Topic Of The Week Question: Uptown Or Downtown?

[Steve]

This week's Topic Of The Week question is:

Do you like DOWNTOWN or UPTOWN (The Strip) Las Vegas more and why?

Feel free to list advantages and disadvantages for both.

[CJN]

Downtown for gambling - more locals go there & it seems like your chances of winning are better. Casinos are large but not like the massive ones uptown - machines seem to get more play. Car traffic is less. Fremont Experience was the best thing they ever did for that area.
Uptown for the sights. The hotels (and casinos) are VERY impressive looking. Some giving you the impression of being "a town within a town" look. Better restaurants. Gambling wise - machines are tight. They have to have some way to get their money back after spending billions of dollars building the place.

[talanhart]

I like Downtown better. Better gambling and an easy walk to the next casino. If I want to go somewhere else, the bus station is only two blocks away to take me anywhere I want to go for $2.50 for a 24 hour pass.

[Alohafri]

While we spend a vast majority of our time on the Strip (the better odds places like the Strat, the Sahara, the Riv,) and in the locals places (Texas Station, Rampart), due to my mother in law living in Summerlin, we always make it a point to head downtown one time each trip. We love how the casinos are all so close to each other downtown. Being low rollers, it is much easier to find low stakes Roulette, etc. downtown than it is on the Strip. The light show on Fremont Street is excellent as well.

Both definitely have their plusses. I don't know if I would stay downtown, except for the Golden Nugget (if I got an offer), but we always head there for one night. That being said, the Strip is always our main destination.

[gratianus]

Las Vegas ceased being a gamblers' town when it replaced a fair game with fair entertainment. On LV Blvd are entertaining hotels, fine restaurants, swimming pools, trendy clubs and a lot of real crap, but there is hardly any fair shake for someone who wants to gamble. But clearly, Vegas no longer is all about gambling.

Downtown really has little to offer except somewhat better games. The litmus test is Blackjack. On the Strip, games except with the highest minimums are gravitating toward 6:5 payouts (or even money!) for a natural, and pack tourists in by advertising that the games are "single deck" which everyone knows is superior to a multi-deck shoe. Except most don't take the time to note that the payoffs have been scaled way back to benefit the house, and has turned a game that if played using basic strategy (you can buy a strategy card in most casino gift shops) put the player at only a slight disadvantate to a game that heavily favors the house. I suspect that for video poker, another game that gives a disciplined player a fair shake, the payoff schedules are better downtown than at most of the Strip casinos. Vegas always was built on the cash of people who cared less for simple arithmetic than for excitement, but the degeneration of common games just underlines how computationally illiterate most of us are. It borders on fraud.

Aside from this advantage, however, I prefer to eat at Strip restaurants and see shows on the Strip, because there the advantages are clear. The only comfort advantage I see for downtown is the proximity of everything. You can wander down Fremont or the side streets and visit a dozen clubs.
And, of course, there is the sense that downtown clubs are grittier, more "real" which is true but sometimes that is more feel than reality. For example, consider the sad demise of Binion's that once upon time represented all that was good downtown but today is a corporate shell of what it had been in Benny's day.

[deemaxx95]

We have not been to Las Vegas in over a year. Our last trip was very disappointing. I love the strip, however it is way too commercialized and I saw no winners. Seems they are making up for their huge hotels with little payoffs.

Downtown rooms are not as nice as the strip I would possible stay at the Golden Nugget, but that’s the only one I would consider. I did win a little bit downtown, but nothing to write home about.

The strip does offer some first-rate shows [again if you can afford them] I try to get the same night tickets and have seen some really fine shows through that venue. I feel the restaurants are also top notch on the strip. I guess downtown has a rough feel for us. I also love to shop so the strip offers that as well.

[plaporta]

I love the Strip. I can just walk for hours through the hotels and looking at the lights. The drinks in the casinos are served in glasses (and not plastic cups). It has a much more classy feel and the showrooms are large and beautiful.

