You ever walk into a casino and immediately feel like Vegas still exists?

Not the polished luxury mall version.
Not the “influencer filming a fake jackpot reaction next to a $27 cocktail” version.

I mean actual Vegas.

The kind where the carpet still feels loud, the ceilings sit lower, the slot machines make noise like they’re trying to wake the dead, and somewhere nearby a guy in a faded Raiders jacket is trying to turn $80 and a Marlboro Light into a life-changing run on Buffalo Gold.

That’s Four Queens Hotel and Casino.

And honestly? I kind of love it.

On our last visit I met up with Tim Lager, General Manager and Senior Executive Director of Operations for both the Four Queens Hotel & Casino and its sister property, Binion's. He’s been somewhat of a social sensation of late, and I had the chance to chat with him and their social media director, Taylor…

This wasn’t an interview by any means.. I knew I was going downtown, we commented on a few of each other’s posts, so I asked if he had a chance and I’d buy him a shot..

What you see in Tim’s videos is what you get. He’s a regular guy who doesn’t try to hide the fact that he believes in keeping prices low and customer and employee satisfaction high.. He still believes in respecting the family history of the two properties. He even talked about how a Snickers is profitable at a couple of bucks and that strip pricing has gotten out of hand. Several times, he paused to ask employees how they were feeling; it’s apparent the guy cares. Something we need more of in Las Vegas. I also learned that the chicken-strips recipe at Whisky Licker is his. I feel like that is just so Downtown.

If you see him walking around, stop and say Hello..

*full disclosure (because I always will) Wife and I lost around $50 playing Video Poker at the bar, we each had a comped drink for playing. Patrón was sponsoring some events they were doing and our shot was paid for by 4Queens and Patron. He wouldn’t let me pay… We tipped the bartender $25*

Four Queens opened in 1966, back when Fremont Street was still the center of the Vegas universe. The property was originally built by Ben Goffstein and named after his four daughters: Faith, Hope, Benita, and Michele.

That right there already tells you this place comes from a different era of Vegas. Not “Fontainebleau.” Not some luxury branding exercise named by a consulting firm charging $900 an hour. Just… Four Queens.

Over the decades, it expanded, eventually growing into nearly 700 rooms and roughly 50,000 square feet of casino space sitting directly beneath the Fremont Street Experience canopy.

And somehow, despite all that growth, it still feels weirdly human.

That’s the part modern Vegas keeps losing.

Vegas has spent the last 20 years aggressively polishing itself into luxury sameness, designer lighting, marble everything, “curated experiences,” and enough neutral beige tones to medically lower your pulse.

Then there’s Four Queens, still sitting downtown like it never fully got the corporate memo.

And I don’t mean that as an insult.

Because unlike a lot of old Vegas properties that refused to evolve until they died, Four Queens actually did modernize, quietly. They’ve renovated large portions of the rooms (the new showers are legitimately nice), upgraded TVs and furniture, refreshed the casino floor, improved lighting and slot inventory, and somehow still avoided feeling like it was trying too hard.

That balance is rare.

One of the funniest examples is the fact the property still doesn’t charge a resort fee. In 2026, that feels less like a pricing policy and more like an act of rebellion.

You still see actual gamblers there. Not content creators. Not bachelor-party crypto bros. Not influencers pretending to “discover” Fremont Street. Just people drinking coffee at video poker machines at 9 AM, grinding low-limit blackjack, and wandering in from Fremont with giant novelty drinks and zero plans.

It feels alive in a way some newer casinos honestly don’t.

And Four Queens still has just enough of that weird old-school energy left to remind you why people fell in love with this city in the first place.

-Jason

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© 2026 Vegas Uncomped

As always, my reviews are my own; they are NOT sponsored, I pay for my experiences, and I reserve the right to praise and talk shit about whoever and wherever I feel warranted… Hope you enjoy!

I follow F1. I have for a while. Racing is part of my history; I was rebuilding engines, racing, and trying to make cars faster before I was legally old enough to drive. I’m also deeply rooted in technology, and I love to see things evolve. So F1 fits, because even when they don’t always get it right, they aren’t scared to keep mixing it up and trying new things.

I’ve usually run out of town to avoid this mess. The LVCVA’s obsession with putting it on the Strip has caused all sorts of drama. In the US, Miami built its around Hard Rock Stadium. There’s a beautiful track and complex outside Austin. Vegas could have built this up near the speedway, but that wasn’t the dream. And that dream has quickly become, and continues to be, a nightmare.

Anyone who’s dealt with Koval traffic, rideshare chaos, or watched resort workers trying to navigate race-week road closures understands why locals are frustrated, and anyone who has visited Vegas during the track and grandstands being up can understand why visitors are frustrated.

But the more I dug into how these global street races actually operate, the more I realized Vegas is creating its own pain by treating F1 like it’s temporary.

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“End of an era!”
“Vegas is losing its soul!”
“The Bonnie & Clyde car… the roller coaster… my childhood!”

Cool story Bro!

Where the hell were you people when it was actually open?

Primm NV… That dusty little gambling pit stop 35 miles south of Vegas on the California border, with empty parking lots, flickering signs, and more employees than players most nights, is basically done. Primm Valley Resort, the last operating property, shuts down for good on July 4, 2026. Whiskey Pete’s closed in December 2024. Buffalo Bill’s and the rest have been dying a slow death for years. The Desperado roller coaster that once screamed through the building has been sitting silent for years. The famous Bonnie & Clyde bullet-riddled death car is being pulled out with the rest of it. (no one knows what the car’s fate will be)

And suddenly everyone’s acting like they lost their favorite uncle… one they hadn’t visited in 15 years.

