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The Golden Nugget is like a second home to me. I have spent my 21st birthday, my engagement, my wedding weekend, plus countless other trips, all at the Nugget. For as much time as I have spent here, you'd think that I would have a bad experience or two to tell you about. I really don't, and that is a measure of a great hotel, in my opinion.The rooms are definitely the nicest downtown. They provide robes and hair dryers, you can request a mini-fridge, no luck on in-room coffee makers, though. The South Tower rooms are usually cheaper than the North Tower rooms... Both types of rooms are fine, but the North Tower rooms are quite a bit nicer, and the elevators are way closer to the casino and Fremont Street. What I usually do is book a South Tower (cheapest) room, and then ask for an upgrade when I check in. They're usually great about it. If you want to stay in a suite, I highly recommend the spa suite.
The pool may be one of the best in Vegas. If you don't know, it's a donut-shaped pool with a cylindrical shark tank in the middle of the donut. A tube slide runs through the shark tank and into the pool. Words can't really describe how awesome it is. I love the pool bar, too... It's open late, so you can still go out to the pool area and watch the sharks even when the pool is closed.
The food here is great. Lillie's Noodle House has great Chinese; The Grotto has awesome pizza and appetizers; Carson Street Cafe is good for late night nachos or Eggs Benedict in the morning. The buffet is overpriced for downtown; save your money and get a better buffet at Main Street Station.
The only thing bad I can say about the GN is that the gaming is pretty tight for downtown (although pretty loose compared to The Strip). Walk across the street to Binion's or The California for slots; or walk down Fremont Street to Four Queens or The Fitz for better/cheaper blackjack. The cocktail waitresses are few and far between here, too. If you want free drinks faster than you can keep up with them, head to Mermaids, a little joint catty-corner from the Golden Nugget. You can play real nickels there, and you'll be drunk in half an hour.
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