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To stay at MSS or the California?

Discussion in 'Downtown Hotels' started by 1BETSY1, Jul 18, 2013.

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  1. 1BETSY1

    1BETSY1 Tourist

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    I've never stayed at either hotel but I've enjoyed gambling at both.
    Just wonder what hotels rooms offers the most comfortable bed, TV and shower pressure?
    I'm a little concerned about the train noise everyone post about the MSS.
    Thx.
     
  2. Bernie2

    Bernie2 MIA

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    I've heard nothing but good about the MSS.
     
  3. freddywill

    freddywill Low-Roller

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    We always stay at MSS. When I first started going to Vegas I stayed at the Cal, it was okay, but MSS has a little bigger rooms and the bathroom is a little bigger also. But the best part is the staff, they are always so nice over there.
     
  4. makikiboy

    makikiboy VIP Whale

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    I have to disagree with Freddy. IMHO, the California West tower bathrooms are much bigger and way better than the MSS bathrooms.

    http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g45963-d91763-Reviews-California_Hotel-Las_Vegas_Nevada.html

    Picture 21 of the traveller photos is of the bathroom in the Cal west tower.

    compared to pictures of the MSS bathrooms:

    http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g45963-d91885-Reviews-Main_Street_Station_Hotel_Casino-Las_Vegas_Nevada.html

    picture 54 in the travellers photos is the standard bathroom at the MSS

    the difference is that at MSS, the vanity area is outside of the "bathroom". the bathroom contains the shower and toilet, making it look small. Also next to the vanity is the closet, where you hang up your clothes and could get splashed on by the vanity (if you do a lot of splashing, lol).

    In the Cal west tower, the bathroom contains the toilet, vanity (long counter) and shower. The "closet" is smaller at the Cal, outside of the bathroom and on the bottom of the closet contains the fridge but then most people don't have that much to hang up anyway IMHO.

    As for me, I rather stay at the Cal West tower, and lately seldom stay at the MSS. I like the location, between the MSS and the FSE. Elevators are centralized and right in the casino, near the escalators and the market street cafe. You can also see/hear the trains but they aren't as noisy since they are over a block away. IMHO, you hear the traffic (sirens, etc.) on main st. more than the train noise.

    Yes at the MSS you have to ask for rooms that are facing south that are closer to main st. rooms on the north side face the freeway so you have the freeway noise to contend with. South facing rooms that are close to the train tracks (rooms away from main st.) do encounter some noise from the trains passing by so might be a problem if you are a very light sleeper (to most of us heavy sleepers it wasn't as much of a nuisance). Elevators are in the back of the hotel/casino so you have to "hike" back to them at the end of the night. they are located back of the front desk, behind the player's club and gift shop so not as convenient as the elevators at the cal.


    I don't think you can go wrong with either hotel since they are very similar and are boyd properties. I really haven't noticed any difference in staff between the 2 hotels IMHO. the beds are similar. not sure if MSS has flat screen tv's but last time I was at the cal, the tv's weren't flat screen and were in a hutch. I also think the shower pressure is similar between the 2 hotels.
     
  5. gerry53

    gerry53 VIP Whale

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    next trip I will stay at mss or even plaza and will definitely request a room facing the train tracks.

    I like to nap at all hours of the day and night in vegas and that thump thump thump of the music playing in the evening is just too much for me even with earplugs.

    the curse of being a light sleeper I guess.
     
  6. 1BETSY1

    1BETSY1 Tourist

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    I'm somewhat of a light sleeper, so I'm a little concerned about staying at MSS now.
    Lets see, MSS stay on south rooms you get FSE noise, stay on north you get the train noise.
     
  7. merlin

    merlin MIA

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    I've stayed at both and I prefer the MSS.
     
  8. Buddha

    Buddha VIP Whale

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    We stay at MSS 3 times a year, for 7 nights each trip, staying in a south-facing room, and have never heard the FSE music.

    And ... what Makikiboy said about the closet in the MSS rooms is not correct. The closet is NOT by the vanity, but rather on the opposite wall, by the main door into the room.
     
  9. freddywill

    freddywill Low-Roller

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    MSS has flat screen tvs now and also small refrigerators in all there rooms now. I guess its just a matter of preference, my mom and aunties feel safer at the cal because of where the elevators are located, there are more people around.

    The only real complaint I have about MSS is the pillows that they use, they give two queen size pillows that are really soft, one is too soft and flat and if you use both, then its too high on your head, kinda uncomfortable. I dont know what kine the cal uses but Orleans has two pillows also, but one is flat and the other is kinda fluffy so they mesh good together.

    I'm sure the staff at the Cal are very nice also, but we have made friends with a lot of staff at MSS and thats why I like to stay there.
     
  10. Reston

    Reston VIP Whale

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    Doubt if you will hear FSE noise.

    The train tracks run behind the property, so if you get a room at the front of the tower (the higher up the better) you will lessen the train noise.

    I think the train noise is less from rooms facing North b/c the drone of highway noise covers some of it up. Pick your poison.
     
