El Cortez is old school Vegas with style.
The entire hotel and casino staff is totally friendly.....
they know everyone by name ....
I found in talking with people that this is their only choice for a hotel and casino in Vegas ..... over and over people would say -" we have been coming here for the last 15 -20 years" ... "it is the only place to stay" ...
" you can't beat the gaming here"
I was amazed that the El Cortez inspired that type of loyalty - and then I got to know the staff of the hotel - they inspire the loyalty.
They have a supurb resaurant - Roberta's Steak House.
It is a small (seating around 80 or 90) elegant room with two large screen monitors that show silent, but beautiful travelogs of the Italian countryside.
They are somehow mesmorizing during dinner.
The staff is supurb ........ just hope you get Linda Hunt as a server - she makes the entire evening worthwhile.
Roberta's offers an excellent selection of seafood and steaks along with a great and inexpensive wine list.
I enjoyed a super German Reisling for the price of $18.00 ..... when was the last time you got anything better than Boone's Farm for $18.00
They have remodeled their "tower" rooms and I was amazed at how nice and large they are. There is a small section of what are called "vintage" rooms available as well.
The hospitality staff provided me a bowl of fruuit in the room - how classic is that ??
The El Cortez has $3.00 blackjack tables, it has a $5.00 Baccarat table and slot machines that dispense coins.
I would give the hotel and casino a five star except for the total smokieness of the casino.
In a sense - I quess that is also "old School" Vegas.
It is the one "old school" element they could improve - otherwise - keep it going just like it is .......
You need to give this hotel a try before the corporate giants eliminate it -
Savor the flavor of what Vegas once was.