1. Welcome to VegasMessageBoard
    It appears you are visiting our community as a guest.
    In order to view full-size images, participate in discussions, vote in polls, etc, you will need to Log in or Register.

Quicky report

Discussion in 'Vegas Trip Reports' started by MikeE, Apr 1, 2009.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. MikeE

    MikeE The Shah's Slightly Hairy Cousin

    Joined:
    Nov 5, 2003
    Messages:
    1,596
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    888

    My Trip Report

    Here’s my report for Encore, March 29-31. Feel free to skip to sections that interest you.

    Gambling:

    I put in four strong gambling sessions at the tables, but the most memorable was at Encore’s pai gow poker table to the left just as you enter from the strip porte cochere. I saw this table with a minimum of $10 several times throughout the trip and if you’re a scotch drinker, you can get Macallan 18 comped here! $30 per glass drink + slow game at low minimums = positive expectation. We passed a couple hours here, I made about $200, and we even got three comped dinners at the Terrace Pointe Café with a spread of only about $15 to $50 per hand.

    The Recession:

    I’m sick and tired of reading about the state of the economy, especially as it pertains to Vegas, but it’s so refreshing to see people genuinely appreciating tips like never before. Just how appreciative? At that same pai gow table where the Macallan flowed freely, we were dropping a buck every now and then to the dealers when luck was down and playing for them when the cards seemed in our favor. The Sky Casino came up in conversation and I casually mentioned how I’d love to see it (took only a peek last trip before getting the stare down from security). Sure enough, the pit boss called her shift manager down and he took us up for a tour…

    Places I Shouldn’t Be In:

    Playing in the Sky Casino is by host’s invitation only to those with a credit line of $300,000 or more—far from this 20-something year old with a $1000 bankroll. It’s got five “salons†of varying sizes, a private cage, private restrooms, butlers running around, most of the popular table games with the exception of craps, and of course, jaw-dropping floor-to-ceiling views of north and south strip from Encore’s top floor. But despite the views and a level of luxury literally rivaling that of a palace, unless I truly cherished my privacy or could take over one of the salons with my own entourage of friends, I think I’d keep all my gambling downstairs no matter what my credit line; the Sky Casino is a little too reserved, even for my tastes.

    I also got to see a “Duplex Apartment†suite which is Encore’s top accommodation and was recently featured in the April 2009 issue of Architectural Digest. The entrance of the 5800 square foot room is dramatic and your attention is immediately drawn upward to the bi-level chandelier hanging from a ceiling of gold mosaic tile. The living room features a 72-inch flat panel television on the right, a bar spanning the entire wall’s length at the left, and breathtaking 20-foot floor-to-ceiling windows directly in front. Down a long hallway is one master bedroom while at the opposite end is a game room with pool table. Along the way is a butler pantry with kitchen and its own entrance to keep the service as transparent as possible. Up the grand staircase (should you not opt for the elevator) are identical master bedrooms on each side with views of the strip and the entire Las Vegas valley. The walls are fully upholstered in brown mohair. Despite many traditional touches, the suite feels casual and contemporary. I thought by seeing the suite, it would help me un-justify the cost of reserving one. I thought wrong.

    Dining:

    The greatest thing about Society Café is the complimentary warm pretzel bread and dipping sauce. It’s more memorable than the excellent entrées.

    The last restaurant left for me to try at Encore was Botero. There’s been plenty of reviews singing its praises all over so I won’t get into too much detail other than to say that I plan on returning again and again. Phenomenal meal, phenomenal atmosphere. It’s by far Encore’s most popular restaurant and for good reason.

    Wazuzu wazawezome. Much better experience than the first time dining there.

    Despite all its struggles, Tableau still remains one of, if not the top breakfast spot in town.

    Nightlife:

    We hit XS on Monday night, the local industry night that gets packed. A friend of mine walked us in and we got a table with a comped bottle of champagne plus the option of two-for-one prices on anything else off the bottle service menu. As the champagne ran dry, the club started picking up, but $450 for two one-liter bottles of Kettle One is a bit much for five already-drunk friends. What’s awesome about XS though is that it’s overbuilt even by the economic standards of two years ago. That means that there are always tables available and as long as you’re ordering drinks from the bar to bring back, they won’t give you a hard time for sitting in them. In fact, on a beautiful night like ours, I’d say a good 10% if the tables inside the club were available and every single one of the 30 or so cabanas out by the pool were unoccupied.

