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A Hip and Very Unhip Hotel stays Trip Report(Planet Hollywood and Circus Circus)

Discussion in 'Vegas Trip Reports' started by fasbman, Apr 20, 2021.

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  1. fasbman

    fasbman VIP Whale

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    My Trip Report

    Hi Everyone,

    I have been back from Vegas for two weeks now, so I better post a report before the details begin to recede from my mind. As the title indicates, I stayed in two different hotels, and this report will be divided into sections per my custom. Sit back and enjoy!

    Transportation

    I flew SWA out and back. My flight was about 30 minutes late getting in, but I was 20 minutes early on the return back, so i figure that's close enough to being a wash. I know that a lot of posts have been made lately about Uber/Lyft, but I have never used either, and I can't add anything to that debate, but I can speak to the taxicab situation. I took a cab to Circus Circus from the airport, with no wait. Also on my return trip to the airport, from Planet Hollywood, there was no wait on the return to the airport. The only issue I had was when I was switching hotels to Planet Hollywood from Circus Circus. There was no one else in the cab line, but I still had to wait almost half an hour for a cab.

    Hotels

    I stayed first at Circus Circus. Fortunately, I only waited about 5 minutes to check in (unlike another posters experience). It probably pays to check in on a Tuesday, instead of a Friday. The room was comped (along with $200 of FP), although they now charge resort fees on the room. Since I had almost a thousand dollars of comp dollars, I figured that I would just use them for the resort fees. However, they now say that you can only use them for food. Ok, fine.

    The only issue that I had with the room was there was a funky smell to the room. When I walked past another room they were cleaning, I really got a strong smell of it, so I assume that it was just the cleaning supplies they used. Fortunately, I got nose blind after a few minutes in the room.

    When I moved to Planet Hollywood, the room was also comped (along with no resort fee). It was fine, as I expected it to be. It had a mini fridge, which I always like. In fact, I could have stayed at Caesars in an Augustus room (also comped), but I picked Plant Hollywood, because I like their slot and VP selection (as well as access to the Mall) and because of the mini fridge. As i understand it, the mini fridges at Caesars are empty, but they still charge you if you use them (rant over)!

    Food

    I had my first Moderna shot, about 3 weeks before the trip so I was reasonably well protected, but I still was somewhat cautious, so I just got take out at both hotels (I also brought some peanut butter crackers with me, when I wanted a quick snack). One thing that I noticed was the dearth of breakfast options. At Circus Circus, you basically had just the 24 hour Deli and Krispy Kreme Donuts as an option (I believe that their was also a Starbucks on the Promenade level, at least they used to have one there). What was very surprising was that McDonald's was closed for breakfast! In fact, I believe that they were only open from 11 -5 each day (at least during the week). There was a little more open at Planet Hollywood, especially due to the mall, bur the Earl of Sandwich was no longer open around the clock, and didn't open until about 8 AM. I generally ended up eating a few of my peanut butter crackers for breakfast.

    COVID Compliance

    My overall impression was that it was starting to get a little lax. Many people didn't wear it properly, and some didn't wear it at all. Not too surprising since it's been over a year of dealing with this mess. Complacency is bound to set in, given human nature.

    Gaming

    I decided to be Mr. Fancy, and call it gaming, just like the casinos. The Cliff note version (with apologies to Julius Caesar) is: I came, I gambled, I lost. But let's give it a little more detail. As I mentioned, I got $200 of FP from Circus, and another $375 of FP from Planet Hollywood. I used up my $200 of FP at Circus Circus, along with a couple hundred out of my pocket. No big hits, no big losses. Not great, but I have done far worse for a 2 night stay. I then moved to Planet Hollywood for a five night stay. This was also during the timeframe of the 5X TC multiplier (before anyone asks, I have not received my 5X multiplier yet). My play there, was about 80/20 VP/slots. I ended up earning a little over 6000 TC before TC bonuses. About 4600 of the base TC was during the 5X promotion period, so I should get another 18K or so TC later this month. Once I get it, I will be a little more than half way between Diamond Plus and Diamond Elite (I had already hit entry level Diamond on an earlier trip).

    As I said, I did lose at Planet Hollywood as well as Circus Circus, but it was less than if I had been paying full retail for the comped room, drinks and food, so that's almost like winning. My best hit was when I was dealt four 4's playing 100 hand 2 cent denom. Bonus Poker. That was a sweet four hundred dollar hit! My worse disappointment was when I was playing 11 hands of 25 cent denom. bonus poker and was dealt four to the Royal. My hand were sweaty, my mouth was dry, and I didn't want to look as I went hunting for the Unicorn. I ended up with a flush and a couple of high pairs. I lost money on that hand!

    Anyway, I'm going to wrap this report up. Thanks for reading, and I will be happy to try to answer ant questions that you may have.
     
    Last edited: Apr 21, 2021
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  2. Tutontow

    Tutontow Low-Roller

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    Thanks for sharing with us.
     
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  3. txsteph

    txsteph Tourist

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    Thank you for your trip report!
     
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  4. VeddaLasVegas

    VeddaLasVegas High-Roller

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    Enjoyed your report. Thanks!
     
