greggarious

I've been considering an extended weekend in Vegas. Mostly to play poker (probably will hit up Golden Nugget.)

If there's someplace with low limits maybe do a little BJ and roulette. (Roulette can be fun, but it blows through money way too fast at 10/hand)


After some research, it looks like if I flew out during the week (say M-F) I could get a room for ~40 a El Cortez. I've never stayed there but heard good things from friends who go to Vegas.

I'm not super picky - I've stayed in a lot of hostels, and I'm mostly looking for a safe place with a clean room and decent bed.

El Cortez is close to downtown and I can take the Deuce to the strip.

Anyone have any thoughts? Alternatively considering Flamingo (which I've stayed in many times for conventions) or Linq for about 10 bucks more a night.

Also, what's that area like? I hear mixed thoughts on downtown, some seem to act like it's murder alley, others seem to say as long as you're smart (not flashing cash/phone) you'll be fine. I'm leaning to the latter but being able to walk around is a big reason to book. If it's not safe to bounce from casino to casino may stick to the strip.

Skatering

When I was in Las Vegas all the hotels were horrendously expensive, for reasons I never figured out. I stayed in the Silver Sevens Hotel and Casino as they were the cheapest place that met my minimum requirements.

Might be worth a look. Rooms were pretty good (bathroom less so).

The _Banking_Scot

Hi,

During the day it was fine ( I have walked from the Neon museum to Fremont Street). At night the Fremont Street area should be fine ( together with the blocks immediately around it ) but slightly further out it is more deserted at night ( and lower levels of illumination)

I have been to Downtown a couple of times and also ran around the area as part of the half marathon ( the side streets were a little dark in places) but did not feel uncomfortable.

Regards

TBS

greggarious

Thanks. Yeah my plan would be to be walking between Cortez and Golden Nugget. Maybe a little further SW (in the direction of Atomic Liquors, which I've seen some good reviews for). I've heard "the D" has old school slots that spit quarters, which would be fun to check out.

I'm also on the lookout for low limit roulette. It's a fun game, but not fun enough to spend my bankroll 10 bucks a spin

skyhighlander

I would definitely recommend El Cortez. From what I remember the tower rooms are the nicest, might be few buck more but still dirt cheap.

Freemont Street is great, fun and safe, no matter the time of day or night. I don't know about the surrounding neighbourhoods as we had no reason to walk there, everything you need is on one street!

I've stayed there during my first trip to Vegas and loved it. Tried the Strip the second time and oh boy, the distances! I'm used to walking everywhere but this was just an awful few nights. You're either stuck at your "you name it mega hotel&casino", you're stuck in traffic or you're forced to walk for miles. Up and down footbridges, neverending halways, there's even a tram connecting hotels and casinos. Tried the Strip for the sake of trying it once in a lifetime, never again.

​​Back to Freemont, casinos wise the Nugget is fine, but personally I prefer the Queens. Had a great time there and we were always able to find a 5$ BJ table, even on Saturday night. Cortez casino is fine too, and they have Subway in house! There's nothing like a pastrami melt at 4am after a long Vegas night!

And I've seen the place with those vintage slots, it's pretty cool.

Oh, now you made me think, it's been a while, might be time to re-visit!
​​​

FirstInFlight

I've stayed in most of the downtown properties. Downtown is generally cheaper than the Strip.

The D is good - weekdays it is usually cheap. That would be my first choice because it has a small footprint so it's a short walk from the elevator to the casino and Fremont St. plus you are in the heart of the action. if quiet is important ask for a room high up, on the North end of the tower, and facing east.

The Golden Gate is owned by the folks that own The D. Same great footprint. Can be louder because it's so close to the stage.

The Plaza is also cheap - a little more run down - but not bad. The El Cortez is similar. Another similar property is The California. All three of these are fine. If The D is less than $10 more I'd stay at The D but any of them works.

Fremont St is safe. The streets immediately around Fremont are also fine - at least during the day. Like any big city, a dark deserted street at 3 am is a bad idea. But Fremont St itself is generally fine 24/7.

There are some really good restaurants downtown and a lot of free live music acts. For my money it's much better than the Strip - especially the Flamingo.

Loren Pechtel

When rooms are inexplicably expensive here look for a major trade show. (And by that I mean upwards of 50,000 attendees.)

The issue with downtown is the lines are sharp. It's not a good area of town but the casino security provides a bubble of safe space--it's very unusual for criminals to commit non-stealthy crimes where the cameras can see them. (Pickpockets are another matter, plenty of them around.) During the day I would have no qualms about being anywhere down there (and have visited many businesses outside the casino area) but at night I would be uncomfortable leaving the immediate proximity of the casinos.

Note that the El Cortez is one block east of Las Vegas Blvd, there are no other casinos on this block, the rest of the downtown area is all to the west of Las Vegas Blvd. I would be uncomfortable as a pedestrian there at night. It's not murder alley but at night you probably could find drug dealers there.

The light isn't nearly the issue that the cameras are.

greggarious

Drug dealers in other cities I've lived in have been pretty tame. They offer wares, I say no thanks, keep walking. If anything it's slightly safer since they don't want people robbing around "Their corner" and driving away customers.

OTOH, I would probably be a little intoxicated walking back, so I'll consider the D as well (thanks to the poster who made that suggestion) or the Golden Nugget. (GN is nice, but maybe a little pricier...).

Thanks for the data points.

tatterdema

Downtown Vegas in the El Cortez area is HOPPING at night. I would not worry at all with all the new night clubs down there, all the way to Atomic now. Container Park, etc, it is a different place than it used to be when people called it murders row, or whatever. I would not hesitate to walk anywhere downtown at night anymore.

Check out Gold Spike also. It is a decent non gaming hotel, but is very loud on weekends. 4 Queens, Fremont, California, and MSS are all decent, and none of them have resort fee's, which sometimes double the price of rooms. 4 Queens South Tower rooms are my favorite out of all of them.

Jaimito Cartero

I walked the area around the El Cortez a lot in the 80’s as a teenager. Much more dangerous back then, I think. Other than aggressive panhandlers, nothing too horrible.

I used to play $1 blackjack at the Western at 14 or so. 50 cent roulette, too. Back then it was great, as it was El Cortez’s training casino, and the dealers made lots of mistakes. Nothing better than getting paid for 22 or pushes.

eponymous_coward

The ElCo is someplace I stay at regularly. Have not been offered drugs once in the area. Have never felt unsafe (now that Container Park and a bunch of other places like EAT and LV Donuts are there it is rapidly going upscale). And I have also been a regular since The Western was a going concern (and that WAS a bit shady/downscale, but it’s dead now). You should be fine.

kettle1

The D removed all coin slots on the second floor, except the Sigma Derby Horse Race Machine. The Cal, Fremont and Main Street Station still have some of these slot and VP machines that use coins.

This can be found at the El Cortez.

If you are looking for a low cost hotel Downtown. The Cal, Fremont, 4 Queens and Main Street Station have no resort fees.

OTD

And all the free second-hand smoke you can breathe!

greggarious

Thanks! They spit out coins too?

I know it's silly but it's something I want to check off my bucket list.

eponymous_coward

Yeah, you can find quarter machines downtown at more than the ElCo. I think the Cal has full pay VP at the 10 cent level as well (so 50 cents per at max coin in).

IMO you're overthinking this- none of the downtown properties are more than about 10 minutes brisk walk away from each other.