Give me a fucking break.

Primm was built out from the late ’70s through the ’90s as a last-chance (or first-chance) gambling stop for people driving between LA and Vegas. It had cheap rooms, gas, slots, a monorail between properties, and that infamous bullet-riddled Bonnie & Clyde car on display. For a while, it was a legitimate roadside attraction.

Then California tribal casinos got bigger, closer, and better: Yaamava’, Morongo, Pechanga, Fantasy Springs, Soboba. In some ways, they are even hurting travel to Las Vegas, but they certainly sucked up the traffic that used to drive to Primm. The 35-mile pit stop lost its purpose. COVID accelerated the decline. And now it’s over. Californians coming to NV are going to Vegas to be in Vegas; they no longer need to look for a place to gamble. Even for the last 20 years, while I was intermittently working in California for Apple, my crew and I would only stop in Primm to use the restroom and get somewhat cheaper gas.

And let’s be even more honest, for people in Nevada, the lotto store on the California side (also closing in July) was the only reason they were driving there at all. I gotta believe that someone may revive this, but who is going to skip a Stations Casino property like Red Rock, Durango, etc…. To go to Primm?

Not so fun fact.. The 344 employees of Primm are not only losing their jobs, but many are also losing their homes of 20+ years because they lived in workforce housing. The Clark County Commission and the Nevada State Rapid Response team are deploying social services directly to the Desert Oasis apartment complex to help displaced workers find new housing and transition to the Las Vegas valley.

You didn’t lose Primm.
You lost a pit stop you already stopped making.

Primm didn’t die overnight.
It sat there, slowly emptying out… while everyone drove right past it.

Here’s my honest take: Primm doesn’t need to be mourned. It needs to be reinvented to what it actually is.

A pit stop.

I half-ass jokingly, and half-ass serious said, that they should turn the whole damn thing into the most aggressive Buc-ee’s on earth. 100 gas pumps. A liquor store the size of a casino floor. Cold beer, way cheaper than on the Strip, stacked to the ceiling. Clean restrooms. Every snack and drink you could possibly need to stock your Vegas room for the weekend.

Make it a legitimate “last stop before Vegas” again…

Honestly though… I don’t see this happening with Nevada being so dependent on California gas; I just don’t think they want to mess with it. There are some future plans, like pipelines from Utah and Texas to help with this problem. That doesn’t mean someone else couldn’t build a knock-off, though, because I don’t honestly see anything else that would work. So, yes, I’m team bulldoze!

Because right now? It’s just another example of people crying about history disappearing while they did absolutely nothing to support it when it was still breathing.

Same thing happened when The Mirage announced its closing. Same fake outrage. The same people who hadn’t been there in years are suddenly acting devastated.

Stop mourning shit you never supported in the first place, and let’s start replacing what doesn’t work with what does.

The Verdict

Primm isn’t closing because Vegas is dying.
It’s closing because the version of roadside Vegas people claim to miss stopped being profitable, and most of you stopped showing up long before that.

Everyone mourns it now that it’s gone.
Almost nobody actually supported it recently when it was open.

That’s the real story.

-Jason

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© 2026 Vegas Uncomped

As always, my reviews are my own; they are NOT sponsored, I pay for my experiences, and I reserve the right to praise and talk shit about whoever and wherever I feel warranted… Hope you enjoy!

So it’s time to think about summer vacationing the right way.

We’re already seeing red-faced travelers stumbling into an A/C casino praising God that they made it across the street.

We’re not even out of May and we’ve already hit 100°. March was the hottest on record. April kept the beat going. The desert is cooking early, and the Strip feels like an oven, but hey, “It’s a dry heat” 😂.

But here’s the part most tourists refuse to accept: Summer is actually one of the smartest and most affordable times to visit Vegas.

But You Don’t Choose Your Spending. The Weather Does.

That’s the real truth nobody wants to say out loud.

The moment the heat hits, your budget gets hijacked. You’re not “choosing” to spend more, the sun is choosing for you. One bad outdoor walk turns into an emergency $28 cocktail. One “quick” trip to the pool turns into a $500 cabana just so you don’t die.

The smart move isn’t fighting the heat. It’s refusing to give it complete control.

It’s also when your hotel choice really matters.

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Mother’s Day in Vegas is one of those holidays where the city pretends eggs are a luxury item.

Prix-fixe menus everywhere.
Bottomless mimosas that somehow double your bill.
And a whole lot of “this better be worth it” energy.

Some of it is.
A lot of it isn’t.

There certainly isn't a lack of options , and you don’t have to be convinced that the most expensive option (there are plenty) is automatically the best one.

So instead of dumping a generic list on you, let’s do this the right way, by mom type.

Not a complete list, but enough to make a decision on.

The Party / Bottomless Mom
She wants champagne, vibes, and zero responsibilities.

• Bottled Blonde (Horseshoe) – Rooftop party brunch with bottomless mimosas. If your mom says “just one drink” and means five… this is your spot. Noon–6 p.m.

• Amaya Modern Mexican (Cosmopolitan) – Bottomless mimosas/micheladas/margs $35. Food is ok, drinks carry the show. 11 a.m.–3 p.m.

