Has anyone stayed at the California

Has anyone stayed at the California? Taking my kid and a couple of his friends to California from Florida (driving with 15 yo boys what was I thinking) anyway after I drop them off in Sacramento I booked a room here 10 days for $360 and no resort fees. Just curious how bad it is and if I should cancel and go elsewhere. That cheap price though means extra gambling money

I like the Cal and its close proximity to relatively good value for your gambling dollar. The only reason I see to cancel is if you can get a better deal elsewhere downtown or through a member of these forums.

Quote: troopscott

Has anyone stayed at the California? Taking my kid and a couple of his friends to California from Florida (driving with 15 yo boys what was I thinking) anyway after I drop them off in Sacramento I booked a room here 10 days for $360 and no resort fees. Just curious how bad it is and if I should cancel and go elsewhere. That cheap price though means extra gambling money

Hi troopscott. I've stayed at the Cal a few years ago and it wasn't bad at all. Looking at the website, it looks like they may have remodeled since I've stayed there. At $360 for 10 days is a steal! I'd keep it if I were you. Especially if you're not looking for Wynn-type of accommodations and will use the funds to plus up your bankroll. Plus, you have access to fremont and all the good/cheap eats around there. Have a great time, and I wish variance roll your way! If you ever drive through Texas, their highways are filled with awesome cheap Chinese buffets. If you like Chinese, stop by one of those giant buffets!

The Cal caters to folks from Hawaii; you'll note that a lot if not most of the folks there are native Hawaiians.

The Cal has Hawaiian food available at its eateries, and the Hawaiian connection / theme is visible throughout the facility.

I like the place: it's different, certainly not a cookie-cutter casino.

What games do you play? If you are a craps player, you will want to take the covered bridge to the Main Street Station where they offer 20x odds. The Cal only offers 2x.

Quote: MrV

The Cal caters to folks from Hawaii; you'll note that a lot if not most of the folks there are native Hawaiians.

The Cal has Hawaiian food available at its eateries, and the Hawaiian connection / theme is visible throughout the facility.

I like the place: it's different, certainly not a cookie-cutter casino.

I have stayed there
I like the place
Convenient enclosed bridge to the Main Str Casino
They just upgraded their small sports book
One of the few 2 level casinos downtown
If you like video poker, check out VPFREE, they have some really good games

The Cal is nice enough, and you'll have several other casinos within walking distance. A good choice. Check out the Mob Museum nearby if you wish. Lots of interesting things to see and do downtown.

One other thing to consider... their "swimming pool" is little more than a "concrete pond". I guess it's a good thing that they have a pool as many downtown properties do not, but if it is important to you, the Golden Nugget's is nicest in the neighborhood. I understand the Plaza's pool area is newly remodeled, and the Downtown Grand's is supposed to be nice too.

Quote: Ayecarumba

One other thing to consider... their "swimming pool" is little more than a "concrete pond". I guess it's a good thing that they have a pool as many downtown properties do not, but if it is important to you, the Golden Nugget's is nicest in the neighborhood. I understand the Plaza's pool area is newly remodeled, and the Downtown Grand's is supposed to be nice too.

I actually swam in the Binion's pool back in the day
Roof top pool
I stayed at their hotel also
Wonder if that hotel will ever open again

I am a pai Gow guy. Play some craps really just starting to play it more the last few trips and coming up with my own ideas and strategy on it.

I played Pai Gow at the Cal for about 10 minutes while in town over NCAA tournament. Was unsure how safe the walk was at night from Fremont street. Was not a fan of the dealer and his attitude but I am mostly there for the cheap room. Well that and I hate to pay resort fees.

Pretty conservative to a point in my gaming (thus the love for PG) though my craps play I have been tinkering with a martingale on the field but cutting it off 5-10-20-40 after waiting 4 NF rolls and jumping in. I may look at doing 5 NF rolls before jumping in but I think action would be less frequent for sure and not sure I would not get distracted and start making other bets.

Been thinking I may give it a run at one of the $3 tables and doing 3-6-12-24-48 which would give me 1 extra roll.

Mostly what I have done in the past is 6-8 place and after 2 hits or 3 hits depending on how I am feeling getting another number or pressing. Adding in some pass line and odds on occasion.

