CET vs. MGM: Comparing mid-level properties

My "gaming group" and I are considering making the switch from CET to MGM in the near future. Based on what I've gathered from this site, Bellagio and Aria are at the top of the MGM food chain while Excal and Luxor are at the bottom, which leaves the others (Mandalay, Mirage, MGM, NYNY, MC) as the mid-level properties. How do these five properties compare to Paris and Rio, which is where we have usually stayed in the past? Thanks...

 

As always, it depends on what you are looking for. But IMO, MB, Mirage, and MGM all three blow Paris away. NYNY and MC are on par with Paris. All of them beat Rio (disclaimer, I have not stepped foot in the Rio, however, in five years). I think the MGM properties are cleaner and have a lot more to offer in terms of entertainment, gambling, and food (although Paris does have decent food options). The first three MGM properties all have better pools and spas as well. I consider those three properties to be MGM's second tier and, personally, I have always ranked MGM's second tier on par with CET's top tier

 

this isn't even close. All of the MGM properties in your second tier have had recent remodels, the RIO is a dump, and Paris only garners attention as it is one of the nicer CET properties, but isn't even close to Mandalay, MGM, or Mirage. I would put the RIO on par with MGM's lower tier, with the only upside to RIO being the larger room size. It's off strip location is also a minus.

Try one of the properties you mentioned and see for yourself.

 

5: Bellagio, Aria

4 1/2: Caesars Palace, MGM

4: Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Mandalay Bay

3 1/2: Paris

3: Bally's, NYNY, Rio

2 1/2: Flamingo, Monte Carlo

2: Luxor, Harrah's

1 1/2: Excalibur, The Quad

This is how I would rank comp room offers for a standard/deluxe (non Roman Tower - Loveman you are a disgrace) room. This is based on the room, the property (gaming floor, resturants, pool area) and location.

YMMV

 

MGM, Mandalay Bay and Mirage are their best midlevel properties. I'd say comparable with Paris and PH. (I would say nicer even). Mirage and MGM have been nearly completely updated rooms and everything in the resort in the past few years. Mandalay Bay is in the process right now.

I'd say NYNY, Luxor and Monte Carlo are a step below those 3 properties. Even though they are all "4 star properties" these are just a little older, have less amenities, and have had the least amount of updating. Out of those 3 Luxor is my favorite, the tower rooms are quite nice there. The other 2 really just don't have much to offer in my opinion except their locations.

For me, Mandalay Bay (and Aria) are my favorite casinos, but MGM and Mirage have newer rooms. Yea, I think it just depends what you are looking for. Look at those 3 first. I don't know anything about comps, but those are the best properties MGM has to offer (aside of Bellagio and Aria)

 

I think you're overrating MGM and underrating Monte Carlo here. Significantly in both cases.

 

I would agree completely. Now granted I haven't been in a renovated MGM room yet, but I wouldn't put MGM above Mirage (Or MB) and I still think that Caesars is one of the best properties on the strip. Not quite Bellagio, Wynncore, etc. but certainly a top 5 property. MGM is not on par with Caesars especially with all the recent renovations they've had.

I'd say that MC matches up pretty similar to Paris. Locations are similar, both casinos are pretty average, rooms are both fine, but a little tired. Paris might have a slight leg up based on the dining options, but MC also has a better pool.

 

I agree with the underating Monte Carlo part.It is way higher than Rio and Flamingo.
In the MGM world they consider it close to on par with NYNY.
I just stayed in a renovated room at MGM for a couple nights and it has definitely moved up from a couple years ago.
I now put MGM a little higher than Mirage because of the size and number of dining and drinking options.

Caesars is tough to rate because of the diversity of rooms.
Some are nice some are awful.
The CET people do not consider it a mid-tier property as it is their flagship and often priced at Bellagio and Aria's rate.
I am not a fan of the property but it may be a nose above MGM.
No debate at the top or bottom.My rankings:
1.Caesars
2.Tie-Mandalay,MGM,Mirage
3.Paris
3.5 and close to Paris Monte Carlo
4.NYNY,Ballys
5.Harrahs
6.Luxor and Flamingo-(Harrahs is higher only becaus eI have had some rooms in flamingo that make a Red Roof Inn look good)
7.Excalibur
8.Quad- Don't Stay Here

 

^^^ Pretty much nailed it^^^

Other than you missed PH.

The general gist of it is that on the low end, (Harrah's, Flamingo, Quad, Ballys & Luxor, Excal, NYNY) the two match up pretty much dead even. The difference is the top of the mid-tier (Paris, PH & MGM, Mirage, MB, MC) the MGM props are a distinct level above CET.

 

MGM Grand has the most to offer on its property in my opinion. They have a mix of everything.

I pretty much agree with everyone here with the Mgm properties. But to be honest i havent stayed at the luxor since 2002. Has it really dropped off that bad. I remember it was getting alot of attention. I actually agree with the las vegas ratings from travelers on tripadvisor.

Aria - Bellagio are the best MGM properties
MGM Grand is next and is the funnest to me.
Mandalay Bay and Mirage right after Mgm
NY NY and Monte Carlo is next
Then Everyone else.

