Binion's, located in the approximate center of downtown on Freemont street has been around "forever". Formerly the Horseshoe, and The Mint, there is plenty of history in this establishment.
First things first:
I've just returned from a 7 night stay in their hotel. I was pleasantly surprised. YES, the building is old. So are the rooms. But I did not spend much time in mine, and found it to be better than anticipated after reading many other reviews of travel sites, etc. Yes, there are glaring defects. Some cigarette burns in carpeting. Some pinholes in the blackout draperies. A slightly smaller bathroom with grout work needed around the splashguard tiles under the sink. A piece of duct tape holding down the carpeting in one spot. So what. The room was clean, the bedding firm just the way I like it, everything worked, and for amenities a coffee maker and iron. (Yeah, like I'm going to actually iron something!) I definitely would stay there again. And the prices are about as low as anywhere you'll find. Well worth the money, honey. A bargain I would have paid a few dollars more for.
The Poker Room:
I am, primarily, a poker player. There are two poker rooms at Binion's. By the main hotel entrance is the tournament area poker room. Spacious, and able to accommodate plenty of entrants.
The live cash games are in the "other" poker room, a short walk away. OK, I forget just how many tables exactly, but I believe it's 10. Non-smoking, Fremont street and a bar are just a few short steps away. During my stay, they usually had a couple low limit Limit Holdem games ($2-4) and a few No Limit Holdem starting at $1-2. The poker room is generous to it's players with a comp rate of $2.00/hour. Of course, the usual free drinks and tableside "dining" are available. Staff and dealers are good. I really liked the poker action, even if it is smaller stakes than I prefer.
Food:
Sad to say, I did not dine much in Binion's. My options were limited as I was not going to the top floor to visit their expensive eatery. I'm a frugal poker player. I did get sandwiches and burgers from the snack bars (two). My pastrami and corned beef sandwiches on two occasions were excellent. The "Famous Benny Binion's Burger" fair.
There is a pool on the roof I did not visit.
Be sure to ask for a Fun Book when you check into the hotel, and before joining the player's club. It had $40.00 in FREE Gaming or chips. Also, they have WIN cards at the club promo booth. (More free money to gamble) And their is a player club sign up bonus as well. Don't forget to get your souvenir picture with $1 million dollars while there. They say you need a coupon, but no one asked me, and I did this on several different days.
Gambling:
Lower minimum limits than the strip in general. Craps and blackjack start at $3.00. Downtown gaming in general is lower, and machines in general pay back a little higher percentage. But the days of full pay video poker are gone. If you search high and low, and use the internet, you will find a few full pay machines downtown.
Blackjack built Las Vegas. But, to me, the game is now "dead". Rule changes such as 6-5 on Blackjack, and others equally unfavorable at all the casino's in general, have changed the odds much more in the houses advantage. Sure there are plenty of single deck games, but with those rules, I may as well just write and mail a check to the casino's, and receive a nice thank you letter telling me I had a good time, a rebate for 50% of my check, and a few coupons for meals at Denny's. I could save all the flight time in a cramped plane, and the need for a hotel.
Of course, Craps, Roulette, and other popular table games are still plentiful.
Other Stuff:
Downtown if fun. The free nightly shows and bands on Fremont Street lead to a festive and fun time. Plenty of security, it's certainly safe as long as you do not venture off the beaten paths. There are plenty of street people who for the most part will leave you alone. Also plenty of "friendly women" looking for a good time if you are. People watching downtown is a lot different than on the strip. To this old social observer, more interesting too.
Hey, this is VEGAS, baby, VEGAS!
I truly loved my downtown stay at Binion's, and rate the hotel at 55%. The staff was great. Old does not bother me, I think of it as historic. Be sure to walk around and look at some of the history hanging on the walls. I definitely will choose to stay there again on my dime. If you're treating, I'll stay anywhere. As a poker player I rarely play table games without match play coupons or WIN cards, so it's unlikely I'll get many, if any mail offers or room comps.
Gaming I would rate at 75. A little historic also, others may call it grungy. The staff friendly. A "new" trend at the Vegas casino's are "Party Pits". Staffed by "scantily clad" attractive dealers, if only they'd go back to the old standard BJ rules the tables would be really packed. I do not recall encountering a full BJ table anywhere during my week in Vegas, and I visited over 30 casino's.
Getting around is easy enough without a rental car or having to take taxi's. If you're over 60, a student, or handicapped, get a reduced rate card at the central terminal (short walk) and save 50% on unlimited passes. The buses run frequently, although it may take 45 -60 minutes to reach the far south strip during busy times. (Excalibur, etc) they run 24/7.
This is Vegas, the dessert. Take comfortable walking shoes and socks. You can thank me later.
It is hot. Temperatures in July exceed 100 degrees daily. Whether on the strip or downtown, it is possible to limit your outdoor time when touring casino's since so many join with their neighbors, or have a short walk between them. So it is possible to stay in the A/C indoors much more than you would expect when jumping from spot to spot. Keep a bottle of something to rehydrate with you.
Overall I loved my stay at Binion's and would reccomend it to my non pretentious friends. Downtown too.
That's My opinion. What's yours?
PK.