runarbg

You get a food credit of $13 per person. Since the breakfast in the Beach Cafe is $24 plus tax and tip, it's far from free.
Diamonds have to pay the resort fee, $33!

kettle1

The Beach Cafe as been closed for about 5 months. It will become a buffet in December.

runarbg

The breakfast at Beach Cafe is just like it has always been. It's a buffet, and you get a credit for $13 per day. That covers half of the cost for the breakfast.
The changes are that they have changed the name to Savor. And they have added an option for take-out breakfast (from the same buffet). The price for that is $16.
Another change is that lunch and dinner is also buffet now.

DenverBrian

Do keep up. Most Vegas properties have instituted daily parking fees. Hideous, I know.

eponymous_coward

Just stayed here to complete a Gold challenge on points (19k for one night). “Upgraded” to a largeish Paradise Tower Room (meh, out of date but decent enough room for a three star with a day bed; personally I would have preferred a HIX-style glassed in shower than the out of date bathtub). Asked for poolside room with balcony table, was turned down. Given the choice beteeen 1k points and free buffet breakfast as Gold benefit. Given that I value 1k points at $4-5, took buffet. Standard price is $23 for buffet, is not remotely close to worth that. Some steps up from a Hampton Inn buffet with omelet station, fresh egg dishes, and so on, but nothing amazing. The Robert Irvine Public House in property just opened up and has what looks like “foodie” pub options at modestly inflated Strip prices $20 burgers and so on).

All told this was fine for nabbing a stay credit (the point rate is as cheap as you will see in Vegas for a Hilton property) and I might stay again at the right price. I can see why people would think the place is a dump compared to other Vegas properties (I stayed at the Delano the previous two nights at an excellent rate but the rate jacked up for NFR on Monday). The rooms need a refresh (though they do have good power outlets).

storewanderer

Wait, did they provide the full buffet to you as a Gold at no cost?

I thought they just offer a $13 credit (so you still pay $10 for the buffet)?

Did they make the benefit more generous?

eponymous_coward

Correct. I was told at checkin to charge the buffet to my room. At checkout I was told "you have a zero balance" (points stay, so it should be that way if the buffet is free).

It appears so, though I wouldn't pay full retail of $23 for that buffet (it was a few steps up from a Hampton Inn breakfast, but that's it; not a GOOD Vegas buffet, merely adequate). Don't know if this would apply on weekends (it was a weekday stay).

All told at the right price the Trop is decent value with that benefit as a Gold (I'd consider staying there again, but it would probably be on a cheap points stay), but it is definitely in the Excalibur/Stratosphere/Casino Royale/Flamingo/Circus Circus class of lower-end Strip properties. It's not in "complete dump" land (because I've been to the Western and old Gold Spike, so I know how bad of a dump of a casino can be, OK?) but it's definitely not upscale like the Delano.

runarbg

You are correct. The benefit is NOT more generous. You just get a $13 food credit per person. I was there 2 days a go (Diamond) and that is what I received.

runarbg

Like I said, the credit is $13 PER PERSON per night. What they often do (almost always) is that they say that it's 2 people in the room and that way they remove the breakfast charge if you stay alone.

eponymous_coward

I can't explain the difference, but free buffet was what I got this morning. I note that you were there on a weekend. Weekend buffets are more expensive in Vegas.

That is not what I recall being told; "breakfast buffet for you and a guest or 1,000 points". Not "$13 credit per person, and we'll let you take both credits even if you're the only one there". If I had been told that I had $26 to spend as I choose I probably would have taken $26 towards dinner at Robert Irvine's Public House and gotten breakfast at someplace like Ellis Island or Silver Sevens on my way to the airport for like $8, and come out ahead.

Again, I can't explain the difference. That's just my experience.

runarbg

No, the buffet at Tropicana is the same price every day!

I have the Diamond benefits in writing in front of me. It says "Food credit $13 per night per person". And that's exactly what I received 2 days ago. But, like I said. They can put 2 people in the room even if you stay alone and then it's free.

eponymous_coward

OK. All I can say is what happened to me when I was there and when I chose my Gold benefit. I report, you can decide what it means.

kettle1

These are the current prices as of 12/6/2017 at the Tropicana buffet.

paradox

That was the case for me in August. I skipped breakfast and used the credits for dinner at the Public House.

storewanderer

Very interesting. I need to be very nearby this property but actually was not planning on staying there, was thinking of staying at one of the many off strip Hilton options. Part of my consideration was the stingy breakfast thing at the $13. A full breakfast buffet would make me reconsider. Pretty good value at 17,000 points for my night in that case. Other nearby options ranging from Tru to Doubletree Airport to Hampton to Embassy at 19,000-27,000 points.