RateVegas - Las Vegas Reviews and Ratings of Hotels, Casinos, Restaurants and Shows

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Superbowl weekend is quite busy, as you might imagine. Last year, there was some overlap with Chinese New Year, which meant it was SUPER busy (pun intended).

When it comes to the books themselves, they operate as they typically do: first come, first served.

In addition to the books themselves, all of the casinos typically have parties, usually in a ballroom somewhere, to view the game. These are almost always invite only but if you have a casino host, I’d ask them about it as they should be able to help. If not, you’re probably going to be out of luck unless you’re willing to camp out for a good spot in the book.

You could always try another sports book, though they’ll all be busy. Sorry – I wish I had a better outlook for you!

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Yes.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Thanks!

MGM is in the midst of a property-wide remodel. It won’t be complete for a few more months so depending on your dates, your chances of getting an updated room will vary.

The rooms definitely needed a remodel – they went a few years longer than they should have. If you get one of the older rooms, you’ll probably see a good bit of wear, though I would expect all of the amenities, like the tub, to work.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

It really comes down to how much you want to spend. At the top of the spectrum would be Wynn Las Vegas and Bellagio – they can provide a top-notch experience with all the trappings.

Moving down the cost chain a bit, Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand, Treasure Island, Monte Carlo and Flamingo would be in the next category.

There are quite a few places that can fulfill your needs.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

The differences are subtle.

The Terrace One Bedroom includes a somewhat bizarre Japanese soaking tub. I say bizarre because while it offers a nice view but it’s so small, most American guests will probably scratch their heads a bit. One of those things that sounded good in a design meeting but I question if it was really a good plan to put them in the rooms. The studio has a more traditional bathroom.

Other than that, the studio is a more open floor plan than the one-bedroom where the sleeping area can be closed off.

Hopefully that helps – it sorta depends on what you’re looking for.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

The pools at Palazzo are right above the casino. You can access them from the main resort elevators without having to go through the casino, etc…

Palazzo only has a single tower so it really comes down to how high of a floor you like. The elevator core is near the center of the building so if you want to avoid long walks down the hallway, get a room closer to the elevator and you’ll be near everything you need!

Good luck!

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Yes, the Wynn renovation is 100% complete.

The Tower Suites portion of Wynn is only in the ‘south’ side. The north side is what they call ‘Resort Rooms’, which basically means the main hotel.

You shouldn’t have any trouble. Enjoy the room, it’s quite nice!

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

The restaurant and ride are closed. They tried to sell the ride off but couldn’t find a buyer.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Location-wise, hotels Downtown (Fremont Street) like The Plaza, Four Queens and Golden Nugget are significantly less expensive than Strip hotels. You might try there. On The Strip, I’d probably check into Ballys, Imperial Palace, The Flamingo and perhaps even Circus Circus if cost is the biggest driver. The Stratosphere is further north but has recently re-done most of the property – they could be a contender.

If you’re looking for a block of rooms, you might want to consider talking to the group sales department. That may not be enough rooms for them to help you but it doesn’t hurt to ask.

For food, have you considered perhaps a hotel buffet? They’re good at serving large parties, some of them are very reasonably priced and they offer a wide selection. If that interested you, perhaps look at the Paradise Garden Buffet at Flamingo, the Emperor’s Buffet at Imperial Palace or the Round Table Buffet at Excalibur.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

For resort fees, almost all do except for hotels owned by Caesars Entertainment (Caesars Palace, Flamingo, Ballys, Paris, Planet Hollywood, Imperial Palace, Bill’s). VegasTripping has a comprehensive list: http://www.vegastripping.com/resortfees/

Regarding tours, I’d take a look at Viator – they’ve got a bunch of packages you can look at.

For live music, you can typically find it at Harrah’s Carnival Court, sometimes in the lounge at Bill’s, and Encore’s Eastside Lounge. Those are just a few spots – it can vary quite a bit based on time of year and night of the week.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Thanks!

