If you are looking for a pleasant place to stay with a very casual atmosphere, The Cal is the play to be!
My wife and I stayed here over labor day weekend as it was the most reasonably priced hotel I could recognize (there's a ton of cheaper places, but in Vegas, you just don't want to take 'that' gamble).
The room was roomy, pleasantly decorated and the beds were super comfy. The valet staff was relaxed yet expedient in taking and retrieving my vehicle. The restaurant was modestly priced, if not cheap! Their breakfast buffet was small, but perfect! For about $7 you get coffee and all you can eat yummy breakfast food! I just keep telling folks, all the staff wears Hawaiian shirts, so of course their at ease.
I also appreciate that the Cal hasn't resorted to the obnoxious gimmicks that the other downtown hotels have resorted to. It's a comfortable place to stay, a friendly place to gamble and I feel welcomed as a guest.