Hi everyone, I'm new here to VMB, but not to Vegas. I'm a low roller. Give VP and slots some play to stay on the mailing lists, but nothing too serious. I just don't have the $ to gamble seriously. Which brings me to my question. After my recent stay, I received a mailer from the Palms. It included 29$ rate on the weekend in Feb. I went to book it online and it told me the room was comped for me. I tried to book it but since the balance was Zero, it wouldn't go through. It said to call. So I called and this is what happened: she said it was comped but I might have to pay the resort fees. Then she got her manger cause she couldn't book the room either and the resort fee seemed weird and off to her. Came back and said her manger said it would be a reduced rate, 100-something a night. I was like, wait a minute, I have a printed mailer right in front of me with a 29$ room rate on it for these dates (plus that devil resort fee). She went back to her manager. She had me on hold for a very long time. Said something about a mistake and that there were issues with the transition to Stations and that I would be comped for the room for the whole weekend, and no resort fees on the comped room. Freakin' yeah. Also, I had an airline credit so the flight was free. Here's my question: do they expect me to play in line with a comped room? Will stations have a host harassing me if I don't drop some coin in? I'll do my usual thing but it's clearly not enough for three nights comped on a freaking weekend. Even when I was going to LV 3-4 times a year and staying at Palms Place when they first opened (the balcony doors opened then), I'd only get one -two free nights a year. And Never when I could come, either. I think I was lucky. Since 2008-09 I've been almost exclusively at the Hard Rock, but boy has their service gone down hill. They screwed up my bill both times I was there the last two years. The Palms is less fun as a property, and no longer had the hip vibe, but the rooms are nice and also cheap. I just wish it was 3 blocks from the Double Down. let me know your thoughts on this. I mean, let's say I play through a bit more than I normally would. Would I keep getting free room offers or should I just do my usual low roller style, a little here, a little there. And not chase after comps?
Never chase comps. IMHO you won't have a host breathing down your neck but, if you don't play up to their standards (whatever they are) you just won't get any more free rooms or the number of them will be reduced depending on your play. Take the free rooms and enjoy your stay.
Play your usual amount, whatever you're comfortable with. If you end up losing future comp stays at Palms then you lose them. You are definitely getting a stupid good deal this time around. Enjoy!
Give Palms a chance. They have great VP games and a decent food court for some reasonable eats. Gold Coast is across the street which also has great VP. Nice job on the comped rooms! Which tower?
I'll be staying comped in an Ivory Suite for the first time since it switched to Stations in March. We are splitting our trip between Palms and Cosmo. On my last stay in October they were just starting to transition. I really enjoyed Palms. Great suites and rooms, wonderful dining and friendly staff. Hope those things don't change. The 24/7 seemed like the customer service level had fallen way off under the new management in October. My husband and I really enjoy Alize, N9ne and Nove. We plan on Alize and N9ne for March. Those restaurants won't be affected by the change.
Thanks everyone. I was just at the Palms for the first time in probably 5 years over Thanksgiving. I had an Ivory room on the corner with strip views. The outside window was filthy dirty, but nice views. Used the 20$ trick for the upgrade from the old Playboy tower. I have fond memories of the property in the 00's when you'd see Maloof in the casino every visit. He obviously cared about the property. My stay in February will be in a queen room in the Ivory Tower. I did not like the mirror on the ceiling but I did like the shower and how recent the refurb was on the room if not the best decor for a dude. The Stations transition has, indeed, been chaotic. Long lines at the players club and it took them awhile to get me a new card. They were also a bit out of it when I booked that stay (it seems they have to double check every offer against an old system and a new system: I have to hand it to them for being so professional under the duress of it all.) I think I am at Gold level, which is nothing. I mean, it is ridiculous to get three nights comped on the weekend. I work a lot and am a teacher, so I really, really needed this (I am finding I am not unwinding or relaxing much these days due to the stress, so I need to make little trips like this one to keep my sanity). I am still more comfortable at the Hard Rock, more my style, but I swear they cannot properly handle my bill anymore (and with the resort fees ...). I definitely need to figure out a plan for where to stay this Summer (and give wherever that is a little play on this trip). It is hard to say how Stations will treat California residents. I am definitely an off-strip person. last month I was surprised by how much the local bar prices had gone up. It used to be every off strip dive was 2$ beer. A bottle of PBR at the Double Down is now 4$!!! (I know, compared to the Strip and casino bars.) Even Ellis was 3.25 for a pint at the bar (although the karaoke lounge only charged me 3.00.) Yes, they still have the weekday 12-5 happy hour at the DD (it is now, shockingly, 3$ for ANY drink, lol). But it is a sign when the DD becomes a tourist destination and is no longer really a locals bar. I love Las Vegas, the good, the bad, and the ugly.