escog

Did a bit of hotel hopping before Thanksgiving:

Hotel: Delano Hotel
Room: Booked Delano King Suite
Checkin: Checked in around 10:30 a.m. Room wasn't available, but the desk agent said she would expedite and I got a text message by 11 a.m. that the room was ready.
Upgrade: Upgraded to a Staywell Suite. View was of Allegiant stadium.
Late Checkout: Checked out at around 10:30 a.m., so didn't use.
Breakfast Credit: Della's Kitchen was closed on Tuesday and Wednesday, so the breakfast credit could only be used at 3940 Coffee place or with room service. I did room service, but did not realize that the $9 room service charge was not covered by the breakfast credit. Argued a bit at checkout because the only choices that morning was room service and the coffee place, but to no avail. Was rather proud of myself that I got the breakfast bill to almost exactly $60 before tax and tip, and then found out the $9 wasn't covered.
Credits: $100 food and beverage credit which I used the first day at Craftsteak at the MGM Grand on domestic wagyu.
Comment: As usual, Delano neglected to properly apply the food and beverage credit, so I had to take care of it at the front desk on checkout. One difference from my trip back in September is that they gave me a print out of all of the eligible restaurants for the food credit. They seem to be in the process of changing soaps/shampoos as I had a mix of Kuer and something else.

List of participating restaurants for food and beverage credit


Hotel: Bellagio
Room: Booked lowest priced room
Checkin: Checked in around 11:00 a.m.
Upgrade: Upgraded to newly renovated room
Late Checkout: Checked out at around 3:00 p.m.
Breakfast Credit: Credit was good at Sadelles, the buffet, Palio, or Cafe Gelato. I used the $60 credit in conjunction with the $100 food and beverage credit to pay for the buffet for 5 people (including one 11-year-old who was half price). Final bill was around $200 minus the $160 in credits.
Credits: $100 food and beverage credit which I used as above.
Comment: It was a good stay - no problems with credits or a correct bill at checkout. Renovated room was very nice - the shower is rather large - well, long and narrow. Water pressure wasn't great. View was of the pool and distant mountains.

Bellagio letter

TheBarbarian1532

I have several Amex Platinum cards (Military)

I did a 3 night stay in Vegas. 2 nights at the Palazzo at the Veneitan and one at the Bellagio.

I made all three reservations indivdually, so I was able to redeem a bkfst credit and $100 resort credit everyday.

The Palazzo upgraded my room. It was very nice. I also requested the resort fee to be waived. They had no issue with this. My stay there was amazing and because I stayed middle of the week, I was $0 out of pocket.

The Bellagio was not as nice. Big let down and my room smelled like smoke. No upgrade and when I requested the resort fee to be waived, the lady seemed annoyed. I only stayed there for 12 hours until my flight. The perk with the Bellagio was the food and beverage can be used at any MGM location. That's awesome.

Don't get me wrong, the Bellagio resort wasn't bad, the room was in comparison to the luxury we had the the Palazzo.

I saw the Delano, Conrad, and Waldrof has deals to keep the daily rate at or below $200.

Great times in LAS.

italdesign

Forgot to mention when I attempted to use the Noir lounge for check out at Delano a few days ago, was told access is no longer part of FHR contract as of a month ago.

Tarpie

I stayed at Encore Mon 11/22 - Wed 11/24. I did not inquire about converting the spa credit to food credit.
Room: Booked lowest priced room
Checkin: Checked in around 3:00 pm
Upgrade: Upgraded to high floor (52) strip view
Late Checkout: Did not use but was offered 4pm at check-in
Breakfast Credit: Credit was good at Tableau, Terrace Pointe Cafe, Room Service, the Cafe, the Buffet, Espresso, and Jardin. I added a person to the room at check-in so I got $60 credit per day for breakfast. It covered Jardin one morning and room service the next.
Welcome Credit: $25 to be used on day of arrival, good at bars and mini-bar. A large tin of Reese's Pieces and a mini-bottle of Bulleit came to exactly $25.
Credits: $100 spa. Unused.
Comment: Nice stay. The in room safe had a low battery but maintenance arrived promptly and professionally fixed it. There was no robe in the room. I had matched CZR status to Wynn black, so I used my $300 birthday credit for dinner at Sinatra (great veal parmagiana) and SW Steakhouse (great, if not a little salty, ribeye).

