Outside the casino entrance is the "Fremont Experience," where zipline riders pass overhead below a domed canopy where light and sound shows are projected throughout the night. The Golden Gate Hotel & Casino has a bar facing the street, where guests can order from a dozen different flavors of alcoholic slushies, and bartenders entertain guests with a little flair. Inside, the hotel strives for the old Vegas experience. The hotel first opened in 1906 as the Hotel Nevada, Las Vegas’ first hotel, and the vibe is a throwback to yesteryear with a Prohibiton-era theme -- card dealers deal blackjack wearing suspenders, and servers in flapper-inspired fringe carry drinks. DuPar's, which first opened in 1955, is classic, with black-and-white checkered floors, red leather bar stools and booths, and peach pie behind a glass counter -- it still serves the "Las Vegas original shrimp cocktail," first introduced in 1959.

Golden Gate Hotel & Casino is located on Fremont Street, a pedestrian mall packed with bars and casinos. The area was nicknamed "Glitter Gulch" for its movie-perfect Old Vegas aesthetic. Today the hotel is part of the Fremont Street Experience, a four-block stretch of hotels and casinos with a domed canopy and three stages of lively nightlife. The popular Heart Attack Grill is less than a 10-minute walk away. The Fashion Show mall and the beginning of the Strip, with newer hotels and casinos, is less than a 15-minute drive away. McCarran International Airport is about a 20-minute drive from the hotel. 

Like many Vegas hotels in this price range, the rooms at Golden Gate are comfortable enough, but designed to keep guests out of bed and in the casino. Rooms have dark carpeting, sleek black furnishings, and gray accent walls. One-bedroom suites are available, with pinstriped carpet and a photo of an iconic Vegas celebrity on the wall. All rooms have pillow-top mattresses, flat-screen TVs with cable channels, and iPod clock radios. Some of the rooms have bleak views of a cement roof. Wi-Fi is available for a fee. Bathrooms, with shower/tub combos and glass shelves, are small and dated, and could use a renovation. Guests have complained that the cleaning isn’t up to par. 

The hotel has a small casino with slot machines and traditional card games. There is a bar inside as well as one outside facing the street with a variety of alcoholic slushies available. Du-Par's Restaurant & Bakery serves a “famous” shrimp cocktail and a variety of pies and other diner fare; breakfast isn't included in the price of a room. The hotel has free parking, and a conference room is available for private events. Expect to pay extra for Wi-Fi on top of a mandatory resort fee.