Golden Nugget vs Plaza vs Dowtown Grand. Which would you choose?

Hi All,
I am planning a LV trip for March and in the past I have always stayed on the strip. This time around, I want to stay in the DT/Freemont area. I can get a some pretty great deals on all three places: Golden Nug, DT Grand, and Plaza but I have never been to any, (other than for gaming) so was looking for some feedback/suggestions ect.


Thanks a bunch!

 

For basic rooms, I think DTG and Plaza are about even and better than the older basic rooms at GN. If you're getting a nicer room at any of these properties, then I think it's an easy win for GN.

 

That pretty much says it all.

DTG and the Plaza both have the same furniture (from Fontainbleu).

If you are really used to the Strip experience, I think you'll be happier starting off at the Nugget.

 

Rush Tower at GN. You're a strip person. If you stay in a run of the mill Fremont St room, it could ruin your first overnight experience DT. I'm telling you, Rush Tower.

Nick

 

Bingo. Rush Tower rooms at GN are by far the best downtown, and definitely worth the small price difference of other rooms at the GN, The D and the Plaza.

Have a great trip!!!

 

You might even cry....

 

Another vote for the Golden Nugget.

 

Downtown Grand is a little out of it & can be noisy from bikers bar.
Golden Nugget has the rudest, most stuck up staff in all of downtown, some towers are a long long walk from the casino.
Plaza rooms are larger & offer better prices, a little more basic but friendly

 

Golden Nugget Rush Tower

The Junior Corner Suite at the Rush Tower at the Golden Nugget was actually nicer than my premium fountain view room at the Bellagio. The service was great. I can't wait to stay there again!

 

Iv stayed at both GN in the Rush tower and DTG and the Rush tower was much nicer than my DTG room. For me, I like the atmosphere and the friendly staff at DTG plus I love their pool deck. As much as GN has a nice pool, I think the DTG is just as nice but in a different kind of way. Room wise, the bed in the Rush tower was the most comfortable I have slept in. The bed at the DTG was okay for the one night I was there, but it was not comfortable by any means. It was nice staying at the DTG and not having to hear the noise from the FSE and its just a short walk to the canopy.

 

For me it is either GN Rush Tower or DTG. Between the two it usually just comes down to price difference in which I choose. I like both for different reasons but mostly those two because the rooms are decent...

 

I even think the rooms in the Carson Tower at the Nugget are decent, even though the DTG's standard rooms are better. Still, the lack of any vibe in DTG's casino, especially with the reduced table game hours, really kills that place for me. And I didn't even make it over to the Plaza when I was in Vegas last month. Right now, the Nugg is still the choice.

 

Not that I'm a huge fan of the Nugget, but I always recommend it to any/every one who is staying downtown the first time after multiple stays on the Strip.
It is - by far - the nearest to the 'strip' experience you will find downtown.

That said, here are a few things to consider:
1. Do you smoke? Do you want a smoking room? If so, you will be in the Carson Tower. Those rooms are the farthest from the casino of any rooms in the FSE/Downtown area. Plan on a 10 minute trip from your room door to the nearest blackjack table.
2. Do you eat where you stay? If so, understand that, along with the rooms, the Golden Nugget is also similar to the strip with their food prices - they're high.
3. Are you wanting to play red chips at the tables? If so, plan on doing most of your gambling at other downtown casinos, as the Nugget has higher (overall) minimums than every other casino.

I've stayed at the Nugget a few times - Carson Tower... and I gamble there (some) on every trip.
It's a nice property - the nicest downtown - but it's the least likely to get my business (for a room).
I've never received a room offer from them, and only two meal comps (at the tables) in over ten years of gambling there.
On the other hand, I have routinely received room offers from:
Golden Gate - 'theD' - Plaza - El Cortez - 4 Queens, & from Boyd (MSS, the Cal & the Fremont).
I have received multiple meal-comps from all of them - many times over the years.
I've never had any offers from the Nugget or the DTG, although to be fair to DTG, I've never gambled there, so I haven't really expected to receive anything from them.

If you don't mind a "less-plush" room, and if you're going solo - I would suggest, (as alternatives), the Fremont or Plaza. Similarly, a Golden Gate suite is as nice as a standard Nugget room & priced about the same.

Best comps/offers? Boyd.
Shortest distance from room to casino? The Fremont
Best cocktails (quality)? Golden Gate
Most spacious room for the money? Plaza.
Best cafe/diner? Magnolia's at 4-Queens, with Dupars at Golden Gate a close 2nd.
"Roomiest" casino? Plaza.
Youngest "vibe"? 'theD'.
Oldest 'old-school vibe'? El Cortez
Most 'fun' casino to gamble? Golden Gate.
Most available 24/7 double-deck blackjack at $5 minimums? MSS/Cal.
Best blackjack conditions/rules? El Cortez.

Good luck & have fun!

 

^^^ +1. I concur with TopCard. I always get a Rush Tower room at the GN but I do 95% of my downtown gambling elsewhere. I don't really care about comps so I do not mind paying for a great room and giving other casinos my gambling action.

The great thing about staying downtown is that it really does not matter where you stay because everything is so close.

 

I'm tired of hating on the Nug since I have stayed there three times for free, but the only thing I liked were the Rush tower rooms. These were the only rooms Downtown that ever made my wife say wow. If that is important to you, the Nugget wins. But with the nice rooms you get crowded casino, high minimums, crappy VP tables, overpriced restaurants, families and children running wild at the pools. Better pool vibe at DTG, standard rooms are new and nice. Frankly, I never play at GN or Plaza, too rich or too dead. Overall experience I would rate them by bank roll low to high: Plaza, DTG, Golden Nugget.

 

It is the nicest hotel downtown.
But because it always has a full casino, they can have higher minimums, worse VP, more expensive food etc. etc.
Better question to ask is why is the casino always full? Because it is the nicest downtown....

But I do agree on the pool. I think parents just dump them off there in the morning...

 

Everything here spot on. We stayed in a Rush Tower Junior Suite and usually stay at Cosmo/Wynncore. Is the room quality on par with those properties? Absolutely not, but at least it's in the ballpark. That being said, we are NOT high rollers and usually do the majority of our table game gambling downtown anyway. We played a few slots at the nugget but for the most part we just walked through it to get to other casinos. Like others have said, it's not a big deal because everything is so close downtown. It is the only downtown property I would even consider staying at...The quality of the hotel is unmatched downtown.

 

I completely agree..If you wanna have a fun time..the Plaza is your best bet!

 

My priorities are a comfortable, clean room with a good pool.
All 3 fit the bill, but by process of elimination I'd choose Golden Nugget.

DTG is #2 because it's a block from FSE. (pool area is amazing though)
The Plaza is #3 because the bathrooms are pea-sized and the elevators are scary old.

 

The Plaza is more fun than the Gate? Huh?

This is all very odd. A year ago, the Plaza was among the most hated properties on this board, and now they're being mentioned in the same breath as the Nugget??? I've been to the Plaza recently, and it's still the same low-key Plaza that it's always been. I'm not a hater, but this Plaza love affair is just odd.

Nick