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Plaza or The California

Discussion in 'Downtown Hotels' started by Greg1962, Apr 15, 2014.

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  1. Greg1962

    Greg1962 Newbie

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    I have The California booked for my vacation at a higher price than The Plaza.
    I can change my reservations to The Plaza and get an early flight out to Vegas for the same price of The California.
    Is there much difference between the basic rooms of the two?
    The Cali has a fridge and no resort fee.
    The Plaza has wifi and a resort fee which is factored in with my price difference. If the room as about the same I'm thinking of switching to The Plaza. Looking for any help from those who have stayed at both. Thanks.
     
  2. Natural21

    Natural21 Low-Roller

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    The rooms at the Plaza have recently been renovated. They are a little larger than The Cal, I believe. For a lower price, I might stay at the Plaza. I would rather play at The Cal, though. You won't go wrong at either.
    Good luck. :beer::beer:
     
  3. jimboguy

    jimboguy MIA

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    If the price, including resort fee, is cheaper at The Plaza - I would seriously consider switching to the Plaza.

    If you do decide on The California, the rooms in the West Tower are newer than the East Tower.

    The California is where I stay most often when in Vegas, but I typically stay there on a comp. If I had to pay for the room, and the Plaza was cheaper, I would choose Plaza.
     
  4. Breeze147

    Breeze147 Button Man

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    Just to add my 2 cents, the fun factor, for me anyway, is way higher at The Cal.
     
  5. M0rtyC

    M0rtyC TBD

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    I agree with Breeze. There is nothing inviting about the Plaza casino. Walked through there during the Sweet16 and walked right back out. The place was completely dead. Stopped quickly by the bier garten; cool looking idea but I have access to all the offered micros much cheaper at home.

    Shut up already MortyC and get to the point!!
    I would never stay where I wouldn't want to gamble so I'd go for Their Cal 101 out of 100 times
     
  6. Darreningreenwood

    Darreningreenwood Low-Roller

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    That's one things that's always gotten me about the Plaza; I like the looks, setup, and style of the casino at the Plaza, but it always seems dead. I'm staying there on the 27th, and it will probably be dead as well. At least that means I should be able to find an open table, and be staying in a somewhat fresh room.
     
  7. merlin

    merlin MIA

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    The rooms at the plaza might be about as good as the cal, but it's a dead casino, no people no vibe, you'll almost be embarrassed to go up to your room. I'd stay(and I am staying in june) at the cal.
     
  8. Joe

    Joe VIP Whale

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    Here are some Plaza pictures after the renovation. Bigger rooms than Cal, but as mentioned, very little life in the casino.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  9. Joe Strummer

    Joe Strummer VIP Whale

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    If the pool ( area) matters ?
    Gotta go w/ The Plaza -- no question !
    *
    I agree w/ the others - Plaza casino always
    seems dead ----
    but Downtown.....EVERY casino is a short walk away !
     
  10. makikiboy

    makikiboy VIP Whale

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    Some things to mention.....The plaza wall safes are electronic (you can see it in the pic with the vanity), you enter in your own code to set it. The "safes at the cal are wall safes but have only 1 key to open it. If you lose your key you will be charged for them to open the safe. If you forget your code at the Plaza they can come up and reset the safe (I think), not sure if you will be charged for it.

    The Cal west tower rooms have a bigger bathroom than the plaza, the west tower bathrooms contain a large vanity area to keep your stuff on, toilet and bathtub/shower all in one room. The bathroom at the Plaza is like the Cal east tower rooms, the tub/shower and toilet are in one room and the vanity area outside of that bathroom. I like the Cal west tower bathrooms because I can put all my stuff out and have plenty of room for anything else I have, plus I can use the vanity area without bothering anyone else in the room.

    The cal has a pay wifi but I think it is more expensive than the Plaza resort fee IMHO. Not sure as I forgot how much they charged. You are not able to get the free fremont st wifi at the Cal.


    The Plaza has an exercise room with treadmill, stairmaster and a universal type weight machine along with a water cooler (you can fill up your water bottles there). The Plaza has a large pool while the cal pool is more for lounging. As others mentioned, the Plaza was recently renovated so is a nicer room and has flat screen TV's. The plaza TV's also have many channels, I think they have dish or some other service so had a bunch of channels in HD. The Cal only has the standard 20 or so channels but not in HD and on an old clunker tv.

    The Cal has a small fridge in all their rooms, good to keep your drinks and foodstuffs.

    Don't think you can go wrong with either hotel, just depends on what is important to you. They are only a block away from each other so not very far to go to gamble. As others mentioned, gaming at the Plaza isn't the greatest, casino isn't very busy but easy to just go outside to another casino. As for me, if it was more than $10 a night more to stay at the Cal (even with plaza resort fees) I would probably consider the Plaza because the room is nicer and the tv has a lot more channels.

    I usually stay at the Cal, mostly because with the resort fees the Plaza is usually more expensive. I also like the Cal because I like their eateries and easy access to MSS without going outside. Plus the Cal and MSS cater to Hawaiians so seem more "friendly" and with the "aloha" spirit. :wave:
     
  11. mattMN10

    mattMN10 Minnesota living. Las Vegas dreaming.

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    Are those pics of a standard room at Plaza? That looks pretty nice to me, I'd be happy with that when I get there on Sunday...
     
    Buddies 4th of July Bash
  12. letsgotovegas

    letsgotovegas VIP Whale

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    Factors to consider

    How much more Vegas time does the earlier flight get you? If you are super early you may not be able to get into your room until the afternoon - will being "homeless" for a few hours be a hardship?

