sc flier

In the previous Planet Hollywood / Aladdin Master Thread, I presented my analysis of the self-parking option that then routes you through the mall. I am convinced that it is not as bad as people make it out to be. It just happens to leave a worse perception of distance than many of the other Vegas casino hotels.

Please review my post #682 in that thread .

An excerpt:
It is .23 miles from self-parking to the elevators. In my dozens of stays, I have only twice not parked on the main parking level, so my car is always pretty close to the mall entrance. (I always ignore the sign that says, "This Level Full.")

...

Despite all the complaining that I see about the Aladdin's self-parking distance, a lot of other Vegas hotels are no better or are even worse. Self-parking at the MGM Grand also requires a long walk through shops and takes you up and down at least a couple escalators. Typical distance from the elevators to the car is about .21 miles.

This is in addition to the MGM's long hallways that can add almost another .1 miles to the hike. Whereas at the Aladdin, no room in the hotel is more than 9 doors away from an elevator, and the Strip Suites and Resort Vistas are just 7 doors from the elevator.

...

I also have my own opinions about whether or not to get a rental car. I don't think most tourists need one. But the car rental debate is better addressed in FT's Las Vegas forum since the same debate applies to almost all of the casino hotels.

ilchib

Are there any specials running in Feb-Mar?

I cannot find a rate lower than $148/night for mid-week stay on SPG.com. I have an old link from Aladdin that had good rates but it no longer works.

Renard

As would be expected, the rates for the PH are not as low as while they were in mid-renovation and when the new owners first took over....be sure they have your email address and that you're a member of their 'alist' casino club. Also fatwallet has a running list of vegas promos that you could watch for posting of ph and other vegas hotel specials. http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/mess...925&lastpage=1

On the ph vegas website, there is also a special offers page that lists offers...some of which are good offers even

BlindPilot

I have a 2-night stay booked at Planet Hollywood via bid at Priceline ($60/night). As an SPG Plat, can I still request for my amenity (points) and a room upgrade even though I am paying this low rate? Or did I lose all these benefits using Priceline?

Didi

Oh! Why did I pay 129+ for a one person standard room on Feb 21st? Ohhhh, I was overcharged by PH

KENNECTED

You are not entitled to benefits, however, if they mess up and you get them. Good for you.

Please remember, that you should not expect benefits since you didn't not book an eligible rate.

For greater clarification see the everything you wanted to know about SPG status thread.

thaliajen

Well, after reading most of this thread, I went ahead and cancelled my regular Las Vegas hotel (non-Starwood) and will try PH. I went to their site and they DO have lots of offers I didn't see on the SPG site. I got a pretty good rate for Vegas ($149 a night) with a package that includes a free upgrade (maybe with my Plat status I'll get a suite) a bottle of champagne (don't drink but I could give it away) and $40 in free gaming at the casino, which I WILL take part in.

Right now they have several offers, mine was the Okay Magazine offer, which includes a lot of things that I think we'd miss if booking directly through SPG.
They have one offer that has free buffet for 2 plus $100 credit at another restaurant, and others for wine connoisseurs, shoppers, etc.

I'm hoping I didn't give up my suite at the other hotel for one small room at PH, but I figure I should try something new in Vegas as I spend tons of money on hotels there that do NOT earn me points. In fact, when asked why I was cancelling my other reservation, I told them that they needed a loyalty program like Starwood's. I have been to MGM Grand and its sister property, Signature, 6 times since September, and have more trips planned this year. If I got points for all the $ spent with their chain, I'd have a free week by now.

So if there's any advice any PH regulars can give me about securing a suite upgrade, etc., please let me know. Reading the different posts I am confused as to whether or not they give bottled water to the SPGs. I've always thought that it was a given in any SPG property, but maybe I'm wrong.

I'm glad I found this thread through the search- it's interesting to read how a hotel changes over. I just hope I made the right choice- I'm usually so lucky playing blackjack at MGM!

sc flier

thaliajen,
You don't need to pay extra for a package that includes an upgrade if you already have Plat status to include an (even better) upgrade. Did you read the promo's T&Cs? "Complimentary upgrade is based on availability at check-in."

