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

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Most of the time, not many. Part of the problem is that many buffets often change some of the ‘non-core’ items from night to night.

I’ve seen them at Bellagio, The Mirage, and Wynn Las Vegas. You might also try the Rio Seafood Buffet, though off the Strip.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Both are nice but the Mandalay suite is all recently re-done where The Mirage suite is in need of one, scheduled for next year. That might sway your decision – the Mandalay suites came out very nice.

Personally, the location at MB really puts me off but it sounds like it’s not a big deal to you so if the chips are stacking in its favor, I think it’s a good spot. They’ve been putting a lot into it recently.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

I’ve had this one before and I tried to track him down without any luck. If someone knows, please contact me.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Hi Luis,

StripWalk questions should be asked over in the blog entry.

Thanks!

http://www.ratevegas.com/blog/2007/11/strip_walk_nove.html

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Very good question – gold star for you today!

This is something I’ve thought about quite a bit, also in terms of new hotel towers and marquees blocking street views (ahem -Caesars Palace – ahem).

Basically, as long as the FAA is cool with it, you can build however tall and wherever you want. You’re right that the pools at places like Wynn Las Vegas and Bellagio have lost a lot of sun from other nearby resorts. In the height of Summer, that might be a blessing but it’s certainly not something they can control.

The new pool at Encore, the Wynn Las Vegas sister hotel under construction, will have its pool further out so that should be able to be kept obstruction free.

The lack of a cohesive plan, not just for Strip development but also for transportation, is an area where Clark Country is often derided.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

A friend stayed in a Vista Suite and said he loved it. MGM Mirage is pouring money into MB after a period of relative neglect. The whole place is being upgraded so as long as the location doesn’t bug you, it’s becoming a viable ‘nice’ place to stay, though it won’t unseat WLV or Bellagio for top pick anytime soon.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Well, of course it depends but generally speaking, no LV club/bars/lounges really see much action until 11pm.

If you’re looking for something earlier, you might also think about MIX (THEHotel) or maybe Revolution (The Mirage).

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Pour24 is open 24 hours and during the day, there’s almost never a cover and the beer prices are what you’d expect from a typical premium bar, between $4 and $7 depending on what you order. At night, they often have a cover and costs go up. Dress – during the day pretty much anything, at night you don’t want to wear shorts or your Mickey Mouse shirt.

Diablo’s Cantina – I haven’t been myself, no. I’ve heard some pretty mixed reviews from folks that have. I don’t think this place is a slam dunk yet. Prices are $15-$25 per entree, typically. Dress code is relaxed.

March might be a little cold for swimming but it depends on how sensitive you are. Probably borderline.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

I believe the last article was in the RJ:

http://www.lvrj.com/business/11635946.html

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

As with most travel, prices change often so be sure to keep checking.

Also, don’t assume the package is always the cheapest way to go – sometimes booking flights and hotels separately can give better deals.

One thing is for sure, booking the hotel separately and direct gives you more flexibility, such as better cancellation terms that can help you take advantage of better rates if they come down the pike.

Last thing – if you find a good rate, don’t wait – BOOK IT. Waiting means a good chance you’ll lose it.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

If you’ve never been to either, I’d probably give Wynn Las Vegas the edge. They’re really on a roll these days.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

The renovations are scheduled for next year, though I have heard that some suites have been re-done – those may be ‘test patterns’ in prep for the full project.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Almost all of the resorts have installed ‘repeaters’ inside so that phones work just as they would outside. The Las Vegas Strip is a dense, dense coverage area for all carriers. You shouldn’t have much trouble at all.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Las Vegas is in the desert and a popular misconception is that it is hot all the time. Not so.

It’s cold in the winter and you’ll need long pants and jackets for the evenings and maybe even during the day.

It won’t be exceptionally cold, probably in the 60s to 70s during the day and 50s at night (all temps in F). Having lived in the UK, I can say Las Vegas is warmer practically all the time – still, you don’t want to be uncomfortable.

So yeah, make sure you pack flexible – a jacket to throw on if it gets a little chilly.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

This rumor was floating around but it is generally untrue. It only applies to folks that go to the table top machines at the bar, put in $20 and expect to get free drinks for hours.

VP players in the casino will get drinks just like slot players.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

It’s been awhile since I’ve done this but my favorite company doing these (and Strip tours) is Maverick Helicopters.

