What about Downtown is appealing to you?

For those Vegas trippers that choose to stay downtown, what is it about downtown that attracts you to stay there over the strip BESIDES pricing. For quite some time now I've been going to the strip and haven't even gone downtown in probably 8 years. I tend to like to stay at the nicer casinos on the strip but I love gambling everywhere - it's just I usually don't rent a car or anything and have so much fun where I'm at for the most part. The last place I gambled off the strip was at the outlet mall in Primm where I played $2 craps with an elderly woman in her 80's and it was an absolute blast for about 4 hours lol.

Anyway back to the main question: What attracts YOU to downtown Las Vegas?

 

Well, I haven't stayed downtown yet (sure I will at some point).

But I would say that, pricing aside, the two things I like most are the street party atmosphere, and how close all the casinos are. A lot loss walking to wander place to place, drink, gamble, and have fun.

 

Proximity to all other casinos for casino-hopping.

What might be a bad vibe in Casino A, might be 180 degrees opposite at Casino B... only 184 short steps away!

 

Sounds great, I like casino hopping as I am a fairly sporadic gambler. Anyone know a general ballpark of a cab fare to hit downtown from the strip? Are cabs readily available downtown like they are on the strip?

 

100% agreed... though I don't stay down there anymore, I used to be a regular visitor of the Golden Nugget. I'm committed to tryin' out the D, Golden Gate or El Cortez here soon. Much of my business is just north of downtown and though its been awhile since I "slept" down there, I often find myself there for lunch, dinner, etc. Downtown's cool!

 

What drew me in was the walking distance to EVERYTHING...and of course there is a wal greens right there for anything that may be needed. For a small price I will get a bus ticket and possibly take in a show, or spend a day on the strip, but have found that DT has everything I need, and a more relaxed atmosphere. It will be my first time staying DT, and I am looking fwd to it.

 

Easy to casino hop
Food/buffet bargains
Looser slots

 

DOWNTOWN :
>> Lots of full-pay video poker
>> Easier comps
>> Easy mail offers
>> Lots of good dining at lower prices
>> Less walking
>> Interesting people watching

 

I'm with the others, the closeness of the casinos is great. When I'm on the strip I sometimes get a real sense of snobbishness and the party vibe there seems forced to me somehow. Downtown I get a great party vibe and it seems just like regular folks having fun.

I never fail to have a great time at the Golden Gate. Those dancing dealers are a blast.

 

-Less walking
-Good prices
-Easy going atmosphere

 

I’m not different than anyone who spoke before me.

My first trip was in 1997, and I was far from wealthy. My life isn’t remarkably different now than it was then. Back then I could find $5 blackjack easily at many places on the strip. Ten years ago I remember finding $3 blackjack in the morning at IP. I had a nice run playing two hands at $6/hand one morning.

Nowadays I have to play more than $5 a hand at many strip properties, and even if I can find $5/hand BJ somewhere, it’s a precious few tables that are clogged. Yes, the Nugget wants only the richest of the rich downtown, but most places aren’t requiring you to win or lose a house payment in order to spend some time at their tables.

Yes, strip casinos have free entertainment in lounges, but the nightlife is of little appeal to me. Downtown provides free entertainment that I enjoy. It’s easy to get drinks nearby, and the buskers provide entertainment, too.

The downtown properties have done a good job of turning their pedestrian mall into a fun, vibrant, laid back place to spend an evening.

And when I want to gamble, it’s much easier to go from Four Queens to the California than it is to go from MGM to Excalibur. I appreciate that.

There are things I like about non-downtown properties, which is why I sometimes stay at the Orleans. And I wish there were more simple shows offered, a la Mac King. Somehow I’ve never been enticed by “Defending the Caveman.”

Give me a comped room at NYNY and I’ll probably gamble at Excalibur, the Trop and Hooters, but I’ll long for downtown.

 

The Hookers!!


Er, I mean,...ah.....

 

Hahaha. Are there more hookers downtown?

