OH DOWNTOWN VEGAS! HOW I LOVE THEE! Let me count the ways~
Best Hotel: Golden Nugget, Rush Tower
I was extremely impressed with the rooms. It beats some of the ones on the Strip. I've stayed at other DT Vegas casinos & this is the best.
Best Pool: Golden Nugget
Tank full of sharks while you slide through it. How cool is that?! Does the Strip have that? I think not! (I've been wanting to do this for the past 2 years but I never seem to have the time. You will be mine someday!)
Best Craps Table: Freemont Casino
$3 craps table! Need I say more?! PLUS they have a counter on the table so that way you can see how long the shooter has been shooting. I hate it when I end up playing at a cold table & some guy (or girl, equal opportunity for all) craps out right after the point is made *shakes fist angrily!*
Friendliest Dealers:
Don't know how to play craps? Want to test out blackjack? No problem! They are more than willing to explain the games for you. Trust me. I know. This is where I learned how to play craps.
Not to mention, they'll chat and make jokes with you. I'm not saying I always win when I play (but how I wish I did!). But when I'm losing, there is nothing worse than handing your money over to a poker face, dull, unchatty Strip dealer on top of that. Even though you're parting with your money at DT Vegas, at least you did it while laughing and having a good time.
Friendliest people:
Singing on the streets with strangers to KISS and Queen with hundreds of people while being entertained by the Viva Vision.
Walkability:
No taxis needed! DT vegas is extremely walkable. You can walk up & down the entire place in undef 15 minutes. It takes 10 minutes on the Strip to walk from one casino to another. If I wanted to walk, I would've just gone to the gym & walk on a treadmill!
I'm not saying DT Vegas is perfect. It doesnt have the clubs, buffets, and Cirque du Soleil shows (if it did I would never step foot on the Strip again!). Both the Strip and DT Vegas have the homeless people. But one thing that I prefer DT over the Strip is that I don't have to be bombarded with people trying to give me nudie girl cards and walk on a street covered with cards of stars over girls tatas & "Girls Direct to Your Room!" That's not classy =(
Real people. Real fun. Real easy on the wallet.
And if you don't love Downtown Vegas as much as I do after reading all that, well, you can just take your tushy back on the Strip! =p