The Plaza Las Vegas – Revamped & Rehauled – #RunawayToVegas

Looking up from across the street – The Plaza LV

Those of you who have been following me, AJ, Xenia, Julie or Marla last month know that we went on a runaway trip to Las Vegas! Before I tell you how we got there – because this blog is all kinds of non-linear – I want to talk about where we stayed. The last time I was in old town Vegas, I was running the Las Vegas Rock n Roll Half Marathon. So it was a real treat for me to actually stay in old town – in fact, we stayed at The Plaza Las Vegas!

When we hopped in to the lobby of The Plaza, we were greeted by Director of Sales and Marketing Michele and Jamie and Bill from the PR team. We got our room assignments, dropped our bags, and headed back down for a quick tour of the newly renovated hotel and casino. Uh, yeah, of course, I’d take an elevator shot. Who do you think I am, not-Asian? Oh and I also brought a notebook to take notes on our tour. Yep, I’m THAT guy.

#RunawayToVegas The Experience – The Plaza Las Vegas

Let’s talk about the hotel and then I’ll get back to the rooms. The Plaza was first opened in July 1971. In 2011, it closed for 10 months – they spent $35 meeeelllliooooon dollars to renovate and update the property. The location itself was the original site of the Union Pacific Railroad Depot! How neat is that?

In the casino area, their entire Sportsbook Gaming space is airy and big. If you like to bet on sports, you might want to head over here. It’s so chill, as opposed to the Strip hotels’ sportsbook spaces. The “Louie Anderson Live” Theater is also right smack in the casino. Louie will be back performing in the 500-seat theater this month.

In front of Louie Anderson’s theater – The Plaza Las Vegas

Looking up, walking to the lobby from the casino – The Plaza Las Vegas

Up on the next floor is Oscar’s Steakhouse, named after mob attorney Oscar Goodman. Goodman, coincidentally, was the mayor of Las Vegas! (His wife is now the current mayor!) My picture doesn’t do it justice, but this dome is gorgeous. It’s what sits on top of the driveway area of The Plaza when you come in. Back in the day, it used to be the pool area!

“Under the Dome” – Oscar’s – The Plaza LV

Don’t like steak? (Who ARE you and why are you reading my blog?) You can still dine in The Plaza with these other choices: Hash House A Go Go (I wish we had the time to eat there), Island Sushi (we did eat here for a snack and it was fine), Biergarten (to be open soon), Pop Up Pizza (no time, sad face) and your fast food usuals – McDonald’s, Subway, Zaba’s.

Want to get married? You can totally do that at The Plaza! Check out this cute chapel! Honestly, this is so much cuter and way chic than the one in [insert major hotel/casino on the Strip] that I’ve been to.

Ditch everyone and get married here! – The Plaza LV

The Plaza also houses its own salon called Exposed. Hehe. It’s not even that expensive for a pedicure – we’re talking Las Vegas, people, not Alhambra. Plus you get a coupon book from The Plaza that includes a discount coupon for Exposed. Holla! Who needs their lip waxed? (I’m looking at you, friend.)

The Plaza also houses the biggest convention space in the old town area. I personally think there should be a Doctor Who convention there. Or maybe a Veronica Mars movie screening. Or perhaps… a blogger convention??!!

After our tour, the three cholas and I headed back to our rooms. Xenia and I shared a room that had one of those connecting doors to Julie and Marla’s room. We gave AJ her own room because she likes to sleep naked. (I’m going to start this rumor.)

Xenia doing something productive (unpacking) while I just take pictures. – The Plaza LV

Semi-unpacked but really I just threw my stuff everywhere. – The Plaza LV

The bathroom sink & “closet” area – The Plaza LV

As you can see from the photos, the rooms have all been revamped – everything is new. Remember, they renovated in 2011!

Facing north. Fremont Street entrance is to the right of this photo, where the Golden Gate sign is.

The rooms were quiet in the evening. Even though our window faced the street a bit, we couldn’t really hear noise, which is great. Roomie Xenia didn’t mind my Kindle booklight while I read to fall asleep.

While most normal people are fine with sleeping with one blanket, I was unnaturally cold that weekend. (Later you’ll find out that I was at the start of Super Cold 2013.) That first night, I called at 11:30pm for a blanket and extra bath towels. I waited 30 minutes and called the front desk and asked again. The gentleman who responded apologized and explained that their runner was off at 10pm, and that I had to walk downstairs to the front desk to get my stuff. Now, usually, I’m fine with this because who gives a crap about walking – I can always use the exercise, but we had an extremely long travel day with backs, feet, and legs hurting. I was not going to walk out in my pajamas through the casino and to the front lobby. I had hoped that he could have asked a colleague at the front desk to run them up for us. I found out later that the hotel conserves on staffing before the holidays (slow season), which is why the runner was off at 10pm and there was no back-up. I get it. (Thanks to Michele, our Plaza contact, for reaching out.) I just was annoyed. I slept with my peacoat on top of my blanket. Xenia, on the other hand, slept just fine. Like I said, I’m probably in the minority when it comes to being cold in hotel rooms.

The next day, AJ, Julie and Xenia went out to shoot guns in the morning. Marla relaxed, and I left to walk down Fremont Street. Fremont Street is named after John C. Fremont. The canopy that covers several blocks becomes a nightly (hourly) light show, and it’s free! You can also find deep fried twinkies, yardstick alcoholic drinks, and used/cheap player cards. If you’re looking for bottled water, juice, snacks, and baubles, there is an ABC Store on Fremont Street. Don’t know what the ABC Store is? Well, that’s just sad. It’s where you can get gems like THIS:

Hell to the no. – ABC Stores

One of my favorite “features” about The Plaza is the size of the hotel and casino. It’s not so monstrous that you have to walk a mile to get to your hotel room. You know what I’m talking about.

Another favorite feature is its location. The hotel is really close to The Mob Museum, Neon Museum, and of course, Fremont Street. Other attractions, restaurants, and old school classic casinos are in walking distance of each other. When I say walking distance, I mean, walk 5 minutes and bam! you’re in the next casino.

Next time you’re headed to Vegas, give Old Town a try. Give The Plaza Las Vegas a try. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the hotel and what it has to offer (and for such a low rate!). You know what that means – more money for gambling, shopping, eating and drinking!

OH wait a second… we’re hosting a giveaway a hotel stay to The Plaza!! Stay tuned, readers. We’re revealing tomorrow (1/9/14) on how to enter for your chance to #RunawayToVegas!

Disclosure: #RunawaytoVegas was sponsored in part by The Plaza Las Vegas as well as other entities that I’ll be writing about in the next few blog posts. The above is my own and honest opinion. Thanks to The Plaza for accommodating us and to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority for their help in introducing us to our sponsors.