Quote: troopscott

I played Pai Gow at the Cal for about 10 minutes while in town over NCAA tournament. Was unsure how safe the walk was at night from Fremont street. Was not a fan of the dealer and his attitude but I am mostly there for the cheap room..

There is an entrance/exit of the California right across the street from the back of Binion's
I exit the CAL
Just cross the street and I'm at the back Entrance of Binions
Walk through Binions right onto to Freemont.
pretty safe

Quote: terapined

There is an entrance/exit of the California right across the street from the back of Binion's
I exit the CAL
Just cross the street and I'm at the back Entrance of Binions
Walk through Binions right onto to Freemont.
pretty safe

totally agree with this. I have never felt unsafe walking from MSS or The Cal to Fremont.

Thanks

I have stayed at El Cortez, Plaza, Golden Nugget, even Binions when they were still renting rooms but checked out the cal on my recent trip (had already booked the room it was so cheap) and just wondered about the walk. Looked a little shady.

I usually stay on the strip but this is a bonus trip and more concerned about adding to the bankroll since my wife wont be with me ")

They are doing a lot to remodel the casino into something chic and modern, I suspect rooms will be next on their agenda. (VP paytables are dropping to pay for it, I suspect slot returns as well)

I'm really a fan of the Downtown Boyd Properties. Value, Value, Value.

Here's a nice review of the recent Cal Renovations from Vital Vegas

The Cal has lots of $5 black jack, which is fun for me and my wife. They also have some good VP schedules. The rooms have been recently updated. They are still small, but the beds are very comfortable. The trip to/from Fremont is safe. The café on the first floor is awful.

Quote: troopscott

Has anyone stayed at the California? Taking my kid and a couple of his friends to California from Florida (driving with 15 yo boys. . .

Yes, we usually stay at the Cal. However, in my aging process, I've not been able to control and protect my asthma and shortness of breath against the smoke in the casino and other areas. So we stayed at Mainstreet Station (MSS), which has higher ceilings and either better ventilation or fewer smokers.

Whether or not you decide to take the 15 yo boys, I have some information that your family may find appealing. We just returned from a 5-day stay at MSS, which has a skywalk connecting it to the mezzanine of the Cal. Just this past week, the Cal finished upgrading an entire room into a mini health gym, and upgraded their swimming pool with inviting cabana type seats. Yes, the pool is small, barely 20ft X 15ft (?), but everything is spanking new. I'm guessing you or the 15 yo boys will pretty much have a private pool to themselves.



If they want to "show off" to one another, the mini-gym (est 20 ft X 20 ft) is right next door, together with a spacious comfort room and free towels. This is on the 13th floor of the Cal, which happens to have just upgraded to high speed new elevators.

There's a 36" (42"?) HDTV in the corner:


A multi-purpose alcove & pulleys.


I had a small 9-sec video clip of the gym, but the upload failed. Sorry :-(

When the boys are tired of the water, they can "invade" the game room on the mezzanine floor just before the skywalk leading to the MSS. They will have plenty of food options in that corridor: Lappert's Ice Cream (delish), a Hawaiian "plate lunch" restaurant, and "808" will have all the jerky varieties from A-Z and then some. If you let them dine on their own, they can go to Market Street Cafe, just at the foot of the escalator to the ground floor; next door is the new California Noodle House (a little pricey, for me).

If it were my family with the boys, I would inform hotel security, just so they have a contact in case the boys start having "too much fun", but also as peace of mind for me as a parent.

For gambling, I will only comment on MSS, as the Cal has just too much smoke and crowds for me:

1. Look for the 10/7 Double Bonus Poker machines - there's an alcove of 12 machines which are to the extreme left of the bar. Make sure you call the attendant if you get a natural quad! You can get "scratcher" cards for at least $3, but up to $5,000 if you're really lucky.

2. BJ: the non-busy hours are what I enjoy to avoid smoke and crowds. The two $5 tables open as early as 6a according to the PB; more tables open starting 9a to meet the crowd. Holler if you want details on table rules.

Hope this helps!

