SectionChief

Stayed at Planet Hollywood [1st time] over this past Superbowl weekend and had a great time in the hotel, mall and the casino. Check-in on Friday night took less than 5 minutes despite all the check-in delays i heard about and was expecting. Upgraded my room and had a "decent" view of the strip [mostly construction across the street]. I'm usually a frequent guest at the HGVC at the north end of the strip but I will include PH as one of my favorite LV hotels going forward.

sc flier

I didn't address this question earlier mainly because I got off on my missive about why there are not more Starwoods in Vegas. But this question caught my attention and is something in which I have some experience. I know that it has been well-discussed in the old Aladdin/PH threads before, but I'm sure that it is well-buried in there as well.

I've been an SPG Plat member for a number of years now. I got my Hilton Diamond status in a Diamond Challenge while frequenting Vegas and Reno a couple years ago. My stays were typically just 1 or 2 nights at a time because of my travel schedule and sometimes just because of my willingness to do mattress runs. I was usually there for work, sometimes spent weekends there for pleasure, and always had a rental car (which many tourists don't need and shouldn't get). I typically dislike valet parking because I hate waiting to pick up the car when I'm ready to go. Disclaimer for this post: My last trip to Vegas was a full year ago. Some of my opinions and experience might not apply, and some properties have obviously had a few changes.

I've stayed at the Hilton LV and all three of the HGVC properties. There are good discussions about them all in the Hilton forum, and some of my old thoughts are in those threads, too.

Aladdin/PH was my main hotel most of the time. The rates were usually great, I got consistently good Plat upgrades, and I love the location. Check-in usually was quick for me. I loved to watch the fountains from my room, and I liked the convenient access to the restaurants at Paris and the Bellagio. When I wanted room service, I liked to get it from PF Changs (or call down and pick it up if I wanted to save some $$$ and purchase a better glass of wine). I often booked AAA or promo rates that included bonuses in the casino, free show tickets, or similar deals. I'm not a big breakfast or buffet fan, so whether I got offers for those was not very important to me. Requalification for SPG Plat was important, and that definitely encouraged me to stay there for stay credit and Starpoints.

I only stayed at the Hilton LV a couple times. They gave me rooms that were fine, but I never got a truly impressive upgrade. I have seen other Diamond members report great suites. I never ate a great meal at the Hilton, though I might could have if I'd blown my budget at one of their more expensive restaurants. If I wanted to hop over to another hotel/casino, there was an effort involved. Historically, the property sometimes has been known to skirt the issue in regards to whether or not it must abide by the HHonors T&Cs, but I never had any problem there. This hotel never impressed me. IME, if the Hilton had an exceptionally good rate, someone else did, too.

The Hilton Grand Vacation Club (HGVC) properties have similarities and differences with one another, and there is a wide variety of opinions about which one is best. The oldest one is behind the Flamingo. It is closest to a lot of popular casinos and I think has a jacuzzi tub in every room (IIRC but I could be wrong). This was actually my last choice because I thought self-parking was inconvenient and my impression of the room at the time was that it was getting old and worn out. (A problem getting worse at the pre-PH Aladdin at the time, too.)

The much newer HGVCs further up the Strip were my preference. The one right next to the Hilton LV was my first choice. At least at the time, they frequently offered a weekday AAA rate of $102 for a 1BR suite with full kitchen and jacuzzi tub. If this wasn't available and I booked a regular room, I sometimes got upgraded to the suite. I like to cook, like good food, and can prepare a very good meal for myself with a budget intended for dining in restaurants. As a road warrior traveling solo, having a kitchen was a nice treat for me. Self-parking was excellent!

The newest "HGVC on the LV Strip" (west of the Sahara) was my second choice. I found the self-parking there to be inconvenient when hauling a heavy bag. I don't think that I ever booked a suite there, and I know that I never got upgraded to one. They told me that they didn't give Diamond upgrades. The basic rooms were nice but a bit small. At the time, there was construction right next door that could be very disruptive. And in Vegas, many construction projects get approved for permits that allow work 24 hours/day.

HGVC properties do not have casinos and don't have free valet parking. If you have a jacuzzi in the room, there are posted restrictions to limit when you use them so that you don't disturb your neighbors during the night. Some rooms or suites include a washer/dryer. Pools are generally open later than at many of the casinos. (The pools at most Vegas casinos close around sundown. Most are closed during winter.) Breakfast vouchers for elites used to be provided, but I don't know about the current practice at the HGVCs. Many elites at the HGVC next to the Hilton LV used to go over to the Hilton and get a free breakfast, but there were mixed reports about whether or not this was a legit perk while staying at the HGVC.

I think that all of the HGVC properties had free internet and a very extensive selection of cable channels. Kids are sometimes seen at these properties -- more often than at most casino hotels. These properties are not as upscale as many SVO properties are, but I like them and their more affordable price. As with SVO properties, they are not bound by the T&Cs to offer the usual elite perks as if they were a regular hotel. However, I always got points and stay credit, and I often booked the upgrade for very reasonable rates.

