Need suggestions for Vegas hotel stay

[+ not2rowdy]

There was a LGBT pool party advertised last week at the Flamingo in conjunction with the Electric Dance Carnival schedule.

 

The only LGBT one I find being currently advertised is ongoing at the Luxor. There are additional pool party links at the bottom of this page:

https://www.luxor.com/en/nightlife/temptation-sundays.html

[LaffingBear]

Thanks.

[Drained Empty]

I visit Vegas many times a year.

 

Rooms at the LINQ are fine. They're small but not cramped. Bathrooms are renovated with rain showers. Definitely less wear and tear than the Luxor or other MGM properties. Nice central location too, just a five minute walk across the street to Caesar's. My only complaint is the elevators are always broken.

 

As others have noted, everything in Vegas is designed to take your money. However, there are lots of ways to save, too -- visitor's guides in cabs and many hotels have coupons, Groupon has great deals on attractions. You don't have to eat at buffets or fancy restaurants every night (and your stomach will thank you for it). I usually only do one buffet and get things like the Gamblers Special ($7.77) at the Hard Rock. Slow play a slot machine and you can get free booze instead of a cocktail at a bar.

 

Transportation can add up quick, especially since all cabs have $3 surcharge, I believe. Try walking, taking monorails or free shuttles to save on costs.

[rustyrex]

I understand the allure of the strip and I tried to book a room for a 2 night stay but after seeing the resort fee and watching the price jump from $130 to $350 I decided to go off strip to save money. Granted the place I'm staying is far from the strip, my main reason for going isn't to see it. I do plan on going to the strip at least once, hell it's Vegas, but there is more to see in other parts of Vegas as well. From what I read online TI still offers free parking and valet and it's reasonable but for a weekend the price does jump.

[+ tassojunior]

Weekends are a whole different topic price wise. There are a few hotels that stay the same....mostly the cheaper national brands. Also if you book government rate the Westin next to the eye ferris wheel stays low on weekends....probably the best weekend deal.

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

I just posted some pics of the Cleo room...

 

I hope it was the Miss Cleo room

 

[LaffingBear]

As I sit in my LV room, I can report that I will never stay at Caesars Palace again.

 

They made some mistakes in the way they handled my reservation/checkin, and were entirely unapologetic. More mistakes in other details of my stay. The room, actually pretty nice, was comped, although $40 a night in resort fees. First visit to the pool... deck's open, looks nice, but signs apologizing that pool itself is closed. First glance out the window... TRUMP is my view... the giant logo on his LV hotel. All in all, bad omens. I havent gambled $1 at a table or machine, or spent $1 at a restaurant on property. Their loss... I've already earned comps at Mirage, Venetian and Wynn. Spiteful? Me?

 

Paint me petty!

 

Wish I could cross-post to other threads...

 

Some come to Vegas to get lucky. Some to get laid. I came to get a cold. I rarely get colds... been years. Not bad, or serious, no headache, almost no congestion, except...

....as I peruse Grindr "gen?" messages, or consider RM/Jock2go/Friendboy... all I can think is.... "I dont think a bfe is enhanced by a nose running like a faucet! " Ive generally made good hiring decisions thinking with my brain, and a few bad decisions thinking with my crotch. This time, making the no-go decision with my nose.

[cany10011]

Ask for the special souffle at Caesar's Bacchanal buffet

[LaffingBear]

Ask for the special souffle at Caesar's Bacchanal buffet

I wouldnt give them $$$ for a buffet for anything. Plus, there was a new player promo at Wynn... earn xxxx points, get buffets for two. Got it, came close to getting the next tier, which is some well known cafe brunch. The Wynn buffet was excellent.

 

Also, Ive now left Caesars, moved hotels, and spent the last few hours floating on the river at Mandalay Bay.

[JohnGerman]

I wouldnt give them $$$ for a buffet for anything. Plus, there was a new player promo at Wynn... earn xxxx points, get buffets for two. Got it, came close to getting the next tier, which is some well known cafe brunch. The Wynn buffet was excellent.

 

Also, Ive now left Caesars, moved hotels, and spent the last few hours floating on the river at Mandalay Bay.

 

How much do you need to play to get Wynn's buffet comp? And in that context, what is the approximate amount of time you need to play to get some comp in general? Let's say, playing blackjack, $25 a hand, for how long?

[+ tassojunior]

That buffet at Caesar's is really nice and the Roman pools are pretty.

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

How much do you need to play to get Wynn's buffet comp? And in that context, what is the approximate amount of time you need to play to get some comp in general? Let's say, playing blackjack, $25 a hand, for how long?

 

Comps are dependent on a lot of factors: Your host, the casino, the kind of future play they're attracting and what they might expect from you when (or, if) you come back.