Sportsbook comps, in and of themselves, are tougher these days than in the past. When it comes to getting free drinks, you can’t just make a bet and sit around for hours like you could in the past. If you’re making a bunch of other bets at the tables, you can still get great treatment in the sports book but if you’re just going to watch the game, you’re probably going to be buying your drinks. Rules vary but expect about one free drink per bet at most books.

When it comes to comfortable seats, not all books are created equal. I’d probably pick places like Wynn, Bellagio, Caesars, the Las Vegas Hilton, Bally’s and The Mirage when it comes to nice digs. They all have killer books. MGM is not bad but it’s small. It was re-done about five years ago so it at least has recent tech.

Best bar / lounge? That’s almost an impossible question to answer – it depends on what you want. Chill out spot? Ultra-lounge? Cheap drinks? Good view? Late night? All different answers. Some favorites: Mandarin Bar (Mandarin Oriental), Parasol Up (Wynn Las Vegas), Eastside Lounge (Encore), Petrossian (Bellagio), and Chandelier Bar (Cosmopolitan).

As for must-do, there are attractions that everyone that comes to Vegas should see (Bellagio fountains, Mirage volcano) but if you’re a few single guys, you’re probably less interested in sightseeing. Enjoy The Strip – roam from casino to casino ; take advantage of drinking out on the street ; lose some money ; win some money ; see Bellagio, Wynn Las Vegas, The Cosmopolitan, The Mirage, Caesars Palace and Luxor – all iconic properties. Go to the pool – depending on when in October, it might still be pretty warm out.

Most of all, just have fun.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Thanks!

In most cases, you’re only allowed into the pool at the property you’re staying at, even if the hotel is owned by a company like MGM with multiple hotels on The Strip.

Some of the pools have ‘day clubs’ where you can pay for access. These are basically like nightclubs at a pool in the day time.

I’ve heard many stories of people sneaking into other hotel pools. In most cases it’s not that hard but of course it’s not recommended and they might throw you out if they figured it out.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

LOVE is about 90 minutes long and starts on time so dinner in the 9:15pm range should give you enough time to get back to Wynn from The Mirage. You might want to leave a little more time if you’re walking.

At The Mirage after the show, the cab line grows quite long. Keep in mind there’s another cab stand at the North Valet entrance, near JET. It’s typically much quieter (though it also has fewer cabs).

If you go before the show, a lot of it depends on how long of a meal you’re planning. Sinatra could be a 90 minute experience, if you want it to be, though if you tell the waiter you have show tickets, they’re usually pretty good about keeping you on target. If you don’t have tickets in hand, you’ll need to wait in line to pick them up and then in another line (long and slow) if you want a drink during the performance. You’re probably looking at 6:30-7pm reservations if you want to eat before, depending on how much time you want to give yourself. It sucks to have to rush.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Howdy,

Yeah, it’s quite a walk. If that bothers you, it might not be a good choice.

On balance though, that’s the main complaint people seem to have with the place. Otherwise, folks seem to like it.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

There’s information on the Web:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Deuce

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

When you valet your car, the parking agreement says they are not liable for anything that happens to your car or its contents. Most of the time, that’s not an issue but not 100% of the time.

At most Strip hotels, valet vehicles are parked in areas with restricted access but that doesn’t mean they are completely secure or that, unfortunately, you can always trust everyone with access.

If you have something of value in the car, you might want to consider bringing it up to the room, even if it’s a large TV.

You might also want to check with your car insurance company – it’s possible they might cover any potential problems, should they arise.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Howdy,

I do know which rooms you’re referring to, yes. There are actually six of them with three more overlooking the pool area on the other side. These are ‘apartment villas’ and for a time, Wynn lived there with his wife Elaine. Wynn has since moved to a Fairway but Elaine has kept the original space.

They are suites for the highest of high rollers, yes. Bellagio and The Mirage both had similar accommodations.

There’s an AD article on them here:
http://www.architecturaldigest.com/architects/100/roger_thomas/thomas_article_042006

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Hi.

