Downtown Hotels

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Fremont Street Experience - Downtown Las Vegas Hotels Review

Downtown Las Vegas presents an old-west counterpart to the glitzy world-class style of the Strip. The hotels are smaller, but still large by standards of other cities. The casinos have lower limits too, making them more accessible than the $5-$20 minimums common on the strip. This is a brief review of the downtown Las Vegas Hotels.

At the heart of downtown is the Fremont Street Experience. Starting at the intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard and Fremont Street, the Fremont Street Experience is an open-air mall on five blocks of Freemont Street in downtown Las Vegas. A 90-foot high canopy provides the cover. At night, a light show emerges, projected on the canopy providing a peaceful and interesting pedestrian experience. Lining both sides of the street are the famed hotels of downtown Las Vegas.

As you walk down Freemont Street, the first hotel (actually before you get to the Freemont Street Experience) is the El Cortez. The last is the Plaza. In order, the hotels from the El Cortez to the Plaza include:

• El Cortez Hotel and Casino - 300 rooms. Price: Low
• Fitzgeralds Casino and Hotel - 638 rooms on 34 floors. Price: Low
• Fremont Hotel and Casino - 447 rooms, Price: Low
  
• Four Queens Hotel and Casino - 690 rooms on 19 floors. Price: Low
• Golden Nugget - 1805 Rooms on 18 floors, the largest in downtown. Price: Low-Middle
• Binion's Horseshoe Gambling Hall and Hotel - 362 rooms on 24 floors. Price: Low
• Las Vegas Club Hotel and Casino
  
• Golden Gate Hotel and Casino - 106 rooms on 6 floors. Price: Low
• Plaza Hotel and Casino - 1037 rooms on 25 floors. Price: Low-mid.
  

Also close by are hotels on Ogden Street, including:

• California Hotel - 800 rooms.
  
• Main Street Station Casino and Brewery.
  

HotelReservations.com Review

This is the Las Vegas Hotel Review blog review of HotelReservations.com. With an emphasis on a big hotel booking engine, HotelReservations.com is a full service travel website provider, including plane flights reservations, car rental, cruises and vacation packages. HotelReservations.com requested that we review their site, making this a "sponsored" review. Despite that, we liked the set up of their site and have no problem doing this review for our readers.

With our expert eye to travel detail, we noticed immediately in researching this review that HotelReservations.com is an implementation of the Hotels.com/TravelNow booking engine. That combined with a pretty site, it seems like an convenient way to go for travelers looking to book online, although we have not personally booked any travel through the site.

This being the Las Vegas Hotel review, we decided to run a test and compare prices for Las Vegas hotel reservations at an even dozen hotels in Las Vegas, comparing HotelReservations.com, with Travelocity for the review.

The dozen hotels were, Four Seasons Las Vegas Hotel (in the Mandalay Bay complex), Wynn Las Vegas Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, MGM Grand Hotel and Casino, Paris Las Vegas Hotel - home of the Le Village Buffet, that we previously reviewed - Aladdin Resort and Casino, Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino, the Las Vegas Hilton, the Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino, The Palms Casino Resort, Caesars Palace Resort and Casino and the Flamingo Las Vegas. This made for a comparison of Las Vegas hotel reservations at higher priced hotels, like the Wynn and Four Seasons, mid-priced resorts, like the Aladdin and the Hilton, and mid-low priced resorts, like the Flamingo. The dates were arbitrarily selected as June 7-11. Not a scientific test, but we found that across all price ranges, the average prices per day were relatively comparable, maybe plus five dollars here and minus five there. The exception was the Four Seasons Las Vegas where HotelReservations.com seemed to have a special, giving a better price. On the other hand Travelocity had some hotel listings not found on HotelReservations.com. The conclusion is that you should check and compare various hotel reservation sites when booking hotel reservations in Las Vegas.

Continuing with our review, we also checked out Las Vegas car rentals at the Las Vegas McCarran Airport. McCarran of course has car rental counters for the major car rental companies, like Hertz, Avis, National, Thrifty, Dollar, Enterprise, Budget, Alamo etc. For our arbitrarily selected dates, we found that HotelReservations.com gave price quotes for each of these eight rental car companies. The search results page provided a listing of prices available for economy and compact cars, making price comparisons among rental car companies possible.