 

At a property like Wynncore, $25/hand for 6+ hours might get you noticed, but not more than a line pass and buffet.

 

Now, at Rio, Mandalay Bay, Planet Ho and Flamingo, that kind of play at a BJ or Pai Gow will likely net you a future free stay.

[LaffingBear]

That buffet at Caesar's is really nice and the Roman pools are pretty.

Woke up at Caesars Memorial Day. Went to pool. Beautiful pool deck, setting, etc. Nice pools. Except at entrance/stairs to each pool... "pool is closed. We apologize for the inconvenience." Hanging out on pool deck with no swimming bores me quickly; I was out of there after 20-minutes .

 

Sort of representative of everything I encountered at Caesars.

[LaffingBear]

How much do you need to play to get Wynn's buffet comp? And in that context, what is the approximate amount of time you need to play to get some comp in general? Let's say, playing blackjack, $25 a hand, for how long?

Wynns promo is for new players only... cant have a record with them. Earn 750 points within 48 hours, 2 free buffets. Get 1300 points, two more buffets, or brunch at the terrace point cafe. I made 1150 points, but wasnt going to go back there just because a meal was free.

 

In April, Cosmo promo - brand new player only - was 500 points in 48 hours for 1 buffet, 100 points for two. Must earn AND use buffet within 48 hours.

[LaffingBear]

Comps are dependent on a lot of factors: Your host, the casino, the kind of future play they're attracting and what they might expect from you when (or, if) you come back.

 

At a property like Wynncore, $25/hand for 6+ hours might get you noticed, but not more than a line pass and buffet.

 

Now, at Rio, Mandalay Bay, Planet Ho and Flamingo, that kind of play at a BJ or Pai Gow will likely net you a future free stay.

I find that theyre so hungry for business, theres more to be had on promotional offers compared to earned comps.

 

Think of it from their perspective... they (like the airlines) have demand management predictions... if the rooms are predicted to be sitting empty, why not give offers to fill them, hoping that deal-takers or their friends spend money in casino.

Edited May 31, 2018 by LaffingBear

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

I f

 

I find that theyre so hungry for business, theres more to be had on promotional offers compared to earned comps.

 

Think of it from their perspective... they (like the airlines) have demand management predictions... if the rooms are predicted to be sitting empty, why not give offers to fill them, hoping that deal-takers or their friends spend money in casino.

 

But with airlines, you have to take into account premium seating having a certain 'cabin' integrity for those customers who still pay (a very pricey) full price. Many airlines realize/respect that, which is why you see so many open seats in international first class cabins. Unless it's a mileage or paid upgrade, the days of gate based op-ups are nearly gone.

 

Vegas has a tricker issue: They have a lot more inventory on a very regular basis. That said, they still hold back a TON of great rooms that the general public will never see or likely ever know about.

 

You can still score a good deal on a room if you're willing to go in the day of check-in, around 4-5pm, and talk a bit to the front desk manager. That's a little too risky for my type-A planning personality

 

Your comment on promos is right on. Signing up for an email blast or a player's card is usually enough these days to take advantage of a free night, a free buffet or some kind of resort credit.

[LaffingBear]

One of the best plans I made this trip... throw some coffee K-cups into my luggage.

 

I prefer, and need, my coffee in my room to get going. A walk down to coffee first thing in the morning isnt for me. I started bringing my own coffee even when it was free in-room. French Roast here, so the coffee in rooms is too mild for me.

 

All rooms seem to have little k-cup single cup machines these days.

Caesars required retrieving a coffee kit from the minibar - $12. I assume it had makings of two cups.... and the single cup machines make small cups. Caesars provided small cardboad coffee cups at the machine.

Mandalay Bay has put a K-cup, sweeteners, creamers, in a cup with a lid, and sealed it in plastic. $5 to open the plastic.

 

I dont use K-cups at home. $6 for a 10 pack of Italian Roast before departing made for decent coffee every morning, unaccompanied by the feeling of succumbing to another hotel extra money grab.

_________________

Update, extended trip one day, out of K-cups. Down to lobby for coffee.

 

Convention starting today in LV, and here at Mandalay Bay. Stood 10-12 minutes in line at Starbucks, everyone quietly staring at their phones. It was almost scripted, creepy/automaton behavior from a movie.

 

Then, reanimation at the counter, as the milleniel-bots ordered their frappy-whappies and my-thai-chais with agavé. Do you want soy, moo, or milk? The young women in front of me referred to her phone as she ordered a detailed list of drinks. I was waiting for her to channel Niles Crane, and request "a light dusting of nutmeg, not so much as a full-shake, mind you, but not so little so as to be considered a soupçon."

 

I am, more than ever, determined to travel with MY coffee.

