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Considering staying at El Cortez

Discussion in 'Downtown Hotels' started by ernestoc33, Jan 22, 2013.

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  1. ernestoc33

    ernestoc33 Low-Roller

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    I've only stayed at MSS and the Cal in downtown. I'm planing an anniversary trip for June with my wife. In previous years Boyd would have sent me a good offer good till june right about now. I've received a few, but now they have fairly small windows for which I can use the offer like March or April.

    To the point...

    El Cortez has some really low prices on rooms for the week I'm planning to go with out any coupon codes.

    Who has stayed there and how was your experience? What room type is recommended and what should I avoid.

    Thanks in advance
    -Ernie
     
  2. atom

    atom High-Roller

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    The only room type I have tried there so far is the Cabana Jr Suite. These are nice rooms with a somewhat modern feel. You get a fridge, a safe, a flatscreen. There is no view and no tub (stand up shower only). It is a separate building across the street from the casino, has card access and a security guard posted 24/7. Inside is a very nice lobby with receptionist, a gym, a sitting area and a jar of free candy you can dip into as you come and go. For the price it's a good deal. If you have (or get) an American Casino Guide there is a coupon for buy one night get one free. I used this last year and paid about $30 a night after applying the coupon. Great deal!
     
  3. Candy Apple

    Candy Apple VIP Whale

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    We just booked a tower room. Can't stay in a cabana suite because it's my son and I. The other day a couple of the travel sites were having a brief sale. We got Fri & Sat night for only $45.00 each. Before I booked I checked the El Co's own website and it was $62.00 a night. A few weeks ago they were charging $90.00 a night for the same dates! This will be our first time there. Hope we like it.
     
  4. merlin

    merlin MIA

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    The tower rooms are very nice, you wont be dissapointed in them, the vintage are small but priced right, the pavilion are sub par IMO, motel type and anyone walking by can look inside if you leave the blinds open. Cabana are small but nice.
     
  5. ernestoc33

    ernestoc33 Low-Roller

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    Have a great trip Candy Apple, let me know how it goes.





    I've heard that those room types only have stair access. I'm not a fan of motel rooms lol. Ill check out the tower rooms. Thanks Merlin.
     
  6. ernestoc33

    ernestoc33 Low-Roller

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    I just checked the jr suite price for those nights and its $30! Looking pretty good. I was going to start my trip Sunday the 23rd of june...but. I have to push in forward a day because all the EDC dbags are still in town that day. The prices the 23rd are 4x the price everywhere, for a Sunday!
     
  7. Candy Apple

    Candy Apple VIP Whale

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    Thank you. Our trip is in May so we have a while to wait.
     
  8. Jade88

    Jade88 High-Roller

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    Let us know what the room was like. Might be tempted to stay there in OCT if the price is right.
     
  9. AndyAkeko

    AndyAkeko Time magazine's 2006 Person of the Year

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    The decision for El Cortez always seems to be between the tower room and the cabana suite. Tower rooms are larger, have a view and attached to the casino, whereas the cabana suites have frosted-over windows, are across the street, but have more amenities.

    Personally I prefer having those amenities like a flat-screen tv (with true HDTV) and especially the fridge. The bathrooms are also larger in the cabana suites. I actually find the extra space is wasted in the tower room.

    As for crossing the street, my wife was very reluctant at first and wouldn't go outside without me at first. But there is a security guard posted 24 hours a day right there and she felt completely safe after the second time.
     
  10. Jimbo338

    Jimbo338 VIP Whale

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    I have stayed at the El Cortez three times after reading about it for years. First, let me say that the staff at the EC have always been great! I would have stayed there every time except that they started this crazy thing where if you stay more than 7 days they slap a penalty of like $25 a day on each of the 1st seven plus the days over 7. I usually stay for 8 or 9 so it ruins it for me. The security all around the property is very good. There has been a big improvement in the Fremont St east block between LV Blvd and the EC. and EC built a courtyard entrance from LV Blvd which is welllighted and patrolled and monitored. There is a condo bldg next to that on Ogden and they 0wn the building on the other side where the Beat coffee shop is.

    I tried the Vintage Rooms which is often described as the best deal downtown. These are the original rooms over the casino with a staircase entry. They have a queen size bed and are fine for 1 person. rooms were very clean and meticulously maintained. The halls tended to be a bit smokey but the rooms were not (I am a smoker and it didn't bother me at all). Others were bothered by loud TV's but I didn't find that to be a problem either. Bathroom was small but how much room does one need in a BR? Besides, the cost was $11/night. No view, BTW bt generally if I want to see something i leave the hotel.

    EC has a 24 hour cafe with good food and decent prices and ok service. Steakhouse (The Flame) is nice but Ihate a la carte restaurants. I liked Robertas much better years ago. Anyway prices are good with a coupon from LVA or ACG for 50% off up to $25 or $30. Food is good. There is also a subway in the lobby.