No, I wouldn’t recommend walking to either location from Fremont. It’s quite a haul but also, some parts of the neighborhood are a little sketchy.

I’d recommend either renting a car, taking a cab or using the Las Vegas bus system.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

In terms of quality, they’re probably about the same. If I were choosing between the two, I’d pick Monte Carlo, mostly because of it’s superior location.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Red Rock is a beautiful property – very nicely done in almost every way. For me though, staying that far off the Strip is not really appealing – I like to wander.

Without traffic, it’s probably a twenty minute drive from The Strip to Red Rock and that can be a lot longer if the freeway is backed up… That said, I once had to attend an event at Lake Las Vegas and stayed at Encore – I just dealt with the 45 minute drive every morning and evening. It wasn’t that bad.

Red Rock does offer a shuttle to and from The Strip (Fashion Show Mall) and the airport. The details are here: http://www.redrocklasvegas.com/hotel/shuttle_info.php

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

I assume this is the fountain/sculpture you’re referring to?

http://photo.ratevegas.com/keyword/venetian#411363509_bVn9X

I don’t have any of the dimensions – sorry – you’d probably have to go measure it. As for the design, everything inside The Venetian was created by a cadre of local and international firms based on existing and inspired by works in Venice proper. There’s also a copy of this sculpture at the Venetian in Macau, China.

I believe these are called ‘armillary spheres’ and are pretty common as a general style.

Hope that helps.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

All the rooms at TI, including the suites, are nicely kept up and comfortable. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it very much. As for slot tips, not much guidance I can give beyond having fun – slots are randomly setup to do the payouts.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

If you have an iPhone or iPad, I’d recommend checking out our app, Vegas Mate. It includes a ton of useful info, especially for first-timers.

Here are some suggestions for places to check out:

Hotels

- Tropicana: low prices, newly renovated rooms and a solid location make this a good option.

- Treasure Island (TI): also a good location, some cheap eats and typically good prices.

- Flamingo: great pool, middle of the action and reasonably costs.

Restaurants

So many choices… All of the hotels above have lower cost dining options – places like Bacio @ The Tropicana or even Kahunavilla @ Treasure Island. If you want to splurge on a more expensive meal, check out something like Botero (Encore at Wynn Las Vegas).

Clubs

Same goes for clubs. Some of the top joints are XS, Tryst, Marquee and Tao but there are also some lower cost options like LAX, Coyote Ugly and Chateau. Almost every hotel has a club of some sort and if not, you can stumble next door and visit them.

I hope this helps – it barely scratches the surface.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Howdy,

At this point, both of the towers have been renovated, as has most of the casino and the pool. There are some parts of the renovation project still underway but it’s starting to wind up and they’re careful not to impact the guests.

The Trop is aiming to provide a good degree of comfort at a very reasonable price. The location is good and the restaurants are about 10x better than they were before. It’s not Bellagio but it’s very comfortable.

I’d give it a solid look – you may be able to save a few bucks compared to where you usually stay.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

In the past, there was an easy answer to this question: always book in advance, as the shows sell out.

These days, there are several discount ticket vendors on The Strip that offer discounts nightly, even for Cirque shows (though not all – the most popular shows don’t need to discount).

I’d say that if you have a specific show and time in mind, you’re probably better off booking in advance to lock in your seat. If you’re flexible and willing to wait in a line (sometimes for an hour or so), you can get a discount at the counters at hotels like Bill’s.

Hope that helps.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Lots of people try it and it can mean a nicer room.

Sometimes more helps but most of the time it comes down to:

- Being polite.
- Whatever the hotel has available.
- The person you happen to have checking you in.

Basically, factors mostly out of your control. Should you try it? Up to you – it’s usually a ‘feel it out’ kinda situation.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Hi Sam,

I’ve recently heard many folks saying that Mlife has been offering them some great deals. Hard to know if this is temporary, in an effort to pump up interest in Mlife or due to external factors, such as lower than expected play and occupancy at their properties.

