The Federal Hotel Downtown Carson City, an Ascend Collection Hotel

The best part was the view of the fall trees from my balcony, and the room wasn’t terribly smoky. There was shampoo, conditioner, and body soap, the bed was fairly comfortable, and the TV had lots of channels. The casino downstairs was fun, too. The Federal Hotel, formerly Carson Station, is being remodeled, and I expected a nicely upgraded room but got an old one instead. The furniture was OK, but the carpet was a little gross. Bathroom water kept swinging between hot and cold, enough to burn or freeze you. Wi-Fi never reached my fourth-floor room in the back corner, even after I reported both problems to the front desk. The room didn’t look like the pictures, though I assume that floor just hasn’t been remodeled yet. I didn’t take room pictures and wasn’t impressed either way. Would I stay again? Probably not.

My year here on a business trip was pretty amazing, and I’d do it all over again if I could. The rooms were cozy and big, with balconies, and everything was clean. There was lots of parking, and the hotel is very central in Carson City. I never had any problems. The casino had free drinks, so I played Keno and drank for free all morning. The Bloody Marys were good, and I never had to wait at the ATM, cash-out booth, or bar. It never felt overcrowded, and football games were always on Sundays. Finding an Uber was hard, and food delivery was almost impossible, though that might have changed by now. I’d definitely recommend this hotel.

The room was just OK, and for what we got, I think it should have cost less. The bathroom had dirt built up in the corners and a very slow shower drain. There was no fan to move the air, and the showerhead had just one setting with a pretty hard spray. The water temperature kept changing while I showered. The blinds didn’t close all the way, so the room was very bright in the morning. On our last night, DirecTV lost its connection and never came back.

It’s well worth the price, with free parking and no resort fee. The casino has a lighter, nicer feel than some places that feel oppressive, like the Nugget. There’s no pool, but the hotel makes up for it in other ways. It’s safe and quiet, with a central location, and only two blocks from a cute downtown area with restaurants and breweries. The front desk staff are the nicest, and the rooms are clean.