Key Points:
- Plaza is one of my favorite casinos downtown for myriad reasons (dining, gambling, and doughnuts).
- At first glance, my Deluxe Room looked solid, but detailed cleanliness issues were abundant.
- I won’t count Plaza’s hotel out in the future, but this room left me unexcited to book this room type again.
There are myriad reasons to love Plaza, and I’ve enjoyed stopping in for as long as I’ve been visiting Las Vegas.
Among the draws include smoke-free slots, Oscar’s Steakhouse, Silver Strike slot machines, live bingo, live music at The Sand Dollar, affordable single zero roulette, and Pinkbox Doughnuts (among others).
I freaking love the place.
That being said, I had yet to experience their hotel product.
That all changed when I recently booked a North Tower Deluxe Room for $90.97, which is inclusive of taxes and fees.
Check-In Process
There isn’t an option for mobile check-in, nor are there self-serve kiosks at Plaza, but I was able to walk right up to the desk and had a room key in hand within 5 minutes.
Pretty slick process, although I did notice they had stations set up to corral a line… so, I may have gotten lucky.
Inside My Deluxe Room
On the way up to the room, I scoped out common areas like elevator lobbies and the hotel hallway, which were in decent shape, albeit not anything to “write home about”.
My first impression upon stepping into the room was pretty positive.
My North Tower Deluxe Room had a unique, spacious feeling layout, and was on the back side of the tower (facing away from Fremont Street), so it was quiet.
I thought the 32″ TV was a smidge undersized for the room, and annoyingly, there wasn’t a modern TV guide showing what programming was on… just a list of printed channels so you had to punch in numbers to “guess and check” to find something interesting to watch.
It’s the 21st century. Every hotel TV in Vegas should have a modern guide.
Next to the bed were both traditional outlets and USB charge ports.
There was an empty mini fridge underneath it in the TV Stand, which is one of my favorite amenities.
I loved the wall wart above the couch and coffee table, although my view left much to be desired.
The bathroom was functional but pretty tight considering I’m 6′ 5″.
A safe, iron, ironing board, and hangers were also found on the wall in the bathroom.
What’s Not To Like?
Cleanliness
Put bluntly, whoever cleans this room has run out of F’s to give.
Corners in the bathroom were packed with dust and debris.
The base of the toilet had hairs and what I assume to be dried urine.
The door to the toilet/shower had splatter or water damage.
There was a hairball underneath the vanity.
The tub floor was discolored/dirty.
There was splatter on a wall.
There was some splatter on the bedside end table.
Keep in mind. My experience is anecdotal. This could be a “one-off” or flukey situation.
Perhaps the housekeeping staff was short-staffed, or I got a room tended to by a new employee. Who knows.
Resort Experience at Plaza
There are *so* many reasons to love Plaza, and those reasons just keep multiplying as the resort continues to morph with the times.
The Casino
Plaza’s casino has an older school vibe, and there are a lot of nuggets that certain gamblers will enjoy.
First, non-smokers will love the new smoke-free slots room, which is physically separated from the main casino floor.
Next, Plaza is one of 2 casinos downtown that offer Silver Strike slot machines. For those unfamiliar, Silver Strike games kick out commemorative tokens when the “Silver Strike” emblem lands on the pay line.
They’re worth $10 at the cage, but they make a great souvenir.
Plaza also offers a single-zero roulette game in their main pit that’s affordable.
In a city where every casino seems to be moving toward the less player-friendly triple-zero variant, Plaza chose another path.
Props.
Oscar’s Steakhouse
I recently scoped out Oscar’s new outdoor dining area and was thrilled with the meal, service, and view. Check out my slab of prime rib!
Pinkbox Doughnuts
You’re not going to find donuts more unique than this in Vegas. They’re fun, massive, and delish.
Hash House a Go Go
Hash House is one of the more popular spots to grab breakfast downtown, thanks to their “Instagrammable” portion sizes.
I’ve stopped in a few times and have enjoyed their farmhouse scramblers and twisted flapjacks.
The Pool Deck
Plaza’s rooftop pool offers killer views of downtown and the resort’s hotel tower.
Pickleball courts are also abundant for those of you weird enough to want to play “fake tennis” in Las Vegas.
It’s a pretty damn cool scene.
The Verdict: Would I Stay at Plaza Again?
As you likely surmised, I love visiting Plaza. It wouldn’t be a trip to Fremont Street if I didn’t swing in for a meal and some gambling.
That being said, I’m pretty lukewarm on the hotel.
I’m not counting out a future stay, however, the combination of cleanliness issues, small TV, lack of channel guide, and small bathroom have me thinking other options may be more advantageous.
Looking at the room specifically, there were several “bummers” countered by little that enthused me.
It’s not that I hated it, Plaza’s Deluxe Room just isn’t one that I’d be excited to book again for the price I paid.
That being said, my cleanliness issues could’ve been a total fluke.
Plaza’s hotel is a budget-friendly option at a resort that I (and many) love, in a great location on Fremont Street. You could do much worse, and I’m sure I’ll give it another shot in the coming months or years to see how my stay differs.
Perhaps one of their suites will hit the spot? I’ll keep you apprised.
Related Las Vegas Hotel Reviews:
“Original 10” Room at Golden Gate
“Original 47” Room at El Cortez
Superior Room at Downtown Grand
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.