MSS or Cal or Fremont

[eksantirik]

I'm planning a trip for late august/early september, and three nights of it will be in downtown. These three hotels come up at exactly the same rate. And they all seem to be better deal than other downtown properties by far.

For the last couple of days, all of their websites seem to be down, so I couldn't gather much information. Based on Tripadvisor and Expedia ratings, MSS seems to have a slight edge.

- Since it will be pool season, it will be nice to spend a couple hours a day at the pool.
- I love gambling and most of my downtown time is spent on Fremont St. I like casino hopping so I'm not tied to the home casino. I'm not loyal to any players club as far as downtown is concerned.
- I have a wide range of Vegas experiences so far, from El Cortez/Hooters to Aria/Caesar's. I can handle it all, but I appreciate nicer/cleaner rooms.
- Food at home casino is no problem as I can walk around to anywhere in downtown.
- I won't have a car for this portion of the trip.

Which one should I go for?

 

[eaglejohn]

I am comped at MSS and enjoy staying there. But Cal would be my choice for nicest rooms if you can get west tower. Newly redone. MSS and Cal have fridge in all rooms. But if you don't care about the room, Fremont room is smaller but is right on FSE and about 2 minutes or less from room to FSE. No fridge but you can get one for $15 for the stay (not day). Cal has pool (being redone) but it is small. Other properties don't but can use Cal if you desire. Here is a recent video of recent Cal renovated west tower room.

 

[Joe]

I'm a MSS lover, but in Feb we stayed in one of the remodeled rooms in the Cal West Tower. Nice room, full shower and no tub. An easy walk over the bridge to MSS. MSS is still my VP gambling spot, but for now the Cal is my hotel.

 

[makikiboy]

I like staying at the Cal over MSS but that is just me. Even moreso that they renovated the rooms at the Cal. I don't mind staying at MSS but if I had a choice it would be the Cal. More central and closer to the Fremont St. Experience (by a few minutes) and I don't have to walk all the way back to the back of the hotel/casino at MSS just to get to the elevators to get to my room.

I don't think you can go wrong with either place though. Not many amenities though, just a decent place to stay for the night.

The Fremont is all right but rooms are smaller and bathrooms are very small. Not recommended if you want better comfort for your room. But many people like the Fremont because it is right on the Fremont St. Experience. 1 elevator opens up right on the casino floor so you don't have to walk very far.

The good part of the 3 hotels, NO RESORT FEES! Other than paying 13% hotel tax what they quote you is what you will be paying. No hidden resort fee bullshit like many of the other downtown hotels.

I would recommend you booking one of these places now before the rates go up. At least then you have a guaranteed reservation and you can cancel at any time if you decide to stay elsewhere.

I heard that anyone can go to the pool at the Downtown Grand so I would recommend using that pool. The pool at the Cal is small and no service at all. But then someone said that the Cal pool was undergoing renovations.

 

[16gauge]

All 3 are Boyd properties. I have stayed at all 3. All are clean and comfortable. I like the MSS casino the best & the location of Fremont the best. As stated above, Fremont rooms are the smallest of the three.

My Boyd's home casino is MSS. My wife's is Fremont. Fremont seems to be a little more generous with comps, though we both always have comped rooms from our home casino's with relatively low-roller play.

If location is your main concern, go with Fremont. If you want a bit of a bigger room or a less crowded casino, then MSS or Cal.

 

[vegasdev]

I'm a MSS lover, but in Feb we stayed in one of the remodeled rooms in the Cal West Tower. Nice room, full shower and no tub. An easy walk over the bridge to MSS. MSS is still my VP gambling spot, but for now the Cal is my hotel.

I cant wait to try the Cal at the end of this month. I will check in as early as possible and ask for one of the remodeled rooms. if they don't have one available, I will wait until they do. I used to stay at MSS, now mostly at the Fremont. I am sticking with my existing reservations, but after the recent kerfuffle with Boyds and non-locals who knows where this relationship is going. hopefully we can work things out.

