Wynn or Venetian?
 

Planning an April visit and can get $129 for Wynn or $139 for Venetian (in a package including a $50 gaming credit) midweek. I've been to the Venetian and loved it but friends who have been to the Wynn (but never the Venetian) swear by the Wynn. Since I hardly gamble, I care most about the rooms, the pool, and reasonably priced casual restaurants - where two people can have cornflakes for breakfast without it costing $50. Any advice will be appreciated.

Both are great hotels and you'll no doubt be pleased with either for rooms and pools (slight edge to the Wynn pool IMO). However, since you mentioned casual, reasonable restaurants, those are in short supply at the Wynn. Of course, they have two cafes (Terrace Point in the Wynn and Society at Encore) but they are not inexpensive and it does up from there. You may find the Grand Lux restaurant ^ options at the Venetian/Palazzo, as well as the food court, possibly more to your liking.

Stayed in the Wynn in Sept07 and Venetian in Sept08.

Wynn is amazing - everything feels very luxurious and new. Rooms aren't huge, but are very nice.

The Venetian is also very luxurious, but showing it's age (just a little).

The Venetian has a great pool and poolbar (Tao Beach), so if that's a priority I'd choose the Venetian. You certainly won't be disappointed with either!

Cheers,
- Febs.

The Venetian is definitely showing its age in the rooms - in fact, I was disappointed in the room quality even a few years ago.

You will undoubtedly be very pleased with the Wynn, and I feel it's a much higher quality property all around.

The majority of Venetian's original tower rooms have been renovated. The rooms with the most wear and tear now are the ones in the Venezia tower. If you have a room in the original tower just ask for a renovated room.

Just came back from a stay at the Venetian, my first ever stay there. Previously have stayed at Palazzo, Bellagio, Monte Carlo, Golden Nugget, PH, Flamingo, MGM etc.

The rooms may be updated but they are still not as nice as those in the Palazzo. Most of the things in the room between V/P are the same but there are small minor details that will irk you.

1. No weighing machine in V
2. Less HD channels on the tvs
3. No sewing kit/Q-tips in the bathroom.

Sure I could have asked for #1 and #3 but I have stayed 4 times at the Palazzo and I am just used to that :D

Venetian casino is also far more crowded than the Palazzo so YMMV on that area if you like crowds or not.

Palazzo wins hands down in the whole of vegas as having the best self-parking garage anywhere.

I'm afraid of those things during and a week after my trips to Vegas. :D

Based on your comments, I would say the Venetian beats the Wynn on reasonable food, but the Wynn on room comfort. The Wynn just has an overall more upscale feel. Either way you can't go wrong.

Here are my pros and cons for both:

Venetian:
1. Basic room is bigger than than Wynn's. Venetian has an all suite set up so seem like more space
2. Bathroom was good sized, had separate tub and shower with separate room with toilet. Don't remember the tolietries being anything special
3. At the time I was there, TV was not HD or flat screen (may have changed with renovations)
4. Plenty of reasonably priced restaurant options. There's a food court with fast food, The Grand Lux Cafe and a noodle restaurant by the poker room (one of my favorites). Plus there's the attached mall with some other options.
5. Can't talk to the pool, was there in the winter and pool wasn't open.
6. Big feel to the place, lots of convention activity, sometimes feels more like a businessman's hotel. I was there for a convention, not sure what it's like on a weekend.

Wynn (all comments based on pre-Encore stay)
1. Rooms are nice and ample sized. Like taht you can open the window shades from the remote in your bed. Nice way to wake up the wife in the morning.
2. Flat screen TVs with HD channels. Granted, not a big selection of channels, but then again they don't want you spending time in the room
3. Probably most comfortable bed and pillow I've ever had in Vegas. First casino that I've actually been able to get a decent sleep
4. Bath room is good sized, with separate tub and shower. Liked being able to watch TV in the tub!
5. LIked the toilietries at the Wynn, especially the shaving cream
6. Limited "reasonable" dining options. The bar/deli by the sports book was about it.
7. Expensive to gamble there. Hard to find a Blackjack or craps table with less then a $25 min bet...even in the middle of the day. Casino, while good sized, didn't feel expansive like the Venetian
8. Number of nice lounges and bars to sit back and people watch. Always a fun thing to do in Vegas. downside, drinks were expensive

I'm heading back to the Wynn in February. Will do most of my gambling else where.

Gambling
 

Yes, as others have noted, the hotels are close in quality. But I think the Wynn has better gambling, particularly Video Poker. JMHO.

I was at the Wynn last week. There were plenty of $10 and $15 tables, even on Fri/Sat night

^ Walked to Encore to check it out this past weekend, saw $10 BJ tables at Encore, Wynn and Palazzo, but not at Venetian :confused:

That's because Vegas is being slaughtered right now - about the busiest thing there are the buffets and cheap rooms, but hardly anyone is gambling.

A year or so ago, there wouldn't be a $10-15 table anywhere at the Wynn on a Thur-Sun period...trust me, I checked.

What fast food places? Can you please give me some tips on where they are located? I walked around the casino probably a half dozen times, and I can't believe I missed these! :) (Looks like the sportsbook @ the palazzo has cheap snack food too)

I also walked between the palazzo and the venetian a few times (I think that's where the blue man group theater is, along w/ a few of their more expensive restaurants).

I didn't even think to look for any cheap food options in the Grand Canal Shoppes, since all of the stores I looked at were way outside of my price range. :p

Food court at the Grand Canal Shoppes on Venetian side near where you would exit to the parking garage and garage elevators. Not exactly fast food prices though.

For truly cheap eats walk out front to Las Vegas Blvd south of Venetian and there is a Denny's and another block south sandwiched between Casino Royale and Harrah's is a McDonalds, Chipotle and a pizza place. Inside Casino Royale is a Subway.

Kingalien, great suggestions.