Las Vegas - MGM Suite vs Venetian Suite

I am not familiar with Las Vegas and am considering either a suite at MGM Grand (Bungalow/Celebrity/Hollywood Suite) or a Venetian (Venetia Bella Suite). Which would be a nicer suite in terms of the interior, eg, whether the room is luxurious or tired. Is one hotel particularly superior to the other in terms of class and service? Thanks.

I don't think any of those are true suites but rather one-room "junior" suites. Been in a Bungalow Suite and stayed in a regular Venetian king suite. Bungalow Suite definitely had an older vibe. Venetian has just been remodeled. Service at Venetian is probably a notch above MGM Grand. (The former is considered a 5-star, the latter a 4-star.)

If I had a choice, I'd choose Venetian.

The room layout of the Celebrity Spa would be more comparable to the Bella Suite.

I'd go with Venetian and take a look at Venetzia Concierge rooms but note that Venetzia tower takes a bit of a hike to get to the casino, if that makes a difference. If you stay on the Venetian tower, as Sirecca stated, ask for a remodeled room with recently updated furnishings, decor, etc.

If you decide on MGM stick with Celebrity or Hollywood suites. Have a great time.

The smallest suite in the Venetian blows away 99.9% of the hotel rooms on Earth. It is larger than many apartments. At that point "nicer" becomes more a matter of personal taste.

I have stayed twice at the Venetian where all accomodations are called suites and are quite nice. I recall that there were two distinct areas in my suite: a living and a bedroom area that was divided by a step up (or down). I don't know if that is important to you but I am getting clumsy in my old age. In another ten years or so I may be avoiding split level suites. But for now I really like the Venetian.

...avoiding split level suites. But for now I really like the Venetian.

Venetian's accessible suites have no step down.

Thank you for the helpful advice.

I looked up MGM Grand and the Hollywood and Celebrity Suites both seem to be really one-bedroom suites. The Venetian is about 30-40% more expensive when comparing like with like. I suppose from what I have read here it is worth the difference?

One more question – would you agree that suites in these 2 hotels would be more enjoyable than a simple room at say, the Four Seasons?

One more question – would you agree that suites in these 2 hotels would be more enjoyable than a simple room at say, the Four Seasons?

Absolutely not. If price weren't a factor, I'd take a threadbare standard room at Four Seasons over either option any day.

But when it comes to the MGM vs. Venetian argument, at 30%-40% less, I'd go with MGM. It's not my favorite resort, but I like the restaurants and pools much more than Venetian. MGM's casino has a much more lively atmosphere too.

Venetian trumps in service, but there's nothing "luxurious" about the place. Anything you can't touch is made of styrofoam and/or particleboard--yes, even the "marble" columns near the convention center. Faux luxury at real luxury prices more often than not...

I looked up MGM Grand and the Hollywood and Celebrity Suites both seem to be really one-bedroom suites.

Well, you made me go look! :)

The Hollywood Suite has a door, but unless you consider a large dresser blocking your view of the bed from the couch and vice-versa, the Celebrity Suite is a one-roomer!

One more question – would you agree that suites in these 2 hotels would be more enjoyable than a simple room at say, the Four Seasons?

I believe Four Seasons is updating their rooms but don't know what their progress is and staying in one of their moderate rooms may be just as tired-looking as one of MGM or Venetian's rooms.

even the "marble" columns near the convention center.

Hey, I've paid for one of those faux marble columns :D.

The smallest suite in the Venetian blows away 99.9% of the hotel rooms on Earth. It is larger than many apartments. At that point "nicer" becomes more a matter of personal taste.
Completely disagree, but I guess as you say it is a matter of personal taste. Venetian suites are nice, but I personally would prefer THEhotel at Mandalay Bay which is in the same approximate category.

Completely disagree, but I guess as you say it is a matter of personal taste. Venetian suites are nice, but I personally would prefer THEhotel at Mandalay Bay which is in the same approximate category.

What I'm saying is that if you are unsatisfied with the size of the room or amenities in the Venetian, there aren't many hotel rooms in the world you'd be happy in. I'm sure there a "better" hotel rooms in Las Vegas, but, at some point, does it really matter? How much time does one spend in a Las Vegas hotel room?

What I'm saying is that if you are unsatisfied with the size of the room or amenities in the Venetian, there aren't many hotel rooms in the world you'd be happy in. That's not what you said, but ok. I haven't stayed at the Venetian Las Vegas in a few years, but the last time I remember not being particularly expressed with the linens. There wasn't even a duvet. I was just at Venetian Macau and the entire bedding package was very good. Still, the executive suite I got upgraded to at the Four Seasons Hong Kong (for a brief night) blew it away anyway...

I just left Vegas yesterday after having spents 4 nights in a celebrity suite at MGM. I've also stayed in the Venetian. Do yourself a favor and don't walk, but RUN to the Venetian. MGM wasn't terrible, but when you compare it to the Ventian it pails in comparison.

I just left Vegas yesterday after having spents 4 nights in a celebrity suite at MGM. I've also stayed in the Venetian. Do yourself a favor and don't walk, but RUN to the Venetian. MGM wasn't terrible, but when you compare it to the Ventian it pails in comparison.

Just wondering, care to share what was subpar about MGM compared to Venetian?

