need downtown hotel advise

Going to Vegas with a few friends in a couple of months (all over 30) and plan 2 nights on the strip and 2 downtown. Have been to Vegas several times before but never stayed in downtown. Looks like the best 2 options are The Golden Nugget and Mainstreet Station. Have been in the hotel and casino at the Golden Nugget but only visted the buffet at Mainstreet previously, but the hotel surprisingly has very good reviews on this sight and others. Any suggestions or dos or donts on these 2 properties? Thanks for any advise

need downtown hotel advise

I have been to Vegas many times and have never stayed downtown.

I plan on going in September and will try downtown for the first time. I also have been searching and reading reviews about the downtown hotels. So far the Fremont and Fitzgeralds seem to have very good reviews. They are not fancy, but mostly all reviews say the service is good, rooms very clean and comfortable. I do not spend much time in my room so as long as it is clean and comfy I can deal with it.

need downtown hotel advise

AlbieofNY...

just to reply to you, my better half stayed at the Freemont last year with adult family members and had no complaints. Stated is was an older property, but updated and very clean. Decent sized rooms and more of a ';regulars'; crowd of nice people. Also said that there was no noise from the street action even though the room was right above the light screen of Freemont street. Said they had a Tony Romas resteraunt that they ate at and very non-discript buffet at a fair price for breakfast.

Add Four Queens to your list. They have recently refurbished the rooms and bed linens and they are quite nice and reasonable.

I didn%26#39;t like the Fremont Buffet at lunch or dinner- but found it just fine for breakfast- especially with the cooked to order egg and omelet station. I think it is just under $6.00 pp for the breakfast , but if pick up a LVM magazine at the Four Queens ( on a rack by the half price tickets) you can get a 2/1 coupon , making it a real steal- and also a 2/1 for the FItz Buffet- which is horrid for lunch or dinner, but ok for breakfast if you can make do with made to order eggs and a few side dishes and pastries. With unlimited coffee and juice includec, both are real bargains with the coupon- breakfast for two for less than $7..

We usually stay at Golden Nugget as we joined their Private Arrangements program and earn 1 free night for every four ( no gambling required) but we would choose Four Queens as our alternate if needed since the room refurbishment.

Thanks for all the input thus far. Just checked out the Four Queens and it does look quite interesting since the remodeling. Will add it to my list as suggested

I stayed at the Fitz and GN 3-4 years ago and wouldn%26#39;t recommend Fitzgeralds. GN was a great hotel but the casino and restaurants were extremely crowded while I was there over a weekend.

I stayed at MSS in November and loved it! The rooms were large with very comfortable beds, the parking was easy, and the restaurants and buffet were fantastic. The hotel/casino is decorated with lots of beautiful antiques if you like that stuff . . . I thought it was a nice change-of-pace from the mega-resorts. If you like microbrews, the 777 restaurant/brewpub there has great beer and a fun atmosphere. Go there for a meal even if you stay somewhere else. Other than 777 the place is pretty quiet.

The downside: You are a block off of Fremont Street,so there is a short walk to other casinos and nightlife. (This is a real block not a ';Strip'; block. My wife and I walked it in about 3 minutes day or night and felt completely safe.) Also there is no pool on site if that is important to you. My future plan is to stay on the strip when I will be swimming, and at MSS when a pool doesn%26#39;t matter.

We%26#39;ve stayed at GN, Fitz and 4 queens within the past year. All were acceptable, although GN was a nicer property.

What about the remodeling that is or has taken place at the Golden Nugget. Is it still ongoing and is it an improvement or a disappointment? Really starting to sound like I can%26#39;t go to wrong with either of my original choices mentioned + Four Queens. And really don%26#39;t care about the lack of pool...care more about the rooms, condition of the property, gaming facilities and restaurants. All the entertainment I / we need will be on Freemont street for this portion of our stay as well.

I have stayed downtown a couple of times and I can recommend the golden nugget. The GN has ideas that it%26#39;s a strip hotel and the patrons and are more typical of the strip than the other downtown establishments.

I can recommend AGAINST the plaza. My last trip there put me off downtown, maybe for good. I found (used) mens underwear in my bathroom when I checked in. Ick.

The Four Queens is a good choice for the gambler who wants a reasonable amount of atmosphere at a budget price.....

the doctor

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dr@drvegas.info

If you stay in the South Tower of the Golden Nugget it will be a long walk to the casino if you like going to your room occasionally. Also for slot machines, the nugget has low payouts. It is a hotel with exceptionally nice rooms though. Very Fancy! The Main Street Station has mostly video machines. I like the older reel type slots and could not find one machine like that in that place. Any time I%26#39;ve tried to book at the Main Street, they%26#39;ve been sold out. So book early. My wife found the Vegas Club rooms a bit shabby and we haven%26#39;t had the guts to try the Plaza. I was going to try Fitzgeralds this time but I was afraid it would be too plain and boring. If you want a nice room you%26#39;ve chosen the only two places.