1. Welcome to VegasMessageBoard
    It appears you are visiting our community as a guest.
    In order to view full-size images, participate in discussions, vote in polls, etc, you will need to Log in or Register.

Bally's trip review 18-24 Nov more food and shows than gambling

Discussion in 'Vegas Trip Reports' started by JimmyG, Nov 27, 2019.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. JimmyG

    JimmyG Tourist

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2018
    Messages:
    66
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    15

    My Trip Report

    Just returned from a 6 day stay at Bally's LV. We are both CET Diamond through FC and are not big gamblers, so not a lot of gambling stories and no pictures. We had $700 to $800 in RC's to burn through from the TR Visa, so the trip was mainly a food and show adventure.

    Check in at Bally's diamond 5 pm, nice and easy, nobody in line. Had a comped stay in the Resort Studio suite, but wanted an upgrade to the Executive Suite because of the dual sinks and changing table. I don't do the $20 trick, just ask and I had RC's to burn if there was an upcharge. Desk person left for a while, came back and said we can do it but their will be a charge, turned out to be a total of $10 a night, yea I think we can handle that. She recommended the Jubilee tower for the higher floor and view. We ended up in room 6711, looking out at Paris and a side view of Bellagio fountains. Room was clean and in great shape.

    We spent the first night looking around and had dinner at the Chinese noodle place at the Fulton Street food hall, good food and very reasonable, followed by our late night crepe at la creperie (sp) in Paris. Played a little VP at Cromwell at the full pay machines just inside the front entrance. We played on these machines 90 percent of our visit, since I don't enjoy playing the other horrid pay tables at CET. Yes, they are $50 per T/C, but we don't chase T/C's, so we don't care. I was down $100 and my wife hit 4 Aces for $100, so flat for the night.

    I should also mention the Cromwell is relatively smoke free as well as has great drink service. We like Bally's because of the ease of entry off of Flamingo, the rooms are decent and the access to the rest of the strip off the Jubliee side is fantastic.

    Had a reservation for GR steak the next night for wife's celebration dinner, went to TR desk to make sure it was the same as last time, just show card and it was automatic. Yes it was, presented card to server and he said he'd ensure it was taken off the bill. It wasn't, I had to point it out at the end of the meal and he quickly revised the bill. Meal was kind of a let down, I had rack of lamb that was good, but not great and wife had the short ribs that were the same. Will probably stick with the steaks next time. Still a good meal, but only because it was $100 off.

    More gambling at Cromwell for around an hour, my wife hit the 4 aces again for $100 and I was up and down, but cashed out slightly ahead. We did hit some slots and wasted a couple hundred playing interesting machines.

    We did MJ One on Wednesday night, great show and well worth the money. My one big gambling hit was on the VP progressive in Ballys, there is a bank of machines that I was watching as the progressive climbed, once the AWAK was over $550, I told my wife I'd make a run at it, she went to the room as she doesn't like the smoke and I slipped $100 into a machine. 45 minutes later I dropped a $630 tito into her lap. Mission accomplished, kept most of my original $100 and gave me the AWAK fairly quick.

    Rest of the week much the same, BLT Steak for a great filet (paid with RC's and a 20% discount provided by the coupon book provided at check in). Saw the Elvis tribute show, heartbreak hotel. Well done show, keeping in mind it was free. Also did the Jimmy Kimmel comedy club, just ok for me, two of the three comedians we good, headliner bored me.

    I received an email on Wednesday offering to extend our stay, so we decided to stay the extra day. We talked to the host on duty who did some typing and said she can offer the same room for an additional $30 per night, in addition to the $10 nightly. Again we said "OK". Also schedule a late check out on Sunday.

    Other notes. Subtle changes I noted. No longer have the kiosks to swipe for freeplay, it's either part of your reservation or not. Our was not. I did have a feeling things were getting a little tighter, as our last stay we got the suite upgrade for free and paid this time, but only $10 a night. Talked to a few employees who said things were changing, some good, some bad.

    Finally, after our last lemon/blueberry crepe, we stopped into check out and paid all with RC's. Zero is always nice to see on a bill. After all the crepes, dinners, room service, snacks, and final hotel bill, I think we might have $50 in RC's left over.

    We don't really have a gambling budget, just cash we take that covers shopping, tips and general spending outside of the CET empire. We dropped over $100 just in the M&M shop. Even with the AWAK at Ballys, my guess is we were down a few hundred in gambling.

    We have already started building the RC's back up on the TR Visa, went and did the TG shopping on Monday. We plan on doing LV again next year.

    Any questions, I'll be glad to answer.

    Forgot to mention, fridge in the room, but no Keurig, just the lame single cup deal. Since we travel with our Keurig, we don't care. Also the Jubilee is right above Nosh, so we could fill up our water bottles for coffee anytime we wanted. I highly recommend the executive suite for the two sinks, view and extra space. We will probably remain loyal to the Jubilee rooms after this.
     
    Last edited: Nov 27, 2019
    • Like Like x 10
  2. Tahoejoe2

    Tahoejoe2 VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2010
    Messages:
    1,470
    Location:
    ca
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    30
    Nice TR.
    We always stay at Ballys Jubillee rooms. Great location.
    We like BLT steakhouse. We grab the Travelzoo Pay $100 get $200 deal.
     
