Comments on Las Vegas Club Review

First of all, I believe the name of the Hotel & Casino is "Las Vegas Club" and not simply "Vegas Club".

That out of the way, I had an entirely different experience there. I stayed in Dec 2009, and cycled through three rooms trying to find a room that didn't smell like something had died in it. In addition the carpet was so dirty I didn't want to take off my shoes. I didn't unpack my suitcase lest the smell permeate all my stuff. I didn't sleep in the bed, lord knows what was in there. I got the room free, and believe me it was not worth it.

Last time I was in Vegas was April 2011. I went up the elevator and the hallway still had that awful, gut-wrenching odor. The carpet was still filthy.

Perhaps this wasn't the "north tower." The room was in the tower with the elevators pointing out into what used to be a nightclub but now is the bingo area.

The front desk was polite though, even through my multiple room changes. So I agree there.

In the casino, I've had mixed results. I had the rudest craps dealer ever. So bad it was the only time I ever complained about service to the pit boss. She knew immediately which dealer was the problem, but implied she really couldn't do anything about it. So I vowed never to play craps there again.

Other dealers there can be nice, still I prefer Golden Gate across the way. The dealers are friendlier there, and I find the dancing girls there a lot less sleazy. I can't imagine playing at the Fetish Pit with my wife, but we have played together at the Golden Gate several times.

And I have seen long lines at the player's club, sometimes so long that I didn't bother to get a comp. The new player deal is great, I played my way to a bathrobe. The comps are good. I will have to give the restaurant a try sometime I am feeling adventurous.

Bottom line: I will not stay there even if comped. I doubt I would stay there on a bet even if someone offered to pay me $100. But I will play there, avoiding the craps table.

Also, last I checked, there are two craps tables (which would have been January of this year) but one is that terrible crapless craps game.

It may be that the problem crap dealer was already on his way out or it might be that he was 'juiced-in' and the pit knew it.
I still refuse to enter ANY Isle of Capri facility anywhere in the country due to a rude craps dealer, once cancelling an entire trip because the nearest casino was an Isle of Capri place.

I'm told they give the Las Vegas Club a scrub-down every decade.

Quote: ChampagneFireball

That out of the way, I had an entirely different experience there.

I'd heard so many bad things about it, that last trip all I did was go in to get a players card for my collection. I didn't play or even look around...

Anyway, this brings to mind an old Mexican saying, and it's good exercise for the Wizard and Paco: Todos hablan de la feria como les fué en ella.

As Nareed and ChampagneFireball show, most reviews are negative. That's why I was so surprised to have a good experience. I was expecting a nightmare. By the way, I didn't let on that I was a reviewer. I believe the new mgmt. co. is trying harder to improve, but again, I am just one person.

And yes, one of the craps tables is crapsless, but it wasn't open when I was there. Thanks for the correction. The Wizard could add this to the review if he wishes.

New logo:


Old logo:


So apparently they have switched back to the "Las Vegas Club."

I'm about 80% sure their proper name is now the Vegas Club. I'm not sure when this changed, but roughly five years ago. Some old signage may still say Las Vegas Club.

You can add me to the list of those who don't care much for the place, whatever its name is. However, I don't question that for $20 a night it is a good value. If that were my budget I might stay there, but play and eat somewhere else.

The few times I was there, the place stank like old cigarettes and stale beer. No thanks.

Quote: teddys

So apparently they have switched back to the "Las Vegas Club."

Quote: Wizard

I'm about 80% sure their proper name is now the Vegas Club. I'm not sure when this changed, but roughly five years ago. Some old signage may still say Las Vegas Club.

Well, if you accept the Las Vegas Advisor as authoritative:

Quote: Las Vegas Advisor QoD 10/14/2010

... In a surprise move in December 2002, casino mogul Jackie Gaughan, 82 at the time, after having owned the Las Vegas Club for more than 40 years, announced that he’d sold it, along with the Plaza, Gold Spike, and Western hotel-casinos, to Barrick Gaming for $82 million. The deal closed in March 2004.

A month later in April 2004, Barrick unveiled a massive several-hundred-million-dollar redevelopment plan for downtown ....

In September 2004, Barrick changed the name Las Vegas Club to just Vegas Club. It was part of a move to project a hipper image downtown, akin to Treasure Island’s switch to TI.

However, less than a year later, Barrick sold its minority interest in the four hotels to its landlord and silent majority partner, Tamares, which had put up much of the original purchase price for the four downtown casinos.

That QoD leaves it a little less than crystal clear what name Tamares is using for the place.

My own interest in this topic relates to my desire to obtain a souvenir "Vegas Club" chip for my collection, if such a thing were ever to exist. Last I checked, they were still using chips (at least the $1 variety I collect) that say "Las Vegas Club". Sometime last year, I also listened to and watched the sponsor credits for the VistaVision show on Fremont Street, and that reported "Vegas Club". I think the lighted sign out front has always said "Las Vegas Club" (at least in recent years).