On the other hand, my husband now hates the Strip. He liked it in the old days before the Mega resorts. Vegas of the 70's was his town. Looking at castles and pyramids makes him cringe. Since the Strip has changed, Downtown has more reality of the Vegas feel he loved.

So here we have a split decision.

[koplee]

This week's Topic Of The Week question is:

Do you like DOWNTOWN or UPTOWN (The Strip) Las Vegas more and why?

Feel free to list advantages and disadvantages for both.

The downtown area is more like a carnival and I feel like im going to get ripped off at any moment.
I like the strip for a more secure feeling

[ufoseattle]

I know of only a couple of spots on the strip that have decent craps tables. The ambiance of the strip is wonderful, isn't it? but pricey.

[bluestreak]

...Unincorporated Clark County.





Uptown is a downer.

I stay downtown at MSS and have not visited the strip in a long time.

[Sherry]

It has been 14 years since we last stayed downtown at the Golden Nugget and we thought it was the greatest, to me it was a town within a town, everything you needed was there. Had nice little casinos like Sassy Sally's. & etc. We have been there just to visit a couple times since but we love the Strip, you can pick and choose which casino to visit the variety of food offered, closer to the airport and Belligo's lovely fountains. Sherry

[Hockey53]

I've stayed at the Fritz and enjoyed going to see the Fremont lights and being able to go from one casino to another without fighting the traffic.
Although I have won more money from the Strip than Downtown,either way
if it's your first time to Vegas than I would say stay on the Strip just for the experience. Other than that like I mentioned earlier I much rather stay Downtown.:cool:

[spike]

We have been going to Vegas for over 20 years. Have stayed on the strip for the first 10 years and have stayed downtown ever since. We always stay at the Fremont. They have nice, clean and confortable rooms and comps for rooms and food are easy to get. They have some good restaurants downtown - Triple Seven Brewery at Main Street Station, Hugo's Cellar at the Four Queens and Second Street Grill at the Fremont. Free entertainment under the Fremont Street Canopy - Carl "Safe Sax" Ferris plays a mean sax. Have never been afraid downtown -- too much security. You can find all of the newest slots and they have some great video poker machines -- good schedules. I will never stay on the strip again. You should give downtown a try. The Fremont is always sending free room offers - at least 3 and sometimes 4 nights free!

[BOBNDEE]

We have never stayed downtown but do visit. I think we started on the strip so the strip is what we like. We also need to be center strip or Caesars, Flamingo area. We like shows, and restaurants and that is where they are, not downtown.
Oct. 30th and back again--this time Producers--Gordy Brown he used to be downtown Gordy Brown. He even moved.
Yes Vegas
BobnDee;)

[MHIROTSU]

Downtown: Cheaper food (and better food for the price) and nicer people.

Uptown: Newer and bigger. And the girls at the pool wear less clothes. Also has better restaurants (but too expensive) and designer stores (also too expensive).

Mike

[jf33cl]

I like both, slots pay off a little better downtown and off strip casinos, they probably won't do this but I would like to see them tear down the old casinos downtown and rebuild them close to the same way, new casinos with nice rooms a real good market plan and low limit table games.

[twotree100]

all my years going to vegas I like the strip the most. but lately I feel better playing and more for your moneydown town.

[turkeyfish]

Love to visit the strip, but prefer the comfort of downtown. guess getting older lessens the fun of long..... walks and crowds.

[jrinct1]

Downtown is for value. Food and gambling.
Strip is for show and is catering more and more to high rollers and leaving the smal to mid player behind. I like both but like d/t and off strip better than the strip.

[randy24g]

On my 1st trip to vegas in 1996 I visited downtown to see the Fremont St Expereince. It was nice but the whole area felt sleazy. Especially when there were female workers inside the casinos luring you in by telling you they knew a machine that was ready to hit. Of course I fell for it being a newbie but the whole experience kinda turned me off to downtown and have'nt been since. I like the glitz and glamour of the strip.

