TangiersTodd

Love the El Cortez. Best low-limit gaming downtown (next to Main Street Station). For such a great old school joint, they have a hip twitter presence. The 2 for 1 martini hour rocks, and the chance of seeing Jackie Gaughan walking around in the casino is worth the trip down.

Many have mentioned it, but the smell of the place is intoxicating. I don't know if it's coconuts or "parrot poop" as someone said, but it's divine. Table games are not so good, and the douche factor on weekends is still as nauseating as it was 10 years ago. But the slots are fun, the restaurants and bars are great, the shopping choices take as much of my money as gaming, and the pools/beach are tops. And being a big sports book guy, their room is still my favorite of any casino I've been in so far. I attend an annual conference held here, so I frequent this place a lot.

First place I ever stayed in Vegas, back when it was so old school, it was bordering on a dump. No longer. The renovations have transformed the Trop back into a premier property on the strip. I stayed there last summer (2010) during the renovations and was bowled over. I can't wait to return this summer to see the final product.

Was so impressed with the Nugget when passing through last summer (and dining at Grotto) that I'm staying there two nights in July this year.

I like the Mix Lounge on top of THEhotel better than I do THEhotel itself, which seemed to me lifeless and bland. I'm still not sure I get the difference between it and Mandalay, other than being more expensive. But the rooms were quiet and luxurious, and Mix is where I spent most of my time. Everything from the view to the drinks to the solid black bathrooms rocked.

I haven't been there in three years, before it was shuttered for renovations. The Rat Pack is Back was still there, which is what brought me down. The place was definitely old school and the staff (at the time, in 2008) bent over backwards to accommodate us. Low limit gaming was nice, and a chance to sit in the glass bubble (then a sports restaurant) overlooking Fremont was one of the most memorable experiences I've had in Vegas. We sat at the same table DeNiro and Sharon Stone sat in the one scene from Casino. Awesome. I hope the renovations put this old gal back in the spotlight where she belongs.