1. Welcome to VegasMessageBoard
    It appears you are visiting our community as a guest.
    In order to view full-size images, participate in discussions, vote in polls, etc, you will need to Log in or Register.

Plaza was surprisingly nice (when open)

Discussion in 'Downtown Hotels' started by jugdish76, Nov 4, 2012.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. jugdish76

    jugdish76 Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2002
    Messages:
    407
    Location:
    Los Angeles
    I was very bored with the Plaza as a casino visitor, even post-renovation, so I never thought I would stay there. But they had a good deal right before we left, so my former college roommate and I took it (he is more Strip than Downtown anyway, so it was probably better to be in a not-so-dingy downtown place).

    The casino was still dead (I did not play there at all), but the rooms are very nice. I would put the rooms ahead of the Golden Nugget rooms, especially for a lower price. And it is right next door to the Golden Gate, where I prefer to gamble.

    They have a nice, if relatively empty, bar or lounge, but it closes early.

    One weird thing of note -- the Plaza is apparently closed until 4 p.m. every day, including weekends. That is not to say it is actually closed, only that many of its bars, its main valet, etc. are closed until 4, and there are few tables open (slots seemed the only action during the day). I wonder how that is cost-effective, though I guess the amount of daytime traffic is not enough for a full-time staff.
     
  2. C0usineddie

    C0usineddie VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Jun 7, 2011
    Messages:
    3,817
    Location:
    San Diego
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    12
    Not sure you realize but the valet under the big dome in front is not the hotel valet, its for oscars steakhouse and is only open later in the day.

    the main valet is was on the side in an odd area by the greyhound bus depot and south tower.
     
  3. jugdish76

    jugdish76 Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2002
    Messages:
    407
    Location:
    Los Angeles
    That would explain the valet situation. It was definitely not clear.

    But many of the casino bars were closed until 4 p.m., and like I said, there was not much action other than slots to be found before then. Maybe one table open, if that.
     
  4. merlin

    merlin MIA

    Joined:
    Aug 1, 2009
    Messages:
    3,755
    Location:
    mn
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    40
    Yup, it's dead, bad rules, bad paytables, they spent all that money for nothing, no chance they make it another year without customers.

    But the absolute saddest thing is that they cant figure out how to get customers, like it's a mystery.
     
  5. jugdish76

    jugdish76 Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2002
    Messages:
    407
    Location:
    Los Angeles
    That is a shame, Merlin. The rooms are very nice, and the location is great.
     
  6. dmr

    dmr Registered Abuser

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2011
    Messages:
    19,794
    Location:
    Somewhere in Middle America
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    70
    I know this is pre-renovation, but we stayed at the Plaza in 2004 and I found the room to be surprisingly nice. We got it on this Southwest Vacations deal where the flight for two and the room was actually cheaper than two regular flights only. They even let us check in at about 7:45 in the morning!

    [​IMG]
     
  7. gerry53

    gerry53 VIP Whale

    Joined:
    May 6, 2008
    Messages:
    1,257
    Location:
    canada
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    27
    this may have been mentioned before but one observation I had is that they have that huge stage in front of golden gate right on the street to cross over to plaza.

    huge crowds build in front of the stage area literally blocking most of the view of the front of the plaza and most people stop at the end of the canopy which is at the stage and then just turn around after.
     
  8. sammasseur

    sammasseur VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2009
    Messages:
    2,785
    Location:
    Salem Oregon
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    63
    That stage is an absolute menace in every way. It's an obstacle that makes a huge amount of noise and attracts the most uncomfortable mix of thugs, lowlifes, the homeless, and families with little kids. Lots of little kids. It won't be long before a drunk, dancing amongst those kids, falls on one and seriously hurts or kills it. It's the most bizarre spot in all of Vegas. :vomit:
     
  9. gerry53

    gerry53 VIP Whale

    Joined:
    May 6, 2008
    Messages:
    1,257
    Location:
    canada
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    27
    you hit the nail on the head sam!

    I am convinced that plaza is affected negatively by that stage and it is such a great spot for the little kids to collect with the dancing girls in front of golden gate and just inside the open doors of the vegas club and this is not against the casinos as vegas is an adult escape.

    less strippers at disney.
     
  10. sammasseur

    sammasseur VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2009
    Messages:
    2,785
    Location:
    Salem Oregon
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    63
    As former mayor Oscar and his wealthy diners watch the antics from their golden dome in the sky......
     
