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What Happened to the Bellagio?

Discussion in 'LV Strip Hotels' started by parallax, Feb 17, 2016.

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  1. parallax

    parallax High-Roller

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    After reading all the crazy reviews over Superbowl weekend, I noticed that there seems to be a trend. Many of the high and medium rollers tend to spend their time at Cosmo, Wynncore, MGM, and Aria. The Bellagio never seems to be mentioned. Bellagio use to be our home base and we were invited to events. However, when our host left to take a position with Aria, we decided to try Aria. After trying Aria, which my wife did not like, we moved down to MB. We haven't stayed at Bellagio in about 6 years.

    Has Bellagio become a tourist destination? I always thought the gambling environment was pretty good but I have not paid much attention. Has it deteriorated? Or is the Bellagio not offering incentives for the high and medium rollers to take it serious? I just wondering why the Bellagio has fallen out of favor.
     
  2. Travel Fanatic

    Travel Fanatic The Arbiter of Taste Caviar Kid

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    I can only speak about my experiences. I have had a few problems at Bellagio over the past year and a half that I documented in a couple old TRs. I would generally describe it as the level of service for bigger players has eroded in recent years. Add on top of that the fact that the other places you mentioned are newer and the fact that MGM tried to steer bigger players to Aria (at least they were doing that a few years ago) to help with the debt situation over there, and its a recipe for fewer big players. There are still a couple restaurants I really like there. But basically I only go there now when my gf wants to go there
     
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  3. kboltwkreations

    kboltwkreations Low-Roller

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    Offers there are the WORST of all the MGM properties. I played and lost more there in the last 3 years than any other property, yet they have never offered me anything near what Aria, MGM, or MB is willing to do for me. Something different with their offers I suppose.
     
  4. Bo333

    Bo333 VIP Whale

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    I haven't stayed there in years, and when I go back now and then to gamble I don't like the atmosphere, or at least not as much as other places.
     
  5. Bubbavegas

    Bubbavegas VIP Whale

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    From what we have seen the last several trips the crowd there has become dominated by Asian and Mid East patrons, many of which from what I have seen are not even mid level players, in other words tourists and likely paying rack rate. The only plus I can say out of this is that while I seldom received offers from them in the past and usually they were nowhere near the offers from others they have now matched the offers from Aria and Mandalay Bay, doesn't mean we are staying there though as Bo333 mentioned I have come to not really enjoy the atmosphere there like we had in previous years.
     
  6. parallax

    parallax High-Roller

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    We never left on purpose. After the Aria trip, we stayed at the Four Seasons (had some free nights due to work travel) and never ventured north again. I will say that the one thing that I have never been crazy about is the crowds. Everyone walks through the Bellagio and the traffic patterns cut across the main table area. Due to the crazy foot traffic, people will stop and watch you play $100 BJ, as if you were some sort of High Roller (at least that was the case in 2008). At least for me, it is the one casino that you always felt you were in the fishbowl.
     
  7. RockyBalboa

    RockyBalboa Front Line Winner

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    The one thing that has kept me from staying there are the massive never ending crowds.

    Plus the craps dealers can be a little salty and indifferent at times.
     
  8. 44inarow

    44inarow VIP Whale

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    I could not agree more with this. It's weird to say this as a visitor in Vegas, but Bellagio is just too touristy. I'd also add that plenty of people want to sit down and play just to say that they gambled at Bellagio, and the end result is just too many people either watching, or just briefly stopping by. Hell, I've experienced that even at $50, which is basically pocket change at Aria.

    That being said, Picasso is still by far my favorite restaurant in town, and I have a soft spot for Yellowtail as well, but the gambling there is just stressful.
     
  9. MsNVegas

    MsNVegas Low-Roller

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    We've stayed there often, we also got married at the Bellagio, as for gambling, I've never had any luck there and I do mean Never!
     
  10. Geogran

    Geogran VIP Whale

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    It's interesting to hear so many similar stories about the B. We used to stay there twice a year and liked to play in slot tournaments there; even won small jackpots enough to keep us coming back. The last two years we could not win anything, the crowds in the walkways were crazy; our host became invisible. So we haven't stayed there in the past two years. But is was always a lovely place to stay.

    I could never go to Vegas and not visit Bellagio to:
    1) visit the Conservatory
    2) have dinner at Le Cirque - our favorite place to dine
     
  11. leo21

    leo21 VIP Whale

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    There has always been a crowd that felt that too many tourists go through Bellagio. But IMO, MGM wants Aria to be the flagship property of their line and let them cannibalize the B's business over building it's own player base. And did anyone like the remodels? There was a lot of negative feedback on the new room designs. I don't know if it drove customers away per se, but I never got the impression it helped.
     
  12. FullPay

    FullPay When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro

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    When the Wynn's ran the place, the service matched the price. One of my best decisions was taking my wife there for our tenth anniversary; we got to experience what those tourists are sniffing around for.
     
  13. ginmil

    ginmil Tourist

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    We use to love B, the slots have tightened up ridiculously, they moved the favorite Blazing 7's machines and made them tighter than ever. The sports book is nice, still looking for a home book to bet the ponies other than the B.
     
  14. MsNVegas

    MsNVegas Low-Roller

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    I like the remodeled rooms, I really like the decor
     
  15. landsburger

    landsburger High-Roller

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    This makes me laugh. Nothing worse than salty craps dealers (or stickman or whatever). Funny how often you find them. You'd think the floor would keep them off the tables.

    And I don't mean Bellagio. Just seen that in general over the years.
     
  16. RockyBalboa

    RockyBalboa Front Line Winner

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    Agreed.

    The only place I find this to be amusing is at Casino Royale. I like watching them get pissed for no reason and when a hot roll is going on how badly they sweat the money.

    At a high class joint like the B it shouldn't be that way
     
  17. Pea

    Pea Low-Roller

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    I have to go there every trip because it IS one of those touristy, must-see places and I love the atmosphere -- except for the gambling -- the casino never seems very lively, no matter what time of day or night. I play a little, and end up leaving.
     
  18. AbFab

    AbFab Low-Roller

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    Was there last month, and I swear their dealers have become the most miserable dealers on all of the strip. They never were like that before.
     
  19. IM ALL IN

    IM ALL IN High-Roller

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    Interesting. I'm listening. I'm revisiting B next week for a $500 buy in slotty, as my homie MB has not been kind on the floor. I don't as a rule stay midstrip as I too cannot handle the crowds, the lookeyloos. Too many people. One of the reasons I enjoy MB is when I arrive...it's like Ahhhhhhh....not too many "Walking the Strip" lookeyloos....
     
  20. Brick

    Brick Low-Roller

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    Agreed. Last time I played craps there, the table crew was more focused on griping about shifts and personnel than on taking bets. Bad juju at that table.
     
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