El Cortez Las Vegas: As Downtown Vegas as it GetsLas Vegas—it all started downtown, the heart of "old" Vegas. And the El Cortez Las Vegas, the oldest continuously run hotel in town, is as "old Vegas" as it gets.
Located just a block from the Fremont Street Experience in the East Fremont Shopping District, the El Cortez Hotel Las Vegas is one of the smaller downtown hotels, with a total of 364 rooms. It's also one of the friendliest. After a day or so here, don't be surprised if half the staff seems to know your name. The oldest, and cheapest, rooms are the "Vintage" rooms located just above the casino floor, and with stairwell access only. The newest and most expensive are the 64 Cabana Suites, recently renovated in a separate building just across the street. This is where old Vegas goes modern. These all non-smoking rooms each have a 42” plasma TV, iHome stereo with iPod Dock, custom-designed furniture, fine linens, wireless internet access, snack bar, fridge, coffee maker. The decor has a sort of over-the-top old Vegas feel. Think black and white with lots of mirrors and an art deco Miami/Palm Springs vibe. This building has its own concierge and a gym. Some people worry about being downtown so security is a big deal here. There are security guards and cameras everywhere. And the short walk to the Fremont Street Experience is perfectly safe. Loose Slots and Cheap RouletteAs for the casino, expect an older crowd, since a lot of locals play here. And there's a reason for that. Locals play where they've got a chance to win. The slots at El Cortez Las Vegas are certified as being 30% looser than the county average. And if you like to hear the coins falling into the tray when you hit it big, the El Cortez Hotel Casino is one of the few places in Vegas that still offers real coin slot machines. But if you'd rather not get your hands dirty, they've got lots of those new-fangled ticket-in-ticket-out machines, too.Table games don't disappoint, either. Their single or double-deck blackjack with full pay 3-2 was recently voted Best Blackjack in Las Vegas by the local newspaper. Roulette your game? You can play all night on a few bucks at 25 cent chip tables with $1 minimum bets. Saving Money DowntownThe price of a room at El Cortez Las Vegas? Cheap. Really cheap. Like $22 for a double cheap if you book at the right time and/or find the right deal. And even the lovely new Cabana Suites are way cheaper than a comparable room on the Strip. With rooms this cheap, you will have to pay for any extras, like WiFi access. But the secure parking garage is free, with direct access into the casino.Dining options at El Cortez Las Vegas include The Flame Steakhouse for fine meals and the more affordable Cafe Cortez, open 24 hours on weekends. Just a few steps from the door down Fremont Street, you'll find Mickie Finnz Fish House & Bar and Hennessey's Tavern, where you can get up to half off your meal by booking through the tix4dinner booth at the Four Queens Hotel on Fremont. Another great way to save even more money on your Las Vegas vacation. The El Cortez Las Vegas is a fine choice if you love "Old Vegas" style and history, you want to be downtown, and you want to save some serious money.
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This is Vegas history at its best. Built in 1941 for just under a quarter of a million dollars, El Cortez Las Vegas boasted a big white neon sign atop the building. It's still there; El Cortez is one of the few casino hotels in Vegas with its original signage, facade and ranch-style architecture. Only a few years after it was built, El Cortez was bought by Bugsy Siegel, Meyer Lanskey and other Vegas mobsters. Las Vegas legend Jackie Gaughan purchased the hotel in 1963 and still lives in the penthouse.
