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TR 9/2-7 - Bellagio and the Castle???

Discussion in 'Vegas Trip Reports' started by JosieCat, Sep 8, 2012.

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  1. JosieCat

    JosieCat VIP Whale

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    My Trip Report

    I will post as a reply.
     
  2. JosieCat

    JosieCat VIP Whale

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    The trip included me and my BF – who I shall call T. The plan was to land in Vegas on Sunday 9/2 and drive 4 hours to Kanab, Utah, spending 2 days there before returning to Vegas for 3 more nights at the Bellagio. Three days before we left, I got sick. Luckily I got into the doctor and got some drugs. I suspected I wouldn’t be up to a 3 hour flight and then a 4 hour drive though, so I tried to talk T into just staying in Vegas, and keeping the car, and doing some of the things we hadn’t done before, like seeing some of the off strip properties, etc. He did not like the idea at all, so we kept our plans.

    After we landed, NOW he agrees to stay in Vegas because he wasn’t up to a 4 hour drive, and I didn’t want one either, so we decided to stay in town. I won’t bore you with the details of how we ended up at the Excalibur, but that’s where we ended up for the first 2 days. T did NOT want to get the car – he wasn’t at all comfortable driving around Vegas. So we lost a bit of money on our Kanab hotel and the car, based on his last minute decision. Oh well.

    The Excalibur

    It was just fine. We both had the Widescreen tower rooms and they were actually not bad at all (T snores like nothing you’ve ever heard, so we can’t share a room). I do recommend anyone staying there to bring their own shampoo. We kind of looked like Jerry and Kramer on the Seinfeld episode with the new low-flow shower heads – it wasn’t pretty :). The beds were very comfortable. My only complaint was that the vanity mirror in the bathroom was missing and being blind as a bat, I practically had to crawl into the sink to be able to put my makeup on. We ate at the buffet once, and had fast food the rest of the time. The buffet filled the whole, but we didn’t feel any pressing need to go back.

    When checking in, the line was very long, then T noticed an “M Life” room, which was empty, so we went in there and were both able to check in there and get into our rooms (this was probably around 11:00 a.m.) right away. Very surprising on a holiday weekend. Heck, I was surprised we were able to get rooms.

    When checking out I went to the M Life booth to have our play evaluated (my first time doing this as usually I have a comp offer), and the man there was totally unfamiliar with this concept, and just kept pointing out that we had enough express comps to pay for the rooms and didn’t we just want to use those? No, I didn’t want to just use those. He finally called someone over (I assume a host) and he comped both of our stays and the buffet which we had each charged to our room (about $229 each).

    While staying at the Excalibur, we visited the Tropicana (the changes there are very nice), the Luxor, MB, MGM Grand, NY NY, MC and the Aria. During the whole 2 days, the biggest thing we hit gambling was $600 on a Big Green machine at NY NY. Otherwise, the slots were NOT friendly at all. We typically each bet between $3-$5 a spin, and pretty much spend the majority of our time gambling.

    Given that this was Labor Day weekend, I didn’t think the crowds were bad at all.

    Kids - everywhere. I don’t mean teenagers. I mean little kids, infants, etc. I didn’t see even one who looked happy.

    The Bellagio

    I really can’t say enough good things about the Bellagio (with the exception of gambling there). We both had comp offers there, and we were in connecting Lakeview rooms. They were awesome. We were in rooms 28-056 and 28-058 with beautiful views of the fountain. Every single staff person we encountered was friendly and helpful. We encountered no nightclub noise while staying there and the rooms and beds were awesome!!!

    We got there REALLY early on Tuesday (9:00 a.m.???), and went into the VIP lounge, which was empty, to check in (where I was told to check in by the marketing rep who booked the rooms). We were promptly told no, we had to use the invited guest line. Luckily there was no one else in that line as it had just opened, so that worked fine. I was able to get into my room immediately, so we were able to put our luggage in there until T’s room was ready.