You'd be better off with the Gas Credit package.

As frequently noted in this thread, be sure to call PH directly to add your SPG Plat number to your reservation so that you have a better chance of getting pre-blocked into a suite upgrade.

Folks,
The main PH website has been greatly enhanced. As thaliajen pointed out, there are now even more packages to choose from. And the booking engine is different than it used to be. It's now easy to see a detailed rate calendar for each promo. Most promos have a 2-night minimum stay.

The AAA rate from $89 has no min stay, but a lot of dates are sold out on this offer. The Gas Credit promo can be a better deal than the AAA rate. IMO, if these two promos are available, they are almost always better than any of the others.

mauld

I'm Plat with SPG and last Friday night (2/8) at the PH on a paid rate of $129.00 I was given an upgrade to a non renovated strip view suite (2553) with 2 bottles of water in the bathroom. On the bottles was a note stating that consumption of the water would result in a $4.00 per bottle charge on my room account. So, no I don't think it's a given that water is complimentary at all SPG properties (Needless to say, I did not DRINK THE WATER)

itsaboutthejourney

adding to what mauld said, you've touched on one of the more inconsistent and aggravating parts of the SPG program. What some props give us as an SPG member, others charge up to $5.

sc flier

You'll find that I've frequently noted in this thread that bottled water in the rooms is not free at the PH and that the best price at the nearest location has generally been at the ABC Stores in the mall. When I was there so often, the big blue 1 liter bottles were always "on sale" for 99 cents + tax. Often, they were ice cold (with ice still in them).

If you self-park, you can walk right past one of these stores when going to/from the garage. There's also an ABC Store in the mall just outside the south entrance of the casino. (Of course, this fact helps more if you actually know which way is south. )

$4.00 would be a price drop from when I was there. I think that they used to be $4.99 in the room.

Christian

For sure the room water is overpriced.
Abc stores have everything, but their prices aren't best either.
I'd suggest a short walk across the south street down the blvd - ther's several small tourist and drugstores, etc. Also cheap internet access, booze, cigars, etc.

Seattlenerd

Was just in Las Vegas for a quick overnight getaway and decided to stay at the Mandalay Bay rather than the PH (MB had a promotional rate of $159/night on weekends, and their standard room is 550 SF in size and decorated like a cross between a W and a Westin). But Seattlenerdette and I walked through the PH, having stayed there both when it was the original newly renovated Aladdin and then when it was in the transitional Aladdin/PH state.

I have to say, I'm still not overly impressed by the rebranding. On the outside, it looks like any character, charm or other theming was stripped from the facade and a few big display screens and "Planet Hollywood" were plastered onto it. It could be any generic property if you didn't see the sign.

In the main casino, it's a bit better. But the only real theming is the video screens above the slots (and high above the casino floor) that show images of celebrities. That's pretty much it. It's a relatively attractive casino, that said, with cool blue floating lights and soaring creme-colored light columns, but there's not much else to differentiate it from any other casino.

Not impressed, and not entirely convinced this is a better theme than the Aladdin one (though it is less dark inside, which helps). Then again, we go to Vegas for the atmosphere, shows and slots, and aren't high rollers.

Yankeeflyer

You must have missed the dancing go-go girls in the blackjack "Pleasure Pit", the on-tap speciality brews in the new sports bar, and of course the top-flight hookers in the Heart Bar.

mcgahat

Me and my wife just completed another stay here last week for a two day get away. The last time we stayed was just before the grand opening and there have been improvements in just that short amount of time. I think the casino has a lot going for it. I liked the extra lounge and yolos for the food and the drinks and cant remember everything but there are a lot of things I noticed that had been added since my last trip. I request a regular renovated room over a non-renovated strip suite and this trip I got a corner room which had a regular size bed are but huge bathroom which was great. Sit in the tub and overlook the fountains! Also, if you plan on eating at the planet dailies take a look for the 20% off coupon in the I love vegas magazine in the room.