We went to Vegas last week and stayed at the MGM...but I also booked a room at the El Cortez for $30 one night/free the next for a "Vintage Room" because I figured if we wanted to hang out downtown...a $30 room for 2 nights was cheaper than a DUI driving back to the strip! We arrived early and they had a room ready for us. Check in was quick. Hotel room was nothing fancy, but very clean. View was of a wall...but not a big deal to us. Cleaning lady "cleaned up"/got rid of some things we had left laying out from other casino's such as playing cards from the Four Queens, etc. which I found kind of strange, but oh well...no harm done. Roberta's was a GREAT place to eat, especially with the 1/2 off coupon I had, and I loved the casino there. Walk felt very safe from Freemont experience as long as you stayed on the same side of the street as the El Cortez. Saw 2 security guards on that side. Other side had some people begging for money, etc.

This Hotel was great. It is away from the strip but a short bus ride to the strip. Everything is cheap down here so it saves you a ton of cash. When we arrived at the hotel to check in they gave us a free 2night stay if we returned next month and a room up grade!!! Take we only paid $28 a night!! Yes $28 a night. Then we received coupons to the buffet that was there. So we both ate for $7 at a buffet!! Yeah the buffet wasn't all that but it was almost free which made it great! Table start at like $5 won over $100 in blackjack. I enjoyed this casino I don't think I will stay on the stripe again. Can't beat the proce the staff is friendly and you get 2 enjoy downtown las vegas

The El Cortez is one of the best kept secrets on Freemont Street. I booked a tower room for $57/night on the weekend. The strip places are way overpriced on weekends, plus there is a lot to see downtown. The El Cortez attracts a lot of locals, which is always a good sign. The casino is friendly and easy to navigate. Excellent choices for video poker players from a penny up. Players card gives new players a free $5 in play. The garage is close to the hotel, and free to park. The hotel is just 1 block from the beginning of the Freemont Street experience, located in the recently-cleaned up Freemont East district. This part of town is now safe to walk alone at night, I did during my stay. The beds are comfortable, air conditioning works well, and elevators are quick. The window does not open the full way, and they charge $12/day for internet access if you need it. The only drawback is the small bathroom, but it is clean and functional. The shower pressure here is probably in the top 5 best of any hotel I have been to in recent trips to Vegas. I will be staying here again, and the staff is very nice. I was able to check in early.

My tower room was clean, spacious, nicely furnished (couch! coffee table! desk! comfy king bed!), and a haven from the cigarette smoke wisping everywhere in Vegas. The A/C was powerful, the bathroom was small, and the decor feels 60s without the decades of wear. Hall noise was only occasional and acceptable. Only thing that gave me pause was the door lock: While it's sturdy when bolted from the inside, there isn't a tight seal when you arrive - and gouges in the doorjamb show that once upon a time someone without a key wanted in.

Those gouges may be archaic; the El Cortez's neighborhood has improved markedly since my 2001 downtown stay. There's a noticeable amount of riffraff on the streets, but the illumination and guards and tourist traffic prevent insecurity. The friendly Freemont St. vibe feels like a street fair instead of the brassier strip: less crowded, less expensive, more laidback, less youthful energy (good & bad). The slow bus to the strip runs regularly, and does get crowded.

The EC's restaurants and locals-heavy casino aren't glitzy; lots of jeans, pullovers, comfort food. The coupons and comps received at check-in were appreciated. Even without them, I'd be likely to return to El Cortez. For me, it was a low-key, comfortable place to stay.