    We ate at the buffet twice for lunch. It was good. Thinking back, we should have tried it for an evening meal, but it just didn’t happen. We had room service our last night. T had a steak, baked potato and asparagus. I had the herb roasted chicken, whipped potatoes, and French onion soup. T had the warmed apple cobbler for desert. It was very good, but far too much food (I hate to waste food). The French onion soup was big enough for an entire meal.

    While we didn’t eat at the Bellagio Café, I would stop there each morning for my coffee. What a great little place this is. Again, the staff at the B was awesome. I remember reading somewhere about people encountering snooty staff. Every person we encountered was great.

    OK, now the bad. We won NOTHING at the Bellagio, and I saw no one else winning anything either. T went the whole trip without hitting even one 4OK. My favorite Siberian Storm machines literally beat the snot out of us here, as well as did every other machine that we played. We tried everything, $1 machines, $5 machines, pennies, nickels, and quarters. The biggest thing we hit was $300 on a 5 times pay machine, which really isn’t saying too much for the level that we gamble at.

    Flamingo

    I had double booked here for 2 nights to take advantage of $550 in reel rewards coupons. I was very surprised when I went to pick them up – they asked which casino I wanted them for. I would have just assumed they would ONLY be available for the casino that had made you the offer.

    This was the only place we did any good at – and every time we went there we left with the money we came with. The Siberian Storm machines were very friendly here.

    Not sure I would double book again. It seemed like more work than fun, to make sure we gave each casino enough play to justify the comped rooms and free play.

    Other general observations:

    After 3 losing trips in a row, I’m not feeling too warm and fuzzy about returning any time soon. Although I suspect it is a bit like giving birth, where after a while, you forget the pain, and want another baby :). I don’t expect to win a big jackpot, but I do like to get some play time for my money, and that was definitely lacking. At our level of play ($65,000 minimum combined coin-in), in my opinion, we should at least be hitting the occasional $800-$900 win, or maybe a hand pay? It did NOT happen.

    Flights – flights were just fine – Delta, both flights landed early. Although they kept moving my seat around. When I printed out the boarding pass, it had me in a different seat then the one that I had printed on my itinerary (and that was a fairly recent itinerary) – plus when I was boarding, they printed out a little slip of paper giving me a completely different seat. That’s on top of the 2 changes that happened prior to that in the months since I booked. T and I were originally sitting together on both flights, and ended up not sitting together on either flight.

    M Life really needs to get their stuff together. System problems are not just on their web site. We encountered them several times at the hotels as well, from tier credits not updating because the system was down, to people not being able to charge to their rooms, check in terminals not working, etc. We also encountered several machines where points were not working, even thought the machine “accepted” our card.

    Tropicana free play deal. We went there the first day and each lost our $100, then our $50 in free play. We went back the next day for our $25 free play and I actually turned that into $400 on a Life of Luxury machine. What was nice was that you didn’t have to go back to the window, as they had self-service kiosks to get your free play loaded. We didn’t make it back on the third day.

    NY NY – they had an M Life kiosk where you could see your tier credits, etc. I wish all M Life casinos had these – very slick.

    LEARN FROM MY MISTAKES. Don’t sit down on a cloth chair without checking it first. Mandalay Bay – picture it: we play VP there for 15 minutes or so, stand up, and my bum is completely wet (I don’t know how I didn’t notice it when I sat down, but I didn’t until I stood up). Someone had either spilled a drink (I hope) or did something else on the chair (which I choose not to think about) before I sat down on it. So I had to walk back to the Excalibur with a completely wet bum. Needless to say a shower was in order and those capris went into their own dirty laundry bag once they dried. Um, YUK!!!!

    M Life – I earned around 180,000 tier credits on the trip. T around 145,000. I earned around $550 in express comps, T around $320 (he was gold for most of the trip, but did earn platinum on like the 4th day).

    Total Rewards – I earned around 800 tier credits.

    So, not a winning trip, but we were still in Vegas so it wasn't all bad. Believe me, I’d love to do a trip report about great big gobs of money that we won (or even little gobs of money), but you can’t report on what didn’t happen.
     