[sybgal]

Contrary to most, we have never had any luck downtown. 2 years in a row we have spent most of a day or evening there & not matter how hard we try, we just do not feel comfortable there. When we go on vacation, we want to stay in a very nice place, eat great food & feel like we are really on vacation. The mid strip does this for us. Short walking distances to alot of nice places. We always have came home with at least half of our gambling budget & we usually stay 6 days. The comps we earn are great too. This year we have 7 comp nites @ Bally's & we will eat most of our meals @ Paris, Rio, etc since we will be taking over $500 in comp dollars. We can't go to a Florida beach for a week for what we spend in LV.

Count us as Strip people who happen to be T-24!! YEAH!!

[Rosa Elliott]

I prefer staying dowtown and for the last five years have stayed downtown, the strip is too busy and the Casinos are too big, downtown is more friendlier, the food is cheaper and you get more free drinks at the Casinos. If you want to go up to the Strip you just hop on the bus. The only thing that is kind of lacking is entertainment in the evening as it appears no Casinos in the downtown area have a band or any music, Fritzgeralds use to have a guy in the Casino and he was alot of fun. Main STreet Station seems to be our favourite.:o

[iam4nd]

We first visited downtown in the early nineties and found it to be so seedy and dirty in our eyes that we decided we would probably never return:( . After the Fremont Street experience was built we went back and it had improved for sure but it's very hard to get that initial impression out of your mind. We much prefer the relative quiet of the north strip (the Hilton and the Sahara have been our haunts for the last several years) and we can easily monorail from there to mid or south strip for excellent meals and shows. To each his own.:)

[Boston_Bill]

The last few years I have grown very fond of Downtown. I love the Strip but as far as getting a fair shake on hotel rates I'll take Downtown.

[garyfranklen]

I Like To Go Down Town At Night For The Light Show Plus They Have A Good Buffet At The Fremont---down Town Looks Nice At Night--not During The Day----i Prefer The Strip During The Day And At Night--thans For Reading---gary From Duluth,mn

[billfarr]

We like Downtown because the wife can wander to 5 or 6 casinos and not worry about taking me off a hot table. I can drink as much Bushmills and water as I want and don't have to worry about driving anywhere. There is always plenty of Security around and even when you stay out till way past Oh-Dark-Thirty:) you don't have to worry about having any trouble getting back to your hotel. Just to add to what most everyone else has said the games are much better than those on the Strip.

[RioGrande]

My husband and I have tried downtown numerous times since we started going to Vegas together in 1988. We've liked Main Street Station and the Golden Nugget, but overall downtown just seems dirty, seedy and a little scary. We haven't been downtown for about four years.

We love the architecture, the glamour and the restaurants on the Strip and that's where we spend the vast majority of our time.

By the way, we also love some off-Strip places like Green Valley Ranch and the Red Rock.

[momviolett]

First ten years we stayed at different places on the strip & the Rio(before the expantion) & Sams, but seemed to always end up playing downtown. Now we stay downtown, & visit the strip during the day. I love downtown. I can walk between a dozen casinos at 3am & never feel afraid & am never more than 5 min. from my bed. I can always find hubby(sitting glassy eyed playing bartop VP) with less trouble & time then in the mamoth casinos on the strip. The people we've met have been great. The downtown staffs make you feel like they're happy to help you. You can get a great meal without paying for a famous chefs name. But......... I still think the first few times you should stay on the strip. The experience is mind boggling. After15 stays we,ve seen everything & much prefer the less crowded & old Vegas feeling of downtown.

