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Agree 100% that I would not limit myself to Hilton properties if this is a one-off trip rather than a regullar visit and you are paying cash, although buying points may work, particularly if you hit an expensive weekend and HH run another 100% points-purchase bonus. Also agree about Grand Vacations vibe – imagine a typical Embassy Suites vibe just bigger.
TravelStrong’s list of hotels above is spot on for best choicese, particularly the Cosmo Fountain Terrace for best room or Wynncore for best oveall property if budget allows.
To throw some others in, at a lower price point, Ballys has a lot of refurb money pouring into it throughout 2022 as it rebrands to the “Horseshoe” but rates may not have caught up; and is also effectively the same property as Paris which, if there is such a thing as tasteful theme execution in Vegas, is the example of that. Most rooms weren’t even that long from their previous refurb. Also a ridiculously good location for wandering/gawping. May be able to secure soom good room rates for 2023 at this stage before the refurb buzz kicks in?
Alternatively as you mention pools, if this is a priority then Caesar’s and Mandalay Bay are both particularly strong, as, on a more modest scale and pricepoint, are Downtown Grand, and Golden Nugget downtown if you fancy a night or two there.
- This reply was modified 54 years, 4 months ago by .
It looks like Hilton Grand Vacations charge a resort fee but don’t even provide a daily guest credit for gold/diamond which makes them sound a terrible choice!
I will have a look at some of the more iconic hotels – in 1996 we stayed at Luxor which was still being built – we got to go on the ride free because it had only just opened!In 1996 we stayed at Luxor which was still being built – we got to go on the ride free because it had only just opened!
Are you sure it was 1996? The Nile river boat ride closed in 1996, three years after the Luxor opened.
</vegas nerd>
Haven’t stayed since it was rebranded as WA, when it was an MO it was very nice, tucked off the casino vibe. Smaller with decent service. The base rooms were small and I’d imagine that hasn’t changed and came with a minibar fridge.
In 1996 we stayed at Luxor which was still being built – we got to go on the ride free because it had only just opened!
Are you sure it was 1996? The Nile river boat ride closed in 1996, three years after the Luxor opened.
</vegas nerd>
Total nerd 😂
Definitely 1996, it was the year we got married. It wasn’t a river boat ride, more one of those where you sit in a theatre and have a virtual kind of experience while you get tipped around in your chair!In 1996 we stayed at Luxor which was still being built – we got to go on the ride free because it had only just opened!
Are you sure it was 1996? The Nile river boat ride closed in 1996, three years after the Luxor opened.
</vegas nerd>
Total nerd 😂
Definitely 1996, it was the year we got married. It wasn’t a river boat ride, more one of those where you sit in a theatre and have a virtual kind of experience while you get tipped around in your chair!Sounds like Sega Virtualand, which was an attraction located in Luxor for a few years in the 90s. Mix of arcade games with some larger simulator rides if I remember rightly. Sega pulled out and most of the larger simulator equipment was removed in either ’96 or ’97 but before that they dropped in new tech regularly.
- This reply was modified 54 years, 4 months ago by .
I’m pretty sure it was Egyptian themed, but it was quite a long time ago!
I’m pretty sure it was Egyptian themed, but it was quite a long time ago!
Maybe it was the “search for the obelisk”….
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107202/plotsummary?ref_=tt_ov_pl
I think you might be right!
I’ve got the Four Seasons reserved for late August but with the exchange rate movements since I booked a long time ago, it is IMO more expensive than it is worth. Especially bearing in mind a FS stay doesn’t contribute to any lifetime/annual elite statuses in the major chains. I am mulling swapping to the Palazzo – would that be a huge step down? Main pros of Four Seasons are a quiet uncrowded pool and smoke-free.
Personally I would chose Palazzo over FS anyway, so not a step down at all, in my opinion. Palazzo rooms are just as well appointed, larger as standard (all suite so >700sqft for the standard room), and in the middle of a higher quality resort (Venetian grand shoppes is worlds apart from the corridors of mandalay bay). I am a non-smoker and never had an issue with rooms at the palazzo, or elsewhere. They usually keep smoking on seperate hotel floors in vegas so this should not be an big issue anywhere.
Look for the Venezia tower pool at the Palazzo for a more private experience… but all pools can be busy at times.Thought I would resurrect this rather than start a new thread. I’m going for 5 nights next June and was looking at Hilton hotels for a cash booking as I think prices are pretty reasonable at that time of year. Has anyone stayed at the WA? I’ve seen reviews saying it’s quiet at night which is appealing as we’re beyond the all night partying stage but the standard rooms look quite small and don’t seem to have fridges, which I would prefer in 40 degree heat! Otherwise thinking to book one of the Hilton Grand vacations resorts for the kitchen facilities and extra space.
There doesn’t seem any way to escape the dreaded resort fees on cash bookings but I did read a couple of reviews where people booked through Virtuoso and got those benefits plus their HH credits etc, which made it slightly less painful!I’ve stayed at WA when it was mandarin oriental.
We liked it as small hotel, no casino no smoke!in the middle of a higher quality resort (Venetian grand shoppes is worlds apart from the corridors of mandalay bay).
