Flights are booked, now where do we stay ?

Off to LAS on 7th May

There are a few hotels coming up as available that we like the look of :

- MGM Grand Signature
- MGM Grand
- Venetian
- Luxor
- Caesars Palace

This is our first trip so we have no idea on hotels. Can anyone advise ? I don't think we will do much gambling (famous last words [ii]) so a nice comfortable hotel, with pool and easy walking distance to main sites, restaurants is what we are after. A view would be nice too.

Help ?
Thanks

Unless you can get a corner spa suite, I wouldn't stay at the Luxor. We stayed there last year and I was less than impressed wth the whole experience. Issues included:

Allocation of a room that had been used by smokers (you could clearly smell it on the linen) when we had specified non-smoking - and a reluctance to sort it out on the part of the 'customer services'. The room was also not particularly clean.

Extremely poor attitude of all the staff - this is so unusual for LV, I was shocked at how bad it was.

I had to ask twice for the 'inclusive' complimentary items that had attracted us to book the Luxor in the first place. Eventually these were produced, but not in good grace.

Valet parking left my convertible outside in the worst storms of the year, leaving us with a soaked car when we picked it up the next day. The attendants just shrugged when I pointed this out and suggested that covered parking might have been a better choice.

All in all, not the greatest experience I have had!

More expensive I know, but I would choose the Bellagio or the Venetian any time.

Cheers

Tony

Valet parking left my convertible outside in the worst storms of the year, leaving us with a soaked car when we picked it up the next day. The attendants just shrugged when I pointed this out and suggested that covered parking might have been a better choice.

OMG, that is [V]

Thanks for the advice. [y]

Definetely the Signature, no question about it.

Yep, Signature without a doubt [y]

Sorry I should expand on my previous post - the Signature has a gorgeous pool, the service is fantastic, and the rooms are stunning.
Also you're well away from the casinos and the hotel itself is nonsmoking.
It's a short walk to the MGM Grand itself.
You can find my review and some pics from both myself and Bazz here - http://www.v-flyer.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=16769

I'm going back next month as I really enjoed it.
I've stayed at the Luxor twice - I really think it's in need of a refurb, the rooms and furniture do look very dated now.
The spa suites are OK (nice jacuzzi right by the window) but again are very dated.

Hi

All depends on your budget really.

I've stayed at the Luxor within the last year - Had a totally different experience from those above, but maybe we were just lucky. Also stayed at the Mandalay Bay and 'The Hotel' at Mandalay Bay.

'The Hotel' was just fantastic so would probably be where I would go back to.

Jon B

We've stayed at the MGM Grand on two separate occasions (Grand Tower) and had fabulous rooms and service both times. Couldn't fault the whole experience [y]

Originally posted by Jon B
Hi

All depends on your budget really.

I've stayed at the Luxor within the last year - Had a totally different experience from those above.

Jon B

I would like to echo the above comment the hotels you have mentioned have a wide price range.
I have only stayed in 4 Vegas hotels (mainly based on my budget) The Stratosphere, The Sahara, The Excalibur and the Luxor.
The Luxor was by far the best we had a Pyramid room on a high floor and the views both of the atrium and outside were spectacular. The room itself was nothing special but was clean and a reasonable size, the price was very attractive and everyone from the cleaners to the dealers were very friendly even to me a novice low steaks gambler.
The worst experience (sorry scrooge[:I]) was the Stratosphere, I booked a suite and paid more for a room than I had spent before, the room was OK but not spectacular and we got a view of the car park, partly my fault for not asking for a room with a view but after a 12 hour flight in economy my brain was mush. Being a low stakes gambler I donÕt expect to be treated like royalty however a couple of dealers were really quite rude in the way they dealt with me. Having said that I loved the Roxy CafŽ and the rides at the top of the tower, so it wasnÕt all bad.
Sorry canÕt comment on the other hotels listed as I have never had the available funds to try them.

Originally posted by lovetoholiday

Valet parking left my convertible outside in the worst storms of the year, leaving us with a soaked car when we picked it up the next day. The attendants just shrugged when I pointed this out and suggested that covered parking might have been a better choice.

OMG, that is [V]

Thanks for the advice. [y]

Yeah - and what was worse was that it was actually mine - not a hire car...[:(!]

SBG

Originally posted by sbg

Originally posted by lovetoholiday

Valet parking left my convertible outside in the worst storms of the year, leaving us with a soaked car when we picked it up the next day. The attendants just shrugged when I pointed this out and suggested that covered parking might have been a better choice.

OMG, that is [V]

Thanks for the advice. [y]

Yeah - and what was worse was that it was actually mine - not a hire car...[:(!]

SBG

That is appauling, if that had been me I'd have been up for murder [:(!] Luckily my Cabriolet is staying at home [:o)]

Update !

I was looking at The hotel at Mandalay. This was coming up as full initially, but I just checked hotels on the VA site and it's coming up as available now. [}:)]
This means that I'll earn miles so next question is would you recommend this hotel ?
I'm sure I have read other V-flyers comments saying that this is their favourite.

Thanks all for your feedback

L2H

The fact that you are looking at THE HOTEL indicates to me budget is not really an issue. So with that in mind I think for a first Vegas trip, the Bellagio or the Venetian are your only options. Most of the 'big things to do' will be within walking distance should you want them.

On all subsequent trips, I think Signature at MGM is the only way to go.

**edited to add**

Flying club miles are nice, but generally, you can save $$$$ booking direct witht he hotel and not via Virgin.

