motorcitycobra
Tourist
My wife and I had a GREAT trip! I hadn't been downtown in almost eight years, and my wife had never been. I loved it! It's a wide mix of people, everyone's friendly, and it's just a laid back party vibe which is us all the way. Downtown is our new Vegas home.
First of all I got a great package deal- $533 air and hotel for 2, 4d/3n's. Flew America West, smooth flight and no major delays at the airport. Flight got into LV at about 9:30 AM. I booked a car with Thrifty through Cheapo Vegas for 17.99 a day (not bad). While at the rental counter I mentioned that we were celebrating our 7th anniversary, and he upgraded us for free to a premium car (Chrysler Concorde- leather seats, moonroof, CD, SWEET!). My luck continued when I said I'd try checking in early at the Nugget. The desk clerk told me that they had a North Tower king room available for an xtra $20 a nite (I was booked in the South Tower), BUT...that if I joined the 24kt Club (slot club) they might take care of the upgrade cost. I said cool, and took the room. (The best part is that they DID pay it and we only played about $80 combined at the GN
) Up to the room by 10AM, and was NOT disappointed. We were on the 9th floor overlooking the pool area and facing one of the Plaza's towers. The room looked just like on the GN's website. The hotel inside and out was spotless, all the carpet, linens, and furniture looked new, and no smoke smell at all, even in the casino. Service was attentive and friendly. This hotel is a STEAL!!!
THE GRUB
The 3rd most important part of a trip to Vegas is the food (Gambling 1st, drinking 2nd). We ate once at the Carson St. Cafe, and it was ok. The service was good and it's a nice setting, but basically it's an overpriced coffee shop ($30 lunch for 2). We attempted to go to the GN's buffet twice but the lines were waaaay too long. (And this was during the week!) Ate breakfast 3 x's at Binion's coffee shop. Great prices, service and food! Not a fancy place but great breakfast food and great prices ($13 for 2 incl. tip). We did Main Street Station's dinner buffet and it was great. It's a nice setting and the food quality, selection and service were all good. The price was right too ($22 for 2). We were comped 2 prime rib dinners at the Las Vegas Club (our favorite casino) Upper Deck. Not great beef but for free (or $7.95 if we were paying) I can't complain. They also have HUGE slices of cake for desert including carrot cake (my favorite
). We ate at the MGM's lunch buffet and it was ok. Service was good, but typical strip price ($32 for lunch for 2), and not that wide of a selection. My nightly midnight snack became a shrimp cocktail from the Golden Gate and a Heineken. RIP-OFF- The Rio's seafood Buffet. $64 for buffet for 2. The service was poor and the variety wasn't much better than any other buffet.
THE GAMBLING
The Las Vegas Club is the place!! My wife and I won about $600 on slots and I won about $120 at BJ at the LVC all with a minimum investment. The only down side is that the cocktail service is slow. The waitresses are very nice and not too bad on the eyes in the cheerleader outfits, but it seem like there aren't enough of them. When you do get a cocktail it is nice and STRONG
. The Four Queens was good to my wife on slots but killed me at BJ ($2 minimums, BUT 8 deck!
). Broke about even at the Golden Gate, Horseshoe, and Fremont. We lost at the Plaza, Fitz, and Lady Luck. Main Street Station's slots were tight as hell, cocktails were weak, BJ dealers "Spoke little English", and didn't count too well.
All and all it was a great trip, we broke even, which in Vegas is winning, right?
First of all I got a great package deal- $533 air and hotel for 2, 4d/3n's. Flew America West, smooth flight and no major delays at the airport. Flight got into LV at about 9:30 AM. I booked a car with Thrifty through Cheapo Vegas for 17.99 a day (not bad). While at the rental counter I mentioned that we were celebrating our 7th anniversary, and he upgraded us for free to a premium car (Chrysler Concorde- leather seats, moonroof, CD, SWEET!). My luck continued when I said I'd try checking in early at the Nugget. The desk clerk told me that they had a North Tower king room available for an xtra $20 a nite (I was booked in the South Tower), BUT...that if I joined the 24kt Club (slot club) they might take care of the upgrade cost. I said cool, and took the room. (The best part is that they DID pay it and we only played about $80 combined at the GN
) Up to the room by 10AM, and was NOT disappointed. We were on the 9th floor overlooking the pool area and facing one of the Plaza's towers. The room looked just like on the GN's website. The hotel inside and out was spotless, all the carpet, linens, and furniture looked new, and no smoke smell at all, even in the casino. Service was attentive and friendly. This hotel is a STEAL!!! THE GRUB
The 3rd most important part of a trip to Vegas is the food (Gambling 1st, drinking 2nd). We ate once at the Carson St. Cafe, and it was ok. The service was good and it's a nice setting, but basically it's an overpriced coffee shop ($30 lunch for 2). We attempted to go to the GN's buffet twice but the lines were waaaay too long. (And this was during the week!) Ate breakfast 3 x's at Binion's coffee shop. Great prices, service and food! Not a fancy place but great breakfast food and great prices ($13 for 2 incl. tip). We did Main Street Station's dinner buffet and it was great. It's a nice setting and the food quality, selection and service were all good. The price was right too ($22 for 2). We were comped 2 prime rib dinners at the Las Vegas Club (our favorite casino) Upper Deck. Not great beef but for free (or $7.95 if we were paying) I can't complain. They also have HUGE slices of cake for desert including carrot cake (my favorite
THE GAMBLING
The Las Vegas Club is the place!! My wife and I won about $600 on slots and I won about $120 at BJ at the LVC all with a minimum investment. The only down side is that the cocktail service is slow. The waitresses are very nice and not too bad on the eyes in the cheerleader outfits, but it seem like there aren't enough of them. When you do get a cocktail it is nice and STRONG
All and all it was a great trip, we broke even, which in Vegas is winning, right?