There really is no one single ‘better’ system as they’re all constantly being tweaked and adjusted. If you can, ride each one’s wave as it best suits you… and if you can, play them off of each other. That’s easier to do as you continue to climb the pyramid.

As far as diminishing returns go, it’s difficult to prove but many do suspect that they aggressively market to players in a ‘building’ phase, to see how high they can take them. As play plateaus, offers normalize somewhat.

Good luck!

Hunter

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

At the top of the heap, Wynn Las Vegas, Encore and Bellagio all fit that bill. Great spots.

You might also look at Bally’s or The Flamingo if you’re looking for something a little bit less expensive.

Have fun!

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

In my opinion, upgrading to Tower Suites at Wynn is far more worthwhile than at Encore. Encore is smaller overall so there’s a little bit less exclusivity. On the Wynn side, it’s a more dramatic difference between Resort and Tower Suites. In addition to pool access, you get a newspaper, extensive turndown, and generally better service. If you can afford it without it being a major impact on your trip budget, I’d recommend it.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

You might try the Eiffel Tower Restaurant at Paris – they have a popular one. Also, they used to have one at Fleur at Mandalay but I’m not sure if it’s still around since they changed the menu. In general, the French places are likely to have these sorts of deserts.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

It probably depends on why you decided on Aria this time and not Bellagio.

Aria had a real tough time out of the gate with service but since about August of last year, I’ve heard a lot of increased satisfaction with the hotel in that regard.

Some of the restaurants at Aria are quite good (Serrano, American Fish, Sage, etc…) so it certainly has something to offer. That said, Bellagio is the 10+ year veteran with a long list of happy customers.

Depending on what you’re looking for, either or both hotels may be the best fit for you.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

I honestly have no idea. My guess would be no and that you’d also have to have a ceremony or legal wedding in your home jurisdiction.

I’d recommend you check with your local authority.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Check out Broadacres Swap Meet: http://www.broadacresmec.com

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

The Mirage rooms aren’t all that new. They were re-done a few years back. Bellagio’s rooms are being re-done this year.

All of these rooms feel about the same size except the bathrooms at The Mirage are quite small. The rooms at Bellagio have so much furniture in them, there’s not a lot of usable space.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

The Spa Tower views at Bellagio are obstructed, sometimes significantly. The rooms at Cosmo often have a better fountain view.

I’d probably pick Cosmo, then Bellagio and then Aria. Cosmo has had some ups and downs but the general trend seems to be improvement and I think there’s a lot to like about the terraces the rooms have, especially if you get a good view of Bellagio’s fountains. Pretty awesome.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Thanks – the 3.1 update is coming soon with lots of new stuff.

As for your question, getting an upgrade is a total crap shoot. Typically, quieter times are easier but there never any guarantees and little rhyme or reason.

The nightclubs may have more bearing:

Tryst is open Thu-Sat
Surrender is open Wed, Fri, and Sat
XS is open Fri-Mon

Given that, I’d probably start at Encore and finish at Wynn. Tryst is probably the worst offender when it comes to sound spilling into the Wynn rooms.

At Wynn, the Golf Course side is quieter. At Encore, it’s the North side. In either case, a high floor can help.

Good luck!

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

I believe Fontana is scheduled to close this month (May) and will re-open sometime this Summer. Sounds like you’ll be out of luck.

Not a lot of other similar joints. Encore’s Eastside Lounge has dueling pianos most nights and doesn’t have a cover (though there is a 2-drink minimum).

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Excellent question. Since Cosmo hasn’t had a Summer yet, it’s hard to know… I’d assume (hope?) that they considered this when designing the balconies. The glass is pretty thick, I wouldn’t expect much heat to make it to the floor… I guess we’ll find out but I wouldn’t worry too much.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

There was a whole TV special made for Treasure Island. I don’t remember at Mirage commercial but I’d be surprised if there truly wasn’t one made.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

I’d pick Cosmo for the balcony. Nothing at Palazzo can match that.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

I’m told it’s only accessible for maintenance and there’s not much up there that would interest anyone, besides a nice view.

