Review Detail
4.0 37
Gold Coast - Great location
(Updated: August 22, 2011)
Overall rating
4.3
Slots
4.0
Table Games
3.0
Customer Service
5.0
Player's Club
5.0
Gaming Atmosphere
4.0
Amenities or Hotel
5.0
Food & Drink
4.0
The Gold Coast is one of my favorite casinos in Vegas. Every trip I spend some time there. I don’t gamble enough there to get great room offers all the time, but I do get some free nights for some trips and usually can book a room on B Connected for under $30 weekdays. The fine print says that they will then charge a $3 resort fee, but I have yet to be charged a resort fee when booking on B Connected at any Boyd property. No fee is charged for comped rooms. The rooms are pretty standard except that they are the best vacuumed rooms I have encountered. I have to dig behind things to plug in a sleep apnea machine and I do a thorough bedbug check everywhere. Often I am faced with old candy wrappers, tissues, socks. Not here. The staff seems to take cleaning seriously.
The location is excellent. If you drive a car there is ample parking, even a small very convenient and well shaded spot within steps of the casino that is a great spot until filled up. Access to other spots in Vegas is easier, especially if you know how to avoid the strip. Flamingo itself will easily get you across the strip, so during the most congested times there really is no reason to get stuck. Nearby is access to I-15 for finding ways to other destinations.
If you ride the bus, then this is one of the best locations in Vegas. I consider Flamingo my Vegas “strip” because it offers so many choices and the access is comfortable. No crowds on buses. No need for long walks. They have a free shuttle that operates most of the day and night (quits after midnight) that will go to both the Orleans and to Bill’s and back to the Gold Coast. A short walk away Rio has a free shuttle that during roughly those same hours will go from Rio to Harrah’s or to Bally’s.
The city bus 202 runs right up Flamingo usually about every 20 minutes, but early in the morning every hour (so carry a printed schedule). The stop is in front of the Palms. This bus will give you easy access to the strip, to Ellis Island, to Tuscany, to Sam’s Town, and to the Eastside Cannery. Combined with the new Boulder Highway Express buses, after September 2011 you will have easy and quick access all along Boulder Highway with just one transfer. And it is easily possible to go to Sam’s Town for a while and then ride downtown either on their free shuttle or on the new Express buses.
Once at the Orleans the 201 bus adds more flexibility. You can ride out Tropicana to the strip at NYNY or farther for the Pinball Hall of Fame. You can catch the WAX express bus that goes downtown or to the airport.
It is less than a half hour to walk down Arville (major street runing N-S and to the West of the Gold Coast) to a laundromat and get laundry done. It is another 20 minutes to walk to the Orleans. So, without a car or a cab and just that simple half hour walk (skip the treadmill that day) we can stay a few days at the Gold Coast, walk to the Orleans for a few more, take the 201 and the WAX (both take luggage) to go downtown for some time there. I stay from 15-22 days each trip so this flexibility of travel is ideal.
The strip buses are hard (SDX) or impossible (Deuce) if you carry much luggage. But even without luggage it is fine to have ways to avoid them. They are more expensive as the residential lines and twice as crowded. In September it is predicted that seniors will not longer get a discount on strip buses, but they will still get residential discounts of about 50% with a picture ID issued by the BTC.
So you could stay at the Gold Coast and want to wander from casino to casino and end up at Mandalay Bay without taking a strip bus. Free shuttle to Orleans. 201 to the strip. Free tram from Excalibur to Mandalay Bay with a stop at Luxor.
i walked to the strip just once, about ten in the morning. i was staying free at the Rio and I misjudged the stops. I went left and there was no stop before the strip. So it is possible to walk it, and in the morning I think it is safe. There were other walkers and a runner or two. However, you have to cross above the superhighway, and that means those walkways with no escape were someone to decide he wanted what you carry. Also, crossing at the entrance of the superhighway from Flamingo feels a bit to me like that old Frogger video game. I avoid walking from the Gold Coast to the strip. In comparison walking Arville is easy (good sidewalks) and safe (plenty of people working around) in the daytime. I have not tried that at night either.
As well as offering the best central location and flexibility in travel, Gold Coast offers some decent VP - that hard to find 9/6 JOB. It was recently pulled from one of the bartops, but it is scattered around the casino, and one source tells me that they are putting it back in the bar although another says only in half dollars, not quarters.
I like to play long enough to justify one beer and use up the break time between afternoon lounge music sets. Then I go to hear the music, perhaps buying a sports book hot dog ($1.25) with sauerkraut along the way and carrying it into the lounge and so having lunch and entertainment for a little under $3, most of that tip. There is some waitress service int he lounge, but generally it is uncrowded and no one cares if you bring in a drink.
