I'm Over Fremont - How's El Cortez?

I have been an avid Fremont fan since 2012 when I booked my first 'comeback' trip to Vegas in 2012. I live in Minnesota where we have a variety of Native American casinos. After a few years away from regular trips to Vegas, I booked myself at the Plaza. My gut told me that this was not a good choice, so I re-booked at the Fremont instead. I have never regretted this, and have happily stayed at the Fremont as a comped player at least 15 times in the last 4 years.

Originally I was a penny slot player, but after some education, I graduated to video poker. I started at the .25 level and then graduated to dollars.

At the Fremont, the majority of their dollar VP is located just across from the casino elevators. These are all older coin "players edge" upright machines. In this area are also 2 TITO ticket redemption machines. This area seems to be a magnet for people to collect, chat, bump into the back of your chair and just generally be annoying. In addition, from around 5:30 pm to around 11:00 pm they constantly utilize the overhead paging system to loudly announce "Ticket number 23, 24, 25" your table is ready at Tony Roma's" Blah, Blah Blah.

I find myself getting so annoyed that I run down the El Cortez just to get some peace and quiet.

The quality of the rooms at Fremont has also slipped. The plumbing runs slow. The AC/Heaters make a ton of noise and at this point I am pretty much over it.

Can anyone tell me about what the comped rooms at El Cortez are like? I am thinking about a change, but a bit apprehensive on making a move.

 

I stayed at El Cortez in April 2016. I had a Tower Room which was probably the same or worse then your room at Fremont (loud AC, water temp problems, musty smelling, lopsided bed). The Tower Rooms are large though. They've been sending me offers for 3 nights in a Cabana Suite so I'm giving that a try in March of this year, unless Four Queens sends me an offer for March. I'd rather be closer to the center of Fremont Street. I played mostly .25 and .50 video poker at El Cortez. I've only stayed at El Cortez the one time.

 

I like the El, tower rooms are very big and relatively peacfull, after all the visits you've had to the fremont, I really think you need to give the Cortez a try and make up your own mind. I do like the fremont by the way, I just dont stay there.

 

I've stayed in the Cabana Suites a couple of times. I really like them. They are located across the street from the casino, but it's not a problem at all.

 

I have stayed at the El Cortez several times. I usually pick the Tower, although I tried the Cabana Suites once. I liked it better before they consolidated the cafe and the Flame into Siegel's and if you have a Tower room facing Fremont, there is a lot of noise coming from those clubs now. I play VP at the Parlour Bar, where they have a good selection of craft beers.

 

El Co is definitely more peaceful than Fremont. The Parlour Bar which is pretty classy and usually quiet has 50 cent minimum at the bartop so they dont necessarily get a ton of action.

Rooms are fine - they are clean and big but have a dated feel. Nothing wrong with them though at all!

 

Hi, May I ask why you felt the Plaza was not a good choice. Maybe we can talk about giving Plaza a try. 702-481-8447.

 

I stayed in an El Cortez tower room for a week last year, and have stayed at the Plaza at least five times since their remodel. Haven't stayed at the Fremont. The tower room at El Cortez was, as others have noted, dated but fine. The first room they gave us had such a warped door frame that you could practically reach into the room in the lower portion. You could clearly see through it into the hallway. We requested a change, got one no problem.

The Plaza rooms are about the same size and in some ways similar to the El Co tower ones. Fairly large, a separate love seat, small bathroom with outside vanity area, safe in the vanity area. But the Plaza rooms and furnishings are much more modern and the location is closer to the action. If you get a south tower, south facing room you won't have noise problems.

I'd stay at El Co again, but if the price is at all similar I prefer the Plaza.

 

Thank you for the positive feedback.

 

To be blunt, I don't like the casino at Plaza. The video poker machines are nasty. The CRTs are all badly worn and dim. Most of the machines have cigarette sludge ground into them about an inch thick. After playing there I feel like I need a bath. Also, the machines that were moved from LVC are a special kind of nasty. The vinyl armrests on the slant top poker machines are either sticky from rot or dry and cracked. Either way yuck!

