Just booked 5 nights at the beginning of June! Meeting up with some friends for the week for our annual trip. I was really surprised last week to see fully comped nights at Bally's on my TR card - I really am a low roller and stay and play mostly at MGM properties so this threw me for a loop. I had originally booked through MLife at the Mirage, but decided I couldn't pass up what essentially amounts to a free week for the room ($75 in resort fees of course!). I'm fairly positive the Mirage would be nicer, but I'd rather pocket the extra $450 and use it elsewhere on my trip. For what it's worth, I've never gotten a comped anything in Vegas! I am hoping the decision to use the comped stay is a good one. We typically stay at the MGM but this year part of our group is already booked at the Flamingo and for whatever reason, that first week of June is pricey at MGM (must be a convention?). I'm just not sure what kind of vibe to expect at Bally's....we're a bunch of guys, early 30's, love spending the morning/early afternoon at the pool, boozing, gambling, walking around and just taking Vegas and all of it's glory in! I guess no matter what, it's Vegas, so a good time will be had!
The vibe at Ballys in my opinion is just your run of the mil crowd nothing crazy or close to what you would see in the other casinos. The pool does have a DJ on weekends and has a mixed crowd targeting people mid 30's and up, which does not mean you cannot have a good time. The one big plus about Ballys is that you are connected to Paris and with that a short trip to PH and of course across the street for Bellagio, Cosmo etc. I also like the hotel not so much for the rooms, which meet my needs but for it being quiet. There is rarely any issues with people getting too out of hand on the guest floors. Other pluses for Ballys is the sports book, $5.00 table games and my favorite it is right across the street for The Stage Door bar and convenience store. I am comped 5 nights this May with 3 additional nights barley cracking $25 each. p
Bally's Tip... I have never had a problem getting a better room on the $20 trick. In addition, on most sites that track that sort of thing it has one of the highest odds. I would give it a shot. Cheers, spauls
I'll be staying at Bally's for four nights starting Wednesday, June 5. This will be my second time staying at Bally's. First time was April 2012. Good place for me. xman30
Thanks for the info - good to hear. I've hung out in the casino at Bally's a few times on previous trips so I think the casino itself will be good for what we like in Vegas. The connection to Paris (and proximity to PHo) is a great amenity...I know I've seen a lot of complaints about Paris but I have had some incredible VP sessions at one of the bars there allowing me to get quite a great of drinking in and win some cash along the way! The pool is probably my biggest concern - we usually do the MGM mostly for the pool complex/lazy river. I know Bally's is going to be a big departure from that, but from what I read/see it will do. For the $700 I'll be saving vs. staying at MGM that week, I can find something to fill that lazy river void!
Just got back from Bally's and had a great time. Room was nice and clean. No troubles center Strip location couldn't be beat. Going back June 9th to the 11th. I have no reservations about staying there again.
I love Ballys and have stayed there many times. It's a perfect fit for us, in both price (free lol) and location (nothing like just popping across the street to watch a fountain show or two and not even being missed). My favorite place to be in vegas is at Sully's bar. I always feel like Norm from Cheers "hey, welcome back, Absolute and grapefruit, tall, with a lime, right?" Lol. The pool is low key, from families with kids, although few, to elderly and everyone and every size in between. I am usually one of the first there when it opens. It starts out quiet but by Midafternoon on a weekend, there are lots of people in the pool, making new friends and partying BUT dont expect a party pool. I like to get a cabana one day if there is a group of us, nothing like having a bootle of absolute, with three pitchers of mixes,ordering a cheese and fruit tray and being able to have a place to get out of the sun for awhile if you want to. 90% of the cabanas go unused so if you try and get one while you are there, you might be able to score a discount. Have fun! This is the first year in about 20 it's going to be a full year in between trips for me. We are not going till October.
I'm also on a full year PLUS between trips - in June it will have been about 14 months since my last visit. Way too long! Thanks to everyone for the tips and comments on Bally's. I'm feeling better about my choice. For one, free can't be beat! I'm really looking forward to being mid-strip. Except for one stay at Bellagio, I've always been down at the Tropicana intersection. I like it there but it adds quite a commute to things like the fountain show, Carnival Court, etc.
Expensive enough that I usually walk on by. I think it was about $6 or $7 a beer last trip in feb. only drink there if playing VP. We would bring a road beer from the room and meet up there though.
Bally's is my favorite place to stay. I will be at Bally's in Nov. and wanted to stay at Bally's in May (will be at Rio), but at the time of my bookings Bally's wasn't comped so i chose Rio. Now Bally's is comped but i don't want to pay the resort fee....i think, i still may choose Bally's and just pay the resort fee..LOL. The reason i love Bally's is the trio......Bally's, Paris, and PH. I spend most of my time at these properties. The location, the dining choices, shopping, and across the street from Bellagio. The pool is great as well. And i love the Tequila Bar. If i keep talking, i may talk myself out of Rio......LOL.
