Sam's Town vs Orleans

I am heading to Vegas for a solo trip in about a week, while I am flying solo I want to check out some of the other places around for some "comp seeding", lol........I have one day to spend at either Sam's Town or Orleans, will probably go on wed to check out the Young at Heart promo......which would you choose and why? I have been at neither one before. My bankroll is about $500/day, I play mostly VP with some slots thrown in, my GF is mostly a slot player.....

 

I've stayed and played at both and I really liked Sam's Town - looser machines - good BJ rules, limits and great comps!

 

We've been usually staying at Sams Town lately, but Orleans is great for the casino as well.

 

Sam's Town doesn't permit doubling after splitting on low limit blackjack games while Orleans does.

Sam's Town no longer has the equivalent to Orleans' The Courtyard Cafe (coffee shop by an old definition) for a good sit-down non-buffet breakfast. Sam's Town opens their Fridays venue for underwhelming breakfasts.

 

Orleans is very convenient to the strip (if that matters) and to Palms/GC/RIo. I play table games, not slots or VP but I really enjoy playing at the Orleans. Very lively atmosphere. However if they have a big event at their arena, such as a sports tournament of some kind, it can get very crowded and hectic. There was a wrestling tournament going on last year when I stayed there a couple of nights and had I realized that beforehand I would have stayed somewhere else.

 

Orleans. It's been a really long time since my only visit to Sam's Town and it didn't make a great impression on me. It is a shame that Boyd doesn't mine their data so that players get offers from one location for play at another like other casinos. I hate having to build a profile at each former Coast location.

 

As others have said, Orleans is much more convenient if you want to visit other casinos (GC, Palms, Rio) and the Strip.It also is quite a bit bigger with more variety and restaurants, etc.

GG

 

The Orleans is much livelier and has higher limits. I really like Sam's Town but it is quiet and has lower limits. Both are great properties in my opinion and you can't go wrong with either.

 

If the purpose of your visits is actually comp-seeding (that's a good term for it), keep most of your money in your pocket. $500 coin in on $1 slots at Orleans got me teaser offers for 2 nights Premium King any time. I'm not sure how to translate that to VP coin in, but you get the idea.

 

I like both. I give a slight advantage to Orleans in restaurants due to fuddruckers and the oyster bar. Comps are better at Sam's. My play gets me RFB (gold card) at Sam's vs minimal dining credit at Orleans. Besides location and comps the biggest difference is I'm always approached by "Ladies what does" if I'm playing after midnight at Orleans and never have had to deal with high pressure salesladies at Sam's.

 

If you are indeed chasing comps, Sams Town has been quite generous. We "moved" there mainly because a couple we frequently visit with loves the place but found that they are far more generous with room comps for modest players than CET ever was! Low-limit casual play, but consistent, over a few days will get you room offers. We actually got 5 nights this past holiday season and we stayed the whole trip off the Strip and it was quite enjoyable. We do not get any RFB (other than meals for points that is) but it's a very nice place for very little money!

 

Don't get me wrong, my purpose is to gamble, I'm gonna run the coin thru no matter where I am, so I might as well see what else I can squeeze outta that cash!!....lol.........I am just trying to give some decent play to some of the off strip casinos and non chain casinos I haven't really played at much to see what else is out there, preferably at places with good VP options .............my plan is to spend a day at each of these casinos, give them a chance, and see what happens and how much I like their facilities.......... MSS, TI, Orleans or Sam's Town, Plaza, and the Tropicana(not sure about the VP options here, but the GF expressed an interest in staying there)...... I have one day set aside for either Sam's Town or Orleans, have not been at either, hence the question. Right now I am leaning towards Sam's Town because of the VP offerings listed on VPfree2 seem better, and I can always wander down the street to Eastside Cannery if I wanna check it out..........afaik there is nothing else within walking distance of Orleans, please enlighten me if there is!

 

I like the restaurant options and atmosphere much better at Orleans. The bars are always hopping at Orleans and rather slow at Sam's Town.

