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The "new" California.... impressive!

Discussion in 'Downtown Hotels' started by Champster1, Oct 16, 2016.

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  1. makikiboy

    makikiboy VIP Whale

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    I'm guessing she was probably getting the same requests/complaints about the $12 fee for the west tower so decided to put on her grumpy face so people would stop asking or complaining.

    Like I said, I am unimpressed with the place. Somehow they decided that customer service and creating a casino for the guests was unimportant and were more important to make it "glitzy" instead.
     
  2. northerngirl

    northerngirl High-Roller

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    The CAL is where we stay and play every August for nine nights. Personally, we loved the place before all the renovations. We miss Pasta Pirate, the quick cafe in the front (bento box), and refuse to step foot in the Noodle House.

    I wonder if the $12 fee for the west tower is waived on comped rooms? From the pictures I have seen the rooms look really nice (although we didn't have an issue with them before). In my opinion, there are pros and cons in both towers. I know we will stay in the east tower if we are charged more for the west tower.

    I can live with the changes at the CAL.....just don't ever tack on a resort fee!
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  3. dmr

    dmr Registered Abuser

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    There's obviously a very significant buydown from the hotel, in order to get the people in there. Same reason that you used to be able to get air and hotel for two cheaper than air fare alone.
     
  4. VPDana

    VPDana High-Roller

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    Our room was comped in the West Tower a couple of weeks ago; we weren't asked to pay the $12 fee.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  5. Joe

    Joe VIP Whale

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    No fee on comped rooms. We just checked out last Tuesday. Same at DTG, 4Q or Plaza.
     
  6. surf87

    surf87 MIA

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    Looking for cheap $1.25 coffee or $1.00 tea at the Cal, look no further but at the Aloha Specialties. This is the most recent menu there and I just noticed those cheap prices (bottom right corner).
    [​IMG]
     
  7. mjames1229

    mjames1229 # of visits includes only trips w/ hotel stays

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    Kinda short, a little chubby with long black hair parted in the middle and tied in back?

    Because that is the emotionless drone that both checked me in and checked me out.
     
    USBC Nationals are back in Vegas
  8. makikiboy

    makikiboy VIP Whale

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    The Aloha Specialties menu looks nice but it looks like they raised their prices, guess to pay for upgrades to their restaurant.
     
  9. surf87

    surf87 MIA

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    I'm giddy like a little kid on Christmas morning. The Cal just sent me 2 free nights for July/August. I'm a low sapphire.
    [​IMG]
     
  10. surf87

    surf87 MIA

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    In addition, I noticed that I have 2 free nights at Orleans, Gold Coast, Sun Coast, and at Sam's Town. These are a first for me at these properties. MSS and Fremont as well. Boyd is being generous. Not sure why all of a sudden I'm getting 2 free nights but I will be sure to take advantage of it.
     
  11. Electroguy563

    Electroguy563 Vegas Joker

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    And it was this same girl that checked me in on my recent March trip. They need to do some motivational training on this girl. Because of her I waited 2 hours for my room because she said it was not ready. Bullshit. We found out it was ready from 8 am that morning.
     
  12. surf87

    surf87 MIA

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    Did anyone notice that the Cal's rooms are more expensive than MSS' rooms? It used to be that MSS was more expensive than the Cal. Is it the renovation and the $12 extra for the Cal's remodeled rooms? Case in point I was looking for June 12 - June 14, the Cal is $47 per night, at MSS it is $33 per night (sapphire rate).
     
  13. surf87

    surf87 MIA

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    The Cal is actually $53, MSS is $33 for the days I want ($20 more).
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
  14. djspam

    djspam Low-Roller

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    I like the new renovations. Let's face it, you can only do so much with the existing structure. It is brighter, the carpet is nicer (although uneven in some areas), the ceilings make it appear they are higher, and the new bars are excellent. I agree with most that the worst part is the loss of the Cal Club.

    I enjoy downtown and stay mainly at the Cal. As a frequent VH traveler I have stayed at all of the Boyd properties; Cal is my favorite. They have some of the friendliest dealers and it's just so much more relaxed. Yes they cater to the locals of Hawaii; so you will most likely see someone you know from back home...

    So glad the shower heads are made for people above 5' tall...
     