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  5. fasbman

    fasbman VIP Whale

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    Thanks for the responses. As a PSA, I would like to mention that the 100 play JOB 25 cent denom. in the HL room at PH, has been downgraded from 9/5 to 8/5. I'm not sure about the other denoms. It was nice while it lasted!
     
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  6. Bluekitty

    Bluekitty Low-Roller

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    How was the room/experience at Planet Ho? Nice room? Any luck on the tables/VP? (Thinking about PH for an upcoming offer. Appreciate your perspective.) Best !
     
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  7. fasbman

    fasbman VIP Whale

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    Bluekitty,

    Thanks for your questions! I actually had a resort room at PH, overlooking the pool, with a decent view of the strip. It is fairly large (probably about 500 sq. ft. or so) and was clean and the bed was comfortable. They offer housekeeping again, which since I was staying five nights there, I availed myself of it. They actually forgot to clean the room one day, but I just let it slide. I would say that for 99% of people, it would have been absolutely fine (about 1% of people think that staying at the Four Seasons is slumming it)! I can't speak to table games since I didn't play them. I actually probably came close to breaking even on VP. In addition to the four dealt 4's, that I mentioned, I got two Royals on the 100 play VP machines. One was a $80 Royal (2 cent denom.), and a $200 Royal (five cent denom.) However, I couldn't get anything going on slots, and my biggest single hit was under $100. So, slots was definitely my Achille's heal for this trip.

    I really do like PH, and the fact that it is attached to a mall does give you a lot of options. They have a couple of ABC stores in the mall where you can pick up sundries. Also, there are quite a few restaurant choices in the mall too. The bottom line is, unless you are expecting "white glove" service, you won't be disappointed if you stay there.
     
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  8. Headache 21

    Headache 21 i don't wanna grow up, i'm a toys'r'us kid

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    In the normal times they always had some $15 3:2 tables - but they seem to have gone since the reopening.

    Love PH. Great casino vibe - great location to casino hop - great low cost options in the mall for food.
     
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  9. casinokid68

    casinokid68 Caesars Diamond Member

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    Thanks for your report. I was there the same time as you, and I also have not received the 5X Tier multiplier as of yet. Love PH as well. Great location, vibe and atmosphere there, and the mall certainly makes life easier, even if you just want to get simple things in the ABC store. I did have breakfast at Ocean One. Great prices there, and they opened very early.
     
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  10. Headache 21

    Headache 21 i don't wanna grow up, i'm a toys'r'us kid

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    Oceans One also has their $4.99 lunch special (as in everything on the menu is $4.99 for lunch) and 3 for 1 cocktails.

    gourmet dining, it is not. but a decent meal at ridiculously cheap prices it certainly is. they're pretty quick getting you in and out, too.
     
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  11. fasbman

    fasbman VIP Whale

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    I will have to try to eat there on my next stay. I have avoided dining in public in Vegas up to now, but since I'm now more than 2 weeks past my second COVID shot, I'm ready to start dining out in Vegas again!
     
  12. MARK

    MARK Low-Roller

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    Is it a long wait to get in? Was thinking of going on a Sunday afternoon. I have heard mixed opinions on this.
     
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  13. Headache 21

    Headache 21 i don't wanna grow up, i'm a toys'r'us kid

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    No clue. Haven't been since before the pandemic. Will let you know in a few weeks though
     
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  14. Kobra2848

    Kobra2848 VIP Whale

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    Thanks for the report. I love those 100 play VP machines at PH and always have good luck at the one facing the table games. I think the mall is the reason I like PH so much. It is nice to take a break and walk through the mall and the ABC stores always have a good price on a sort of crafty beer. Sucks about the change in hours at EOS but was Pinup Pizza open?

    Mark
     
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  15. fasbman

    fasbman VIP Whale

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    Pinup Pizza was open, and I grabbed a slice there one day, since the line to Chick-Fil-A was a little long. It was decent pizza.
     
    Last edited: Apr 26, 2021
  16. hammie

    hammie VIP Whale

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    Thanks for the write up, it sounds as if you still have a decent amount of comps left over at Circus Circus. I’m a big fan of The Steakhouse; a porterhouse with a lobster tail and a bottle of wine would put a dent in your stash,

    There is a McDonalds next to Slots o Fun; two breakfast burritos and a large coffee is highly underrated.
     
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  17. fasbman

    fasbman VIP Whale

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    I thought about going to the Steakhouse this past trip, but I held off since I hadn't had my second shot yet. Also, I need to verify that you can still use Comp dollars there. I really enjoyed the Champagne brunch they used to have on weekends at the CC steakhouse. It was excellent food and a very good value. Unfortunately, it became a casualty of the 08-09 recession.

    I did stop by the McDonald's you mentioned for lunch one day, but there were a lot of people milling around waiting for their food ( you order via a kiosk), and I decided just to grab a few peanut butter crackers from my room instead.
     
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  18. SoCalMon

    SoCalMon VIP Whale

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    How is the food and service at that McDonalds?
     
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  19. hammie

    hammie VIP Whale

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    Unremarkable; I haven’t been there in 4 years
     
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  20. vegas superfan

    vegas superfan VIP Whale

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    Charging a resort fee on a comped room infuriates me.

    I packed peanut butter crackers on my second trip working in Vegas because the first one saw me foraging for food. Your trip sent me down memory lane.

    Thanks for the report!
     
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