you are familiar with this or are guessing?

either way, I feel you owe us a full list all the way through to the City Center Motel

You’re not familiar with tier lists? Obviously those choices are up for debate but that’s the general point the pleasure was making…that S (God) and A tier hotels have a significant gap between them and the next level(s) down

I'm familiar with tiered lists and love doing them myself...I just wanted to understand the letters he associated with them

He's using some kind of Japanese ranking system, for who knows what reason.

So then to answer more specifically, those are how I would generally rank those particular hotels/casinos. Seemed like you were unaware of the concept. Which, seeing as you’re playing the Senior this year, shouldn’t be too unexpected

I think the pleasures last TR was from the Polo Towers. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that, but adjust your rankings accordingly.

with those letters as classifiers? Like why is S first?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tier_l...20Smash%20Bros.

Yeah, nobody uses video game tiers for hotel rankings. LOL.

There's not a huge difference between Wynn and Bellagio. Steve Wynn built them both to be the best in Vegas at the time they were built. Wynn is newer and not owned by cheapskate MGM, but there's just not a huge difference.

I would say theres a pretty large gap between Wynn/Encore and Bellagio, unless that was meant as a joke? ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I would put the rankings as Wynn/Encore and then everywhere else at least a level below imo.

Room quality IMO based on the strip places I have stayed:

Wynncore

Venetian/Palazzo/Cosmo


Aria/Bellagio/Vdara
Caesars/TI


Horseshoe/PH

Flamingo/Harrahs

For the overall resort it’s mostly about personal preference and I can see why someone could have them at the same level.

If we’re talking about actual hotel rooms I don’t think there’s any argument that Wynncore > Bellagio unless you think older = better. I haven’t been in a Bellagio room since the 2021 minor remodel but based on pictures the rooms still look pretty dated.

Nope. Like I said, MGM is a cheapskate, so maybe Bellagio is more run down. I haven't stayed there in awhile. But for room size and features in the rooms, not much difference. Bellagio is actually more convenient as far as living. Wynn is a pain in the @ss. No ice machines because they want you to call room service. So a half hour to get ice that's half melted by the time you get it, maybe has some sneezes in it, and for all that the guy that brought it is going to expect a tip.

One trip to the Wynn I forgot my comb. I normally don't carry one. I went to the gift shop and bought a 50 cent made in china crappy comb for 7 dollars. No food court there, have to schlep to Venetian, etc, etc.

I stayed a night at Bellagio last year and it was a pretty amazing standard room, not rundown at all

I've posted about this in my TR but Red Rock Resort was an amazing stay. they have an excellent selection of dining that really works for any budget. it's clean, the staff is very good, it's huge with lots of people but I never felt cramped like at the MGMs. the poker room is always busy but I never had to wait long for a seat in the morning, afternoon or night.
they also seem to be pretty generous with comp offers
it's far away from the Strip but unless you want a tournament, show, or higher stakes game there's not much need to leave

I've always liked the times I went to Red Rock, which wasn't often because it's so far from the strip. I went there for UFC events back before it was sold. Stations also owns a casino in NorCal I think, in the bay area. If I still lived in the bay area and had built up some comps, I'd probably be content to stay at Red Rock and not leave. Since I'm knee deep in the CET system it's where I usually stay and play.

Red Rock is a great resort. There's just not much "Las Vegas" about it. With most people in the US within driving distance of a casino resort these days, Red Rock's USP is the combination of casino resort and proximity to hiking / outdoor activities.

What is going on with hotel pricing? I thought there would be a discussion here - maybe further back itt?

I just saw that the Luxor was more expensive than Bellagio and Aria for a 5 day stretch I put in. It's common to see $500++ throughout February even at all hotels.

Is this the collusion/algorithms I've heard about?

Also, what's happening 3/15? It's a Wednesday and was like > $1k in places and not avaialable at others.

MarchMadness starts March 15. There's also a big machining/manufacturing conference going on then as well.

Do not pay more to stay at Luxor. Ever.

I generally book a safe bet/decent deal 5-6 months in advance and then check every few weeks or when I get an offer through to see if there's a better deal somewhere else.

I'm just a minimum status schlub but I still expect to get offer emails from the V/P and Wynncore and see special deals at Mlife and Caesars properties when I do my occasionally checking. this year there's pretty much nothing (for June). V/P had 0 beds for several days in June even back last Dec when I first booked, Wynncore is crazy expensive and the M life properties haven't ever shown much value. (I'm booked currently at Vdara).

Caesars properties are the only ones that are showing much competition at all for June, but I'm suspicious of Cromwell and PH and am a rejector of the Paris, Bally's Linq, Harrahs properties as a place for a 10 day stay.

Guessing business remains really good for the quality Vegas properties and they don't need to discount?

re Wynn/Encore...has anyone ever booked using their poker rate?

buddy of mine (who grinds the wsop events when he's there for about 3 weeks each Summer) says he books Wynn via it every year, rarely plays much cash with them, plays the occasional MTT when it fits into his schedule and still gets the discount on all his hotel days

now, he probably spends a lot on food and bev with them while he's there but still...it's a big saving. My only experience with poker rate is at the Venetian when they went through my hours aggressively with a tooth comb and I had to fight for every day of discount that I'd earned

anyone done the poker rate at Wynn?

I booked Aria for Jun19-26 (7 nights) for $104.29/night (comp,comp,54,54,185,297,54) and Bellagio Jul9-13 (110,76,78,76) for $96.38/night. Those prices include tax. (I do not pay the $45/night resort fee because I'm MGM Gold.) $100/night for Aria/Bellagio is a great value in my view. I could get more nights comped and better rates at other MGM properties, but the niceness of Aria and Bellagio are worth it to me. Bellagio is the ideal place to stay for WSOP in my view. Absolutely perfect.

I thought there were minimum hours (or a friendly floor?) for achieving the 'poker rate' at most properties?

that was my experience too. iirc it was either 5 or 6 hours of cash per day or an mtt buy in at V. But as above, my buddy says he books using the discount, rarely qualifies for it but still gets it in full