Best Mid-Range Rooms Downtown

I'm looking at funding a trip to Las Vegas for my mother and aunt, but will need to economize.

I've never stayed DT, but just might this summer to a) avoid having to catch a bus or cab back to the strip, and b) to maybe get a comp or discount for my family's trip.

Aside from the Golden Nugget, which I know will have the best rooms DT, wha are the next-best 2-3 hotels for "mid-range" rooms (no fancy suites or anything; something for two 60-ish women). I would rather have them stay right on Fremont (MIGHT consider MSS if my sister drives in from Cali).

Ideas?

 

After GN, I would look at the newly renovated rooms at the D (formerly Fitzgeralds'), the Plaza and MSS (they could always take the skyway to the Cal and then cut through Binion's to get to Fremont). El Cortez might be the other option although it's a little east of the main Fremont canopy. I've walked there as a solo female and felt safe though, although the casino can be a little smoky.

 

I would look at the D or the 4 queens.

 

At Christmas time, I contacted by email both The D and 4 Queens, and asked for a comp based on previous play... in your case.... probably play you have had at other places...and both offered very good packages with lots of comps. If the 2 ladies are staying together, The D would be great... if each wants a separate room the 4 Queens rooms are small but nice... plus they have room service.
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I have not stayed at Golden Gate, but someone whose opinion I trust, has stayed there since the remodel and it is inexpensive and nice.
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Be sure to take the older ladies to Hugo's in 4 Queens... "us older ladies" like the charming atmosphere and the rose you receive... it is a little pricey, but includes all courses including dessert... nothing extra except alcohol... very reasonable for Las Vegas.
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Hope your guests have a wonderful time!!!

 

Thanks all for the responses and info. I should have mentioned that they will NOT be gambling (not their thing), so being somewhere they can be entertained is a must, as is easy access to cabs to go to the strip.

It's still a pipe dream (sort of), but if I have some solid ideas maybe I can get a few comps this next trip to offset the costs a little.

 

Summer could be the best rates at the GN, where they will be impressed. Or like others have said the El Cortez Tower rooms. Particularly if they aren't browsing casinos for gaming. East Fremont now has a 'hip' coffeeshop, a few nice bars and interesting restaurants and is close to the Experience as well as the bus stop for the Deuce etc. Nice effort on the trip for them!

 

My mother is in her mid-60s and loved her stay at the Four Queens two years ago. Just make sure to get a south tower room so you're not right next to the canopy at night. Otherwise, I'd agree that Golden Nugget rooms are the way to go (they can go for fairly cheap in the Carson Tower). The Plaza has those recently renovated rooms and always seems to have a line of cabs at its front door.

 

If you want on-site non-gaming entertainment (lounge, bowling, movies, pool, spa) and easy access to the strip (shuttle) then you might want to set them up at the Orleans. It's a Boyd property, so your play at MSS, the Cal and Fremont will help your quest to get a free or discounted room there. It's not downtown, and nothing else is in walking distance, but it meets your other criteria quite well.

 

For staying off strip I like this idea of Orleans a lot better than Downtown, or on The Strip itself I'd suggest looking at room rates for The Quad, Flamingo or Excalibur (closer to summer Excalibur usually has some $25-30 per night room rates on their Facebook page, pretty comparable to Downtown).

Because when you say "they will NOT be gambling (not their thing), so being somewhere they can be entertained is a must" one would have to ask what you expect them to do Downtown? There is very little overall entertainment Downtown, especially during the day and for the 60+ crowd, and not much else to do there other than cheap gambling.

Basically it sounds like you are looking for something like a $30 room to put them up in and then they can spend $40-50 each day cabbing to and from The Strip... they'd be better off if you just got them to kick in some of that cab fare towards the room cost and put them up somewhere on The Strip itself.

 

As a fan of downtown, I agree with this. Do something like the Monte Carlo or Bally's on the Strip.

 

Don't get me wrong, I too am a fan of Downtown... but beyond cheap gambling, cheap drinks and cheap food the overall entertainment value of Downtown is pretty limited.

They can go see the big gold nugget at Golden Nugget and stop by to see the shark tank... then mosey over the Binion's and see the $1,000,000 in cash display... and then maybe go down to the Mob Museum.

Beyond that, there isn't much else: they can wait until 6PM to see a Fremont Street Experience show or two and then around 9PM they have some live music, which they'll likely find loud and might not be quite their taste (depending on whats playing).

And then for two women in their 60s I just don't see much else to do... maybe shop for cheap souvenirs, but that'll mostly be about it for what Downtown has to offer if you aren't going to gamble.

 

OK...if you're dead-set on them being downtown, then book them at the Plaza. The rooms are very spacious (for downtown), clean and there are always cabs available right out the front door.

If they're each gonna have their own room, then put 'em up in the Fremont or 4Queens - that puts them right at the heart of "Fremont".

But - as they are not gamblers, and are more interested in entertainment, I think I would put them in a suite at the Rio... it's an easy comp (mid-week), you have Gold Coast right there (for bowling, movies and other non-gaming entertainment), and there's a free shuttle to Harrah's, putting them smack-dab in the middle of the strip... Mirage's volcano, TI's pirate/siren show, venetian's ceiling/canal, bellagio's fountains, Paris' Eiffel Tower, etc.)

Check your Total Rewards "offers"...you may very well have a 3-night Rio room stay already waiting for you.

PS - Gold Coast is a Boyd property, so any gaming you do there counts!

 

Ahh, I DO have the Rio for an entire Sun-Thu. I guess the downtown= booze+gambling equation is right, now that I think about it. If we have a car, I'll look into the Rio. If not, Bally's/Flamingo/Harrah's will work. Excalibur would be okay, but I dont want to stay there. The Quad is out of the question. Construction, plus the rooms aren't something I would want to stay in.

 

Didn't look at it that way, but thanks for the insight. I think you're spot-on, because MY idea of "fun Vegas" is different from theirs.

Heck, we (siblings and I) can send them to a Cirque show while we cut up