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Questions about the downtown Boyd properties

Discussion in 'Downtown Hotels' started by raisingoo, Oct 2, 2012.

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  1. raisingoo

    raisingoo Medium-Roller

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    Booked 3 nights at The California downtown for an upcoming trip... I would have preferred to stay at Main Street Station (I like their VP and microbrews at their bar), but The Cal was cheaper. I'm a low roller and got a $25/night weeknight offer and took them up on it. I figure I can use the pedestrian overpass for easy access to MSS.

    Having stayed at neither property, I have some questions that I'm hoping veterans can answer.

    1) Which tower at The California (I believe there are two) is closer to MSS? Which tower has the "better" rooms? Any hints on asking for a specific room?

    2) I have "6,208 slot points" accumulated on my BConnected Online account. I've read a few things online and I understand that if I get food at a BConnected property, it's discounted 40% when paying with points. Therefore, I think my points are worth $10 and change. Can someone confirm this?

    3) My flight arrives somewhat late at night, and I bet that the player's club booth will be closed by the time I get there. But I might be hungry. I've ate at the 777 Brewpub at MSS before and I liked it. Would it be possible to pay part of my bill with points, even with the player's club booth being closed (i.e. no one available to write out a comp)? In other words, can I present my card at the 777 Brewpub and get $10 off my meal by redeeming my points? Or do I have to wait until the player's club booth is open and do it that way, the next day?

    4) Oxtail soup... Never had it. Should I try it? I keep hearing good things about it at the cafe at The Cal.

    5) Other dining options at either property. The buffet will be closed by the time I get there. Can I pay for my partial check with points at these places?

    Thanks for any help.
     
  2. Royal Flusher

    Royal Flusher Savvy Gambler

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    Hello, and thank you for choosing the California Casino and Hotel for your upcoming Las Vegas debacle!

    1) The west-most tower is closer to MSS but ONLY if you get a room near the elevators. I had the last room on the hall once and it was right at the back of the property. I think it is newer than the east-most tower but the rooms are about the same.

    If you are in the west tower you can get off on the mezzanine and shoot right over to MSS - but really, you are never more than a few minutes from MSS no matter where you are at the Cal. This is not like going from Luxor to Dickscalibur.

    The eastern tower is lower and not as many rooms and even it is pretty darn handy to MSS.

    2) That is correct.

    3) I think the player's club is open till midnight - however, if you have set up a PIN with your slot club card, you can pay with points right at the register. No need to get a paper comp or anything. If you don't have a PIN and the players club booth is closed, put it on your room and try to get it comped when you check out.

    4) Oxtail is really a cow's tail and that tail is right next to the chute that has dumped approximately 8 tons of cow shit out of it in the life of a cow. If you can get over that, be my guest - I'm sure it is delicious.

    5) The coffee shop at the Cal (Market Street Cafe) should be open. Try the prime rib special. You can get a decent steak at the Pasta Pirate and a higher end meal at the Redwood Grill. http://www.thecal.com/dine

    Yes, if you don't have enough points, they'll use what you have and you can pay the rest or put it on your room and try to get it comped later (you really should do this).

    Have a great stay at the California!
     
  3. mdk63

    mdk63 Low-Roller

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    Ox Tail

    On #4.......oxtail is an incredibly tender and tasty piece of beef; it has thin layers of fat which add great flavor. Have the soup! It's well protected from the "chute".
     
  4. mdk63

    mdk63 Low-Roller

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    #5

    The tiny Hawaiian place is totally casual with excellent food. I never miss it. Good "the morning after" too much of a good thing. It's located on the 2nd level on the walkway towards Main Street.
     
  5. Electroguy563

    Electroguy563 Vegas Joker

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    I had a great laugh out of this...you sir, are too much! :nworthy:

    It is a delicious treat, though, if you can get over what it really is, which is a cows tail.