    Tower rooms are spacious, comfortable and well maintained and cleaned. Bathrooms are somewhat small and somenhow fixtures were not replaced when they were last renovated. Cheapest I stayed there was $21 weekdays and worth twice that at least. I would stay at either room at EC without thinking twice and you will be pleased I'm sure. Tower rooms are accessed from the casino and you need the room key to access your floor. I was always offered a choice of floors and view of the mountains or the Strip. Tower rooms have a safe and I take one med that requires a low temp and was never charged for a fridge. thee is a love seat and a sliding glass door you can crack open for fresh air and window in bathroom opens. AC/heat works well. There is also a desk and chair with plenty of outlets. EC also has a 1200 space parking garage, valet parking and shuttle service to the airport except or saturdays. Inquire abut shuttle on check in. It is a Lincoln Town Car and so space is limited. It is free. I don't think you will be disappointed.

    Jimbo338
     
  11. sammasseur

    sammasseur VIP Whale

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    Chiming in a shout-out for the Cabana Suites. By far my favorite of their rooms.
     
  12. Dewey089

    Dewey089 VIP Whale

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    I've stayed in all the rooms repeatedly.
    For an anniversary, I'd avoid the Vintage and the Pavillion.
    I had noise issues at vintage and it was downscale small. I like small. Without the dueling TV's at 2 am thru the thin walls, I'd be fine with it solo.
    But if I could hear the televisions through the thin walls, well.... they can hear the anniversary celebration.

    Pavillion gets very noisy around the time of cleaning. The carts roll up and down along the outside cement walkway like small trains. The cleaners shout to one another. Also, I don't like not having a desk of some sort for my computer or a book. Those rooms can be handy if you have a car as the elevator for the garage is convenient.

    Tower is comfortable. The beds have thick mattresses. It is connected to the casino rather than a walk across the street. However, it is rather mudane, sort of comfortably normal. Seems a bit too sedate for an anniversary

    compared

    to the pizzazz of the Cabana rooms.
    I thought they were a good deal of fun, but reading other reports, some variety of them are very, very small. The refrigerator was nice. The television was great. Plenty of music stations.

    And were I really going to celebrate an anniversary, well, it just seemed to have the right flare. The headboards as I remember were padded and high and I wished when I was there that I was not solo.
    However, you do have to like the color green.
    The security is good with a guard right there all the time.

    There is a small workout room.

    So if you want to let loose, I'd pick this room. If you want larger and more sedate, I'd pick the Tower.

    Don't stay longer than 7 days in a row. They have a ridiculous fee of $25 a night added on the 8th or more day in a calendar month.

    I don't stay much anymore because their competitor, the Gold Spike has good sales, wifi, a pool often heated and open early and Turner Classic Movies on the television. And I'm still annoyed at the added fee which is how they lost me one year to the Gold Spike.
     
  13. English Dave

    English Dave Low-Roller

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    I stayed in a Cabana suite just over a year ago on Dewey's recommendation. It was really nice, as others have said, totally safe, no problems at all. I would have stayed again but the fee for staying over seven nights goes against me as I visit LV for two weeks when we stay.

    We gave the Four Queens a try last October, and liked it, so we are staying there again in April. Without the seven night rule, we would have stayed at the EC again. It is a great place, full of history.
     
  14. Hunt182644

    Hunt182644 Tourist

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    Where is the entrance to the parking garage at EC? Have always just walked over from Fremont St. Will be driving on the next trip.
     
  15. AndyAkeko

    AndyAkeko Time magazine's 2006 Person of the Year

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    On 7th street, at the back of the property. Google map: http://goo.gl/maps/HjqWI

    There's also an overflow parking lot kitty-corner on Ogden. Both lots offer free parking.
     
  16. luvvp

    luvvp Tourist

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    I must chime in about the EDC dbags comment.

    My daughter has attended this venue the last three years. The attendees are peaceful young people just wanting a fun time.
     
  17. Jimbo338

    Jimbo338 VIP Whale

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    Gee, Dewey, I never thought of the Tower Rooms as mundane! Vintage maybe, or Gold Spike maybe (stayed there twice and have reservations there next week), but not Tower! One other error and the reason I have not stayed at EC for the last 3 years. I stay 8 or 9 nights usually and they have a penalty as you mentioned. However, if you stay beyond the 7 days that they welcome you for, the fee of $25 additional is not for the added nights but added on to the rate for each night including the original 7. I know that was the case cause 2 years ago I got a great deal on 7 nights and the 8th would have cost me $25 X8 PLUS TAX. Bummer!

    Jimbo338
     
  18. thenuke1

    thenuke1 High-Roller

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    id highly suggest staying at the Cabana Suite. Stayed there on my last trip and all my reservations about the place were gone. Very comfortable and very nice AND very affordable.

    the price is just to hard to pass up for what you get.

    seems like a pain checking into one building and walking to another but its so much easier and check out can be done in the Cabana Lobby.

    Stayed at the super suite and i wouldn't have it any other way.

    If you book now you can also Price adjust just in case the price lowers
     
  19. sammasseur

    sammasseur VIP Whale

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    El Cortez recently replied to my Facebook page complaint (along with other patrons') on this very issue. They alluded to correcting this flaw in their process soon.


    And then a new reply just this afternoon:

     
    Last edited: Jan 23, 2013
  20. zamboni

    zamboni VIP Whale

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    Yeah that is the thing about being able to check in at Cabana Suites, you have to have a room key just to get into the lobby. I wonder how it will be done now, Sam?
     
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