Edited June 1, 2018 by LaffingBear

[mike carey]

Those coffee pods are good if you know the room will have a machine, although I have an ideological reluctance (not refusal) to use them on environmental grounds. I bought some that fitted the machine in my SF hotel last year (they provided some free ones, not the minibar hell @LaffingBear describes) but I wasn`t able to give the ones I had left away in PS so I left them in my room. A hotel I use in Sydney had a machine in one room I had, but only one time. The next time when there wasn`t one I asked about it when I checked out and they said that only certain rooms had one, but they gave me a complimentary flat white. Generally speaking I`m more than happy to go and find a decent espresso coffee rather than take what I can get in my hotel room.

[Drained Empty]

As mentioned in other Vegas threads, a little pre-planning goes a long way.

 

The MGM properties do have high resort fees but occasionally really low room rates. Their calendar is very searchable and if you sign up for a free account you get access to discounted pricing on everything from rooms to shows.

 

The LINQ rooms are modern and fine but quite a walk/spread out if you're mobility restricted. The spa is quite nice there. Very large steam room and lots of free k-cups lol. Not very cruisy though.

 

Best of all, it's super central. Just cross the street and you're at Caesar's.

 

I've yet to go back to the Mandalay since the massacre but I heard that spa is the crusiest. Got race hated hard at Qua and don't care to go back.

 

Back when CL was still around (can't believe I'm writing that) I used to find the most exceptional men knocking on my door. Now, it's just the Grindr hustlers (I hate to generalize, but 95 percent of the black guys are seeking "gen") and more general lameness.

 

Speaking of shows, Zumanity is quite fun and sexy and Magic Mike ain't bad either.

[down_to_business]

Sign up for a player's card, show some slot play on it every time you stay, and you will never have to pay for a room in LV again.

[LaffingBear]

Sign up for a player's card, show some slot play on it every time you stay, and you will never have to pay for a room in LV again.

A little over-simplified, but excellent advice. If travel plans are flexible, should be able to score free rooms. Often sun-thurs.

 

They must be hurting for business. Ive played there once. Earned free buffets for two with 1-2 hours, and was 90% of way to either another free buffet for two, or a meal at their cafe. Within one week of coming home, Wynn emailed an offer for free nights, free meals, very generous free play. Already booked my return.

Edited June 23, 2018 by LaffingBear

[+ GregM]

A little over-simplified, but excellent advice. If travel plans are flexible, should be able to score free rooms. Often sun-thurs.

 

They must be hurting for business. Ive played there once. Earned free buffets for two with 1-2 hours, and was 90% of way to either another free buffet for two, or a meal at their cafe. Within one week of coming home, Wynn emailed an offer for free nights, free meals, very generous free play. Already booked my return.

 

Tourism is down 1%. Not a huge number but still down is down. The real money maker hotels and casinos right now are over in China. They better make all they can over there cause when that bubble pops it's gonna hurt a lot more than ours. I barely gamble and I'm getting discounted rooms and free show tickets from MGM properties. It's a good thing I am a distance from Vegas.

 

Hugs,

Greg

[marylander1940]

I am thinking about taking a long deserved vacation to Vegas in late June, for about 3-4 days. Haven't been to Vegas for almost 7 years! I wonder if you guys have any suggestions on which hotel I can stay?

 

My requirement is pretty simple: a fairly nice hotel, most preferably on the Strip, and reasonably inexpensive. I saw a promotion by Treasure Island for $79 a night, but when you add up those ridiculous "resort fees,", a four-day stay adds up to about $520, which is somewhat surprising as I had assumed it would be cheaper in Vegas. I have never stayed at Treasure Island and its level of "niceness" is just about where I am thinking about. Do you guys have any suggestions or opinions?

 

By the way, I saw an ad for "LINQ" with cheaper rates. Is that the old Imperial Palace? That hotel was certainly a dump. Did they renovate it and make it better? Anyone has stayed there?

 

Next time:

 

https://www.starwoodhotels.com/preferredguest/search/results/detail.html?skinCode=SPG&localeCode=en_US&iATANumber=&complexSearchField=Las+Vegas%2C+Nevada%2C+United+States&searchType=location&propertyIds=&arrivalDate=06%2F28%2F2018&departureDate=07%2F02%2F2018&numberOfRooms=1&numberOfAdults=1&numberOfChildren=0

[mike carey]

Tourism is down 1%. Not a huge number but still down is down. The real money maker hotels and casinos right now are over in China.

The Chinese government can control where their tourists go, I would be worried that they would 'persuade' tourists not to go to the US. That could hit Vegas hard.

[marylander1940]

The Chinese government can control where their tourists go, I would be worried that they would 'persuade' tourists not to go to the US. That could hot Vegas hard.

 

Or if they stop their citizens from buying houses in California (Palo Alto specially).