Trying to decide

Hello folks.

Wife and I will be coming to Vegas in middle of March for our 2nd trip in 10 years. For our first trip we stayed at the Luxor on the strip and had a blast...but felt like it was a bit too far from everything. For this trip I would like to stay downtown. Please help me decide what hotel to go with.

We are Me (41) and Wife (37). Not huge drinkers but want to be able to walk around and not worry about being too far from the hotel. I enjoy craps and blackjack. Wife doesn't really gamble. We would also like to take in several shows while we are there....not really sure if Downtown offer's shows...or if we will have to go to the strip for those.

Thanks.

 

Welcome to VMB, yes I agree Luxor doesn't offer much terms of surrounding areas I'm fan of strip and yes strip would offer more variety of type of shows...I never stayed in downtown so I'm sure some others would inform you.
In strip, one of the best location hotel I believe is Mirage right out the door you are in the middle of strip .... sure it might bit little dated but it's very reasonable rates ... and again shows if you want it easier access (terms of locations of other hotels) good luck hunting

 

Stay at the Golden Nugget - it's the most well kept and "strip like" hotel Downtown and the place my buddies and I usually stay (coincidentally, we are staying at Luxor in a couple weeks). They have 3 towers of varying "luxury" so take your pick. There are shows downtown, but it really depends on what you're looking for. You won't find Cirque du Soleil, but Downtown itself is a show with live bands every night and all the people watching you can do with the buskers milling about.

The best part of Downtown is that the casinos are really close together and you're never more than a quick walk across the street to the next one. That being said, most have a unique vibe.

Golden Nugget is a pretty standard even keeled vibe.
The D is a more upbeat and party atmosphere (some think it's too loud).
Golden Gate has go-go dancers and more of a pure gamblers vibe - my favorite place to play craps.
Other than that, you're mileage may very - some of the casinos were quite dated last time I was there, but there is so much variety they are all worth stopping in to see if connects with you.

 

Agree, Golden Nugget would probably be most what you are looking for. There are only shows at Golden Nugget and The D to my memory. Not first rate, but good.
You can also take the bus to the strip, it picks up just outside of Binions and for 8 bucks you can ride all day up and down the strip and back downtown.
GN also has a great pool if it is open then? I think it opens in March but not sure of date this year.
The American Casino Guide is a great buy for downtown matchplays, 2 for 1 food, and shows. Great value downtown!
You also have lower table limits of 5.00 at most casinos downtown, if that is of interest.

 

4 Queens also has shows. GN would be closest to strip property and most expensive. along with its $30+ resort fee. Rush and Gold towers probably better than Luxor. Of course I would rather stay in any hotel downtown over Luxor.

 

This is a very good recommendation. I can afford to stay anywhere and try lots of different places but at the end of the day we always end up returning to Mirage every other trip. It's not the best at any one thing but it's my favorite combination of location, condition, and pool.

With Downtown you don't have to consider location because you can literally walk end to end in minutes. There are certainly at least 2 or 3 decent pool options these days between Plaza, Golden Nugget, and Downtown Grand.

With that said, if your wife doesn't gamble though I wouldn't necessarily recommend downtown for a stay. I think you can put together a decent non-gambling trip downtown but it's probably not what she has in her mind unless she's into kitschy and or old school stuff.

 

I am guessing you did not get downtown last time? If not, you need a bit of perspective on the size, etc. Some people love, some not so much. No idea which camp you are in. Very limited shows. Totally different vibe compared to the strip. In a space about the size of a strip megaresort you have a half dozen casinos. And these are mostly casinos with limited lounge/open areas and very limited shopping. Not sure what your wife does while you are gambling.

You will need to drive/uber/taxi or bus to get to the strip and shows.

 

I would consider anything from Planet Hollywood to TI/Venetian to be "center strip". Pretty big area actually.

Location almost doesn't matter downtown. More about what you expect so much as how nice the room is. GN and Downtown Grand are generally considered to be the best. Many like MSS, which along with California, Fremont and 4Queens, dont charge resort fees

 

Maybe split your trip? We did that the first couple of times staying downtown - a couple of nights on the strip and a couple downtown at the Nugget. You may find yourself too far from what your wife enjoys if you overnight downtown the whole time. Eventually we decided we preferred downtown, but we both gamble and drink.