• Cabo Wabo Cantina (Planet Hollywood) – Free mom-mosa with entrée + bottomless options. Not fancy, not trying to be, and that’s exactly why it works. 8 a.m.–2 p.m. Remember to tell them to remove their BS CNF fee..

The Fancy / Spoil-Her Mom
She deserves the full experience.

• La Fontaine (Fontainebleau) – Lavish buffet + à la carte $135 ($69 kids). This is where she’ll be texting photos to the family group chat. 9 a.m.–3 p.m.

• Nobu (Virgin Hotels) – Sushi bar brunch $85 ($40 kids). Safe flex. Expensive, but at least you know what you’re getting. 11 a.m.–2 p.m.

• Wynn – La Cave – Butler-passed trays $65 adults ($45 kids), bottomless upgrade $34. Impressive without trying too hard.

The Chill / Classic Mom
She just wants good food, no chaos.

• Hash House A Go Go (The Linq + Plaza) – Mama’s Strawberry Sweetheart Flapjacks $13.99, Monte Cristo $17.99. Order one plate. Pretend you meant to share it all along.

• Ferraro’s Ristorante – Regular menu + free prosecco. Old-school Vegas energy. No gimmicks, just food that shows up.

• Hofbräuhaus – Baked brie $19.50, schnitzel $32, crêpes $14. Fun German vibes without the Strip circus. (This is a sleeper)

The Foodie / Adventure Mom
She wants something different.

• Mott 32 (Palazzo) – Endless dim sum $68. Peking duck add-on available. Elegant and impressive.

• Tao Asian Bistro (Venetian) – Globe-trotting feast $65. Carving stations, sushi, ramen — the works.

• Kyu Las Vegas (Fontainebleau) – Prix-fixe Asian fusion $95. Creative and high-end.

The Budget / Easy Mom
Keep it simple.

• South Point Garden Buffet – $32.95 club members, $37.95 regular. Solid all-you-can-eat.

• Don Vito’s (South Point) – Three-course + bottle of wine for two $49. Great value.

• Plaza Hash House – Strawberry flapjacks and Monte Cristo around $14–18.

Quick Reminder
That $70 brunch didn’t get expensive because of the food.
It was the bottomless mimosas.
Vegas will happily turn your brunch into a bar tab if you let it.

My Quick Take
If your mom wants a party → Bottled Blonde or Amaya.
If she wants to feel spoiled → Fontainebleau or Wynn.
If she just wants good food → Ferraro’s or Hash House.
If she’s a foodie → Mott 32 or Tao.
If you’re trying not to get financially assaulted before noon → South Point or keep it simple.

Pick the vibe first. Then pick the price. That’s how you win this.
Vegas is way more fun when every meal doesn’t feel like a financial decision.

Because nothing ruins Mother’s Day faster than realizing you just paid $120 for eggs and vibes.

Vegas does this holiday big.
That doesn’t mean you have to play it dumb.

What kind of mom are you celebrating this year? Drop her type (or your go-to spot) below.

-Jason

Follow Vegas Uncomped on X • Instagram • TikTok • YouTube • Threads • Facebook for Vegas Hacks, Stories & More.

© 2026 Vegas Uncomped

As always, my reviews are my own; they are NOT sponsored, I pay for my experiences, and I reserve the right to praise and talk shit about whoever and wherever I feel warranted… Hope you enjoy!

“I don’t use the WiFi.”
“I don’t need the gym.”
“I don’t use the phone or the pool.”

All valid complaints… that have quietly become the norm. Vegas turned those fees into standard practice, called it a “discount” for not charging them, and now everyone just shrugs and pays.

What’s next?

Concession & Franchise (CNF) fees and random entertainment fees tacked onto your bill.

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I practically live at Vdara these days, weeks, sometimes months at a time.

I shot a full 1.5-minute unedited walk-through of the Executive Suite I was in this trip (Suite 47.002). No fancy edits, just real footage so you can see exactly what it looks like right now.

I featured Vdara in a previous newsletter, but this one is specifically about the Executive Suite and why it still quietly wins for me. I’ll list it 👇.

Full Room tour of Executive Suite 47.002

This suite still feels like one of the best “quiet luxury” options on the entire Strip. Two real separate rooms, a big living area with actual space to breathe, a legit kitchen (full fridge, range top, microwave, dishes), and a bathroom that punches way above its price point. The Strip views are stupidly good, and the soundproofing is excellent — I didn’t hear a single hallway noise or drunk tourist.

It’s not a flashy high-roller suite. It’s comfortable, modern, and functional. Exactly what I want after a long day bouncing around the Strip, or for just relaxing.

I might be the only person who’s ever cooked bacon in one of these rooms… sorry neighbors. But that’s the point, it truly is a condo experience with a Vegas view. Relaxing and surprisingly affordable, especially when you’re Gold and dodging those resort fees.

What Still Wins

• Kitchen is legitimately useful (first stop is usually Sam’s Club for water, alcohol, snacks, and drinks, saves a fortune)

• Separate living room makes it feel like a real apartment, not just a bigger hotel room

• Quiet (this is rare as hell on the Strip)

• Easy walk to Aria, Cosmo, and Bellagio without walking through a smoky casino

What’s the Same (and My One Big Fear)

She’s showing a little aging now, which is expected. My biggest worry is a future remodel. I can already see this place getting turned into full Marriott luxury — Ritz or St. Regis vibes — and pricing a lot of us out. I don’t even want to think about that day. I do fear that it is coming though.

