HotelChatter

I had never stayed at the Nugget before, but the hotel and casino has been a staple of family conversation for as long as I can remember. My uncle dropped out of high school in the ‘60s and ran away to Vegas, where he worked a number of casino jobs, repeatedly getting fired for being under 21.

Starting in the ‘90s, he and his brothers would return yearly on trips to the Nugget as a sibling escape from work, wives, and rural Maine. His brother-in-law, my friend, mentor and uncle always took part in these trips. He passed away from cancer seven years ago, so this stop at the Nugget was dedicated to him.

Check-In
We booked a junior suite on the 19th floor of the Rush Tower that day for a whopping $89.99. The price seemed a little high as the Nugget often pops up on HotelTonight for $25 (Granted, you can only book after 12pm on the day of your stay.)

The 27-floor Rush Tower was built in November 2009 and is the newest tower at the Nugget. Our 611 sq. ft. suite felt new and large, but was bare - no minifridge, minibar, and had an overall empty feeling.

Amenity Madness
We didn’t need any extra amenities so the room was fine for us, but it did feel like it was lacking character. The bathroom was exceptional,with a large rain showerhead, dual sinks, and Gilchrist & Soames products. The terracotta painted tiles gave the space a warmer feel than the rest of the suite.

Internet Connect
Parking in the garage was free, but the WiFi set us back $12.50. They tried to charge us $25 since Sally connected with her laptop too, but after kindly communicating our confusion about the charge, they waived it.

Strip Session
We wanted to eat dinner on the Strip since Sally had never experienced the shenanigans that is Las Vegas Boulevard. We nearly went to the buffet at the Wynn, as it's always a safe bet, until we spoke with Zappos. Yes, Zappos.com, the Vegas-based shoe company. We wanted to tour the Zappos HQ so we called to make reservations, and while I was on the phone, I thought I’d test out their world-renowned customer service.

I asked the rep for dinner recommendations and she raved about Holsteins, the new burger joint in the Cosmo. She also recommended a secret unmarked pizza place on the 3rd floor of the Cosmo. We didn’t eat there, but checked it out. Apparently, it’s amazing so if you’re at the Cosmo, let me know how it is.

We enjoyed amazing burgers and booze-filled milkshakes at Holstein’s, at a table next to Flavor Flav who sported his signature clock necklace. Oh, Vegas. The rep also recommended Insert Coin(s), a downtown bar that we checked out after dinner. You can play PS3 and XBOX from the bar or take your pick from the super retro arcade games spread throughout the bar. It’s a must-visit bar if you’re downtown.

Bottom Line
Even though our stay in Vegas was less than 24-hours, we had a blast. Staying downtown gives you a more authentic feel with fewer tourists and more fun, divey bars. I managed to change Sally’s Vegas presumptions and may even drag her back with me sometime soon. We capped off our trip with the Zappos tour, which I highly recommend. Now we’re on our way to Palm Springs, one of the last stops on our road trip!

The final stop for Teddy and Sally is Palm Springs, CA, where the temperature is hot, but the Ace Hotel is cool. Stay tuned tomorrow for their last night on the road!