 

I like Orleans casino a lot more than Sam's Town. Orleans has a wider variety of machines and a lot of older ones you don't see anymore. Sam's Town is big but it doesn't have as much variety. The thing I like about Sam's Town is the atmosphere of their atrium, I know you asked about gaming but there is just something cool and otherworldly about taking a break and sitting in that atrium at night. Yes you're sitting in a fake city park in the middle of a desert but at night with the lights and the trees it's just cool.

 

I like both areas. While there is no walking distance casino near Orleans, there is a free shuttle that will take you to their sister casino, Gold Coast, so you do have two Boyd places connected. Or if you like a 20 minute walk, you can walk Orleans to Gold Coast and in the daytime it is very safe. I try not to walk much of anywhere late at night. I've often done the Eastside Cannery walk to Sam's Town in early morning, but I never like the walk. Also, from the Orleans the city bus 201 hits the strip at Tropicana while the free shuttle hits near it at Flamingo, so that gives you good options for strip adventures. Add in a free Rio to Harrah's shuttle and you really have most of the strip covered without those overcrowded, overpriced strip buses.

You might seed both. I only play at the Orleans, but I often pay for rooms at the Gold Coast. They send me some decent offers just for dropping $20 and not everyday. The free shuttle will take your luggage from one to the other. VP at the Orleans is a bit low pay. I play these nickel machines 3 play machines almost exclusively. I play 9/7 DB and there are three progressive royal meters, so it is pretty good VP at just 75 cents a spin. With that play I get 2 weekdays free each trip. I pick Wednesday because there are great Young at Heart promotions.
I often ride the bus in Vegas. The cheapest and least crowded way to hear downtown is the WAX. This stops in front of NYNY on Tropicana so the 201 will get you there. Only one run an hour, so plan. The 202 from the Gold Coast will get you up to Sam's Town or Eastside Cannery in about 40 minutes, and anywhere in between. I often take it from the Gold Coast to Ellis Island for the steak special. Both the Orleans and the Gold Coast pools are heated. The Orleans is the nicer one. The Gold Coast is small, but I find it very comfortable. There is a bus that runs along Boulder and it will take you downtown. It is my least favorite route, especially in early morning. It passes through seedy areas and often collects characters. One easy ride late at night (up until about 1 AM) is the 202 from Eastside Cannery. The bus stops for a driver break, so you can watch for it, and it parks next to the parking lot anyway. Pretty safe.
From the Orleans the 201 will take you to the Pinball Hall of Fame, a favorite off strip entertainment.
All these buses, unlike those on the strip, are usually uncrowded and cost $2 one way, $5 for 24 hours. Seniors with a BTC issued picture ID or a Medicare card can ride half price.
If you are at the Orleans, you might like eating at this place right across the street
http://www.mcmullansirishpub.com/index.shtml

Call ahead to see the appetizer specials. Arriving just 5 minutes after the happy hour doubled my charge for their wonderful potato chips.

If you get the American Casino Guide, check for coupons that offer weekdays one free buffet at the Gold Coast and one at Sam's Town for earning 200 points as well as some Matchplays. Using those gets me some minimal mailings from the Gold Coast even though my play is very light. Also one coupon for Sam's Town gives a weekday free night with the purchase of 2 nights.

 

Sam's Town has a shuttle bus to the strip and downtown.

 

Lot more video poker bars at Orleans which is essential for my Las Vegas experience. They have enough dining options that you don't have to leave. If you want to leave Orleans they have a small shuttle to Gold Coast and the Strip. At Sam's town they run full motor coaches to several Strip locations and Downtown, about twenty minute ride each way.

 

I have booked one night at the Orleans on my upcoming trip. Do you or anyone else here know if taking your luggage (1 checked and 1 small carry on) on the shuttle is allowed? This would be my plan A and plan B would be Uber/Lyft or taxi if I can't get wifi to work. Just trying to save some money any way I can.

 

I have seen luggage on the shuttle but there is no place to put it other than an empty seat. Sometimes they are full and the pecking order is Boyd's hotel key holders, other riders, then luggage. If you really want to save money look into the city bus that runs down Tropicana to the strip, depends on where you are going. Orleans will have wifi at their business center if no where else.

 

I agree re the above post. Btw, Orleans has wifi almost everywhere, now.

GG