Golden Nugget Lake Charles has lost their mind

The gf and I always toss around the idea of heading to Lake Charles for the weekend from time to time. Well it turns out it would be cheaper for me to fly to Vegas TONIGHT returning Sunday night/Monday morning than it would be for me to drive to LC and stay the Nugget.

It'd be $1098 for two nights in their basic room.


Flight on Sprit would be $541


I have a couple of free nights at the Cosmo on an offer but even if my host couldn't get me in I could stay in the pyramid for $87/nt. I mean it's the fiscally prudent thing to go to Vegas tonight right?

 

Crazy prices there. Are they always that high on weekends?

 

Actually yes. If you book ahead of time it's typically $400 to $500 a night on the weekend. Weekday rates are usually $190 to $250. I get mailers for $129 midweek rates but I will never be in Lake Charles on a Tuesday on purpose.

 

But you don't get any of that Lake Charles charm in Las Vegas. Who needs the Bellagio Fountains when you can otherwise view the Contraband Bayou?

I thought the opening of the GN would create more competition with LDL such that weekend rates might go down. Even LDL is asking for crazy rates on the weekends.

But it is crazy when you think that, given the availability of hotel comps in Vegas, it's generally more economical to fly to Vegas from Houston than to drive 2.5 hours down the road.

 

Who needs Miracle Mile or Fashion Show Mall with Prien Lake Mall at your fingertips? Shreveport is the better gambling destination. There's competition there and it shows with the table mins and hotel rates and how much easier comps are to get.

 

It is out of control....we looked at getting away for the weekend also and had similar prices. It's a decent place, but definitely not Vegas. I guess with the number of people that are coming from Houston to gamble, they can get away with it. Seems like there was something about supply and demand I learned about in my college economics class. They won't be getting it from me, but if people were not paying it then it wouldn't be that expensive.

 

Oh come on! The fountains of Belaggio are nothing compared to the distillation columns, fraction towers and wastewater pits of Sulphur, LA! Hydrocarbons are the smell of money in the air! I don't see why you'd want to leave the Ship Channel area anyway!

Las Vegas doesn't know what it's missing!

 

Exactly, someone must be paying it. It has to be Houston population driving it. Hotels in general in LC are more expensive than similar chains elsewhere. Occasionally I've gotten a deal on Priceline but it's usually still on the high side for what you're getting.

Where's RockyBalboa? Want to meet at IAH for the 9pm Spirit flight!? haha

 

Insane!!...was Lauberge just as pricey? As a last resort, you could always stay at the Isle of Crapi, give the GN some play and you should get free room offers for any night of the week going forward. The downside is that the Crapi is a pretty big downgrade from the GN / Lauberge and a probably a $40 cab ride.

LV clock for me: 2 days and 6 hours.....

 

LDL is sold out this weekend. But looks like normal rates are around $340 to $400 for Friday and Saturday nights. The Isle's booking website is crapping out right now. In the past I've seen the rates closer to $200 like maybe in the $175 range.

 

Went the last two weekends and my host took care of the rooms each weekend. Booked on Friday for Fri-Sun both times. They are holding invite-only tourneys all summer and save a group of rooms for those folks. My host stuck me in the slot tourney last week and everyone was Chairman or higher.

I've yet to pay for a room and last weekend thanks to some luck and a bigger bankroll, he took care of our Vic and Anthony's meal and all our pool charges.

They have also been very aggressive on bounceback offers...$75 each DAY Fri, Sat, and Sun for the month of June. I'm waiting to see if that goes up after this last weekend with more aggressive play.

However, my wife has said she still like LDL more...and I tend to agree. The same tier card at LDL has better benefits...although the GN host has been 100000x better than any LDL host I ever had. And no, I'm not a High Roller...usually $1000 a weekend 80% slots and the rest VP.

 

I do the GN on my 'Three City Blackjack Tour'. Leave for Horseshoe Bossier from Austin area Friday afternoon. Travel to Harrah's NO on Saturday. On the way back to Austin on Sunday I stop @ LDL & GN in Lake Charles. I've made this trip twice without paying for a room.

 

wow

Wow BayouBengal

Must be some big convention/event going on there @GN!

To be honest Winstar isn't much cheaper /always sold out $400+ a night.

Maybe try Coushatta?

 

This is why I've only made 1 trip out there. It's about a 12 hour round trip from Austin. A cheap room is about $130 for 3 nights, and about 2 tanks of gas at $55 each. I can usually get a flight on Allegiant for around $200. So, by the time I'm already at the tables with a cold one, I'd just be getting into LA. So, it's cheaper for me to fly to Vegas than to go out there. Plus....Vegas

 

I am headed to Horseshoe Bossier the 4th weekend. It has been much better for me than LC. That longer drive is the only drawback from Houston. I don't know if I will ever go back to LC, as I need the upfront comp before I go. I can always get it at the Horseshoe. My LDL status is gone, and I never had a status at GN.

 

I thought about going up there for the 4th as well. I have an upfront comp at my parents house. Haha

I've really grown to like El dorado the best. I even played there when it was Hollywood. Ever been to Diamond Jacks? Don't. Good vp at their bar but damn it was a shabby depressing casino. My sister occasionally gets free buffet tickets and it's barely worth it then.

 

Supply and demand.

Apparently there are able to get it or the rates would not be that high.

 

Oh I get it, and I don't blame them for charging it if they can keep occupancy. Seems like the isle of Capri has gone up too even though it's WAY behind in terms of luxury. I think GN just increased the market. Lots of oil money here in Houston. It's all flowing to Tilman Fertittas pocket.

 

I actually ended up staying at Delta Downs....I'm not a slot player so the casino does very little for me (no table games). Drove to Golden Nugget and LDL, lost some decent money so will see what/if any offers I receive in the next couple of months. I wish there were some better choices, I guess we need a few more decent casinos is Lake Charles to up the competition level a bit. It satisfies my taste for Vegas until my next trip, but it is nowhere near the excitement level and choices that Vegas offers.

 

Gonna try the Nugget for the first time right after the 4th of July. I wanna see what I can get in comp offers for the future.