An 800 number also was provided for phone bookings.

This is a sponsored paid review, conducted independently the by Las Vegas Hotel Review editor staff. We do not endorse or otherwise sponsor the reservation sites mentioned in this review, HotelReservations.com or Travelocity, and this review is provided for informational purposes only, without endorsement. We cannot predict or guarantee your enjoyment of any internet site, even our own! This site (Las Vegas Hotel Review) is owned and operated by 1033 Inc. This article may not be copied or reproduced. Copyright 2006-2007 to 1033 Inc. All rights reserved.

Travel Tip - Buffets and Lunch Reservations

Las Vegas Hotel Review Travel Tip #4: Buffets

Las Vegas hotels are known for their sumptuous buffets, ranging from haute cuisine (yes in a buffet) to just plain consumption.

The travel tip is: if you have brunch at a buffet, do not make a lunch reservation. Odds are you will be too full to eat lunch ...(Rio Buffet in Photo)

Monte Carlo Resort and Casino

Monte Carlo Resort and Casino Review

The Monte Carlo Resort is themed as a relaxing Mediterranean style resort, in the middle of the Las Vegas strip. Situated between the Bellagio and New York, New York on the west side of the strip, the Monte Carlo makes a striking old-world impression. Lush marble floors, a grand glittering lobby and crystal chandeliers set the theme as you enter from Las Vegas Blvd. This is the Las Vegas Hotel Review of the Monte Carlo.

We view the Monte Carlo Resort hotel as one of the best kept secrets on the Strip in this review. With 3002 rooms, the Monte Carlo rates as one of the largest hotels in the world. But in Las Vegas, it ranks as mid-sized amongst the giants. Its pricing is in the middle, a more affordable version of the Bellagio or Mirage. Old world charm at a mid-range price. There may be some confusion going on during a major renovation project, but expect the room rates to be a bit lower as a result.

When you check in at the long front desk off the lobby, you feel as if you have landed in a luxurious hotel. The rooms are mid-sized and appointed with marble and cherry furniture.

If you want a grand themed resort, this would not fit the bill. Otherwise, the Monte Carlo it is a good generally reasonably priced option in the middle of the strip.

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Check for discounts at Travelocity:
Check for discounts at Hotels.com:
"Gamble" with Priceline:
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Off the casino are convenient restaurants, including a 24 hour cafe, the buffet, Blackstone's Steakhouse, Andre's French Restaurant and Dragon Noodle. In addition there is the famous Monte Carlo Pub & Brewery at the start of the "Street of Dreams" shopping mall (depicted in photo). The Brewery features Pub fare during the day and an active night scene.

The 102,000 casino can be less crowded than others, which has its pluses and minuses depending on your tastes. All the usual Las Vegas games are available, including slots, blackjack, craps, Pai Gow poker, Baccarat and a sports book. The large theater features Lance Burton, a magician.

Monte Carlo Resort and Casino statistics:

• Rates: $$ - Medium
• Rooms: 3,002 in a 3 winged tower
• Casino: 102,000 square feet (8,500 meters)
• Theme: Old-world calm
• Attractions: Pool, shopping

Check for Las Vegas Hotel discounts at Travelocity:
Check for discounts at Hotels.com:
Check for discounts at TravelWorm:
"Gamble" with Priceline:

For U.K. Only:

Check for U.K. discounts at Thomson:

Check for U.K. discounts at Thomas Cook Travel:

Hotel Reservations Las Vegas Travel Tip

Las Vegas Hotel Review Travel Tip #3: Hotel Reservations

Las Vegas hotel room rates vary a lot depending on which reservation site is providing the quote. I have found Las Vegas hotel rates to vary as much as $100 for the same room depending on the site used.

When I figured this out a while ago, I was stunned just a little. So much for being the educated consumer. Our recommendation is to click on at least 3 of the reservation links we provide in this site. Just look around for them in the articles or on the side of the page. Eventually I will do some reviews of different reservation sites. Compare prices and pick the least expensive.

So our tip is: Save up to $100 per night by comparing prices. Imagine paying $375/night, when you could get the same room for $275/night! Getting out the old calculator that's up to $700 more of shows, restaurants and poker on a one week stay.


Hotel Photo under GNU Free Documentation License