Vdara may not be the flashiest option on the Strip.
But damn if it isn’t one of the smartest right now.

If you want peace after chaos, real space, and easy access to everything without being stuck in the madness, this is still hard to beat.

I’ll let the video do most of the talking about why I keep returning to and staying at Vdara.

Hit me with any questions; there isn’t much I don’t know about this place at this point.

-Jason

Follow Vegas Uncomped on X • Instagram • TikTok • YouTube • Threads • Facebook for Vegas Hacks, Stories & More.

© 2026 Vegas Uncomped

Subscribe now

As always, my reviews are my own; they are NOT sponsored, I pay for my experiences, and I reserve the right to praise and talk shit about whoever and wherever I feel warranted… Hope you enjoy!

I’ve stayed out of this rumor… okay, well… kind of.

Because honestly, I have a ton of respect for Tilman Fertitta. I lived most of my life in the Houston area, still do about 6-7 months out of the year, so I’ve been around his businesses for a long time. Ate at his restaurants. Watched what he’s built. He’s been a staple in Houston for decades. In addition to the Landry’s empire and Golden Nugget, he’s also the owner of the Houston Rockets, the entertainment complex Pleasure Pier in Galveston, and several other hotels and bars in the area.

And if you’ve been around his businesses long enough, you know one thing.
He doesn’t build things halfway.

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Same script. Every time.

“It’s about the experience.”
“You just don’t get it.”
“Vegas is expensive, deal with it.”

And my personal favorite.

“No one is forcing you to eat there.”

Cool story bro!

Then keep overpaying.

Because I’m done pretending that a $300 steak, or even a $150 one, is somehow justified just because it’s sitting in a room you can barely see in. And don’t even get me started on places like Primrose with $25 bacon, eggs, and hash browns. That’s not luxury. That’s breakfast with a cover charge.

This isn’t about being cheap. It’s about being tired of paying premium prices for average execution.

And if that makes me “negative,” so be it.

What’s funny is the people who get the most upset about this are usually the same ones hyping these places like they’re on payroll. Which, a lot of the time, they are. Meanwhile, real people are saving up, booking their trip, accepting those ridiculous resort fees like a punch to the face, and then getting hit again every time they sit down to eat.

That’s the part nobody wants to talk about.

Because the room, you can justify. Vegas rooms are still cheaper than most vacation destinations. The gambling, that’s the game. But the food? That’s where Vegas is really losing people. I spend a lot of time on the Strip. Not weekend warrior time, actual time. We sold the house, we bounce between long-term stays, and yeah… I eat out a lot. Probably more than I should.

Which means I’ve had more than enough chances to notice something.

It’s not just one bad meal. It’s a pattern, and I personally think it’s the one that you look at when you come home, get the credit card statement, and say “I’m done!”

So instead of just complaining about it, I started adjusting. Not quitting Vegas dining… just playing it differently.

Breakfast / Brunch - Where Vegas tries to rob you before noon

Breakfast on the Strip is where the scam starts early.

It’s eggs. It’s toast. It’s potatoes. Somehow, that turns into a $30 to $40 decision before you’ve even had your second coffee. And the craziest part? People justify it like it’s some kind of curated experience.

It’s not.

There are still spots that haven’t lost their minds. Hard Rock Cafe can still come in under $20pp, and you get a patio, solid vibes, and a front-row seat to the weekend walk-of-shame parade, which might honestly be the best show in Vegas.

Blondies Sports Bar & Grill is another one that just quietly does breakfast without pretending it’s fine dining with a weekday special (last I looked, it was around $6). And Hash House A Go Go is still a move if you treat it like what it is… two meals disguised as one. Split it, and suddenly it makes sense again.

That’s really the theme here. Not avoiding breakfast… just refusing to get screwed over by it. If you want to splurge on a brunch, you can, but it doesn’t have to be daily. I’ve done several reviews on some good and not so good options.

Lunch - Where Vegas still accidentally has value

Lunch is where Vegas hasn’t completely lost the plot yet.

You can still find value, but only if you don’t go looking for it too hard. The second you start chasing “best lunch on the Strip,” you’re already halfway to overpaying.

Meanwhile, the places that actually deliver aren’t trying to impress you. Perry’s Pizza & Italian Kitchen is still doing that $10 slice and beer combo, which feels like a glitch in the system at this point. Slice of Vegas keeps it simple with a slice counter that doesn’t feel like a financial decision.

You can walk through New York-New York and eat at the village eateries, grab something at Tom’s Watch Bar, Top Round, or split a massive sandwich at Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop and call it a win.

On the North side is Tacos El Gordo, and even Mc Donalds for a quick bite.

And yeah, places like In-N-Out Burger, Dirt Dog, Chilango’s, Taco Bell, and even Panda Express are still outperforming spots charging triple the price just because they keep it consistent.

That’s the part people seem to have forgotten.

Consistency beats hype.

Dinner - Where people lose their minds and their bankroll

Dinner is where everything goes sideways.

This is where people convince themselves that a $200-$500 meal is worth it because there’s a DJ, a sparkler, or a “chef name” attached to it. This is where logic checks out and vibes take over. That TikTok you watched? It’s likely that person got comped to tell you how great of an experience it was.

And look, if you want to spend, spend. Just make sure it actually delivers.

