blackjack-21

Did a search on FT and all I could find is last October when it sounded like they wouldn't be around much longer. We got a mailed offer of two nights comped at the M from one of the casinos here in Ontario. If we go it'll be for more then just the two night trip, adding a few more nights on the strip.

Question is: If it's still around, anyone stay there recently, and if so, how're the rooms, casino and restaurants? Won't have a car this trip, so ease of getting to the four corner's casinos also makes a difference.

Haven't been to LV for a few years, so we're expecting to see lots of change, along with the 6/5 bj tables, which I'll avoid if possible, but I hope to find some 3/2 $25 tables somewhere on the strip. Recommendations?

TIA,

bj-21

Connie In MT

Nice resort, rooms are very nice, casino also good. They have a buffet that is outstanding, expect to wait in line. They have opened the Hash House A Go Go, from what I have heard it is very good, very large servings that it can be shared.

The M Resort offers a shuttle to and from the airport, it also goes to Fashion Show Mall. It is listed on the site map under Room Amenities.

We always rent a car and stop by for gaming and to eat at the buffet. They have a special on Wed. for seniors that is 2 for 1 price at the buffet .

Amicus

We used the same offer, which originated from Penn Gaming, a new equity partner in M Resort. We have stayed there twice this year, the first time without a car.

M Resort is definitely a locals casino. Therefore, you will find lots of fantastic BJ games with full pay on blackjack. All of the games are hand shuffled (not a single machine shuffler!) There are quite a few double deck games, ranging in table limits from $10 to $25 per hand. Most of the tables were very busy, especially on weekends.
The casino is heavily perfumed, and takes some getting used to, but fortunately the doors leading outside to the parking lot are steps away!
The video poker machines have excellent pay schedules.

Since the hotel is new, the rooms are very comfortable and modern. The usual amenities include motorized drapes and shades, like at Wynn/Encore. The swimming pool is nice, but because it is open to locals, even those not staying overnight at the hotel, it is extremely busy.

The Hash House a Go Go inside M is better than the one at Imperial Palace, but not as good as the original restaurant on Sahara. The Studio Buffet is very good and excellent value - - all the free beer and wine you can drink is included in your buffet price. Unfortunately, that means you will notice extremely long lines at all times, especially Senior Days on Wednesdays. However, with the Penn Gaming offer, you essentially get a line pass. Hurray.
The deli, near the Sports Book, is quite good, also. We never ate at the Italian restaurant or steakhouse on site.

Transportation from M Resort to/from the airport and to/from Fashion Show Mall on the Strip is complimentary. However, it only runs on a short schedule. If you miss the bus, taxi fare is expensive . . . around $40 one way.
We found the shuttle too inconvenient and so got a rental car the second visit. It's 20 minutes or less to the Strip.

In summary, we really liked M Resort. However, be aware that you will feel "cheated" out of the real Vegas experience. You are too far from the Strip, and so we felt like we could have stayed home for a locals casino.
Also, the demographics of the M, being locals, is not like the clientele you find staying at Wynn or Cosmopolitan. There are NO clubbers. M Resort is overwhelmingly elderly, and very casual. Especially at the buffet, the hordes of elderly people, moving very slowly in the aisles, is eventually maddening. But, again, no twenty somethings in eight inch stilettos moving slowly either.

blackjack-21

Thanks for your comments.

Yes, Amicus, it's the same comp offer from Penn Nat'l. who run the casino up here about 80 miles north of Toronto. Strangely though, haven't been to that one in almost a year, as we prefer the Fallview Casino Resort in Niagara Falls for it's better room and meal comps, and we've been getting to Fallview once or twice a month for some time now. I guess they're just trying to fill some rooms and get more casino action at the M by offering the comped two nighters.

We don't mind staying in one place for a couple of nights, if it's a comfortable hotel room and the casino and restaurants are acceptable. Not fans of buffets, though we can handle it for a day or two if there are also other alternatives. And the casino offering the 3/2 bj sounds good if I can get into a table late, as we're late risers and don't usually start our play until after dinner then go long into the night/morning.

We've been coming to LV since 1985 (used to go two or three times a year, but not for a while now), so the "first-timers" trip needs don't apply to us, although we haven't been there for a few years and are expecting some sticker shock over the changes, but that's no big deal as we'll just be coming to gamble, eat, and relax.

Couple of more questions: Did the hotel try to sock you with a "resort fee" on your comped nights? Is the airport shuttle on a schedule, or do you call for it when you arrive, or book it in advance? And a question from Mrs. bj-21, the slot player: Do they still have the regular reel-type slots in 25c/50c/$1, rather then the video slots which she won't play?

Don't mind the oldsters (we're some of them too) although we can still move faster then most, at least at this point in time, so we've learned how to dodge and weave around them to get to our destinations (tables or slot machines) in good time.

Thanks again to both of you for your comments. The comped offer for us is good until the end of Sept., so we'll see if we can put together flights and a continuing stay for several nights at Caesars or some other property nearby after the M, possibly mid-Sept.

bj-21.

Amicus

You'll enjoy the rooms at M for a couple nights, as the beds were very comfy and the rooms are modern and new.

If you're there on a Wednesday, by all means, try the buffet as it is 1/2 off for seniors on that day of the week. Otherwise, the deli was quite good.

No resort fees!! Hurray!

If you are late sleepers, you should definitely take advantage of the housekeeping offer. If you leave the "no housekeeping service today" sign on your door the night before (before 2 a.m.), then they will slide under your door a $5 voucher, valid at any restaurant onsite except Hash House. We used the $5 voucher for free coffee and pastries or bagels at the bakery.

