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| - When considering Vegas hotels, think of the Golden Nugget not as your mistress but as your wife - she's not going to wear 6-inch heels and brandish a riding crop, but she'll cook a hot breakfast and make sure you have lunch money in your pocket every morning. On second thought, erase that thought entirely as it's rather creepy, and just read the rest of this review.
Even through the various ownership changes over the past years, the Nugget still remains one of the best hotel deals in Vegas hands down. I never understood why people stay at complete dumps like the Flamingo and Circus Circus instead of staying at a really nice, clean hotel for less. I have never seen a filthy bathroom at the Nugget (even in the public areas) and from some of the sights I've seen in Vegas, that means a lot. The restaurants inside serve good meals at reasonable prices, and the spa is quite nice to boot. The amenities are not particularly extravagant a la Four Seasons, but clean, pleasant, and reasonably priced.
Now the down side (and isn't there always one?) - the Nugget is a beautiful oasis located in the armpit of Downtown. Now, now, I'm not hating on Downtown - it's actually a nice change from the blingy Strip. But once you get over the cutoff jean shorts/cowboy boots/mega-mullet people watching, you might feel a bit trapped.
The Nugget has undergone renovations in the past year, adding the infamous shark pool and facelifting some of the restaurants. The pool renovation was amazing - the area is still a little cramped, but much nicer than the pool area at the Paris casino. The casino has added a nice cocktail lounge as well although the decor borders on the douchy Maxim side.
When I got married in Vegas a few years ago, I booked a block for my guests at the Nugget. I wouldn't say the sales staff is particularly attentive, but now that they've added a chapel perhaps they are more receptive to weddings.
If you're Vegas-bound and looking for a pleasant off-Strip experience, I highly recommend the Nugget - however you may want to rent a car for the times you want to escape the Downtown insanity.
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