Luxor - Harrah's Trip Highlights (Oct 22-27)

This will not be a full trip report, it will be more like highlights from my recent trip:

- I had Luxor on Mlife comp for 3 nights for Pyramid Deluxe Queens. When I asked for complimentary upgrade, they said no. But offered Tower Renovated room for $10/night. I took it, and the room was very nice. Had a very open view too, of the Sphinx and airport. If only the walk from casino to the tower rooms were shorter.

- Despite the change in MyVegas rules on comp rooms/free play, I was able to redeem the $50 free play from MyVegas, and turned it into $55.

- When I was not feeling like walking all the way to Cromwell for full-pay JoB, Luxor High-Limit room had a 9-5 JoB Spin Poker game at quarters. When you play it only 1 line, betting 5 times then you are actually playing a pretty frugal and good game. The drinks are nicer at the high-limit room too, and you get Fiji when you ask for water.

- Cromwell is awesome with its 9-6 JoB quarter VP machines right by the entrance. I played a lot there and it is a breath of fresh air in the middle of Strip, where you don't get screwed by worsening gaming conditions.

- I liked playing at Cromwell's bubble craps machine too. Most of the casinos moved these machines to back areas of their casino floor. But Cromwell has it in the middle of the action, so you don't get bored while it's yelling "it's easy, everybody can be the shooter.. blah blah"

- Pretty much all of Strip had $10 craps, this time I wasn't able to see $5 as much. Except, one morning I played $5 craps at Excalibur, and made good money too. When playing $10 craps, I picked Bellagio and Aria. Since all the limits are the same, why play at a trashy place, right?

- I took advantage of the free shuttle from High-Roller to Gold Coast and Orleans. This I used mostly to play $5 craps and blackjack. Gold Coast casino is much nicer though, Orleans looked depressive and dull.

- I ventured to downtown once, and played VP at Boar's Head bar, and lots of craps and blackjack at various places (mostly Boyd props).

- Lemongrass at Aria is pretty good, this was my second time. I recommend the jellyfish appetizer.

- I did two buffets via MyVegas (Mandalay dinner and Bellagio dinner) and one by paying myself (Palms AYCE dinner). Mandalay was pretty bad, Bellagio was OK but it was like a zoo. Too crowded and you just cannot get your food without bumping into someone. Palms AYCE was awesome when I tried it in April, but was OK now. I wouldn't probably pay for it again. The line (or lack thereof) should've been a warning. I think buffets have been consistently going down every year that I visit.

- I had Harrah's for one night comp and one night reduced rate at Mardi Gras Tower. They offered upgrade to Valley Tower for $35 a night and I declined. Mardi Gras rooms sucked, it was very old and dingy. However, it has probably the best location in terms of time to casino and time to Strip. Very convenient to stay there unless you care for a nice room. I went there around 11:45 AM and the agent at the registration mumbled about early check in fee and then called a supervisor (supposedly) and then got it waived. She wasn't very friendly overall. I liked Luxor customer service much better and Luxor as a resort is on a definitely higher level than Harrah's.

- I used two separate free entree coupons from MyVegas at Cucina and Lupo. At Cucina I got the Chicken Parm and both the service and food was great. The greeter, waiter, server all were attending to me like a well-known customer, despite eating free. At Lupo, it was just the opposite. The service sucked. I had the seafood linguine and the food was good.

- I wanted to try this Verbena thing at Cosmo, so went to the Chandelier bar for some VP. I asked the bartender how the ticket system worked and he told me to put $20 and play at least $1 and that I can order right away. I was putting in a hundred and even before hitting max bet, my drink was ready. Wow, what a tingly flower After playing about 15-20 minutes non-stop, I received a ticket. I showed it to him, and he asked me if I wanted another one. I skipped as I was losing and the game was pretty bad, 7-5 JoB. Overall though, the service was great, definitely recommended for some short play.

- Park MGM still is not there yet and empty. I wonder how many years it will take to recoup all that investment. I observed that people use it for mostly the tram to access Aria/Bellagio from South Strip.

- Interestingly, MGM Grand casino floor was pretty dead too.

 

Nice report! And I still should try the Verbena. The one time I tried to get it comped, I was denied. They used to be weird about making it at level 1 (where the machines are). And remember, Bonus is nearly always better for strip bartops.

 

Good to know about the Luxor spin poker, I'd like to try that on my next trip.

I always have attentive service at Cucina as well, glad they were good to you there. I've never been to Lupo. Maybe I'll skip it.

 

Thanks for sharing... we're at Luxor for NYE and I was interested in your review of Luxor and the fact that you were still able to redeem the myVEGAS free play. I'll see if they still honour it in late December.

 

Enjoyed your Trip Report - good descriptors of rooms and service levels at the places you stayed and visited are helpful. I’m also amazed at the Bellagio buffet lines no matter the time of day. It’s been quite a few years since we stayed at Harrah’s, and disappointing to hear that Mardi Gras Tower is still dingy and worn (one of the reasons we quit staying there was the condition of the rooms and poor housekeeping/icky sticky carpets).

 

Good info. I agree with you on Park. I have walked through there a couple times over the past few months and the casino is dead each time. It makes a great cut through from CityCenter to the Arena, though, and most people seemed to use it for that.

When were you at MGM Grand? I have always found its casino pretty slow in the morning through mid-afternoon. It never seems to get busy until evening. Might be a result of it being so darn big that all the gamblers are spread out

 

I would think that is a pretty big reason. If it looks busy at 10am, it is likely a disaster at 10pm.

 

It was tuesday morning around 10 am. I think you are right, it might be an early morning thing.

 

Great report. Thanks for taking the time. Lots of very helpful info here for my next trip.

 

My thoughts exactly. On my last couple trips Aria has been having $10 tables at night as well, so it has become my normal place to play.

 

As someone who stays regularly at Harrahs, i can confirm the rundown, Motel 6 vibe from the Mardi Gras tower. However, the remodeled Valley Tower rooms are very, very nice.

 

Good info....sounds like a good trip!

 

Thanks. It was a breakeven trip, so yes a good one

 

Great report and breakeven trips I will sign up every time for!!!