  3. winwin

    winwin Tourist

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    Thanks for sharing even though you didn't win big. I also like the B and have had great service there. Interesting comment about child birth....you do forget the pain and you'll be back:)
     
  4. captainron62

    captainron62 VIP Whale

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    Nice TR, I will offer a few thoughts. We spent a bit of time in the Excalibur on our trip last week, and guess what??? We didnt die, get sick or any leave totally offended by the trash-ness. I didnt think it was bad at all, we went to the Lynyrd Skynryd bar and it was pretty cool. Also walked through a couple times getting to and fro NYNY and Luxor.

    As far as gambling, when I first went to LV I had never gambled on anything other than sports. Last year a friend who gambles quite a bit started coming with. This kind of transformed me into much more of a gambler than I once was. I had two terrible losing trips, it put a damper on my feelings about LV and the trip overall. I really didnt realize how much until this trip.

    As I was preparing for this trip I stopped by the bank the day before to take out my typical $2000 for gambling. Something stopped me and I decided to take $500 out and when and if it goes, it goes. I am not pressed about the money, just dont like the sense of being foolish with it either, and dont like the "ripped off" feeling.

    Well this trip I came back with over $300 of it and I felt much better about the trip. Instead of sitting in the Casino I went back to getting out and about, talking to other tourists and just having a great time. I am never going back to the big gambling, I see it this way, I dont have the gambling gene, I dont crave it, dont miss it and I dont think I am going back to it. I had a much better time doing other things. I did bet on the football game and win, and I enjoyed that very much. This is just my opinion and I am sure I am in the minority. I originally went to LV for the party scene and to see the sights, I got side-tracked. Not happening again, it was much more fun getting out and about and living it up than staring at a slot.

    Other than the gambling sounds like you had fun!! I was at the Flamingo during the same time, and really enjoyed it!!
     
  5. gongoman

    gongoman MIA

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    Thanks for trip report..I have stayed at Excalibur well just this past May and never saw what others saw--We had fun and enjoyed the pool etc.. and then went on to my real real home The Fremont..

    I am not a Bellagio fan so I'll just say...Thanks again for TR:beer:
     
  6. Travel Fanatic

    Travel Fanatic The Arbiter of Taste Caviar Kid

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    Sorry about the losing streak. Take a couple months off to forget about it and then you'll be ready to return! I always am after a big loss
     
    The plans have changed
    Post-Shopping Recovery Period
  7. JosieCat

    JosieCat VIP Whale

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    Thanks all! Yes, while I have no problems staying in nicer places with comped rooms and I really appreciated the beautiful room at the B, I also have no problems staying at the Ex or the Flamingo. The rooms there were just fine. They each have their own personality. It was fun going back and forth between them and seeing those personalities and the different people who were at each place. We would go from the relative quiet of the B to the Flamingo, which is a bit more lively. I really like them both.

    Yes, I know I will get over losing and want to go back :)
     
  8. dean_1492

    dean_1492 High-Roller

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    Josie, that sounds like one of my trips. I keep donating, and a little payoff would be nice! That's one of my goals, Bellagio. At least you had nice rooms!!!
     
  9. evoni

    evoni High-Roller

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    JosieCat, I really enjoyed reading your trip report but so sorry you had another losing trip! I feel the pain as up until a couple weeks ago all my trips this year were losing ones except for one in June when I broke even. Hopefully next trip you will have the exceptional lucky streak I had recently, we all deserve them!

    I agree with all your comments about the M-Life computer system.

    Like you I can't seem to win anything at Bellagio this year. I know people who have, I know it's possible but I just can't seem to get lucky there.

    I ate at the Bellagio buffet back in July for lunch and was surprised at how good it was because for some reason earlier in the year when I ate at Bellagio's buffet for dinner it wasn't that great.

    Hope you are all well now and feeling good!
     
