Well, after 4 and a half hours on the three phones I finally got a clerk.
She took my dates and my numbers and my name.
She went away and let me listen to more music.
She was gone a long while.
And then she disconnected!!!
So, I decided to call the upscale bookers and just see if they could at least refund my points.
I hit 1 instead of 4 and in less than two minutes a lovely woman answered.
I explained my four and a half hour wait.
She said she thought she could book me.
And she did.
And she confirmed the September booking as well.
Then I went here.
https://reservations.mgmmirage.com/...&kbid=5178597&CFID=134802849&CFTOKEN=18221102
This was the best prices I could find for the other 6 days. Saturday was especially cheaper, $70 rather than $89.
I did not get a $20 food voucher tossed in, but it still was a better deal. I'd rather eat at
Aria anyway.
I booked on line.
If we book by phone they charge us a fee of $10.
I got all that done and hit the final button and
UP came a message that there was an error in my booking, and I should call the reservations desk.
Just what I needed after a long day. Another phone snafu.
So, I did.
As it turned out there was no error, and I was actually booked.
The woman at the counter was delightful. She listened to my story, and she made sure that the MyVegas Friday night was back to back with the Booked 6 nights so I would not have to change rooms.
She was just great.
I was worried that were I to need to cancel the MyVegas for sickness I would have to call and wait 4 and a half hours to cancel and still not get points back, but save getting billed as a no show.
No. If I have trouble and have to cancel, I'll just call the
Excalibur reservations desk. They already had my booking from MyVegas, and they can cancel it if something happens in my life thwart my going .
Thanks to all of you for thinking through all the angles with me. I hope my experience gives you some insight into your next MyVegas redemption.
So............... this old frugal guy is going upscale for a week. I know for most of you the
Excalibur is not upscale at all. For most MLife folks it is hardly acceptable. But I will enjoy it as variety in my trip, and I've covered one of those expensive weekends with a decent rate. I just have or two more weekends to consider depending on whether I fly in before or after Halloween. One I'll probably cover at
Palace Station and perhaps the other at the Four Queens. Poker buddy Wild Bill usually goes for Halloween. He loves to use his camera on the costumes or lack there of.
I also expect the Orleans to give me a couple mailed free weekday nights. I can place those just before the
Excalibur week, catch the Young at heart promotion on Wednesday with its two free buffets, and the Nite Kings in the lounge, and I will have an easy bus ride between the Orleans and the
Excalibur.
Palace Station would be a good bet on MyVegas for the 13-14 weekend and 3 weekdays. I'll have to see how available their dates are once their MyVegas calendar comes out. I think we have to expect that they will be getting more pressure from the frugal end travelers who have all these MyVegas points to use up.
Also, there is no pressure for me to gamble at
Excalibur, and that week is right at the end of my trip. Depending on how much bankroll is left, I'll play a bit of poker at
Excalibur, at
Mandalay Bay, at
Monte Carlo. My last trip was one in which my rooms averaged over 23 days just $9.13 total, but it was a losing trip so the gambling took most of that profit. This won't be such a cheap trip.
If I must, I'll pay
Monte Carlo to let me use the lazy river first thing in the morning with no tube. That is the absolute best workout for me.
I don't think I'll book an MLife room using MyVegas again. I'll buy three nights and then buy a $50 freeplay with the saved reward, and get the same value.
I did get plenty done while the phone ran the music on hold, but it was frustrating, especially when I got cut off.
Thanks again.