Where to Stay in March (Advice needed)

Long time lurker, first time poster looking for recommendations on where to stay in March. I’m sure this has been asked, but wanted to see what would work best for a beer budget group with champagne taste.

I have been to Vegas 5 times and have only stayed at Bellagio and Encore. I have been to (walked through and gambled) at mirage, CP, and Aria. Other than that I really haven’t been to any of the properties I am looking at booking.

our group: 6 college buddies in their late 20s mostly looking to drink and gamble. Will be staying for three nights. Will probably do a nightclub if open, we will also probably do one or two nice dinners.

The Problem: I normally stay at the Encore tower suites on a paid rate, but this will probably be a more budget conscious trip. We will need 3 2 queen rooms. I was also considering paying up for a larger suite and using it as a gathering/party room.

here are my options:
Wynn/Encore: The best offer I can find for my weekend is 179/nt for a regular 2 queen room. Rate includes breakfast and 100 in resort credits. This would be my first choice, but I doubt the others will want to pay this much.

I have a comp room at any of the MGM properties that weekend. One room would be comped and 2 would be paid. All are around the same price. I am considering the following:

Mandalay Bay
Luxor
Mirage
MGM Grand

Since I have only been to the Mirage can someone help me with the other 3. To be honest I’ve never been south of the Aria, and I really don’t want to be upset I didn’t pay up and just stay at Wynncore.

obviously I am going to be giving up the 5* service and amenities, but want to make sure I am comfortable and feel safe.

any advice or experiences are highly recommended, please advise if I should be looking at any other properties.

Gambling will be low limit craps and $25 3:2 BJ. Not much slot play and maybe a little bacc if I win. Total BR for the trip between all 6 of us will be around 8k

 

Of the four MGM properties you are considering (assuming your friends don't want to pay for Wynn), I like MGM Grand the best and Luxor the least. All of them are safe and you will probably feel comfortable at any of them. I would suggest MGM Grand and here's why: its a big property and has a lot of different clientele. So if you're looking for other young people and partiers, you can find it there. In addition, they have multiple themed and fun bars (Whiskey Down, Losers, etc). plenty of places to drink. They also have some higher end restaurants for your nice meals (assuming they are all open by March; nobody knows that yet). Right now, nightclubs are closed, but if they are open in march, you have a well known club at the property. For gambling, its probably going to be the priciest of the four places you are considering. But MGM is so huge, you can usually find some lower minimum tables. And if you can't, NYNY is a short skybridge walk away and you can definitely find it there.

Generally, MGM Grand is a four star hotel with two five star boutiques within (skylofts and mansion). So its not going to be the experience you're accustomed to at Wynn, but its still very nice.

 

Might want to check a "Hospitality Suite" at the Mirage. Two bedrooms, one king and one with two queens, and a huge living room. Some even have a pool table. There are many days where this is $250 or so per night.

Also, if you have a comp, call a host and see if they can get another room or two for you. The "casino marketing" people won't be able to do this for you, but a host can. In these days of super low occupancy, it wouldn't surprise me if they give you two rooms comped (including no resort fee) and one paid. But you never know if you don't call! Good luck,

 

Agreed with everything @UKFanatic said, but would also just add that March is a long, long time away these days. As a local, I see constantly that what's open today is not guaranteed to be open tomorrow. You need plans, and then backup plans, and then backups for your backups.

On gambling, it varies. For example, Aria is still at least $15 on craps (unfortunately, $5 is a bit of a dinosaur on the Strip at any decent resort, though I've seen $10), and while 3:2 BJ is usually $50, I saw a couple $25 tables earlier today.

 

Not trying to pour cold water on this idea (because @finsfanscott is right, it never hurts to call), but a host is not going to be interested in taking time to help players whose combined bankroll for the entire weekend is 8k. Try it if you like. Just don't get your hopes up

 

Also, on the other three:

• Luxor is probably going to get you the best bang for your buck, as long as you're in one of the ziggurat towers and not the pyramid. It's a great property overall.
• MGM Grand is decent, but I'm not a big fan of them these days. Many of their restaurants are still closed, and while it's across a walkway from NY-NY, that doesn't get you much.
• Just personally, I would probably do Mandalay Bay. Rooms are big and very nice. I hate the layout of the casino floor, but the restaurants are great (when/if they're open). If you like to wander, though, it's a hike even just over to Luxor, so you'll be reliant on cabs if you plan to casino-hop.

 

Agreed on both. A host will probably not be interested (I had a $10k line and never warranted a host, though I'm pretty low-key and never pursued it), but the absolute worst they can do is say "no".

 

Luxor. Tower rooms not pyramid. You’re young you can walk wherever. Tons to do on that corner.

 

I would consider South Point. Restaurants all open, great selection to choose from, very good gambling, rooms are good and reasonable compared to strip. You can always Uber to strip if you want, but keep in mind the strip is the one part of Vegas that is way behind other areas in reopening from COVID. It’s more of a ghost town on the strip compared to what your used to.

