For the past several months, Golden Gate has been undergoing substantial renovations, including a new lobby, a high limit room, new restrooms, remodeled standard rooms and the addition of 16 suites. During our visit earlier this week, we were able to get a preview of one of the new suites.

Adorned in rich reds and browns, the room has a comfortable, classic vibe. The Dean Martin artwork is a nice touch, tying the suite to the vintage Vegas theme seen throughout the Golden Gate.

The large, L-shaped couch provides a nice spot to chill with a brown drink before hitting the casino.

The massive, multi-purpose wall unit includes plenty of storage space, a work desk and a big-ass TV.

Like a lot of Las Vegas suites, there’s no separation between the bedroom and the living room/lounging space. The Golden Gate suite layout takes the single-room suite concept one further, providing no separation between the bathroom and the rest of the suite.

Immediately upon entering the suite, a countertop and sink to the right sits in front of two frosted doors—one for the shower and one for the toilet. If you don’t know your roommate well before staying here, you will by the time you leave because you’ll probably see him or her naked.

Fancy bathroom swag from Bath and Body Works. The scent is Rainkissed Leaves. I don’t know what a rain-kissed leaf smells like, but I’m told it’s delightful.

The new Golden Gate suites may not be the largest rooms on Fremont Street, but they’re well-designed, comfortable and reasonably prices, starting at $109 during the week. For those of us who have avoided staying at Golden Gate because of the cracker-box-sized standard rooms, this provides a very nice option.

Two super-sized penthouse suites are still under construction but will be added to Golden Gate’s new room mix later this year.

Las Vegas podcast #353 includes:

• Mel B: It’s a Scary World opener
• Crazy-ass Las Vegas Strip U-Haul videos
• Stripper 101 instructors sue
• Imperial Palace has a new afternoon show
• Skyvue claims to have financing, reveals more parts
• Vegas Glow Run comes to downtown
• Our sponsor, Viator’s gift certificates
• Our sponsor, Vegas Mate, is really great
• Listener calls about Linq construction, Joey Lawrence, the Dominican Republic Hard Rock, Mandarin Oriental, Scarpetta, Gordon Ramsay Steak and more
• Gambling with Tim and Michele: Godzilla edition
• Call us at (702) 866-9494

Direct download of the podcast: Five Hundy By Midnight 5/25/12 71:42 min, 65.8 MB) or subscribe.

In March, I spent one glorious night in a big, old (and I do mean old) room at Four Queens. Decorated like your grandma’s house, the room needed nothing more than a bowl of ribbon candy or Wurther’s Originals to complete the motif. I give you The Golden Girls Suite…

Las Vegas podcast #352 includes:

• Vegas Stripped opener
• Wayne Newton’s tourist attraction is unlikely
• Fremont Street bars in a box
• Las Vegas Club has nowhere to eat
• Jeff Timmons is back
• Whoa! Joey Lawrence is shirtless
• Our sponsor, Viator’s Facebook Summer Photo Contest
• Our sponsor, Vegas Mate, is really great
• Listener calls about switching hotels, Golden Nugget, Wynn, Monte Carlo, Sugar Factory and more
• Cool-ass Las Vegas Facebook timeline photos
• Call us at (702) 866-9494

Direct download of the podcast: Five Hundy By Midnight 5/20/12 66:39 min, 70.3 MB) or subscribe.

Las Vegas podcast #351 includes:

• We Love Lucy opener
• MGM employee rips off free play
• Gardunos goes bye-bye
• Rockhouse plans to reopen at Venetian
• CET surveys about the CP buffet
• Boyd requests an Echelon extension
• VT turns eight
• Summer of Cirque discounts return
• Our sponsor, Viator’s Google Plus discount
• Our sponsor, Vegas Mate’s survey
• Listener calls about Pawn Stars Tour, Spirit Air, Mirage Tower Suites, O’Sheas, Cosmopolitan, Red Rock, Oscar’s, Human Nature, video poker and more
• Call us at (702) 866-9494

Direct download of the podcast: Five Hundy By Midnight 5/13/12 59:39 min, 54.8 MB) or subscribe.

