What Hotel would you choose?

We've been to Vegas close to 20 times. In the past couple of years it's been 3 times per year. But for some reason we are having a really hard time deciding where to stay for our upcoming trip, which is Sun-Wed of Labor Day Weekend. 3 nights total.

We've stayed at Bally's for most of our last 5-6 trips, because we tend to get comped rooms and the location is convenient. Last Dec we spent one comp night at Cosmo and loved it, but will only stay there again if we get a comp or deeply discounted offer, since we prefer to use our money for gambling over paying for a high end room. Over the years we've stayed at Mirage, NYNY, Monte Carlo, Pho, Bally's, Bellagio, MGM, Mandalay Bay, Harrah's.

We are feeling fairly strongly that we'd like to switch it up a bit for this trip and stay somewhere other than Bally's, even if it means paying something vs having a total comp.

Here are our current options: Most prices are for base level rooms, and we'd try to upgrade at check in. Have had much success doing so at Bally's in the past, mixed success at other places.

Totally comp, including waived resort fees: Bally's, Flamingo, Harrahs

Total cost under $60 for the entire stay, resort fees waived: PHo, Paris

NYNY - $266.56 total, including resort fees
MGM - $298.00 total, including resort fees
Mirage - $339.36 total, including resort fees

Off the table are off strip, and Venetian. Wynn and Bellagio are considerably more than I'd be willing to pay, knowing that we left such less expensive options on the table. Should an offer from Cosmo come through, that will change everything, as we'd stay there Mon - Tues and then pick somewhere comp or cheap for Sun night.

I'm quite intrigued at the thought of giving Flamingo a try. We like their casino and the location is great. What are the chances of upgrading to a GO room if we book a Fab? We are Platinum, if that matters.

So overall, any thoughts??

 

I’d probably go with Paris for almost nothing. I’m sure most would pick PHo, but I’m just not a fan for a number of reasons. Of course, that isn’t really “switching things up” too much if Bally’s is your typical haunt.

I like Mirage the best out of all your options – and its location would be the biggest change of scenery from what you’re used to – but I’d have a hard time spending and extra $300, especially since you’ve mentioned that you’d prefer to spend your money elsewhere.

Keep an eye out for another Cosmo offer. Or give them a call. I’ve recently started penciling in a Sept/Oct trip. I didn’t have any offers (that I knew of) from Cosmo that went out that far. So I called them up this weekend and it turns out that I do have an offer that goes through mid October. (And obviously, Cosmo for free would be my choice were it on your list.)

 

I don't see Paris on your list and for less than $60 all in add it to the list? Wife loved that one due to the Eiffel Tower drink holder, the Paris set up and Mon Ami gabi on the outdoor patio.

Personally if it's free it's me and I like Harrahs more than Bally's (felt dark and dated to me). I have not done Flamingo.

 

I cannot really discern how important the money issue is for you, but from that list, I would select MGM hands down. You haven't indicated what your vegas interests are other than gambling. But the Grand has very good gambling, huge casino, lots of good restaurants, and various entertainment options.

 

Paris and the 20 trick.

Have fun

 

Our family stayed at the fab room of Flamingo during our wedding and with the $20 trip they got upgraded to Go room + free food voucher. This was last year. I think you can get upgraded to Go room as long as you do the $20.

 

Paris would get my vote...love the place & not hard to get upgraded to a Red Room for a plat cardholder since so many come to LV with no card level or only gold. Otherwise, Flamingo...which we are trying for NYE week in a Go Room & will try for mini suit in the Diamond check in. Like you, we always want to stay free so we can use all our $$ for gambling. Good luck!!

 

I'd say Flamingo would be great if you could get a Go room but if you are stuck in a standard room it might not even be as good a Bally's (which we've also stayed on our last few trips)

Paris would be a small and possibly worth while change of pace especially if you get any love with the $20 trick and possibly might be a nice change from Bally's even if you don't (although I think a Bally's Jubilee room would be better than a Paris standard room).

