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First Time Staying at MGM Signature

Discussion in 'LV Strip Hotels' started by esweeney, Sep 11, 2015.

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  1. esweeney

    esweeney Tourist

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    Hi! I just found this message board while looking around for info for my upcoming trip with my husband next month. We are staying at the Signature for four nights and paid extra for the balcony. I was wondering if anyone had any tips for it, advice on getting around, etc.

    I've been to Vegas twice before, but both were a long time ago (when I was 14 and 18, I'm now 26) and he's never been so I'm figuring we will end up spending most of our time just wandering around and seeing the Strip. We have two dinners planned and two shows planned but otherwise we're planning to just see where it takes us! I'm not sure if we want to bother buying monorail passes or if we should just cab to dinners/shows (I won't be wanting to walk too far in heels I'm sure).

    Any input is appreciated!
     
  2. vegasvic

    vegasvic VIP Whale

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    Welcome to the board! The Sig is a nice place, quiet and somewhat secluded and yet not far from the action. Where are your shows and dinner? The monorail can be a good option if you are heading north up the strip.
     
  3. esweeney

    esweeney Tourist

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    Thanks! Glad I found it.

    We're seeing Zumanity (NYNY) that Friday night; doing dinner at Prime (Bellagio) Saturday night; and doing dinner at VooDoo Steakhouse (Rio) before seeing Penn & Teller Sunday night.

    I don't think the monorail will be useful for any of those things - I was more thinking that if we walk too far north and are too tired to walk back one day it would be useful. But really, a cab would be just as good right? And catching cabs shouldn't be an issue from the Signature since it's a bit off the main drag?
     
  4. esweeney

    esweeney Tourist

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    ETA: we may do the High Roller the first night we're there (Thursday)
     
  5. vegasvic

    vegasvic VIP Whale

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    Agreed, the monorail wouldn't help much. Going to the Rio you can cab it (won't cost much) or take their free shuttle from/to Bally's. It runs every 20-30 minutes until 1 am.
     
  6. billduhcat

    billduhcat Low-Roller

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    Easy walk thru MGM to get to nyny. For your bellagio night, cabbing it is probably your best bet. No prob getting a cab from any of the signature towers.
     
  7. Vickismom

    Vickismom Tourist

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    My husband and I love the Signature. We don't find that it's a hard time getting around at all, but we don't mind a little walking. It's an easy, climate controlled, covered walk to get to MGM. It's probably closer for Signature guests to get to the MGM pools, than for people staying at MGM and needing to walk thru the casino. Tower 1 is closest to MGM and Tower 3 is closest to Harmon Ave. It's not a far walk to get to Bellagio, either. I would walk out of the Signature towards Harmon Ave, instead of to MGM, and cross the street to Planet Hollywood. You can enter the Miracle Mile shops on Harmon (next to Todai, and Pampas), and walk thru the shops and Planet Hollywood casino to the Strip and Bellagio is just across the street, depending on the entrance you go through. I actually slightly prefer Tower 3 since it's closer to walk out to Harmon that way. It's farther to MGM, but if we're there in the summer, it's covered and air conditioned, so I don't mind that it's farther that way.

    I would definitely take a cab to the Rio. I don't think it's a bad walk to get to the High Roller either. It's fun to walk and people watch and see sights along the way. However, I've stopped wearing heels, especially when walking in Vegas because I find we walk a lot more than we're at home, and I don't wear heels enough to be used to them anymore. There isn't a problem getting a cab from the Signature at all. There usually aren't any waiting at the entrances (if I remember correctly since we always have our car, but the valets call them over pretty quickly).

    Have fun!!!
     
  8. esweeney

    esweeney Tourist

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    That was so helpful Vickismom! We both walk a few miles each day anyway, we live in the Washington DC area so we're pretty used to that. I'm more worried about time than getting tired.

    Would it be worth it to try to go to the pool some day? I heard they all start shutting down around the end of September and we'll be there October 8-12.

    I'm getting another pair of good walking shoes so I should be ok there. I wear heels daily at work and walk a lot so my heels for dinners will be already broken in.

    Glad to hear cabs can be called quickly!

    From what it sounds like, if we're given the option, we may want to go with tower 3?
     
  9. jbpiv01

    jbpiv01 Low-Roller

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    Signature towers each have their own pools as well as the MGM pool complex. plenty of pools to choose from! The Monorail is actually closer to the Sig than Las Vegas Blvd. don't shut it out... I like to walk though(and there is plenty when staying at the Sig).
     
  10. Vickismom

    Vickismom Tourist

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    If you're used to the walking, then it's not bad to get around at all. The only drawback is that there is nothing interesting to look at on Harmon Ave, when walking to the Signature from Las Vegas Bl.

