Take the bus!

Ever taken the monorail in Vegas?  If not, I don't blame you.  It's really only accessible from one side of the Strip, and I'm using the word "accessible" loosely.  It's a looooong walk to the back of any casino that has a monorail station.  It's basically an entire long block off the Strip, only you walk it through the hotel.

You should take the bus!  Especially if you're a single traveler in Vegas, and tired of paying $10, $20, or even $35 at a time for a cab (cabs are more economical when you're splitting the fare among a group of people).  The bus is extremely convenient and efficient in Vegas.  Here's the website:

http://www.rtcsouthernnevada.com/transit/

I don't know about iPhones, but if you have an Android phone, the maps app also gives you all the information you need.  Bus stops are indicated on the map, and when you click on them, they tell you what bus stops there, and what time the next bus is.  And here's the deal: in Vegas, the bus ALWAYS comes when it's supposed to!  They're amazingly on time.  The Android maps app will also give you directions using the buses.

You can get all the information you need from the website or from Google maps, but here's an overview:

You've all seen the Deuce bus on the Strip.  This is a double-decker bus (bonus: go upstairs, sit up front, and it's basically a free sightseeing tour of the Strip!) that runs up and down the Strip, and to and from downtown.  South of Flamingo, it makes a million stops, and if you're trying to get from MGM to downtown, it could take an hour.  From farther up the Strip, you can make downtown in about 20 minutes.  It makes frequent stops on the Strip, so you're always a quick walk from a bus stop, and it'll drop you at almost any hotel on the Strip.  It finishes up at Fremont Street.  Going back from downtown to the Strip, you can get it on the corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Fremont Street, by the Heart Attack Grill.

There's another double-decker bus on the Strip.  It's called the Strip/Downtown Express (SDX).  This is basically an Express Deuce bus, which makes much fewer stops.  You can get back and forth from the Strip (even the lower Strip) to downtown in about a half an hour.  It also makes a stop near the Hilton and the Convention Center if you're going there.  The bus stop downtown to pick up the SDX to go back to the Strip is on Convention Center Drive and Fremont Street, alongside Binion's.

The cost for both the Deuce and the SDX is $5 one-way, or $8 for a 24-hour pass (that's 24 hours from first use, so it can cover 2 calendar days, depending on when you're riding).  You can also get a 3-day pass for $20, and if you're staying for a while in Vegas like I do for 3 weeks every May, you can get a monthly for $65.  They take cash (exact change) onboard, but do yourself a favor and use the Ticket Vending Machines (cash, MC, or Visa -- no Amex) at the bus stops and get your ticket before you board (you can only get the monthly at neighborhood outlets, or you can order one through the mail from their website in advance of your trip; that's what I do).

There are many local bus routes as well, but basically all you need to know is that every east-west major cross street (Tropicana, Flamingo, Sahara, etc.) has a bus line with a stop at the Strip.

There's also a new Airport Express bus, but it only runs once an hour.  I have not yet used it, but the 108 and 109 routes (Paradise Road route and Maryland Parkway route) also service the airport and downtown, so you can save yourself big bucks by getting one of these buses if you're staying downtown and going to and from the airport.  They stop at the "zero" level on Terminal 1 -- basically you look for the escalator DOWN from the baggage claim, and go outside to where the limos are parked.

Check it out!  You'll be glad you did.  If you have any questions about the bus service, routes, or where bus stops are located, post 'em here and I'll do my best to answer them!

The Golden Gate

The Golden Gate has been completely remodeled in the past year or two.  I've always enjoyed it as a place for good, low-limit gambling.  It's small, but all of the tables are usually $5.  For blackjack, there's one or two tables that don't use the evil continuous-shuffle machines.  There's a couple of craps tables that are always fun even when the tables are cold, because of the friendly dealers.  They have a bunch of slots, but no video poker, strangely. During the morning hours, you may sometimes feel like you've got your very own, private casino!

Well, now that it's been remodeled, it's not only a good, small, cheap place to gamble, but it's actually nice inside.  The Players Club has moved to the rear, near the re-designed check-in area and new valet area.  The deli is gone, which is unfortunate.  You now have to go inside the coffee shop (DuPar's) to order the famous shrimp cocktail.  The upside is, DuPar's serves the WORLD'S BEST PANCAKES.  Seriously, they are out of this world!  They are worth a special trip.  Make sure you also ask for some of their homemade jam to go with it.

