The new and improved Plaza

I spent Wild Card Weekend and NCAA championship game weekend downtown. 2 nights at the Fremont and 2 nights at the Plaza. My local casino is a Boyd casino so I get way better offers from them as when I travel to Vegas I tend to post up in the sportsbook at 8 am and spend my days betting horses and games. With the book being leased to William Hill, the Plaza gets no benefit from any money I push through there. The Fremont is fine, although most every room I have had there has been really loud with bleed from Fremont St. But every time I'm there I can't help but think I'd be happier at the Plaza.

You can genuinely see a change that has occurred at the Plaza over the last year. It has become so much more accommodating and well run. Check in check out has been well staffed on my last couple visits. They let me check in at 11am on my last visit. I really like the rooms at the Plaza. Beds are always comfortable, The AC is the best in Vegas. I stayed at aria one summer and couldn't get the room under 80 degrees. Nothing worse than paying top dollar to be miserable. The tv is one of the very few in Vegas with a huge lineup of channels. For a sports junkie having channels like espn u and espnnews and Fox sports west make the stay better and it's so rare to see things like this. Also the internet connection is the strongest and most consistent I have used in a vegas room. I stay south tower for it's proximity to the sportsbook with the added bonus that it has to be the most convenient Valet of any hotel. 60 seconds from dropping the car to being in your room. Also Paul, who is a valet in the morning, could not be any nicer. I come a few times a year and he always remembers me and always has comments about my favorite team.

So how is it new and improved:

The live music they play next to the Omaha bar is great. You can hear it when you are sitting at any of the table games. Ever been at a pai gow table where everyone is singing along to KC and the Sunshine Band? Fun and this was a Monday night.

The overwhelming perfumed smell no longer exists.

The dealers, the pit crew, the cocktail waitresses all had smiles on their face.

The expanded sports book is checked consistently by security and people that don't belong are escorted out. I used to see people asleep in there for an hour and no one cared. That is not happening now.

The place had a vibe of fun. It just felt different, like the party at some of the other casinos but without the ridiculous loud electronic music, and go-go dancers staring off into oblivion.

The CEO cares and you can see it. We all like to praise the CEO hanging out by the long bar, and rightfully so, but the Plaza CEO, Jonathan Jossel, was hanging out making sure people and his staff were doing great. I got a chance to speak with him about their first time March Madness party in the showroom. I felt like the recommendations I made were listened to and he really wants to get it right. He likes to gamble, likes to be downtown. He is one of us, he just wears a much better suit and has a much better job title.

I did get to meet our resident Executive Host(ess), Yolla. She couldn't have been nicer. It's really cool they have realized the way this group can be a sounding board and resource for their casino. We certainly haven't seen that from other places.

So I had a great time, couldn't have been more impressed top to bottom. And if you happen to be in the plaza go say hi to the $1 WOF by the south tower elevator closest to pop up pizza. I was running my last $25 through that machine before going to bed on my last night when I hit my biggest slot jackpot ever $1000, and then just to be nice on the very next spin it did the same thing again

 

Good reviews are always easier when you win, but I agree with you that they really seem to be trying to improve the place. Now bring back glassware for drinks!

 

I only stopped in briefly (for the 500 on us, and for a meal at Hash House), but I'll have to disagree with you on the perfumed smell.

Stronger on first entry in the casino, but I had not previously read about it being bad, and my first impression on stepping in was "wow, eau de cheap hooker". No other complaints to make, but I would not say the scent is fixed. It was still the worst casino scent we got in Vegas.

I will say that I have greatly appreciated the Plaza's efforts to do outreach to VMB and other sites, and players in general though.

 

I always play my LVA and ACG coupons at the Plaza and then leave. Your impression of the rooms...good beds, good TV line-up have made me want to check out the rooms there. Looks like I'll be playing there this Spring to get on their radar for free rooms. Hope they have decent showers...that would make the trifecta in my playbook.

 

Will have to check the Plaza out next trip.....

 

Glad you had a great time my friend

 

You have convinced me to check out their rates at least. And even if I don't stay, I will definitely stop in and check out whats happening!

 

I have stayed three times in the last two years and I agree with all your points Wis.
LOVE the TV selection and the Wifi especially.

 

I've stayed there several times...but not in the past year or so. I'm looking forward to seeing some of these changes during my next trip.

One "problem" in the past was in the qualifying for a comped room. Their system was 100% geared to slot/VP players. Table play was not automatically factored in to your 'theo'.
I had to see a casino manager to have my table play "converted" so that I would not be charged for room. Yes, the problem was resolved (so there is that!), but I thought it was bit 'cheesy' that slot play "counted" and table-games did not - unless you pressed the issue.
Hopefully, they've fixed this inconvenience.

Also - I don't seem to getting any mailers from them anymore. I'm not sure why.

 

Thank you so much for the review Wisconsin Terp! Jonathan and I both enjoyed our conversation with you and I thank you for taking the time out to guide us in regards to our March Madness Party.
We look forward to seeing you soon!

 

Working on it Joe, trust me!!!!

 

Please send me an email with your name and or Royal Rewards number and I will see what I can do.
[email protected]

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Thank you so much!!

 

Thanks for your input...the scent has been an ongoing discussion, Some people like it, others don't.
I can tell you though that we are always looking for more ways to improve everything about our property. I will see if we can bring up the discussion again

 

The scent was a deal killer for us previously, but we don't find the new one objectionable. Yes, it's there, but that's the case with several downtown casinos. Bigger issues to us for steady play are the upkeep of the video poker machines and the bar where the better machines are. That armrest needs new vinyl! Glad to hear you're looking into better drink glasses. Just makes for a nicer experience.

We've got six nights booked at the Plaza over the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament. If we take that trip we should be able to give you some better play than in the past.

 

OK, Yolla, I have to throw my two cents in here. I think many, myself included, have said the scent has been reduced, but I don't recall anyone saying they liked it. Just that the reduced scent was better.

 

We where there last weekend and scent is better but still way too strong. It gets bearable after a while but it still takes awhile to get used to. Still can not find any play able multi hand vp machines in the place. Can not play 7/5 when I can find better odds downtown. Sportsbook was fun and actually saw security ask someone to leave that was being disruptive, had the same problem 2 years ago and security was no where to be found.

All and all it is getting a better place to stay and play every year.

 

We have always enjoyed the Plaza, they seem to innovate rather than follow like other casinos. Bedtime is an oasis of quiet whereas other downtown casinos can be loud from street noise. Was a fan before the remodel and even a bigger fan since.

 

March Madness Party details are being finalized...looking forward to seeing you all soon!

 

Yolla, I love that you monitor the comments on this site...it shows the Plaza cares. Plastic cups are a deal breaker for me. Cheap Cheap Cheap...and yet, I like the smell.

 

Agree with you that the noise level is very minimal compare to any of the other Fremont hotels downtown.Helps to get a better rest for a fun day the next morning.Wife and I prefer the Plaza over most of the downtown casinos.It is a lot of fun at the Plaza.