Quote: LostWages

1. Look for the 10/7 Double Bonus Poker machines - there's an alcove of 12 machines which are to the extreme left of the bar. Make sure you call the attendant if you get a natural quad! You can get "scratcher" cards for at least $3, but up to $5,000 if you're really lucky.

Minimum for quarter play is $2 on the scratchers. And 99% of them (a guess on my part) are $2.

Lower play has a separate set of scratchers with a $1 minimum.

Quote: rsactuary

Quote: LostWages

1. Look for the 10/7 Double Bonus Poker machines - there's an alcove of 12 machines which are to the extreme left of the bar. Make sure you call the attendant if you get a natural quad! You can get "scratcher" cards for at least $3, but up to $5,000 if you're really lucky.

Minimum for quarter play is $2 on the scratchers. And 99% of them (a guess on my part) are $2.

Lower play has a separate set of scratchers with a $1 minimum.

I stand corrected, $2 minimum for the quarter play that I did. I was in the stratified 1% of recipients, getting a $3 scratch card for my very first quads at the MSS! Hooray!

Quote: LostWages

1. Look for the 10/7 Double Bonus Poker machines - there's an alcove of 12 machines which are to the extreme left of the bar. Make sure you call the attendant if you get a natural quad! You can get "scratcher" cards for at least $3, but up to $5,000 if you're really lucky.

The bar at MSS has 99.54 JOB and maybe 10/7 double bonus
The alcove machines don't earn regular points on your players card, you earn less for playing these machines
The bar machines earn you regular points and better drink service.
If you want a red bull, MSS is one of the few downtown casinos that will comp it

Quote: terapined

The bar at MSS has 99.54 JOB and maybe 10/7 double bonus
The alcove machines don't earn regular points on your players card, you earn less for playing these machines. The bar machines earn you regular points and better drink service. If you want a red bull, MSS is one of the few downtown casinos that will comp it.

I am so pleased to be learning extra tips to help plan my 3rd trip downtown to the MSS.

(1) Yes, the Boarhead's Bar at MSS has 16 machines with 99.54 JOB, and is listed on vpfree2.com. I did not pay attention to it, as I was first playing DDB (spillover from just having played in the DDB VP Tournament at the Cal).

(2) I kept on moving to different machines, but didn't really know what I was looking for. Then I played on a 9/6 DDB to get rewarded with my first ever 4oak, an attendant call for a scratch card, and the delightful $3! (secretly wishing it was the $5,000 card).





(3) No more action after that, so I tried the 10/7 DB, which was advertised with big signs near the parking lot and a "Come here!" sign to the left of the bar stating "100% payback Multi-denom play". I wasn't winning or losing, but I kept on going around each of 16 machines that had 10/7. vpfree2 says it is 100.17% payback, compared to the Boar's Head Bar 9/7, paying 99.11%. I don't have that much experience, but if it was touch and go for an hour of play, on the same $20, that was still worth it.

(4) Exhausted, I took a break at the bar, which was delightfully smoke-free and quiet. Yes, the bar service is excellent! I ordered a black coffee and straight-up Bailey's to help clear my clogged nostrils. I was surprised to enjoy a DOUBLE shot of Bailey's!

(5) So how do you get a comp'd Red Bull? Just ask for it? I'll have to ask or check how points are earned for play at the bar - I didn't see any sign, or missed it if it was displayed when I inserted my BConnected card. Thanks in advance if you know the answer!

Big question: After examining % payback, payout (9/7, 8/5, etc.), how points are earned, etc., how does one determine which is THE machine to play in the long run, using max credits at $0.25 play or $1.25/pull?

Quote: LostWages

(5) So how do you get a comp'd Red Bull? Just ask for it?

Yup, just ask for it.
Its like any ordinary drink at the bar
They see you playing and ask what you want. order a red bull
They bring the red bull with a receipt and pen in a glass and say good luck
I Ignore the pen and receipt in the glass and tip a buck by that glass

To be pedantic, I think Main Street serves Sobe Energy drink, but tastes very similar. Unless they changed something, it was player comped the same as a soft drink. (Dec'16)

When we're downtown, we always play Pai Gow at Golden Nugget, they have Tiger Nine which is non-commission but doesn't allow player banking. I think they run two tables at $10 and there's at least one at $25.