Just got back from TI

I don't know where to begin. I will say right off the bat that I had a great time overall, but a few things kinda bugged me about TI.

I'll start with the good. We got a great deal from them. We got a package deal of $450 per person (airfare/hotel from DC) for 4 nights. Price was right.

Check-In was smooth, very quick and the front desk staff was very friendly. They gave me a room with a sweet view, just for asking! Check the photo....

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I loved the room. It was fine. It actually reminded me a lot of the NYNY rooms. The bed lived up to what everyone raves about. The highlight was Mystere. I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a good show. The tickets were very reasonably priced. We paid only $86 each. Funny thing is that I got an offer for 2-for-1 from the hotel after we bought the tickets. But, it was well worth the full price.

The restaurants are very good too. I loved Isla. Delicious Mexican food. I had the beef tacos and the beef was so tender. I believe it was chopped sirloin. Canter's Deli was good as well. Kahunaville was kinda fun as well. The bartenders did the whole Cocktail thing going on. Juggling liquor bottles while mixing the drinks. It was pretty entertaining.

The Sports Book was pretty nice. They had plenty of seating and the cocktail waitresses came through pretty regularly.

I tried my first no hold 'em tourney and finished 21st of 29. haha, not so good, but it was fun.

Now, the little things that irritated me... Now I know they are in the business to make lots of money and they are having a rough time, but it seems like prices on the small things like sodas and beers in the gift shops really jumped this past year. It was $3 a soda in the machines or in the shops. Then, I went to Mist and sat at the bar and started playing the video poker while they were announcing the Heismann winner and they charged me $7 for an Amstel, even while I was playing.

Second, I had bad luck with the dealers there. 3 of the 5 I played with had zero personality and one literally did not respond to anyone while we were joking around and cheering. Again, I went to Paris, and had a much better experience with their dealers.

Lastly, I played there most of the 4 nights and they gave me zilch as far as comps. I was hoping for at least $10 free play on the slots or video poker. They had this ridiculous rule that they would not rate me on the tables unless I was betting $10. I look at it as in I put down $100 every time I sat down, why does it matter? Not that it would matter I guess because I guess they don't really give anything back.

In comparison to my last trip, Planet Hollywood actually comped me 2 buffet meals and offered a show ticket when I went check out my points on my card. The folks at PH even asked if there was anything else I would like. So, compared to that, TI disappointed me.

I liked TI and would recommend it to friends, but cautiously. I'll likely return at some point, but only if the price is right, just like it was this time out. I say that mainly because I have a long list of places I want to try before I start repeating.

Some non-TI tidbits, I tried the Ellis Island $6.99 steak dinner special, and would highly recommend it to anyone. It was actually a very decent cut of filet with a potato, salad and a brew. I was really stuffed and it was good.

I couldn't believe how dead it was Monday through Wednesday. I went down late night Monday and there was no one down there. It was strange. I hope things start picking up. I'd hate to see any of these really nice casinos go under.

Weather-wise it was kinda crappy. It rained two days and we missed the snow as we left. I actually would have been fine with the snow on the strip. That would have been kinda cool. No pun intended.

 

Thanks for posting. I enjoyed reading. That view was fantastic!

Good to hear TI is now rating at $10; in the past they wouldn't unless playing $25/hand. I guess that goes hand in hand with the new lower limits. I couldn't believe how many $5 tables there were at Mirage smack dab in the middle of NFR.

I hate rude dealers, or ones with no personality. Totally takes all the fun out of it, even if you are winning.

I too was a little disappointed at missing all the snow in Vegas. We got back a little over a week ago. We changed our dates & were originally scheduled to leave Vegas this Thursday. I guess in the end it turned out to be a good thing, except there's no other place I'd rather be stranded than Vegas!

 

Yeah, the rude dealers are such a bummer. It's bad enough when you drop a bunch of money quick, you should at least be able to have a good time. I was playing three women that were having a great time, and it was a great table until the scrooge came along.