I had stayed at the GG during their old incarnation.  The rooms were tiny and old, though serviceable.  I've not stayed there since the remodel, but I've taken the elevator upstairs and at least looked around the hallways, which look nice.  I imagine the remodeled rooms are pretty nice, judging from the rest of the place, but they're probably just as small.  Still, if you're looking for a nice, cheap place to crash downtown (rooms can frequently be had for about $29 a night during the week), you could do worse. 

While you're there, check out some of the antique slot machines and other memorabilia on display from their over 100 years of serving Las Vegas.  They were the very first hotel in Vegas, and the old telephone on display had the phone number of '1'. 

The Golden Gate is on the far west end of Fremont Street, caddy corner from the Plaza, on the corner of Main Street.  There's an ABC store a few doors down for your convenience-store/gift-shop needs.  It's a couple of blocks to walk to the Deuce bus, or the Strip/Downtown Express bus.  Also, a few feet up Main Street, by the antique railroad car next to the Plaza, is a bus stop that some local routes serve, if you're familiar at all with the Las Vegas bus system (if you're not, you should be!  It's a quick, cheap, easy way to get around town if you're tired of paying $25 for a cab ride.  I'll do a future post on the buses).

GG's end of Fremont Street has a stage for nightly free concerts.  They also have one of those frozen drink bars out front, so it's a great place to hang out and enjoy some free entertainment and Vegas atmosphere if you decide to come (or stay) downtown.  They're fairly loose with the comps, too.  I usually gamble there every trip, but not a HUGE amount, and yet I get a mailer that's good for free room nights, $15 in free food, and $20 in free slot play EVERY SINGLE MONTH.

Whether you're staying downtown or on the Strip, I highly recommend spending some time at the Golden Gate on your trip to Las Vegas.

The Plaza

Well, it's been waaaay too long since I've posted, but here goes.

I thought I'd gradually work my way in writing around town, and give my reviews and impressions of things.  Since I've been to Vegas 37 times, and stayed at virtually every single hotel, I've got a lot of information to share.

Today's review is The Plaza hotel downtown.  It's one of the older hotels (since the early 70s, I think), and I had stayed there in its old incarnation.  Well, about a year or two ago, they re-did the place, and it looks nice.  The casino is nice and spiffy with funky carpeting, and the front desk is prominently placed right by the entrance (you used to have to lug your bags to the dark and dank 2nd floor to check-in). 

There's a cool cupcake shop right near the front, too.  The biggest improvement, imho, is an outpost of the Hash House a Go Go right in the lobby.  For those of you who haven't made the pilgrimage, HHAGG is a GREAT restaurant -- a Vegas institution.  The original is way down Sahara Avenue -- it required a bus or cab ride, and was not conducive to your casual Vegas visitor.  Even though it's been featured on Man vs. Food, most people wouldn't make the big effort to get there.  Well, now they've expanded (yay!), and have convenient locations downtown at the Plaza, and on the Strip at the Quad (formerly Imperial Palace).

Anyway, I don't even know how to explain HHAGG, other than to say it's the kind of place that when your food comes, you take pictures of it!

 

 

 

I mean, look at that pancake!  And that picture doesn't even do the place justice.  Check out their website:  http://www.hashhouseagogo.com/  Trust me....next time you're in Vegas, you HAVE to go!!!

 

Anyway, I digress.  The Plaza.  The casino is worth wandering around, and they have a decent selection of slots and $5 tables.  The players club has a decent sign-up bonus for new members, so check that out as well.  Take a moment, and when you're back there by the players club, look at the "Old Vegas" pictures on the wall.  I always love seeing what Fremont Street looked like when it was still a regular street.

 

For whatever reason, the Plaza can't seem to hold onto a show for very long.  I don't even know what's playing there these days.

 

Another great thing about the Plaza is that they finally turned the "dome" into something useful -- it's now Oscar Goodman's steakhouse, and the view of Fremont and the food are definitely worth it, if you feel like spending some money on a nice meal.

 

I have not yet stayed in the renovated rooms, but judging by what the rest of the place looks like, I think they're probably very nice.  Rumor has it that they bought the high-end furniture from one of the never-completed fancy resorts on the Strip for pennies on the dollar.  Rooms can be had for $29 a night, so you can't really go wrong.  The pool is small and un-exciting, but if you're just looking for a pool and some sun, it serves its purpose.  Also gives you a nice view of Fremont Street and the downtown area, as its located outdoors on the 8th floor of one of the towers.

 

I love the Strip, but I also love staying downtown -- the free entertainment every night on Fremont, the cheap tables, and the ease of getting from one place to another.  As a downtown hotel option, I'd put the Plaza squarely in the middle of the pack.  It's probably your 3rd (or so) best hotel option downtown.  I'm looking forward to checking out the renovated hotel.