Four Queens Improves The Royal Treatment
Sammasseur checks in…and checks out…ongoing renovations at Four Queens Hotel
Downtown is known for its no-frills approach to the Vegas experience. Cheap booze, cheap food, cheap hookers shows…and very inexpensive hotels. In recent years, that philosophy has faded as the Fremont Street area has sought to draw a younger crowd.
A few hotels have tried to imitate the Strip business model…consequently alienating loyal Downtown-ers in the process. Downtown Grand and Plaza, for instance, took on longtime favorite Golden Nugget with upscale rooms, improved pool decks, and fancier restaurants.
Unfortunately, difficult parking arrangements, awkward guestroom lavatories and relatively lofty resort fees (currently $18 for Plaza, $20 for Downtown Grand…plus taxes) have sabotaged their efforts. We’re talking closed-down restaurants, quiet casinos, and frequently-changing Player Loyalty programs.
Four Queens, on the other hand, has excelled at keeping things in the traditional Downtown way. No resort fees, complimentary easy-access valet, free ample parking (for hotel guests) and restaurants that offer great food at stunning prices.
Magnolia’s Veranda is notable for 24-hour operations and an elevated view of the casino action (but beware the chaotic staff during graveyard shift). Chicago Brewing Company recently received the “Spectrum Award” from City Beat News for customer service excellence. And Hugo’s Cellar is a traditional steakhouse experience that won’t break the budget….every lady diner even gets a rose.
Four Queens‘ simple guest rooms are marvelously clean, offer in-room coffee makers and supremely comfortable beds. They’re also extremely affordable. My most recent stay, earlier this month, came in at an average rate of $39 per night, including a Saturday departure date.
There were no tacked-on extortion fees, either! The only downside was an optional charge for wireless internet, which this writer somewhat missed (smartphones aren’t great for writing VegasBright articles).
Four Queens just turned fifty on June 2nd (Caesars Palace did, too, in case you hadn’t heard). And now, on top of the great value and smartly-decorated sleeping areas, the bathrooms in the newer South Tower are getting a total renovation.
This is the second phase of the work, according to the 4Q website, so I have to assume that the older original tower already got a retrofit. I rarely stay on that side, known as the North Tower, due to the noise coming up from the Fremont Experience (I’m an early riser). I also prefer the wider corridors and elevator location of the South Tower, so was willing to deal with daytime construction issues there.
The desk agent was kind enough to warn me about scheduled water shut-offs (and offered an armful of bottled water as compensation) and potential daylight noise and activity. Once again, not an issue, but you may wish to call ahead for a status update if you’ve got an upcoming stay and those things bother you.
Since I was traveling with a friend that has mobility issues, I’d requested adjacent rooms. Once again, staff was very accommodating but alerted me that the rooms had just come online from renovation and might not be perfect. And yes, there were blemishes to the surfaces and some dust.
But….for a fifty-year-old budget hotel, the upgrades were pretty darn impressive. We’re talking entirely new bathrooms with fresh counter tops, new tile, swanky sloped sinks, glass shower stalls with body-level optional sprayers, contemporary light fixtures, cool faux-wood flooring and a chic paint job.
Compare that to a room at the end of my hall, which was in the middle of a gutting. This is no fluff “refreshing”, like Flamingo and Rio have recently gotten.
As mentioned above, the work bleeds out into the corridors, and the construction crews were a frequent presence in the elevators. Still, they were unobtrusive and courteous with guests in the encounters I witnessed.
Four Queens was the very first Downtown hotel that I stayed at, after years of devotion to the Strip. It was a pleasant and memorable initial stay, and 4Q has never let me down in the years since. They continue to offer a great stay at a superlative price. Sometimes they even throw in a coupon book including 2-for-1 meals at their restaurants and sister property Binion’s.
Those bemoaning the days of “Old Vegas” can dry those tears. Classic Vegas isn’t gone…it’s just tucked away under the neon crown of Four Queens.
Images: [Sammasseur, exterior shots by Greg C.]
A fitness buff and Vegas fan. Sam enjoys shows, bargains, and cheap healthy eats.
13 thoughts on “Four Queens Improves The Royal Treatment”
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Glad to see they are renovating. I stayed there a few years ago and the room was really clean. The only drawback was they gave me a room at the end of a dark hallway, next to an exit with a flimsy lock on the door. I was a single woman at the time so I felt a little unsafe. That was the only drawback. I assume they have changed the locks on the doors. I will try it again. Thx for the great review and pics.
I’d never really given 4Q much of a consideration for staying. This review certainly changes my opinion! Thanks for a great post and really great pics!
We love the 4Q and if getting renovated then all the more reason to continue staying there. I really think resort fees are ridiculous and the fact that 4Q does not have them thrills me. We also thoroughly enjoy getting the coupon booklet – Magnolia’s Restaurant is our favorite downtown for breakfast and they have good dinners too. We will be back in April or May.
