MGM Grand; what do you think?

I haven't seen any recent posts on MGM Grand lately. I will be staying there next month and can't wait! In your opinion what's the best part of MGM or what don't you care for? Room and restaurant recommendations at MGM would be greatly appreciated. The last time I stayed there they still had the lions. It looks like so much of it has changed. Thanks in advance. I really appreciate your advice.

 

Food: Craftsteak, Puck, Emeril's, Shibuya

Hotel: Big and crowded, for the crowds and revelry there is a lot of room noise, workable mid-pack regular rooms, great pool

 

A lot of good food options. Good location. Nice pool area. Too big for me personally.

 

We really liked it. As said, it is big and loud. It was a big party crowd late and into early morning. We liked the pool but there were a lot of kids splashing about. Have a great trip!

 

It's my 'home' casino, so I obviously like it. There are plenty of food and gambling options. I don't find it 'too big', and once you get your bearings its easy to navigate.
It's close to several other casinos making it handy.

 

Great pool. Fun vibe. My home casino as well.

 

Its been my home casino for the last few years as well. I've always had a good time there.
Size: it is a big place but its a simple layout: like Bo said get your bearings. Just remember where the cashiers cage is and the main lobby and base everything off of that.
Rooms: starting to show a little wear but they are still nice. If you can get an upgrade to a suite, even if you need to pay a little extra its worth it. Bigger room, sitting area, nicer bathroom with a double sink and separate tub and shower.
Pool: If you want a seat next to the pool then get there early. Even if you get there later you should still find a seat just not by the pools or lazy river. -- If you want a frozen drink, go grab one at Fat Tuesdays (downstairs on the way to the parking garage) or the frozen drink place on the way to the pool. -- you can get a drink twice the size for the same price that you would pay at the pool.
Food: Wolfgang pucks is awesome. Never had a bad meal there, plus they are open late night. Their woodfire pizza is great especially late at night. If you life blue cheese, try the truffled chips. The burger is really good and huge.
Emerils - they have a great happy hour menu. Pub 1842 has some decent burgers, and they have a bbq drumstick appetizer that is awesome, but the beers can be a little pricey.
Bars: If you play video poker the bar at Whiskey down (right next to the mLife desk, it used to be a club before) is really nice, but they only have a handful of machines. Even though whiskey down has high limit tables, they do have 25 cent video poker. The bars across from the casino cage is usually decent, depends on the bartenders working there though. It does get pretty crowded though.

From the look of the date you are going, if you are there through the next weekend you will be there for the Mayweather fight. Just be prepared for huge crowds. The last time I left the Tuesday before a Mayweather fight, the hotel went from 40% occupied to 100% between Monday and Tuesday. But there will be some cool things to see at that time.

 

Craft is solid. Shibuya is good sushi. I like Pub 1842 for drinks and nachos.

the regular rooms/suites are decent enough, but nothing special.

but I know I definitely wouldn't stay there regularly outside of the Skylofts and Mansion.

 

You'll be showing off your Hooter's top-floor digs to us, right?

 

My favorite thing about MGM Grand is the pool. We had lounge chairs right by the lazy river so it was easy to take a dip and fun to people watch. It is a trek to get to, but totally worth the walk.

 

you know it!

or I might go with Trop and get the suite Nate had last time!

 

I was just talking to the monkey about that. LOL

If you, Natedog, PayTriple, me, pleep and Sailboat all go to the Trop. In one good shoe we would kill their Quarterly P/L. Hell, you guys might end up owning the place.

 

I like MGM a lot, it has become our home base based on the wifey's comps (we'll be there in two weeks!!). It's good central casino and the tables have been at least somewhat kind in the past. 1842 is good for a burger as is Tom Collichio's place Whichwich for a quick bit before hopping on the monorail before leaving for other parts of the strip.

Most of the rooms we have gotten have been nicely updated but rooms aren't a big deal to me as long as it's cool and clean. The spa is great.

 

Its a younger crowd these days.

I am 44 and feel completely out of place there.

Not that it is not a great hotel. I used to stay there every trip. I just don't fit there any more.

 

This. I don't have the play to stay in the Mansion, so I don't stay there. The regular rooms, and even the suites are just meh.

 

I like the MGM. It is where I usually stay. I like the location and that it is so big. I love playing at Whiskey Down.

But it definitely has gotten younger. I think Hakkasan brings a lot of younger guests there.

 

MGM is our favorite too. It is easy to hop on the monorail and go up the strip. We just stayed there aug 1-6. The food court is good for cheap eats. We also ate at Emeril's and loved it. Tap their Sportsbar was good and Whiskey Down was nice. It seems overwhelming at first, but as others have said once you get your bearings it is easy to navigate.

 

Mgm is great.
In the AM go to the Starbucks around the corner from the sports book, it way less crowded.
For bottled water, snacks etc. exit via the west wing entrance (by the aforementioned Starbucks) and go right into the back of the Grand Canyon store. I have no idea if that's the name of the place, but that's what it is to me.
If you are on floor 19 or lower, use the west wing elevators.

Pay to have the chefs 3course menu at craftsteak. You will not regret it. Don't plan on doing anything other than waddling afterwards and get sexy time in first.
Tap and hecho en Vegas are not as good as the rest of the food line-up

 

Tap Sports Bar is where the lions used to be it is a great addition that the Grand has been missing the rooms are so-so but the comps keep me coming back enjoy

 

MGM Grand is the only property I get comped rooms for from MGM (go figure) so I've stayed there about 6 times total and will be there again in a week.

It's a huge property but pretty straight-forward to navigate after a day staying there. Decent location (close to NYNY, Luxor, Excalibur and Hooters for lower limits/cheaper gambling). It a 20 min walk from MGM past NYNY to Monte Carlo and then go through the Street of Dreams to get to the free monorail. From there you can easily get to Aria and Bellagio center strip.

The people watching (like playing VP at Centrifuge) for night-clubbers waiting to get into Hakkasan is outstanding (it's like a watching a supermodel convention). Great pool area w/6-8 separate pools and a long lazy river.

Recommend Emeril's for Happy Hour from 2pm-6pm everyday for reasonably cheap seafood eats and drink (love the frog legs). Wolfgang Puck's is always open. The new sports bars (TAP and Pub 1842) are a welcome addition.

Since I play predominately VP when I go to Vegas, I really enjoy playing at Whiskey Down where they have 9/5 DDB at the $0.25 level and they comp Glenlivet while you play (and a great assortment of bourbons, whiskeys and ryes if you are into that sort of thing). The other 2 VP bars only have 8/5 DDB for quarters but I like the bartenders at the smaller Lobby Bar near the elevators (the waitresses there wear garter stockings so that's also a plus in my book).

I think the Grand King/Queen rooms (not the small West WIng rooms) are pretty nice and are really good basic rooms. The blackout curtains work great for a quick drunken power nap midday.

Highly recommend MGM Grand.

Chris