DH and I are flying into LV on April 15, arriving mid-day. We're renting a car, and will tour Valley of Fire that afternoon. We'll spend the night in Las Vegas before heading to Sedona the next morning. We'll be back in LV for three days a week later, staying at the Mirage, so we don't need to stay on the Strip this time. I thought it might be fun to stay downtown and see the Freemont Street Experience. Since we'll be pretty tired following our early and long flight from the East Coast, our trip to Valley of Fire, and the three hour time change, I doubt we'll spend a lot of time in our room except to crash and sleep, and leave early the next day. The Golden Nugget looks like the best place to stay, but the only room available on that date is $143. I can book a room at the 4 Queens that night for $65 on Hotels.com. So, is the Golden Nugget really worth almost $80 more for the amount of time we'lll be there? I'd like to book something soon to make sure we can get something decent. Thanks for any insight.

Unless the $80 is a budget breaker, no question on staying at the Golden Nugget. There's nothing wrong with the 4 Queens mind you, but it's like night and day accomodation wise.

Book the Golden Nugget!

The GN is great, but I'd personally stay at 4 Queens (check Fitzgeralds too/ recent room remodels), and then spend time and dine at GN.

Another vote for the Golden Nugget - the best for the downtown area. No comparison with the others.

If you are staying for one night, I say the 4 Queens..I always win there and I think its the Hugo Cellars restaurant that is stellar there..Loose slots and saving $80 will cover your party bill..
If you were staying longer, I would go with the Golden Nugget.. I never win there so I pass on it..
Go eat Breakfast at the Horseshoe..best! Ham and eggs for $4.99 yum...Huge and outstanding..
Best to you!

I love the Golden Nugget, but I have to agree: if you're only staying 1 night it doesn't seem worth it to spend $80 more (unless you're a real poodle about your accommodations). The Golden Nugget is probably the best hotel downtown, though.

Try bidding for Downtown Las Vegas on Priceline. I believe the only 4* on Priceline is the Golden Nugget, so you can't go wrong trying to bid for that one area of Las Vegas.

You can bid every 24 hours so try your first bid at $60 and add $5 per retry until you hit. I bet you can get the Golden Nugget on Priceline for less than $100 even for a Saturday?

Forgot to make sure you understood that the area the Golden Nugget is in is the Fremont Street area. DO NOT add any other areas to your bid if that is the hotel you want to try for.

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate all of the help. When I checked back again this evening, the 4 Queens $65 rate was no longer available - I guess I waited too long to make a decision. It is for a Saturday night, and a holiday weekend to boot. However, mysteriously, the rate for a room at the GN had dropped to $120, including taxes, so I jumped on it and booked that. Not the bargain that the 4Q would have been, but at least a better deal than was available last night - and now we'll have had the experience of staying at the Golden Nugget, that venerable LV icon! 4khansen, thanks for the priceline idea - if we weren't only a week away from our trip and I wasn't getting nervous about getting something booked, I definitely would have tried that. I've never used Priceline, but I think it's worth a try for future trips.