Trip Report from the El Cortez

Got back 3/18 - a trip with my fiance.

Took a limo from the airport for $45, which was great since the lines for taxis was very long. Check in was a breeze.

Since we only paid about $40/night for the rooms I was a little wary, but everything was brand new. They%26#39;ve done a lot of remodeling. It was quiet and clean, no complaints at all.

The drink service was a little slow there, but we still had fun.

The food at Roberta%26#39;s cafe was great, their tempura shrimp are delicious.

Gambled a lot there, but didn%26#39;t win. There were a higher number of old folks and poor folks there, but the casino is very clean and secure.

I would definitely stay at the El Cortez again.

Downtown:

Had the yard of strawberry daquiri at La Bayou, very good and very strong!.

Main Street Station buffet: very good food for the price. Best turnip greens I%26#39;ve ever tasted. Ate at the brewpub also, it was excellent.

Walked in every casino downtown. Was most impressed with the Golden Nugget. It was very crowded. Won a little on slots at Fitzgerald%26#39;s. Even got brave enough to walk in the Gold Spike. It smelled really bad, and half expected gang bangers to start a gun battle any minute.

Took the CAT bus downtown and got off at the Sahara. Walked from there to Caesar%26#39;s Palace (my poor feet!).

Venetian - they pump some sort of fragrance into that place that smells wonderful. Great drink service, even in the quarter slot area (which were very loose).

Mirage and Caesar%26#39;s - very crowded. Caesar%26#39;s has that same lovely fragrance as the Venetian.

Casino Royale - Everyone seemed to be having a good time in there.

Ate at Harrah%26#39;s buffet - it was pretty good. Great bananas foster with ice cream and snow crab legs.

Was too tired to walk the rest of the strip.

Spent St. Patrick%26#39;s day on Fremont street, lots of drinking and live music, a great time.

Came home with empty pockets, but had a wonderful trip. I%26#39;m still exhausted, I think once a year is enough for me.

Trip Report from the El Cortez

Sounds like you had a great time. Next time stay at the Golden Nugget, assuming you like 4 star hotels at 2 star prices.

Trip Report from the El Cortez

Your trip sounds like so much fun! Glad to hear that theyre fixing up the El Cortez- Cant believe you went into the Gold Spike!! Read about that place and the Westren on CheapoVegas.com-Too Funny!! By the way, the last time I checked, The Golden Nugget was NO WHERE near 2 star prices. They are the most expensive of all the downtown hotels.

Your trip sounds like so much fun! Glad to hear that theyre fixing up the El Cortez- Cant believe you went into the Gold Spike!! Read about that place and the Westren on CheapoVegas.com-Too Funny!! By the way, the last time I checked, The Golden Nugget was NO WHERE near 2 star prices. They are the most expensive of all the downtown hotels.

thanks for trip report,

maybe drink service not same as it used to be.

el cortez buy you a drink ? used to hear that every 15 min.

The point is that they don%26#39;t charge 4 star prices. We usually stay at the Fitz, but ';somebody'; on this forum convinced me to switch to GN.

Only cost about $150 buck more for 8 nights. Now that%26#39;s value.

Can%26#39;t wait!!

';The Golden Nugget was NO WHERE near 2 star prices';

';They are the most expensive of all the downtown hotels';

Wrong and Rightfully So, considering the vast superiority of the GN hotel vs. the others.

Random sample of some downtown hotel rates for March 27 and 28th.

Golden Nugget: $59

Fitzgerald%26#39;s: $50

Horseshoe: $46

Four Queens: $39

Fremont: Sold Out ($70)

I would argue $59/nt. certainly falls into ';2 Star'; pricing category.

HILARIOUS NOTE:

Checked rates for Boardwalk and Circus Circus and both are about five bucks higher/nt. than Golden Nugget for these dates. WOW, some folks are gettin tookin.

staunchsteve is right again. the nugget is the best value there is. matter of fact, downtown is the best value. i hope that one of these days i%26#39;ll be able to afford to stay at wynn or the bellagio and to gamble at good hotels on the strip. out of my league at the moment, however. i%26#39;m a craps player without a ton of cash so i need to stay downtown for the $5 tables. the nugget makes vegas a great, affordable vacation for me. i%26#39;d hate to be stuck staying elsewhere downtown. bababooey to y%26#39;all.