Zuma is one of the few places where the experience and the food actually match the price. Superfrico somehow pulls off the same thing in a completely different way, with solid food and constant entertainment happening around you and a severely underrated chicken parm..

That’s Vegas when it works.

But most of the time? It doesn’t.

That’s why I started eating more off Strip. Capo’s Restaurant & Speakeasy feels like you’re getting more than you paid for. Herbs & Rye still delivers steakhouse quality without the Strip markup circus. Even Saltgrass Steak House downtown can give you a better steak experience than most of the overpriced spots trying to sell you atmosphere instead of quality. It doesn’t stop there either. LaLa noodle and Din Tai Fung, can both be moderately priced, great meals.

I don’t need every dinner to be an event.

I need it to be good.

So now? One great meal per trip. Everything else… Eat smart. If more people do, maybe pricing can start to get more adjusted, which is what really needs to happen.

Late Night - Where Vegas exposes itself

Late night is where Vegas really shows its cracks.

After a game, after a night out, when you just want something solid without overthinking it… that’s when the options suddenly disappear or get aggressively mediocre.

There are still a few spots. Chin Chin at NYNY usually stays open late enough to bail you out. Tom’s is another one that isn’t too crazy priced late. Earl of Sandwich being open 24 hours is one of the most underrated things on the Strip. The Henry and Grand Lux Cafe are solid fallback options when everything else is closed. Moneyline Pizza is great, but still on the pricey side.

But overall? Late night is still a weak spot.

And that matters more than people think.

And here’s the part that quietly doubles your bill every time.

Alcohol.

That $120 dinner turning into $240? It’s not just the food. It’s the drinks. Every time.

Control that, and suddenly Vegas starts making a lot more sense.

I know, where is the fun in that, right? Which is why I’ll say the thing people act like you’re not supposed to say. Go to Total Wine & More. Go to Sam’s Club. Stock your room on the way from the airport. You can schedule pickups from both.

Just because Vegas will happily charge you $22 a drink all weekend, it doesn’t mean you have to play along.

The Strip still has great food, that’s not the problem. The problem is where people are being told to look for it. The problem is the “influencers and social media hypes being paid to tell you where to go, and yes, also getting mad when others tell you what a rip off it is.

Because right now, the Strip isn’t losing people because it’s expensive.

It’s losing them because it’s predictable. Same hype, same pricing, same “just okay” meals dressed up like something more.

And people are starting to notice.

I’m not done with Vegas dining. Not even close.

I’m just done playing it their way, and I’m done with the “No one is forcing you” and “Don’t come if you cant afford it takes” Because the beauty of Las Vegas is that it can be for almost everyone and those feeding into the clickbait of high prices are the ones making it just as much of a problem as the ones trying to convince you that it isnt still busy..

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-Jason

Follow Vegas Uncomped on X • Instagram • TikTok • YouTube • Threads • Facebook for Vegas Hacks, Stories & More.

© 2026 Vegas Uncomped

As always, my reviews are my own; they are NOT sponsored, I pay for my experiences, and I reserve the right to praise and talk shit about whoever and wherever I feel warranted… Hope you enjoy!

I don’t know what it is lately, but the high-priced Strip joints are really starting to Piss me off.

And it’s not just one place anymore. That’s the problem.
This isn’t a bad night. This is a pattern.

I’ve talked lately about how hard it is to get good sit-down food late at night in Sin City, and so many people mentioned Javier’s, a place we go to fairly often because, yes, it’s open later. But the last three visits have really made me question it as a life choice.

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It’s not.

But for the first time in a long time… they’re at least trying to give people some actual value.

Let’s start with MGM.

Luxor.
Excalibur.

Yeah… I know.

But here’s what they’re doing:

Two nights.
Six meals.
Show tickets.
Coaster rides.
Parking.

All bundled.

Here’s the part people are missing: there are no blackout dates. You can book whenever you want. You’re just paying for when you go. Midweek? Cheap. Weekend? You’re paying for it. That’s not a trick. That’s just Vegas pricing… finally being honest.

Now Caesars.

Sounds better on paper.

Center Strip. Flamingo. LINQ. Harrah’s.

Two meals a day.
Bottomless drinks.
High Roller tickets.

But here’s the problem… try booking it. Weekends? Gone. Prime dates? Gone.

The Drinks Factor – This Is Where It Gets Interesting

This is going to be a big part of the decision for a lot of people.

MGM gives you one alcoholic beverage (select beer or wine) with each meal. Six meals total = six drinks max. Clean. Predictable. If you want more, you’re paying out of pocket.

Caesars goes harder: bottomless well drinks, house wine, beer, and non-alcoholic beverages at Signature Bar (Harrah’s), 3535 Bar and Catalyst Bar (LINQ), and Bugsy’s Bar and Social Bar (Flamingo). None of those bars are poolside.

Bottomless sounds amazing… until you realize it’s well liquor and you might be standing in a line to get the next round. Still, bottomless is bottomless in Vegas.

My Take – The Real Comparison

Food: MGM wins easily. You get access to both buffets, TAP Sports Bar, Tom’s Watch Bar, Diablo’s Cantina, Noodle Shop, and more. Caesars is mostly reality-TV fast-casual, or just fast food. (Guy Fieri, Gordon Ramsay, Bobby Flay, Pin Up Pizza). I’ve eaten at Guy Fieri’s before; it’s fine, but it’s not a vacation highlight, think TGI Fridays, but the one that’s been closed and reopened several times. Raamsay is either BurGR or the fish and chips place.

