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Caesars Palace Feb 25-28

Discussion in 'Vegas Trip Reports' started by AndyAkeko, Mar 4, 2016.

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  1. AndyAkeko

    AndyAkeko Time magazine's 2006 Person of the Year

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    My Trip Report

    Rather than go strictly chronological, I'll divide it up into categories.

    THE FLIGHTS

    Flew WestJet non-stop out of Montreal, upgrading to Plus seats as soon as check-in was available. It usually about $300 extra for Plus seats, but only $120 at check-in. It's like economy comfort seats on other flights, except that the middle seat is blocked off. That's a major upgrade for us and I think we'll be flying WestJet to Vegas from now on. Also love that the elevators for indoor parking at YUL take you pretty much right to U.S. departures. It's $8 more a day than regular parking, but being able to leave your coat and boots in the car in the dead of winter is worth it!

    THE RENTAL CAR

    No problems with Alamo, got service right away and booking through Costco meant a free additional driver. The Dollar/Thrifty booth had the longest line-up again. For the really discount places, E-Z was easily the shortest, which also seems common. We ended up with a 2016 Sonata, which was only disappointing because we drive a 2015 Sonata Hybrid. For the four days we used $2.81 in gas.

    THE HOTEL

    We had a Forum Tower Royal Suite booked, and were kind of expecting to get downgraded the way Harrah's AC did when we stayed there this summer. (Long story short: Harrah's AC sucked so bad we cut our vacation a day short) We're both Platinum members but didn't really believe our play warranted a 1000 sq. ft. suite. But I read some reviews that the room was dated so maybe it wasn't going to be that great anyway. After finding the Platinum check-in line (I didn't know Caesars had one!) we did indeed get our suite, and glad we didn't get talked out of it from the reviews. It was huge, comfortable and looked like it belonged in the 21st century. Wife loved the double-head shower and I loved the whirlpool tub. Our only complaint was that housekeeping did a half-assed job (an empty lotion bottle was on the floor when we checked in, and was still there when we checked out three days later.)

    THE FOOD

    Siegel's 1941: It may be the same food from when it was the Flame, but it's lost all its ambiance. Totally fine for a comped joint, but it's really just a more expensive Café Cortez.

    Serendipity-3: Almost everything is served huge portions. It appears only my dish wasn't: The fried eggs benedict. (But it was still very filling and delicious, so I'm not complaining). The frozen hot chocolate is as devine as advertised.

    THE BUFFETS

    Bacchanal: Excellent for dinner, horribly overpriced for breakfast ($50 ... plus another $5 for champagne or mimosas!). We've enjoyed breakfast there before, but this Sunday it was lacking. Pancakes were dry, the lobster benedict was truly awful, sausage gravy was oily, and they didn't serve pad thai which was my wife's favorite dish last time we were there for breakfast. Will not be returning there for mornings.

    Le Village: Free if you earn 50 Tier credits at a Caesars property. I've always found Paris' buffet to vary widely from very good to mediocre, and unfortunately it was on the lower end this time. The bacon was extra fatty and all the potatoes (hash brown, lyonaisse, fingerlings) all tasted the same. On the other hand, their crepe station is always top-notch and was no exception this time.

    Cravings: 2-for-1 from MyVegas. I read somebody's review where they said this was home to the best desserts of any Vegas buffet. That person is delusional or not well-travelled, although the mini salted caramel cupcake might have been the best thing either of ate all weekend. The salad bar was the saddest I've seen at a buffet since the Sahara closed. The Mexican station was really good (at least to our Canadian palates), and my wife loved the self-serve Freestyle Coke machines after she found Cherry Fanta.

    THE GAMBLING

    Spent my budget, but had some good hits along the way and renewed my Platinum status for another year: Four deuces with a seven-times multiplier on Ultimate X at El Cortez, a natural royal flush on 50-draw poker at Planet Hollywood, and another one that same day on Big Split poker at Caesars (my favourite V/P game, but can almost never find it.) I also hit a 32-buffalo win on Buffalo Stampede at max bet that paid around $400.
     
  2. vegasvette

    vegasvette High-Roller

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    Thanks for posting. I agree with you regarding the Mirage buffet. It has gone downhill since my previous visit a couple years ago.
     
  3. breanna61

    breanna61 Super Moderator

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    We fly Westjet direct from Toronto; it is my favourite airline and with their Mastercard, we get several free flights each year.