Maverick Tours

Nice modern helicopters and a great staff.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Sure… Olives, Le Cirque, Picasso, Prime, Jasmine, and Circo all have fountain views.

They’re all good – and different. My faves are Prime, Jasmine and Circo.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

I’m a big fan of The Mirage and just stayed there recently. Hands down a million times better than Luxor. You should be happy there, yes.

Non-smoking rooms are done by floor, yes. 3/4 of the floors are non-smoking floors so you should have no problem getting one.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Thanks for the vote!

The Peppermill’s Fireside Lounge could work for this, though they don’t typically have live music. It’s pretty relaxed and quite a retro throwback at the same time if you’re into that sort of thing.

Other than that, I typically would send people to Fontana at Bellagio but that’s closed for at least the next four or five weeks.

Wynn Las Vegas has ‘Parasol Up’, which can fit the bill but I don’t know if I would go there just for that.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Most neighborhoods have ‘locals’ casinos, places like Green Valley Ranch, Sunset Station, Red Rock, The Cannery, and more.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Eh, hard to say. Wynn Las Vegas is probably being a bit more aggressive than Bellagio these days. Both target premium players.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Honestly, this game, which used to be the stable, is disappearing. Most of the low-limit games have gone 6:5, which sucks.

Finding 3:2 will be easier on weekdays during the day, least likely on evenings and weekends.

Your best bets are probably: Excalibur, Luxor, Tropicana, Monte Carlo, Harrah’s, Imperial Palace, Casino Royale, O’Shea’s, Bill’s and the North Strip places like Sahara, Riv and Circus Circus.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Nove is sort of new – I haven’t eaten there myself yet – but I hear it’s good and of course the view is great.

Hamada is a fun Japanese place, less formal than something like Okada at Wynn Las Vegas, sure.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Thanks for the kind words!

Here’s how I typically break this sort of stuff down if I have a complaint:

First off, in any of these casino hotels you have two main sources of revenue: gaming and non-gaming. You’ll also have departments for food and beverage, entertainment, facilities, etc… The kind of stuff you’re talking about would fall under the ‘hotel’ category but all of these places all have general managers or presidents that oversee the whole joint.

Typically I would send a letter to the head of the relevant department (bonus points if you know the person’s name) and CC the hotel president – that way the manager knows that their boss got a copy and they are less likely to just blow you off.

As far as what folks are empowered to offer, it depends on the hotel. Typically a concierge or desk worker can give you very little without approval. A casino host has power but they have to justify the comps they give you so they won’t just hand them out like candy – you have to play to earn those.

The hotel manager can authorize virtually anything, especially if you’ve been wronged.

I hope this helps.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Last year it was at The Mirage but it seems that they haven’t made an official announcement about this year’s event.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Glad that we have been able to help!

The MGM Mirage Players Club card will work across all properties but as far as comps go, you’ll be billed for your stay when you check out of each hotel so if you’re hoping to have your room comped, you’d need to speak with them before settling the bill at each property.

I hope that makes sense.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Honestly, I don’t like The Venetian. The place is cheaply built and in my opinion, masquerading as a nice hotel. Bellagio and Wynn Las Vegas are head and shoulders above in my opinion. Table limits? Both will have the occasional $5 table but $15 and $25 are the norm for entry level.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Well, to be fair, any hotel can have the ‘party next door’ problem, I don’t think that’s unique to The Mirage.

The extra service items that Bellagio and The Mirage used to include have been scaled back. Still, some amenities do await you…. When you check in, if they don’t give you line passes, as the clerk for them. They should accommodate this request.

The suites are are on higher floors, yes. They require access from a special keyed elevator. Not all suites face The Strip, no. Strip view (lake view) can sometimes be a premium charge so if you want this, make sure you request it.

As far as advance reservations, the same answer always apples: book it as soon as you can. No reason at all to wait. Make sure your requests are noted and see if they can ‘guarantee’ any of them for you – typically many of those items are just that, requests BUT suites are typically pre-assigned to guests (where standard rooms are not), so they may be able to give you exactly the combination you want.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Sorry to hear that The Mirage wasn’t top notch for you. I’ve had a lot of great times there myself.

If you’re kickin’ it up, I suggest trying one of the following:

Skylofts – everyone that stays here loves it and raves about it.

Bellagio – Grand Penthouse or Penthouse – the ‘Grands’ are on the top floor but any of the suites in the hotel should leave you with a good impression. The layout is very similar to The Mirage with nicer furnishings and better service.

