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What would you do?

Discussion in 'LV Strip Hotels' started by Funstuie, Jul 4, 2017.

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  1. Funstuie

    Funstuie Low-Roller

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    *sorry for the vague thread title

    So my younger brother texts me this morning to inform me himself and his mates have booked a trip to Vegas and he wants me to come down and join them, being a Vegas vet of sorts. They are flying in from Ireland and I will be flying down from San Francisco. Dates are 12th November for 4 nights (I will probably only do 2 nights myself). They got some package deal and are staying in Excalibur. I don't want to stay at Excalibur. They had no idea and got told it's a cheap hotel on the strip (I suppose that's technically true), I told him that a bunch of lads in their 30's away from wives and girlfriends will spend zero time in Excalibur. Once they see cosmo, pho, linq etc they are going to spend all their time mid strip.

    So my question is do I just suck it up and book a room in Excalibur (rates are very, very cheap) or book a mid strip hotel knowing my brother will probably want to crash in my room?

    Another thing was the deal they got didn't mention the resort fees. I told him to recheck and his confirmation says it will be added on check out. With that in mind it would be in their best interest to get mlife cards and gamble in Excalibur to get the resort fee comped?
     
  2. SH0CK

    SH0CK Stylin' and Profilin' Quasi Tech Admin

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    Stay where you are comfortable. If that means comfortable when you are in the room or comfortable not having to wait on the others/wait on a cab or ride share to get to the others, then do that.

    Personally, I find it easier to stay close to my friends. I'd give NYNY or Luxor a look as well.
     
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  3. EugeneChoi

    EugeneChoi Tourist

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    I think you would be spending much more money working to earn a resort fee comp through gambling vs just paying it at check out. I'm not even sure they will comp a fee like that but there is a chance they could have their final price lowered if they gamble a decent amount.

    That being said, grab the mlife card but theres no need to limit yourself to Excalibur. You can earn points/comps by gambling at any MGM property. Charge everything to your room (shows, restaurants, drinks at any MGM property) to earn even more. I would not expect to get much from it if you are a low roller so don't work too hard.
     
  4. Bobbo2009

    Bobbo2009 Low-Roller

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    If it was me, I would book my two nights at Luxor or NYNY. I have never enjoyed playing at Excal. I would want to stay at a place I can at least unwind playing at the end of a night or early morning.

    As for the resort fee, that sucks for the other guys. I don't have any info on how much play it would take for them to get it comped or partially comped. Hopefully a few others will chime in. Not sure if they will comped it due to them booking through a third party site. I just assumed a third party site since it was a discount rate.

    But at least they have to sign up for cards. You never know what can be comped.
     
  5. Chuck2009x

    Chuck2009x VIP Whale

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    If you're going to kind of be a chaperone and be with them at night and that's going to be mid-strip, then maybe you want to stay mid-strip to save yourself a trip at the end of the night, assuming you think you can shake them when you want to.

    Otherwise, maybe Luxor, to facilitate gambling sessions at Luxor or Excal, but keep a little distance. You'll survive two nights at Luxor, it's not a dungeon, lol.

    I think there's probably a problem with getting resort fee comped from theo on a third party booking, but if they're going to do any significant gambling they should get cards, they'll at least get a little Express Comps and a few free slot spins out of it.
     
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  6. Maxbet

    Maxbet JACKPOT!

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    Thinking closer would probably be better on this one. Stayed at Luxor and Excalibur year ago, so NYNY gets my vote.
     
  7. CheeseHog

    CheeseHog Low-Roller

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    Excalibur not as bad as you mostly read. Good location for a group. If any warm weather in November, pool can be an option since there is no sun blockage that some other places have

    Jeff
     
  8. Funstuie

    Funstuie Low-Roller

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    My wife stayed at Excalibur with some friends a couple of months back and she said it was fine as a base. We (myself, wife and 2 kids) stayed at NYNY over xmas and the room was shit. It was old, dated and just not worth what I paid for it. I managed to get the resort fee waived and a meal comped based on my play but i was very much disappointed with NYNY. Anyway my wife said the room she had in Excalibur was not much better than the NYNY room (the caveat is she paid $125 a night for a basic room in Excalibur).

    I'm going to book Excalibur anyway as it's so cheap and I can look for something better closer to the date. Might as well lock in the dirt cheap fee now.

    I am getting nothing from mlife at the moment and even less from totalrewarsa so I might just TI it as I have never stayed there
     
  9. nostresshere

    nostresshere Mr. Anti Debit Card

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    Stay where YOU WANT to be. They can meet up with you wherever.
     
  10. Nevyn

    Nevyn VIP Whale

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    Excal itself isn't great, but its not like there isn't stuff to do South Strip, and getting around it is pretty easy.

    +1 to staying where you like. If he doesn't like the long slog back to excal (which isn't that long for a 30 something) he and his mates can split a quick Uber.