 

Golden Nugget is by far the best place to stay Downtown. This hotel/casino really does think it is on the strip. With that being said, their $30.00 resort fee also can factor in their nightly rate. Their pool is awesome and my husband and I love their pool. We are age 60 and 72 and we do not find the pool too loud or anything. Just a fun vibe. We have stayed at the Nugget twice, once in the Carson Tower and the room was very nice. Large, comfy beds, and bathroom was nice. The second time we stayed in the Rush Tower, Jr Suite(got upgraded by having the Landrys card) and the room was Awesome!!! Bathroom was huge, soaking tub with shower, bed super comfortable, large room with a leather sofa, and a nice big flat screen T.V.

I do agree with marksind, maybe split up your trip. That way, you would get the best of both worlds in my opinion.

Whatever property you choose, it should be fine, you're in Vegas.

Good luck and have fun

 

I would watch some YouTube videos on downtown and there are plenty of them out there, just so you know what to expect. Fremont Street is very compact compared to the strip. No megaresorts here. Lotsa fun and keep an open mind!

 

I don't really get the too far complaint with the downtown decision.

First figure out what you want to do, THEN where you want to stay. If the shows you like are on the strip downtown would be worse than Luxor especially for your wife.

 

For non gamblers and non drinkers - Golden Nugget is going to be the best option as everyone else as said ..to keep the feel similar to the strip. I would vote Downtown Grand as a close 2nd since it is very quiet, the pool relaxing etc but it is off the canopy but an easy one block walk. Everything else downtown is fairly geared towards gambling and drinking in my opinion and anyone who doesn't go for that will probably be bored after a full day. The shows downtown would all be afternoon shows on the strip. Nothing of any significance. Magic comedy/impressionists etc.

If you want to do downtown - maybe one night at the Nugget to walk Fremont, check out the container park, maybe the Mob Museum/Neon Museum, lunch/dinner at one the many highly rated steakhouses (Andiamo, Binions, Hugo Cellar) or one of the new foodie joints (Carson Kitchen, Eat etc) and the rest on the strip. There is just so much more to do if you aren't playing.

 

As marksind said, how about a split trip? Or even if you don't want to have to pack up and totally relocate, book a night or two DT while keeping your room on the strip. That's what I did the first time I stayed DT, which was at El Co. My upcoming trip is a split trip 3 nts on the strip and 3 nts DT.

 

Definitely agree with this!

 

The Scintas will be playing mid March at the Plaza and they are a tried and true fun Vegas show. Also know that mid march is about the most expensive time of year for you to visit Vegas with March Madness, Nascar, Spring Break, St Paddy's Day, on top of normal Vegas conventions and tourists.

 

If you can afford the nugget the D is a good alternative, my Girlfriend and I loved our stay there.

 

I know the OP is leaving for Vegas in a few days but just wanted to offer a few suggestions

GN is easily the best hotel downtown and I presume he has already booked there. It has a Strip quality feel and rooms are very nice.
Other than Gordie Brown, all the shows are of the afternoon variety. This doesn't make them bad. They are a nice diversion from gambling and sunning.

Downtown has a good variety of dining spots, many on the cheaper side. MSS buffet is a favorite in addition to the fancy places mentioned earlier. Check also around Container Park and Fremont East areas.

So far as the South Strip is concerned I like NYNY and MGM the best. Have stayed everyplace, incl Hooters, other than Monte Carlo. I find plenty to do in that area alone. If we are talking mainly a money issue then Bally's, Flamingo, Harrah's and Linq are all decent (or better) places and perfectly located

American Casino Guide was mentioned earlier. I feel Las Vegas Advisor, although costlier, is a better bargain. They have freeplay or matchplay at 4Q, El Cortez, Plaza, Binions and Downtown Grand plus $25 table game matchplays for DG and Golden Gate. These easily cover the price for the package
lasvegasadvisor.com

 

While it is true you're not going class "A" shows downtown, I would depart from the above comment with respect to Mike Hammer, Gordie Brown (who is gone, but apparently going to reemerge somewhere) and the Scintas. In my opinion, all three of these shows could be on the strip.

Crazy Girls as an example had no issue moving to the strip when Riveria closed, and if one appreciates pure musical talent in addition to the topless review, there is no other topless show that comes close.

All my opinion of course.