Key Points:
- My Rush Tower Tranquility King Room boasted modern amenities while maintaining a timeless, luxurious feel.
- This is one of the nicest hotel rooms in Downtown Las Vegas, rivaling Circa.
- Resort amenities at Golden Nugget (dining, the pool, lounges) rival those at Strip resorts.
Golden Nugget is a sprawling resort that offers room types, spanning the price & quality spectrum from budget to luxury.
Their Rush Tower is one I’ve long heard people praise, and figured it was due time for me to log a stay.
While I had yet to stay in the hotel, I’ve long enjoyed Golden Nugget’s high-energy casino floor, range of dining options, and The Tank pool, which is one of the coolest in Vegas.
Room & Cost
I booked a “Tranquility King Room” in the Rush Tower, which cost $220.35 after taxes and fees.
The word “Tranquility” cost me an extra $10, but at my rapidly advancing age, a quiet room is well worth the premium.
This room type, one of the higher-end options at Golden Nugget, typically starts at around $200/nt after fees, and I was stuck paying full fare as I don’t have much of a relationship with their 24-Karat loyalty program.
More affordable rooms in their baseline Carson tower start at around $100/nt.
Check In
Golden Nugget’s hotel lobby is a looker, and I got to spend some extra time admiring it as the automated kiosks rejected me several times, even after the standard 3pm check-in time, stating only that my “room wasn’t ready”.
FINALLY, at 5:02pm, I received a text and voicemail letting me know I was able to retrieve my room keys.
Annoying, but whatever. It happens.
Golden Nugget Tranquility King Room
It was obvious that this room was going to be special on the approach, starting with the Rush Tower’s dedicated entrance, which was downright elegant at night.
The casino level elevator lobby, the elevator itself, and the hotel hallway were all in spectacular shape, felt nice, and made a great first impression.
First impression of my Rush Tower King Room: This is one of the, if not the nicest, rooms on Fremont Street.
The Rush Tower Tranquility King is spacious at 439 square feet, and the room felt high-end and luxurious without “trying too hard” by incorporating dark wood, stone surfaces, and gold tones.
The accent wall, carpet pattern, and dark tones just exuded everything I had imagined Golden Nugget to be coming in.
On one end table was an alarm clock outfitted with both traditional outlets and USB charge ports, and the other was equipped with a robust charging bank of traditional outlets in addition to USB A and C ports.
Ominously, earplugs were provided … but my tranquility room lived up to its name and was quiet throughout the night.
Across from the bed was a 55” TV with a modern guide, crisp picture, and the ability to stream Netflix.
On the TV Stand below were 4 complimentary full-sized bottles of water – a nice touch.
Next to that was the work desk, which had a touch-activated lamp with built-in wireless phone charging and additional USB-A ports.
A couple of Las Vegas magazines were also provided for guys who need to kill time while their wives “get ready”.
Underneath the TV stand was an empty mini fridge, which I found odd as Golden Nugget’s website states they do “Not permit outside food and beverages in guest rooms”.
Joke’s on them, though. I snuck these bad boys past the goalie. (GN, if you see this, pls don’t 86 me, thx).
Kidding aside, don’t overreact to the rule. I’m sure it’s just there to prevent extreme situations like kegs and/or raging parties. Nobody’s searching bags or watching the elevators. You can safely smuggle in snacks & drinks.
The carpet was in great condition and had a classy pattern that worked well with the room’s decor, which featured “swirly” wall art that seemed to match the decor on the casino floor.
In the corner of the room was a couch and ottoman, made of faux leather, that felt a bit “cheaper” than the rest of the room, but they did the job well, and my view of the Strip was pretty cool.
Behind the couch was another touch-activated lamp. Another modern touch in a timeless-feeling room.
The Bathroom
The bathroom had some “wow-factor, and I rarely care about doors, but I thought this sliding unit was pretty cool.
The duel-sink vanity was unlike any I’ve encountered in Vegas, with bowl sinks atop a stone countertop, dark wood, a backlit mirror, and an illuminated makeup mirror.