Wynn Las Vegas – Salon Suite – great room, the most plush as it is the newest. Great, great spot.

As far as comps, the policies are actually pretty similar. This is mostly anecdotal but I hear that Wynn Las Vegas has actually been a bit more generous with comps than say, Bellagio.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

There’s no ‘one’ answer to this question – it is so highly dependent on factors like how full the hotel is, when you check in, who checks you in, etc… that your question is tough. Sometimes loyalty helps, sure. Sometimes they don’t care or can’t even tell that you’ve stayed there before. The only real guarantee of an upgrade is to be a loyal customer of the casino – the more you play, the more you’ll get.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

The layouts are similar but Bellagio’s rooms are nicer, as is the hotel itself. Also, they were just re-done so they have all new furnishings.

As far as the $20 trick – if you’re asking if you can get from a standard room to a suite with $20 at Bellagio, there’s no chance.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

I have been fortunate enough to have stayed in or visited some of the nicer suites in the big Strip hotels so I may be able to help…

Comparable hotels to The Mirage would probably mean Mandalay Bay, THEHotel, MGM Grand, Treasure Island, etc…

Honestly, while I like THEHotel, of the above I would pick The Mirage each time.

Upgrading to the next level, such as a comparable suite at Wynn Las Vegas or Bellagio, would typically (all dates are different) mean a bump in price. Still, if you can get a Salon Suite at Wynn Las Vegas, that would be quite nice as well.

Bottom line, I really like the suites at The Mirage. I think they are very nice and I’ve always had good experiences there.\

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

I’ve never been so I can’t advise you directly but the restaurant has been around for ages and has a good reputation – that certainly counts for something.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

It is illegal for cabs to stop on the Strip itself – you have to catch cabs at the hotels themselves, though this is usually simple. Sometimes, such as after a show gets out, the lines get long.

As far as stopping for booze, there is a drug store just North of Wynn Las Vegas, probably a 15 minute walk for an average person, on the same side of the Strip.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

I always have a problem answering the Bellagio vs. Wynn Las Vegas question because I am genuinely torn.

Both of my stays at each hotel in the past year have been really great so its hard to recommend one over the other.

I’d say the rooms and restaurants are better at WLV but location is tops at Bellagio.

They’re both great. If you haven’t tried one but have stayed at the other, maybe this is a chance to experience the other.

As far as the rate question – it’s the most common answer – conventions. ConAg is 135,000 people in that time frame.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Ok… The Spa Tower suites, while very large and nicely appointed, have a partial lake view – they are blocked due to their location so if the lake is a big deal, I’d stick to the main tower. Because of their East/West orientation, the City Center construction view isn’t a huge problem but you will be able to see part of the site from the Spa Tower, yes.

A Grand Lakeview would be a good option, sure. Those suites were recently re-done and are quite nice. If cost is no barrier, ask about the villas – they are the ultimate in luxury.

As far as other hotels, nothing is going to work as well for the view as Bellagio.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Just like they do know with Dion and Elton John, they will rotate Bette Midler and another performer in that venue.

The other performer was going to be Cher but it sounds like that is falling through so we don’t know right now who will have the other dates.

They do add dates all the time so I’d keep checking.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Yes, the plan is for it to re-open in December of this year with a slightly updated design.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Thanks for the kind words.

You’re right – the Strip hotels like to charge crazy rates for daily Internet access – $10 or so a day is typical. I haven’t really done any site surveying but I seriously doubt you’ll find hotspots in the hotels.

You’re right – Starbucks typically does have T-Mobile supplied WiFi. One spot I know you can get online for free – the Apple Store in the Fashion Show Mall. The have WiFi that you can hook into or simply use one of the Macs in the store.

Internet access is a fee added to your hotel bill, just like the minibar or telephone calls – it’s not pre-charged so I doubt the $20 trick could help you here.

If you find any other free WiFi spots, let us know when you get back!

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Well, the Signature doesn’t have its own casino – it’s part of MGM Grand which doesn’t have very good video poker… Actually, not many Strip casinos have good video poker so if you don’t mind staying all the way out at Red Rock (20 minute drive to the Strip), that’s going to be BY FAR a better VP/slot experience, no question / hands down.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

For the non-suites, room renovations have meant more of a de-theming than anything else – removing all the pseudo-Arabian stuff for the Aladdin. Honestly, I wouldn’t waste much time looking for a renovated room – I would be more interested in getting the view you want, if you want to be overlooking Bellagio, etc…

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Thanks.

