I just returned from my weekend stay at the Cabana Suites in Las Vegas. The Suites are very much a part of the El Cortez Casino. You must check in at the EC front desk, park at the EC valet or self park, and when you call the hotel operator from your room it is the EC operator.

When we walked into our standard room (the cheapest priced room they have) my wife and I were shocked as to how small the room was! We didn't even bother to unpack. We immediately called the front desk and asked about upgrading into a bigger room. We upgraded into a Junior Suite for $30 more a night.

Negatives:

The rooms size was just fine. However, I was disappointed the room didn't have a sitting area. In my experience, any room with the word Suite in the description, usually means it has a seating area (love seat, chairs, coffee table, etc.).

The beds were very unimpressive. Not firm at all, but lumpy. The pillows were soft, but very overstuffed. If you're picky about pillows, you should probably bring your own.

The room had no dressers to put away my clothes. The place were you can hang your clothes did not have a door.

The lighting was horrible. Very small lamps in the room.

The bathroom was very nice, but lacked counter space. This was surprising because there is so much empty space in the bathroom.

The room had a very attractive selection of snacks (even an intimacy kit). However they were priced very high if you decided to open them or eat them. Example: M&M's were $5! Intimacy kit $6.

The positives:

The lobby area, hallways, and exterior of the building were very clean and nice. It looks exactly like it does on the website.

The lobby provides free fruit and water.

There is a security guard outside the building and inside the lobby at all times. This helps considering the seedy area (sleazy motels) surrounding the EC property.

The flat screen was very nice, Hi-def, and approx 42in.

Ipod dock on the alarm clock (no good for me since my mp3 player is a Zune).

The fitness center was very nice (looking at it from the outside, hehe).

The building is very quiet overall since it's not on Fremont Street.

In conclusion, I think the Cabana Suites should rename their rooms to better reflect the room's amenities. Deluxe room should be the economy room, the Junior Suite should be a standard room, and the Super Suite should be a regular suite. BTW, the Super Suite comes with a queen size bed and not a king?!

Overall, there was nothing unbearable about the room, however we probably won't be staying at the Cabana Suites again.

I have stayed at the ElCo several times now. The rooms are clean and the amenities good. Some of the fixtures in the bathroom are cheap, but they are still better than the ones in my apartment. Nothing fancy and that's how I like it if I'm staying downtown.
If I want more excitement, I stay on the Strip.

The staff is good; the customers look ... average to a bit rugged. (Hey, do I *become* haggard and rugged when I stay there?) I hope to visit again soon

I have stayed at the El Cortez a few time now and I have to first state it ain't swanky. Now I have to state join the Players club its the best bang and best comps you will ever get from a downtown casino. The first time I stayed I couldn't find a room anywhere downtown and normally stay at the Four Queens ironically they never ever sent me a bigger comp than buy one room get one free and after one stay at the EC i have never paid for a room again, and gotten slot cash and free food. The hotel is Vintage but not rundown it has recently undergone some serious remodeling to the tune of $25million dollars that doesn't mean all rooms or areas are affected but the Restraunt is alot nicer than it once was and the food has always been good with very very reasonable prices. This hotel maxes the amount of money you can spend gambling by reducing the amount you spend on food, amenities etc. The rooms always have fresh linens, don't smell and very clean, the furniture is older and big the rooms are spacious, some have flat screen tv's some don't. I reccomend this hotel for adults not kids or teenagers. The Casino floor is big and spacious the machines are not pushed together but roomy you never feel like its a smoky even though everyone is smoking unlike the Four Queens they push all the machines as close together as possible to put more in and it always feels smokey. Avoid the pavillion rooms as they are outside in the parking garage, go for the Vintage rooms or Tower Rooms or better yet the new Cabanna Suites that look awesome but I haven't stayed in one yet just took a tour. People are mostly friendly and only once has anyone been some what short with me but I attribute that to my drunkeness(lol). Drinks don't come as often as in other casinos unless the floor is really busy they staff according to the amount of people in casino. The crowd is mixed mostly adults and seniors but on one of my stays I had some great fun with some college kids and they liked the place. The El Cortez is a practical, low cost, high player rewards, somewhat loose slots, good poker tables, place with decently priced hotel rooms I would compare to say a Best Western or Holiday Inn Express but roomier. I have since stayed 5 times and never paid for a room since my first stay I have never paid for food since my first stay as you can use your points to pay for food with players club card. I have stayed three times in a Vintage room once in a Pavillion room and once in a Tower room, so I have seen it all and over the past two years many improvements have been made inlcuding new carpet, new slots, some flat screen tv's, for pay wifi access, restraunt remodeled, and a gift shop was added that has lots of medicinals you might need and not severely over priced to my surprise. Would stay there again and again. BTW my first stay I won' $200 on a quarter slot, my last stay I won $300 on a 2cent slot machine yes they have those there. The new Cabana Suites have a business and fitness center.

The El Cortez is the best value play downtown. Just close enough to Fremont St. to be accessible; just far enough away for some peace. Rooms are large, clean though a bit dated. So what, I'm just sleeping there. Casino not quite rockin' but good, relaxed place to play. Bartenders great. Waitresses okay. Decent sports book for downtown. Food was good. For the money, this spot is a no-brainer. If you're expecting the Strip - go to the Nugget. But for low rates and high value, the El Cortez cannot be beat. Oh, by the way, very safe. Only a block from Fremont St. Experience and can easily walk to and fro without the least bit of worry. Deuce bus stops a few steps away for fast trip to the Strip.