To the right was a tub/shower combo, which had a glass partition that could open and close, allowing entry while also keeping the water where it belongs… In the tub, which had a tile surround complete with a little accent stripe.
Bath products were provided by Essential Elements, and the toilet was in a separate room to the left.
What’s Not to Like?
When I review hotels, I aim to give you the full story, not just the good, so that you can make a more informed decision.
This room was unimpeachably clean. There wasn’t a rogue hair, dusty corner, or splatter stain to be found. That’s Impressive. There wasn’t even a wall scuff, which is unheard of in Las Vegas.
The one maintenance issue I noticed was peeling wallpaper in the bathroom near the shower.
Light sleepers will want to be sure to book a tranquility room, as noise from Fremont Street can be loud in many of Golden Nugget’s rooms. I didn’t hear a peep in mine.
Golden Nugget Resort Experience
The Tank is one of the most unique pool scenes in Las Vegas, thanks to the 200,000-gallon aquarium in the center, which is stocked with sharks and other tropical fish.
There’s even a winding waterslide that riders board on the pool deck’s second level that cuts right through the middle of it.
Also on that second level is a second, adult-only pool called The Hideout, which was closed during my visit.
Notably, non-hotel guests can enjoy the pool by paying a cover charge of around $30-$45, depending on the day, which can be purchased on the pool’s website.
Anyone is welcome to gamble poolside with no cover required. This tub craps game is one of my favorites in Vegas and is commonly offered at a $5 minimum.
The casino floor has a differentiated decor strategy that I’d describe as “ornamental”. The light fixtures resort-wide are spectacular and absurdly photogenic.
Table game minimums during my visit included:
- $5, $10, and $15 Craps, which were an Electronic Hybrid game, Crapless, and Traditional Craps, respectively.
- $10 Roulette.
- $10 6:5 BJ with required $2 side bet.
- $10 pai gow with required $5 side bet.
While I’m the kind of degenerate that enjoys playing side bets with long odds, you should bear in mind they’re a terrible bet.
While small, I quite enjoyed the intimate nature of the Sportsbook, which was cozy and had crisp screens littered throughout.
The gaming floor, and resort as a whole, is also home to an array of bars and lounges that are straight up gorgeous.
Golden Nugget offers a diverse assortment of dining options compared to peer resorts on Fremont Street, with 10 different restaurants ranging from a Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, and The Grille on the more affordable end of the spectrum to Vic & Anthony’s Steakhouse on the pricier side of things.
On this trip, I grabbed breakfast at Claim Jumper and ordered the French Toast, which carried a menu price of $15.99 and was solid, albeit unremarkable.
Later that evening, I stopped by Chart House for happy hour, which boasts a 75,000-gallon aquarium as its centerpiece.
Happy Hour runs from 4-6pm Monday-Friday and includes:
- $6 bottled beer
- $9 cocktails
- $8 premium spirits
- $10 wine by the glass
- Discounted bites
The scenery alone makes this one of my favorite happy hours on Fremont Street.
After a beer, I swung into Saltgrass, a western-themed steakhouse that lands on the budget-friendlier side of the spectrum, for a $20.99 cheeseburger and fries, which was spectacular.
And a 22oz Coors Light cost $8.50, which felt reasonable enough. I’ll be back.
Free bread is even delivered to your table while you wait.
Is Golden Nugget’s Rush Tower Worth the Upgrade?
This was an eye-opening stay and experience.
Golden Nugget’s Rush Tower rivals Circa, with some of the nicest standard hotel rooms on Fremont Street.
There are ample dining options on site, the casino has a great buzz to it, the pool is unlike anything, and the room itself wowed me.
I was expecting solid. I wasn’t expecting it to be that nice.
I can’t wait to return with the wife.
Related Las Vegas Resort Reviews:
Venetian Renovated Suite Review
Want more? Check out this Golden Nugget Rush Tower Room Review on YouTube!
I’m a former software salesman turned Vegas aficionado. While the craps table is my preferred habitat, I pull myself away to explore new attractions, shows, restaurants, and outdoor activities around Las Vegas with the intent of sharing my experiences.
Ultimately, I just want to help folks plan a better trip and save a few bucks in the process.