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MSS or California

Discussion in 'Downtown Hotels' started by PokerFaceNJ, Apr 30, 2013.

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  1. PokerFaceNJ

    PokerFaceNJ Low-Roller

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    My wife and I are heading to Vegas during the last week in May for five nights. I have the first four nights comped on the strip, but we are seeking something reasonable on the last night (Friday). We know this is not easy, but we are leaving early Saturday morning so paying a ton for a room doesn't make sense. We usually stay downtown at least one or two nights on every trip anyway. We have stayed at GN and the D, but the MSS and California are both offering us a room at $51 (B Connected rate). If you had to choose between one of these two properties, which one would you go for? Why?
     
  2. Turtleman

    Turtleman VIP Whale

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    We often get to choose between MSS and Cal and always go with Cal mainly to avoid the train noise. Aside from that, we like the atmosphere at MSS (and of course, the beer), and do most of our playing there. You couldn't go wrong at either place. Sounds like we'll be in Vegas around the same time, and plan on being at MSS on the 24th.
     
  3. Joe

    Joe VIP Whale

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    MSS. 777 Brewpub and the buffet. Great selection of their own beers.
    But honestly I don't think you could go wrong at either one.
    The Cal has more restaurant options, but they are attached with the skywalk.
     
  4. Joe

    Joe VIP Whale

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    I must admit for the first time ever, the noise was an issue our last night. We're always in a suite on the north side, which overlooks the freeway and train tracks. I was losing so bad this trip I went to the room early and "relatively" sober on our last night and the noise did bother me a bit. Previous trips sobriety has never been a factor.:drunk:

    But, getting a room with an odd number puts you on the south side, facing the Plaza and greatly reduces the noise. Problem is there are no suites on that side.:cry:
     
  5. Crambone

    Crambone Gnaeus Pompey Magnus

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    I thought I read somewhere here that the Cal has a mini fridge in every room. I like the Cal East tower because it's closer to the garage. I stayed on the 18th floor in the southern most room and the FSE noise was not a factor.
     
  6. Turtleman

    Turtleman VIP Whale

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    Yes, there's a mini fridge in the Cal rooms, at least in the east tower, which is the one we prefer. There may be one in the west tower and MSS too; it's been years since we've stayed in either.
     
  7. Joe

    Joe VIP Whale

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    MSS has fridges in all rooms.
     
  8. PokerFaceNJ

    PokerFaceNJ Low-Roller

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    Fridge is not a selling point. The 777 brewpub is a plus, but the highway noise is a minus for MSS.

    Also just found out that there are no more King, non-smoking rooms at MSS...that may tilt the favor to Cal.
     
  9. Turtleman

    Turtleman VIP Whale

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    It's hard to consider the 777 a plus unless crossing the bridge from the Cal is a major stumbling block!
     
  10. Joe

    Joe VIP Whale

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    King

    Just called MSS, they still have king bed, non smoking, but as with most hotels, these are requests, not guaranteed.
     
  11. PokerFaceNJ

    PokerFaceNJ Low-Roller

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    I guess I shouldn't trust online reservation webpages!
     
  12. robert m.

    robert m. High-Roller

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    I know that the bathroom in MSS is small, but I think that the main room is a little larger at MSS.

    This is just my opinion. I suspect that you will both be a bit tired after four days. I think that I would enjoy "chilling out" at the MSS. I like the Cal a lot, but it just seems a bit crowded at times on Saturday -- compared to the MSS.

    Another small difference: At the MSS, the bellman has to call a cab for you if you wish to cab to the airport. At the Cal, there is a cab line at the southwest corner exit to the Cal (the door you'd walk out to enter Binion's back door). Now, you could still stay at the MSS, check out, then roll your luggage over the skywalk (over Main St.) to the Cal, then catch a cab at the Cal cab line.

    Or, if you really want to economize, catch the WAX to the airport for $2 each.

    Best wishes for a happy trip!!
     
  13. Buddha

    Buddha VIP Whale

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    We stay at MSS 3 or 4 times a year, and ALWAYS get a King / Non-smoking room. Just had one April 9 - 16.
     
