Vegas noob: El Cortez

[Cactus Jack]

[ QUOTE ]
Not sure what Barry's standards are or how good his 'game' is.
But as far as getting laid goess I think staying at El C could only help the cause.
"Hey baby, c'mon back to my place. I'm staying at the EL CORTEZ!"
It's sure to impress even the most discriminating gal.

[/ QUOTE ]

Who wants a discriminating gal? I get laid more than you, I guess. (And more visits to the doctor, so it evens out.)

[magicratx]

Thanks for the advice guys seems like i should just splash out and get us a decent place on the strip (didn't realise a cab from downtown was $25-$30)

[MicroBob]

Exactly. The money you 'save' will end up being lost on the cab-fares.

It's either that or you can take an even longer time geting there on the bus.

I don't know you but I'm actually glad to hear you're going to spend the bucks to go to the strip. I really hated thinking of you trying to make the most of your vacation constantly commuting and spending cab money like that.
It's do-able of course.
But staying on the strip is SOOOO much easier. And it really doesn't end up costing you that much more in the long-run.

[MrFizzbin]

El Cortez is a dump. Its in a crappy run down neighborhood about 1 1/2 blocks from freemont. The interior of the Cortez is a HOLE.. Stick a crowbar in your wallet an go to the IP or Tropicana, or Flamingo...

[ReidDeCardes]

I stayed at the Gold Coast a few years ago. It was decent, rooms were clean although they were dark. We got a $40 rate at the time. I heard Excalibur is cheap but I know the casino smells nasty. Circus Circus is cheap, but I heard it's nasty.

I find that 1 day to Freemont street is enough for any Vegas visit. Overall it is depressing to me. But the Main Street Station does have a good buffet and brew pub.

Good Luck and don't cheap out too much.

Also, to the folks from the UK. Rent a car for at least a day and visit the desert. Death Valley is amazing, so is Red Rock and Valley of Fire. Plus you can alwsys do Hoover Dam.

[sternroolz]

[ QUOTE ]
El Cortez is a dump. Its in a crappy run down neighborhood about 1 1/2 blocks from freemont. The interior of the Cortez is a HOLE.. Stick a crowbar in your wallet an go to the IP or Tropicana, or Flamingo...

[/ QUOTE ]

El Cortez renovated the casino and its tower rooms. Its scheduled to renovate the pavilion rooms across the street at Ogden House in the near future. It's also scheduled to renovate the exterior and in a joint project with the local government, Fremont Street and perhaps nearby buildings will also be getting a makeover.

Recently Fremont and 4 Queens renovated their rooms, Golden Nugget renovated the casino, Lady Luck added the nice Vu Bar upstairs, and Binions also renovated the casino. Even Glitter Gulch got a makeover.

[PiquetteAces]

I went twice there, during ME-WSOP 2004 & 2005. I have paid 22$/night tx include. The room look like 1940, but it's clean. Not sure about internet'connection. I had a wonderfull sight of the roof of the casino, but don't worry about the noise, U won't hear anything.

I don't think the area is 100% oustide late-night time however, if U travel between the casino & ur hotel in bus there is less than a minute-walking. For the bus it's like 30 minutes to get to the Bellagio, & it cost 2$/ride, or 5$ for any 24h-period. If U make it in taxi, that will cost U 10$ to 12$ & the will be 6 or 7 minutes long. Make the math of what U better like.

So if U make a big money finish, & have to comeback to the ElCortez area at 4h00am , that sound like +EV to take a cab. That's what I did when I have cash 24k$ at the ME-WSOP in 2005.

They have what we can call a poker-room, I remember I have played a spread limite hold'em 1$-3$ for 15 minutes , & the floor manager of the 3-tables-poker-room was smoking a cigar while working, & one of the dealer was missing teeth.

- jpp

[Skallagrim]

If you are going to las Vegas primarily to gamble, downtown on Fremont street is the way to go: cheaper rooms and food (drinks are free everywhere when you gamble); you have several casinos in a walkable area to choose from; the slots are a little looser, and the table games have slightly better odds usually. If you insist on luxury, the Golden Nugget is as nice as anything on the strip. The others are all in the "OK" category.

And I like Poker downtown. Binions is historic (though its going through a management change right now) so you have to play at least one of their tournaments and you will always find a cash game there, though its not always likely to be filled with fish. The Nugget's new poker room is my favorite in LV, small but comfy and very well run and always has good 1-2 NL going. And if you have to smoke while you play, the El Cortez is it.

The only reason to go to the strip is for the shows and attractions. The only exception to that is the amount of donks/drunks/tourists freely giving their money away at the strip poker rooms.

[mike l.]

it's easy to take the bus from downtown to the strip. el cortez is not too disgusting, should be fine if youre penny pinching.

[MrFizzbin]

[ QUOTE ]
Even Glitter Gulch got a makeover.

[/ QUOTE ]

You mean they finally got strippers under 35 and with no stretch marks...

Was at the Cortez in November, getting chips for my collection. I'll miss the fake wood paneling.... but the neighborhood still makes me want to take my posse with me...