It’s Time To Consider Staying In Downtown Las Vegas

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Downtown Las Vegas

Downtown Las Vegas has come a long way in a relatively short time. The historic part of Las Vegas still has a vintage feel but there are so many new businesses that it feels like a different place from just a few years ago. This is no longer a part of Las Vegas to visit if you have time. This is a part of Las Vegas that you should make time for. Downtown Las Vegas has become a destination deserving of more than just a couple hours to check out.

When I first started visiting Las Vegas, we used to try and take a few hours during the day to play cheap blackjack, drink beer out of a can and explore the freak show at the Fremont Street Experience. We’d avoid the areas around the mall of casinos under the Viva Vision canopy because it didn’t really feel safe. We’d then head back to the bright lights of the Vegas Strip. That might not be the case any longer.

The Fremont East area just outside of the Fremont Street is bustling with bars, restaurants and even an outdoor mall. It no longer feels as though you’re dodging vagrants walking from the Fremont Street Experience to the El Cortez and beyond. There’s even a more developed Arts District in downtown Las Vegas than you might expect in the city that may be more famous for its nightclubs than its arts and culture.

Today there are almost as many hotel-casinos outside of the Fremont Street Experience canopy (5) as there are under the canopy (6). Some Vegas Veterans may still start their trip to downtown Las Vegas at a casino-hotel but that trip can now extend out of the shadows with a to a quick walk to The Beat coffee shop, Pizza Rock, Le Thai, Carson Kitchen, Downtown Container Park and more. A little more walking will take you to, even more, bars and restaurants. A quick rideshare or taxi will bring you to the arts district or the Smith Center for a travelling Broadway production or concert.

If you haven’t visited downtown Las Vegas in a while here are some developments in the casino-hotels over the past few years in the casinos.

Binion’s – The hotel is closed but the casino is bustling at all hours. There are new bars and restaurants throughout.
CaliforniaEntire property from casino floor to hotel rooms is being renovated this year.
The D – Formerly known as Fitzgerald’s. Best known for its party atmosphere, Sigma Derby game and Andiamo’s Steakhouse.
Downtown Grand – The newest casino-hotel in downtown Las Vegas is located where Lady Luck once stood.
El Cortez – It feels like a cleaned up version of the hotel and casino that existed 5, 10, 15 years ago. That’s not a bad thing.
Fremont – Hotel rooms were renovated a few years ago. A new bar was added but not much more.
Four Queens – Recently debuted newly renovated hotel rooms that do not have a nightly resort fee.
Gold Spike – Casino games were removed a couple of years ago. It’s now a bar with a hotel.
Golden Gate – The vintage party casino hasn’t changed in the past few years.
Golden Nugget – Still the closest Vegas Strip hotel experience in downtown Las Vegas.
Las Vegas Club – Closed and will re-open with a new owner and new name in a couple of years.
Main Street Station – Still brews delicious beer and mostly hasn’t changed.
Plaza – Almost entirely renovated in the past few years with some of the best video poker options in Las Vegas.

Tourism to Las Vegas continues to rise and prices in the most touristy parts of town (mainly the Vegas Strip) will continue to rise. It’s definitely time to find out if downtown Las Vegas is right for you. This isn’t only a place to check out if you have time. Downtown Las Vegas makes for an excellent value and a different Las Vegas experience and it shouldn’t be overlooked when making plans for Las Vegas.