This is an interesting question. One thing about Las Vegas – the city has never been afraid to blow up its history to make way for something new. That means that a lot of the historical stuff is long gone.

Still, if you’re into the history, there are a few things I would recommend checking out for sure.

Have you been Downtown? If not, check that out. Things there have changed less than on the Strip and it will give you somewhat of a glimpse into the days of yore.

Do you like neon? If so, schedule a trip to the Neon Boneyard – this is the storage yard for all the old hotel signs that will someday be renovated and put on display. Honestly, if you like history this is a don’t miss – it’s a lot of fun and you’ll see some great, great stuff.

On the Strip, only a couple of the original hotels are still around (and even then, they pretty much look very different). The New Frontier is about to be imploded and can’t be visited. The Stardust is gone. You can still visit the Tropicana, Sahara and Riviera and Flamingo even though the original bits are basically either gone, covered or altered pretty dramatically.

That’s how I would get started – have fun!

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Well, the answers to this question could go on for pages and a lot of it has been covered before so I will point you in a couple spots and let you wander around the site a bit…

First off, check out our Top Ten Page

Top hotels would include Bellagio, Wynn Las Vegas and for some, The Venetian. There are also great rooms at Caesars Palace, THEHotel and MGM Grand among others.

For shows, Cirque’s always popular and if you go that route, “O”, “Mystere” and “LOVE” are my top picks.

For top restaurants, I like Delmonico, Bartolotta, Okada, SW, FIX to name a few. Again, check the top ten page and then also look at any of the restaurants in the top hotel, especially Bellagio and Wynn Las Vegas.

Lastly, depending on when in December you are going, Palazzo is opening 12/20 and will be an attempt at a high end hotel experience. Check it out.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

I haven’t seen Mac King but I’ve heard great things about the show. Penn and Teller are exactly what you’d expect and they work hard to put on a good show so from what I know, you’ll be happy at either show.

The Price is Right is always overflowing with people – it’s very popular so if you’ve got some time to kill, you like the show and you can get in – go for it.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Hi,

This is really too broad to give any specific answers but there are some past answers on solo travel that you might search for.

Generally though, other than being able to set your own schedule, is being alone all that different?

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Hi,

If you’re interested in casino development and construction projects, I suggest reading our blog – it is one of the things we focus on there.

Two Way Hard Three

As to your questions, Palazzo is scheduled to open December 20th of this year. Encore at Wynn Las Vegas looks like it is set for either late 2008 or early 2009 – both dates have been postulated and we’ll just have to see. City Center is set for completion in 2009 as well.

As for the New Frontier property, that’s been bought by an Israeli group that plans to create a Las Vegas version of New York’s famous Plaza Hotel.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

No contest, the answer as to which property is the nicest Downtown is the Golden Nugget. It’s actually nicer than some Strip hotels and they have continued to improve it as new owners took over in the past few years. The Nugget is my first choice, hands down.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

You are welcome!

Red Rock is far enough away that even if you spend any time on the Strip, the car will pay for itself in no time.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Hi,

At least one of those negative reviews was from me – I’ve stayed there a few times, most recently this Spring. I was unimpressed with the room – very spartan and boring looking. Frayed carpet, etc… The important thing to remember here though is context – in another city, Luxor wouldn’t be considered second rate but in Las Vegas there is a lot of choice and competition and so it’s hard to recommend it when there are better choices.

Still, they do often have good deals and if price is an important guiding factor, Luxor should be considered, sure.

I would certainly say Towers over the Pyramid – the Tower rooms are newer, larger and nicer.

Luxor is on the South Strip, between Excalibur and Mandalay Bay. To get to other hotels you can walk (not a big deal if you like walking) or take the monorail. Cabs aren’t that expensive either – Luxor may not be in the middle of The Strip but it’s not in a remote area either. Click on our Map link to see exactly where it sits.

I hope this helps and here’s a link to my Luxor trip report from a few months ago:

Luxor: I’d Rather Stay in a Tent

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Prices vary and most are posted on the relevant Web sites. $20-$50 depending on the place and night. There are often specials and promotions as well. This is assuming you’re not doing bottle service.

I’m happy to answer questions for folks here but I typically like people to do their own research when it is information that is readily available in hotel information.