Sure, I should have elaborated to begin with. Some of the things were just personal preference like location, which I feel the Venetian is superior in, but that of course is just my personal opinion. I just find it easier to get around by walking when staying at the Venetian compared to the MGM. It seemed like it took 20 minutes to just get out of the hotel at MGM as well. I don't fault them for being big though, as that had inherent advantages as well like not really having to leave for just the basics like dining. It's just that when you get a hair and you want to leave, it takes forever to do so. We go stuck all the way at the end of corridor from the elevator, and I think that's pretty much where all the suites are, so be prepared. Ok so I'll just give an account of how it went...

We arrived by limo on Monday morning and I tried the $20 trick (with $50 actually) and the receptionist just wasn't real quick on the uptake. I specifically put it between my CC and DL and asked if she had any complimentary upgrades available. She told me no, but that she could upgrade me for $40 a night to either a Celebrity or Hollywood suite. The misses wanted the Celeb for the better bathroom. She told us the room would be ready around 12 PM. She gave me back the $50 and I asked her for a VIP key. She gave me one and I tipped her with a $20. This was at about 11:00 so we decided to grab lunch at Wolfgang Puck's and go retrieve our show tickets from various spots while we waited for the room. We got back to the front desk at 2 PM and asked about the room. It still wasn't ready they said. I told them that I had allowed ample time considering what I was told. The new lady I was talking to just told me that check-in time was 3 PM so they basically weren't motivated to do anything for me. I asked if there was another room available that had a decent view. She said no, but that she could put me in a room with **** for a view now. We woke at 4 AM EST that morning to catch a plane, so we just went for the room with no view so that we could crash for a couple of hours before our show and wouldn't be completely wiped out. My first thought when I saw the room was "They're calling this thing a suite?" :confused: Our room at Caesar's Augustus tower was as much of a suite as this thing.

The next morning I went down and requested a room with a view and they assigned me one and we moved into it at 3 PM. There were 3 significantly sized spots in the ceiling that had some pretty obvious\shoddy patch work done to them. When I hit any of the pre-set numbers on the phone for in-room dining, bell desk, concierge, etc, they all sent me to show reservations. So everytime I had to call for anything I'd have to call the operator to transfer me, which had to make them think I was the laziest person alive, but that's not really a big deal.

When I opened the door to the bathroom the handle almost came off. After giving it a solid :confused: look I saw that it appeared someone had tried to kick it in. When we went to put bottled water in the refrigerator there was spilled coke all inside it and it was not operable. Rather disgusting actually. This passed the attention of the housekeeping staff? I called down to the front desk and told them about it and asked them to send someone up at 1 PM the following day while my wife would be at their spa, and I would find something to do with myself. A guy from maintenance called me back within the hour and asked if he could come on up. I told him to come at 1, just like I told the front desk and he agreed. We both get back to the room at 3:30. Same disgusting refrigerator. Same jacked up door. Oh, but they did call the next day about the door at 3 PM and wake us up from our nap in order to ask about fixing the door :rolleyes:

I didn't expect much from MGM as I'd been through there before and could just tell the vibe of the place just wasn't up to par with the last few places we've stayed like The Venetian, Wynn, and Caesar's. We also got the rooms for really cheap, but in the end there was a reason. They just don't stack up to some of the new competition. But hey, it is what it is and just realize that going in.

We went down to the Venetian the last night we were there before Love to show it to some family that joined us, and the second we walked in it just had a better feel. Hell, it even smelled better. There was an Italian guy playing the accordian and the girls got a picture with him, after which he started walking with us like "I'm with you guys" which was entertaining. After I tipped him we walked off and he played wedding music which everyone got a kick out of. The only place left that I really want to stay is the Bellagio, and unless it really blows me away, it's going to be back to the Venetian or probably Palazzo by that time. I guess it's just the little things... and sometimes not so little things that matter.

Last time at MGM they put me on the 4th floor. I was taking a nice hot bath when someone started pounding on the door. It was maintenance - there was a huge flood in the executive offices on the 3rd floor directly underneath. While they reassured me this was not my fault as they sawed through the wall opposite the tub drain, my comps have deteriorated significantly since then.... While MGM offers better dining and entertainment, there is no comparison with the rooms at the Venetian.

Oh yeah, thanks for jogging my memory. We also had the "privacy please" sign on the door, and the maid still did the '1\2 knock then come on in' thing that they always do. I was not amused.

It's be a while since I stayed at MGM in one of those suites, but it doesn't look like they've made any updates in the past few years based on the the pics on the Web site. The rooms and service are OK, but not great. Unless you're getting a fair discount versus other options, I'd stay elsewhere.

As for "privacy" signs, always make use of all of the additional locks as well, since the sign is no guarantee that no one will attempt to enter (hotel staff, guest given the wrong room assignment, etc.).

I'm pretty confident there have been no improvements on the room for some years from what I saw. If anything, I would say perhaps they had new beds, and I must say that the beds were really comfortable and about the only redeeming quality.

What privileges come with a VIP key, and how are they usually obtained?

She gave me back the $50 and I asked her for a VIP key. She gave me one and I tipped her with a $20.

I didn't end up even using the thing but she said it was a line pass for the clubs and buffet.