Best Bargains

Blonde4ever: Why I Love Downtown Las Vegas


I didn’t even realize that Downtown existed in my first few trips to Vegas; my attention was completely focused on the Strip.

But over the years, there has been a shift in my attitude. While the Strip cannot be matched for spectacular shows and posh hotels, Downtown has a unique charm that appeals to me more and more. These are the reasons why:

  1. Everything is cheaper. I mean everything. Since retirement, I have had to watch my pennies. I am not willing to give up my Vegas trips, but I have to do them in the most economical way possible, and that means spending the majority of my time Downtown. You will earn a comped room faster here than on the Strip with a lot less play. There are hundreds of value priced dining options Downtown. You can attend lots of fun, reasonably priced shows. Even souvenir prices are lower here, often for the same item that you saw on the Strip!

Downtown Las Vegas

  1. The gambling is better. There have been studies done that prove that the table minimums are lower, and the slot machines are looser Downtown than on the Strip. It should be noted, that I developed this opinion merely from personal experience. My daily gambling allotment lasts longer Downtown; my purse seems to empty at a much slower rate.

Downtown Las Vegas

  1. You will meet new people. That can happen anywhere in Vegas, but for me, it always seems to happen at a video poker bar Downtown. The experience of meeting someone at 7 pm and becoming fast friends by 8 pm is priceless.

Downtown Las Vegas

  1. It has a nostalgic, old school feeling that I love. In recent years, there have been many modernizations and improvements to Downtown, but you can still get the feeling of what it must have been like to walk these streets 30 or 40 years ago.

Downtown Las Vegas

  1. The evenings are one big celebration. The Fremont Street Experience has given Downtown an incredible atmosphere. The bands, the light show, the zip line, the crowds and yes, even those crazy street performers all contribute to a festive, party vibe. It is like a state fair on steroids.

Downtown Las Vegas

  1. I love the neon. The Strip is a beautiful sight at night too, but giant LED screens don’t compare to neon, in my opinion. I may be slightly deranged, but I can stand in the middle of Fremont and gaze around me at all the fabulous lights and be absolutely thrilled and mesmerized.

Downtown Las Vegas

Downtown Las Vegas

All of these reasons and more are why I choose to make Downtown my primary party place in Vegas. Getting fed up with the Strip and being over charged for literally everything, like I was? Why not give Downtown a try? Fremont Street invites you to eat, drink and be merry (for a lot less money)!

[Images: Blonde4ever, wikimedia]

27 thoughts on “Blonde4ever: Why I Love Downtown Las Vegas

  1. So true Blonde! This past Super Bowl trip I had to take my remaining bankroll the last day of my trip to Freemont Street; just to win back all I lost on the Strip 2 days prior!

    Love the BJ tables at Golden Gate. The music, the friendly dealers, 3/2, etc, etc, etc……!!

  2. Just wish DT had something other to do during the day than drink+gamble.

    Was considering reversing my regular plans, and staying DT, going to the strip during the day, and/or paying to hang out at the hard rock pool (my personal favorite) during the weekday.

    1. That’s the biggest drawback downtown: not much to do during the day. I get it, afternoon shows aren’t big draws anywhere, but I’m stunned, to this day, that Neonopolis hasn’t been able to provide a variety of successful entertainment options. Wasn’t a smaller version of the Liberace museum supposed to open there? Why isn’t there one there?I have a lot of ideas of ways you could make that property more vibrant.

  3. We love downtown vegas and visit often (like every couple weeks) our favorite thing to do is see Spandex Nation play. We’ve seen the show several times and love more with each visit. Thank you Fremont street.

    Spandexnation1.com

  4. The ribs..chicken…corn …cornbread…coleslaw…brunswick stew… where can I get this meal? Oh yeah..great report on downtown.

  5. Another wonderful article, Blonde. I too, now am fond of the Downtown area, after going to Vegas for 20 years and staying only on the Strip. Thanks for introducing me to the ‘better way’ two years ago!