Would have to agree with the above - we've stayed at The Hotel and The Venetian and, whilst they're both really great hotels, the Venetian has it on location. Mandalay just ain't as handy.

If you do like the look of the Venetian, go for the newer Venezia tower and - if availability and budget allow - treat yourself to the Concierge level. Gives you access to a seperate lounge with complimentary breakfast, nibbles, cocktails in the eve etc.

Thanks again all for your help. It is soooo confusing when you aint been somewhere before [?]
I think I will book us in to the Venetian using their website. The rates are much lower than the VA website.
Will take a look at our budget and see what we room type we can stretch too.
This was supposed to be a bargain break as we are using miles for the flights, but it's turning into an expensive one.

Oh well, if you are gonna do it, do it properly that's what I say [:p]

Thanks again
L2H

[Pete]

Originally posted by sbg

I had to ask twice for the 'inclusive' complimentary items that had attracted us to book the Luxor in the first place. Eventually these were produced, but not in good grace.

Funny you should mention that; had the same problem with the Virgin Holidays inclusive items (given it was a 'flagship' hotel, you're supposed to get a line pass). It took 2 days of rather persistent badgering to get them to finally produce something (claiming they don't have 'line passes'). As it happened, because I actually enjoy a flutter, the casino host had notice my play and before the week was out had made personal contact, offering amongst other comps, a line pass (odd, I though they didn't have those...)

We had also been put in the pyramid initially (not a corner room though), but before we even unpacked, I'd phoned down to get moved to another room. The rooms in the towers are *much* better.

If money's not the primary factor, you can't beat Bellagio or Venetian. Other top-end options are Wynn, Mandalay Bay, MGM, Mirage (in descending order, IMHO). The Stratosphere is cheap-n-cheerful, and has the benefit of a resident V-Flyer rep

Pete

Originally posted by lovetoholiday
This was supposed to be a bargain break as we are using miles for the flights, but it's turning into an expensive one.

Oh well, if you are gonna do it, do it properly that's what I say [:p]

Thanks again
L2H

Done it. Been there. Bought the overpriced T-shirt. You book reward flights with all the best intentions of a 'budget' break, then all of a sudden these lovely hotels show up and spoil everything. You're quite right, do it properly and enjoy - this life is not a rehearsal!

Taken from Fatwallet, a Venetian specails deal.

"1) Hotel - Venetian
2) Promotion Name - WISH YOU WERE HERE!
3) Promotion Code - GRED76D
4) Dates Valid - March - May.
5) Expires - 4/3/07
6) For all
7) Link to Offer
8) Promotion Details - Your spring indulgence includes:
A Luxury Suite from $159 a night in March and April and $129 a night in May
$10 off two tickets for a Gondola ride on the Grand Canal
Two-for-one Canyon Ranch SpaClub¨ Passport
$7 off admission to Madame Tussauds Celebrity Wax Encounter

For reservations assistance please call (866) 403-8046 and mention code: GRED76D."

[Scrooge]

Good price for the Venetian, I would rock and roll on that one.

Originally posted by infrequentflyer



The worst experience (sorry scrooge[:I]) was the Stratosphere, I booked a suite and paid more for a room than I had spent before, the room was OK but not spectacular and we got a view of the car park, partly my fault for not asking for a room with a view but after a 12 hour flight in economy my brain was mush. Being a low stakes gambler I donÕt expect to be treated like royalty however a couple of dealers were really quite rude in the way they dealt with me. Having said that I loved the Roxy CafŽ and the rides at the top of the tower, so it wasnÕt all bad.

I am sorry to hear that, in regards to the room, I have a personal hate of rooms overlooking parking lot's, however with the way some hotels are designed out here there isn't a whole lot that can bedone to avoid them.

As I said a little while back, the casino has just gone through a major refurb, the room's are next with some fingers crossed big changes coming to the suites.

In regards to the rude dealer(s)...Did you speak to anyone about this?
At any casino the front line staff have it beaten into them not to be rude and if they have a problem call a suit, it is part of our job.Now dealers etc are human beings and every now and again they will snap back at a lovely guest, it happens at every casino, not just mine, but we do try to limit it.

If you have a problem with a member of staff being rude in any dept. ask for the manager, have a quick word with them, they will talk with the staff member and give them some "advice", if it is a staff member that is known to have a problem there are other courses of action that can be taken.

In the end everyone that works in a casino is in the customer service job, as such we all (meaning every casino employee at every casino in town) tries to make your stay memorable in a good way.

Originally posted by nevadakaz
Taken from Fatwallet, a Venetian specails deal.

"1) Hotel - Venetian
2) Promotion Name - WISH YOU WERE HERE!
3) Promotion Code - GRED76D
4) Dates Valid - March - May.
5) Expires - 4/3/07
6) For all
7) Link to Offer
8) Promotion Details - Your spring indulgence includes:
A Luxury Suite from $159 a night in March and April and $129 a night in May
$10 off two tickets for a Gondola ride on the Grand Canal
Two-for-one Canyon Ranch SpaClub¨ Passport
$7 off admission to Madame Tussauds Celebrity Wax Encounter

For reservations assistance please call (866) 403-8046 and mention code: GRED76D."

Thanks for that, sadly it's not available for the dates we want.

Thanks for the info anyway, I will keep looking out for a special offer on the Venetian website. Have set my heart on it now [}:)]

Originally posted by Scrooge
In regards to the rude dealer(s)...Did you speak to anyone about this?

No I didn't speak to any one IÕm British you know:D
Just to clarify most of the dealers were very nice and helpful to me (novice gambler) and I did have a great time the -ive aspects in no way overshadowed the overall experience.