All in all I was $307 out-of-pocket for two nights and four great meals after $200 Amex credit. I look forward to doing it again next November.

Markie

Staying at the Delano at the moment. All as reported above except a three hour wait for a room. (Arrived at 11am, room after some nagging at 2.15pm)
No room upgrade.

TravelingZoomer

That isn’t a three hour wait, that’s a 1 hour 45 min. early check in

kthpence

I've never been to Vegas (I know, I know...) but am hoping to go in February to use up my $200 AMEX FHR credit before EOY. It'll just be for a weekend, and I'll be traveling with a close friend. Rates for most of the FHR properties in Vegas range from $300-$600 (outside of Delano), and I'm leaning towards the Cosmopolitan, or potentially trying the Nobu property. We are looking for a luxury experience - any suggestions on where we should stay / where takes best care of FHR bookings?

Yahtzee

I've stayed at most of the FHR properties. Cosmopolitan is more party than luxury. For a first time visitor, I'd skip the Four Seasons and Delano (as they are way at the end of the strip); same for the new hotel at Resorts World (either Conrad or Crockfords - can't remember). I'd probably recommend Wynn/Encore - probably favoring Encore. At check in, though, make sure to ask for a room that's away from nightclub noise (more a summer problem than february but light sleepers will be unhappy with certain rooms). If your budget works, I'd also consider Aria SkySuites (likely $1k/night) based on location and separation from the main hotel in terms of lobby, elevators, etc.

bgriff

Since you have never been, it is worth saying up front that standards for luxury hotels in Vegas are a bit different than in the rest of the world, so worth going in with the right expectations. Most Vegas hotels are massive so service is much less personal than at luxury hotels elsewhere and can mean more annoyances (lots of waiting in lines), and there is a lot of nickel-and-diming. Vegas can still be a great time obviously but don't go in expecting an effortless, personalized stay like you might hope for at a 5-star resort elsewhere.

That said, I would agree with the recommendation that Encore is very nice by Vegas standards. Cosmo, think giant W hotel, for better and worse.

I haven't stayed since it became the Waldorf Astoria, but when that property was the Mandarin Oriental it was the rare exception of being a true luxury hotel in Vegas. Not sure how much of that may have stuck. But, if you are not a gambler, it does have the advantage of being a very central location but not having an in-house casino (which means you don't have to walk through the casino--and its cigarette smoke clouds--to get to your room, as you do at most other Vegas hotels).

Four Seasons, Nomad, and Nobu are "hotels-within-a-hotel" at larger properties, and are small by Vegas standards but contained within a bigger resort. Of these only Four Seasons really approaches traditional luxury hotel standards, though as noted the location is somewhat out of the way.

If you want to have the true Vegas experience for your first stay, Bellagio to me is the best Vegas resort at being a Vegas resort. Location is unbeatable and it has as much old world charm and elegance as you can muster on the Strip. And (the new) Ocean's 11 was set and partially filmed there, so watching that is a great way to anticipate your trip (really, that's true regardless of where you end up staying).

Yahtzee

Good points, bgriff. I would have recommended the Mandarin, but the Waldorf is several steps down from what that was. It's fine, particularly if you don't remember what it was at its best.

joe318

I recently stayed at the Waldorf. Yes, the facilities are aging and are in need of a remodel / furniture replacement, but definitely still emphasizes luxury service. Being greeted by a doorman, bags immediately whisked away, immediate service for the room when requested, etc. As stated, you would not experience this at other Vegas luxury hotels due to the size of the mega resorts and wider range of rooms along the price spectrum.

kthpence

Thanks, that info really helps ... I'll look into Encore, 4S, Nomad and Nobu. One particular selling point is that we are going to Vegas to see Adele who will be performing at Caesars, which may lead us to booking Nobu.

Really appreciate the info!

kthpence

Upon more research, Nobu seems like a really terrible option, so I don't think we'll be staying there. Now leaning towards 4S and Encore. Considering Pallazo as well.

cpworld

Wondering if the daily breakfast credit must be used all at once or can be multiple transactions. I'm at the Wynn -- can I grab a coffee from the Cafe early in the morning and then later that morning grab a sit down breakfast?

rich0215

I completely agree with this write up. Pre covid I’d visit twice a year. I stayed at the Mandarin Oriental until it reflagged and then switch to Wynn tower suites .