Wynncore vs. MGM vs. Venetian/Palazzo

Will be going on a trip in July for about 8 days and staying at either Bellagio/MGM, Wynn or Venetian.

I'm with a large group and I'm usually in charge of where we stay. Everything will be comped, and so we will go nuts on that particular property/chain but will not do anything outside of it (unless it's something special like UFC or something)

I'm really having a tough time deciding on Bellagio, Wynncore or Venetian. So far my arguments break down as follows:

Bellagio/MGM:
Pros:
- Most choices for shows
- Tons of restaurants
- Many nightclub options
- Most frequented place so the VIP treatment is really top notch

Cons:
- No great lunch places in the actual Bellagio
- Pool is 'meh'
- Most frequented place, so it's no longer 'new and exciting'




Wynn:
Pros:
- Great restaurant choices, though the closing of Okada and Alex is a big loss
- Top tier nightclubs
- Great pool

Cons:
- Almost no shows




Venetian:
Pros:
- Haven't eaten at many of the restaurants and CUT is my overall favorite steakplace
- Good lunch selection
- Top notch SPA (best in Vegas in my opinion)

Cons:
- Two nightclub options only, and our group might go out on several nights
- Very few shows
- Have only stayed here once and so I doubt they will let our group run amock in the casino like Bellagio does.


Have I missed anything? Disagree with some points?

Any and all feedback welcome!

 

As far as no lunch places in Bellagio, their buffet is one of the best in Vegas. And their pool is very classy.

 

Not a big fan of Venetian.
Have you considered Aria.Part of MGM/Bellagio chain.Decent pool scene and several good lunch places.
Even if you stay at Bellagio you can tram into Aria and charge your meals to your room at Bellagio.
I used to stay at Bellagio but have grown to like Aria more.

 

I'd also vote for giving Aria a try - it's in the same family as Bellagio, so your reputation at Bellagio should carry over somewhat - plus, like Bellagio, it will still give you access to the full spectrum of MGM shows, restaurants, etc. - why limit yourself to a place with only one or two properties when you can basically get carte blanche at half the properties on the strip? [that's one of the main reasons I recently jumped ship from Wynncore to Aria after several years only staying at Wynn] - plus, if you wind up not liking Aria, Bellagio's still only a short walk or tram ride away - but I have to say personally, I really enjoyed Aria - we're staying there again next month - the suite was great, and both American Fish & Sage were superb - and Julian Serrano & Lemongrass are both good lunch places - plus, if you stay at Aria or Bellagio, you could always limo to Mandalay or MGM Grand for a meal or few anyway.

 

yeah i'd try a Sky Villa at Aria. if the B is getting old for you, i think you'll like it.

 

No love for Venetian it seems... that was sorta my bottom of the three.

I hadn't really considered Aria even though I have no idea why I didn't. What's cafe vettro like? I didn't even notice it before because I assumed it was a coffee shop.

Without the tram is Aria far to walk to the strip (say Planet Hollywood, for example)?

 

You said everything is comped no matter where you stay. For Wynn or Encore, these guests are usually put in the Tower Suites. If that's the case, then there's no comparison. It's just an infinitely more elegant, more refined experience. Even if that isn't the case, I'd still be partial to Wynncore. That said, you mentioned that you'll rarely be leaving the property. While it's not an issue with you, your guests may yearn to explore a little more and the location of Wynncore will leave them lagging.

As others have suggested, my next choice would be Aria. I've had consistently better stays there over Bellagio mostly because it's not over-ridden with slow-walking tourists. Yes, spend a weekend at Bellagio and that gets old real quick.

 

I find the Venetian is amazing to look at, but a bit dull to be in.

 

I would choose Wynncore all day. Thats the only property on the strip were i can stay for days without actually leaving it. Aria would be a second choice for me if u have that option, but the pool area is not as nice and last time i stayed there i had enough after 4 days and moved to the Encore even though my original plan was to stay there for 6 days before moving. Also a big advantage for the clubs at wynncore, Surrender, Xs and Tryst all at the same property is just awesome.

Im never get all my meals comped since i play mostly poker and little gambling but I'm real happy with the dining options the wynncore has to offer and i also like that its close to the Venetian/Palazoo since they also have a lot of good restaurants but i guess u can't take advantage of that since your on comp.

As far as V/P I think they have some great restaurants but as far as staying there i would only recommend it for people who don't know what real luxury is. Bellagio also feel a little to old and crowded for my taste but if you're staying in one of there baller suits its truly a luxurious experience.

The advantage for Aria is that u would have more dining options if u have access to all mgm properties but i would still be a little upset about not being able to take advantage of the Cosmopolitans restaurants while staying almost next door.

 

(1) It's actually quicker to walk out the north valet at Aria and through Vdara to get to Bellagio. That walkway spits you out right by Sensi and the conservatory. It's a 5 minute walk at the most.

(2) If staying at Aria and wanting to head to P-Ho or Cosmo, always walk through the Crystals mall. Once you enter the mall from Aria, stay on the right hand side until you get to the skywalk connecting Crystals to Cosmo. It's a 5 minute walk to get to Cosmo, and 6 or 7 minute walk to get to P-Ho (you simply walk across the skywalk from Cosmo to P-Ho.