[pateboo]

I've only been downtown a few times out of many trips to Vegas, and I've never felt really safe there, I travel alone so that's really important to me. I'm not claustrophobic, but the last time I was downtown I felt kind of hemmed in and more wary of who was around me than usual, I couldn't just relax and enjoy myself. I like the openess and familiarity of the strip more I guess. I haven't been downtown in a long time, I suppose I should give it another chance, but since I only go for four days at a time, there's usually more I like to cover on the strip. :D

[flamingofun]

Give me the glamor & glitz of the Strip! Always stay center, Flamingo, Harrah's, IP. Visit downtown every trip, especially since Freemont St Experience. Love that old Vegas feel. However, was just downtown last month & the sleaszy/scary/weirdo's are back! We saw the 8 pm light show & left. Don't take the Duce bus back to Strip at night, the weirdo's are on it. Very sad, as city spent millions downtown but need more security. We were scared & won't go back till they clean it up again. Viva

[planetbass]

I've always been dazzled by the sights and the lights at the south end of the strip - and I still am. I've had some great times in the casinos down there and some great laughs on rollercoasters and stuff.

But Vegas is changing - and it's changing too much in my view. The skyline gets higher and higher and it's starting to feel like a concrete jungle south of the Strat. Downtown, especially at night, doesn't feel like that. Sure there's a hint of sleaze, even the merest whiff of danger sometimes (danger is putting it too strongly but if you've hung out there at night and wandered down an unfamiliar street, you know where I'm coming from). It feels like it has a soul, and thank God it feels like it could stay this way for a good while yet.

I hope Fremont Street doesn't get too sanitised - then it will lose what's unique to Vegas and it will be open house to anyone who wants to put up yet another tower.

[CeeJayRocker]

We always stay at the Las Vegas Hilton for the sports betting, and for that reason the north Strip is my place . . . Slots A Fun, Riviera, Stratosphere, Sahara - (man, I miss New Frontier, Stardust and Westward Ho). We always hit downtown at least one night, sometimes every night, because we like the atmosphere and the low limit games. If I just want to people watch, I hit the mid Strip - O'shea's and such . . . Let's face it, depending on what you're seeking, there's a place in Las Vegas for you . . . :cool:

[PinkFloydActuary]

Downtown is a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to stay there :D

Although the strip has gotten ridiculously overpriced as far as rooms, food, and gambling, I still prefer the variety I get there. Head to the north end one day, the south end the next, hang out at Bellagio, etc. We go downtown for a half day or so every 2-3 years, and that's about all we can take before we lose interest. It's got the better gambling, but the allure just isn't there.

When all is said and done, our best times are probably off-strip (Orleans, Gold Coast, etc....)

[captam]

Absolutly the strip I like the glitz and lights and the touristy atmosphere. I get once a year to enjoy myself there and I would rather be on the strip with a visit to downtown

[bobbig]

My husband and I prefer downtown because he has a bad hip and it is much easier for him to walk from casino to casino. We usually stay at Fitzgeralds and occasionally at Fremont. It isn't as crowded (usually) and it seems like the people are friendlier.

[VegasFiend]

I will always big a glitz and glamour, stay-on-the-strip kind of gal. My gf and I enjoy going downtown for an evening or two during our trips to see what they offer and to see the Fremont St. Experience. I know after reading this thread the gf is wanting to spend more time downtown now! Looser slots! Oh, my! However, you just can't beat feeling pampered in luxury on your vacation at one of the mega resorts. At least that's my cup o' tea.

[dmfam]

Definately the Strip. People watch, loads of fun walking to take in the sights.Fremont is fun also.We usually go there once per trip, but the transportation to that part of town is always horrible.

[Blackjack]

:cool: Uptown (strip) - You can walk anywhere, or grab a cab. I always stay at Bally's - I consider that "central". So, I would vote on UPTOWN! I have put a lot of miles on my feet (in Vegas) over the past 14 years!

[vegasgirl14]

Every year I stay two nights at Downtown, just to suck up the atmosphere and to shop at the ABC Store and for souvenirs (cheaper as on the Strip). But after
2 days it is time to stay on the Strip, because the opportunities are better than Downtown. On Downtown I like the short ways, you can walk from one casino into another. So I always do Downtown and the Strip every year.