+1… the Venetian / Palazzo location trumps it for me
Thanks, @TravelStrong – it looked from the pictures as though the Resorts World hotels share the pool complex, is this not the case? Not bothered about casinos, I would be the world’s worst gambler! Plan is a couple of shows (Rat Pack/Elvis-era stuff), some good food, a spa day and visit the Mob Museum and the shark aquarium. And a bit of a wander and a gawp! We were last there in 1996 and I think it’s changed a lot …
You should check out my friend’s band if you can. They play regularly at The Underground at the Mob Museum
@StaggerLee, that sounds like a great idea! I’ll add them to the list.
Managed to swap a 4 night Venetian stay booked months ago for $1275 for this coming Aug (Thurs-Mon) to a 5 night stay at Hilton Resorts World on points (5th night free and no resort fee). Will only receive the $30 daily credit as the Conrad was way more on points.
My recent work trips to AUS & US & triple points promo helped me secure this so looking to stay in Vegas for holiday for the first time ever for free! (married there in 2006 and been back a ton of times at various hotels).
Just wanted to add my experience recently (two weeks ago) at Venetian Las Vegas, I’d not stayed there prior, but it’s lovely. Someone above said that late checkouts are rare as, I was given 16:00 check out without even asking, which was great. Two nights for 61,000 IHG points + $90 ($45/night) resort fee was more than acceptable.
Number one tip would be to avoid the minibar, it’s one of those “move it and it auto charges to your bill” type things, and the prices are insane, even by hotel standards.
Room was lovely though, Select Suite or something with separate lounge room and bedroom plus huge bathroom. I was offered an enormous upgrade for an extra $250 per night to a suite including cinema room and heaps of other amenities I don’t recall, but as it was just me I really didn’t need it!
FWIW I’m IHG Diamond Ambassador, but as this is an Alliance Property, that didn’t really mean much.
Just wanted to add my experience recently (two weeks ago) at Venetian Las Vegas, I’d not stayed there prior, but it’s lovely. Someone above said that late checkouts are rare as, I was given 16:00 check out without even asking, which was great. Two nights for 61,000 IHG points + $90 ($45/night) resort fee was more than acceptable.
Venetian may be 20+ yrs old now, but it remains in many ways the ideal choice for first timers and anyone seeking an OTT Vegas experience. The fact it’s all-suite means you really can’t go wrong with any room selection either. I have a soft spot for it despite Sheldon Adelson’s previous ownership (he was an interesting guy and no fool – I went to a UNLV event once where he was discussing his career on stage for an hour or so – but I found him and some of his views really rather unpleasant).
In a Vegas world of ever-changing dining options with short lifespans, Delmonico’s, Bouchon, Canaletto and even humble Grand Lux have remained – and remained remarkably consistent – for an awfully long time.Imo stay at Wynn, Cosmo with a balcony or Venetian. Havent been since resorts world opened, but I wouldnt pick any of the other hiltons, the WA doesnt have a casino so that might be a positive or a negative depending on whats wanted.
After some research I have decided that Resorts World actually sounds a lot of fun and hopefully will have ironed out more of the glitches by next year.
Shout out to Emyr who has just booked us a 4 for 3 Hilton deal at Crockford’s which makes it actually cheaper than booking direct! I have read a few times that at US properties you get your HH gold/diamond credit on top of the Bon Vivant (and similar) benefits which would make this excellent value indeed.
*And double HH points.
The actual Resorts World website is not very user-friendly though – e.g. I was investigating the possibility of booking a day bed/cabana as a birthday treat at the infinity pool and it says that you have to arrive by the time specified on your ticket, but doesn’t say what that is (presumably until you’ve actually paid for it). Nor does it state pool opening times – I don’t want to settle down for the afternoon only to be kicked out at, say, 5pm!
- This reply was modified 54 years, 4 months ago by .
I’ve shot myself in the foot re a points booking – I didn’t realise it actually is 5th night free (as opposed to just a 20% discount on the points used), so my 5th night is massively cheaper than the weekend nights in the middle of the stay and therefore makes it poor value. Our travel dates are set now but but if you want to book, e.g., the Conrad on points, week nights are as low as 40k points and weekends seem to be double that, so making your last night a Friday or Saturday would save you a lot of points and you could theoretically get 5 nights for 160k points.
Nor does it state pool opening times – I don’t want to settle down for the afternoon only to be kicked out at, say, 5pm!
They’re currently 7AM to 10PM so more than likely similar in June next year.
That’s great to know, thanks! Minimum F & B spend so would like the flexibility to use it all.
I had a ‘Bungalow’ at the VIP/Infinity pool in April and whilst the area is open for several hours before and after – the cabana/drinks service is really 10am til about 5:30pm (Your server will put in an 8hr shift so will go home by 6pm). If you do it properly – 10am til 6pm in the sun with free flowing alcohol… is plenty!
Easy to go over the included F&B in 8hrs!
Spent double the minimum, between 5 people.FYI ‘Check In’ for a Cabana is advised in the small print of the booking confirmation as 0900-1100.
Thanks @Travel Strong, that’s helpful re the check in times. We’ll be jetlagged so it’ll probably be the earlier end of that.
Forgot to mention that Hilton seems to be requiring one night refundable deposit even with Emyr bookings nowadays but I suppose they want to maximise cash flow like everyone else at the moment.
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