Frommer's Las Vegas 2004

DOWNTOWN 117
a few changes had already been made: Mr. O’Lucky, the hotel’s longtime mascot, is
already gone; the check-in area has been redone; and a new outdoor pool—open
until the unheard of (in Vegas) hour of 9pm—opened in summer 2003. More
renovation work and upgrading is scheduled to take place throughout 2004. Right
now, you can expect a sort of Irish country-village walkway, complete with giant
fake trees, leading to the room elevators. Fitzgeralds has the only balcony in Downtown
from which you can watch the Fremont Street Experience. You can also sit in
its McDonald’s and gawk at the light show through the atrium windows.
The rooms are clean and comfortable, featuring standard hotel-room decor
done in shades of green. Because this is the tallest building in Downtown (34
stories), you get excellent views: snowcapped mountains, Downtown lights, or
the Strip. Whirlpool-tub rooms are $20 more and are slightly larger, offering
wraparound windows.
301 Fremont St. (at 3rd St.), Las Vegas, NV 89101. & 800/274-LUCK (274-5825) or 702/388-2400. Fax 702/
388-2181. www.fitzgeralds.com. 638 units. $36 and up double; $60 and up suite. Extra person $10. Children
under 19 stay free in parent’s room. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Free self- and valet parking. Amenities: Casino; 5
restaurants; lounge; outdoor pool; concierge; tour desk; car-rental desk; courtesy car or limo; business center;
24-hr. room service; laundry service; dry cleaning; nonsmoking rooms. In room: A/C, TV w/pay movies, dataport,
iron and board, safe.
Four Queens Opened in 1966 with a mere 120 rooms, the Four Queens
(named for the owner’s four daughters) has evolved over the decades into a
major Downtown property occupying an entire city block. This property gets
sold so often we think it’s being used as a stake in some ongoing card game—it
was just sold again, so the usual warnings about potential change still hold. The
lobby is small but elegant—in a slightly faded, slightly dated way (with mirrors
and huge chandeliers). In the Four Queens, you just know you’re in Old Las
Vegas. And you are glad. As the staff says, this is the place to stay if you just want
to gamble—or if you want to experience the real old Las Vegas, and we don’t just
mean the clientele (though that, too; most are 50-plus and have been coming
here for years). Another draw is the consistently helpful and friendly staff.
Rooms aren’t going to blow you away, but note that the ones in the South
Tower are a shade larger than the others, though we wouldn’t hold any multiperson
slumber parties in either. In most cases, rooms in the North Tower offer
views of the Fremont Street Experience. The restaurant, Hugo’s Cellar (p. 163),
has a cozy lounge with a working fireplace, and two bars serve the casino.
202 Fremont St. (at Casino Center Blvd.), Las Vegas, NV 89101. & 800/634-6045 or 702/385-4011. Fax
702/387-5122. www.fourqueens.com. 690 units. $29 and up double; $119 and up suite. Extra person $15. AE,
DC, DISC, MC, V. Free self- and valet parking. Amenities: Casino; 2 restaurants; small exercise room; limited
room service; laundry service; dry cleaning; nonsmoking rooms. In room: A/C, TV w/pay movies, coffeemaker,
hair dryer, iron and board, safe.
INEXPENSIVE
California Hotel/Casino & RV Park This is a hotel with a unique personality.
California-themed, it markets mostly in Hawaii, and since 85% of its guests
are from the Aloha State, it offers Hawaiian entrees in several of its restaurants
and even has an on-premises store specializing in Hawaiian foodstuffs. You’ll
also notice that dealers are wearing colorful Hawaiian shirts. The rooms, however,
reflect neither California nor Hawaii; they have mahogany furnishings and
attractive marble bathrooms.
12 Ogden Ave. (at 1st St.), Las Vegas, NV 89101. & 800/634-6255 or 702/385-1222. Fax 702/388-2660.
www.thecal.com. 781 units. Sun–Thurs $50 and up double, Fri–Sat $60 and up double, holidays $70 and up
double. Extra person $5. Children under 13 stay free in parent’s room. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Free self- and valet