"How did it strike you on arrival?Situated right on Fremont Street with a bedazzled lit-up exterior that you can’t miss, The Golden Nugget is the most “Strip-like” hotel and casino downtown. It’s big, with over 2,000 rooms, yet the casino, restaurants, bars, and shops are all relatively easy to access. You don’t need a property map to find the elevators to your room. It feels like a proper, well-run hotel but less overwhelming than some of the bigger hotels on the Strip. And yes, there’s a theme—the gold rush. Nice. What’s the crowd like?You get a mix of Vegas tourists here, most with a slightly more upscale vibe than you’ll find at other downtown hotels. Also, this is a popular hotel for families because of the pool scene. The good stuff: Tell us about your room.There are three different towers—Carson, Rush and Gold—and each offer different categories of rooms, with the Gold Tower being the newest remodeled rooms in the house (2014.) All rooms have a dark color schemes and anonymously modern furniture, but the Gold Tower rooms are snazzier. We’re craving some deep, restorative sleep. They got us?In the Gold and Rush towers, there is premium bedding with pillow-topped mattresses and down comforters and pillows. How about the little things, like mini bar, or shower goodies. Any of that find its way into your suitcase?There aren’t many amenities in the rooms, not even a mini-fridge, but there is bottled water (included in the resort fee) and a Keurig coffee machine (additional cost). Please tell us the bathroom won’t let us down.Unless you’re booking a suite at the Golden Nugget, the showers tend to be cramped situations. The bath products are Gilchrist and Soames. Maybe the most important topic of all: Wi-Fi. What’s the word?The Wifi is included in the $29.50 per day plus tax resort fee. It can be spotty sometimes. Room service: Worth it?Room service at the Golden Nugget is actually run through the hotel's Claim Jumper restaurant, which has a pretty comprehensive menu but is standard American chain-restaurant fare–– nothing worth going out of your way for, but manageable if you come home late and need something to nosh on. Anything stand out about other services and features? Whether it’s childcare, gyms, spas, even parking—whatever stuck with you.One of the most popular attractions at Golden Nugget is not the “Hand of Faith” giant gold nugget that’s on display in the lobby, surprisingly, but rather, the hotel’s pool deck which has a shark tank with a waterslide running through it. What was most memorable—or heartbreaking—about your stay?Sliding through the shark tank. Bottom line: worth it, and why?The Golden Nugget feels like you're staying on the Strip but with less pretension and lower room rates." - Juliana Shallcross
