My buddy wanted to stay downtown this year and heard good things about the Downtown Grand. My first impression was good. Parking lot across street was ok, but prefer if connected.
We went to the checkin where the girl at the desk was friendly. It was 11:45 and she could not check me in until 12:00 without charging a fee. Really, the room was ready, but ok we can wait. She did arrange for both rooms to be adjoining which was great.
Resort fee is a joke, as much so as the gym with a few treadmills and elliptical machines. The pool was closed. I did not feel there was anything resort about this place. It's just a casino hotel. Oh you get free coffee.
Room was clean. Nothing special. Tv worked fine. Bed was ok, and pillow really hard. One thing in room was really strange. Earplugs next to bed. Ok, that is not good. Must be bad road noise. Nope, it's the dang Fremont Experience Music at night. It shoots right at hotel and really really loud. So they did come in handy late at night.
Casino vibe was bad. Total bummer. No energy for a weekend. I really tried, but it was about 25% full. Dealers were just ok on friendly meter. Free drinks, well there is no service in the tiny sports book. I ordered a Jack D on the rocks at bar and got a glass that was more flavored ice then ice floating in JD. Maybe it was just that one when I was sitting at bar playing machines. So I ordered at blackjack table and got the same flavored ice. Felt like you had to suck on the ice just to get any whisky out of it. I would give the Casino a 1 Star for being a total drag.
The best thing about this place is a restaurant attached. I'll review that separately, but the Pizza Rock was Great.