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  15. surf87

    surf87 MIA

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    I always joke that the old shower heads were installed by midgets standing on buckets, tip-toeing and reaching as high as he could to install the shower heads, asking his partner, do you think this is high enough (lol).
     
  16. makikiboy

    makikiboy VIP Whale

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    Yeah, it was normally about $10 a night more to stay at MSS but not anymore. The remodeled rooms cost $12 to $14 a night extra (usually $12). Ahhh, I found out why your prices are more expensive. The Cal now has 2 different room types (in addition to the 2 queen beds versus 1 king bed). They now have a Premium room which is probably the remodeled rooms in the west tower. The Deluxe old room is the regular room found in the East tower. The Cal rates are higher because the Deluxe rooms are all sold out for your timeframe so they only have Premium rooms available. I guess more people are booking the cheaper rooms so they sell out quicker.

    You are lucky, I get $57 a night at the Cal (ruby member) but I also get.... only $36 a night for the same dates at MSS. $21 a night cheaper. Guess I will be staying at MSS more until they renovate all of their rooms. Not sure what happens after they renovate the east tower rooms, will they all be Premium rooms at $12 or more a night? Then stay at MSS it is.
     
  17. surf87

    surf87 MIA

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    Good points makikiboy, I too would stay at MSS rather than pay extra at Cal, I'm guessing after Cal remodels both the west & east towers all room will be Premium. Unless the Cal offers comp'd rooms.
     
  18. letsgotovegas

    letsgotovegas VIP Whale

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    Stayed in one of the West Tower Premium rooms on a comp in April. Nice! I like the reno's. Disclaimer, never stayed in the old rooms though. We did not have to pay a premium for the premium room.

    I especially liked the walk in shower with sliding glass doors. So much easier than stepping into a bathtub/shower combo unit. Wish it had a small shelf or seat to prop a foot up on though. Nice and bright in that bathroom too! And, best of all, the sink is IN the bathroom not outside it so less chance of disturbing your still-sleeping partner.

    I like having a safe in the room along with the small refrigerator. I wish it were the larger size like at MSS, but it worked for keeping our drinks and meds cold. We just had to "rotate our stock" - take one out, put another one in.

    The TV in the room was HUGE. It has to be at least a 55" TV.

    I do wish there were 2 chairs and ottomans in the room, but we manage with one and minimal fighting over it. And one other small annoyance, there is not a whole lot of room between the dresser (which also acts as TV stand) and the bed.

    Going from there to Gold Coast caused a bit of shock - the TV at GC is normal size, but the room is slightly larger, so the TV seemed puny in comparison!

    Overall, we liked our stay at the Cal. So much so we are headed back at the end of July!
     
  19. makikiboy

    makikiboy VIP Whale

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    Did you go on the vacations Hawaii charter? I booked a room at the end of January but when I checked in at the beginning of April (April 10 - 14) I asked the front desk but they said I would have to pay $12 a day more if I wanted to stay in the west tower. I had a sourpuss desk clerk who didn't even crack a smile the whole time she was checking me in. I even called a month before to request the west tower and they entered that on their system but no dice when I checked in.

    I heard that people who flew on the charter could get the west tower rooms for free.

    How big were the safes? The last time I stayed in the west tower the safes were in the wall in the closet area next to the bathroom. They were about 14" by 12" and went in about 2". The east tower safes were small, about 3" x 3" (or at most 4" x 4")and possibly 12" long but not really big enough to hold very much. The west tower safes were big enough to hold my camera, netbook and tablet comfortably but the east tower safes weren't big enough to hold my point and shoot camera.

    I like the west tower bathrooms because it is a separate room. The east tower rooms have the tub/shower and toilet in one room and the vanity outside of that room. But I won't pay $12 a night more so guess I will either stay in the east tower or I will stay at MSS, especially after the complete the renovations in the east tower.
     
  20. letsgotovegas

    letsgotovegas VIP Whale

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    No, we were definitely NOT on a Hawaii charter. We live in Texas!

    We were in on a comp offer though.

    The safe was one of those new "push button" types. I don't know the exact dimensions, but I would guess they are about a foot wide and not quite a foot deep and about 4 - 5 inches high? I don't know, I'm not good with eyeballing those kinds of things. I'm sure a laptop would fit though. Along with your other things.

    We like having all the "facilities" in one room also. I really don't like the ones with the sink outside the main bathroom. Much better to have it all behind a closed door!
     
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