Las Vegas podcast #350 includes:

• Vegas Strip opener
• SLS plans supposedly proceed
• O’Sheas is no more
• Skyvue has a webcam but not full funding
• Surf, The Musical comes to Planet Hollywood
• Eli Roth will bring his Goretorium to The Strip
• American Storm moves to Plaza
• Shaboo closes for Tetsu
• Heart Attack Grill scores another heart attack
• Drink & Drag finally opens
• Our sponsor, Viator’s Things to do in Las Vegas
• Our sponsor, Vegas Mate is really great
• Listener calls about Monte Carlo, Marquee, Nine Fine Irishmen, Drink & Drag, Celebrity Apprentice, Viva Elvis, Mirage, Striphouse, Diamond in a Day and more
• Call us at (702) 866-9494

Direct download of the podcast: Five Hundy By Midnight 5/6/12 75:31 min, 69.3 MB) or subscribe.

Las Vegas podcast #349 includes:

• Castle opener
• Recent trip photos
• Excalibur/Luxor zip line update
• Speed: The Ride moves to the South Strip
• Metro McDonalds = Viva McDonalds 2012
• Rich Little impersonates dead people at LVH
• Is the International name returning?
• Big Elvis moves to Harrah’s
• Taylor Hicks comes to Bally’s
• Former Bally’s buffet becomes Tony and Tina’s Wedding venue
• Jabowockeez moves to a tent
• BConnected gets social
• Restaurant updates
• Drink and Drag has a soft opening
• Jabowockeez moves to a tent
• Las Vegas Country Club and Backstage Billiards plans proceed
• Commonwealth work begins
• Fremont East gets a new pizza place
• Venue of Vegas returns from the dead
• Our sponsor, Viator’s Things to do in Las Vegas
• Lose Your Shirt: Blackjack
• Listener calls about Monte Carlo, taxi long-hauling, Bar 46, Bellagio buffet, MLife perks and more
• Call us at (702) 866-9494

Direct download of the podcast: Five Hundy By Midnight 4/22/12 72:41 min, 66.7 MB) or subscribe.

The RJ has an update to the Excalibur/Luxor zip line plans we broke in February. The FAA approved the plan on April 6, and Clark County signed off last night. The FAA approval becomes final on May 16, opening the door for MGM Resorts to start stringing the cables.

According to today’s update, three of the lines will serve as a multi-leg zip line course. The fourth line (starting at the Excalibur entrance) will function separately.

Here’s the weird part… the company that will run the thing, Ziptrek, plans to have guides (zip line sherpas?) lead zippers through the course, delivering educational lectures about “sustainability and four conditions which must exist in a sustainable society” during the two hours it will take to complete the course. People will be clamoring to get on the zip lines just to escape from the hippie buzzkill. How long before they drop the unnecessary lectures?

A few days ago, we began hearing that Speed: The Ride was finally being disassembled at the shuttered Sahara. According to a blog entry from the company doing the removal work, the roller coaster is headed for the Akita Plaza strip mall located across Las Vegas Boulevard from Mandalay Bay (not far from the alleged future home of the Skyvue ferris wheel).

A little more digging revealed additional details along with artist renderings.

Thanks to listener Allen for the tip.

During my most recent Las Vegas trip, I had the opportunity to stay at Red Rock Resort for a few nights. While there, I shot some video of the room for your enjoyment.

I thoroughly enjoyed Red Rock Resort’s accommodations. The bed was super comfortable and had tons of pillows, which I always appreciate. The room had plenty of surface space for working and didn’t feel the least bit cramped. The design reminded me of Golden Nugget’s Rush Tower rooms, which I also really liked. I highly recommend Red Rock. If you’re not opposed to staying off-Strip (way way off-Strip), give it a shot.