  3. Travelingman

    Travelingman Tourist

    Joined:
    Nov 3, 2019
    Messages:
    43
    Location:
    USA
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    10
    Hi. Any pictures of the Jubilee rooms. I have never stayed at Ballys and was worried if the rooms were small and how bad the smoke is.
     
    • Funny Funny x 1
  4. Tank45

    Tank45 High-Roller

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2014
    Messages:
    992
    Location:
    Flyover country
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    20
    Rooms are far from small. In fact, probably the biggest base rooms on the strip.
     
    • Agree Agree x 3
  5. JimmyG

    JimmyG Tourist

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2018
    Messages:
    66
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    15
    The executive suite rooms are large, listed at almost 700sf, with two sinks with countertops, and a vanity area. Also a huge shower, with two entrances from either sink area. Ballys is an older, smoky casino. That's why we spend most of our time away from the Casino, although none filters up to the rooms or hallways. We also like the Jubilee side because you can get off the elevator and slip down the side passage right out to the valet area without walking through the casino proper. We especially like the Cromwell, better VP and drink service and far less smoke.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  6. tringlomane

    tringlomane STP Addicted Beer Snob

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2013
    Messages:
    31,301
    Location:
    Chicagoland
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    28
    Nice report!
     
  7. Johnzimbo

    Johnzimbo VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2010
    Messages:
    2,856
    Location:
    DFW
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    100
    Nice to hit AWAK progressive! Do you recall the headliner's name at Kimmel's?
     
    Annual me and Pete
  8. Chuck2009x

    Chuck2009x VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Apr 5, 2009
    Messages:
    14,199
    Location:
    Boston
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    30
    Interesting. As of July, restaurants at Bally's, Paris, and PH were still using the paper vouchers, maybe they finally got them under the card system.
     
  9. shokhead

    shokhead No big spender unless eating drinking having fun!

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2007
    Messages:
    7,108
    Location:
    SoCal
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    85
    I'm offered a comped Jubilee Premium suite for Feb trip. What views will it have?
     
  10. M0rtyC

    M0rtyC TBD

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2012
    Messages:
    1,819
    Location:
    North Shore Massachusetts
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    26
    Great trip... thanks for sharing it.
     
  11. JimmyG

    JimmyG Tourist

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2018
    Messages:
    66
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    15
    Just looked her up, Beth Stelling. I got a few chuckles here and there, but overall not my cup of tea.
     
  12. JimmyG

    JimmyG Tourist

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2018
    Messages:
    66
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    15
    We've used the card with no voucher at GR Steak, HK in Vegas and Fridays station at Harrahs Lake Tahoe the last couple of years and it's been Diamond card only each time, letting the server know of course. I do recall having to use the paper voucher several years ago. We've never tried it at any of the other food outlets. Oh we were told we could use it at the Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars also, but paid with points.
     
  13. JimmyG

    JimmyG Tourist

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2018
    Messages:
    66
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    15
    Just looked that room up, way above my paygrade. The executive suite we had is is just the bedroom portion of the premium suite. Views are Paris, Eiffel Tower & Bellagio fountains.
     
    Last edited: Dec 1, 2019
  14. JimmyG

    JimmyG Tourist

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2018
    Messages:
    66
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    15
    Some good videos of the rooms on Youtube.
     
  15. shokhead

    shokhead No big spender unless eating drinking having fun!

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2007
    Messages:
    7,108
    Location:
    SoCal
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    85
    I was surprised it was a comp offer.
     
  16. JimmyG

    JimmyG Tourist

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2018
    Messages:
    66
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    15
    We've been surprised a few times like that, last time in Harrahs Tahoe out of the blue they upgraded us to the suite with a separate bedroom, living room and wet-bar. I didn't ask, they just said we'd been upgraded from the Premium room. It was still comped so was a no brainer. I don't do the $20 trick, so I'm assuming it's just my winning personality.
     
  17. shokhead

    shokhead No big spender unless eating drinking having fun!

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2007
    Messages:
    7,108
    Location:
    SoCal
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    85
    So I e-mailed my host to let him make my resver for Feb. I already knew I could get 2 different suites at bally's which is where I told him I wanted to stay. He just e-mailed back and made it for the cheapest room they have and I'm comped for the cheapest down to a couple of suites. Why would he do that? I just checked and all rooms are available for late Feb.
     
  18. JimmyG

    JimmyG Tourist

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2018
    Messages:
    66
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    15
    We've never used a host, I normally just pick the best room available off the website and figure negotiations start when I'm face to face with reception. We've found the upgrade charges to be very reasonable and we usually have lots of RC's to burn from the Visa card. We stayed 4 nights at the Hilton Riverside (Harrahs overflow) two months ago and I seem to recall we paid $15 a night upcharge for a riverview room overlooking the Mississippi river.
     
    • Informative Informative x 1
  19. Chuck2009x

    Chuck2009x VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Apr 5, 2009
    Messages:
    14,199
    Location:
    Boston
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    30
    Email him back and tell him you can get the Jubilee Premium comped and you want it.

    I was surprised when I was looking a few weeks ago and I could get it comped too, snapped it right up for January.
     
    • Like Like x 1
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.