Las Vegas - Four Seasons or Caesars ?

Trying to decide between Four Seasons and Caesars Augustus Tower for a weekend in December. Never stayed at either. Price is almost the same for 3 nights ($80 more total for the FS).

Was thinking of Caesars for location but the FS would be great to get away from everything for a bit.

Mainly going to play poker and will visit several different casinos and I will have a car.

Stayed at Ceasars for two nights in September. Arrived around 4:30 pm, and was told that there were absolutely no "non-smoking" rooms available even if we paid to upgrade. We had no choice but to take a "smoking optional" room that reeked of stale cigarette smoke. My inquiry as to whether they had rooms where you were forced to smoke was lost on the clerk. :)

Caesar's location can't be beat though.

Four Seasons is the nicer hotel, no doubt. And if you have a car, you have access to central strip in 5 mins (btw, take Frank Sinatra way behind Mandalay, not the the Strip). I also really like the Mandalay poker room, which is bright and open with views into the big TVs in the sports book.

according to this thread (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=567683) in the FT Luxury Forum, the FS rooms have been recently renovated; and the service levels have improved.

Personally, if you can get a guaranteed Caesars Augustus Room --- I would choose Caesars due to location and the overall high quality of the Augustus rooms.

FS is my favorite hotel in Vegas when I go for non-gaming excursions (yeah, I know, shocker :eek:). Since you have a car FS would be my choice. Spend some time at their spa too. If you have AMEX platinum book the FHR rate and get free breakfast, a $75 voucher towards lunch at Verandah, and a possible room upgrade.

Getting the "confirmed" room is also an issue. I recently stayed at Harrah's in Atlantic City for the first time. Booked a Marina Luxury room which according to the website has hardwood floors, plasma tv, updated room etc. Checked in around 9:30pm and was given keys to my room. Walked into a regular room in the Harbour Tower. It was the basic room as shown on the website. Called the front desk to say there must have been a mistake. Was politely told that there were no Marina Luxury rooms available as they only have a few of those. OK I can understand that so I inquired why I was not given a higher room category instead of a lower one. Was told that the room I received WAS the same category. I think not. According to the front desk there was no other room available. As I was only there 1 night I accepted and figured I would take it up again at check out.

At check out I explained the situation again and requested a room rate reduction to the price of the room I actually stayed in. Took a little pushing but I did get the $30 off the room rate. Was told that when booking rooms on Harrah's website that no room type is guaranteed. I thought that was a little odd. Why even have room categories then ? Everyone just book the cheapest room and maybe you will get lucky.

For 1 night when I spent very little time in the room anyway I was satisfied with the room rate reduction but I find the situation off putting. If any hotel can not accommodate you in the category of room you booked they should upgrade you. If that is not an option then at least explain it at check in and give the rate reduction.

Anyone have experience in Vegas with Harrah's properties ? I do not want to show up at Caesars at 11pm only to be told my Deluxe Augustus Tower room is not available and end up in the crappy "Classic" rooms that are on their website. I can't even believe they have rooms that look like that. Especially since they are asking around $150 for them.

Getting the "confirmed" room is also an issue. I recently stayed at Harrah's in Atlantic City for the first time. Booked a Marina Luxury room which according to the website has hardwood floors, plasma tv, updated room etc. Checked in around 9:30pm and was given keys to my room. Walked into a regular room in the Harbour Tower. It was the basic room as shown on the website. Called the front desk to say there must have been a mistake. Was politely told that there were no Marina Luxury rooms available as they only have a few of those. OK I can understand that so I inquired why I was not given a higher room category instead of a lower one. Was told that the room I received WAS the same category. I think not. According to the front desk there was no other room available. As I was only there 1 night I accepted and figured I would take it up again at check out.

At check out I explained the situation again and requested a room rate reduction to the price of the room I actually stayed in. Took a little pushing but I did get the $30 off the room rate. Was told that when booking rooms on Harrah's website that no room type is guaranteed. I thought that was a little odd. Why even have room categories then ? Everyone just book the cheapest room and maybe you will get lucky.

For 1 night when I spent very little time in the room anyway I was satisfied with the room rate reduction but I find the situation off putting. If any hotel can not accommodate you in the category of room you booked they should upgrade you. If that is not an option then at least explain it at check in and give the rate reduction.

