Where to stay downtown?

Coming to Vegas for MM and staying on the strip but want to stay one night downtown which I have never done. Which place would be best? Solo trip, I like to gamble and drink beer. Thanks

 

solo trips in vegas are great! in a nutshell, the GN and the Downtown Grand are above the rest. all else downtown is nearly equal -- just basic lodging, nothing fancy. . MSS has great beer options. but keep in mind, no matter where you stay downtown, everything is super close compared to the strip. if you don't like the casino or beer options where you are staying, you can cash out and be in the next casino in less than 5 minutes. if you don't have any casino offers, I would go with the cheapest. 4Q, MSS, the Cal, and the Flea-mont have no resort fee. I like the old-school feel at the 4Q.

 

I like the Four Queens. Great central location and good gaming. Stay in the north tower opposite side of FSE for a short walk to the casino.

 

https://www.bconnectedonline.com/resnetf.php?MSEHOTEL

Main Street Station has rooms from $50 weekdays to $110 weekends in March now...WITH NO RESORT FEES !!!!!
I'm staying there for 6 nights in April

 

In making your decision, consider that distance is not a big deal downtown. The distance from the Plaza to El Cortez, which basically represent the two ends of the Fremont Street core, is 0.5 miles. It's 0.4 miles from Caesar's Palace to the Mirage, which are next door to each other. So staying in a particular hotel in no way limits you.

In general, I think most agree that the rooms at Golden Nugget and Downtown Grand are the best, but the higher end rooms at some other places match them, and will have better prices.

In general, with not much information, and a first time solo trip, I would suggest staying right in the middle of Fremont: the D, Golden Nugget, or Four Queens, which are all happening joints. On a weekend try to get a high floor room away from Fremont Street because it is very noisy. Make sure and visit El Cortez though: it's a completely unrehabilitated, old time Vegas dive, and a ton of fun if you don't mind experiencing all of the sights, sounds, and dare I say, smells of Las Vegas.

Rest assured, you will find gambling, and beer, and find it just as good or better, and almost certainly cheaper than on the Strip. List some preferred poisons and I'm sure people will comment.

 

I think it depends on what kind of place you want to stay, how much you want to spend and what kind of amenities (views, spas, exercise rooms, wifi etc.) you desire. As others mentioned, if you want the closest thing to a strip hotel experience that would be the GN or possibly the DTG. If low or reasonable rates are what you desire then the El Cortez, 4 queens, boyd hotels (Cal, MSS and Fremont), plaza and the GG and D hotels may be what you are looking for.

I don't think the "lower" end hotels are much different from each other, rooms are basically standard or smaller for downtown standards and some charge resort fees, others do not.


One thing you should do ASAP, book a place NOW! You can always cancel the booking if you find better rates or a better hotel but at least you will have a firm confirmation for your stay. As it gets closer to MM the hotel rates start to go up and you will have to pay higher rates. I had to go to vegas during MM week and I tried to book at the end of January/beginning of February and the rates were already high even for downtown.

 

If you're coming for MM remember that the best viewing parties are at Plaza, d, and Nugget. Join the facebook March Madness group, they have a nice room offer from the Plaza for MM dates and some giveaways available for downtown.

 

Other than nugget or grand yeah most places are same. Unless staying at a resort gives you access to an event go with cheapest casino hotel.. everything is so close you can go wherever easy to watch games

 

Thanks for the infor everyone, and I joined the facebook group now too

 

We are very comfortable at MSS. The Boar's Head bar is great for VP. What's your gambling preference?

 

If you're a beer connoisseur and want to watch the NCAA tourney, then you'd probably enjoy 777 at Main Street Station. They make several of their own beers and have multiple TVs. Prices are very reasonable and the food is great. The western bacon cheeseburger is my favorite, but they have a very wide variety of vittles.

 

How is the walk from Main Street to the casinos on Fremont?

 

Not far at all. The Cal is connected by a skywalk over Main Street. Go caddy corner from there into Binion's, and you're in the middle of the Fremont casinos. Or you can walk a block and a half to the south from MSS and be at the westernmost casino on Fremont, The Plaza.

 

Thanks, you can never tell truly how far it is by looking at a map

 

El Cortez and Main Street are at opposite ends of downtown. I don't mind walking back and forth between them at all, whether it's January or August. And I'm pretty lazy, so that's sayin something.

 

So I have been thinking, which downtown casino most resembles the old O'Shea's? I liked playing there and at Bill's and now they are long gone

 

I don't know about resembles, but if you're looking for a party atmosphere DT, then check the D and Golden Gate. If you're looking for beer and great service, MSS. Cheap crap game? Fremont. That tight, fun vibe is all over DT. Not hard to find.

 

El Cortez to MSS is the longest walk downtown. I've done it in under fifteen minutes at forty degrees. Both room elevators at Four Queens open in the casino. I've heard that the Nugget or the D might have a long hallway, but nothing downtown compares to the Strip monsters. As for the aforementioned route from MSS-Cal-Binion's: you'll be on Fremont in less than ten minutes and won't even remember being outside. I take that route to avoid the lone panhandler between MSS and the Plaza, but if you do you'll miss the historic train car display. Downtown you can stay anywhere and play anywhere and safely stumble home.

 

Thanks I do tend to stumble eventually

 

I love that question. My first Royal was at Barbary Coast, I generally stayed at Harrah's or Imperial Palace, and O'Shea's was my go to for 1) cheap Irish beer (75 cent Harp in a plastic cup) when I was too drunk to scam anymore 2) Burger King, they basically invented cheap chain food on the Strip 3) angry green-clad man of short stature. I would place a two dollar bet at their open air craps table and my friends would roll their eyes while I waited fifteen minutes for a resolution.

When have I felt that vibe Downtown? Mostly Four Queens and the D. Four Queens because if you get tired of gambling they will feed you cheap beer from Chicago Brewing. The D always seems to have a fraternity party at one of the craps tables. If I could travel back in time and find my younger self at O'Shea's I would say "Hey, man, you should get to bed." And of course my younger self would reply, "No way, I'm on Vegas time!"