 

I always liked ElCo but Plaza is a better location, and it seems like they are trying hard to fix it up. Walking from ElCo to the other casinos 4or5 times a day can get to be a bit much.

 

I never found Plaza to be dirty or nasty. A bit worn, but most downtown casinos are a bit worn.They are not mega resorts, that's why we stay at them.

 

I have stayed in the Cabana Suites a couple of times, the most recent was probably 4 years ago. I really enjoyed the room and though it is across the street from the casino it is super close. I'd give it a shot.
I think I stayed in the main hotel many, many years ago, when I was in Vegas for a month and stayed comped at about 7 hotels the entire time. The main hotel room I was in wasn't memorable but it was fine.

 

I have stayed in the Cabana suites 3 times and they are a lot nicer than the Freemont. It is quite a bit quieter than Freemont. You won't hear that crappy music that they play over and over from the FSE either.

 

Cabana Suite Fan, Stayed there a half dozen times with no problem, I too feel that Seigels is a step down from Flame/Cafe Cortez offerings. I will say that I mix up my routes around downtown, sometimes walking down Ogden to the DTG and it does feel like the Elco is a bit out of the action. I'm surprised someone hasn't mentioned trying the California or MSS as with your Boyd history you may have an easier time transferring comps.

 

I stayed in the cabana suites just once. They gave me a "deluxe" suite, which was a ground floor room that was smaller than most of the rooms I've stayed at in vegas. The room wasn't very big, didn't have room for a regular chair (just a small 2 1/2 foot high chair that goes under their desk). Yes, the bathroom was big and nice and roomy but it didn't make up for the rest my room.

If you get a room at the cabana suites I would recommend you checking it out first before you unpack, especially if they give you a room on the 1st floor.

I stayed in the other rooms at the El Cortez. The tower rooms are the roomiest (except for many of the rooms at the cabana suites). The vintage rooms are decent and there are 2 rooms in the vintage area that are huge (but no view).

I guess for me I like to play more on the west side (cal, mss) which is a walk to the El Cortez and with the resort fees I would rather stay at the boyd hotels.

 

Regarding the El Cortez casino. I read/saw pictures about their new casino bar. It looks really nice in the pictures. I'm sure I'll be spending some video poker time there.

 

I have stayed in a Cabana Suite at El Cortez, aside from the VERY vibrant green color, the room was good. If I remember correctly (unfortunately, that entire visit DT remains a little fuzzy , to give you an idea, the door man at Gold Spike wouldn't let me in) there was a fridge in the room and a Keurig. I'd have no problem staying there again.

 

Nothing wrong with giving the ElCo a try but if you're a boyd $1 VP why not instead do MSS or the Cal? I prefer both to the Fremont. Larger room, a little better bathroom and mini fridge compared to Fremont. El Co is ok, decent size room, love the blackjack there, heard they redid the bar on the east end. I like the Plaza too, only downside with room is tiny bathroom but clean room, nice size. I stayed in Oct. but must confess, never even walked into their casino. For the first time I stayed in the north tower, so didn't have to walk through casino. What was also nice, for the first time they had a fully staffed check in. Checked in on a Sat., around 1PM. Good size line, but it moved rather quickly. Another negative though, if I remember correctly, they don't have video checkout. I prefer staying on the west end of Fremont as opposed to east end (El Cortez). My favorite place to go is the Golden Gate. Always a fun time, know just about all the bartenders, wish the VP was better, but just so much fun. Always nice to play/drink where the staff knows you by name.

 

I've stayed there twice now, and can say the El Cortez super Cabana Suites are sweet. As others have said, right across a non-busy street from the casino and the parking garage as well. Security is always visible in the area, and they have candy at the front desk. Grab as much as you want because the ladies at the desk are almost constantly on the phone.

I've only known the El Cortez since 1941 opened, and although all 5 or 6 meals have been comped there, I haven't had a bad one yet. Some late night shrimp cocktail and poutine will really hit the spot.