    Wynn has likened the vibe of this club to St. Tropez numerous times. I couldn’t agree more. The combination of cabanas, daybeds, blackjack tables, and chairs in the water makes for a true homage to the club’s name. And that’s only what you’ll find on the outside. Inside, the layout is Tryst on steroids. Behind every booth for bottle service is a flat space where everyone is encouraged to climb up on and dance. The bathrooms are massive—never a line for the ladies and the attendants really earn their tips; the moment I finished washing my hands, I had one attendant drying them while another rolled a lint remover all over my coat. This place really makes you feel pampered once inside.

    I don’t think Foundation Room is long for this world. Its big night is Monday nights, but it’s now competing with XS, Jet, and Privé. We headed up on a members-only Sunday at around 10pm and were literally three of about thirteen people in there total.

    Another friend had a table at Body English as well which we joined in on, but arriving drunk and having been stuffed at Botero had me near-sick the whole night.

    Final Thoughts:

    Check-in for Encore on a Sunday morning was an absolute zoo. I actually don’t mind the waiting as much as I do standing around that many disgruntled people—totally kills the good vibes you get from finally arriving. They told me they would call me when my room would become available and of course they never did. I went back at 3pm and after another half hour, I begged to upgrade to Tower Suites. At only $50 per night, that might have been the best money spent on the trip.

    Resort check-in procedures at Encore really need to change. I understand that they are trying to set themselves apart from other hotels by calling the bell desk for you to have your luggage sent to the room and it’s also a nice gesture when they take a map out and draw your path to the elevators when they’re literally steps away, but it’s just not worth the expense of a half hour or more wait.

    It’s nice to have the power back to the consumer, but it breaks my heart to see the skeletal foundations of Echelon and Palazzo’s condos or the extra smile from employees in tip-dependent jobs.

    Thanks all for reading. I’d be happy to answer any questions.
     
  2. DonD

    DonD VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Nov 5, 2004
    Messages:
    9,135
    Location:
    So Cal 91748
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    300
    Thanks for a great report Joe. The check in was exactly like that when we checked into Wynn on our last trip. It's got to be there computer system. We never got our cell call either and after two hours I called them and they said that it was ready.
    Thanks for reporting the things that most of us will never get to see. It's highly appreciated. :nworthy:
     
  3. doctor_al

    doctor_al VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2002
    Messages:
    11,670
    Location:
    Twin Cities
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    18
    Always a fascinating read M. Love hearing about this stuff. It would be too bad if Foundation room closed, I think that's probably one of the best spaces I've seen in Vegas.

    Just a bit of a hike from Fremont, though, so I don't get there as often as I'd like.
    :rolleyes:
     
  4. blackjacknut

    blackjacknut VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2008
    Messages:
    3,410
    Location:
    Northeast Ohio
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    56
    Nice TR..thanks for posting...:thumbsup:
     
  5. KevinSTP

    KevinSTP High-Roller

    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2001
    Messages:
    533
    Location:
    southern california
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    31
    Nice TR Joe. Did you have to ask for the comped dinners at the Terrace Point, or was it something they offered you?
     
  6. angel81chick

    angel81chick Abuelita

    Joined:
    Jun 29, 2007
    Messages:
    2,687
    Location:
    City of Angels
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    999
    Excellent TR as always, and it was great catching up with you :D
     
  7. Courtney

    Courtney Resident polygamist

    Joined:
    Dec 23, 2005
    Messages:
    562
    Location:
    Tampa Bay, FL
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    22
    Thanks!

    That suite is drop dead! Is that a private Baccarat table in there? Do they have a dealer that sleeps in the closet, so if you get the urge to play at 3am, he pops out and starts to deal?

    How much would a night there set one back?
     
  8. Beach Crazy

    Beach Crazy Hostess With the Mostess

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2002
    Messages:
    6,219
    Location:
    Central Illinois
    You never cease to amaze me Mike! Thanks for the write up. :thumbsup:
     
  9. Coaster Kikky

    Coaster Kikky Tourist

    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2003
    Messages:
    11,493
    Location:
    Here
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    32
    The Sky Casino and that suite are amazing!! I'd love to see them too! Angy... how about MMX?? :wink2:

    Interesting to know about getting comps. John & I played a good couple hours of pai gow at Encore at $50 a hand (and dropped several tips along the way) and never asked about a comp. Next time for sure! We enjoyed Cafe Society for breakfast, although the service was slow (it wasn't laziness - our waiter was stretched too thin that morning).
     