    I've mentioned this a few times, but the Market St. Cafe at the Cal at 2 a.m. is filled with patrons and almost every table has people slurping up ox-tail soup.
    It's great comfort food when you've had too much to drink.

    I absolutely love it. To the OP, try it at least once!
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 3, 2012
  6. atom

    atom High-Roller

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    Give the oxtail soup a try. It's beef, the tasty close to the bone slow roasted all day so its tender. It's under 10 bucks and available from 11pm on. There will be a line (which usually moves quickly) and almost everyone orders the oxtail soup. The banana fritters are also on the late night specials and are quite good. If you get there at a regular (daytime) hour I suggest the black cod.
     
  7. Homeschool

    Homeschool Low-Roller

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    LMAO :evillaugh
     
  8. makikiboy

    makikiboy VIP Whale

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    The west tower at the cal is the newer tower. I like those rooms, the bathrooms are much larger than the ones in the east towers IMHO.

    Some info for the west tower:

    As others have mentioned, ask for a room closer to the elevator. I think there are 48 rooms per floor, it is a sometimes a pain to have to walk all the way to the end of the corridor to get to your room.

    There are one or two "suite" types of (larger) rooms that are the lower numbered rooms and located south of the elevators. I had a friend that knows some people and they got the rooms, very comfortable.

    For the west tower, always ask for the view facing west. Most of the east side rooms in the west tower are facing the east tower, not much of a view (unless you're a pervert and want to watch your neighbors, lol. kidding, but also the a/c fans are located between buildings and so could be noisy also). I think the west side rooms might be the even numbered rooms but I'm not sure. Unfortunately that means that you face main street and the train tracks, while the trains aren't that loud (compared to MSS) it is probably better than hearing the a/c fans.

    For the east tower: There are a few rooms that are very spacious, they are the rooms located near the elevator.

    For the east tower, don't get a room facing west as it will be facing the west tower.


    The market street cafe is open 24 hours a day, but one day (I think it's tuesdays) they close after midnight (not sure of the time) for cleaning but the pasta pirate opens up to make up for the closure so there is always an eatery open at the Cal.

    As you know, the 777 at the MSS is also open late at night. Other than that I don't think there are other eateries that are open late at night.

    On the walkway between the Cal and MSS there is a Hawaiian eatery open during regular hours, in addition to an ice cream place. There is a "lanai" area at the Cal that is located on the 1st floor near the craps tables and the entrance facing binions and the lvc. the chicken wings are excellent and they serve other hawaiian type of plates along with sushi and snacks. The lanai is open I think from 9 am to 9 or 10 pm (maybe 11 pm?).

    Oxtail soup is a delicacy for many Hawaii people. The chefs cook it enough that the meat practically falls off the oxtail bone. It has the meat and fattiness to give it a good taste, you can dip it in ginger and soy sauce to give it more flavor. Some people love it, others might feel like Flusher and avoid it. It is a good meal late at night and the broth gives you a warm feeling.

    One other thing, many of the Boyd Vacations Hawaiian charters arrive late in the evening (10 pm) so many head for the market street cafe after they check in. If you see long lines after 10 pm to 1 or 2 am it is probably because the charter just came in and they are having dinner.

    Lastly, rub the buddha's tummy for good luck. It is located by the check in desk and between the east tower elevators. supposed to give you good luck (not sure how true that is though, lol).
     
  9. Royal Flusher

    Royal Flusher Savvy Gambler

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    I think I am gonna have to give this soup a try, it sounds pretty good (with selective memory).
     
  10. makikiboy

    makikiboy VIP Whale

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    Good luck, guess you never know until you try it.

    Actually I never thought of it the way you mentioned, maybe if I did I wouldn't have tried it either, lol.

    I'm leaving in 3 days so I can try it again too.
     
  11. NJGEORGE

    NJGEORGE Tourist

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    Oxtail Soup is great and a must try for everyone. Never say you do not like something unless you have tried it once.
     
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