The Plaza Las Vegas: Review

The Plaza is a decades-old hotel parked at the west end of the Fremont Street Experience, an attraction that very much impedes the view of the casino and main tower.

I made mention of my recent stay on Twitter and, without request, was upgraded to a mini suite. I say this because I only paid for the basic room rate. Because I’m an international travel celebrity, the figurative red carpet is laid before me. I do have a little journalistic credibility; being transparent about this comped upgrade is a way to preserve that remaining shred.

The casino is much improved from my last visit almost a year ago, despite the only noticeable change being the carpet. It’s amazing what a little fabric did to energize the space. Regrettably, I didn’t have much time to gamble during my stay. Zorkfest kept me well occupied. What I know from talking with other friendly guests, is that the Plaza has been doing a lot to make players happy. Even modest gamblers receive generous offers and superb service. So much so, that some take the majority of their play there. A few are even making it their downtown home base.

The casino wasn’t as lively as I had hoped during my Friday-Sunday trip. That’s a good thing for gamblers, not so much, I imagine, for the Plaza. Table limits were the standard $5+, sure to satisfy the low rollers among us.

One oddity I wish would be removed is the timeshare station tucked away just off the casino floor. Really, it’s labeled a “vacation club”. I’m confident the Plaza is receiving adequate rent payments or commissions, but it’s a non-value add for the guests. I hate the idea of being sold to after checkin in.

It irks me further because the Plaza has shown that it is willing to use space on site for non-revenue generating activity. Take their new gym, for example. It’s simple but well done. It adds to the guest experience and likely garners little to no additional revenue. I say get rid of the “vacation club” and put in a slightly more upscale bar where your guests can mingle, have a decent cocktail, and play some video poker. I’d be there every trip downtown.

My room was in the resort’s south tower. A walk down our 17th-floor hallway offered another area in need of improvement: the room doors. They’re littered with scuff marks, dents, and scratches. It’s not the first impression you’d like to impart on your guest’s in-room experience. It also betrays the quality of the rooms themselves. They’re quite good for downtown.

It’s clear our mini-suite hadn’t been updated in a while, but it was spacious and comfortable. A small wet bar separated the path to the bathroom and the small living space. Hotels over 20 years old don’t offer the luxurious lavatories of modern resorts. The Plaza’s are expectedly small. What’s important is that it was clean. They make up space by having the wash station outside the door.

The beds were just fine. The pillows are a tad thin for my liking. There was a sizable closet just off the sleeping area. An array of mirrors wrap the wall beside the main door. My guess is this is to add some sort of aesthetic to the odd layout created by the stairwell nearby. I absolutely loved the south-facing view from our high floor. It’s a solid room for the area.

Ultimately, is the Plaza a downtown replacement for Strip snobs? Probably not. Though, I am happy to report that the steady improvement of the property is help making it a viable option for fans of DTLV. With the new workout facility, fresh pool, and generous player development, it’s worth considering if your travels take you to the Fremont St. corridor.

Here is a full walkthrough of our mini suite: