Monte Carlo - Really overrated

I just got back from a trip to Monte Carlo......

Pros -

Low Limit Craps Tables
Connected to a free tram that will take you to Aria and Bellagio
Low room rates

Cons -
The worst pool on the strip
Low energy in the casino
Awful Buffet
Far from the heart of the strip
Rude staff
Small rooms

Overall it was a good time, but only cause it's Vegas and it's always a good time.

 

I agree with many of your cons but I've never heard the pool called the worst on the strip. I think its actually one of the more underrated ones.

 

I wouldn't call it overrated at all. It is an older property, kept in good shape, that does not keep up with the Jones' at a reasonable price. For dollar value it does the job.

You can go to the center strip, newer locations or the Wynn properties and pay a higher price and have those cons become pros but then you would have to leave that property to get your low limits. I've stayed there 3 times and never had a problem with the staff. Their pool vs the mega pools, no comparison. Personally it's pretty solid and the rates for the cabanas and such are a well kept secret. You want top of the line...you pay top dollar.

It's all about the trade off.

 

I think its properly rated (I don't know anyone that really gives it incredibly high marks) and I agree with the assessment of the OP except the following: I have never encountered any rude staff there (although I haven't spent as much time there I recent years) and its a joke to say it has the worst pool on the Strip. Just off the top of my head here is a list of pools that are much worse than MC: Luxor, Hooters, NYNY, PHo, Paris, and Ballys. The MC pool has a lazy river, sand volleyball court, multiple pools, wave pool, and cabanas. The only downside I have ever experienced at that pool is that it squeezes a lot into a smaller area and the alignment of the buildings around it makes it hard to get sun for a really long period of time. But its actually one of the better pools on the Strip.

I hope the OP explains his or her opinion regarding the pool.

 

The pool at MC used to be very good but I think the construction of some new buildings ate into the pool's space. We stayed at MC a couple years ago and I had to visit and then call security on our neighbors for their noise. We didn't like the MC except for the sports book and VP bars. The sports book is nice and so is the VP bar just outside it is set up so you can watch the TVs easily. Other than that, the room walls are very thin and it's a noisy place in the hotel but the casino is a little sedate.

Yeah, the buffet is pretty lame.

 

I disagree with the OP too. It's a B+ property for a B+ price. Saying it's overrated makes no sense to me.
The buffet? It doesn't claim to be an upper tier buffet. But it's okay for the price. It's not bad at all.

And low energy? Does that mean NOT blaring music? Okay.

And you really lost me with the pool dis.

 

We stayed at Aria past July and had a south facing corner suite (ie: Monte Carlo's pool), both the wife and I said that we would like to try that place sometime, just to hang out in the lazy river for a day and drink mojito's!

Never stayed there, but looked decent to me...

 

I never thought the Monte Carlo was that highly rated to be considered overrated?

 

I agree with most on here that MC is not rated as high as other properties so it's hard to say it's overrated. For the past 4 years MC has been our home base, except one stay at Aria. I've never had a bad experience there and the only reason i'm considering switching hotels is because they dropped the ball on 6:5 blackjack.

 

I dont get it either. For strip pools I'd put MC in the upper end of great. Easily top 10. I always found the staff there helpful and friendly. The casino is never hopping so they might just be bored and looking for reasons to say Hi or chat. The rooms are on the small size and the ones I stayed in were a bit worn. But the casino is bright, the shopping area is nice and the monorail and instant connection via the mall to Aria makes MC a great hotel for the price. Easy in and out from your room and you are on the strip from the casino in seconds. And for MGM buffets this is actually one of their better ones.

And for the "Far from the heart of the strip" comment the free monorail on property will get you to Bellgio which most now consider center strip in about 5 minutes. Far? tell that to Mandalay Bay, Luxor, Excalibur, MGM, NY NY, Tropicana or flip flop to Circus Circus, the Riv Encore etc. Those are far from the center. MC is pretty damn close and right in the middle of a great cluster of casinos!

 

Ok, saying the pool was the WORST, might have been an exaggeration. I should explain myself. I am sure the pool at Harrah'ss and the Quad suck more, please add Paris to that list, but I always go to the Flamingo and MB pool, so my bar is pretty high. As far as the Volleyball court, it's a nice addition. I play often at home on a rec league, but every time I try to play there, everyone is too drunk to return a serve, or any serve, so it makes it pointless. At the Flamingo, you;re right smack in the middle of the strip, the people are more upbeat, and there is a designated area for kids IN addition, you're connected to the Monorail that takes you up and down the strip. At MC, I counted, and I saw well over a dozen kids, when I say kids, I mean 3 years old and younger. One wanted to play catch with me, which was cute, but not something I want to do in Vegas. Also, for being a "lower end" or "average" casino on the strip, their craps tables almost never dropped to $5. The best part about Monte Carlo was that it's across the street from Planet Hollywood, and the energy of the casino there is UNREAL! Excellent hotel. Don't know anything about PH's pool, so any feedback is appreciated.

Thanks!

 

Can we all agree my countdown timers are 40x worse than anything MC has to offer?

 

The PHo pool is awful. Worst on the Strip IMO.

Yeah, there are a lot of kids at the MC pool. If you're wanting to avoid kids, pay to get into one of the adult pools. There are a ton of kids at the MB pool also. But you can always pay to get into Moorea.

 

Haha, I was about to post the same exact thing. Literally word for word.

 

LOL who goe's to Vegas to play Volley Ball?

The pool used to be prettty good... it's far from the worst... TI's pools leaves a lot to be desired .. way too small. Love MB and Mirage Pools.. Aria is good, Wynncore super nice.. Like the location of MC but have not stayed there in years. It's older but its very cheap and much nicer than Excalibur and Luxor which is similarily priced.

 

I didn't quite get the issue(s) with MC. I have only stayed there once and came away thinking in terms of value for $, it was great, one of the best values for dollars spent. No one at MGM has marketed it as comparable to Bellagio. It's a mid tier hotel with a mid tier price. I had no issues with noise in the bedroom (caveat - you can run a freight train beside me and I will not wake up - very bad guy to be with in an earthquake or tornado zone!) I thought the pool was just fine for the limited time I spent there, never did the buffet but not much of a buffet person to begin, check in/out no issues. Its a bit more understated than some other hotels/casinos and that is ok with me. Every hotel has it's own vibe. If I want to go to a pool with wall to wall people and various bodily fluids mixed in with the killer quantities of Chlorine, yes I will go to PH. If I want to relax, read a book and have a couple pops, MC is is great.

 

And me as well.

No way Monte Carlo is "overrated" because no one rates it highly in the first place...

 

It is just "different" than what you are use to. I consider it a solid B+ property. More laid back than some, sure...that is why I like it. Guess next time you just need to do a little more homework. Next time you want to try a different property ask here and state what you are looking for in a casino/hotel. I avoid the things you look for. I'm worried that my upcoming trip will be too noisy. Different properties for different people, Las Vegas has it all. And yes your countdown timer stinks.

 

You nailed it, and if you look at my countdown timers, you're seeing where I'm staying next time! Fun times!