Luxor or MGM

Clareman

More a holiday question than poker

I'm going to Vegas in August (I know it's going to be warm) and can either stay in the MGM Grand or the Luxor, there's a better package with the Luxor (free Starbucks and stuff) but I was wondering what would be better overall for me? I'm going with the Missus so it's not all about the gambling

ArmaniJeanss

MGM is a far nicer hotel.

flushje

MGM is by far the best, for everything.

Paul Spillane

i stayed at MGM at last years WSOP having stayed there a few years before. Imho its now one of the best hotels on the strip, the Luxor is a s******e and im scared of heights, seriously its a no brainer

Clareman

Cool lads, thanks for the feedback, MGM it is

Dublinstiofán

MGM without a doubt.

Ron DMC

MGM

Roooooaaarrrr!!!!
<----

Lafortezza

Are those 2 hotels your only options? Because there's better hotels in better locations on the strip depending what type of holiday you're after.

Clareman

I'll be on my honeymoon and the operator has given me those options, it's the last 3 days of the honeymoon so I'm hoping to get 1 day gambling in, where would you recommend

smcb

mgms class for poker as well. 1/2 cash games always busy, 3 good daily tournies on, and sngs in the evening

Lafortezza

Honestly I'd recommend ringing the hotel directly yourself to check room prices for those 3 days.
The Vegas economy is gone to **** recently so you can get amazing prices in really nice hotels if you leave booking them until a week or so in advance.
No harm in ringing the MGM (which is a really nice hotel) to check the prices against what your operator is quoting.

For a honeymoon, maybe try ringing Caesars, Bellagio, Venetian, Wynn. Check their websites for info about restaurants and shows you might like and so on.

A Vegas holiday is one I'd never book through a tour operator.

Clareman

I checked doing it all myself on the same itenery as set out by the operator, it was going to cost 50 yoyos more, so I'm not doing that

ZZR1100

yep- avoid the tour operator at all costs. edit - very surprised the tour operator was cheaper
i went to the bellagio 1 year and was quoted 1800 euro by the tour operator. booked it direct and got the same room for $1250.
Also use the $20 to $50 trick when checking in for a comped upgrade

niborm

If you bring your missus to Vegas and make her stay in the Luxor, when she sees the other options, your marrried life will be a painful existence.

Seriously though, I stayed in the Luxor and it is an absolute dump...the rooms feel like they were decorated around the time of the Pharoahs, and have never been refurbished.

After that, what lafortezza said...

Clareman

Thanks all, what's the $20 $50 dollar trick? I've also been told to mention "we're on honeymoon" as much as possible for upgrades

barrera

If it's a honeymoon, go the whole hog and stay in the Signature at the MGM Grand - an oasis of calm away from the casino that's of benefit even if you are gambling. Big rooms, prices not that bad (esp if the dollar is weak-ish)

Don't forget if you book directly with any Las Vegas hotel, and then see the prices come down on their website, phone them up and they will give you the lower rate automatically. Saved about $200 last year this way at the Signature.

Also, if staying at MGM in summer, make sure you visit their new "ultra-pool" Wet Republic, top DJs playing the music, models serving around the pool all in their bikinis. Although as it's your honeymoon, that may not be appreciated

AdMMM

Jesus Christ, I have to get over to this place!!!!!!

blackbeard

Clareman wrote: »

Thanks all, what's the $20 $50 dollar trick? I've also been told to mention "we're on honeymoon" as much as possible for upgrades

go to this website tells you all about it
http://frontdesktip.com/

Clareman

FANTASTIC, I'm doing that, in fact I'm doing that in the chipper when getting my chips

NewApproach

Clareman wrote: »

FANTASTIC, I'm doing that, in fact I'm doing that in the chipper when getting my chips

:rolleyes: i mean :D

POKERKING

luxor that bad or is it just that bad compared to mgm?ill be looking for somethin similar but dont want to spend silly money as only want to sleep in room and not much else! Checked the price of the luxor and its less than mgm, luxor would be the higher end of my budget though.

ArmaniJeanss

POKERKING wrote: »

luxor that bad or is it just that bad compared to mgm?

All the hotels on the Strip are all perfectly fine (there is just different degrees of fineness and the MGM beats it handsdown). Luxor would be grand if you just want to sleep in a room (and would be superior to most 3 star hotels in European cities for example).

Definitely bear in mind what Lafortezza (the highest earning mod apparently) said about not being afraid to ring up and get a lower price a week beforehand if (as almost always happens) the price is lower than what you booked in advance.
I saved about $200 with the Excalibur doing it this way (Excalibur is probably cheaper than the Luxor btw, but was perfect imo).

