Hi Everyone,

I'm in a bit of a unique spot and just now thought about seeing if any of you had some insight! A bit of a background- I've been to Vegas about 10 times but I'm very much a low roller. I always go for the cheapest strip room options (usually with TR) or stay downtown.

My buddy, on the other hand, has gotten really into craps and is a platinum tier member through Mlife and (I think) Diamond through TR. My friend, another friend, and I are all planning a Vegas trip in early March. We've been browsing the different options for rooms and currently are looking at a suite at MGM signature for about $200/person for the three nights we'll be out there. It looks really nice but I figured I'd ask you all if there are any other options we should be considering? I really care very little about the room but since my friend is really hooking the otehr two of us up, I figure at the very least I should see if we're missing out on any awesome spots with his tier level.

The other friend and I will dabble in table games and mainly play low stakes hold'em so venue location isn't a huge deal for us.

Thanks!

So $600 total for three nights of stay? I assume that is the discount with your buddies level of play? Others have said that it is a long walk from the signature to the strip. I mean MGM is pretty bad, but the signature is behind it. Personally I wouldn’t stay there due to the distance and hassles, but if that doesn’t bother you then it’s not a bad price for all three nights. I’m guessing that’s the best option he can get that includes you and the other guy?

Thanks for the response! I think that is. He could definitely get a cheaper price at lower end properties but he seems to be more interested in the quality of the room than I usually am. We originally had booked a 2 queen room at the regular MGM for a similar price. That's interesting to hear about the strip walk, I hadn't thought of that. I'm unfamiliar with that area as I usually am at Flamingo or Harrahs low balling lol.

Are you saying the Signature is behind it geographically behind MGM or behind it in terms of quality? Or maybe you're just talking specifically about the walk to the strip? He had said Signature is supposed to be better but I don't think he's actually stayed there before.

The suites are nice... but you are getting 1 double bed afaik, not seen any with 2beds in at least. Don't know if that will be a problem, sounds like the craps player is getting the bed, and someone is on the sofa and someone on a rollaway? You might prefer somewhere else with 2 beds in the room to start with.

As far as walking, you certainly have a modest (covered) walk into the MGM and then a fair stroll thru the MGM to get out onto the strip. It's fine for fit and healthy ~ there are a lot of people around that won't walk a yard if they don't have to.

Thanks! Yeah, the single bed thing is kind of perplexing. I think the idea was that two guys crash in the king size bed and one guy takes the couch but I like the rollaway idea. I also don't hate the 2 queens and a couch idea so I don't have to share a bed lol.

And that walking doesn't sound too bad. Health wise it'll cause no problem, I'll just have to make sure those guys don't mind a short walk before we can go be degenerates haha. Is it similar to walking from Ballys to the strip?

I stayed at MGM Signature on a MyVegas comp for a couple nights over the summer (upgraded to a room w/ balcony for I think $7/night). My room was very nice, and a great deal. But it is something of a hike (through a series of bland hallways) to the actual MGM, which itself is huge and another hike to any of the major poker rooms. It's quite a bit farther than Bally's (which actually might be a good choice if you have decent CET status).

If your friend has good status with MGM and you are concerned about proximity to the big poker rooms, he might look into Park MGM. I think they might offer a very good deal since they still seem to be trying to attract customers post-renovation. I stayed there last month (also a MyVegas comp) and liked it. The room was quite nice though kind of quirky, and the hotel is in great location with respect to the Aria poker room and the tram to Bellagio.

Oh, nice! Thanks, I'll mention it to him. I'm not sure he's stayed at MGM before. The last few trips he's stayed at Bellagio and Aria. I think he had a bad experience in his latest trip to Bellagio unfortunately. All of the multi-named MGM hotels are confusing me. So on the strip there is regular MGM, Park MGM, and MGM signature? And they're different hotels?

YMMV, but the walk gets old after a couple of days. My wife and I are hikers, so walking doesn't bother us. But when we stayed at the Encore instead of the Wynn we got tired of the extra 15 minutes slog two or three times a day. It's half an hour+ shot in the ass daily. I think the Signature is a longer walk than that.