    Playing enough to get a resort fee comped as a plan is madness. If you know he's going to play high enough somewhere ANYWAY, its fine to choose to play there. But he should not be gambling for the purposes of comps. And he will likely have to play a fair bit to get comps on the backend of a trip he comes into not knowing a host.
     
  11. gs32794

    gs32794 VIP Whale

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    You didn't mention a budget cap...

    In this situation, I'd go for, in order: PHo, Cosmo or Aria/Vdara. PHo for vibe, less expense, easy walk. Cosmo for the overall scene just ramped up. Aria/Vdara is close to Cosmo and has tram to S strip and Belagio. If you're here just 2 nights then you could show them center strip and they could do south strip on their own, it's easy enough.

    If you want to be closer to your brother: MGM Grand Tower, Tropicana Paradise, Luxor in a refurbbed Cleo room. (Trop now that both bridges are now open.) I love NYNY casino, but all rooms getting tired and the bridge to MGM closed this week making it inconvenient to get to MGM.

    Don't try to get fees waived by playing just at Excalibur. They've already limited their Vegas experience enough by just staying there.

    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    OP... just read your last post. I was going to mention mLife vs CET. TI would indeed be best bet for gaming. Also, look at Trop. I had $500 coin in on only one day of play and got 2 nights comped. Teaser offer, but an offer.
     
    Last edited: Jul 5, 2017
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  12. todd7764

    todd7764 Low-Roller

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    I'd just stick with Excalibur. You'll be with everyone else, it's cheaper, and close to many other options. I dropped in Excal last May and I thought it was quite nice (although I didn't see a room ).
     
  13. smerrian

    smerrian View from Bally's

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    Depends on what YOU want to get out of the trip. If you're more interested in your gambling time and being in your comfort zone then book a room mid-Strip. If you're more interested in hanging with your brother and his mates then book Excalibur.
    Personally, I'd book Excalibur because it isn't just the atmosphere but the hanging out together. If you don't stay where they are you'll miss a lot of the comradery of the trip. Even waiting for a taxi may involve some antics that lead to future jokes that you will not be privy to if you separate yourself from the group. But, if you're more interested in the place then the people then stay mid-Strip.
     
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  14. Funstuie

    Funstuie Low-Roller

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    Thanks for the responses all. I have booked Excalibur for now and I will probably end up just staying there. As many have said it's all about the group and they are all staying there, my brother wants me to join them as chaperone and guide so I'm going to be a team player.

    Excalibur as a base is fine. The cost is ridiculously cheap (even upgrading to a "suite" is cheaper than rooms in PH!) which gives more fun money. These guys are going to be complete tourists. They want to see the sights and gamble and clubs etc. Whereas I want good times and good gambling. I will drag them downtown one evening!

    The other thing is I will be going to Vegas twice before their trip so I have decided to just treat this as a jolly. Uber/Lyft are cheap enough options for travel.
     
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  15. Richard Alpert

    Richard Alpert LOST

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    Have a helluva good time, Funstuie!
    The rest is just details...:D

    RICHARD
     
  16. romeocasido

    romeocasido High-Roller

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    this is pretty funny. There was a post earlier last month about how a group of friends and the OP were booking at the Excalibur and there was some hold outs... I wonder if he/she was referring to you?
     
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  17. Funstuie

    Funstuie Low-Roller

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    I doubt it. My brother and his mates only booked at the weekend and it was a snap decision - they were supposed to be going for a trip to Amsterdam or somewhere. They have no idea at all about the excalibur. Their package deal was either for the Excalibur or for Circus Circus - luckily they picked Excalibur as there is no way I would stay at CC. This thread would not exist ;)

    They are flying in from dublin and I live in California (bay area) - hence the reason my brother is inviting me along ;)
     
  18. the nuts

    the nuts VIP Whale

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    Tell your brother to check the fine print on his booking, maybe its not too late to stay mid strip. In my humble opinion, its a much better time when you stay in the middle of the action. There is no bigger drag than to be in the middle of the action, then have to walk a long way/taxi/uber back to your home base hotel. It kills the energy and the buzz.
     
  19. Kobra2848

    Kobra2848 VIP Whale

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    I would just stay at Excalibur since you are only going to be there two days. It would suck to make the walk back after late night gambling. My niece made the same comment that the room they had at Excalibur was nicer than the room they stayed in at NYNY when I called it the Dirty Castle.

    Mark
     
  20. OhioStateAlum

    OhioStateAlum High-Roller

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    I think you made the right call with Excalibur. On a trip like this, the "who" is much more important than the "where." You'll have a lot more time with your brother and you'll save yourself a ton of time, too. Not being at the same hotel and trying to get together leads to a lot of standing around, waiting, and phone calls consisting of, "wait, where did you say you are? I can't find you!"
     
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