    I am also very underwhelmed by the Bacchanal Buffet. I prefer Wicked Spoon and bottomless mimosas at Cosmo.
     
  4. Chuck2009x

    Chuck2009x VIP Whale

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    Did you get the suite comped? Or were you paying a TR rate and just were thinking they might put someone else in it?
     
  5. AndyAkeko

    AndyAkeko Time magazine's 2006 Person of the Year

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    It was comped, but so was the one at Harrah's AC that they downgraded us five levels. To be fair, we've never had a problem with Caesars Palace, AC or Windsor with getting the room we reserved (and very often upgraded).
     
  6. LV_Bound

    LV_Bound VIP Whale

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    Ah, Serendipity-3 has been good to us as well. Have yet to try the frozen hot chocolate.

    Its been a while since we ate at the Mirage buffet and recall the salad bar as one of the better ones. Guess things have changed.

    How was the overall vibe at Caesars? We stayed there in December and didn't like it and will stick with PH.
     
  7. Chuck2009x

    Chuck2009x VIP Whale

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    That's amazing considering you said you and your wife are both Platinum which implies a play level something short of 30,000 Tier Credits combined. The TR site won't even show me the Forum Royal Suite when I'm logged in unless I do jiu jitsu, and even then there's only a handful of dates it would let me book. The rack rate averages about $900/night.

    Congrats, I'm jealous...it's nice to hear they've spiffed up that room. :beer:
     
  8. AndyAkeko

    AndyAkeko Time magazine's 2006 Person of the Year

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    We're the same. Really love the room at CP but not a big fan of the long, sprawling casino. My wife loves PH and Paris and that will likely be where we head next time unless we get another suite offer from Caesars.
     
  9. tringlomane

    tringlomane STP Addicted Beer Snob

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    Nice report! And nice to hear about the royals. You're right, big split poker is pretty hard to find. PHo has a couple of games left. It's typically easier to find as one of the options on a "Multi Strike Ultra Deluxe" game. Bally's, Flamingo, Harrah's, and Rio still have some left for CET Vegas properties.

    Sucks to hear about the Mirage salad bar. The few times we ate there, I thought it was fine, but I didn't eat salad either. :wink2:
     
  10. jgates8

    jgates8 VIP Whale

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    Unfortunately they canned the free buffet with 50 points early from what I am reading. I was hoping they would extend it into April (even if they upped the required TCs to get it).

    I have a couple of free Mirage buffets from MV - I'm doing the dinner one before Love on Monday night when I arrive (provided no flight delays). If it is bad, I'm just refunding the breakfast/lunch one. I have never been overly impressed with it, although my trip there last year was better than the previous ones - it actually seemed to have improved at bit. I had heard the custom salad station was gone & that was a nice touch.
     
    Easter again..:
  11. rycelover

    rycelover High-Roller

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    I thought the free buffet with 50TC a day was good until the end of this month?
     
  12. jgates8

    jgates8 VIP Whale

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    It was supposed to be. I have read several reports now including one from I think it was Jean Scott that indicated it appeared it had been pulled. In the one article it indicated locals could still get it with a local ID but had to go to the TR desk, but for all others the kiosks had been removed. When my friend was there 2 weeks ago it was still on - I believe I read this stuff early this past week?

    I was surprised it was only 50 TCs to begin with. I could see it at 100 or 200 or such. But it isn't that hard to rack up 50. I figured they would likely extend it with an increase - but evidently no such luck.
     
    Easter again..:
  13. Peachiekeehn

    Peachiekeehn High-Roller

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    We're the same too. We used to always stay in the Augustus tower at Caesars until our NYE offers came and there wasn't one for CP but there was one for PH so we stayed there. The first time we hated the room, it was probably the worst room we've had in Vegas and we used to stay at the Flamingo, but we loved the atmosphere. The next time down we went back to CP but spent most of our time gambling at PH so since then we've been staying at PH. Our host usually puts us in a strip suite, which is ok but for our July trip we're going into one of the new Ultra Hip rooms.
     
  14. BiGP

    BiGP Low-Roller

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    $50 for breakfast!!!! Yikes!
     
  15. Candydave

    Candydave mid-roller

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    Sounds like a nice room. We actually really like the Bacchanal buffet, but it is so pricey that we wait to use our $100.00 Diamond dinner comp to pay for it. Too bad about the Mirage buffet. We were planning on going there to use a BOGO. Maybe it will still be worth it for a BOGO.

    Congrats on the wins!
     
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