Given the choice of the PH or Hilton LV as a top elite in both programs with the same price room, I choose the PH for its upgrade and location. But without Plat or Gold status at the PH (or the need for a SPG stay credit), I'd probably choose a Diamond stay at the Hilton or foot the extra $30 to at least book into a fountain view room at the PH.

Throw in a nice HGVC suite into the equation for about the same price, and that's where I'd stay for a nice, quiet place with features most like being at home. But that's not what most Vegas tourists are looking for, is it?

But Didi's question just doesn't give enough information for me to make a personalized recommendation. Didi or anyone else that wants recommendations in Vegas, what kind of trip are you looking for? Are you visiting for work? To dine out? To see the sights? To see shows? To eat at buffets? To gamble? Are you by yourself, with a friend, spouse, or group? Do you intend/desire to get off of the Strip at all? Are there specific events, shows, or sights that you already know you want to see?

mauld

I am in PH right now and was given a Strip View Suite (2553). Now I'm trying to figure out if this is a newly renovated room or not ? There still appears to be alot of Aladdin-type furnishings (mirror, couch, tv cabinet etc)... but the bath seems pretty new. Also in the halls, the carpeting is definately NOT updated. Considering what they did to the casino and public areas, my room doesn't seem to reflect any major renovations. I do have a great view towards Bellagio and the fountains, and I love the new restaurants etc. Also for those who watch out for these things, my room has the regular glass glasses-- not those horrible plastic cups!! (Yes, I do wash out my glasses prior to using them, and in any event I'd rather drink my wine out of a real glass, than worry about the risk of germs )

VPescado

Hmm, can you put 80 on red and 80 on black at roulette?

bigguyinpasadena

Yes you can.
However-how bad/foolish would you feel if it came up 0 or 00.
Roulette

falken98

A better bet, if you didn't like to gamble and just wanted the most money back, would be to place the following bets:
$75 red, $75 black, $5 on 0, $5 on 00.

If it hits red or black, you walk with $150. If it hits 0 or 00 you walk with $175.

DCBob

It's not. If you don't have a flat screen LCD TV and new furniture (lamps, bed, and chairs) you are NOT in a renovated room. Also, the carpeting was replaced on all the renovated floors with bright geometric patterns. Not much was done in the bathrooms.

Didi

Didi says thank you, sc flier, for your detailled report. Didi is actually going there for pleasure. He does not have any specific plans but he may want to do some shopping, some buffet eatings and drive around (he will have a rental car).

Didi (travelling on his own) considers to stay either in the PH for 129+ USD or to stay in a cheapo Exopedia hotel (approx 50-70 USD). Despite the fact that Didi has a Dia status with Hilton, he will not stay in a Hilton hotel because the rates for his intended dates are too high (150+). He would not mind to collect some more *Wood points for relatively cheap money (i.e. 3,500 points for 129+).

Internet would be nice (I know already that I will not get this with PH), lounge access and upgrades (will also not get this as a current *Wood green member) and free parking at or very near the hotel is a must. Will the latter be the case with PH?

KENNECTED

I wouldn't rent a car in Las Vegas. It's not that big. Just walk or take a quick cab.

Didi, I suggest you take a trip over to the Las Vegas forum for restaurant, buffet and expert advice. That is A TON of good information in the LV forum.

Didi

Thanks, will do that.

PS> I made the reservation for the car already. Is also important for me because I am doing a mattress run.

PPS> Does the PH have free parking or is it nearby available?

VPescado

When I was there in 1/06, free parking was available, but very very inconvenient. You park in a parking lot take an elevator to the mall entrance and then you need to go to the opposite side of the mall to get to the hotel. Valet parking was available, but I don't recall the price.

Other options include the roadway described in other posts in this thread, or depending on the time of day there may be bycycle rickshaw kind of things operating for tips that will carry you (and luggage) across the mall.

Parking is *the* big downside for this property.

KENNECTED

I done a run (with two pieces of luggage) at various times of the year, between the Westin and the PH. I never rent in Vegas. It's not that big.

sbtinme

Can't imagine wanting or needing a car in Vegas UNLESS you are planning to travel downtown or out of town with some frequency.

When I'm in Vegas, I never stray too far from the strip and cannot imagine having a rental car -- what a hassle when cabs are readily available and nothing's far away.

sechs

All parking on the strip is free. No one wants to be the first to charge and scare everybody away.

That said, I suggest ponying up to valet at the PH. Technically, it's free (like at all other strip casinos), but I suggesting tipping for better service.

mauld

As mentioned, parking is free-- but the parking tower is connected to the shopping mall, and is a very long, circular walk through all the shoppes and then through the casino, down an escalator/elevator to the hotel reception desk. As for renting a car or not, I generally do rent-- especially if on a weekend when the rental cost is fairly cheap. I like having a car to drive to the shopping centers, other restaurants, out to Red Rock country, down the Strip to other hotels etc. To me, on a one or two day stay it is much more cost effective renting a car, then using a combo of taxi's / airport shuttle.