When the music takes a break, I go back to the VP. it makes for a varied and enjoyable afternoon.
There is other good VP across the street at the Palms as well as some other food choices. However, I love the Gold Coast buffet, especially for breakfast when red eye gravy is one topping to select for those biscuits and sometimes the bacon comes out crisps. Eggs are made to order. Fruit and salad are available. I have not eaten in the El Cortez room in many years, but it gets good marks. TGIF, however, does not. It replaces a perfectly fine cafe. Still, late at night/early morning it is the only thing available.
Gold Coast also offers Double Deck BJ 3:2. Not bad.
The B connected card collects points from many good gambling places. These can be used for a buffet at the Gold Coast and because the price is so cheap, they go a long way. The American Casino Guide, along with a small matchplay, also has a coupon with which a buffet can be earned after getting 200 points that day without point reduction. These coupons, however, can be used only once per year by any one person, so if you like to buy two ACG books, bring along your spouse to earn the second buffet.
In December, when the huge National Rodeo Finals are in town, the Gold Coast is often a gathering place for cowboys. Room prices then are inflated, but an evening visit can give you a sense of what it might be to live in the midst of Western ranch folks. Vegas is pretty empty at this time, so the cowboys take over. Good Western music is usually available at that time as well.
If you don’t want to pay for room wifi, you can pack your computer on that Orleans shuttle and go to the Orleans coffee area near the check-in. Free wifi is offered there.
Gold Coast has one of my favorite pools because it is often, even off season, heated. The clerks told me that they were not certain it would be heated in November this year, but in April it has always been the most delightful water to swim in. It was so much better than the icy pool of Flamingo. Also it is not a party pool. So it is uncrowded, especially in the early morning. And that keeps it cleaner as well. Party pools make look really wonderful, but he water contains quite a bit of pollutant material. If you would like to workout and swim for some exercise, the Gold Coast workout room is right there. In fact, if you tire of watching baseball while on the treadmill, on occasion you can watch a bikini or two. There is a small, plain jacuzzi. And there is a slat covered and so partially shaded area with lounge chairs where you can read and relax in what is usually perfect quiet. I love it there.
Sadly, the live poker room closed. However, the Palms has that too and one of the lowest rakes in Las Vegas with some good bonus awards including at certain times, Cracked Aces. Neither the Palms nor the Rio are as far a walk from the Gold Coast as many places in Bellagio are from one another.
Watch the changing promotions. As I write there is one called $2 on Tuesday which gives $2 blackjack, $2 for 2 of the hotdogs at the sportsbook, $2 for 16 oz of beer, and 2 dinner buffets for $20. The Young at Heart (over 50) promotions are on Mondays. Free poker tournament. 100 points for the card of the day. 10X points for slots. A free VP tournament.
The location is excellent. If you drive a car there is ample parking, even a small very convenient and well shaded spot within steps of the casino that is a great spot until filled up. Access to other spots in Vegas is easier, especially if you know how to avoid the strip. Flamingo itself will easily get you across the strip, so during the most congested times there really is no reason to get stuck. Nearby is access to I-15 for finding ways to other destinations.
If you ride the bus, then this is one of the best locations in Vegas. I consider Flamingo my Vegas “strip” because it offers so many choices and the access is comfortable. No crowds on buses. No need for long walks. They have a free shuttle that operates most of the day and night (quits after midnight) that will go to both the Orleans and to Bill’s and back to the Gold Coast. A short walk away Rio has a free shuttle that during roughly those same hours will go from Rio to Harrah’s or to Bally’s.
The city bus 202 runs right up Flamingo usually about every 20 minutes, but early in the morning every hour (so carry a printed schedule). The stop is in front of the Palms. This bus will give you easy access to the strip, to Ellis Island, to Tuscany, to Sam’s Town, and to the Eastside Cannery. Combined with the new Boulder Highway Express buses, after September 2011 you will have easy and quick access all along Boulder Highway with just one transfer. And it is easily possible to go to Sam’s Town for a while and then ride downtown either on their free shuttle or on the new Express buses.
Once at the Orleans the 201 bus adds more flexibility. You can ride out Tropicana to the strip at NYNY or farther for the Pinball Hall of Fame. You can catch the WAX express bus that goes downtown or to the airport.
It is less than a half hour to walk down Arville (major street runing N-S and to the West of the Gold Coast) to a laundromat and get laundry done. It is another 20 minutes to walk to the Orleans. So, without a car or a cab and just that simple half hour walk (skip the treadmill that day) we can stay a few days at the Gold Coast, walk to the Orleans for a few more, take the 201 and the WAX (both take luggage) to go downtown for some time there. I stay from 15-22 days each trip so this flexibility of travel is ideal.