    Is there a possibility that you might play enough to get your room charges comped off - or at least partially comped? Which casino would you play in more - Cal or Plaza?

    Cal is part of Boyd so you have more choices regarding using any points you might accrue for more food outlets, other hotels, etc - MSS and Fremont downtown plus Orleans, Gold Coast, Sam's Town and Suncoast. Something to consider. Plaza only has Las Vegas Club under the same umbrella.

    Unless it gets me more than an extra 10-12 hours of Vegas time, I'd probably pick Cal, but that's just me.

    Have a great trip, whatever you decide.

    Cheers,
    Kelly
     
  13. Joe

    Joe VIP Whale

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    Yes, standard room booked through a comp in the north tower.
     
  14. Mark1450

    Mark1450 Tourist

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    I love the Plaza. The rooms are great. The sports book is the best Downtown. While the casino is dead that means quick waitress action and open seats at the tables. Also they are very generous to me with the comps.
     
  15. Former Plaza Host

    Former Plaza Host Well-Known Member

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    Hi all!

    Just a few notes about the Plaza. I am not quite sure how the Cal works in certain aspects but...
    Yes we do have a resort fee that covers some small amenities..i.e. free wifi. However, based off your gambling during your trip you can always see one of us casino hosts and have your resort fee comped, or if you played well enough have your entire trip comped off. Allow me to introduce our casino hosts since I have brought us all up. You can ask for myself, Fe' Adolphus Curtiss, (aka, Curt), Kady Casullo, Paul Utell, Jim Carrabis, Esme Gonzalez, or Oscar Estades. Next, we are improving in many aspects with our gaming and the actual setup of our casino. We do ask for continuous patience in understanding our many upcoming improvements. Also, Las Vegas Club is also part of us and has some interesting and more fun action there. Some mentioned the Plaza being "dead"...we are attracting a great variety of guests that add vibrancy and variety to the Plaza and Las Vegas Club. Come in and play, enjoy, and be a part of the differences that are being made. :) :beer:
     
  16. Viva Las Vegas

    Viva Las Vegas Elvis has left the building

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    The California is my main home downtown, primarily because of the employees (and friendly Hawaiian guests), their food options and room/food comps on full pay VP (9/6 JOB, 10/7 DB).

    If I was paying for a room, I'd pick the Plaza over The California. The Plaza did a great job with their room remodels, their room prices are generally on par or lower than The Cal. The Cal rooms are older, clean but not very modern. Boyd could use a good remodel across their three downtown properties (and The Orleans), including a complete remodel of the Fremont rooms to include 21st century sized bathrooms (current state 19th century / turn of the 20th).

    The Boyd group and Four Queens are the only remaining open downtown hotel/casinos which haven't remodeled at least a portion of their property over the past decade (El Cortez qualifies w/ Cabana Suites).
     
  17. aaisack

    aaisack VIP Whale

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    The Plaza would be a decent hotel to stay at, since you're downtown it doesn't really matter if you're going to gamble there or not due to the short walking distance to the casino of your choice.

    Instead of playing at The Plaza, I would put your money into the machines at Main Street Station and California. They have a good selection of FP Video Poker and probably have better return rates on their slot machines as well.

    During my last trip, which ended a few days ago, I checked out the Plaza due to a tier matching program they have running. I couldn't find a video poker machine worth playing even after being bumped up to their second highest tier. Their pay tables range from insulting to just okay.

    Have a fun trip.
     
  18. makikiboy

    makikiboy VIP Whale

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    Actually the California West tower rooms were renovated about 5 or 6 or 7 years ago, but not the type of renovations that were done at the other downtown hotels, they just changed the wallpaper and carpets. Unlike the other downtown hotels Boyd group isn't trying to "stripify" their hotels with new fancy bathrooms or flat screen TV's (yet). New flat screen TV's with more channels would be nice but many Hawaii people don't really care about the bathroom modernization as long as they are functional. If Boyd group "modernizes" their hotels IMHO I would think they would also have to raise their rates to pay for it, I would rather they keep their current rooms and rates and not raise rates but that's just me.
     
  19. Viva Las Vegas

    Viva Las Vegas Elvis has left the building

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    I'd pay $10 or $15 extra for a new room. At Plaza, you can stay in a much nicer room (size, cleanliness, furnishings) for the same or cheaper cost than The California.

    Downtown Grand, Golden Gate, The D, The Plaza and El Cortez (w/ Cabana Suites) also did a great job w/ their remodels. Ditto Strip rooms at The Stratosphere , Riviera, Circus Circus, Treasure Island, Casino Royal and The Tropicana. There are many places across the value which offer nice newer clean rooms at a great rate.

    I'm less apt to stay at Boyd properties as the years roll along and rooms remain the same. The East tower rooms are very old - I swapped out for the West tower the one (and only) time I was checked into that tower. Boyd did a good job with remodeling Gold Coast rooms, and based on a report in another thread, The Orleans is also putting rooms through a much needed upgrade. I hope The Cal is next on the to do list. The rooms are tolerable, though they could be better (MSS rooms are nice but noisy due to train & I15).
     
  20. QIKFIX

    QIKFIX Low-Roller

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    Love staying at the Plaza.

    Have also stayed at the Gold Nugget previous trips.

    The rooftop pool at the plaza is awesome to relax at and the while the atmosphere in the casino might not be of everyone's taste, there is no issue getting a table. We are after all there to gamble.

    Looking forward to returning in just over 4 months.

    Q
     
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