  6. Downtown is fast becoming the primary destination for value conscious gamblers in Las Vegas thanks to the strip cutback on comps. The hotel room and resort amenities have largely still been a disappointment however, never reaching the quality they had back in the 50’s and 60’s. Thankfully forward thinking operators like Landry’s and CIM Group have invested money in upgrading aged resorts such as Golden Nugget and Downtown Grand into strip resort quality destinations. Downtown still has a way to go in improving entertainment and dining options, aggressive panhandlers, and improving general safety in areas off Fremont. Things are improving fast however and if gaming conditions, ridiculous fees, and drink comps continue to erode on the strip its only a matter of time until strip operators see a major defection of guests to Downtown Las Vegas. I am already taking away 4 days a year away from strip operators in favor of downtown.

  7. I agree, Spandex Nation is really good. although I don’t know how his voice holds up with that (screaming) style of singing, they put on a great outdoor show. I also like the Tyler James as Elvis show. I even got a 20 something kid interested in the Elvis show. 6 months after we had watched Tyler James, out of the clear blue, he started singing Suspicious Minds to me. lol

  8. I couldn’t agree more. We are strip converts and love our stays DT. I would have never guessed that I would give up the strip for our hotel choice. Surprisingly, we find little reason, other than a show, to hit up the strip.

  9. Love, love downtown! I hope they continue, for the most part, to resist the resort fees we see on the Strip and continue to curb the problems presented by some of the “street performers”!
    I have to drag my husband to the Strip just to look around and see what’s new. We never stay there any more.
    Great post Blonde4ever!

  10. Yeppers!
    Great article!
    I am staying at Main Street Station again, for 3 nights in May.
    I missed my downtown!

  11. Totally, definitely, absolutely agree with absolutely everything said in this article. Give me Fremont St every time. And there are still a couple of hotels that don’t charge the extortionate resort fee, including my favourite, 4 Queens.

  12. I’m becoming a downtown convert, too. I still stay on the strip, but have moved virtually all my gambling downtown.

  13. Have been searching for a new Vegas site since the loss of vegas chatter this just may be it. Thanks PS don’t forget about Banger Brewery

  14. I’m not a convert yet…BUT may be in a few years. I did do a Stray boots scavenger hunt downtown with the hubs and others just so we can see the new and improved downtown. It was nice for what it was but don’t see myself staying there just yet. Did love the mob museum though and pizza rock. will continue to visit each trip though.

  15. I agree with all of this.

    To one commenter’s lament, there is plenty to do downtown during the day. Stroll over to the Container Park. The Downtown Grand has a pretty nice pool that is open to everybody (or at least just pretend you belong there). The Gold Spike has a lot of cool parlor games. And then there’s drinking and gambling.

    Also, Benny’s BBQ is the truth.

    Spandex Nation is fine. I wish it never chased away Arena. I need some more time to try to feel SN.

  16. See, plenty of stuff.

    Oh, and I apologize for my previous post because I forgot to mention that this was an excellent write-up and I really enjoyed it. Appreciate somebody who enjoys the fun of Downtown.

  17. I have to disagree on a few points. Yes the Mob museum is great and container park is innovative use of urban space. But for the non gaming tourist downtown has not caught up yet with strip resort destinations, but they are trying hard. You still have a lack of quality shopping (premium outlets are nearby), spa’s, high end production shows (the strip still has a lot of multipurpose small venues along with major headliners), and other things (fountains, wax museum, gondola rides, high roller, movie theaters, etc). Downtown is still a different vacation experience, focused mostly on the value conscious gambler. I do think its improving but I would not recommend a first time visitor or non gambler for their stay DT.

  18. Each to their own I suppose, but it’s the shopping, the spas and the high end shows that drove me Downtown. The Strip is too full of posers now, Fremont street is fun!

Comments are closed.

Chuck Todd Previous post Seen on the Strip: MSNBC’s Chuck Todd
Next post “Twisted Vegas” At Westgate Floats On A Silly Sea