[RWHannu]

>>>We always stay at the Las Vegas Hilton for the sports betting, and for that reason the north Strip is my place . . . Slots A Fun, Riviera, Stratosphere, Sahara - (man, I miss New Frontier, Stardust and Westward Ho). We always hit downtown at least one night.<<<

I completely agree...I've spent many a pleasant trip at the north end of the strip (including the Stratosphere). There are a couple of us that took the loss of Megadogs quite badly. I've had a few free nights at Casino Royale, but I never felt that there was anything I was interested in further south.

It's a tradition, no matter what the occasion of the trip is, to get downtown at least one moring for the buffet at Main Street Station and one evening for video poker.

[mrsfuzzo]

I do prefer Uptown as we stay in the middle of the strip. Makes it easier to get around without too much walking. I've been downtown only a couple of times and saw the Fremont Experience. Didn't win anything I also felt it was sleazy and dirty.

[rifledude]

for the gambling .

Go to the strip for most shows and people watching.

[vegasbabe]

I was just downtown as this question was being posted. I hadn't been there in about 8 months, and I was craving a $10 mudslide from La Bayou. I always used to win there, so I took about $80 to play with. That was gone in under half an hour. Huh? What happened? I don't know, but the mudslide was great! As for the street improvements on Fremont street-- I think the money could have been better spent on homeless shelters. They did remove a lot of grass around city buildings though, and replace it with gravel. This saves water, and deters the homeless from sleeping on the "lawns" as they did when there was grass.

I still prefer the strip!

And yes--I've been scared downtown too!

[The Gumbo Man]

Downtown, where all the lights are bright....
What was her name? Petula Clark?
I like it down town, but I like it on the strip as well. It depends on the mood, or the trip mission.
If you have a lot of time, and money, and patience, you can enjoy all of Las Vegas, from the M-Bay to the Strat, all the way out to Sam's. Or the Orleans, hell, even the Silverton and the cute places in Henderson. Dozens of places to shop, eat, and indulge. And assorted seedy bars and "gentlemens' clubs" where a dollar gets you more than you bargained for. Wander about aimlessly. And use a lot of gas and risk DUI charges. Yeah, that's fun.
But Downtown is like a Super Mall of Vegas!! You can gamble, dance, shop, eat, get that same sexy dollars worth, and walk around with your brain at half-mast All Day Long, and never once use a bus, tram, car or monorail! Its a Bender's Paradise!!
I like to stay at the Plaza, in a $60 "mini-suite". These are the rooms that face straight down Fremont St. If your room is lower than the 11th floor, You can sit in your room, in your underwear if you want, and watch the Fremont St. Light Show uninterrupted. Or pretend you're Elvis and you own the place. It's Old School.
Within 500 feet you have cheap shrimp cocktails, half yard and yard size mudslides, dancing mostly-naked women, Good all you can eat Steak buffets, and a wide array of tourist trap souvineers and gifts for folks back home.
Even if I don't stay down there, I spend my last night in town down there because its a constant party. And it covers everything I like. And lower table limits, and more and more... I can't stand it any more I'M GOING!!! In 22 DAYS! Aaaaahhhhhh!


Besides, they tore down almost all the Great Places on the strip, in the name of progress. Sands, Stardust, Westward Ho , Boardwalk, I hated the Frontier (97.4 % chance of Country Music! :eek: Eww!!) but its gone now too. :(

I don't know what will eventually get built in their places, I know I probably won't be able to afford it. And it will never be the same.

I fold.:cool:

[dreamcatcheril]

My vote goes to the strip... why?

Someone on the first page said.
Downtown is for gamblers, The Strip for Tourists.
I fully understand what he was saying.
But
Sometime you have don't have the option to choose between downtown or the strip to get what you want.

