text: I love, love, love the Golden Gate!! \u00a0Sadly, I've fallen out of love with the ol' girl's sister property, but that's a different story for a different day.\n\nTHE ROOMS: \u00a0Small. \u00a0Very small. \u00a0Teensie weensie small. \u00a0In some of the rooms, the bathroom door hits the toilet upon entry. \u00a0That having been said: \u00a0As a solo traveler, I couldn't care less about the size of the room. \u00a0For heaven's sake...the hotel was built in 1906!! \u00a0I've stayed at Golden Gate a couple of dozen times in the past 20 years. \u00a0Have always had a pleasant experience.\n*Housekeeping at this property rocks! \u00a0The folks who clean the rooms are either trained very well or they take great pride in what they do. \u00a0Or both.\n*If you get a room facing the Fremont Street Experience, it will be loud. \u00a0Very loud. \u00a0Turn on the tv or your iPod and go to bed at 9 pm if you want. \u00a0\n\nTHE SUITES: \u00a0I like the suites a lot. \u00a0A bit of an odd layout. \u00a0More of a \"shotgun\" configuration...but no complaints. \u00a0Clean, neat, comfy. \u00a0\n\nTHE GAMING: \u00a0This is a small casino with an alive, vibrant atmosphere. \u00a0Dancing girls on table tops who are also dealers. \u00a0Great, current music. \u00a0A true mix of clientele, from middle aged to 20-something hipsters. \u00a0A very comfortable, relaxed place to game. \u00a0I only play craps and video poker. \u00a0Here's what I can tell you:\n*Craps: \u00a010X odds. \u00a0Let me say that again. \u00a010X odds. \u00a0Not the stoopid 3X4X5X. \u00a0I play a $5 or $10 game. \u00a0Really haven't noticed whether the tables have a lower minimum. \u00a0Dealers are friendly and helpful. \u00a0Tables are fun.\n*Video poker: \u00a0Average pay tables for downtown. \u00a0Not horrible, not full pay. \u00a0The machines at the bar have the same pay tables as the ones on the floor. \u00a0(I hate it when bar VP pays less than floor VP. \u00a0Not the case here.) \u00a0 My biggest gripe is, there are NO multi-line machines to be found at this property. \u00a0The highest denomination is Presbyterian. \u00a0Ok, just kidding. \u00a0Seeing if you're paying attention. \u00a0The highest denomination is $5. \u00a0Wish they'd offer $10 and $25 for that \"once in a blue moon\" when I'm willing to give it a try. \u00a0Most folks I've noticed play at the 25-cent level.\n*Other: \u00a0There's an area for high limit table games. \u00a0The Golden Gate introduced a new game, Riverboat Roulette, about a month ago. \u00a0The blackjack tables are usually kickin'. \u00a0I really don't play the tables. \u00a0Looks like folks have fun at them.\n\nTHE DINING: \u00a0One option: \u00a0DuPar's. \u00a0Old school. \u00a0I really, really like the food. \u00a0Go healthy if you want. \u00a0Go for the comfort food if you want. \u00a0I highly recommend the soups. \u00a0Oh, and the pies.\n\nTHE BAR: \u00a0The \"Prohibition Bar\". \u00a0Can't speak to the prices, because I play VP. \u00a0If you're playing video poker, you get free drinks. \u00a0 Absolutely adore the bartenders, especially Curly and Raoul. \u00a0Curly knows more corny jokes than anyone else on the planet. \u00a0There've been times I've gone to Golden Gate just to see him.\n\nTHE OTHER GOO: \u00a0\n\n*The owner, Derek Stevens, hangs out at the bar at least a couple of nights a week. \u00a0I dig the shit out of that. \u00a0Where else does that happen?\n*Sign up for the players club. \u00a0It's pretty generous. \u00a0You earn points while playing that can immediately be converted to freeplay, if you play enough. \u00a0If you churn a bit of scratch, you will also be rewarded with monthly freeplay and a voucher for DuPar's dining. \u00a0And the folks who work at the players club are a hoot!\n*If you are associated with Golden Gate, I must ask that you go away, stop reading, and skip this entry. \u00a0Are you gone? \u00a0Cool. \u00a0There is one unintended bit of entertainment that the Golden Gate offers. \u00a0It's in the women's bathroom. \u00a0The handwashing faucets are set out too far to catch the motion sensor at the base of the spigots. \u00a0This results in moving your hand to trigger the sensor (which triggers the water to come on)...but...by the time you put your hands under the water, the water goes off (because the faucet is too long.) \u00a0HOURS of entertainment watching drunk 20-something girls trying to figure the thing out!! \u00a0Water. \u00a0No water. \u00a0Water. \u00a0No water. \u00a0Cracks me up!!!\n\nListen, I love Las Vegas. \u00a0I love Golden Gate. \u00a0Flaws? \u00a0Sure. \u00a0This is a property whose owner is very much a part of the community, who has introduced some very cool things to downtown (kickboxing, Kid Rock concert, etc.), and who is trying real hard to look for ways to improve things (he bought the old courthouse property, which is currently being worked on, to become...I don't know!)\n\nThe Golden Gate is Old Vegas, baby. \u00a0And it's not sitting around watching the world go by. \u00a0From the build-out of the bar out front, to the owner being visible and readily accessible, this place has positioned itself as part of the community, with an eye toward raising the bar. \u00a0And I dig that.