MM MD

Look on a map, it's easier than trying to explain everything. Park MGM is the old Monte Carlo. MGM Signature is a long walk just to get to the back of Planet Hollywood, much less the Strip itself. Signature studio rooms are nice, but not very big for a "suite".

If you get good prices on TR, check suites at Bally's or PHo. They don't have stoves or big refrigerators, but who's going to cook on a 3 day trip? It's an easy walk over to Aria or Bellagio from there if your friend insists on playing at an MGM place. And there's always Venetian if you want space.

Yeah I can’t even stand the walk from the back of Bally’s to the strip

Can’t imagine staying at MGM

The signature is physically located behind MGM Grand. As mentioned, Park MGM is the old Monte Carlo and it’s right next to Aria. A solid location if you want to gamble there, Aria, and Bellagio. Maybe he can get two rooms since they are still trying to attract customers after the Reno.

If you are going to play poker in a single venue check on poker rates. I know Wynn and Venetian have them. Others do too but I haven’t dealt with them. Rates are usually 130-150 during the week and 180-200 Fri/Sat.

200 a night per person to share a bed or sleep on a rollaway / cot is a hookup? This not even including the mile walk to get anywhere? Super hard pass. I'd take Harrahs for resort fee or whatever deal they give you.

Thanks for the responses everyone! Just found out that he's going to get the suite for free fifty so that's nice.

I think the sleeping arrangement issue is a good point. Not sure what I'll do. I may just get my own room somewhere cheaper for like ~150 and crash there if necessary.

My buddy's logic behind going through the host versus booking through TR/Mlife is that it's much easier to get a hookup through a host and that it's easier to get one room comp'd instead of two. You guys probably know better than I do in the regard.

I talked to him about the Grand idea but he's more into the rooms at signature which is fair since they are nicer. He cares more about the room than our other friend and me. The one nice thing about having the room shut off from the living area is that if someone wants to sleep/nap while the other guys are in the room partying, we can shut the door to at least have some kind of quiet. The good news is that there's a monorail close by to go to soem different parts of the strip.

I'm planning on trying to play 1/2 mostly at MGM and PH as it seems they're the closest ones?

Thanks, guys.


Oh yeah, limo rides to and from the airport so that'll be cool at least.

Dude, that limo ride will be like 5 minutes.

So he's getting a 1 br suite, not just a studio? The studios just have a half-screen sort of thing between the bed and living areas, not a separate room.

If you want to get your own room, check prices at Planet Hollywood. It's basically on the same street as Signature but a couple three city blocks up the road on the Strip. If you guys decide to meet in the MGM casino, it probably wouldn't take you much less time to get there than him.

Ask your friend to check Mlife offers, just yesterday I got 4 nights free in one of the most baller rooms in the Bellagio and im not even the highest tire. With Platinum he should be able to book many more nights totally free, for all of you.

Whenever I've stayed in Vegas for me it's always been location>five star suite. It's mostly just a place to hold my luggage and the few hours of rare sleep. But that's just imo.

Thanks for all the responses, guys. I think my buddy just really likes having the host/limo/suite offer. I know, I know. I'm pretty much on board with what all of you are saying in the sense of room location better than quality (to a degree) as well as having a bed being more important than having a suite. I think rooms at the Park MGM may have been the best compromise but interestingly enough, we've checked his TR/Mlife account offers and they aren't actually offering him anything totally free. Either way, 2 rooms where one can be a party room and the other a sleeping room would be more efficient than trying to split a suite because it has a door that shuts to the bedroom.


He's pretty set on the idea of the signature suite though. I'm guessing I'll just book a room I'm more used to at a cheaper spot. Our third buddy is more in my line of thought on this so he and I may just split a 2 BR at Flamingo/Harrahs or at least have it in reserve if things are bleak at the suite. The ~$75 to book the separate room would be well worth it knowing I have a fallback. Thanks guys! I'll update if anything cool happens!