I agree with everything in your message , we always stay at the 4 queens because it is nice, clean, the staff is friendly and easy access to all the happenings on freemont street . .we eat most of our meals at magnolias, great food reasonable price . the best bang for the buck in vegas I thinkl
A couple of points. First, the authors assumption that the other tower was already renovated is not true. Second, if you read recent comments on tripadvisor, you will see that MANY people are complaining that the hotel was not wise enough to shut down the other rooms near the construction, and people are having to walk through what amounts to a construction site to get to their rooms, as well as dealing with the noise. Lastly, you state the water issue like it is not a big deal since they gave you bottled water. Well how does that help you flush the toilet or take a shower? I like the Four Queens, but the way they are handling the construction is typical of a low end poorly thought out construction plan.
Hi, Dave, and thanks for writing. The article reflects my own personal experiences. As mentioned, I wasn’t inconvenienced in the slightest. A few hours without water on one solitary day didn’t spoil my trip. Clearly others were affected, and since “results may vary”, it sounds like somebody has an ax to grind. So by all means grind away. That’s what the comment section is for.
Hmm, were those pictures of the renovated rooms? They don’t look much better then what Harrah’s old Holiday Inn style rooms look like. There are some elements to like about 4 Queens. Obviously Hugo’s Cellar and the old school vibe I resounding agree. The property in whole however still resembles a La Quinta Inn in room and resort quality. If you’re a value conscious traveler to Vegas, then the 4 Queens might be right up your alley. I personally don’t want to fly 3000 miles across the US to vacation in a budget style hotel. We need demand properties downtown to raise their game on room and resort quality. Stations Casinos is an example of operators going after value conscious travelers but raising the bar on room and property quality (minus Days Inn & Wild Wild West casino). I know Downtown is a niche market and some people enjoy the appeal, but lets not celebrate mediocrity.
Hi, Funkhouser…
I agree with you that there’s a Wynn or Mandarin Oriental for those who consider Vegas trips to be an event. But as someone who visits 2-3 times per month, I just appreciate quality and value. Being affordable doesn’t make a property “mediocre”….bad facilities and poor service do, though. And you can find both of those things just as easily on the Strip as at a La Quinta. BTW, Station Casinos have mandatory daily resort fees starting at $17 or so for even their lowest-tier hotels. I stand by my opinions on 4Q.
Hi Sam, I understand your perspective. I still believe that this is more of an opinion piece, rather than an objective review of Four Queens based on the merits of the property. Again looking at the Four Queens from a value property niche the hotel still falls short. You can argue cheap room rates and no resort fee, but that is like comparing a Motel 6 to a Hyatt based on nightly rate. The properties are just not in the same category.
It’s unfair to convey to the readers a hotel recommendation solely based on a cost bias. unless the article is framed as review of Vegas hotels for the value conscious.. BTW I fee the same way about The D. I think if you framed the article as Four Queens provides value for cost conscious travelers your story would be more on the mark. I have stayed at the Four Queens even with the improvements you mentioned it still falls far short in term of property quality then its competitors. However if travel cheaply is your main desire, then it falls in line with the value conscious selections available downtown. Thanks again for your contributions to VB.
Wow…to the comments. Thanks for the article. I think the point of his article is that downtown was known for being swanky and cheap. Certain properties are raising fees and price of a stay. Four Queens is making improvements and it’s not effecting the cost to its patrons. In my opinion, that is amazing! Refreshing to see.
I come to town once a year for Super Bowl and enjoy downtown. To me Its a place to lay your head after enjoying the company of friends and taking in downtown adventures. We have held true to staying at resort fee free establishments.
I have never stayed here, but your article has intrigued me. Fingers crossed my usual hotel (The Fremont) follows suit. Thanks for the read! Keep up the good work, many of us enjoy what you have to say and don’t over analyze it :)
I recently stayed at Four Queens and was pleasantly surprised at the quality, convenience, and professionalism of the place. I used to be a Golden Nugget loyalist but for the price difference, I can’t justify it . The Four Queens has won me over, at least for now.
I have flown all the way from England and stayed at 4Q, and wouldn’t hesitate to do so again! I’ve been to Vegas six times and my stay Downtown was probably my most enjoyable. I love the fact that they don’t charge an extortionate ‘resort fee’, they were extremeley helpful in finding us adjoining rooms as there were two parties arriving separately, the casino was friendly, the rooms clean and tidy with coffee facilities, and it still maintains that ‘Classic Vegas’ feel for me. I absolutely agree with everything in the article. Thanks Sammasseur!
My husband just stayed at 4Q two weeks ago for four nights (on a floor being renovated) and came home with bed bugs, turning our lives basically upside down trying to rid our home of these little terrorists. Despite having stayed at 4 Queens in the past, unfortunately this experience is enough to make us never go back again. Ever.