The Middle

Staying at any of the casinos on the east side of Las Vegas Boulevard between Cromwell and Harrah’s is a bit like living on a freeway. The foot traffic is pretty much nonstop 24/7/365 and it can be a bit overwhelming sometimes. The sidewalks are narrow and cutting through the casinos is often the best way to get around. There is always music and usually a bit of madness. And this isn’t an upscale shopping mall crowd. These are just regular people enjoying Las Vegas. Room rates are pretty reasonable in this neighborhood and there is plenty of fast food and even some cheap drinks to be found if you pay attention. Because of the concentration of casinos and entertainment and the middle class crowd, this part of the Strip feels more like Downtown than any other. Its main street is the Linq Promenade, a fun place to hang out, have a drink and people watch. And, if you want to rise above it all for a bit, the High Roller is a great choice. Whether staying in this part of the Strip is the right choice for you depends on your budget and whether or not the description above sounds awesome or awful. For me, I kind of like it.

(Note: the blog will be silent tomorrow in remembrance of the 58 souls we lost one year ago and the thousands more whose lives were forever altered by the events of the night of October 1.)

Harrah’s Las Vegas

Today’s blog entry comes with no attempt at a clever turn of phrase as I have run out for the month. I am going to give my impressions on my stay at Harrah’s. Other than spending a night on someone’s floor many years ago, I had not stayed here before. I had enjoyed many fun nights at both Carnaval Court and the Piano Bar so I had high hopes for my stay. One feature of Harrah’s branded properties I have noticed is that the employees are friendlier than in most other hotels and not in that, “I want a tip” kind of way. Most everyone I had contact with was helpful and seemed to care. The room itself was fine, one of the fairly recently remodeled Valley Tower rooms. Had a nice view and a comfortable bed and everything worked, even the half-door style shower. No fridge but there was a coffeemaker. The room did seem to pick up a lot of hallway noise though I didn’t notice my neighbors at all. Perhaps I didn’t have any? The casino was always busy and did feature the only Fortune Cup game I have seen at a Caesars property. Average drink service on the floor but the bartenders at the main casino bar were friendly and fast. Tomorrow, some thoughts on life center Strip.

The Courteous

In Spanish, El Cortez means “the courteous” and I have to say I have certainly found the place to be just that. After spending a single night at one of their Designer Suites back in May, I checked out one of their Cabana Suites this past week. I found both rooms to be comfortable, functional and stylish. The casino and parts of the hotel date back to the 1940’s but the place is a great mix of the past and the present. In addition to the latest and greatest slots, you can play nickel video poker on a collection of machines that still take actual coins. There’s an old school coffee shop but also a stylish bar. And, though it sets a couple of blocks off the Fremont Street Experience, it feels very safe and lacks some of the less appetizing street performers. It is nice to be close to the insanity but not right in the midst of it. And, being right in the middle of the Fremont East district, there are a number of interesting bars and restaurants nearby. To say that I have grown quite fond of this place is an understatement. It is my favorite place to play and stay Downtown. Let me know what you think about El Cortez.

More Gold

I neglected to sum up the overall experience at the Golden Gate, but there are some important points worth sharing. First of all, the casino has a great bar called the Prohibition Bar and it has remain largely unchanged for years. Purportedly many famous people have tipped one back here and it is a pleasant place for a cocktail and a gamble. Unlike some places, they seem to want to give you a free drink. There are no meters or lights, just a friendly face. Sadly, if you are feeling hungry, you’ll have to go elsewhere as the hotel has no restaurant. Those with happy memories of Dupars or the Bay City Diner will be disappointed. There are no pancakes or shrimp cocktails here for any price. All those spaces are now filled with tables or machines, as is the space once occupied by La Bayou. This has nearly doubled the gaming floor but it is still a small casino compared to most of its neighbors. So, if you fancy a cold drink and want to play, the Golden Gate is a good choice. If you need a bite to eat, go somewhere else.

Back to the Blog

Well, my visit to Las Vegas, cleverly dubbed “Vegas 40,” has come to an end. I am neither wealthy nor particularly famous. I am a few pounds heavier and a few dollars lighter. I can now turn my attention from daily vlogs to the daily blog and I have a number of things to talk about over the next couple of weeks, as we prepare for the new website in October. This week I will focus on some of the highlights of my week in Vegas and my impression of what’s going on around town. I will start by saying that my experience may be atypical as the the seven nights of my visit spanned across two very busy weekends. The first couple of days were crowded with fight and race fans and last couple of days with those attending the big music events in town. I did have occasion to check out four different hotels, a few shows and a few high profile restaurants. I will give my thoughts on each this upcoming week so you will want to stay tuned for that. While I am little sad to be back, I am excited about sharing more Vegas Tips and Tricks with each of you!