El-Co Room Question

OK...for the first time ever, the El-Cortez has actually sent me an offer for a 3-night, mid-week comp, with my choice of either a Tower room or Cabana Suite.

To those of you who have stayed in both, which would you recommend?
If Tower, is there a particular floor/side I should request?

Also - does anyone know if they still offer a complimentary limo to the airport for hotel guests? My flight home is late in the day, so I will have been checked-out for several hours before I would need to go to the airport.

Thanks!

 

If you don't mind walking across the street, I would go with the cabana for sure. Nothing wrong with the tower rooms I've been in, but they are just that, a room. Cabana suites are newer/fresher. The whole cabana building is smoke free if that is a factor.

No clue about the limo.

 

Limo operates weekday mornings, I can’t remember how late the last run is. Driver gets you to the airport in thirty minutes. Ask to sign up for the limo when you check in. I always take the Tower room because I don’t want to cross the street before bed. The front desk employees consider the north side as ‘quiet’ but that is due to weekend concerts on the street to the south. Midweek I try to get a low floor facing south. Facing north I’m constantly awakened by ambulance sirens on the freeway.

 

I like the tower rooms, quick and easy access to the casino, and the limo now does airport trips 7 days a week, I think the latest departure is 2:00 pm, from my experience you get to the airport in 20-25 min, dont forget to splash the guy a tip.

 

I'd have to vote for the Cabanas if you have a choice. While it is a walk out through the back and across the street, the rooms are nicer, and in my opinion, quieter.

 

Do not stay above the parking garage!

 

I'd suggest the tower rooms since the provide direct access to the casino. They are old, but extremely clean. Also, you need to scan your key at the elevator to access your floor - which is something I wish other hotels would do as well.

 

I would go with the Cabana Suites, as a Bonus you get Free Candy and Fruit in the Lobby.

 

I've stayed in the Cabana Suites several times. If you are able to get a Super Suite they have 2 window A/C units and will keep your room like a meat locker. The bathrooms are nice too with a good sized shower.

 

Thanks to all for the input... it seems that there are about as many who suggest the Tower as those who suggest the Cabana Suites!
What that tells me is that I'll probably be good with either... so, my plan is book Cabana....then, when I check in, I'll see if there are any available, comped upgrades for me...depending on what I hear, I'll proceed from there. An upgraded Tower room will trump a 'standard' Cabana room (I assume), and a "Super Suite" Cabana would trump any Tower room (I presume).

Thanks again for everyone's help!

 

Just adding my input... I've stayed at nine different properties in Las Vegas, and an El Cortez tower room is the only one I stayed in where I had to cut my stay short. You know how there's a fine line between "old" and "antique"? This room was somewhere on one side of this line, but I couldn't quite figure out which. The furniture is very old, the fixtures all seem to be original, and certain things like the water pressure are indicative of the property's age. Which can be charming, don't get me wrong. But after two nights of a five night say, I'd had enough - so I checked out and moved to a different property.

For what it's worth, I am planning on staying at the El Cortez again. But it will definitely be in a cabana or designer suite on a trip where I'm looking to enjoy myself (though I do plan on trying a vintage room just for the historic cool factor).

I've not stayed in a cabana suite, so I can't speak to the experience. But I can say that I've stayed in some very "basic" accommodations before and not complained, and the tower room wasn't in the scope of acceptable for me.

 

I read somewhere that they are renovating the tower rooms.

I stayed in the tower and Cabana suites before (also the vintage rooms). The Cabana suites are newer so they are nicer. But I like the convenience of the tower rooms so if they have been recently renovated I would rather stay in the tower.

BTW, the cabana suites has a weight room and when you enter the lobby they sometimes offer fruits in a bowl for you to take.

 

The tower room renovation was no more than a shower/tub insert and new shower heads. The furniture does seem antique but suits all of my needs. They could use a few more power outlets, many of the ones you can access are so worn they won’t hold a charger plug. I guess I’m just used to everything else, but I love the short hallways and working ice machines, and the easy access to and from casino.

 

From the photos I've seen of the bathrooms, those new tub overlays were desperately needed!
I sure hope they plan to continue fixing up the shower/tubs in the rest of the rooms too!

 

So you'd never stayed there before, and then you booked a 5 day stay, huh, what exactly were you expecting, where did you move to? I would strongly recommend the "pavilion" rooms", they're a breath of fresh air!

 

I was expecting that the only hotel-casino in the United States that's on the National Register of Historic Places would be a little better-maintained for its paying guests. I realize that for the price, having expectations is probably setting myself up for disappointment. But being Vegas, where you barely spend any time in the room anyhow, I didn't think that booking five nights would be a bad idea. If it's great, then I've found a cool new place. If it's not, you live and learn. Same thing I do with every hotel I'm staying at for the first time.

To answer your question, I moved to the Monte Carlo. I got a sweet last-minute deal on it - so I figured I'd take advantage of that, rather than paying about the same price for downtown properties.

Also, aren't the Pavilion rooms right on top of the parking garage?

 

I am in the same boat. I got my first ever offer from them as well. I booked the Cabana Suite, but really I am still undecided and may try call them and change it. I might just leave it as is and ask for an upgrade at check-in and see how that flies.
and thanks for reminding me about the limo. I normally leave for the airport around 3 or 4 p.m. if it is too late for the limo, I will take the bus for $2.

and may I recommend the pot roast special on Thursdays at Siegel's. YUM.

 

Why didn't you move to any of the other downtown places? How were the furniture and fixtures at the Monte Carlo, I would guess they were a bit newer?

 

I'm not sure exactly where they are, I know it's almost like you're floating in the clouds, they're located far above the madding crowds, I stayed there once, I vividly remember stepping out of my room and feeling like I was in a dewy meadow on a spring morning, a hint of lavender in the air,the slight murmur of birds and bee's flitting around...it was almost magical.

 

I feel like I’m watching “A Wrinkle in Time”; but Clockwork Orange seating.