I met my parents out here right after Christmas and stayed until New Year's eve. Contrary to what you may think about Las Vegas, during the winter it is cold. One day was 38, the next 39, two days later, 52 degrees...and it's a lot warmer at 52.

The room was decent. Two beds a writing table with chairs and an armoire with a tv inside. The bathroom could use some updating, but it was a decent size. There was a small refrigerator in the hall closet space. I heard they just remodeled the other tower, so that is the side to stay on next. The tower we stayed in use to be the nicer of the two. I'd probably give it a higher rating if I was staying in the nicer tower.

The hotel caters to Hawaiians. During dinner downstairs, I turned to my dad and said,

"No wonder there's a blackout on Oahu...the guy who flips the switch is probably here with the rest of the island."

I love the breakfast buffet in the Market Street Cafe. Where else can you get all you can eat portuguese sausage? But my favorite restaurant is the Pasta Pirate. They have this mixed seafood grill pasta with lemon basil sauce. I also like the plate lunches at Aloha Specialties. Seriously, it's like being in Hawaii.

The only thing I don't like is all the smoking, but other than that, I feel at home with my peeps.

Great Hotel! Great Staff! Great Value! Much better than staying out on The Boulevard.

Got a mailer regarding specials at the Californian.I always make it a point to visit the coffee shop at least twice every visit.I've introduced the coffee shop to many of my local friends and guests and even tourists asking for suggestions.It has a wonderful menu of variety.Gotta order the oxtail soup after 11pm.And of course the bananas for dessert.You can't pass off the the Steak special as well the other specials.You'll notice a overabundance of asian american customers especially hawaiians.They make you feel at home even though they're not on the islands.The service is incredible.And i never had an empty cup.The rooms have been upgraded with flat screen tv's.The room was cool which means that the AC worked well.They even have an upstairs shopping and gift areas.I could purchase my favorite Ethel M's chocolate there too! Overall its not in the glitzy strip area but,you forget that the strip exists with the Fremont Street experience.With the imploding of casinos on the strip.It is comforting to know that you can still visit a piece of history in Las Vegas by visiting the Californian and the surrounding casinos. Bring yourself to the Californian and be surprised how much your visit to Sin City will feel rewarding winning or losing at the games. by the way i've noticed more winnerss there too! If you go there you will know what i mean!

I got room here for a couple of days after Christmas, and the room rate was $40 a night, not bad. For being in downtown, not a bad place to stay. It's not the Nugget, but not bad. I like the walkway that connects the California Hotel to Main Street Hotel & Casino. I usually play at Main Street, cuz I have better luck at the craps table, and can play for hours at the bars poker machine and get free beers (Porter, Black Chip) and watch the Sports on the TV's. When your luck has turn bad, there is a great 2 cent machine that pays if you got the time. Its all for fun.

Now for the food. If you like Hawaiian food, try Aloha Specialties for Loco Moco, Chicken with gravy, Spam musubi, Saimin, Teriyaki plates, etc... At the 24 hour Market Street Cafe, the breakfast buffet is pretty good. I love the late night Oxtail soup, which is served from 11pm to around 9am, or when they run out. Market Street Cafe has a regular menu, but the line last night for the oxtail was amazing. people from teens to seniors were in line for it.

If you like walking around in shorts, tee shirt, slippas, then this is the place for you. So relax here, and the $5 tables are great too. Fremont Street is good entertainment for their light show at night, and you can dart in and out of all the other Casinos. If you want to go to the strip, it's only a $20 cab ride to the Venetian.

Only caution I have for you is, if you hate the smell of cigarette smoke, do not gamble here from mid afternoon til three in the morning, well that's when I go to bed. Early morning to noon is good.