Another Vegas Review

I had another very fun trip to Vegas. This one was very different then the other trips I have had there in that I didn’t spend very much time on the strip. Since I was staying downtown, I gambled there and at other places off of the beaten path. Also, I did something I had never done in Sin City before and that was rent a car. It turned out to be a very good idea and opens up that city in a big way. Here is a quick summary of all the casinos I visited. I can not remember exact gambling wins and looses for this trip. I mean I know if I won or lost at a place but that was it.

The Four Queens – This was where we stayed so this was where I did a majority of my gambling. On that front it was a mixed bag. My first night there I lost. Then I sat in on some tables and proceeded to slowly start winning some of my losses back. All in all I finished a little down there but all the dealers were really friendly.

The casino itself is a little small but serves its purpose. The room was very basic. Two beds a tv and a bathroom. The bathroom was tiny but since I really don’t spend a whole lot of time in my room, it was fine for what I needed. Their parking garage is a little small but, that would be my only complaint about the place.

Freemont – This place is right across the street from the Queens so, I hit it a number of times. All in all I left this place up in the gambling department. I mostly played blackjack there and wound up doubling a $50 investment there on Saturday.

The casino is rather old and the clientele is as well. We ate at Tony Roma’s Steak house on our last night in town, based on a recommendation from my Uncle. They had a $10.99 steak and lobster tail special, which wasn’t very. We got a fatty steak and a rubbery lobster. I guess you do get what you pay for. Still, the place has a certain charm and I would go back.

Circus Circus – My brother-in-law and Mother-in-law were staying here with our nephew AJ. I guess if you are coming to Vegas with kids Circus Circus is the one place I can’t bitch about having children at. The place was a complete zoo, with people running around everywhere and it was noisy as all hell. They do offer a nice free parking garage so that was nice. I didn’t gamble there as other then when we met up with the in-laws I didn’t want to spend much time inside the place.

Wynn – As I mentioned in my previous Las Vegas trip, Wynn is a wonderful casino. A tad on the pricey side but still a nice place to check out, not necessarily gamble at. We wound up eating brunch there on Saturday. Their buffet in my book while very pricey is damn good. I put it right behind Bellagio which is still my favorite. They had a bunch of stations and wonderful desert selection. Again, it will hit your pocketbook pretty hard but it is a very good meal.

Gambling wise, I foolishly put a ten in a 25 cent poker machine and lost it in about five minutes. I didn’t see any table games that were less then $25 bucks a hand so, I bowed out. One day I am going to gamble there just to say I did.

Suncoast – The party we were attending was being held there, so we got to see the lay of the land. It is located off of the beaten path but it is a place you should try and check out if you are ever in town. The place itself is huge, with a movie theater, bowling alley and bingo hall inside. We were in a banquet hall that was very nice. There we ate and had a decent meal.

The casino itself was very colorful. I found out from my wife’s family that the Suncoast is one of those places that the local’s go to gamble. I sat down at a blackjack table and was met with some very friendly faces. I was the only male or person under 75 sitting there. Still, I had a good time with the older women as when they they found out I was from Chicago, were asking me all kinds of questions about our fair city. I wound up putting down $40 bucks and left there with over double that. All in all I really give a big thumbs up to the Suncoast.

Binion’s – On Saturday night, after we left Suncoast and headed downtown for the night I hit Binion’s. On my few other trips to Downtown Vegas every time I have gambled at Binion’s I have lost my ass. Sadly, this time would be no different. I was at a single deck blackjack table and lost my investment in record time. While the people there are always friendly I just don’t have any luck there. The place itself is decent but, with my luck there I may have to start avoiding it at all costs.

Fitzgerald’s – Also, hit this place on Saturday night for some reason. I had also never had luck there and after getting my ass kicked at Binion’s I figured to try my luck somewhere else. I really don’t like this place as it has unfriendly dealers and a somewhat sketchy clientele. I sat at a table with a man who was extremely drunk and kept making very bad decisions. I should have got up but didn’t and it cost me as I wound up after being up early losing like ten or eleven consecutive hands. Finally, I just got up and left the place vowing to never come back.

The Golden Nugget – The Nugget is located across the street from the Queens so, I hung out there a little as well. I really like this place and not that I didn’t like the Queens but if I were to stay downtown again, I would like to stay here. I consider it the jewel of the area. We had brunch there Sunday. It was a decent buffet for the money.

One plus is that when you sign up for a player’s card there, you get $10 in free slot play. I sat in on a poker machine and turned that free ten into a nice $21 dollar profit. Nothing spectacular but it was still nice. The tables were very crowded when I was there, so I didn’t get a chance to hit them. I really like this place and would like to spend more time there on my next trip.

California – Joyce and I decided to take a walk down Freemont Street and see some of the other casino’s off of the beaten path. One of them was the California. It is located a block off of the downtown strip and I had heard it was a decent place. I sat down at a blackjack table and played for a while there. I was doing OK, before running into some bad luck and leaving there down. Joyce sat at a poker machine and lost some as well. The place itself is alright for sawdust joint. I can’t say I need to come back but, it wasn’t the worst casino I stepped in either.

Golden Gate – The Double G is located at the end of Freemont Street. While we walked by we decided to step in and play a little there. I wound up losing there, but I still had a good time. This place is much like most of the other casinos downtown. Could use a facelift but is nice for what it is.

Red Rock – Now, this place is the shit. Just a wonderful casino, and should be a model for every new place that opens in town. It is off the beaten path so, you have to make a special trip to go there, but I highly suggest you do. The casino itself is just beautiful with hardwood floors and spacious areas. It is gigantic and offers a little bit of everything no matter if you are a big spender or a small timer. The dealers I had were overly friendly and I sat in at a really good table. I played there for awhile and I wound up winning some coin. This place really impressed me and I am going to make it a point to go back on my next trip into town.

The Palm’s – While this place is nice, avoid at all costs the buffet. Joyce and I on Monday our last day there, were going to hit the Paris buffet but, decided since we liked the Palms so much the last time we were there, to try their buffet. That would be a mistake. In hindsight, I should have figured it was not there thing. I mean with Rio right there anyone going to a buffet is going to eat there. So, the Palms put no effort at all into theirs. It was one of the worst meals I have ever had in Vegas. We made a huge mistake going there instead of Paris.

So, in the end I figure I lost a little more then I won. (Even after I actually won for the first time in my life at the airport) but it was still a nice time. I wound up liking downtown a lot more then I thought and I would stay there again. I think alternating between the strip and downtown is an idea. Again, I would highly suggest renting a car as thins way you are not beholden to cabs or the Vegas public transit which sucks.