Looking for change of scenery

Headed to town this weekend. Wife and I are 4-5 times a year visitors, not crazy ballers or anything. We are pretty Mlife dedicated as we like to stay near TMobile for ease on VGK games but this weekend we have dinner planned at Oscars Saturday night and a plan to gamble downtown that evening. We've watched different vloggers eat/gamble at Plaza and it got us to pull the trigger to try it out.

We teetering on platinum Mlife this trip and we tend to spend where we stay. My wife hits buttons and I generally play poker and bet sports, but I've done it all depending on my mood that day/weekend.

Downtown seems intriguing though since everything is so close. We are definitely value conscious travelers but don't mind spending money if the value is there. Just telling me it's expensive because some TV personality says it is good is not enough. We've had some terrible experiences in some of the "best" places on the strip and in other cities. Sell me on where we should focus this weekend. (Won't be at Boyd properties though, we had our fill on them in the past and their beds are awfully uncomfortable in our experience at a few of their off strip/DT properties.)

Thanks in advance.

 

YMMV and this is hard to say with a straight face, but I've really been enjoying The D lately. My host there treats me pretty good with FP offers that aren't in my account, suites, and rides from/to the airport. Their basic room is very basic. Drink service is pretty good although I can't seem to get anything better than Johnnie Black. My bankroll seems to last a little longer there also. Circa is in the family, so you can also gamble there along with Golden Gate. Circa leaves a lot to be desired for me though. I have no idea what Scotch they are serving me, and neither do the coctail waitresses. The machines appear to be a bit tight for me too, but lots to see and late night food is available. I've never stayed anywhere downtown other than The D, so take my comments with a grain of salt.

 

I think best overall / value would be Golden Nugget. I would avoid the Carson tower because of location and room quality. But Rush and Gold tower are good. Difference with downtown compared to strip is the casino isn't as important. You could get to golden nugget to Fremont casino in minutes for example.

I worry about a lot of hotels that are right on FSE as far as noise.

 

If you are only thinking of gambling, and not a hotel, then maybe try a few and see what clicks with you.

I like to play video poker so we look at vpfree2.com for good Jacks or Better games at our betting level. Maybe you could do some research on the best places for the games you like. Still, the best games aren't going to compensate for crappy atmosphere and slow drink service, so skip around and check out as many as you have time for.

I don't gamble at the Golden Nugget but we do stay there during pool season, and in the Carson Tower that many say isn't very nice. We have not had any concerns about these rooms, it's quiet being far away from Fremont Street. These rooms are a long walk from the casino entrance but since we haven't been hitting the gym the walk is good for us.

Fremont Street is an interesting place to walk around and people watch. The overhead light show is a bore but the street entertainers make up for that. Many nights there are free live bands but we don't usually find them to be our kind of music.

If you are thinking of staying downtown then you have many levels of pampering to choose from. If you don't like waiting in long lines at checkin then a hotel like the Four Queens might suit you. It looks like the Downtown Grand and Circa also don't skimp on hiring enough front desk staff but that is just an observation and not a real experience. The Golden Nugget always seems to have long checkin lines and it kinda riles me to be reminded of my times waiting at the DMV.

There are a few casinos we never spend any time in; The D because of the loud music, Fremont ceilings seem too low, Golden Gate doesn't have games we like, El Cortez we don't like the atmosphere. These are mostly subjective reasons that wouldn't matter to most people.

 

I like to stay & play at the D. I love the loud music, dancing dealers, sigma derby, taller ceilings for less smoke (than Golden Gate), the escalator system, & Bar Canada.

 

We have like the Nugget when we are DT.

 

The El Cortez...tower room...high floor.
You will have the best low-minimum blackjack in Las Vegas... UTH, 3-Card, craps & roulette with minimums lower than you'll find anywhere on the strip.
Now, once you're there - here's my advice:
1. Don't eat there... walk to Pizza Rock for lunch & to Vic and Anthony's (Nugget) for a very nice steak dinner. If you do breakfast, you can't go wrong with Magnolia's at the 4-Queens.
2. If $10 craps is too rich for your liking, it's a short stroll to DTG, where you will find $5 craps.
3. Believe it or not, the Golden Nugget is the place to play now for carny games - $5 minimums for 3-card, UTH & Mississippi Stud.

Downtown is, in my opinion, WAY more fun for a gambler than the strip is... but even so, you can find really good food and at least one funny, entertaining show (at 4-Queens - Mike Hammer).
Good luck & have fun...be sure to come back to this thread & let us know what you decided & how it went!

 

I would echo the above re: Golden Nugget. I prefer Carson rooms over Gold tower, as I find them much quieter. I have always experienced alot of hallway noise in Gold tower, and one side and the north end face the street. My slot play is well rewarded there, and I find plenty to choose from. Alot of choices for food, and I've not had a bad meal there. The check in can take awhile as mentioned, tho I've never waited more than 10 minutes. Rush tower is all nonsmoking, and very nicely laid out rooms.
Hope you find your spot!