 

[bubbakitty]

I,would,go,with cal even though staying at MSS in April. As Joe said "it's just over there" from MSS casino but the noise is much less from trains / traffic in my opinion. If that is a concern. Good luck.

 

[rob889]

Train noise is half the fun at MSS

 

[makikiboy]

I cant wait to try the Cal at the end of this month. I will check in as early as possible and ask for one of the remodeled rooms. if they don't have one available, I will wait until they do. I used to stay at MSS, now mostly at the Fremont. I am sticking with my existing reservations, but after the recent kerfuffle with Boyds and non-locals who knows where this relationship is going. hopefully we can work things out.

I would recommend calling and asking for the remodeled room in your reservation. I would think they are in demand so possibly may not be available when you get there. Since the west tower already has been remodeled just ask for a west tower room, that way you don't need to ask for a remodeled room.

I am in a similar situation, I will be there in about 1 month. I already called and asked for the west tower, room facing west so I don't have the view of the east tower. The last time I got there they gave me a room facing the east tower, low floor and I had the noise from the a/c fans bothering me all night. never again.

 

[vegasdev]

I would recommend calling and asking for the remodeled room in your reservation. I would think they are in demand so possibly may not be available when you get there. Since the west tower already has been remodeled just ask for a west tower room, that way you don't need to ask for a remodeled room.

I am in a similar situation, I will be there in about 1 month. I already called and asked for the west tower, room facing west so I don't have the view of the east tower. The last time I got there they gave me a room facing the east tower, low floor and I had the noise from the a/c fans bothering me all night. never again.

EXCELLENT! thx

 

[eksantirik]

Thank you all, very helpful. I think I am more inclined towards Cal now.

Well then I went back to Expedia, and it said Cal was sold out, so I booked MSS. Oh well, thanks again, I think these were all good deals, given it's the labor day weekend at around $60/night all included.

 

[Joe]

I would recommend calling and asking for the remodeled room in your reservation. I would think they are in demand so possibly may not be available when you get there. Since the west tower already has been remodeled just ask for a west tower room, that way you don't need to ask for a remodeled room.

I am in a similar situation, I will be there in about 1 month. I already called and asked for the west tower, room facing west so I don't have the view of the east tower. The last time I got there they gave me a room facing the east tower, low floor and I had the noise from the a/c fans bothering me all night. never again.

Really? On our trip last month we were in the West Tower facing East. We were on the 14th floor (really that is 4th floor) facing the parking structure, but never heard any AC noise. 1430 if I recall correctly.

 

[dcrawf]

The general opinion from this and other Vegas centric sites ranks rooms as MSS / California / Fremont

 

[makikiboy]

The general opinion from this and other Vegas centric sites ranks rooms as MSS / California / Fremont

I disagree, especially since they renovated the rooms at the Cal. Because of that many people are trying out the Cal nowadays.

 

[makikiboy]

Really? On our trip last month we were in the West Tower facing East. We were on the 14th floor (really that is 4th floor) facing the parking structure, but never heard any AC noise. 1430 if I recall correctly.

I think the a/c units are closer to the elevator. I forget what room I was in but I could hear the a/c unit turning on and off constantly so after the first night I asked to be moved.

 

[makikiboy]

Thank you all, very helpful. I think I am more inclined towards Cal now.

Well then I went back to Expedia, and it said Cal was sold out, so I booked MSS. Oh well, thanks again, I think these were all good deals, given it's the labor day weekend at around $60/night all included.

I don't think there is that much difference between the Cal and MSS, both are decent places to stay the night.

I just like the Cal better because it is more convenient for me. Parking lot attached to the hotel so I don't have to go outside to get to the lot, rooms centrally located and between the FSE and MSS. I especially like the bathrooms in the West tower at the Cal, fully enclosed (meaning the shower/toilet and vanity all in one room). MSS bathrooms have separate "rooms", 1 with a door containing the tub and shower and the other open area with the vanity and closet right next to the vanity. If you are with someone who uses the hair dryer it can get irritating loud if you are trying to get some sleep while your SO gets ready for the day.

