I agree with you Scott, re: noise.

I've stayed at most of the downtown hotels over the past 10 years..The Plaza, Golden Gate, Fremont, Binion's (closed now, but the worst), El Cortez (the 2nd worst), Four Queens, etc. The only two I would somewhat recommend are the Golden Nugget and The D. I've never stayed at the Grand.

The others were all very loud. Most were old, cramped and dirty. And don't even think about going to sleep before the last Fremont Street Experience show unless you bring a white noise machine and a good pair of earplugs.

For me, downtown has lost much of its luster in just the past 5-10 years. Now, boarded up casinos and restaurants litter Fremont Street and panhandlers and freaks have seemed to multiply. Just a few years ago it was still a circus show, but it seemed safer and more thriving, whereas now it is more depressing. Hoping the Plaza owners and maybe Tony Hsieh can make downtown a better experience for those other than drunk twenty-somethings.

I tell friends that are going to Vegas to definitely visit downtown for a day..the Neon Museum, Mob Museum, Pawn Stars, Carson Kitchen, etc. but recommend they stay on the Strip, or, if they are on a budget, an off strip hotel like The Orleans, Sam's Town, South Point, etc..