  10. Dean Martin

    Dean Martin VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Jan 16, 2003
    Messages:
    5,785
    Location:
    VA
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    40
    I always love your TR's:nworthy: I'm a huge Steve Wynn fan ever since he built the Mirage. We love the Wynn and what we've seen of Encore (never stayed at Encore yet).

    Tell me... if you're already on a comp for a Resort room at Wynn, do you think they'd do a (resonable cost-wise) upgrade to a Tower Suite?

    Thanks, Dino
     
  11. gotavegasjones

    gotavegasjones VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Jan 16, 2004
    Messages:
    3,104
    Location:
    South Texas
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    31
    Thanks for the great post.

    later, GVJ
     
  12. MikeE

    MikeE The Shah's Slightly Hairy Cousin

    Joined:
    Nov 5, 2003
    Messages:
    1,596
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    888
    Thank you all for the comments.

    Dino, I was already on a comp for Resort side and made the upgrade to Tower suites for $50 per night. My comp, however, wasn't from Wynn but was a free gift American Express sent to some card holders. Upgrade policies might be different if your comp is coming directly from Wynn marketing.

    Courtney, the Sky Casino is not part of the suite, but just outside the top floor unit. The suite runs $5k per night.

    Kevin, we asked for the comp.
     
  13. eWorm

    eWorm Tourist

    Joined:
    Nov 5, 2008
    Messages:
    86
    Location:
    Las Vegas, NV
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    0
    Your table(s) aren't in the suite, but they are mere steps away from the front door of it. Your table(s) (and I do mean YOUR, it's reserved just for your play only) is staffed 24 hours a day with dealers, supervisors, clerks, butlers, and cage staff to ensure you can play at any time you feel the need :)
     
  14. Courtney

    Courtney Resident polygamist

    Joined:
    Dec 23, 2005
    Messages:
    562
    Location:
    Tampa Bay, FL
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    22

    That's sick. Even if money were no issue and I was a jizillionaire- I don't think I'd want to play there. What fun is playing head to head? Most of the fun of a good table game to me is high fiving strangers and the smack talk. I stopped playing with the hopes of winning when I saw Ben Affleck playing 25K a hand at blackjack at Palms a few years back. I honestly don't think I would ENJOY playing as much if money were no issue. Some of the fun is the idea of striking it rich, but there is no difference between me placing a $5 bet and winning $5 and Ben placing a $25K and winning $25K.
     
  15. rock28

    rock28 Tourist

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2009
    Messages:
    28
    Location:
    Ridley Park, PA
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    0
    Nice Report Joe, You always seem to have a great time, staying at some of the nicest places in vegas. I could definatly use some pointers for my first trip in August.
     
  16. mikenhe

    mikenhe VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2006
    Messages:
    2,579
    Location:
    anglo american in Tampa
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    9
    Nice work M.
    Sounds like a fun time. Shame you couldn’t do the weekend before.. I missed your chips at the poker table…
     
  17. Dean Martin

    Dean Martin VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Jan 16, 2003
    Messages:
    5,785
    Location:
    VA
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    40
    Courtney, I couldn't agree more but then I think these whales are not about the fun but primarily about winning some (serious) money and playing head to head takes out all the (supposed) bad plays that others might make that throw off the cards. See, there is a good thing about being common people w/ avergae incomes, we still have things that excite us like Christmas morning when we were 12:wave:

    Thanks for the info, Joe. Our comp was offered by a host we've gotten to know (versus a marketing special...if it makes any difference??) so I think I will ask about the upgrade at check-in. I'm always all about the "nothing ventured, nothing gained":thumbsup:

    I'm assuming you would recommend the Tower Suites versus the Resort Room? They're basically the same room right?... just w/ more ammenities?
     
  18. peanutmnm

    peanutmnm Scotchy

    Joined:
    Jun 25, 2005
    Messages:
    731
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    0
    Nice recap Joe. Glad to see they treated you some decent scotch.
     
  19. eWorm

    eWorm Tourist

    Joined:
    Nov 5, 2008
    Messages:
    86
    Location:
    Las Vegas, NV
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    0
    A huge draw to the whales that play in the Sky Casino is discretion, privacy and personalized service. Some people love the attention and want a crowd of people watching them play 250k per hand, however most do not. :)
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.