Anyone have experience in Vegas with Harrah's properties ? I do not want to show up at Caesars at 11pm only to be told my Deluxe Augustus Tower room is not available and end up in the crappy "Classic" rooms that are on their website. I can't even believe they have rooms that look like that. Especially since they are asking around $150 for them.

If you are a revenue, non-comp customer at a Harrah's property, you are supposed to get what you reserved (and paid for). As an aside, the Waterfront Tower (the newest tower) @ Harrah's AC was actually mostly designated as a higher priced tower aimed at revenue guests. For COMP customers at Harrah's properties, according to the hotels --- they say your room is assigned based on status (etc.) with no guarantees (i.e. even if you book an Augustus room COMP); but, an email I sent to Harrah's about six months ago had them confirm you are still supposed to get the category reserved. Of course, in some ways it's harder to argue when you have a comp'ed room.

After booking online, I would call to confirm that the category is correct --- and bring my confirmation that show's the $$ paid and the confirmed category. If you are arriving late, I would call the property directly, making sure they try to block your room. Capacity is a bigger issue in AC than Las Vegas, but of course, it's a big YMMV.

kingalien makes a good point, with regard to the FS, if you are able to get AMEX FHR benefits. Also, considering you have a car, location might not be as critical. In addition, since all the rooms at the FS are of high quality, you don't need to deal with the potential Harrah's room category stress.

Thanks for the help. I am checking out the FHR rate with Amex. Also with Virtuoso.

I was on a revenue rate in AC and will be also in Vegas. As I mentioned I mainly play poker so not a good revenue stream for the casino. I do have a Total Rewards # and would like to earn some points based on staying at Caesars with the room rate and meals etc.

I do have a Total Rewards # and would like to earn some points based on staying at Caesars with the room rate and meals etc.

The points earned for non-casino play (from $ spend on rooms and restaurants etc.) is basically negligible; and are not worth staying at Caesars (or any Harrah's property), IMO. But, you do get some Total Rewards points for poker play; unfortunately, I don't recall the amount.

Though, you might want to check to see if you can get a poker rate for the room. ;)

Thanks for the help. I am checking out the FHR rate with Amex. Also with Virtuoso.

I was on a revenue rate in AC and will be also in Vegas. As I mentioned I mainly play poker so not a good revenue stream for the casino. I do have a Total Rewards # and would like to earn some points based on staying at Caesars with the room rate and meals etc.

for Harrah's properties don't forget Paris. May not be as new as Augustus but is a very good alternative.

for Harrah's properties don't forget Paris. May not be as new as Augustus but is a very good alternative.

Thanks. I did think of Paris but the decor in the rooms bothers me. It looks a little dated for my taste. Price is good though.

I would take the FS over Caesars because if you don't get the Augustus Room there is a good chance you are not going to be happy. You can still get your points playing poker. I didn't think you earned any points for room and F&B?

Harrah's has not yet completed running Caesars Palace into the ground as they have all the other Las Vegas properties. The Augustus Tower rooms are nice, especially if you have a Bellagio view. The hotel is in an excellent location. The gym and spa are very nice, as is the pool area.

Four Seasons is for people who want to feel like they're not on the Strip. It's a quiet luxury hotel.

Paris is not in the same league as either.

QL

To finish my story today I booked at Mandalay Bay. Found a deal here on flyertalk in the Hotel Deals Forum. Friends and Family discount at Mandalay until end of the year. For my 3 nights at Mandalay the cost is $168 before tax !

I decided I can't not take that deal. There was also a Friends and Family deal for Harrah's properties in Hotel Deals and the Augustus Tower price would have brought the 3 days from $600 to $445. A great deal but not quite as good as Mandalay.

I was actually leaning toward the FS and probably would have booked there but for a savings of over $500 I will try the FS out next time.

Thanks for the help from everyone.

I love this site !! With a little work look at what you can find.

To finish my story today I booked at Mandalay Bay. Found a deal here on flyertalk in the Hotel Deals Forum. Friends and Family discount at Mandalay until end of the year. For my 3 nights at Mandalay the cost is $168 before tax !


An absolute steal. I don't blame you one bit for going with that deal - I'd be all over that in a heartbeat as well.