  14. Buddha

    Buddha VIP Whale

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    Yes, we stayed a couple times at the Cal, and its rooms are definitely smaller than the MSS rooms .... and the bathrooms at the Cal are also smaller.
     
  15. makikiboy

    makikiboy VIP Whale

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    I have to contradict buddha on the room sizes. the cal west tower rooms are similar to MSS IMHO, not noticably smaller as mentioned. the bathrooms in the Cal west towers are much larger than the bathroom at the MSS. All the west tower bathrooms are fully enclosed, housing a long vanity area, toilet and tub (unlike the cal east tower bathrooms which have their vanity outside of the bathroom).

    You can view the cal bathrooms at
    http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g45963-d91763-Reviews-California_Hotel-Las_Vegas_Nevada.html

    Click on the travelers photos to see pictures of the hotel.

    The Cal east tower bathrooms are smaller, the west tower bathrooms are larger. Pictures 16, 20, 23 and 24 are the standard west tower bathrooms at the cal. If you have a SO, she will probably appreciate the cal west tower bathrooms IMHO.

    I normally prefer the cal to the MSS. I like the cal west tower rooms, facing west. the west tower rooms facing east face the other cal tower, plus there are fans below the 2 towers and can get quite noisy on the lower floors. I like the cal because it is in between the mss and the fse so I can walk either way easily. IMHO, it's always a pain for me when staying at the MSS, I have to walk all the way to the back of the MSS to get to the elevators, then go up and walk all the way back to my room. While not that far, when tired (or drunk) it might be a trek to get back to your room at MSS. I also avoid the train (and freeway) noise staying at the cal. At the MSS I always have to ask for a room that is closer to the main street side, facing south. That way I avoid a room that is near the train tracks and the freeway noise that you get when staying in a north side room at the MSS.

    I also like the cal west tower because I can get off on the 2nd floor mezzanine and walk through the overhead walkway to get to the MSS craps tables. the distance isn't that far from the cal to MSS.

    as far as I know, all the Cal rooms have the mini fridge.

    As others have mentioned, I don't think you can go wrong with either the Cal or MSS. Not the quality of the GN but for downtown I like the MSS and Cal over most of the other hotels. But that's JMHO.
     
  16. Viva Las Vegas

    Viva Las Vegas Elvis has left the building

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    I like both casinos, but I like the rooms better at The California, primarily due to less train / highway noise and the rooms are a little nicer at The California. I never stayed there until last year, but I really hated the California in the early/mid 1990s. The casino was dirty and very smokey. Boyd has done a nice job upgrading the casinos and I would imagine the rooms.

    Fremont is their least attractive downtown property (low ceiling smokey / rooms small, bathrooms tiny, not as nice) with a better location. I wish they would offer better BJ rules (primarily DAS).

    Downtown with the exception of the shuttered LVC and Binion's have done a better job, better than many strip casinos, at improving their rooms and casinos. Low/mid range strip properties bank on their location to draw a captive audience, but there is a lot of potential at several CET and MGM properties.
     
  17. Buddha

    Buddha VIP Whale

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    Sorry ... we stayed both times in the East tower. Did not know that the west tower was different. My bad ....
     
  18. makikiboy

    makikiboy VIP Whale

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    not a problem Buddha, the east tower is the older tower. you should ask for the west tower next time you stay at the cal to see for yourself, you might like it better than the MSS, but that is mostly up to the person as some like the east tower better. For me, after staying in both the east and west towers, nowadays I always ask for the west tower.

    There are some east tower rooms that are roomy, they are the ones (2 of them) right near the elevator and face the strip. I stayed in one once and enjoyed it a lot.
     
  19. tvon

    tvon VIP Whale

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    Think about the Cal and the MSS as the same property. TWith the connecting bridge, they is little to say you are in a different place. In fact, most strip properties are similar in size when you combine. Even the GN rear towers are further than the towers at MSS and Cal. (or at least seems that way).

    IMHO, you can't go wrong at either. Cal is a closer walk back from FSE. Thats all i could think of, except the MSS brunch buffet.
     
  20. robert m.

    robert m. High-Roller

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    Makikiboy .......

    Thanks for Cal info & pics! I learned a lot!
     
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