Someone once told me that consistency is a sign of a small mind.

Just two days ago I found myself up in one of their hotels rooms visiting a friend who is only paying $6/night for 3 nights in the North Tower. I noticed no awful smell, room seemed clean, in fact we both commented on what a great deal it was. View out the window was of a yellow brick wall 6 feet away. Casino has the vintage charm you'd expect for a place so old. While similar places nearby update their appearances and game selection, LVC is actively retaining their charisma, so stop by if you're keen for a visit to a bygone era. It's safer than the Western.

Quote: zippyboy

Just two days ago I found myself up in one of their hotels rooms visiting a friend who is only paying $6/night for 3 nights in the North Tower.

Only $6? My friend in New Jersey somehow got them to pay him for booking there. And he's not even going to Vegas.

I don't mind gambling there. It remains to be seen if The Plaza will continue to shower low rollers with room comps once it reopens. If they do, it could be attractive to play there more.

Quote: darrenfromindy

I don't mind gambling there. It remains to be seen if The Plaza will continue to shower low rollers with room comps once it reopens. If they do, it could be attractive to play there more.

It seems stupid to worry about room comps when the rooms are that inexpensive.

Several websites reported that the name was changed so that Las was eliminated. But they never changed the signs, and they didn't change the name on the gaming license.

The (Las) Vegas Club has a very nice restaurant called Tinoco's Kitchen . Tinoco's used to be a local place, but they moved into the casino when Tamares seemed interested in not managing any of it's own restaurants. It is certainly as good as many of the places in Golden Nugget. The decor is very dated, however. They also have an Express counter outside of the restaurant where you can grab a quick bite.

I hate to be a contrarian, but I don't think Tinoco's is that great. I would say it is a little better than average. If you want something fancy, I would suggest the Golden Nugget or Hugo's at the Four Queens. If you want something more economical, I would suggest Dupar's at the Golden Gate. You'll only find me at Tinoco's if I have a coupon or somebody invites me. I'm not sure if it is even open during the remodeling, but I also like Tapas at the Plaza.

What about the ol Lady Luck? I read they're still renovating and it should be done by Dec. Why are they bothering.

I could be wrong, but I've never seen anything going on at the Lady Luck since they closed for "renovations" several years ago. However, I have not given up hope. I rather liked the place and would welcome its rebirth.

From Wiki:

"On March 15, 2010, CIM Group made an agreement with City Officials to have the renovations completed by December 31, 2011. There is the potential that the hotel/casino will reopen in 2012, 5 years after its originally scheduled reopening in 2007" I had their 49 cent breakfast there in the mid 70's many times, usually at 2am. Well worth it.. I still love Downtown and have little use for the Strip, except to gamble there.

Quote: Wizard

I could be wrong, but I've never seen anything going on at the Lady Luck since they closed for "renovations" several years ago. However, I have not given up hope. I rather liked the place and would welcome its rebirth.

I used to have fun at the Lady. A few weeks ago the owners of the Silver Nugget took over the Lady Luck for nothing as I recall.
They still open up a small room next to the business office with a handful of machines to keep the license active.

Quote: pacomartin

The CIM group which has owned the Lady Luck downtown since 2007 (it closed February 2006) have given ownership to the owners of the Silver Nugget. By giving away the property, the CIM group gets out of penalties that would probably be imposed by the City of Las Vegas if they tried to sell the property. The new owners vowed to wait on renovations.

I posted this under the Silver Nugget since there is no blog for Lady Luck. Someone asked how much they lost, and I said they only paid $20.4 million for the property. I suspect that if they tried to sell their share, the city would prosecute CIM for breaking their agreement. By simply giving up their rights to the property, they probably reduce the likelihood of a court battle.

Quote: Nareed

it's good exercise for the Wizard and Paco: Todos hablan de la feria como les fué en ella.

Google translates as "Everyone talks about the show as I was in it."
But I think it is "Everyone talks about the party but he was there."

Incidentally, there are a number of blogs about "fué" which indicate that it is widely spelled with the diacritical even by native speakers, but it is properly spelled without one.

Normally como doesn't translate to "but", however using "as", "such" "like" , "as a", or "such as" I can't make a coherent sentence.
"en ella" seems like it should be "in her", but once again it makes no sense.

The same proverb is written with an extra word según to start off this news article.
Todos hablan de la feria según como le fue en ella

Quote: pacomartin

Google translates as "Everyone talks about the show as I was in it."
But I think it is "Everyone talks about the party but he was there."

Not even close.

For starters feria means fair. In common usage it can refer to an amusement park; indeed the oldest active amusement park in mex City is simply called La Feria. But it also means things like county/regional fairs, events where there are exhibitors, shows, food, games, etc. That's the meaning in the proverb. Such fairs often feature games of chance that tend to pay poorly and have huge edges for the "house."

