and the Dupaur's cafe at The Golden Gate, to name just a few. Downtown is fun!