Great responses everyone, I will have to make it a point to spend a day downtown sometime.

 

Most of these have been mentioned by others, but...

* Very easy to casino hop on foot
* Fremont St. made for walking and pedestrians - the Strip, not so much
* Lower minimums
* Better games (for low limits)
* Lots of food bargains
* Lots of coupons of all kinds
* Plenty of interesting people to look at
* People downtown look & act more like people I'd like to & do hang around with
* No slappers!
* No timeshare peddlers!!

 

Pricing

Honestly it all comes back to that though for me

Cheaper gambling
Cheaper drinks
Cheaper food


The atmosphere isn't as serious I believe due to the cheaper items. The attitude difference between someone playing $5 and $50 is quite large to me. Neither are bad or good, just different. Even though the $5 I bet on BJ is meaningless, I get great enjoyment out of watching people sweat over the same bet. I'm envious of that as I expect that was my reaction the first time I came to Vegas.



I actually don't like that all the casinos are so close. I like that part of the strip where I'm forced to take a little break while walking to the next property. I know I tend to sit at tables more when I'm downtown just because it takes all of 2 minutes to go to the next casino.

 

I cab it to downtown at least one or two times per trip. It's usually about $23 from mid strip. I usually ask to be dropped off at the Plaza as it is easy in, easy out for the cabbies right off the highway.

For getting home, there is a taxi stand out in front left of the main entrance to the Plaza right across from Golden Gate and there are always cabs there at just about any hour.

I've also picked up a cab from the Golden Nugget rush tower entrance but I had to wait a few minutes. Plaza taxi stand is your best bet in my experience.

 

Thanks for the tip, I'll give it a try.

 

1. The NEON
2. FREMONT STREET EXPERIENCE SHOWS
3. Food values
4. Historical significance
5. Room rates
6. Quirky attractions
7. Drink and Drag
8. Mermaids
9. Mike Hammer Show
10. No posturing club kids

 

Most of my attractions have been mentioned.
Best gambling is the main attraction. The Four Queens 10/7 VP progressive in particular.

A great coupon matchplay run. Check Buddha's last trip report for all the details on that. He spells it out.

Cheap souvenirs. Poker buddies love me spashing the pot with hats or shot glasses or coffee cups that cost a buck each.

Good free music in under the canopy as well as other entertainment.

Jackie Gaughn playing his daily poker at the El Cortez. Cheap and memorable.

The fairly new buses that run along Boulder connect me to all the Boulder Casinos but expecially to Sam's Town and Eastside Cannery. Going out it takes 16 minutes to get to Sam's town, one stop after downtown and we are there. Sam's has a good shuttle, but I can never get organized enough to use them. The bus runs more often, but it is not free. Boulder on the Flamingo bus is more like 45 minutes.

Walgreen's sells a senior 15 day all access pass for $17. It is the only way to get a senior discount on strip buses. So, downtown makes a great place to start a trip. For a dollar I take the WAX to downtown, then at my leisure I buy the bus pass at Walgreen's and I'm set for my entire trip. $34 gets a 30 day pass. This attracts me to downtown as my first stop. Sometimes I might have to wait for the WAX but it is never the hassle that shuttles or cabs are. I just read my book at the bus stop and enjoy the change in temperature from upstate NY until the bus comes.

Along with the Boulder Highway buses there are many other routes from downtown. The Centennial Express gets me to the UNLV campus. The 106 gets me to Fiesta Rancho and Texas Station.

And finally, for the days I just pay for the room with no need to gamble, I like the Gold Spike even with the resort fee. Total room costs for weekdays are about $30 and there is a heated pool (usually) open early, free wifi, good late night access to El Cortez poker games, and Turner Classic Movies for those days when I am broke, or exhausted, or if sickness should come and drive me in to my room.

 

Last time I was there it was $30-$40 including tip. You shouldn't have a problem finding a cab. I found plenty on the end of Fremont by Plaza.

Edit: Just noticed someone had already responded to this. Sorry!