    I would definitely spend some time at the pool, if it's still open. We've only stayed at the Signature in August, so I'm not sure if they are still open in Oct. As someone else said, each Signature tower has their own pool and you also have access to the MGM pools. The tower 2 and 3 pools have a walkway so you can get to each easily, without going back inside and walking to the other tower. I think, but not completely sure, that the Tower 1 pool is adult only. We've never stayed in Tower 1, and whenever we go, our son (now almost 4, we started staying at the Signature when he was almost 1) is with us, so we've never checked out that pool. When you get to the gate at the Signature, the person there tells you which tower to go to. We always drive (we live in the LA area), so since the valet already took our car, we've never asked to change towers from the one assigned. But, I believe you can ask to change. I'd say the difference is walking from the entrance of Tower 2 or 3 aren't really enough to make a difference. I made my husband walk from Tower 2 to Tower 3 then outside, instead of going out of Tower 2 directly, and that was the longer way to get to the street, because of the way the driveways are laid out.
     
  11. Michelle

    Michelle Low-Roller

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    I've stayed there three years in a row. We love it! We do rent a car and drive most everywhere, including the grocery store. Before we check in we stop at the liquor store and the grocery store for breakfast and snack items. You have a full sized refrigerator, toaster, blender and pots and pans. If you do keep food in the room you will probably want to ask for the dish sets. When you get there, there will be no dishes or flatware, so you will have to request them, it's free and just make sure that you tip the butler. We have breakfast in our room every morning. I love having coffee on the balcony and just taking my time. There is a coffee pot in the room and they provide you with the bagged coffee. Have fun!
     
  12. esweeney

    esweeney Tourist

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    Thanks for the great info! I had definitely already decided to pick up some drinks and breakfast and snack foods to keep in the room. We won't be renting a car though - there's a CVS or Walgreens or something near the MGM Grand though right?

    So glad to hear they provide coffee!!

    Do you (or does anyone else) know whether the $20 trick is worth trying? I booked a junior balcony suite but we would ideally like a higher floor with a better view (who wouldn't? Lol) and I was wondering if it's something we can just ask about when we arrive or if I should preempt it with the $20 when checking in. I'd tip regardless if they were able to make it happen, just not sure if it should be given before they start looking.
     
  13. Michelle

    Michelle Low-Roller

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    I've tried the $20 trick there twice, no dice the first time she didn't even get what I was doing. I had better luck calling ahead and requesting.
     
  14. esweeney

    esweeney Tourist

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    Good to know thank you! We are arriving at the hotel around 3 or 3:30 - is it worth calling during our layover at 12:30 and saying "hey we may be there a bit before check in, will that be ok?" And then mentioning that if possible, a higher floor would be preferable?
     
  15. Candydave

    Candydave mid-roller

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    We stayed there last year and like it so much that we will be going back this December for a week. First time we stayed in Tower 3, which is close to Planet Hollywood. Next trip we will be staying in Tower 1, which is the closest to MGM, and they have the Fitness Center there. They do provide coffee and tea, which is really nice. We always tip the maid every day and ask for extra coffee, which we always get. It's totally worth getting a balcony room. If I had one suggestion for you, it would be to get a room on the opposite side from the airport. It's quite loud sitting out on the balcony when the planes take off. Next trip we will be requesting a strip view room. Here are some pictures of the room for you. IMG_1186.jpg IMG_1189.jpg IMG_1190.jpg IMG_1193.jpg IMG_1194.jpg
     
  16. JoJoR

    JoJoR VIP Whale

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    I wouldn't bother calling ahead. I've checked in as early as 10:30 without any issues.
     
  17. riley_ray

    riley_ray Tourist

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    Yeah cab to rio from mgm 10 bucks
     
  18. Vickismom

    Vickismom Tourist

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    I've never tried the $20 trick when checking in. We've stayed there in August each of the last 4 years, each time reserving the standard suite. First time we were given a balcony without asking for one. Second time, I believe we were given an option for a balcony, but we didn't care and preferred a higher floor. Third time, we were already assigned a higher floor strip view without me asking or tipping. We were given a strip view room on the 28th floor, which according to the numbers on the elevator are just one level below what they consider the penthouse floors (whatever that really means, I'm not sure). This last time, I did ask if there was an upgrade available to a one bedroom suite, and had my wallet out ready to tip her if it was available. But she said they were sold out. Plus, honestly, she was the least friendly of all the front desk people we had encountered. She wasn't rude or anything by any means, she just wasn't overly friendly, and just seemed to go through the motions. It was also the longest line we've seen when checking into the Signature, so she was probably just tired and they were really busy trying to check everyone in and out, and didn't have time for the chit chat.

    I'm not exactly sure what the official check in time is, but we always arrive before it and have never had an issue. We usually arrive anytime between 11-1, and they have never given us a problem with checking in and giving us a room right away. We usually start our stay on a Monday.
     
  19. amk121

    amk121 VIP Whale

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    Signature is great! It is one of my preferred places as well- hopefully the pools are open for you as they are nice to hang out at. The walk isn't bad at all to other casinos isn't really bad, but I love to walk so I don't mind....
     
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