  11. Reston

    Reston VIP Whale

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    This is totally incorrect. The bathroom does not "look" small, it is in fact designed for tiny people who are highly bendable. I believe the brochure says "ideal for pigmy contortionists." :thumbsup:
     
  12. ernestoc33

    ernestoc33 Low-Roller

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    I've been staying at both for years. If I had to recommend one over the other MSS hands down. The train or freeway noise isn't really an issue. Trains do come by through out the day, but its no louder than the humming of the A/C. The water pressure is great and there's plenty of hot water. The bed is quite literally the most comfortable I've ever slept on, no exaggerations. The rooms themselves are pretty quiet, hallway noise is rare if any at all.

    My wife and I always stay at MSS for our wedding anniversary, its that great lol. We actually stayed there on our wedding night and everyone working there made it special for us. They really know how to treat people, at all Boyd properties really.
     
  13. jmp6477

    jmp6477 Tourist

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    That's good to hear about the train noise. We are staying there in mid August for the first time and was a bit concerned. As always, the anticipation of a Vegas vacation is killing me!
     
  14. Huddler

    Huddler VIP Whale

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    I stayed at MSS for one night back in April. My room faced the train tracks and I never heard a thing. The staff there was over the top friendly. Really enjoyed bullshitting with the dealers, CW's, pitbosses, and bartenders. The only thing I didnt care for is the windows have plantation shutters rather than curtains. I need it to be very dark to sleep and those shutters just dont block out enough light for me.
     
  15. makikiboy

    makikiboy VIP Whale

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    Betsy, the north side of MSS faces the freeway so you could get some freeway noise (see pics 80 and 91 on the site I posted earlier). Hit or miss on how noisy it is, it also depends on what floor you are on (the floors level or slightly higher with the freeway might hear them more). Some of the rooms on the south side of the MSS are near the train tracks so many people ask for rooms on the south side but closer to main street to get away from the train tracks. Pics 73 and 74 are pics from a south facing room that is closer to the middle of the building so you could ask for a room closer to main street (higher floor also) to get away from the train noise. You are 2 blocks away from the FSE so you do not hear the FSE noise since the windows are sealed (unless you open the windows and I am not even sure if the windows open anymore).

    betsy, sorry for scaring you but IMHO I don't think the train noise is a big factor. You should try it out, you can always ask to move rooms if it bothers you.
     
    Last edited: Jul 22, 2013
  16. makikiboy

    makikiboy VIP Whale

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    ernestoc, what are the differences between the 2 hotels that you have noticed? Just wondering what they do to treat people that the cal doesn't do, especially when you say "hands down". I am the opposite, feel more comfortable staying at the Cal as others have mentioned, more centralized, like the larger bathrooms in the west towers, elevators closer to it all, many eateries on 2nd floor and 1st floor (not a problem since so easy to walk to either hotel). Have not noticed any difference in the beds between the 2 hotels but then I am a heavy sleeper. One other thing I noticed was that MSS usually charges $10 a night more so for a 6 night stay it would cost $60 more (incl tax).


    I guess we all have our own likes and preferences, while you like to stay at the MSS, I would rather stay at the cal. IMHO, not a problem with either since both are boyd properties and run pretty much the same, again IMHO.


    One other thing to note: while I stay at the Cal, I like to play at the MSS. enjoy the craps tables better there with their 20x odds. but for me it's so easy to take the elevator from my room to the 2nd floor and walk across the mezzanine and down the escalators to the MSS tables. Unlike others, I don't bet enough to get comps do doesn't matter where I stay.
     
  17. makikiboy

    makikiboy VIP Whale

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    Sorry Buddha, I stand corrected, from the photos, the closet is right by the door when you enter.
     
  18. ernestoc33

    ernestoc33 Low-Roller

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    I think its the size of these hotels, they only have a few hundred rooms. They can't afford to give a low roller a free room maybe. I've never been comped at MSS, but I've been comped at the Orleans a dozen times for just video poker and casual craps play.

    I suppose you are right, recommending one over the other is subjective. I think I gravitate more towards MSS due to the little things. The staff at the Cal are always nice, but MSS seems to go further for me every time. Maybe I just have a pleasant face and that's why lol. The beds at the Cal are exactly the same I think.
     
  19. makikiboy

    makikiboy VIP Whale

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    good to know, yes it's how you are treated that makes a difference at a hotel. yeah, I find that it is hard to get comps at MSS, even at the tables. I get the same at the Cal also. I have an easier time getting comps at fremont but I would rather stay at the Cal or MSS (I hate the valet parking and small rooms/bathrooms at the fremont).

    :peace:
     
  20. ernestoc33

    ernestoc33 Low-Roller

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    Have you ever gotten a comp from the MSS or Cal? I'm curious to know exactly what it takes to get one. I think Fremont is more liberal with comps because even though they don't have a ton of rooms, they always have a surplus of vacant rooms.
     
    Last edited: Jul 23, 2013
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