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Question regarding Bellagio Executive Lounge / VIP Lounge, and tipping etc.

Discussion in 'Misc. Vegas Chat' started by Fuddrucker, May 23, 2012.

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  1. Fuddrucker

    Fuddrucker Tourist

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    Hi all,

    Just booked a Penthouse lakeview suite at Bellagio. We are not a High Roller by any means but have always wanted to do this and finally deceided to just go for it, so we are booked. Since this is our first time really living it up, I don't want to look like a jerk to those that are attending our every need and using the ammenities and services that are being offered to us because of the type of suite we have. I have searched and found a lot of good info but I still have a few questions.......

    Never being a VIP this is all new to me so when I check in, I know I will go to the special executive lounge and check in there. Do I just find the door and walk in, or let one of the staff know what my suite is and then they will take me in.

    I am more of a "I'll handle that myself, thanks" type of person so I never have a bell boy (are they still called that) take my luggage ect, because I figure I can do it just fine myself. I have read that when checking in, they will want to take care of my luggage and everything. Will they ask, or just take my stuff for me up to the room? Is it wrong to tell them, I can handle it, (we travel pretty light, maybe 2-3 bags) or will they look at me like I just grew a third arm and figure I am too cheap to tip them and then give me attitude etc.

    Regarding the Executive and VIP lounges, again this is all new to me so I am just not used to being treated this way, or being able to indulge in these types of "free" services, so I don't want to look like an idiot. Am I understanding correctly that my wife and I can just go in, walk up to the counter and have some food, open the cabinets and pour our own drinks, cocktails, ect. or tell someone what we want and they make it for us? Also, as much as we want (within reason of course)? Example..... I can go in, open the cabinet, grab a coke, pour in a glass then pour some rum in it, and then either stay or walk out with it, then come back for another later? Take stuff back to my room whenever? Seems so unreal to me.

    Now, if you have read this far, thanks, I appreciate your patience. What about tipping? I don't mind tipping but I have never needed to tip anyone other than housekeeping. Soooo,,,,, Do I tip anyone in the lounges? What is a proper tip if they take our bags up to our room on check-in, and what would be a proper tip for housecleaning twice a day and turndown service each night? I have seen $5 to $10 per day suggested for basic housekeeping, but I don't think this qualifies as basic.

    Thanks!
     
  2. JosieCat

    JosieCat VIP Whale

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    According to my host, they have greeters in the lobby to guide you to where you need to go. That's all I know as my first stay at Bellagio is coming up in September.
     
  3. Travel Fanatic

    Travel Fanatic The Arbiter of Taste Caviar Kid

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    I have only used a VIP checkin at the Mirage and I simply walked in, poured my own drink, grabbed a snack, and waited on a couch for a few minutes until a checkin desk opened up. Nobody looked at me funny. Can't imagine Bellagio is any different
     
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  4. shifter

    shifter Degenerate Gambler

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    when you arrive, (via limo?) a bellman will greet you and ask if you need assistance. if you don't want it, just tell him you've got it. i've done that before, no problem. just take your own bags into the lounge and set them off to the side while you check in at the desk. you just walk right in, nobody checks anything to see if you belong there. you check in at the desk just like anywhere else and then they'll give you your room key and you can collect your bags and head off to your room.

    during your trip, just go in there whenever you want and pour yourself a drink or grab a snack. again, nobody checks anything. sometimes there's a guy there who will make drinks for you. tip him as you would a CW if you have him make you a drink. sometimes nobody will be there and it's just self service. just take the glass out into the casino or up to your room or whatever and leave it wherever when you're done with it. i don't really know how they manage to get all the glasses back to where they belong, but somehow they do it.

    as far as housekeeping, that's up to you. your suite is bigger than a standard room, so you could tip more, but whether you tip at all or how much you tip entirely depends on your preference. some people tip $5/day, i personally don't usually tip housekeeping at all. but i'm thinking about changing that philosophy as i've walked in on them cleaning my suite before and they do quite a lot of work because of the bigger space and bathrooms, etc. so i think i will tip at least $10/day from now on.
     
  5. BeeeJay

    BeeeJay President of The Red Lobster Hostess Satisfaction

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    If memory serves me correctly Bellagio has two lounges now that could be considered the VIP check-in.

    I thought the smaller one up front by the bellmans desk, and then the larger version in the back by the Conservatory.

    I've checked in at the front and the back on Penthouse Suite reservations. The bellman showed me from the limo to the proper lounge each time. I always refuse the bellman service due to not wanting to wait. If they stay with you the whole time I'll use them and tip $5 per bag. Worth it just to get the ice bucket filled.

    I think at Bellagio they may wait with you while you check in but then take a different elevator or something. At Aria and Wynn Tower Suites they would wait and go up with you.

    Once you are checked in, which as Shifter said, is no different from any normal check in procedure, you can just go into that lounge throughout your stay. In fact "some people" have been known to pop into the Bellagio and Aria VIP lounges at their whim whether or not staying at either property.

    I would always tip Alfred (Aria) or Jose (Bellagio) $5 if they were in the lounge and made me and a friend a couple drinks. a lot of times they are stocking stuff or on break, you just make your own drinks. At Bellagio some of those prissy bitches might give you a look over when you walk in. That is part of the fun.

    I would make full use of the lounge and enjoy. It's a once high-roller only benefit that Bellagio started throwing in with the Penthouses during the recession. I would beat that thing like a red-headed step-child.

    And of course once you know where the door is, it is yours forever (although I would up the tip to $20 if you spend hours in there drinking with girls you just met).:beer:
     
  6. shifter

    shifter Degenerate Gambler

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    i'm sure that was a purely hypothetical situation and had no correlation with any real events past or future. ;)
     
  7. Fuddrucker

    Fuddrucker Tourist

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    Thanks for all the info, that was just what I was looking for.

    No limo for us though as we will be driving up from So. Cal.
     
  8. Tubbs

    Tubbs High-Roller

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    Responses below -

     
  9. jr7110

    jr7110 VIP Whale

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    Beejay is correct - there are two VIP check in areas at The Bellagio. There is one directly to the left as you walk into the hotel (it is a dark unmarked door right before you get to the reservations desk). You just walk in and check in as you normally would if you are a guest in a suite. There is also another VIP check in that is more hidden in the back where the suite guest elevators are located.

    P.S. - try and request a lakeview on the 36th floor if you can get it - any Lakeview Penthouse Suites is great BUT being at the top of the hotel the rooms on the 36th floor have extremely high ceilings - much higher than the rooms on the floors below -- so that the rooms seem even more massive and grander.
     
  10. shifter

    shifter Degenerate Gambler

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    just to let you know, more than $5 is customary for 2-3 bags when you're in a big suite. my first trip in a suite, the guy brought up our couple of bags and set them out and showed us around the suite and everything and i handed him a $5 thinking i was being generous and you should have seen the look on his face. it was actually very rude of him, but it did help me learn. so i asked around later to some other people to figure out what i did wrong and found out that most people tip at least $5/bag in the big suites. i will tip at least $10 for a couple of bags if i don't have them do anything. if i have them set everything up in the closet and get me ice and stuff i will do $20.
     
  11. VegasBJ

    VegasBJ VIP Whale

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    I usually give a $20 for 2 bags if in the nicer suites.
     
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