  11. tatterdema

    tatterdema VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2001
    Messages:
    1,642
    Location:
    Seattle WA
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    60
    No kidding! The music is so loud and obnoxious too. Last week I avoided it by cutting through the Golden Gate, out the back, and across the street to my room at the Plaza. Monday night at 2:30am the music was still blaring, with only about 10 drunken homeless looking people hanging out. There was no one on the stage, so I am not sure where the music was coming from. It really is a bizarre mix of people there.
     
  12. gambler

    gambler VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2012
    Messages:
    2,048
    Location:
    Canada
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    40
    I can't recall how long the stage has been there, but it may have been intentionally put there to block the view of the Plaza. Reading this article from 2010, http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/may/04/fremont-street-experience-operator-sues-plaza-hote/, it says the Plaza opted out of the Fremont Street Experience in order to save about $40,000 per month.

    I have noticed that the Plaza is no longer included in FSE advertising. As a business decision, I can't really blame them (the FSE operators and the other casinos) from wanting to block them off.
     
  13. gerry53

    gerry53 VIP Whale

    Joined:
    May 6, 2008
    Messages:
    1,257
    Location:
    canada
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    27
    I do recall reading that article awhile back. boy that is a pretty nasty bit of payback though.

    It seems so obvious that the stage would kill a lot of plaza`s business and can you imagine the chaos at that area being a main way out of the canopy area if there were ever an emergency evacuation of any kind. I am kind of shocked that the fire department would even allow a main access like that be almost totally blocked.

    It is kind of a shame for plaza after putting all that money into fixing the place up but they have made some pretty bad business decisions putting a lot of the blame on themselves.

    I sure hope pop up pizza relocates if they ever go tits up though.
     
  14. VegasSteven

    VegasSteven Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Oct 13, 2012
    Messages:
    238
    Location:
    Colorado
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    40
    I miss the days when you could walk right through the east end of Fremont St over to the Plaza. Between the dancing crowd and the standing crowd, it can be hard to get past the stage on either side in the evenings. And I guess it's a personal choice as a parent, but I would not want my kids (especially the little ones in strollers) to be in the town square like that.
     
  15. sammasseur

    sammasseur VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2009
    Messages:
    2,785
    Location:
    Salem Oregon
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    63
    They moved the 1st street stage to the north side, flush up against Las Vegas Club. There is now a clear view of Plaza and Oscars, and the walkway is unblocked. Unfortunately, it still attracts the same riff-raff. Saw toddlers and drunks dancing side by side, close to midnight on a Tuesday. Garbage parents, each and every one.
     
  16. Joe

    Joe VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2009
    Messages:
    16,023
    Location:
    Wisconsin
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    175
    These are post renovations
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    We double booked and just took some pictures back in April. They were nicely furnished, but the casino is lacking. The "crowds" are already looking as small as Las Vegas Club.

    There is no vibe to the place and now since they refuse to negotiate a new Union contract, I have absolutely no reason to ever step foot in there again.:nono: I realize some here will say all the more reason to go in because of that, but that's personal decisions. I've made mine.
     
  17. tatterdema

    tatterdema VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2001
    Messages:
    1,642
    Location:
    Seattle WA
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    60
    What bugs me about the new standard rooms, are that they only have 1 chair. 2 beds but 1 chair? When I travel with someone, we normally like to sit around a table and have a couple drinks. It is now impossible to do this at the plaza. Same with room service. If you eat in the room, you have to either eat on the bed, or eat at the desk in an uncomfortable desk chair. For this reason, I liked the old rooms pre remodel better, even if they were in pretty bad shape. A table and chairs in bad shape are better than no table and chairs at all.
     
  18. merlin

    merlin MIA

    Joined:
    Aug 1, 2009
    Messages:
    3,755
    Location:
    mn
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    40
    The bottom line with the Plaza is they have very few customers in that great big casino, thus there is no vibe, other than depressing.

    But the truly astonishing thing, is that it doesn't occur to them to look right down the street at what the competition is doing, and offer the same or better.

    They really think that bad rules, bad paytables, and bad conditions, might work!

    Well, it didn't work, but are they going to change anything...nope.
     
  19. Candy Apple

    Candy Apple VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Mar 15, 2004
    Messages:
    2,360
    Location:
    Cleveland
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    20
    We don't play tables but went in the Plaza a few months ago for slots. Yes, it was empty. Drink service was great.
     
  20. makikiboy

    makikiboy VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2007
    Messages:
    6,752
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    35
    It's sad that they would spend a lot of bucks to renovate the place and make it look like an "upscale" hotel but then still have the "lower class" mentality when it comes to customers and customer service. A little goes a long way, too bad they don't take the time to go that extra mile to make it a better place to stay and gamble.
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.