Pools: MGM takes this one too. Mandalay Bay and MGM Grand have the two best pool complexes on the Strip — lazy rivers, wave pools, real scale. Caesars gives you 20% off on Daybeds at The LINQ pool. Nice, but not the same league.

Location: Caesars has the edge if you like being right in the middle of the action. MGM puts you at Luxor/Excalibur — still South Strip, but a little quieter. Both are connected indoors to Mandalay Bay.

Value: Both can be good depending on the exact dates and how many people are in the room. MGM feels more flexible with meals and the coaster/show add-ons. Caesars feels a bit more “pay per person” heavy once you add extra guests.

The High Roller or Manhattan Express both have their perks. As far as shows at MGM, the clear winner is Carrot Top..

The Bottom Line

Neither of these is luxury. They’re not trying to be.

They’re budget-minded bundles for people who want more than just a room without paying full à la carte prices.

Personally, I still prefer building status and taking free rooms when I can. But if you’re coming for the first time, haven’t been in a while, or just want a simple turn-key trip, both offers have merit.

MGM feels like the stronger overall package right now — better food variety, better pools, and more consistent availability. Caesars wins on center-Strip location and bottomless drinks if that’s your priority.

Either way, the discount war is real, and it’s actually giving normal people some decent options for once.

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As always, my reviews are my own; they are NOT sponsored, I pay for my experiences, and I reserve the right to praise and talk shit about whoever and wherever I feel warranted… Hope you enjoy!

I finally made it to the somewhat new Hogs & Heifers Outpost at The Plaza.

And I almost got tossed 😝.

Still gritty. Still cash only. Still unapologetically Hogs. The place feels like a direct extension of their original, now sadly, shuttered location.

I’m on record here (and blocked by Downtown Grand) for saying I hope they get their own demise after the way they treated this bar.

“Inconsistent with the image and brand of the hotel” they said. (Their brand is a hot dog cart.)

Well, Downtown Grand… who’s laughing now?

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Same menus. Same cuts. Same $90 plates cooked by a line cook who never met the celebrity chef’s name on the door, or hung out with the people the place claims to have served there. All pretending to be special.

They’re not.

And once you realize that, it’s hard to unsee.

I’ve said it before: I’m done eating steak at places that don’t cook it the way nature intended… with fire. Not a broiler. Not a flat top. Not a “chef’s finish.” Fire.

Years of cooking over open flame ruined me. In the best way possible, I guess. I know what steak is supposed to taste like when it’s done right.

And most places on the Strip? They’re not doing that.

So when I say my favorite steakhouse in Vegas isn’t actually a steakhouse… that’s not a joke. That’s the point.

Because what most steakhouses are selling now isn’t steak. It’s comfort. Predictability. Familiarity. A safe, expensive version of something you could get in any major city, with a twist on their mash and mac n cheese.

I don’t go to Vegas for that. I can do that at home.

I go to Vegas for something I can’t easily recreate. Something that actually feels different.

That’s where Zuma comes in.

I eat there often. It’s easily in my top 5 repeat places on the Strip, and that says a lot.

What gets lost on a lot of people is the Robata grill, their modern, sophisticated take on traditional Japanese izakaya dining. Small skewers and proteins cooked over binchotan charcoal. Open flame. Real fire. The kind of heat and flavor that actually matters to me.

My go-to is the 12 oz ribeye with chili ponzu and fresh wasabi, US prime beef, cooked on that Robata grill. Different. Elevated. Not just another $90 steak with garlic butter and “special steakhouse seasoning”, that’s some kind of herb and what we pitmasters call SPG (salt, pepper, garlic)

The stir-fried lemon and chili edamame and chicken negima yakitori are straight flavor bombs. The cocktails are next-level, too. Pricey but stellar, No surprise my favorite is their Japanese Old Fashioned.

Everything else just continues stacking after that.

And that’s my exact point to all this.

Because this place… that isn’t even a steakhouse… is giving me a better steak experience than actual steakhouses on the Strip.

That shouldn’t happen.

But it does.

And once you realize it, it kind of ruins the old model.

Old-school steakhouses sell history. Who ate there? What table Sinatra sat at? What celebrity chef’s name is on the blaring led sign out front?

Golden Steer still touts that they hosted the Rat Pack. That’s their whole identity.

But here’s the real question: if Zuma existed back then, would the Rat Pack still be eating at Golden Steer?

Or would they have been at Zuma, eating something completely different, over real fire, with a completely different energy?

That’s the difference.

Most steakhouses on the Strip aren’t bad.
They’re just… replaceable.

Zuma isn’t.

It’s not trying to follow the steakhouse script, or even be a steakhouse for that matter. It’s better known for its sushi and fish dishes.

That’s exactly why it wins.

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-Jason

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I’ve never been a fan of breakfast in Vegas.

I don’t want to get up that early. I get that people fly in from different time zones, blah blah blah, but I’m not in that group, especially on weekends after a Friday, or/and, Saturday night of overdrinking and desperately needing a hangover fix.

(Which, by the way, the best way to cure a hangover in Vegas? Start drinking again.)

Wifey loves brunch and part of marriage is compromise (“at least that’s what she tells me…”). So when she booked STK, I was half-excited. I’ve hit most of the usual Strip brunches, Spago, Primrose, Hakkasan, Mon Ami, but STK has always somehow dodged me.

