Where do you park downtown?

Downtown Las Vegas is the only place in Vegas without free parking, other than the airport, as far as I know. However, the parking is still pretty cheap and it isn't hard to get it for free.

My old favorite was the outdoor lot at the Main Street Station. It is right off the exit from the 95, plenty of room, and the $3 was fully refundable at the Main Street cage. However, they changed their policy recently to make the $3 fee non-refundable.

My second choice, Binion's, also recently changed their policy. It used to be three hours free with validation, which was available on a machine by the cage. However, now you need to get your ticket stamped by a human being and signage indicates they do so only with active players. The good news is that there is no longer a time limit, as far as I know, if you have the stamp. My advice is just to place any small wager at the sports book. If in doubt, just bet on any underdog, preferably in the NFL.

The question for the forum is where do you park downtown? Please advise on your tricks to park for free.

The El Cortez will let you park for free indefinitely as long as you wave a players' card at the guard standing by the entrance. You don't have to validate a ticket or anything like that. The 4Q will give you a parking pass, good for four hours (though in practice, good for the whole day) if you ask for it at the players' club.

It seems kind of odd to me that even the places that have for-pay parking garages will still valet park your car for free, so I usually take that option if the EC garage is full. The tip I leave is less than I would pay for one of the garages or lots, and there's no time limit. Plus, I feel that my car is safer in a dedicated valet parking area than in a casino garage.

Golden Nugget. The first three hours were free and it was $2 an hour after that. There's nothing stopping you from exiting and reentering after the three hours. This was last spring.

Quote: 1BB

Golden Nugget. The first three hours were free and it was $2 an hour after that. There's nothing stopping you from exiting and reentering after the three hours. This was last spring.

Golden Nugget parking is a scam. I had a dinner with clients at Chart House and got validated, being told that covered for the night. We stayed downtown for hours and when I went to get my car they wanted $8 even though it was stamped, claiming that the validation is only good for three hours now, regardless of play or dining spend.

If you go downtown at night, the MSS parking attendant leaves around 10pm Sunday-Thursday so it is free. I have no idea what time it is on weekends.

There is also another trick there, but I don't think posting it here would be a good idea.

Plaza charges $5 but every time I have shown them one of my players cards from there (I'm only Queen level) they just open the gate so I don't know what level is suppose to get it for free. It appears from a recent trip that you can valet at Golden Gate for free during the week. Maybe it is the same way on weekends. As mentioned, El Cortez is free, period, with a players card. I believe the metered parking on the street is free after 8pm.

Getting a parking pass validated while playing at Binions is a total pain. I wouldn't bother. They don't have enough slot attendants and when I asked it is still only a three or four hour validation.

Park? What's that?

Seriously, the only time I ever parked downtown, I was staying at the Downtown Grand, so they comped my parking at the lot across the street from the main entrance.

There is "free" valet parking at the Fremont. However, everyone knows a tip is expected.

I usually park the rental car in the parking garage at The California, and use the self-service validator at the casino.

El Cortez every time. I can use the exercise so the short walk to anywhere is alright.

I had free valet at the Golden Nugget for 4 days in April. However, as the Wiz says, I tipped both coming in and leaving, $2 each way. Expected but not demanded was my impression.

Golden Nugget valet for me. $1 or $2 tip on way out depending on speed of service.

In the past, I have always parked for free at either Binion's garage, Main Street Station's surface lot across the street, or a couple of times in the California garage. At least two of those three are reported by the Wizard as no longer free options. Perhaps I should just avoid going downtown on my next visit to Las Vegas.

Correction: just once I did park at a garage farther down the street, either at the Four Queens or the D. Can't remember which and can't remember whether I had to pay.

What about the parking garage on Main Street property? (right beside the hotel) Last I was there, it was free.

Quote: rsactuary

What about the parking garage on Main Street property? (right beside the hotel) Last I was there, it was free.

They charge $5 upfront but you can get it back from the cage if you play. I parked at the Valet for Main Street a month ago and it was free.

Quote: Mooseton

El Cortez every time. I can use the exercise so the short walk to anywhere is alright.

El Cortez now charges a couple bucks for their lowest tier card holders so I'm moving on MSS or Binions.

Edit: It's not refundable.

Now only the Ditz is free.

The handful of times that I've driven to downtown, I've used the free valet service at The Plaza. A couple bucks tip is cheaper than paying for parking elsewhere, and pick up has always been prompt. On the night of Saint Patrick's Day, I was told that the valet was being reserved for guests staying at The Plaza so I parked at the lot on the other side of Greyhound for I think $5.

MSS valet, give the man $2.

When I was a kid there was a May Company department store in North Hollywood, California. The down escalator and the up escalator crisscrossed. I always wanted to jump over the two railings from the down to the up or vice versa but I never did it. Years ago I did go up a down escalator.

I've also had a long-standing desire when in an elevator to open that little compartment, pull out the phone and see who's on the other end.