Online Booking Tips for Vegas Virgins, Downtown

A friend of mine who has never been to Vegas, or at least in a very long time, told me he was soon to book a trip. He started looking online and said he found a great deal at the Hotel Cortez. While we do mention some of it’s finer history points in our overview of the Cortez, it would not be my first choice in hotels, at any rate. Sure, my friend is a hearty traveler used to staying in hostels around the world, but staying at one of the worst hotels in Vegas, shouldn’t be his initial experience.

While the Cortez is located in downtown Las Vegas near the popular and lively Fremont Street, it is in a fairly seedy side of the neighborhood. Here are some notes if you’re planning a stay downtown.

The Plaza: Affordable, fun, and in a prime location for access to the Fremont Experience. Your room will be larger, and a tad nicer than any Motel 6 experience. They’ve got a friendly staff and the Omaha Lounge features a Elvis impersonator and nightly bands. Regular poker tournaments run daily.

Main Street Casino: My favorite place to go for a meal downtown. The Main Street Brewery serves super sized American food with good home made beer. It has a gorgeous high stained glass decor in the main gaming room, and is a classy place to gamble in. I haven’t seen the rooms yet.

Golden Nugget: The fanciest casino downtown. If you want to stay downtown, but don’t want to compromise your room amenities, this is the hotel to stay at. It was also the location for the TV show, “Casino”. They have a 24hr Starbucks, a decent and cheap buffet, and fine dining options as well. Gambling here will cost you more than at other casinos downtown.

Binion’s: Once Binion’s Horseshoe, this used to be the home of the World Series of Poker and is still a favorite among poker players. It has a great location right on the Fremont Experience, and I would recommend it to those who love poker, or want that old Vegas feel. The rooms are a step above The Plaza, but it’s a small step.

Best Western: If you don’t mind staying a little ways away from Fremont Street, the Best Western has FREE WiFi in their modern, clean, motel style rooms. It’s not a great neighborhood, but you’d hardly know it once you’re inside the hotel. The rooms are decent, so don’t expect them to be cheap.

Those are the hotels that I can personally comment on.