Next fué (or fue since I think that's what you meant in a latter paragraph) is the past form of ir, to go (Ir is the most irregular of irregualr verbs, BTW). It means to go in sentences like "Fuí a la feria" "I went to the fair." But it also means how things went or how things go, and to make out as in "I dind't make out too well at the casino with Singer's system."

So the translation is: everyone talks about the fair according to how they made out in it. Or a more exact translation: Everyone evaluates the fair according to whether they won or not.

My use was that Teddys had a reasonably good time at Vegas Club, therefore he gave a good review of it. Other people had a lousy time there, so they gave bad reviews. So everyone talks about the casino according to how good a time they had.

Quote:

Normally como doesn't translate to "but", however using "as", "such" "like" , "as a", or "such as" I can't make a coherent sentence.

Como usually translates as "how" "Como es posible?" "How is that possible?" "Como te gustan los huevos?" "How do you like your eggs?" "Como te fué?" "How did it go?" etc

Quote:

"en ella" seems like it should be "in her", but once again it makes no sense.

Remeber Spanish has no pronoun or article for things and animals, instead it uses the third person masculine or femenine pronoun according to the gender of the noun. Feria is a femenine noun, so therefore "ella"

Isn't there another, more appropriate thread for this kinda crazy talk?

Quote: zippyboy

Just two days ago I found myself up in one of their hotels rooms visiting a friend who is only paying $6/night for 3 nights in the North Tower. I noticed no awful smell, room seemed clean, in fact we both commented on what a great deal it was. View out the window was of a yellow brick wall 6 feet away. Casino has the vintage charm you'd expect for a place so old. While similar places nearby update their appearances and game selection, LVC is actively retaining their charisma, so stop by if you're keen for a visit to a bygone era. It's safer than the Western.

I'm wondering if I wasn't in a different tower. I tried three rooms on two floors and found the same filth and stench.

Where are the elevators to the North Tower? What is the other tower called? "South Tower" perhaps?

North Tower elevators are more towards the back and that little bar that nobody is ever in. They let you off kind of by the garage elevators and the bell desk -- of course "north" being farther away from Fremont Street.

The South Tower elevators are near Tinoco's/Jerky Shop/Player's Club in that flagstone-paved area.

Quote: zippyboy

Isn't there another, more appropriate thread for this kinda crazy talk?

"La lengua loco"

Quote: pacomartin

"La lengua loco"

There's no good translation for that expression.

In any case it would be la lengua locA.

But Spanish speakers would understand that the apendage inside your mouth has gone insane. Which of course is just crazy talk.

Quote: teddys

North Tower elevators are more towards the back and that little bar that nobody is ever in. They let you off kind of by the garage elevators and the bell desk -- of course "north" being farther away from Fremont Street.

The South Tower elevators are near Tinoco's/Jerky Shop/Player's Club in that flagstone-paved area.

A quick perusal of TripAdvisor reviews shows that North Tower often gets reviewed much better than South Tower. Next time I'm in Vegas, I will have to check out which tower I stayed in. I would still never stay there lest I end up in the wrong tower.

Also, their website vegasclubcasino.net is labeled LVC Las Vegas Club Casino and Hotel. So they have it both ways.

Quote: Wizard

I hate to be a contrarian, but I don't think Tinoco's is that great. I would say it is a little better than average. If you want something fancy, I would suggest the Golden Nugget or Hugo's at the Four Queens. If you want something more economical, I would suggest Dupar's at the Golden Gate. You'll only find me at Tinoco's if I have a coupon or somebody invites me. I'm not sure if it is even open during the remodeling, but I also like Tapas at the Plaza.

One special thing about Tinoco's is that, for $2 an attempt, you can try to grab a live lobster from an arcade style machine just outside their door:



You Catch 'Em, We Cook 'Em!"

I like to play video poker at the bar there. Their DDB progressive often turns positive. The last time I was there, the progressive was over $3,000 for a royal on a quarter machine! Spent about $150 that night trying to win it and when I went back the next morn, someone had hit it. Oh well, maybe next time!

And the bartenders kept my glass full!

Slot club points earned on the Shufflemaster video blackjack machine can no longer be used towards their new member promotion. I didn't check on the video UTH game. LVC does have plenty $1 9/6 JoB and also a few full-pay Jokers Wild (kings or better). The JW machines earn points at 1/3 the normal rate.

Thanks. Just found out I have a 2 free weekday nights/$40 in free play offer there.

I don't think anyone cares but the Vegas Club has significantly downgraded their VP offerings. I could only find two full-pay JoB machines. The rest have been downgraded to 9/5.

There's a sign in Tinoco's that claims the closing is temporary.