After 33 years of going to vegas I think of myself more as a gambler, I don't need the tourist things. I want to gamble 10-12 hours a day. Down town would be fine with me.

BUT... Why is there always a... but

When I go with my wife I have to pick a hotel with a pretty pool. Give my wife a nice pool she is there from opening time till about 4:30 PM. I get to gamble. Since she is tired from all the sun she goes to bed at 10:00 PM. I get to gamble, we both get what we want.

Next case
When I go with a friend from work. He commutes 4 hours a day to and from work by trains and buses. (A disability prevents him from driving )
As, he says it... I have no life... It's my vacation, I don't care what it costs. I want all the tourist things a strip hotel has to offer. I want the expensive steak, I want the best seats in the house for a show and I am willing to pay.
I have nothing else to spend my money on.

BUT there is always a but

He plays Video Poker 10-12 hours a day.
We both get what we want.

[JMVegas5866]

I just got back from Vegas and stayed Downtown for my first time. I've decided that I won't be going back to the $trip anytime soon. I love Downtown alot. :)

Sorry but I have to defend Downtown because I feel most who are use to the $trip do not understand LV history including North Las Vegas. They label it seedy and that is false. Downtown and North Las Vegas is just an old area. Seedy is not an accurate description. You have to realize the age and history and you have to realize there are still historic districts up that way. As I see it all the negative posts about Downtown on here are from people who only are use to the $trip and don't know much about Downtown.

I was solo on my trip for 13 days and felt completely safe Downtown. I also used a portion of my trip to meet with historic preservation groups to become even more educated about North Las Vegas.

All these reports of Downtown being 'scary' is rediculous in my opinion. I would disregard those reports because I don't find those reports to be at all accurate from people who come from the $trip and spend minimal time there then head right back to the $trip. I had a chance to explore DT on my own and I would have to honestly say alot of these reports about certain areas of FSE being scary are silly. The walk from the Plaza to MSS is by far safe at all hours of the day as I have walked it as early as 3am/5am and though most hours of the evening. I've traveld the route several days during my 2 week stay and encounted nothing scary. The only 'scary' area is on Fremont Street past the El Cortez past 8th street through where Fremont Street intersects East Charleston Avenue. I've confirmed safe/unsafe areas with local residents and DT employees and this is what I was told. I told them I had read reports on message boards about Downtown, but they said no thats not true and just stay away from Fremont Street going past the El Cortez. Sorry to disagree with alot of DT reports on this board, but I found local residents information more credible and accurate. I've talked to people who have lived there for as little as 4 years and as much as 43 years. I've talked to security at Four Queens, Ralf the Blackjack dealer at MSS, Al the chef at Binion's snack bar who has worked at Binions for 34 years, a couple from Manhattan NY that moved to LV 3 years ago that live in Henderson and only like DT, a couple from CA that moved to LV 5 years ago, and I've talked to a local gal named Devani, I've talked to security at El Cortez, and also people who work at UNLV, as well as employees at Main Street Collectibles on 500 N. Main Street located 3 blocks to the left of the Plaza.

Otherwise DT Casino area on FSE is completely safe. Police are on bike patrol 24/7. I said it once and I'll say it again, I think people just have this phobia of old buildings thus you get false reports. Another busted myth is the walk from FSE to the Stratosphere being 'dangerous'. I walked that route twice during the day and didn't see anything or anyone scary. Again, I think there's a big phobia with people and old buildings.

As far as it being seedy, Fremont Street (FSE area) is not seedy. It's aged, but it's not seedy. Don't confuse the two. Seedy is a loaded word. If you want 21st century luxury and high rise hotel towers and condos then stay on the $trip. Downtown and North Las Vegas is all that is left of Las Vegas' history and I hope tourists and 21st century trends don't ruin Downtown or influnce changes to be made for the worse. Heck, there were some historic buildings that use to be located on the $trip that organizations struggled to save and relocate to the Downtown area because stuff is constantly being torn down. Downtown is the last haven for LV history because that's where it all ends up after you get your highrise luxury. The Stardust sign, the old LaConcha lobby building, the Morelli House, and much more all moved Downtown due to '21st century progress' on the $trip. Original railroad cottages that date back to when the railroads were first built all moved and relocated due to new condo construction.