POKERKING

thanks for that will bear that in mind, might try excalibur it will depend on the funds seen a great price for stratosphere but heard terrible things about it but ill see closer to the time, so you def recommend not booking anything until a week before yeah?

for those intrested i got return flights from 27th june to 13th july on united airlines for 320euro return great price imo, you have to play around dates but afaik theres still some good bargains left and thats right around wsop time.

Lafortezza

Off the top of my head, strip hotels by price/poshness :

Bellagio/Wynn/Encore/Palazzo
Venetian/Caesars/MGM
Monte Carlo/Mirage/Treasure Island
Paris/Flamingo/Ballys
IP


and quality (shows/restaurants/poker/location)
Venetian/Caesars
Bellagio/Wynn
Ballys/Mirage
the rest

I've never stayed off strip or down at the Mandalay end of the strip so I dunno about them.

If and when I go to Vegas next time I'll check prices a month or two in advance, then a week and then most likely just turn up at the desk the day I arrive and check prices with the receptionist.
The way the Vegas economy is at the moment (and likely to stay) they are begging for people to fill rooms during the week, even on weekends you will get decent rates at the cheaper places that have a good location like the IP or Ballys.

Edit: Stratosphere would be an awful place to stay.
http://www.lasvegashotel.com/map.htm check this link and find somewhere in the Ballys/Caesars area that fits your price range. Everywhere else you might want to go is a short taxi ride, and everything good is walking distance.

LongAA

I stayed in the signiture when i was there during the summer and must say it was a fantasic hotel but wouldnt stay there again as it is to far away from everything. before you even reach the strip you could be walking for at least a half an hour.

But it would be ideal for a honeymoon

ArmaniJeanss

POKERKING wrote: »

thanks for that will bear that in mind, might try excalibur it will depend on the funds seen a great price for stratosphere but heard terrible things about it but ill see closer to the time, so you def recommend not booking anything until a week before yeah?

for those intrested i got return flights from 27th june to 13th july on united airlines for 320euro return great price imo, you have to play around dates but afaik theres still some good bargains left and thats right around wsop time.

Strat is too isolated and in a roughish area, and was also the only place I was in that I didn't feel safe in. Wouldn't recommend.
I'd definitely leave it til a week beforehand (unless theres someone in your group who is nervous about that sort of thing and insists on having a hotel booked early).

lafortezza wrote: »

If and when I go to Vegas next time I'll check prices a month or two in advance, then a week and then most likely just turn up at the desk the day I arrive and check prices with the receptionist.

Is this a bit risky, they always ask you to fill in your destination hotel on the green form thing at US Immig in Dublin, and I'm guessing that they might randomly check a few to see if people are telling the truth?

ABEasy

Luxor is a fine place by Irish standards, but it's just most of the other strip hotels are by far better....

As the other posters say, definately book directly. The prices will come down before you travel and you will be guaranteed to save a few bob ~( you might even get to double it!!!). The $20 trick doesn't always work, just be polite, use a bit of Irish charm and ask outright for an upgrade, will work more times than not.

There a few links below which offer special deals for vegas hotels....and remember with the recession they are going to be very cheap this year....My 2 cent, book the Bellagio, it's your honeymoon and if you get a lake view she'll be very impressed.....also Mandalay is a vey cool hotel, the beach/pool is class. Good luck..

http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/travel-deals/704925

http://smartervegas.com/searchresults.aspx?day=7&month=9&year=2008

http://www.vegas-hotels-online.com/

http://hotels.travelzoo.com/las-vegas-hotels/

dK1NG

lafortezza wrote: »

The way the Vegas economy is at the moment (and likely to stay) they are begging for people to fill rooms during the week, even on weekends you will get decent rates at the cheaper places that have a good location like the IP or Ballys.

IP = good price, not the best quality!

ABEasy

POKERKING wrote: »

for those intrested i got return flights from 27th june to 13th july on united airlines for 320euro return great price imo, you have to play around dates but afaik theres still some good bargains left and thats right around wsop time.

Wow, thats cheap, is it from Dublin or Shannon? Did you book directly or with 3rd party.... Love a bargin and Love Vegas

Thanks

POKERKING

booked direct with them check out this thread in bargain alerts

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055453181

ya got to play around with it tho and make sure when you go onto the site you put in flexible dates!

ABEasy

POKERKING wrote: »

booked direct with them check out this thread in bargain alerts

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055453181

ya got to play around with it tho and make sure when you go onto the site you put in flexible dates!

Cheers, those flights are deadly cheap

Clareman

I'm after booking the Signature, how fantastic looking is that place? Great deals as well, also flying with US Airlines, cheaper again