Nugget Gripe

Okay so I called the Nugget because I got an offer via email that was $4.00/night than the reservation I already had through Kayak, but they give you a Golden Values Book so I'm thinking the $16 more might be worth it since you get 2 free drinks, meals, etc.

I tell them I'm going to be getting a Landry's card and the guy says that you can't get the upgrade with the Landry's card when booking a promotional offer.

What's the point then? It's not like you get the card for free, it's $25.00. Therefore, you're not really getting any kind of a deal right?

 

You do get $25 in dining credit, so the card actually is free. I think the main thing to remember is that it is a Landry's card, not a Golden Nugget card. Its main features are at Landry's restaurants, with the Golden Nugget perks just an added benefit.

 

I would always recommend booking direct in Vegas. When you use an online booking agent they tend to hide policies and fees. You also are not guaranteed your room preference, just a room. When you book direct in Vegas they try to give you the best possible rate and the try their best to honor your room preference. The Landry's card is an amazing deal because you get the money back in dining credit and it gets you ongoing discounts at all Landry's owned restaurants nationwide.

 

The problem is that even when booking direct you don't get the Landry's card benefits unless you forego any offers or sales (even those received through direct booking). Where as the Landry's card itself is otherwise useful (I mean heck you get $25 every year on your Bday) its value at the GN is questionable. Doubly so when you factor in that the room upgrade is not guaranteed.

 

I mean that as a rule booking direct usually results in the lowest overall price. That's why so many places in Vegas guarantee it. The reason you can't use the Landry's card together with other offers is cause no one lets you combine offers, so that benefit is kinda useless. I see your point about the value of the card not being so great for booking your stay. Really their value shines when dining, probably because other than the Nugget hotels all they own is restaurants. Where I live they own a half dozen restaurants where I could use that card.

 

They actually own much more than just the GN and restaurants. Amusement Parks, Yacht Charters, etc.

http://www.landrysinc.com/concepts/hotelsandresorts.asp

http://www.landrysinc.com/concepts/familydestinations.asp

 

Here in Houston we are filthy with Landry's resturaunts so the value of the card for that purpose isn't in question for me. I just hate that they dangle the carrot of VIP'ness at GN by having the card but then arrange the rules in such a way that make it never a smart choice to use it. Plus in the beginning you used to get decent rates when you called and booked through the Landry's card but I haven't seen any decent Lanrdy's card rates (for GN Vegas) in forever.

 

No, don't jinx it before I get there. I have used the Landry's card more than once to book at GN. This trip, I am FINALLY going to get that all-elusive upgrade. OK, maybe not, but I am hopeful.

Unfortunately, where I live, there is only one Landry's restaurant, and it is not very good, I must say. Seafood in the desert (Las Vegas excepted) is usually not a good call. The food is fine, it's the management. Thus, I really don't get the advantage of the card other than booking with GN direct, using the VIP check-in, hoping to get an upgrade and getting 5 appetizers free during my birthday month. Plus, spending a bit extra to get 250 points in order to get $25.00 off of my Anniversary meal at Vic & Anthony's. Here's to getting that room upgrade.

 

I have stayed at the GN four times over the past few years. Each and every time (except for one night on one stay) we were upgraded with the Landry's card. Three times to a Rush room, once to a Gold room. Two of those times were booked 3rd party (the only times I ever booked 3rd party - the airfare and room prices were cheaper than the stand alone airfare on them). One other time was a GN package with free show tickets. Upgraded every time (even though they officially say they won't, they always have for us). We do avoid Vegas on the weekends and only have stayed at the GN Sun - Thur, so they may be more "forgiving" on weekdays.

 

Great info, thanks! Each of those times did you use regular, rush, or VIP check in desks? I'm wondering if that makes a difference. We're all the rooms originally booked in the Carson tower?

 

I think everybody staying at The Golden Nugget gets the "Golden Values" book upon check-in, whether you have an offer that says so or not - just part of the "Welcome to the Golden Nugget..." package they give you.

Also, you can sometimes find them around the casino between slot machines.

 

When I went I was told that my booking did not include the book. I had to do a bit of arm twisting to get one.

 

You don't get the book upon check-in automatically. If you booked some sort of package deal with an airline, etc., you might get one depending on the offer. Book with GN directly and you should get one depending on offer. I don't get one by default since room is comped. But... I just ask nicely and that usually does the trick.

 

I am curious to hear from someone what the new destination fee book contains....

 

All rooms were booked Carson Tower stays. The first two were Delta Vacations packages where the flights and GN room packages were less expensive than the exact same flights from the Delta website. The first one was 4 nights where we were upgraded to a Rush room. The 2nd Delta package was 3 nights and there was no upgrade available the first night, but they upgraded us to a Rush room the next day.

3rd visit was two nights (of a 6 night Vegas trip) were we booked off the GN website and were upgraded from Carson to Rush. The last visit - last August - we booked an E-mail offer sent by the GN to me for two nights with a small F&B credit, fun book, and two free show tickets. They upgraded us from a Carson to Gold room for both nights.

We used the Rush check in for the first visit. Standard check-in for the other three as we arrived each time after the VIP and Rush check-ins were closed.

 

This has all been very valuable to me, thanks to all of you, and especially 16Gauge who has given me the courage to buy the card.

I called the Nugget tonight and first was told the card was good at all restaurants, then told only 3 restaurants, and finally that we could use at Carson Cafe which is good enough for me, we can always use it for breakfast.

Let's hope I can get that upgrade. Although how far can those Carson elevators be? They tell you 300 feet but I don't recall that city block being as big as a football field.

 

It is actually 3 city blocks to one of the rooms at the end of the hall. I counted from my room at the Plaza.

 

Your room at the Plaza was 3 city blocks from the Plaza elevators?

 

Haha. No, the Carson Tower rooms at the end of the hall are 3 city blocks from Fremont St. 2 Back, 1 over. Plaza sits high enough I could see.

 

We've had a relatively difficult time over the years, receiving the "Landry's upgrade".

Each time at check in we've been told, it was unavailable due to hotel occupancy.

Maybe we just choose the wrong (crowded) times to go--not sure why we haven't had success.

Basically it hasn't worked for us.