Some structures date back as far as 1904, what do you people expect? All these properties for being that old are maintained as best as possible. I stayed at the Four Queens and at the Fremont and the rooms were very clean and refurbished. Yeah they are small rooms, but duh, these places were built between 1950 and 1960. That's the fact of the matter and some people are just oblivious to the matter and disreguard it everytime and expect that everything has to be like the Bellagio. All I ask is for people to try to understand. If you don't want to understand then please stay on the $trip and skip Downtown. It would break my heart if Downtown were to one day turn into a second version of the $trip.

Thanks to insane 21st century luxury standards all the legendary places on the $trip are gone and you can't ever bring them back again. If your pleasure is $200 rooms and $13 breakfast buffetts and $35 dinner buffets then Downtown isn't for you. Just stay away from it and enjoy the $trip if that's what you like, but please don't ruin Downtown and influence developers and corporations to turn it into Beverly Hills Rodeo Drive. I understand peoples constant need for new technology and luxury, but you have to also understand there's more to life than cell phones and high rise mega resorts and there are a percentage of people that travel to LV for it's history also.

If I could accomplish anything on this board it would be to better inform people of Downtown with my knowledge of it's history. By all means the $trip is a great place to be and I respect your choice for staying there. I notice from observation of being on this board for a few years that it looks like the majority of it's members are $trip people because the majority of the posts are about the $trip. I just ask people understand the difference between the $trip and DT and give fair and honest reports taking inconsideration the differences.

[flamingofun]

jmvegas5866--enjoyed your knowledgeable account of downtown. And I agree, the history is awesome. I love that old vegas feel, Golden Nugget, 4 Queens, Binons, Golden Gate etc. I love those buildings & no one ever better tear them down! The city 'cleaned up' the weirdo's hanging around when Freemont St Experience was born. So we always visit downtown every trip. Yes, we stay on Strip. Was downtown last month June. And it was the scary/seady people that drove us back to Strip early that evening. Not the old buildings we love. I saw 3 police on bikes once, they disappeared & never saw another police. We stupidly took the Duce bus back to Strip & some of those same weirdo's, plus a passed out drunk were on the bus. As a couple of ladies, yes this was scary to us & won't go back downtown till they chase them out once again. Very sad. Viva

[Witty38]

It all depends what you want! I believe there is much more life OFF the strip, so I prefer the strip. If you want TMC (too many cars) and TMP (too many people) then the strip is for you! If you want nostalgia, downtown is for you. Want tight slots...do the strip. Want food deals, go downtown.

Read the ebook, "There's Life off the Strip...Here's Where" then decide for yourself.

[BigDon393]

I come to Las Vegas at least twice a year. We always stay downtown at the Golden Nugget which I love but I love even more since it has been fixed up, Gambling is better downtown and there always are $5 blackjack tables.(Even 3's at the Golden Gate (as of 12/06).

We spend 1 day out of 5 on the strip usually to see a show and grab dinner but I try to avoid gambling on the strip except maybe for a sports bet or two.

[HeyNow]

I would never even consider staying downtown.

I went downtown on my first trip in 2000. We spent about 6 hours down there on Saturday night. I saw the Freemont St Experience, had the Golden Gate Shrimp Cocktail, played craps at Binion's, saw the other casinos.

I went again in March of 2003 on Sunday afternoon and spent 3 or 4 hours downtown.

I haven't been back since. I really only play blackjack and the downtown blackjack was always worse and my perception has always been that strip blackjack is better.

