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First Time Staying Downtown - Looking for Suggestions

Discussion in 'Downtown Hotels' started by Yall, Mar 24, 2015.

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  1. Yall

    Yall Low-Roller

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    Hi Gang,

    About to take my 9th trip. Flying solo this time and thinking about doing Fri/Sat (May 15/16) downtown.

    Since I won't have any of the usual complainers with me, I'm free to stay wherever I please. Granted, I'm not looking for a total rat-hole, but I also tend to use my room exclusively for sleeping, so a cheap room, with a good location, and a comfortable bed should get the job done.

    All opinions welcome - thanks in advance!
     
  2. LoveDowntownVegas

    LoveDowntownVegas High-Roller

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    Solo is great! you should love it.
    Weekends are no longer "cheap" downtown. I wish that were the case.
    with your criteria you have plenty of options.
    I would start with The D, Downtown Grand, and possibly 4Q.
    El Cortez cabana suite is another option, but it's a little off the path (as is DTG). all depends on your preferred location.
     
  3. Drambler

    Drambler High-Roller

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    The Plaza had a very comfortable bed and the room was pretty nice. It was bigger than other places I've seen downtown. My buddy stayed at the Downtown Grand and it was very nice. It had a great pool if that is something you want.
     
  4. insin

    insin Speed Spender

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    I would try Downtown Grand.
    The pool area looks fantastic.
    Since it's part of the Ascend Collection Hotel Group, the rates should still be reasonable even though it's Rock In Rio weekend.
     
  5. Joe

    Joe VIP Whale

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    The remodeled Plaza rooms are very nice except for the tiny bathrooms. Solo, that should not matter.

    We have a VMB member who is a host at Plaza. He has done some solid comps for members, myself included.

    His email: Fe'[email protected]
     
  6. wanker751

    wanker751 Dutch Rudder Enthusiast

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    If you do not care where, or not looking for back end comps, you can do priceline name your own price. I did well 3 weeks out at 4Q saved money vs booking at 4Q website.

    They list guaranteed amenities so anything with a Casino would be a casino resort and you can take it from there.

    The 4Q rooms they got were in the older tower and tiny, clean and nice. I stayed at Fremont and liked it as well.
     
  7. makikiboy

    makikiboy VIP Whale

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    Damn, prices are high in May. The cheapest downtown place I found for May 15/16 (2 nights) was the Cal at less then $275. The Plaza wasn't too bad but with resort fees it was probably over $300. GG was also available as was the El Cortez, unfortunately for the price at the EC they will probably give you one of the vintage rooms above the casino (not as nice as the tower or cabana rooms). I used Kayak to search for rooms that weekend.

    I love the cal but some others don't like it because it isn't right on the FSE, you have to walk a block to the FSE. I think the place is decent, decent room, decent casino. Not many amenities (small pool) but if you are just looking for a cheap place to stay on an expensive weekend, this will fit the bill IMHO.

    Keep checking rates! Hopefully prices will drop as it gets closer to May but no guarantees since that is just about the start of the summer season.
     
  8. mwig

    mwig VIP Whale

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    The biggest difference maker in my mind is the pool. Do you care about a pool? I never do when traveling solo. That said, cheap central room, you really can't beat 4Q or the D. You can walk out the door and head either way or go straight to the Grand. Everything is just about even. I've never stayed at Fremont but location is the same.

    My personal favorite is Main Street Station and I don't mind the walk getting to the heart of the action.
     
  9. bwatson23

    bwatson23 High-Roller

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    Buddy and I stayed in the Rush Tower? once a couple of years ago, it was pretty nice. I remember it only having one bed, but I crashed on the couch.
     
  10. Sipsey

    Sipsey Tourist

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    Used to be that the GN was rated best, MSS second, then everything else. That has probably changed some. As stated above, consider if you want a pool. GN has the best, Cali probably the worst. Plaza I believe has one and the D and although I haven't seen the Grand, evidently they do too. That may be about it.

