Four Queens

Description:

• Opened in 1966 with a mere 120 rooms, the Four Queens (named for the owner's four daughters) has evolved over the decades into a major Downtown property occupying an entire city block. One of the last bastions of original Vegas glamour that still exists, and if this isn't the luxurious place it once was -- and certainly it pales to the point of vanishing when compared with, say, The Palazzo -- there is still plenty to like here, including sometimes very low rates. As the staff says, this is the place to stay if you just want to gamble -- or if you want a genuine retro experience. A remodel has given the place a bit of a lift. Newly redone rooms come in a bright color palate, which is jarring given the monochromes that otherwise rule local decor. They can be rather wee, but the ones in the South Tower are a shade larger than the others, though we wouldn't hold any multi-person slumber parties in either. In most cases, rooms in the North Tower offer views of the Fremont Street Experience. The restaurant, Hugo's Cellar, has a cozy lounge with a working fireplace, and two bars serve the casino.

• © Frommer's 2012

Awards:

Frommer's

•  Recommended 2010

Other features:

The Fremont Street experience is right out the front door, with nightly light shows and a carnival-like atmosphere of street artists, roving entertainers and souvenir stands.