 

I don’t know the prices of the rooms. I took 5 young guys last year and left them at MB. I got them a two bedroom suite. It was more than enough space. I’m almost certain that Delano has a room that’s very similar. Liked all of the food options. They used Uber, cabs and walked.

They had a blast!!!

 

Yup, UK and 44 are right, in normal times a host probably wouldn't bother. My personal frame of reference tells me MGM is looking to pull any kind of players in. I haven't played at MGM properties in more than 4 years. Normally stay downtown or Cosmo. I'm typically a 1-200/hand blackjack player. Staying downtown three nights for Super Bowl, but wanted a place on the strip the Monday after. Dropped an email to a host I haven't really spoken to in the 4years mentioned above. His answer was "two rooms, no prob, but can't comp 3 upfront, let's see what your play looks like and will see".

So totally agree with the posters above, but if you have any kind of host contact at all, I think you will find we are in an era of flexibility, especially when resort fees are taken into account.

Hope this helps!

 

Sorry, forgot to add... if you have an AmEx platinum card, the Delano is on their Fine Hotels and Resorts Program. There are many nights where a two bedroom suite (one king, and two queens in the other bedroom) are available for under $200/night. This Delano room and the Hospitality Suite at the Mirage were my options for three adults sharing a (large) room before my Bellagio host came through with the 2 comped, one paid Bellagio option.

Hope you find something that works for you!!

 

I believe it was UKFanatic who said MGM is the way to go and I agree.

Mandalay is dead right now. Luxor isn’t much better and the whole place is meh. Mirage is tatty and depressingly slow. MGM would be your best bet. In the current state of affairs if you aren’t center strip or Wynn don’t bother. MGM will hit all the marks, even if it clubs are off the table

 

The Wynn is the best hotel on the strip. Period. It might cost a few more ducats, but I believe that young men in their 20's will enjoy the ambience.

 

My suggestions are geared toward as presented, what I think your group should do (and not what I would do). No point telling you what I'd do...

Wynn - don't do it. I'd stay here myself in a heartbeat, but Wynn tax probably prices out some of your group and I doubt you will get 3:2 $25.

Luxor - no reason to pay the same rate here as the others, so scratch that
MB - Assuming none of you lot are walking nits, this is probably the pick of the rooms, but current reports are that it is as dead as a dead thing from Deadville. However, a couple of months of vaccine rollouts etc etc (not sure if March Madness is even a thing this year) and the landscape could change.
Mirage - I do have a soft spot for the property, but that doesn't help you much. Generally the F&B options are under par, which means usually wandering off property to do anything.
MGM - I wouldn't stay here, I don't like it much - but I think you probably should put it to the top of the list. Stay in a Grand room (don't get the West Wing) and as others have pointed out, you are on a 4way bridge. It doesn't have to mean NYNY, you can do Hooters/Trop/Excal/NYNY/Park pretty readily, and although a little walk, PH and beyond is not a tough ask for a young group.

Some of it also depends on your groupe type - will you all stick together like glue for the whole trip, or will you all do your own thing and overlap occasionally? Drinks service on the casino floor seems to be hard to get right now, but assuming things are recovering, finding a cheap table game (pai gow for pushes?) or cheap denom slots, look after a waitress well and get the first half a dozen beers in cheaply and then your budgets will stretch to a bit of genuine gamble and decent meals+ bar hops later, imo.

 

Size of buy in has zero to do with comps.. I buy in for 10k.. play 25 hand for 4 hours.. You buy in for 1.5k and play 200 hand for 4 hours.. Who is getting comped better? Comps all depend on bet size/hours played/house hold.. Size of buy means nothing

 

We went ahead with the MGM Grand! Thanks everyone for their opinion. I did not reach out to a host as I am doubtful I’m deserving of the free room to begin with. I am more of a hit and run player and really don’t play the hours needed to generate decent Theo. I think my comps are based off of some wild drunken losses I had a few years ago which I have now learned to stop. In reality I think I would just be wasting the Host’s time.

My comp was able to get me into a 2Q executive suite with a 100 resort credit. The others in the group booked the cheaper 2Q room. I’m glad we booked a cheaper place as I doubt we will be in the room very much to begin with. To scratch my wynncore itch we will probably plan dinner at SW or Weng Lei and have an afternoon/evening up north.

I do appreciate all of the feedback!

 

Just to respond to a few others in the group:

I have stayed at Encore twice since COVID and have seen $25 3:2 available on weekend evenings through early morning at both Wynn and Encore. I saw encore craps as low as $10 during a Saturday around noon. Never had an issue with drink service either.

Also in December, I walked through the Bellagio and every 3:2 blackjack table at about 3pm was at $25.

 

Have a great time. I remember some "in my 20's" with "college buddies" trips. They will be great memories, no matter what happens.

 

MGM Grand is a good choice. Lots of bars to hang out at, good food, pool might be open. Just don't care for their casino. NYNY is a short walk away, I like the atmophere better here.

Another option is PHo. Basic rooms are decent, cheap eats. Its a younger crowd in the casino, loud music at night, easy walking to cosmo where its a younger crowd to mingle with.