But like you, if I can't book the Cal I have no problems booking MSS.


Oh yeah, I would recommend calling MSS reservations and ask for a room facing south. Also ask for a lower numbered room because those rooms are away from the train tracks. Some people don't like the noise from the trains and while not that loud the noise still irritates some people. If you don't make those requests in advance they may give you a north facing room or a room right next to the train tracks. North facing rooms face the freeways which can get noisy in the mornings and afternoons, esp with the big trucks carrying their loads going over the "bumps".

 

[eaglejohn]

I don't think there is that much difference between the Cal and MSS, both are decent places to stay the night.

I just like the Cal better because it is more convenient for me. Parking lot attached to the hotel so I don't have to go outside to get to the lot, rooms centrally located and between the FSE and MSS. I especially like the bathrooms in the West tower at the Cal, fully enclosed (meaning the shower/toilet and vanity all in one room). MSS bathrooms have separate "rooms", 1 with a door containing the tub and shower and the other open area with the vanity and closet right next to the vanity. If you are with someone who uses the hair dryer it can get irritating loud if you are trying to get some sleep while your SO gets ready for the day.

But like you, if I can't book the Cal I have no problems booking MSS.


Oh yeah, I would recommend calling MSS reservations and ask for a room facing south. Also ask for a lower numbered room because those rooms are away from the train tracks. Some people don't like the noise from the trains and while not that loud the noise still irritates some people. If you don't make those requests in advance they may give you a north facing room or a room right next to the train tracks. North facing rooms face the freeways which can get noisy in the mornings and afternoons, esp with the big trucks carrying their loads going over the "bumps".

Really don't know if they will reserve a room ahead. It is usually when you check in. But you can ask. Odd # rooms at MSS face south. Rooms 01 and 02 on each floor are the remodeled shower rooms. MSS rooms are a little bigger than Cal

 

[eksantirik]

Wanted to give an update as I said MSS but my countdown timer shows Fremont. I found a Priceline express deal and booked that one instead. It turned out to be Fremont So, ended up saving some bucks, while getting closer to FSE. I am especially thrilled to being a customer for a no-resort-fee property.

 

[eaglejohn]

Wanted to give an update as I said MSS but my countdown timer shows Fremont. I found a Priceline express deal and booked that one instead. It turned out to be Fremont So, ended up saving some bucks, while getting closer to FSE. I am especially thrilled to being a customer for a no-resort-fee property.

If you want a fridge at Fremont, it is $15 per stay (not day). Just about any room in Fremont is less than 2 minutes from FSE. enjoy

 

[makikiboy]

Really don't know if they will reserve a room ahead. It is usually when you check in. But you can ask. Odd # rooms at MSS face south. Rooms 01 and 02 on each floor are the remodeled shower rooms. MSS rooms are a little bigger than Cal

One time I didn't request for a room or direction in my reservation (not sure if they will accommodate if you ask for a specific room number though). When I got to MSS (at 4:30 pm) the clerk said that the south side rooms were all taken and all they had available for me was a north facing rooms. I got a room directly facing the freeway and had to hear the thump thump of the trucks passing over the various bumps. Clerk said that next time I should put it in my reservation request to ensure that I get a south facing room the next time.

I did just that and the next time I checked into MSS the clerk first said that there weren't any south facing rooms available (when I asked) but then I mentioned that I made that request in my reservation. Lo and behold he was able to find me a south facing room so after that I ALWAYS call before my stay to ask for a south facing room.

If you want a fridge at Fremont, it is $15 per stay (not day). Just about any room in Fremont is less than 2 minutes from FSE. enjoy

Unfortunately while the fridges are standard at the Cal and MSS they aren't at the Fremont so you may have to pay a little for one. Also be aware that the Fremont rooms are smaller than the rooms at the Cal or MSS and the bathrooms are very tight. Just giving you a heads up on this as some people don't like the cramped quarters.