Convince me to stay at MGM

For our November trip, we are going with friends who have already booked at MGM. Through mLife, I was able to get a Tower One Bedroom suite for $600 total (includes resort fees and tax). This is my first of probably several reservations, but I wanted to lock something in at a rate I could live with.

However, I've never stayed at MGM, nor really ever wanted to. I am a mid- or north-Strip guy typically (our last four Strip homes have been Mirage, Aria, Cosmo, and Encore). I find MGM disconnected. I have never really liked playing in NYNY or Monte Carlo (let alone Excalibur, Trop, or Luxor). I hate the walk on that side of the Strip north (I know, I can cross the street).

I find the whole place too big for my tastes and crowded rather than just busy (why I've never stayed at Caesars either).

The dining selections are good, though seemingly only on the high end (though I'm intrigued by the Michael Mina pub).

So, what am I missing? Are there MGM fans who can convince me that I'll enjoy my stay? Will a monorail pass make life better? Any tips to better enjoy my prospective stay?

 

I've stayed all over the strip. I love mgm. The food options are great, amazing pool, every game you could want (pay tables maybe not so much) Great poker room. I could easily never leave. Great sports book. Close (easy walking distance not really close) to aria Cosmo etc as you seem to hate the other local mgm properties

 

MGM is trying to be everything to everyone. They do a pretty good job of it, but I would stay at Aria and meet friends staying there if I were you.

 

Me too Sageblue. You gave many reasons why you don't want to stay at MGM. I know your friends are there but don't "settle" for something you don't want.

Instead of convincing yourself to stay somewhere you'd rather not, convince your friends to stay at Aria, or wherever you ultimately decide.

 

Exactly...ditto...you won't be happy, stay where you want, it is your vacation to.

 

I won't try to convince you. I wouldn't want to stay at a place that massive.

 

It is classic Vegas, amazing pool, huge casino, sigma derby, all the restaurant choices you can think of from too high end down to McDonalds, freshly renovated rooms, monorail on site to get you north, across the way from NYNY which is always fun, and close to Monte Carlo which allows easy access to Aria or a free tram to Bellagio.

 

There's a really good vibe in that casino. Minimums are reasonable as well.

 

I read this thread to see if anyone could come up with a reason that would make me feel differently about MGM, or the south strip (MB complex aside) in general. As I too am not a fan, and my home casino list is pretty much the same.

Anyway, you'll have to arrange to meet up with your friends even staying in the same hotel. Particularly one as large as MGM. So you may as well stay in a property you like.

 

On a vacation you should not feel obligated to stay in a hotel where you've never wanted to stay. If your friends want to stay at MGM, good for them. That doesn't mean you have to stay on the same property. Likewise, your friends don't have to stay at Aria just because you are staying there.

Everyone has different preferences and budgets, and that's okay. Las Vegas has many choices to suit everyone

 

I love the MGM, but I would never try to convince someone to stay there.
Easy enough to get anywhere on the strip so no one is really far away. Just a short cab ride anywhere.

 

I just was at MGM 2 weeks ago. I was too hesitant because a few years ago I went and check in was a mess, but it was the best deal in town, so I took it. But it was a GREAT experience! The room was beautiful and super clean. Yes, it's big and there is a lot of walking, but it's really not that bad, the only time it sucks is getting from the Grand Tower to the Strip (or if you are going to Hakkasan or something) it's so far. We walked all the way to Planet Hollywood and we weren't dying or anything.

But be realistic, every place on the strip is gigantic and you will do tons of walking. Walking to the restaurants and shopping it's not that bad. The casino was really nice and clean and new, they had more new games than any place I visited on my trip. Having the food court and Starbucks were nice for quick eats. I really can't complain much. I was VERY VERY happy.

I would make sure you try and check in early.. the line gets insane. We got there around 12, they let us check in and our room was ready, we waited like 15 minutes. But other than that, really no issues. We didn't have any high end meals there because we had so many other plans, but a few of the places looked interesting. Honestly I'm looking to go back to MGM now I liked it so much. They did an A+ job on the remodel.

I would do it, it's not bad at all!! You could stay where you want, but it's a huge pain and extra cab fair to try and meet up with friends a bunch of times a day.

 

I can't stand MGM. Don't like the casino, poor service, average dealers. I think the pool is overrated....again bad service, poor clientelle. I hate the hotel, surly checkin staff, substandard rooms. Bad comps...numerous past fans who swore by MGM who are friends of mine are done with the place.

Plus its a huge clusterfuck and in no mans land for other decent properties.

Worst comps of the mlife props.

I totally agree with the Aria suggestion.

 

Fat Tuesday downstairs.
Easy access to the monorail.
Plenty of table games and HUGE selection of slots.
Sports book is larger than most.

The comment about places to eat was probably true a year or so ago which was our biggest complaint. When we used to stay there we never ate there, but recently they have included a couple of down to earth places to eat.

 

Age is what matters.

For anyone in their 20's that wants to meet other people (girls, guys), it is the best choice. For someone in their 30's it is also a top choice. It is the best hotel for these age groups.

Most but not all people over 40 might not feel comfortable there.

One of the best values in town.

Understandable feeling it is too big but if the conscious effort required to learn the layout of the hotel is made then that should not be an issue.

 

I am in the minority then. I am 40 and feel very comfortable at MGM. Then again, i do look like I am in my 20's...lol. I can get over the slight inconvenience in getting to Aria, Cosmo, and Bellagio (my favorite places to play). However, the one thing i cannot stand about MGM is that they only have one table of my game of choice, Ultimate Texas Holdem. The last trip I was there, i hardly played at MGM because I could never get a seat on UTH when I wanted to play. I ended up having to play at other properties. I guess I was forced to low-play for that trip.

 

You can play almost any slot in the place without waiting, since everyone else is lining up for the Lion's Share.

 

Avsman and Heather gave me some good reasons that I'll consider. It's booked for now, and I think I will keep considering it (if only to raise my hotel count, lol). If I do end up staying there, I'll be sure to post my impressions as a skeptic.

 

I'm also not a big fan of MGM for many of the reasons already mentioned. However, I will say this, If you are traveling with your friends and will be doing things with them the majority of the time, I would suggest that you stay wherever they stay. If you can convince them to stay somewhere else that's great, if not just stick with MGM. I've done the "stay somewhere else than the rest of the group" thing, and quite frankly it stinks. Granted it was usually my wife and I at one place and the majority of the group elsewhere, so we always ended going there vs. them coming to us, but the whole thing gets old fast. We move around throughout most of the day, but it's a pain in the butt when you want to take a quick rest, freshen up, or if you forgot something or want to grab something from your room. It just makes for a lot of running around and that gets old really fast.

If your friends were staying at an adjacent property it wouldn't be so bad (Aria and MC for instance), but IMO I'd rather stay at MGM than make the trek back and forth to Aria 40 times on your trip. Also it's not like we're talking about a HUGE difference in accommodations. If you're friends were staying at Excalibur and you're used to Aria, it may be worth the extra walking time.

 

To say it's horrible, is not accurate, the whole place had a beautiful remodel, it looks better than any 4 star on the Strip right now. There are pros and cons of every hotel in Vegas. MGM's con is that it's REALLY big. But, it's not a deal breaker at least for me. It would be harder to keep coming and going there, versus actually staying there.

I'm trying to up my count too! But it's so hard to not return to a place you like!