bworrell

The web site officially says "Priority Valet Service", but I could swear I saw it listed as "next up" in some documents.

Anyways, I suppose each resort could implement differently. If it's a long line I'd show them the card and say something about it nicely/quickly.

And if you're talking about the cab line, if the place you're at doesn't have a priority line just walk to the front and show them your platinum card. I feel kinda badly about this sometimes, but get over it quickly when I look back at the line...

Jimgotkp

Yup this is what you do when there's no separate line or a sign. Just walk to the front and show the card. Same thing when you valet a car and are there to pick up. Just walk to the booth/stand and give them the valet stub and flash the card.

CGRA

Mansion : I have been told by a Mansion driver that they have one 2000 sqft villa (called villa K). Then it jumped to 5/6000 sqft and more.
The prices at the Mansion restaurant are not that hi
The food is good but nothing to die for. However the service is.
If you want to visit the Mansion lobby there are a couple of easy ways :
- dine at Robucon and they'll pick you up wherever in Vegas (ok in a MGM limo) and will use the Mansion entrance so you cross it. They'll drive you back as well. (cross again mansion)
- a little more expensive : stay at Skyloft and you can have breakfast and/or lunch there.

If you want to visit a villa, sleep inside, enjoy the pool villa etc etc, it's very easy.... just pay for it.

They're much cheaper villa at Mirage, probably amoung the cheapest, guess about 2 k a night

VegasGambler

Feel bad? It makes me feel great! It's worth leaving the MGM when a big boxing event is over just to skip the hour-long taxi line!

VegasGambler

They often have big slot tournaments in the screening room at the Mansion. I've done a few there. That's kind of at the back so you need to walk through everything to get to it.

I like the domed garden a lot. You think that you're outside until you realize that you're not sweating (assuming it's summer).

As cool as it would be to stay there, there's no way that I'd pay that kind of money to stay in a villa when I can get a perfectly nice suite for free. I couldn't even justify using express comps to pay for it. For $2500 you can have a REALLY good party.

Jimgotkp

Depending on the weather and group, I'd rather have a party at Lanai Villas @ Mirage or 2BR SkyLoft w/ Hot Tub.

Tibs

Oh yes I agree with you on that point. I just know that you'll get different deals as a gambler offered that will beat FHR any day of the week. Just having the status from Hyatt will not trigger those, its gambling patterns.

I get offered great stays, free nights and stuff like that only at properties I have gambled at, not just stayed. Not comped after the fact - offered as a deal through mlife and emails. Usually while backing away from the gate

levilevi

So was at Bellagio on a FHR stay for 3 days. I am also mLife Platinum.

Room: Upgrade was pre-assigned it seemed when I walked up to check in, based on FHR, not necessarily Platinum (I asked to add mLife Platinum # to my reservation when I first walked up, she said she'd do that at the end as I was already upgraded).

Benefits: again, a lot comes with FHR, but in addition, these were directly attributable for mLife Platinum:
- 2 free passes/day for Fine Art Gallery
- 2 free passes/day for spa (although I think that comes with resort fee.. not clear to me)
- Discount and preferred seating option for O - Circ show.
- Special line for: Buffet and Cafe Bellagio (Sunday morning's Buffet line was out the hallway well into the casino.. so that saved at least 45 mins)
- Taxi line: just walked up to the Bell stand, after seeing a taxi line that looked to be about 50 people deep... asked nicely about Platinum taxi service, they called a Bellhop over, who walked me to a cab in front of everyone else... a tip is obviously worth it, but $5 there got me huge time savings and regonition the next d ay too. (You probably don't need Platinum to walk up to a bellhop with a $5 discreet and skip the line...but this felt "cleaner").
- Club access: went over to Haakasan at MGM on Saturday night at 11pm - massive lineup to get in, pretty ridiculous sh*t show out front, which is a scene in and of itself, and walked up to a nice bouncer/host/greeter near the main "expedited entry" area, politely asked about access for mLife, he asked if I had my card and what level, I just showed him the card ( I think the theme here is I was trying VERY hard not to pull any DYKWIA with asking for card benefits, just being discreet, polite and friendly ) and he said wait 5 minutes, just did a couple other bouncer-y things and came back, checked my ID, and off I was, no cover charge, nothing.
- Table play: basically dropping the card with my cash and the casino floor pit guy would me a littler nicer - call over a cocktail waitress a bit faster
- Comps/discounts: not sure here, but I think you get more tier points or something the more you spend on your room, if mLife # is added to it.

VegasGambler

Good list. To complete your section on comps/discounts:

You get 25 m-life tier credits per dollar that you actually spend (not comped off) for everything charged to your room. That has nothing to do with platinum -- you always get it. Note that once you are platinum, tier credits are basically worthless.

You get a 15% discount at most retail stores in any m-life casino (I always forget about this one)

Also, in addition to the free entry to the Gallery of Fine Arts, you can also get into the Shark Reef at MB, and the Dolphin Habitat at Mirage. And you can get into Moorea (adults-only "toptional" pool at MB) for you and a guest for no cover (men are usually $50 cover on weekends, $35 on weekdays).

My list may not be complete. Basically, any time that you are asked to pay a cover charge or entry fee, I would ask if you get a discount or free entry with your platinum status. If, as you point out, you are polite about it (as opposed to DYKWIA) it can't hurt to ask.

The key here is that you do not need to be staying at the hotel to use these benefits! If you are staying at a CET property and want to go to the Art Gallery at Bellagio, or go to Moorea at Mandalay Bay, bring your platinum card with you. If you are at Cosmo and there is a half-hour wait for a cab, walk 5 min to Aria and pull out your plat card to skip the line there!

hiima

I plan on staying at aria skysuite, probably the 2bd penthouse, should I book through amex fhr or mlife gold? Both have very similar pricing, couple dollars difference. Are there any difference in perks that weighs one over the other? Can I book with FHR and use my mlife gold for any benefits?

Universal

Do you plan to gamble? If so, I would book through Mlife. If not, I would go with the one that provides the best benefits to you personally.

CRAZ8

To check the MLife pricing, you should be logged into your account - when not logged in, you won't see the pricing for your MLife level. It should be much better than the FHR pricing.

If MLife still gives you a similar price to FHR, go with FHR for the free breakfast and the 4pm checkout.

Once you've booked with FHR, call Amex and get them to add your MLife account number to the booking. You'll earn MLife points at the same time as getting FHR benefits.

hiima

The mlife pricing was much cheaper than regular rate, but was only a couple dollars cheaper than fhr rate. I'll probably go the fhr with adding life account number.

I plan on gambling a fair amount, why would booking through mlife be better?

alfagirl

If you plan on gambling, book through MLife or your casino host.
If you book via FHR, the hotel (at least my host at The Bellagio) cannot comp you any of the nights for the room rate/taxes - (but thay can comp everything else), because FHR is considered a travel agent (or something similar). YMMV

Universal

Do you want to have a chance to get your room comped? If so, book with Mlife.