If you really want a real change of pace and a real upgraded experience you will certainly get it at Mirage. I know for me personally I would pay the $50ish per day for Mirage over Bally's. I would say this goes double if you are a non-smoker. Both Bally's and Flamingo are particularly smokey casinos. Of the places we are willing to stay in I'd say Bally's is probably the worst in that respect. You can probably offset some of that with express comps or back-end comps also. I have yet to get any back end comps at Total Rewards properties (I'm usually already comped for the room anyways).

 

I think it comes down to what you plan on doing while you're there.. are you planning to visit some restaurants or clubs? If so, where?

 

Thanks for all the input! Lots to think about. To add some context, pools are a non factor for us. We don't have any shows planned for this trip so far. Only tentative plan is I want to have drinks fountain side at Hyde on Monday night around 8, before they get too club-ish.

As far as cost, we can afford any of the options listed, but I admit it would pain me a bit to pay $200+ when I knew I had comp or cheap alternatives available.

I ran the options/prices past my husband who said his preference would be PHo. So maybe we'll go with that. Perhaps I'll reach out to Hunter to see if we could get a better room for the price, although I question if we play big enough to waste a host's time. (Avg budget is $500-600 per day combined, no idea what it translates to in actual spend or ADT, when you factor in recycled wins.)

 

Like you we use to be CET people. Booked the comp and upgraded at checkin. A few years ago, we bit the bullet and jumped over to mlife props. Not having a comp going in made us uncomfortable but honestly it was the best thing we ever did. Our combined gambling budget is $600 + recycled wins day all slots and vp. MGM for 2 nights last year Executive Queen suite comped upon checkout...this year we booked Monte Carlos top suite...Diamond for 4 nights, I was prepared to spend the $800 it would have cost with resort fees and taxes added in...we paid $200 total. I know it is flying blind but mlife does do a good job on the backend with comps...or at least we felt they did for us. I would go with a room at the Mirage for a few nights and see how the comps turn out. One thing we NO LONGER do is spread our $$ between CET and Mlife props....we don't chase comps but know that if we keep our trip in one chain the comps for that trip will be better. When we were CET people....Harrahs and Paris were our favorite properties.

 

Maybe you'll have better luck with him than I did but I'm suspecting that where as he talks a big game and sounds like he's interested, if you don't have the play to be on his radar he will go silent on you. My initial PM to him (indicating that I wasn't sure if I was worth his time) was returned very enthusiastically with some line about "little whales turn into big whales" but when I replied with my TR number and real name and took the time to compose an email with my itinerary for an upcoming trip he went totally silent on me and I haven't heard a word since. Very disappointing. That's the type of move I expect from a Jr. High girl, not from a professional.

 

I can't imagine how many PMs he gets on a daily basis, so I would cut him some slack. Just send him a follow up e-mail since he might have forgot.

 

I'd probably go with Paris! I like it there, easy in and out, great dining.. and $60 can't beat that. Even if you have to pay to upgrade to a red room it would be worth it...

If I was ok with spending the money I'd pick MGM, I mean it's completely remodeled, everything in there is new! I was really surprised when I was there earlier this year... also it would be nice to compare and contrast MGM/CET properties since you've been loyal to CET for so long. But, when all is said and done if I could get Paris or PH for free, I wouldn't pay for MGM or Mirage. (NYNY isn't better than any of the places you have comped)

I'm not totally against the free ones.. but not in the lowest room quality they have. I have those comps too, but its like I want a GO room, or a Jubilee room or I wouldn't be happy if that makes sense.

I agree with this. Mlife doesn't comp me all that much, but it's just such a better experience, because the rooms are so much nicer, I'm willing to pay for it. Besides, they still send me deals that make the price really low...

 

Just a quick update - we ended up booking PHo for now, total cost for 3 nights was $41. I wanted to lock that in, in case rates jump up. We will still be monitoring offers that may come in for good deals at other properties (COME ON COSMO!) or offers with FP or food credits, but at least we know we've stayed at Pho before and were fine with our room and the property (other than never seeming to be able to orient myself in the Casino), so we have an option we'll be fine with booked.