M Resort, GVR, Red Rock or South Point?

We are heading back next week and I was looking at some off-strip properties to check out and trying to decide which ones are worth the drive.

Two trips ago we based out of Gold Coast and played there and Palms quite a bit but also made a few treks to the Boulder Highway.
Last year we based out of Sam's Town and played there, Boulder Station and Eastside Cannery for the most part.

I was actually pretty surprised by the Eastside Cannery and will probably spend some more time there this year. My MIL is coming to help us watch our toddler, which will open us up to make some more drives to farther locations.

We are staying at Sam's again for most of the trip, but I wanted to gauge opinions of M, GVR, Red Rock and South Point. Gambling - mostly slots and VP - is the primary deciding factor, but good food/good value places to eat are also part of the equation. Went to GVR once a while back with my folks when it first opened, but never gambled there. Went to South Point for late night eats two years ago and the Café was closed for cleaning - UGH. We had heard good things.

We have never been to Red Rock and M. For 7 or 8 years we based out of Station Casinos, so we are pretty familiar with them, but we've never really spent too much time at the higher-end properties.

Thanks for any info.

 

M has tight machines, and their comps used to be awesome. USED to be. I think their buffet was awesome in the past, has gone downhill a tad. South Point has Steak N Shake. Only been in RR and GVR once each, so I am not going to comment on the places, I simply don't know. All 4 are beautiful places, I was in M just last week, still love the place, just not getting any love from them anymore and it is a downer their poker room shuttered.

 

I know you said you could go far, but Red Rock is really, really far - about as far from Sam's Town as you can get.

We love Green Valley Ranch, and stay there amost every trip. Best rooms in the city other than Red Rock. We also play video poker, and we like GVR better than RR for that.

Sunset Station is also a great place to visit, stay and play, but they have fewer and hard-to-find full-pay VP and 99% pay machines, and they are mostly uprights.

GVR has the most good VP in slant-tops (Sam's Town is even better). GVR is where we spent most of our time since Sam's Town cut back drastically on their comps for out-of-town regulars.

- bcc

 

M is currently my favorite place in Vegas. The rooms are great. I don't find their slots tight (I've come out ahead the last 2 trips), but the VP paytables there are not great. I find the comps to be excellent, and, if you go on multiplier days, they have the best cashback of any place I know. They have the best buffet of the four places you asked about, one of the few buffets in Vegas with decent desserts.

GVR is my second favorite place. The rooms are good. They have very good VP, and a fairly good buffet. Comps are reasonable at the moment.

I don't like RR because of negative experiences I've had there, and also because it's so far out. The rooms are excellent, if they've been maintained, which, in my experience, they always aren't. The VP is good, but the buffet is mediocre.

South Point seems like a big barn to me, and I haven't been there in years. From previous experiences, I wouldn't consider returning. I hear the buffet is mediocre.

 

We, too, have found that the Red Rock rooms are showing some age. Those lime green throw pillows are showing wear, and the upholstered chairs may be worn, too, and even have some stains on them. I was quite surprised to see this when we stayed there a few weeks ago.

The main reason we favor GVR over RR (besides location) is that Red Rock has only those "downloader" video poker machines in 3 and 5 play. When you select a program (game), it uploads it from video poker hell to you. We hate those machines.

GVR and Sunset have the regular, old fashioned 3 and 5 play machines, so those are the two places we go. Both have excellent self-parking as well.

As for Red Rock, we go only because it is near the Suncoast.

- bcc

 

Gambling - mostly slots and VP - is the primary deciding factor

I can only vouch for South Point having been there recently. They have almost 2600 slots and like 300 VP machines with great payouts. Was there for Halloween and the bar top quarter VP royal progressive was over $1600. My BR went a long ways over that 2 day stay and can't wait to return again soon! The buffet is decent, not killer, but not like trashy castle either. Ate it 3 times in 2 days. :evillaugh

 

Couldn't tell if you are interested in a place to stay or just visit.

If you want to play VP the choice is South Point (SP), hands down. SP tops my spreadsheet rankings for players club with VP play.

If you want to experience one of the nicest off-strip properties in Vegas go to the M Resort.

If you want to experience one of the nicest off-strip properties in Vegas with beautiful surroundings, don't mind the long drive from Sam's Town, or like to hike - go to Red Rock.


Cheers,

Cosmo

 

I've only been to RR once, long ways to go to get there and didn't have any luck at all there. Haven't been back or wanted to go back.

South Point i have only been to once. Not such a long haul to get to. We didnt have a whole lot of luck there, but I have wanted to go back and give it another try. Just havent had a chance to get back there.

The other two places I love. M Resort is my favorite. We stay there quite often. Have decent luck there, but love the buffet and the rooms are to die for. Awesome.

GVR, we haven't stayed there, but make a trip over there from the M every time we are there. Love the casino and usually have decent luck there also. We just play slots, no VP. So I can't advise on that part of it.

I think all 4 places are decent properties, but everyone has there own preferences.

 

Just a couple of more data points:

We loathe South Point. The buffet was an offense to all that is holy. Right down there with the late and unlamented Emperor's Buffett at IP. Never had any luck gambling there either. OTOH, we adore M Resort. Great buffet, and we've always come out ahead at the slots. Great rooms, great views, great people. There is nothing more gorgeous than kicking back in your room with a stiff drink and a good-looking woman and watching a thunderstorm work its way across the valley.

 

I have to agree with you. We love the place but haven't got any love in at least a year. Hope to stop by GVR next trip based on comments on the board and some of the staff at the M Resort.