Downtown as a true destination.

After the additions under the canopy and various casino make-overs, do you think it has "arrived" as a true destination?

All you new fans, lovers and haters of Downtown, feel free to share your thoughts and opinions. As far as myself, I'm still on the fence about this.

Edit: I noticed this is my 2000th post. Wow. Never thought I'd be this chatty. But I do love Vegas....

 

I think so. I made 12 trips to Las Vegas in 2014 and over half of them were Downtown. Granted most of my activity regards Silver Strikes at the Four Queens, but I stay ay the D when I'm traveling single.

Note that this is my 501st post. I've now graduated!!

 

Fremont Street is definitely MY destination...the bargains, the shows, the number of casinos in such a small area...all of my favorite places are here. D, El Cortez, Golden Gate, Fremont, Golden Nugget, and even Mermaid's and La Bayou!

I have exactly ONE reservation: It is difficult to ignore the fact that two of the big names on Fremont are failing; of course, these are the Vegas Club and Binion's. You really can't miss the two hotels where you cannot stay; the unused spaces in the backs of the casinos, and the new souvenir shop taking prime corner space in the Vegas Club.

As much fun as I have downtown, it isn't at the level of "destination" with these two historic giants in such bad shape.

Fremont Gene!

 

I found the whole Experience thing to be a one-shot deal. I went there, I saw it, done. However, I did actually enjoy the stroll I took away from the Experience and into what they're trying to brand as Fremont East. I liked the Container Park, and I loved some of the bars along the street. I admit I did enjoy my stroll through the old school casinos and those will always be an attraction as a link to old Vegas but if I go back to Downtown this next trip, it will probably be to the places that are out from under the canopy.

 

I split my time about 50/50 between Downtown and The Strip. Both are very different yet both have much to offer.

Bill

 

I love splitting my stays between Downtown and the Strip these days. As I have become more of a video poker junkie I find myself enjoying Downtown more and more. The fact that everything is such a bargain adds to the draw for me, not to mention the Dunkin Donuts in Fremont - haha. Every trip downtown I find new places but I still have more to discover. It's definitely not as 'shiny' as the strip, but as long as my room is clean and full pay video poker is available, it makes me happy

 

Typically I see the strip twice per visit - too and from the airport. Other than that, my time is spent downtown.
there are exceptions (i.e. upcoming birthday bash), but downtown is my destination.

 

I dont even bother going to visit the strip anymore, used to spend one day there, found myself asking why I am there when the games, prices and atmosphere I want is downtown.

 

We usually do either 5 or 7 night trips. If its 5 nights we will do 2 nights Downtown and then 3 on The Strip, if its 7 nights we'll do 2 on The Strip, 2 Downtown and then 3 on The Strip.

That will be enough Downtown for us - we go to Las Vegas for the gambling and luxury of The Strip for the most part. Downtown is great for some good power gambling sessions, finding some moldy oldie slots we don't see on The Strip anymore and lots of quick and easy casino hopping... but I personally wouldn't want to spend an entire trip down there.

 

We have stayed Downtown for many years now. Our trips to Las Vegas are centered around playing video poker, and that's where the playing is best! We don't do the Strip at all anymore. When we were younger, we stayed and played on the Strip. But, our first gambling was slot machines which we don't touch now. We do rent a car for part of our trip and enjoy visiting some casinos on Boulder Highway and in Henderson. Actually, I think Fremont Street is a little "fussy" now; don't care for the ziplines.

 

I stayed DT on my first visit to Vegas - and I keep coming back. I have stayed on the Strip a couple of times, and am going to split my next trip with two nights on the Strip and three DT. I always go to the Strip first because it is a relief to come "home" to DT and enjoy the casinos being so close to each other. Walking long distances is a problem now, so I see myself continuing to stay DT.

 

Prior to my trip last October for the Vegas Internet Mafia Family Picnic I'd never stayed downtown and hadn't even ventured down there in years. The last time I was downtown was right after the Golden Nugget opened up their new pool. I had a great time last October and now for my upcoming Easter trip I'm staying downtown on Friday and Saturday before moving to the Strip for a few nights. I can see myself continuing to split my trips on future visits if the trip is more than 4 days. I don't want to move hotels just for 1 night.