    But if that is not a consideration and you don't care about the room so much, if that weekend is expensive I'd consider some of the motels in the area. Depends on if you mind dealing with panhandlers on the way back and forth. If that doesn't concern you either, and you are willing to pay the going rate, based on what you said I'd recommend 4 Queens since it is basic and central. I have stayed there a couple of times and it is okay. A clean quiet room, a little worn but fully functional is what you should expect.
     
  11. mwig

    mwig VIP Whale

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    I would also like to add that if you play a decent amount, the hosts at 4Q are good about comping. Actually, that experience is prior to the current comp accrual system. You accumulate comps at a rate of 0.625% so if you play $5k coin in you accumulate $31.25 per day in comps. That alone covers a majority of charges even if the hosts do nothing. I might be way off base on the room cost. I really haven't priced one in ages.
     
  12. Yall

    Yall Low-Roller

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    Excellent posts and suggestions, thank you.

    I hadn't even considered the pool as a factor (being in Buffalo this time of year has that effect!) but knowing that mid-May is pool season will force me to factor that in.
     
  13. CoveredinBeer

    CoveredinBeer Low-Roller

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    Wow, those seem really high for downtown. If you walk out of the back of the Cal, by the craps tables, you can walk into the back of Binion's just across the street, so FSE doesn't seem like a block away.
     
  14. aaisack

    aaisack VIP Whale

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    Most of the rooms (at casino hotels) downtown should fit your criteria. Avoid "Vintage" rooms at the El Cortez. The Four Queens rooms are also a bit run down.
     
  15. caretaker77

    caretaker77 Tourist

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    Pro tip right here. Thank you.
     
  16. bubbakitty

    bubbakitty Doing retirement again and happily so....

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  17. bubbakitty

    bubbakitty Doing retirement again and happily so....

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    sorry, Rockin N Rio is that weekend and apparently the previous one as well.
     
  18. makikiboy

    makikiboy VIP Whale

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    I know what you mean, I checked out the bconnected site but couldn't find any deals from the downtown Boyd hotels for that weekend. I checked out kayak and found the under $150 a night rates for the Cal.

    But then I just checked kayak but the cal now is at $246 A NIGHT so guess the cheaper rates got sucked up.

    Yup, that weekend and the one previously will have the Rock in Rio music festival, supposedly it is the world's biggest music festival. Guess I won't be visiting vegas in May, esp with the big fight the first week and Rock in Rio the next 2 weeks and then the start of the summer season (and the heat!) right before memorial day. I probably won't be going back to vegas (was there at the beginning of this month) probably until September.
     
  19. Yall

    Yall Low-Roller

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    Again, thanks for all of the suggestions.

    I've decided to narrow it down to four, picking the Nugget, Plaza, D and the Cortez based upon a few objective and subjective variables (distance from other casinos, pool quality, kitsch value, etc.)

    Right now, the prices are:

    Plaza - 291.54 (low end room)
    GN - 359.34 (low end room)
    The D - 336.00 (premium room - corner kind with view)/291.00 (low end room)
    El Cortez - 243.00 (Cabana suite)

    I think these rates are inclusive of resort fees, estimated taxes, and what not. Not exactly great prices, but as many have noted it's a big weekend with the Rock In Rio USA show.

    I've also contacted the host mentioned in this thread about staying at the Plaza, so I will definitely wait to hear back from him to see if that may sway my decision.

    Right now, I'm thinking about the Nugget, if for no other reason being able to swim with the sharks. If it weren't for that, they would probably be in last place.
     
  20. Sipsey

    Sipsey Tourist

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    I don't think you can go wrong with GN. Even if they put you in the Carson Tower , way in the back, which is probably the cheapest, the rooms are very nice. It's just a longer walk to Freemont. By strip standards, not really all that much of a trek.

    The only other room I have personally stayed in in Vegas that was any nicer was at Red Rock. But I have never stayed at any of the high end places on the strip.
     
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