You mentioned you are staying for 8 days, so after the first two days, you will know your way around and have these shortcuts down pat. People complain about Aria's distance from the strip simply because they don't know how to navigate it. Never walk out of Aria's front door and head straight to Las Vegas Blvd. If you are heading north, go through Crystals to get to Cosmo and then get on the strip (or head out the north valet and through Vdara if heading to Bellagio). If heading south, I always walk through the Street of Dreams at Monte Carlo and then out onto the strip.

 

I'll be quick about this:

1) Wynncore
2) Bellagio
.
.
.

3) Venetian

 

Ditto

Only change is:

(37) Venetian

 

The only thing Venetian/Palazzo seems to have going for it is the restaurants - they really do have several good ones.

For several years we always stayed at Wynn but would usually at least one day per trip head over to Palazzo because my wife likes the shops there and I like the restaurants - but I never played or stayed there because I always heard bad things - seemed as much as we liked the shops & restaurants, we still had never heard anything positive about the hotel or casino.

Last trip, we were staying at Aria but having a string of bad luck & weren't overwhelmed by Aria's breakfast options - so one day we headed down to Palazzo to have breakfast & hit the shops & play a little to see if I could break my bad luck in a different place. Turned out I did [break my bad luck] - and while I was there got approached by a host - after we got back, he started really aggressively trying to get me to stay there next trip - I was torn - he was making good offers, but all the negative word of mouth I've heard still made me skeptical about staying there - but since I knew we'd be down there anyway for the shops & to eat I finally agreed to set up an LOC and to let the host give me a tour of the place & some suites to try & sell me on staying there in the future - So maybe after I get back I'll have a different opinion - but there's always been something about the Venetian & Palazzo's suites that just turned me off even just looking at them on the website - they just look so bland & underfurnished & grandma-ish - but he said he'd be showing me some suites that aren't on the website & aren't bookable by the general public on our tour - so I'm interested to see what he's going to show us.

 

In my opinion The Venetian has the worst faux luxury of the 5 star Las Vegas mega resorts. When I stayed there the room was huge, but it's pretty obvious they cut corners where ever they can and they have zero taste. The gym is full of broken equipment, the interior looks like a huge mall, checkin makes you feel like cattle, calling the front desk features unacceptable hold times, the bathrobes feel cheap, sales people hassle you when you enter the building, the furniture looks relatively cheap and nicked up, and their restaurant lineup is too steakhouse focused. I could go on and on.

I'm not a fan at all.

 

I agree, I am not a fan of the Venetian complex whatsoever. In fact, I wish there was a way Wynn and Venetian could switch places so that Wynn could be closer to it all.

I would definitely go with the Wynn complex. I really do love the feel of them. The only thing that turns me away is the location.

 

the platinum lounge / VIP check-in is on par with (really above) any non villa/mansion check in on the strip. I was checked in with my g/f at the time, but was during wsop so always had 2-5 friends with me. We abused the lounge so badly; top shelf liquor served to you, brought out bottles of champagne for us, nice little snacks fresh fruit, sandwiches, dips etc. and the staff was top notch.

We were calling them every 10 minutes to get someone else a room key, they let us borrow their personal iphone charger, spa passes when my friend couldn't charge the spa to our room etc etc. I'm probably biased because i like properties that I win at -- but I had nothing but good things to say about V/P even during their comp cutback.


As far as your question. Is this a trip your father will be there too playing, or just for the younger friends? I think if its mostly you and your friends stay at Wynn. The girls there are unreal, you have all 4 clubs, the poker room is very good (they've had some 10/20+ games lately), and Steve Wynn is a genius. You can still head down to the haze, surrender, marquee etc , and since you have a relationship with the B/MGM props they are probably the best issuing hard comps. So if you want to have a nice dinner at prime or lunch at olives, jasmine brunch etc just text host have him send it over. Also can just head down to box office and pick up show tickets as well very easy to get while staying off property.

So you get all the luxuries of staying at the Wynn but still have all your comps at MGM.

 

Thanks for the info folks.

In the end we'll be doing Wynncore - probably the Wynn since it's a little closer to a couple of the malls.

Will be going from July 7 - 17th or so, so I apologize in advance for the 25 or so of us running around the casino and making a mess of most of the restaurants we go to.

For someone that asked yes, MangoPort Sr. will be there so we usually get treated well.

I'm aware the ladies at the Wynn (especially at XS, Surrender etc) will be top notch, but I will be there with a very watchful wife. Good thing I'm bringing my poker sunglasses

I like the Wynn's poker but I actually have a horrible record there. I'm playing in the WSOP so I might sit out cash games if I go deep.

 

I'd stay at vdara, you have access to the B and Aria. the pool at the B isn't great, but you'll have access to Liquid which is pretty good.

BTW can I come?

 

what are you looking for in a great pool? the pool at the B is one of our favorites.

 

The pool at Vdara is by far the worst out of the hotel pools mentioned in this tread. Also access to the B and Aria pool, when did this change? Liquid is a day club that anyone has access to for a fee, it is also miles behind encore beach.

Vdara can't compare to the Wynncore complex in any category except for maybe a better location if u want to be mid strip. I also find the Bellagio pool pretty solid.