The strip buses are hard (SDX) or impossible (Deuce) if you carry much luggage. But even without luggage it is fine to have ways to avoid them. They are more expensive as the residential lines and twice as crowded. In September it is predicted that seniors will not longer get a discount on strip buses, but they will still get residential discounts of about 50% with a picture ID issued by the BTC.
So you could stay at the Gold Coast and want to wander from casino to casino and end up at Mandalay Bay without taking a strip bus. Free shuttle to Orleans. 201 to the strip. Free tram from Excalibur to Mandalay Bay with a stop at Luxor.
i walked to the strip just once, about ten in the morning. i was staying free at the Rio and I misjudged the stops. I went left and there was no stop before the strip. So it is possible to walk it, and in the morning I think it is safe. There were other walkers and a runner or two. However, you have to cross above the superhighway, and that means those walkways with no escape were someone to decide he wanted what you carry. Also, crossing at the entrance of the superhighway from Flamingo feels a bit to me like that old Frogger video game. I avoid walking from the Gold Coast to the strip. In comparison walking Arville is easy (good sidewalks) and safe (plenty of people working around) in the daytime. I have not tried that at night either.
As well as offering the best central location and flexibility in travel, Gold Coast offers some decent VP - that hard to find 9/6 JOB. It was recently pulled from one of the bartops, but it is scattered around the casino, and one source tells me that they are putting it back in the bar although another says only in half dollars, not quarters.
I like to play long enough to justify one beer and use up the break time between afternoon lounge music sets. Then I go to hear the music, perhaps buying a sports book hot dog ($1.25) with sauerkraut along the way and carrying it into the lounge and so having lunch and entertainment for a little under $3, most of that tip. There is some waitress service int he lounge, but generally it is uncrowded and no one cares if you bring in a drink.
When the music takes a break, I go back to the VP. it makes for a varied and enjoyable afternoon.
There is other good VP across the street at the Palms as well as some other food choices. However, I love the Gold Coast buffet, especially for breakfast when red eye gravy is one topping to select for those biscuits and sometimes the bacon comes out crisps. Eggs are made to order. Fruit and salad are available. I have not eaten in the El Cortez room in many years, but it gets good marks. TGIF, however, does not. It replaces a perfectly fine cafe. Still, late at night/early morning it is the only thing available.
Gold Coast also offers Double Deck BJ 3:2. Not bad.
The B connected card collects points from many good gambling places. These can be used for a buffet at the Gold Coast and because the price is so cheap, they go a long way. The American Casino Guide, along with a small matchplay, also has a coupon with which a buffet can be earned after getting 200 points that day without point reduction. These coupons, however, can be used only once per year by any one person, so if you like to buy two ACG books, bring along your spouse to earn the second buffet.
In December, when the huge National Rodeo Finals are in town, the Gold Coast is often a gathering place for cowboys. Room prices then are inflated, but an evening visit can give you a sense of what it might be to live in the midst of Western ranch folks. Vegas is pretty empty at this time, so the cowboys take over. Good Western music is usually available at that time as well.
If you don’t want to pay for room wifi, you can pack your computer on that Orleans shuttle and go to the Orleans coffee area near the check-in. Free wifi is offered there.
Gold Coast has one of my favorite pools because it is often, even off season, heated. The clerks told me that they were not certain it would be heated in November this year, but in April it has always been the most delightful water to swim in. It was so much better than the icy pool of Flamingo. Also it is not a party pool. So it is uncrowded, especially in the early morning. And that keeps it cleaner as well. Party pools make look really wonderful, but he water contains quite a bit of pollutant material. If you would like to workout and swim for some exercise, the Gold Coast workout room is right there. In fact, if you tire of watching baseball while on the treadmill, on occasion you can watch a bikini or two. There is a small, plain jacuzzi. And there is a slat covered and so partially shaded area with lounge chairs where you can read and relax in what is usually perfect quiet. I love it there.
Sadly, the live poker room closed. However, the Palms has that too and one of the lowest rakes in Las Vegas with some good bonus awards including at certain times, Cracked Aces. Neither the Palms nor the Rio are as far a walk from the Gold Coast as many places in Bellagio are from one another.
Watch the changing promotions. As I write there is one called $2 on Tuesday which gives $2 blackjack, $2 for 2 of the hotdogs at the sportsbook, $2 for 16 oz of beer, and 2 dinner buffets for $20. The Young at Heart (over 50) promotions are on Mondays. Free poker tournament. 100 points for the card of the day. 10X points for slots. A free VP tournament.
D
dewey089