We went at prime time. 11 a.m. on a Sunday.

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There’s been a lot of social suffering around Derek Stevens and what he’s doing at Golden Gate. He owns the land, he removed all the gaming tables (which brought some heat his direction online), but I don’t know many people pissed about his

“The Night Starts Here”

free drink and free play promo.

On a Monday night around 5:40 we strolled in to see what it was all about. Once again Derek was nowhere to be found. I keep trying to meet the guy for shots; guess he’s not as cool as Tim at Four Queens… jab intended, Derek, if you’re reading.

What we found was a crowd. We went to get our free play and wristbands at the Club One desk. I scored a $10 voucher. A few minutes later the bar opened at 6 p.m. There was a line, but it moved pretty fast.

We kept it simple and ordered Jack & Coke. I wasn’t gonna get fancy with that many people waiting for free drinks, I’m not that big of an asshole. Plus we had just come from the Hogs & Heifers pop-up (that newsletter is coming) and kinda settled on that being the drink for the afternoon.

Dude hands us each two drinks, a casino glass, but poured decent. We each threw a $5 spot in the jar and hit the slots.

I played some volcano game, hit a bonus of $135. Ok, now I’m happy. I turned $10 free play into $135 in my pocket for a total of $10 in tips for drinks.

Where you at Derek? I’ll give ya a hug.

Back to the bar we go for another round. Once again, two drinks each, we didn’t ask for two.

Now I’m not looking for a tip lesson or argument here, I try and stay out of that whole drama, but since this is my newsletter I’ll give you my take.

I typically tip based on service. I come from a background of restructuring companies around employee and customer service, so if I get good service in a place where tipping is culture, I tip accordingly. If I get shit service, I tip accordingly. I’m not doing it “just because.”

This was really neither, long lines, free quick drinks, they were polite. The service was baked into the promotion, and it’s a stellar one. I say all this because where I do agree with the heavy tip-talkers is in the “don’t be an asshole” message.

I’m sure some of you might say $5 was too much for two drinks, some might say it was too little. For under a minute’s work and the stress of the lines, I felt it was okay. The surprise to me though is that we were really some of the only ones doing it. They have a tip jar there and I actually saw some people putting in change only for a free drink… huh. Some a dollar or two, but mostly nothing, and this was after getting free play as well. I can’t be the only person that won a little.

I kept playing with a total winning of $165, then at the last minute lost it down to a cash out of $128.72. We went to the bar a total of 4 times… don’t you dare fucking judge me… lol. Each of us getting two drinks at a time, tipping $5 every time for a total of $40 between the two of us.

Wifey broke completely even with the free play and drinks. I walked away net $108.72. So I got paid $100 for just over an hour of fun and had 8 drinks (again, small ones… I can feel you judging me).

The vibe is certainly old-school with people toasting, dancers, loud music, and lights. I don’t know of a better place to spend an hour at 6 p.m. in Las Vegas on a Monday, or any night for that matter.

The Verdict

Derek Stevens gets a lot of heat for removing tables at Golden Gate, but “The Night Starts Here” is one of the smartest promos running Downtown right now. Free play voucher (up to $1,000 mystery envelope), open bar 6–7 p.m., slot leaderboard for another $1,000 in free play, and a T-shirt giveaway for big hits or high points.

It’s not fancy. It’s not trying to be. It’s just a damn good way to kick off the night with zero pressure and real value. I turned $10 into $165, tipped $40 total, and still walked with over $100 in my pocket after drinks. That’s the kind of math I like in Vegas.

If you’re Downtown and want to start the night right, show up between 4–6 p.m. for check-in, grab your wristband and voucher, hit the open bar at 6, and let the slots do the rest.

I’ll be back for sure!

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-Jason

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© 2026 Vegas Uncomped

Alright, let’s go.

I love hanging out in the Arts District. There’s so much to see and do, and yeah, a shitload of places to eat and drink. After some proper debauchery Downtown, hanging at Four Queens, Binion’s, and Golden Gate, we wanted a quieter night. So Letty’s de Leticia’s Cocina it is. Quick Lyft ride, walked in, no wait on a Monday night.

I’ve been here before. Always had great service and decent Mexican food. You gotta remember I’m from Texas and grew up on the border, so if I say it’s good, it’s actually good. Letty’s always was… until tonight.

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This is exactly how it happened as we walked off the elevator at New York-New York on St. Patrick’s Day 2026.

I’ve been trying to show these budget-ish Vegas properties the way they actually hit, not cleaned up later, not softened, and definitely not run through the usual fake-ass “everything is amazing” Vegas filter.

If you remember Excalibur, that room came with the previous guest’s dirty flip-flops. I assumed that was a weird one-off.

Apparently not.

Because once again, I got some free bonus items from people who had already checked out.

I booked this as a comp night through MyVegas. Gold, so no resort fee.

We just wanted somewhere easy to crash during the St. Paddy’s Day madness and before the VGK game that night without having to walk all the way back to Vdara.

For that, it did the job.

But it also came with a few problems.

At this point I’m starting to think I’m either incredibly unlucky or Vegas housekeeping has decided I’m the official curator of abandoned guest artifacts.

I’ll also show below how easy it was to print our own key cards from the MGM app. We skipped the long line downstairs, and there definitely was one, and got upstairs in a few minutes. That part was smooth, exactly what you’d expect from MGM when the tech actually behaves.