Ceasars is similar to mgm but i put it lower then mgm since mgms renovations
Paris is behind cesars and is between MB/Mirage and NYNY/MC.
RIO is outdated and a little trashy to me. The rooms are larger then many on the strip but the furniture was outdated when i stayed 3 years ago.

Both CET and MGM properties have always taken care of me. I am still a little bitter when the Encore bartender charged me for drinks while i dropped hundreds on video poker while waiting for my friend. I had my players card in and after i lost about 5 hundred dollars he gave me a check for two drinks i ordered (7 and 7). I didnt complain but i was a little surprised. That has never happened to me at CET or MGM properties and it happened to me twice at Encore/Wynn.

 

Thanks, I appreciate all the responses!

 

Seems like we do these lists every few months. Its fun!

While I would have a few differences, my main difference would be that you are rating CP and PHo way too high! I would knock each of them down a notch on your rankings, although I do still rank both ahead of Paris

 

Yeah exactly. MGM Grand is kind of weird in that it crosses a bunch of different markets. Its easy to see why different people would rank it in different classes. It has a bunch of upmarket stuff as well as downmarket stuff. It has rooms as cheap as just about any on the strip as well as some of the nicest accommodations on the strip. Dining ranging from McDonalds and Rainforest Cafe to Joel Robuchon. I've always loved that place but hardly ever stay there anymore.

 

I think it's in the top 3 for total restaurant quality. But you don't have to stay there to enjoy that.

 

This is tricky because many of the CET properties have major differences between their basic rooms and their top level, non-suite rooms. Take the Flamingo for example. I stayed in a non-renovated 2 queen two years ago, then stayed in a GO room. I would rank the GO room on par with a PHo Resort room, but the regular deluxe room I would rank lower than the basic Rio room I'd stayed in the year before. The GO room was great, just below a regular room at the Mirage. The suite I had at MGM Grand (2009) was huge, and about as nice as the PHo Resort Vista room last year. The only problem I had with the Rio room was the noise from the pool. It had a CRT TV, but so did the MGM suite (back then). For some people, a tube TV makes or breaks the room. For me, it's cleanliness, bed comfort, TV, if I feel comfortable walking around barefoot and if the decor is easy on the eyes. I could really care less abut the view, but many of the CHEAPER rooms I stayed in had great views (Rio-Ipanema Tower had a view from Ceasars all the way to Wynncore).

I would say the best MGM properties kick the dog mess outta the best CET properties, and the worst MGM properties are on par with the bottom-tier CET properties. A basic room at Aria or Bellagio or Mandalay Bay will beat a basic room at Ceasars ANY day.

But as you said, YMMV.

 

I like MGM outside of the location (I prefer north / central Strip) and poor sports-book. MGM has great dining options (at high & regular price points), a poker room you can get decent action and excellent blackjack rules. They also have nice entry level rooms (except West Tower Maxim rooms). The Signature if you want a balcony. High rollers have Skylofts or the Mansion. Low rollers have Sigma Derby, Lion Slots and a nice pool area. Something for everyone, a comedy tonight....

I really have no interest in staying at any of the 2 1/2-1 rated properties (not stars, just my level of interest from 1-5). The one time I stayed at MC, my room was really beat up and somewhat dirty, poor drink service and resort fee on my comp room. I played at MGM the whole trip. I liked the MC when it first opened. I wouldn't stay there again. There are too many options I like better.

I like the PHO rooms, especially their bathrooms, and I do well in their poker room (though I've taken a few beatings at BJ - at least there was a decent view).

I've only stayed at the Octavius Tower at CP, and all the pics of their other rooms look decent except for the Roman Tower rooms. I wouldn't quibble over 1/2 or 1 point anyway.

All things considered, if I am paying for a high end room on the Strip (which isn't often - I earned enough comps but backed off play at MILFe properties after their comp offers dropped), I'm booking Wynn/Encore or Cosmo rooms. I also like staying at Red Rock (my brother lives in Summerlin) and I'm looking forward to trying out JW Marriott or Suncoast for a portion of my next trip.

 

Agreed as well as rating Luxor far to low, no way in hell Luxor rates the same as Riv not even close, better dining otions, cleaner, better clubs and the plus of MB being only a short climate controlled walk away. Luxor is much closer to Paris than Riv especially the Tower rooms and the Tower Luxury suite is on par with MB and THEHotels base suites in many many ways.

 

Is Excalibur really that bad? Walking through it, I never felt like it was the worst thing in the world. I'm thinking of taking advantage of that buy 2 get one night free deal, using Excal to subsidize a premium resort, like Aria or something, but my wife is fighting me tooth and nail on this. Are the rooms really that bad? Is it really a step away from being IP/"The Quad"?

 

People don't like it. Personally, I have no problem with the casino and their great VP. I'd stay there if I was alone, but I wouldn't stay there with my wife.

 

We were MGM/Mirage people for years and gave the Caesars properties a try over the last couple years. We went back to Mlife. Our gambling budget has stayed the same for many years, around $1500 per trip every 9 months or so. We usually come back with some of that. For that amount of play, we got offered free rooms at the Quad or Harrah's with TR. Mlife gave us rooms at the Mirage. MGM, MC, NYNY and MB. Those properties aren't even close to comparable. For me it's all about the deals and CET is much to cheap with the comps not to mention almost all the Mlife properties are newer and nicer than all but PH and Caesars IMO.