Why Downtown/Off Strip Las Vegas is Underrated...

In my last post, I discussed 10 Tips that Las Vegas Virgins should know before going to Vegas.  Now I will discuss how the Downtown area/Fremont Street is very underrated compared to the pizzazz of the strip.  First however, there is something that I did not mention in my last post that can be useful. Those would be Player's Cards.

If you ever wanted to get amped for a trip to Las Vegas and want junk mail with room offers from various casinos sent to your mailbox or e-mail, then sign up for a players card at the various casinos you go to. Some of these player cards come with incentives such as a free slot or table play and discounts off restaurants when you first sign up for them.  Even if you aren't a gambler, there are chances that even if you use your card for a little bit, the casinos will send you offers.  Las Vegas hotels are expensive in general, so having these cards will help you when you travel on future trips. Are you a big fan of Bellagio, Aria, Mandalay Bay and MGM Grand?  Well you are in luck as they are under the same M-Life players card.  Fancy some Caesars Palace, Paris, Planet Hollywood?  They use the Caesars Entertainment Card.

Prime Rib from Four Queens - I like my meat rare

1. Cheaper Food Options - Just because it's the Las Vegas Strip, the food is going to be a bit more pricey.  Tourists don't know and they want to just eat good food and will splurge a little bit more while on vacation.  If you want something more reasonable, check out downtown.  Four Queens has an excellent cafe called Magnolia's Veranda.  They have a Prime Rib special for $11.99 per person and the meat rivals some of the better cuts of meat that you have probably have had ever.  I have also have had their Teriyaki Chicken and that is awesome as well and very filling at 3am.  Another good spot is the Paradise Buffet and Cafe.  Here you could get their buffet or order off their menu.  If you are a fan of Oxtail Stew, the portion here is really good and very filling.  If you want to go off strip and want Asian food, check out the variety of spots on Spring Mountain Blvd.  Tofu Hut serves up some cook your own Korean Food and Pho So 1 serves up some of the best Vietnamese noodles I have ever had.  Another place you can't go wrong are the Station Casino's Buffets, which run between $10-$20 a person depending on the time you go.  A tip for anyone hitting up the buffet in general though.  Try to get into the buffet during the end of their lunch hour and pay those prices.  Thirty minutes later, they start changing their dishes out to dinner and you get twice the fun!

2. Cheaper Gambling Options - The same places that I mentioned above also have much cheaper gambling options than their strip counterparts. Unless you are in Vegas at 8am on a Tuesday morning, chances are really good you will not be able to find a $5 blackjack table.  Heck, you might have a hard time finding a $10-$15 dollar blackjack table.  Downtown and off strip casinos have multiple options of $5 tables everywhere and your dollar will definitely last much longer.  Also, from what I have seen, comps are much easier to obtain with a players card.  For example, I have gotten offers to stay at The Orleans for a free two night stay for just sitting down and playing blackjack for about an hour at about $5 a hand.  Comp offers work well on future trips.  I'm not sure about their slot machines, but I do notice there are more cheaper slot options than the strip.

3. Hotels are much Closer Together - In late 1994, a 5 block stretch of Fremont Street was closed to vehicular traffic for good, which created the Fremont Street Experience that is seen today.  On the street, there are many side shops and vendors selling trinket type items and also there is a couple of stages which provide live entertainment during the evening.  Also if you are to look straight up, there is a canopy which provides a free light and sound show at night.  There are also many outside bars to pick up your favorite beverage of choice.  In this five block stretch, you will probably pass by about 5-7 different casinos.  Compared to the strip, this is a short walk and you can see a whole bunch of different themed hotels in a matter of minutes.  The distance between hotels is what helps you with your food options I stated earlier.  You could go to your favorite cafe in one casino and a couple of minutes later you could be at your favorite dessert stop.

4. The Rooms are Very Good - When my father said that he wanted my friend and I to stay Downtown with him for a night, I didn't expect much from the rooms when I stayed there.  Honestly, I expected them to be run down.  My buddy and I stayed at the Golden Gate and while the room was about the size of a cramped bedroom, it did the job and was clean.  There wasn't much of a view, but the bed was comfortable and I wouldn't have a problem staying there again.  However though, I would rather stay at the California Hotel because I thought their rooms were much nicer.  I was honestly surprised because if you would have told me the room was on the strip and you paid over $100 a night for it, I would not be surprised.  The worst experience I have had in a room has been Imperial Palace (renamed The Quad), which is in the dead center of the strip.  I try to avoid that place at all possible, until they renovate their rooms, which they said they would in the near future.

5. Homely Feel Downtown - While Downtown, I felt like I was more at home.  When on the strip, I felt completely overwhelmed and in shock by all of the stuff that is going on.  You have larger than life buildings, shows, people trying to hand out adult entertainment advertisements etc.  Downtown, you don't get this and it doesn't feel "too touristy" if you get what I mean.  I love having a good time, but the Downtown area just seems a bit more friendly and down to earth.  The crowd Downtown is mostly older people so if you are looking for your clubbing and pool crowd, this part is definitely not for you.

Downtown Las Vegas is where it was all happening back in the day, so if you are looking to see some of the nostalgia of Las Vegas, this is the place to be.  I always believed in being able to look at some of the past history of the city and downtown provides a great experience.  For those that are World Series of Poker fans, check out Binion's and see where the first tournaments were played.  You can even seriously take a photo with a million dollars there as well...

Stay Positive Everyone!