The casino still has lots of regular reel machines, as well as those video slots.

The airport shuttle runs on a schedule, just look online on the M website. However, when we came in the first time on the comped Penn Gaming offer, we received a phone call from a host, asking us our flight schedule in advance, and then sent out a complimentary car to pick us up at the airport. I don't know if they still do this, but it was great for us as our flight arrived at LAS stupidly early, like 6:30 a.m. The M driver was waiting for us already at baggage claim, which was super!

Hope you're able to get it all booked! Enjoy your trip!

mbstone

Nothing at all not to like about the M. As you may know, the founding owner Mr. Marnell couldn't pay the mortgage and Penn National bought the note for about a $600 million discount. The government then bailed out the banks that lost the $600 million, so in essence this beautiful hotel-casino is open today thanks to the taxpayers. The new Pennsylvania management has changed little. The buffet continues to excel. The music mix is first rate. They have 99 beers on tap. Saturday nights this summer they have free poolside concerts. Except for the location you could be at the Wynn or Cosmopolitan. Enjoy your stay.

P.S. If it's Wednesday, those 50 and over get 2-for-1 (or half price if single) to the incredible M buffet at an unbeatable price per person of $8/$12 (lunch/dinner).
.

smitty06

I love this hotel. The spa is one of the best around and priced lower than most spas Ive been to. Havent noticed all the old people (maybe I'm one!). The buffet is excellent but the lines are long as previously mentioned. Rent a car. It's cheap and convenient to drive in Las Vegas. If you have 2 free nights, thats more money to leave on the tables.

Gregory Nelson

I also used the Penn National offer in June of this year.

Everything posted above is 100% accurate. Fantastic rooms - I subsequently stayed at Caesar's, Golden Nugget, and NYNY on the same trip, and none of them were able to beat out the M as far as overall room quality.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet on this thread is the fantastic attitude of the employees there. They are very much aware that they dodged a bullet by Penn National's takeover of the M, and really go the extra mile to be helpful and make your stay pleasant. Clearly, this casino wants to earn your continued business.

Here's a telling anecdote: When I checked out, the valet asked, "When will you be returning to the M Resort, Mr. Nelson?" It certainly opened my eyes to the fact that no casino employee anywhere has EVER asked me that question before.

----

As for your blackjack questions:

The M Resort itself has very good blackjack conditions with low limits. You should have no problem getting a seat at a table at any time of the evening (or morning).

As for the strip, if you're OK playing at the green chip level, you should be able to find 3:2 games without difficulty. Just be prepared to read the felt carefully. The best BJ conditions are found at the various MGM resorts - you can find 6-deck BJ with surrender and dealers standing on soft 17 (house edge 0.26%) at the $25 level at Mirage, Bellagio, MGM, Mandalay Bay, and one or two others.

blackjack-21

Thanks again for all the further responses.

What's up in LV on Sept.15? Caesars shows over $800 for that one night.

Green chips are fine, but eight black chips for one night at Caesars?

bj-21.

Flews

I've received the 2-night free offers a few times.

Went for a convention last week and decided to stay at the Bellagio instead. Glad I did; the M was just too, too far away from everything.

We ended up getting comped four nights at the Bellagio anyway.

Cheers,

787

Have you been to the M?

Is your review based on staying there? I have not stayed there but, have checked it out, and think it is a great off strip resort. If you are a Bellagio person, probably not your 1st choice of resorts. But it is still a great hotel/casino.

peachfront

I've been to the M. It wasn't worth free. Have you been to South Point? It wasn't worth free, was it? (Other than Michael's.) And M. is way out in the back of beyond, the far outskirts of east Jesus. Yoiu can't even see South Point from there. You definitely can't see Vegas. At the end of the day, if the point of the trip is Vegas, staying at the M wastes two hours of every day because of the driving back and forth. And the requirement to stay sober during the driving back and forth...

If you just want to stay in a random foofy hotel resort, you could go anywhere in the world. If you want to go to Vegas, the M. makes no sense. It is nicely appointed, good games, etc...but nothing else matters if it's not in Vegas. And it ain't.

As for the guy who was never asked when he's coming back to xyz resort, I've gotten that question many times. I guess I look like a sucker...ha!

The M. was wonderful but we turned down many more free offers than we accepted because, at end of day, it ain't even worth free because of the location. Now if you're just going to stay there and drink and not bother about Vegas, it's fantastic. Wonderful wine bar hidden downstairs, wonderful martinis!!!!! Even in the casino, mind numbing Lemon Drops...I can't get how it's a local's place because the best thing about is the booze and you don't wanna drive after their drinks because they don't cheap out on ya. Yet it's a bad tourist place because you can't get the sights a tourist needs to say. It's the worst of both worlds.

Amicus

LOL. Maybe it was the drinking . . .
You CAN definitely see Vegas, as our room at M had a great view of the Strip.

It's also a 20 minute drive, tops, from M to Mandalay Bay. So, again, maybe it's the drinking?

IK in Seattle

I guess different strokes for different folks. Some people are happy with the pseudo Vegas experience, and like the off strip resorts – Lake Las Vegas, JW Marriott, Green Valley, Red Rock and the M.

Last time I was there it only took 20 minutes to drive from the M to Wynn, I would think it is actually closer that the other off strip resorts.

GeorgeJ

Should only take about 5 minutes to get from M to Mandalay Bay if taking the I-15...