Not open to the public – you’d have to know someone with enough pull to get you in there. Good luck and take pictures!

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

First off, thanks for the kind words.

As for your question, I think it’s a good and interesting one. I’m not sure that I have the answer but I can speculate.

I wonder if there’s a lack of ‘gambling role models’ (as silly as that sounds) for this upcoming generation. Instead of seeing James Bond hitting his romanticized version of a casino, they see the Kardashians hitting the clubs for drinking and dancing. Many these twenty-somethings are emulating what they see in the popular culture?

Also, for many, table games are intimidating. While some will try blackjack, I’ve heard from others in this age bracket about being freaked out by games like craps, where they can’t figure out what’s going on and they worry about doing something wrong and being yelled at. Casinos could do a better job of teaching these younger gamblers how the games work.

I don’t disagree that these casinos should be working harder to build the next generation of customer and it’s hard to argue with the fact that the lower limit games are often some of the worst in the casino when it comes to player friendliness.

I have doubts that this is going to change all that much. One of the interesting things about Vegas is that the only thing the casinos seem to discriminate based on is money. They don’t care if you’re 21 or 51 if you’ve got money to put down. As someone that’s been working hard since he was young and often wasn’t taken seriously until I got older, that’s something I can appreciate.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

It’s a contained area just adjacent to the main pool area at Flamingo. It’s got it’s own bar and restrooms, which is convenient. It’s a bit more of a mellow and contained environment than the main pool. Hope that helps.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Depending on how big of a fight it is, it’s not uncommon for other hotels to show it on closed-circuit, sometimes in a ballroom. Wynn Las Vegas, for instance, does this from time to time. Also, MGM has been known to broadcast their fights in their own sports book.

Some of these arrangements may not be made until closer to the actual event so I can’t really point you at a specific option but if it were me, I’d check:

- The MGM sports book.
- Your own hotel’s sports book if you’re staying elsewhere.
- Other MGM Resorts sports books (i.e. Bellagio, Mirage).
- Wynn Las Vegas or, if the event has another hotel co-sponsor, with them.
- Showtime in your hotel room, as a last resort.

Hope that helps.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Yes, it’s a legit concern at both Wynn and Encore, depending on how sensitive you are to noise and which part of the building you stay in.

It’s worse at Wynn, as Encore was built with higher density glass to prevent this problem. Still, it’s audible.

Assuming you want to avoid this:

- At Wynn, get a golf course view room. The nightclub, Tryst, is on the Strip side in the lagoon below.

- At Encore, get a view facing north / The Stratosphere. The clubs, XS and Surrender, are both on the south facing side. The north view isn’t anywhere near as pretty but c’est la vie.

In both cases, sometimes just getting a very high floor can solve the problem too.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

No offense taken… and thank you for the kind words.

There are a lot of reasons but I’d generally say that I agree with you – we should try to do more of that. Part of it is logistics.

Thanks for making your opinion known.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Yeah, sure – there are places like Extended Stay America and Emerald Suites all around.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Thanks!

My preference in order would be Encore, Wynn, Aria, Bellagio, Venetian and then Trump. Trump is last because while the rooms are spacious and comfortable, the location is a drag.

As far as military discounts go, it’s always good to ask – many hotels and some shows offer active deals. For instance, KA at MGM Grand is sometimes 50% off with a military ID.

Many of the MGM Resorts hotels offer a discount, depending on availability. On your list, that would mean Aria and Bellagio. In the past both Wynn/Encore and Trump offered military discounts but I wasn’t able to get a confirm on if they’re still offering them. When you’re checking your dates, be sure to ask them if they have the discount available.

Thank your son for his service – I hope you guys have a blast.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Some of the oldest rooms so they’re small with small bathrooms.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

If it were me I’d pick Wynn Las Vegas – service in the Tower Suites section is top notch. That said, I wouldn’t be upset if I ended up at Bellagio either.

Both good contenders but I’d pick Wynn.