Then the room happened.

NYNY is older, sure, but it’s still one of my favorite places to hang before and after VGK games.

The property itself? Totally workable.

The room? That’s where things got interesting.

At the time, it didn’t really bother me. After the video, I noticed it looked like someone had ripped out the fridge.

I called down to mention it (mostly so I didn’t get charged), and was told they would send up housekeeping to collect the neck pillow for lost and found and replace the fridge, but that never happened. What surprised me the most was the difference in customer service at Vdara vs. NYNY.

After thinking about it, for a night, or what we were using it for, this would be fine, but for a few days? No way, and frankly, no one should be ok with this…

-Jason

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Maybe you just got out of a VGK game. Maybe a concert. Maybe you went on a heater at a table and suddenly realized you haven’t eaten since whatever overpriced appetizer was pretending to be dinner six hours ago.

You’re hungry. You’re on the Strip. And you think:
It’s Vegas. This city never sleeps, right?

Wrong.
Or at least… not in the way it used to.

There’s a growing trend on the Strip, and once you notice it, you can’t unsee it: places just aren’t open as late as they once were, and finding something decent after 10 p.m. is way more annoying than it should be in a city that built its entire personality around excess, convenience, and bad decisions at unreasonable hours.

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The Las Vegas Monorail is something I have a love/hate relationship with.

It’s one of those things that sounds genius on paper, a quick, elevated ride skipping Strip traffic. But in reality? It’s like that friend who’s super convenient when you’re in the mood, but a pain in the ass any other time. We all have a Lenny…. lol

I’ve ridden it enough to know both sides. During my recent MGM Grand stay, it was nice for hopping to places on the east side. But if your plans start on the west?

Forget it.

The system opened in 2004 with big promises: 7 stations from Sahara to MGM Grand, every 4–8 minutes, no traffic. It’s still running that way in 2026 - 99% uptime, clean cars, and a smooth ride. But ridership tells the story: around 5.5–5.8 million passengers a year (stable post-pandemic, up 5% YoY from conventions). That’s decent, but way under its designed capacity of 30 million. Daily average? 15,000–19,000 riders. During CES? It spikes to 140,000 over four days. Otherwise? Often feels empty.

Is it failed? Nah. Profitable under LVCVA ownership since 2020. But underutilized? Absolutely. Blame the limited route, east side only, no west stops like Bellagio or Caesars, no airport extension despite years of talks. A Sphere stop would’ve been killer (the ride by it now is pretty cool), and I’m shocked it hasn’t made Sahara more popular.

No plans for new trains or extensions in 2026, the Bombardier fleet (from 2004) is aging but upgraded ($12M in tracks/power/maintenance) to last until at least 2035. Parts are still available; rumors of “no new trains possible” are bogus.

The Good: When It Works, It’s Gold

If you’re staying at a station hotel (MGM Grand, Horseshoe, Sahara), it’s super convenient. During that MGM stay, we used it to hit Chilangos Tacos in front of Horseshoe (Go There). No Uber, no walking in 100-degree heat. $6 single ride ($5.50 e-Ticket), or unlimited passes: 24-hour $15 ($13.45 e-Ticket), up to 7-day $62 ($57.50). Locals with Nevada ID get 50% off.

Digital tickets are a game-changer. Buy online, get a QR code on your phone, scan at the gate (as in my video). Valid for a year, activates on first use. No lines at vending machines. MyVegas rewards sweeten it: BOGO or half-off multi-day passes (redeem in-app, show code at station, pay for one/get second cheap).

For conventions? It’s a no-brainer (sometimes), direct to LVCC is cool for Cowboy Christmas and other happenings there. And during big events, it removes thousands of car trips from the Strip.

The Bad: When It Doesn’t, It’s a Bitch

To really be successful, it should’ve serviced both sides of the Strip and gone to the airport. Huge miss. It’s a bitch to get to from most places; stations are set way back, so you’re trekking through casinos just to board. If your plans start or end on the west side? Zero value.

From NYNY to Caesars? I’m not so sure it isn’t quicker to cut through Park MGM, hop the Bellagio tram, and walk over than looping through MGM to Horseshoe and across. Misdirection at its finest.

I never stay north Strip, but if they build an arena up there, the lack of more stops will be an even bigger disappointment. And that empty-train feel? It’s real outside peak hours.

The Verdict: Underutilized, Not Failed — Use It Smart

The Monorail isn’t a failed experiment. It’s profitable, reliable, and a lifesaver for east-side hops or conventions. But it’s underused because it’s too limited, no airport, no west side, no Sphere stop. Ridership could double with those fixes, but don’t hold your breath.

If you’re at MGM/Horseshoe/Sahara and heading that direction, grab a digital pass and go. Otherwise? Uber or walk. For MyVegas players, the BOGO makes it a steal.

In 2026, it’s still worth it for what it is. Just don’t expect it to be more.

What’s your Monorail take — underrated hack or overrated relic?

-Jason

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Then I saw the suggestions people were throwing out and thought, “Holy shit, someone needs to call this out.” Pizza in Vegas falls into two camps: over-the-top family-style experiences or quick grab-and-go slices. Both can be epic. Both are fucking expensive.

Here’s my no-BS ranking: the hands-down best, the one you’re sleeping on, the greasy cure, and the skip that’s straight-up not worth it.

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