Off the Strip Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Large, mid-range hotel and casino with convenient off-strip location
Affordable room rates, particularly in older Courtyard rooms
Within five to 10 minutes of the strip and the Las Vegas Convention Center
Spacious guest rooms with contemporary decor
Poker, slots, table games, and bingo available in the casino
Six restaurants plus a sports bar and Irish pub with live music
Fitness center, beauty salon, and two outdoor pools
Free shuttle to the strip and the airport
Free parking and Wi-Fi (although included in resort fee)
10 meeting rooms, a conference space, and business center
Resort fee to pay on top of the room rate
Common areas can be smoky, particularly the casino
Courtyard rooms show wear and tear
Palace Station Hotel and Casino is a mid-range property with 1,011 rooms across two buildings, located within five minutes of the strip, but a world away in terms of price. The low rates and numerous gaming and dining options make this a popular choice. There is a resort fee, however, and like many casino hotels in Vegas, the smell of cigarette smoke in the public areas can be overpowering. Rooms are spacious and smart, with flat-screen TVs, and the hotel offers extras that other off-strip hotels like Boulder Station don’t -- such as a fitness center, hair and beauty salon, and free shuttle to the strip and the airport.
Scene
Popular with locals and thrifty vacationers, with decor typical of a Vegas casino
Palace Station Hotel and Casino comprises two separate buildings -- a non-smoking two-story Courtyard building, and the more luxe main tower, accessed via glass elevators from the casino floor. Both structures are typical of Vegas properties, with cream- and clay-colored stucco, and vast parking lots studded with palm trees. The large, bright lobby has a cream-colored, patterned marble floor and leads through to a classic Vegas casino hotel complete with dark, patterned carpeting and imitation tin ceilings. There’s plenty of glitz, noise, and flashing lights, and a wide array of gaming, dining, and entertainment across the two hotel buildings. Decor varies in the restaurants and bars. Jack's Irish Pub, for example, is a cozy space with wood floors, plaid booths, and a small stage for entertainment, while the Charcoal Room steakhouse has a more modern, sultry bar area with bright red vinyl chairs and see-through wine storage cabinets. The cigarette smoke can be a nuisance to some throughout the common areas, and especially in the casino -- this is par for the course in Vegas, though. The hotel is known for attracting locals, as well as tourists who don't want to break the bank.
Location
Five minutes from the strip, with a frequent free shuttle service
Palace Station is easy to get to, as it’s accessed directly from an I-15 exit. Busy Sahara Avenue runs along one side of the hotel, with a mix of homes and small businesses in the surrounding area. While fairly busy, this neighborhood is safe and well-lit at night. Business travelers, as well as tourists, will find this location convenient as it’s just under 10 minutes' drive to the Las Vegas Convention Center. The famous strip and Fremont Street -- with yet more dining and gaming -- are within five to 10 minutes, and the hotel’s free shuttle means guests won’t be reliant on taxis. Discount shopping is within easy reach, too -- it's about five minutes' drive to the Las Vegas North Premium Outlets.
Rooms
Basic amenities but modern and stylish, including suites with hot tubs
Courtyard Rooms are available at the lowest rates, and are smaller and less modern than rooms in the main tower building. Each Courtyard Room has either a king-size bed or two doubles, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, desk, and a hairdryer. Bright and sunny, with large windows along one wall, the Courtyard Rooms are carpeted and decorated in beige and white, with wooden headboards and furnishings, metal bedside lamps with white lampshades, and colorful nature photography on the walls. Bathrooms are basic and clean with beige tiling and shower/tub combos. Some guests complain that Courtyard Rooms are stuffy, and that some of the linens need replacing. Luxury Tower Suites are decorated similarly, but have more space that includes sitting areas with armchairs, along with far-reaching views of the city and mountains. King Suites have wet bars and private hot tubs. Rooms across the property lack conveniences, such as coffeemakers and minibars, but do offer good value.
Features
A wide range of gaming and dining options, plus pools and a salon
The large casino here offers poker, slots, table games, bingo, and a race and sports book. There are plenty of dining options around the casino floor, too. The six restaurants include a steakhouse, a Mexican restaurant, a buffet, and an oyster bar that's one of the most popular seafood restaurants in Las Vegas -- and regularly has a wait for dinner. The food court has pizza, sandwiches, and a Starbucks. There are also a sports bar and an Irish pub, which has live music on Friday and Saturday nights. There are two small outdoor pools and two hot tubs, which are surrounded by loungers and palm trees, and tend to be fairly quiet. The fitness center has cardio and weight equipment. There's also a hair and beauty salon in the courtyard that's open daily. For corporate guests, there are 10 meeting rooms, a large conference space, and a business center. Free Wi-Fi and parking are included in the daily resort fee. Shuttles to the airport and strip are included, reliable, and frequent throughout the day and until late at night.