Søger...

We stayed in the Tower on our last visit, so I chose the Pavilion this time just to be able to compare. They are the original rooms, and are more or less what you'd expect from any hotel chain. They have gone to the effort to paint them in true vintage colors, and upgraded the bathroom fixtures. I was on the 2nd floor, and like others, smelled the smoke from the casino, but primarily in the hallways. If you are sensitive, ask for the 3rd floor or stay in the Tower. If you're supersensitive -- pick a non-smoking casino or don't go to Vegas. I have no trouble climbing stairs, so found them more convenient than having to wait for an elevator. One continuing issue is the lack of informed staff. I had booked a shuttle back to the airport in advance; a young woman who was also waiting out there at 4:00 a.m. for a cab saw me get on the shuttle and asked the driver whether she could also ride it, which she could. She told me she'd paid $50 for a cab from the airport, and when she asked at the hotel about a shuttle back, they told her there were no shuttles that ran that early. Nonsense. I know of two companies myself that run 24/7, and I only go to Vegas once every year or two.

The El Cortez is not an all-inclusive Vegas spa resort. Nor, for that matter, is it even somewhere you¿¿¿d want to stay for more than a few days if amenities like a pool and a gym facility are necessary to your vacation or business trip bliss. However, the El Cortez is a fascinating little piece of Vegas history you can climb right inside. Located on 6th Street in Historic Downtown Las Vegas, one block from the Fremont Street Experience, the El Cortez originally opened in 1941 and, despite a few renovations, has maintained its ¿¿¿where locals come to play¿¿¿ feeling. Standing along an outside wall of the casino floor, when I stopped focusing on details and let the atmosphere wash over me, I could almost see the place as it had been seventy years ago: classy and excitingly new.I¿¿¿m in Vegas often enough, so I¿¿¿ve begun to search for quality, interesting places off the strip and as far away from the flashing lights as possible without wandering aimlessly through the desert. This search brought me to the El Cortez just after it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places earlier this year. Walking through the front door definitely felt like stepping back in time. It had all the subconscious things I expected to find in an environment created with the gambling psychology in mind: swirling patterned carpets, over-zealous air conditioning, and overly-ambient music just barely audible over the constant din of the myriad of slot machines singing the songs of their people. Due to a combination of its maturity and relatively small size, however, these normal nuisances were more subdued and tolerable.The warm atmosphere was accentuated by the dim glow of incredibly vintage wall fixtures that made up for their lack of gusto with sheer numbers. Old brass bases, screwed to the walls with an imprecision just perceptible enough to know someone was really trying not to screw it up, ended in clusters of low-wattage bulbs, topped with small, yellowed lampshades that never quite sat straight, despite the best efforts of the staff. Delightfully crooked details like these abound at El Cortez, and are key to its charm.But I would be remiss if I didn¿¿¿t mention the not-so-charming stuff too. I would have posted this days ago, but the idea of paying $11.99/day for internet in a room I was inhabiting for roughly one hour of that day made me cringe. However, I survived just fine with only webs on my phone for a few days, and with an internet caf¿¿ right on the corner, it¿¿¿s really not a big deal. Also, the key card entry on the guest room doors is infuriatingly particular about the speed, angle and thoughts you¿¿¿re thinking with each attempt. If you¿¿¿d like to get into your room successfully, be sure to approach calmly, take a moment, let the door absorb and acknowledge your presence, and only then, gently and slowly insert your card. You may want to try talking dirty to it too; it can¿¿¿t make it any worse. Besides, then I get to imagine folks getting caught whispering ¿¿¿sweet nothings¿¿¿ to closed doors in dimly lit hallways; that makes me smile. So, anyway, those were the only two things that really drove me nuts. Lastly, I was pleasantly surprised by the acceptably greasy 24HR ¿¿¿Caf¿¿¿¿¿ (should be called a diner) inside the main pavilion. If you¿¿¿re in the mood for a midnight ¿¿¿breakfast for dinner,¿¿¿ it certainly does the trick at a refreshingly reasonable price. Before I wrap this up, it is definitely also worth mentioning, that should you stay at the El Cortez, ask Lisa at the front desk for dining advice. She never steered me wrong and was a pleasure to interact with regarding all needs over the course of my stay.

Thought I was getting a nice room booking a Pavillion Room, but the pictures are nicer and more spacious looking than the actual rooms. It was nice to have the security of a keyed entry to the floor being the elevator required a room key to get to the 5th floor. But, over all, an average room.No dog this trip.Fremont St has changed and there are a number of more upscale bars with dress requirements. The Gold Spike is no longer a casino and there were four people in the bar and that was it.The area is rather boring, but nicer. The old downtown casino mall seems to close up very early during the week even though the casinos stay open. All in all, no reason for me to go back to Las vegas.Gamble and drink in Searchlight. Could not find a really cold beer in all the places we visited in Vegas: $3 for a tap and $4 for a bottle.

Check in was hassle free and parking easy. Located by Fremont District. Overall stay very pleasant. would definitely recommend this place to anybody going to Vegas and wanting to visit the downtown area. Felt safe people were having a good time. The room was clean and large. The casino and restaurants we're good definitely looking forward to staying here again. Got the room for $24 a night from bidding on Priceline but in reality it would actually worth twice that. All in all great deal.

I stayed in a Vintage room at the El Cortez the first week in May, 2013. The Vintage rooms are part of the original hotel - literally just up the stairs from the casino. (There is no elevator.) For the money, perfectly acceptable. I paid twenty-something per night. Here's where I manage your expectations a bit. It's a great deal, so long as you're not terribly fussy. The Vintage rooms are non-smoking. Why, I cannot imagine. The smoke from the casino downstairs drifts up, big-time. Even the pillows smelled slightly of smoke. The bathrooms are older and small, but fine. No comforter or spread on the beds - just a sheet and a blanket. At any rate, it was cheap, clean, and "fine."The area seemed plenty safe, there are lots of food and bar options a few steps away, a terrific coffehouse across the street, and the Deuce bus is right outside the door.I normally don't carry much cash when I travel, and rely on credit/debit cards. The constant checking of my ID was a bit annoying. Ask a question at the members' desk, pull out your ID. Use a card in the restaurant, pull out your ID. Buy a drink on your debit card at the bar, pull out your ID. Buy something in the gift shop, pull out your ID. It got quite irritating.