So far, my favorite dealers have been at Paris. I really got into 3-card poker there. I'd say every dealer I've played with there were really friendly. I had only one bad dealer experience there this time. I could tell the kid was inexperienced. He was dealing so fast (on 3-card poker) that, twice, before I could look at my cards, he flipped his over. The second time, he took my $10 and just said sorry. Then to make things worse, some guy sat down next to me and took my flush on the next hand. I picked up my chips and just called it a night. Sometimes, you have to just leave when things are going badly.

I had a great time. I'm looking forward to the next trip. I think next trip will be at Paris or Bally's.

 

Thanks for posting.

later, GVJ

 

So you like Paris better than TI. We have a friend who has swapped MGM props for Paris, too. He loves to play BJ and 3-card there. Never stays anywhere else now. We kind of had something to do with getting him to try the Paris out - he he.

And you saw Mystere. Isn't it wonderful? I'm one of those who when I see a show, I'm sort of 'been there, done that' but I will see Mystere again and again. I enjoy it that much.

Thanks for posting. I got some good info about TI from you. Very interesting.

 

Yeah, I like Paris a lot. I liked TI too, there were just a few things that kinda bugged me. I just felt like they didn't give you a break anywhere. The staff was friendly, outside the dealers (Yes, I have mixed feelings about TI). As for Mystere... I agree. I could see that again. If I go again, I would get the better seats and get a little closer.

So, yes, my next stop will likely be at Paris. If the package rates are significantly cheaper at Bally's, I'll stay there and play at Paris most of the time. I will likely go back to Isla at TI next trip.

 

Excellent view. That's the view I was hoping for when I stayed at TI in 2007. I guess I was on the other side of the hall and got to look down on the pirate show.

 

What a view, what room number were you in?

 

Thx staying there tomorrow, I don't usually gamble there but I like to stay and party there.

 

Good luck....let us know how you like it...I'm staying at TI in April.

 

That view was from 14080. My friends had a room on the 28th, but facing the other side. I loved TI's rooms. The casino layout is very easy to get used to. Just ask for a good view and they should give it to you if it's still slow like it was.

 

Thank you for the trip report. I enjoyed reading it! What a great view. The one time I stayed at TI--I had a fantastic view of the pirate show--which we learned was not going on at the time!!

 

Thanks for the report and the info on PH comps. We're heading there next weekend!

 

LOL. Same thing happened to us last week. Got to the room, checked out the view and was very pleased to see the show would be right below us and the fireworks at the end right above...wasn't until the next day when I took a closer look and saw the lagoon was empty, empty, empty.

I believe it is running again starting Boxing Day.

Of the three hotels we stayed at this year - MGM, NYNY and TI, we rate TI last. We weren't impressed with the food compared to the other two (but we didn't try all the restaurants), the room service was awful and housekeeping wasn't all that thorough either - all week I really wanted some Febreeze for the shower curtain - it had that wet dishcloth smell. Not sure if they would have changed it if I asked so I can't really complain about that.

But location wise and for price it was better, especially for shopping. Shopping was great with the Fashion Mall on one side, Venetian across the street AND the Forum Shops only a hop, skip and a tram away! We took the tram over to Mirage quite a few times and then over to Harrah's to use the Monorail to get to the rest of the strip.

While it wasn't awful, and I would have no problem recommending to those with a budget, I don't think we'll stay there again.

 

That is pretty much how I feel. I liked it, but there is much better on the Strip. One other thing that was a little bit of a pain was that the tram to the Mirage was down for maintenance the last two days I was there. I guess that's another reason why December is cheap... maintenance time.

 

Thanks for the info on TI. We've had some offers from TI but have never stayed there. We did go through the casino back in June and it just didn't do anything for us.

 

I love TI's rooms too...but I can never get anything going in their casino.

Thanks for the report.

 

It's funny because I had only one good night at 3-card poker there, but I have witnessed 3 Royal Flushes on video poker there. All of them within the group I went out with over the last two years. I came close on one hand.... it was 4 hearts and a diamond. For a second I gasped.