  10. Iceicecool

    Iceicecool Low-Roller

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    Just so you know, all hosts at MGM properties are instructed to use all your Express Comps before taking care of your bill. You were lucky to find a host to take care of your bill without using your comps. Even large players must use up Exp Comps. They are trying to not allow people to build up insanely large Exp Comp balances.
     
  11. Dpin300

    Dpin300 Low-Roller

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    Good report. Thanks for sharing. Bummer you didn't win anything good.
     
  12. Candy Apple

    Candy Apple VIP Whale

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    Was that a GO room you had at the Flamingo?

    Better luck next time on the gambling.
     
  13. JosieCat

    JosieCat VIP Whale

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    Dean – yes, winning would have been better, but at least I had a really nice room to enjoy!

    Evoni – thanks. I do like to move around so not sure when I will get back to the Bellagio. When I do go back, I think I’d like to give MGM Grand a try.

    Ice – interesting. Looks like I lucked out!

    Candy Apple – yes, it was a GO deluxe. Those rooms are really nice.
     
  14. Candy Apple

    Candy Apple VIP Whale

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    Are those bathroom doors too sheer for a mother/son sharing a room? Or could my son be on the bed and not see the bathroom door?
     
  15. Royal Flusher

    Royal Flusher Savvy Gambler

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    You've GOT to be kidding me. Wow, someone else is in my wet club of shame... check this out:

    http://www.royalflushervegas.com/2012/05/adventures-of-art-mandalay.html

    http://www.royalflushervegas.com/2012/05/plonk-goes-vodka.html
     
  16. Tubbs

    Tubbs High-Roller

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    Thanks for the report. Arriving in Vegas for Labor Day weekend and suddenly deciding to find a room rather than pick up a car and head off is not my idea of fun!

    Sorry about the gambling, sounds like a tough time. It does become a bit of a downer when stringing together losing trips. I had four in succession and I was starting to feel a bit of an anti-Vegas vibe. Then I had a big winning trip and it all felt good again. Hopefully things will work out better next trip.
     
  17. JosieCat

    JosieCat VIP Whale

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    Candy Apple. I don't think you can really see anything through the frosted glass, but see if someone else will give an opinion. I've only ever stayed there alone so I've never noticed before.

    Royal Flusher - I'm still laughing. You're version is far funnier than mine - but basically the same thing. The walk of shame back to the Ex - with a wet ass. We did walk outside so it was dry by the time we get back to the Excalibur - gross just the same though. Of course, 90% of the time on this trip I had my sweater with me, so I would have been able to wrap it around my waste or something to hide it, but not this time.
     
  18. mdee

    mdee VIP Whale

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    Nice report. Thanks! Sounds like you had fun. I love eating at the Bellagio Cafe. And what can I say...
    The Green Machine! There is not another slot machine that's quite like it! I wish they had different
    denominations but then it would have to show credits and not dollars right? My friend won $1,000 on one.
    It always puts me on the edge of my seat. I have to stop and play one at least once.
     
    Last edited: Sep 10, 2012
  19. Reed

    Reed High-Roller

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    Great trip report JosieCat. I do like the Mlife kiosk at NYNY to check comps and points.

    Kind of stupid how they tell you to use one VIP check-in and then tell you that you can't use it.

    After a couple losing trips I hope to fare a little better on my upcoming one (of course that will be after the Mlife comp cutback:grrr:). I don't mind losing trips but hope to get a decent play to help build up the comps and ADT.
     
  20. JosieCat

    JosieCat VIP Whale

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    Tubbs - yes well, the pain is already starting to fade and I'm sure I'll be planning my next trip :)

    mdee - thanks. Yes, my BF really like the Big Green Machine. It's the first time I've every seen a good hit on it. It was fun watching that $500 spin come up.

    Reed - thanks. You know it wouldn't have been a big deal if the VIP lounge hadn't been comletely empty. But not a big deal. It's just funny because I specifically asked where to check in because during my last trip, my host DIDN'T tell me I could check in using the VIP loung at the Mirage, so I kind of felt I had missed out on something - that's why this time I asked.
     
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