 

I guess you'll have people who prefer The Strip over Downtown and the other way around. I really can't look at Downtown as a true destination when the Strip is so much bigger and has so much more to offer (quantity and quality). Yes prices on the Strip are higher and the gambling is worse. But after one day or one night Downtown, I've seen enough. We've had several trips where we didn't even bother to visit Downtown. It just doesn't do it for us.

 

For the first time we're booked downtown. We LOVE spending time downtown, and most of our nights have always been spent there drinking and gambling. The biggest problem is we just can't seem to get past the great rooms on the strip. We've stayed at Cosmo and Encore the last two trips and I know nothing downtown will be as nice. We're booked in a Rush Tower Deluxe, but I'm hoping to score a suite at check-in. I don't see us spending a lot of time on the strip this trip in all honesty. I'm sure we'll eat a few meals on the strip and sight-see during the day, but the majority of our gambling/drinking will definitely be DT.

 

I stayed downtown one night on my last trip and swore I would do it every time, but I ended up with free rooms on the strip this time. I will be going downtown to visit for a couple hours one night though, I love the atmosphere and vibe down there.

 

Back in the good ol' days, there was no better place to play craps (or blackjack) than Binions.
I miss the atmosphere, the dealers, and the "clickers"
Sadly, those days are gone.

These days, I predominantly play craps, bet sports, bet the ponies, with some VP thrown in for good measure.
Daytime we like to hang at a nice pool with a party atmosphere.
I find these things to be much more enjoyable on the strip. (I know I can find better VP off-strip, but so be it)

We will make a stop downtown every fourth Vegas trip or so....(mostly as a stopover to or from Frankie's Tiki Room)
We did enjoy a recent dinner at Oscar's Steakhouse. Beef, Booze, and Broads......how could you go wrong?

Other than that, I find downtown to be a stinking crap hole .

 

I like both DT and the Strip, We have recently started spending nights downtown and really enjoy it. We also like the strip so the last couple of trips instead of spending 3 nights on the strip we spend 4 nights 2 DT and 2 on the strip. At our level we see much more food and beverage comps and even freeplay downtown.

 

We have been staying on the strip for the past 15-20 years, mostly because the MLIFE hotels give us free suites and freeplay. But after going to the brand new Golden Nugget in Lake Charles, LA (and losing our ass -twice)., I am now getting calls from GN in Vegas to come "spread a little love" there! Generally, DT is a little too seedy for my husband and I, but we are considering giving it a try next trip. Better odds and hopefully a winning trip could definitely change our minds about DT.

 

I think Downtown is short a couple of non-steakhouse Fine Dining options to be the True Destination in the OP.

On my forthcoming trip there's actually not much more than The Linq (which has opened since my last visit) and the Sambalatte coffee shop (I like their Summerlin branch) on the Strip that I might make the effort to see in addition to the obligatory stroll along the sidewalk admiring the 'neon' at night (on the way to Ellis Island for some beer and VP).

 

I'll answer it with that it always has been and that it never will be.

Downtown has a certain vibe with it. The live music alone would be enough to get me down there if I lived in Vegas. Some trips I get down there, some I don't. The ones I do, I really enjoy my time. I feel more relaxed. If I want a cheap meal, I have options very close by, that isn't the case on the strip. Same with cheap drinks and gambling. The strip I have to search these things out. Most of my family doesn't like downtown though. They prefer the huge open casinos, larger sportsbooks, among other things. So for me it will always be a distination, however I'm unsure if I would go to Vegas as often as I do if downtown was the only option there.

Which leads into why I don't think it will ever be a true destination. The strip is simply too close. To the average person, there is nothing downtown can do to make a majority of people choose downtown over the strip. That doesn't mean the average person won't go downtown. Everyone still always suggests vegas virgins to head to freemont to see the lightshow at the very least. Very few people recommend staying downtown your entire first stay though.

I'm hoping downtown doesn't change drastically. While I like The D, I don't want every casino down there copying it. The D feels like the strip without the grandeur of the massive resorts on the strip.