[cindyinnj]

I stay on the strip, usually Bellagio or Mirage. I prefer these hotel/casinos to downtown as they are much nicer. I also love the different themed casinos to walk into up and down the strip. However, the atmosphere and attitude of downtown is a bit "looser" than uptown. I do enjoy walking around and drinking downtown, but eventually go "home" to the strip!

[lhswayne]

I prefer to gamble downtown or at the neighborhood casinos because they seem to be more gambler-friendly. It is also much easier to get to the next casino like in downtown or easier to drive and park at the neighborhood casinos like the Station casinos or Sam's Town. That does not mean that I do not go on the strip, as I try to spend a few hours there during one of the days. I might pick a location like the Flamingo and hit that casino and a couple of the neighboring ones like Bill's or Bally's or Paris at the same time. Many of the strip casinos are just too big and hard or far to get to from their parking structures.

[Dkoehn]

I like some of everything Las Vegas has to offer and that always includes time on both the strip and downtown. Have stayed on the strip and downtown and at local places (Sam's Town, Boulder Station, Orleans) but generally we rent a car and like to see some of everything. About every other trip we drive out to Monte Lago just to get another "flavor" into the Vegas experience.

The couple times I have not been downtown I just feel like I really didn't do Vegas. I can be a completely different person when I am on the strip than when I am downtown and I like that- Vegas allows you to reinvent yourself wherever you are. While I love the strip and showing it off to newbies, I limit my gambling to Casino Royale, Harrahs' and O'Shea's and Bill's. I like the center area and frequently stay at The Imperial.

When I am downtown I like to make a circle of MSS, Plaza, Vegas Club, Golden Gate (gotta have them shrimp cocktails!), Binion's, GN and Fitzgerald's. I had a bad experience at 4Q so I am boycotting them for life.

Our next trip in September we will stay 2 nights at Gold Coast and 2 nights at Golden Nugget. Hardly seems like long enough having said all the above...Can't wait.

Donna in Ohio

[magicfish]

We always stay at the Las Vegas Hilton for the sports betting, and for that reason the north Strip is my place . . . Slots A Fun, Riviera, Stratosphere, Sahara - (man, I miss New Frontier, Stardust and Westward Ho). We always hit downtown at least one night, sometimes every night, because we like the atmosphere and the low limit games. If I just want to people watch, I hit the mid Strip - O'shea's and such . . . Let's face it, depending on what you're seeking, there's a place in Las Vegas for you . . . :cool:

We love the Hilton, too, with the North strip being less crazy and more "old Vegas", but that being said, also enjoy downtown. As a woman who sometimes goes to Vegas alone, I must say that I have always been comfortable downtown as long as I stay under the canopy - but only downtown hotel where I've stayed is GN (before the recent renovation).

Hey Steve, how about neither downtown or strip? What about great places like the Orleans?

[ifeedslots]

I love the downtown.To me it's all about the nastalga.If you watch the Bond movie "diamonds are forever" (if incorrect i'll change that title or someone else can)has the chase scene on fremont street along with many closed/torn down casions from back then,it very cool to see the old casinos back then.
The histroy iteslf just keeps me going there.
Sure the strip has history too but,it feels like more fun and a relaxing fun while downtown.
I enjoy all the older hotels for history sake.
I don't need...flashy casinos,just a good time.

[VegasBride]

We actually prefer off-strip. Have stayed at Boulder, Sunset, Palace Station, Hard Rock, and the Rio. We have visited downtown a few times. Our first time we saw the police hauling off some guy in handcuffs. We were told strictly not to stray from the main, lighted streets. The first thing I noticed was the signs saying to hold on to your belongings. The second thing I noticed was the homeless sitting at the diners in the casinos. On another one of our other trips, someone had just stolen something from one of the vendors. He was yelling at the police to stop him (he got away). That was the first time I had ever noticed police on bicycles. That is not to say that we will not go back. We will, but will be very careful.

[8888]

i always get a room on the strip and downtown. most of my time is on the strip but i like to go downtown for a day or two every trip.