Vegas Help: MGM or TI

[Ok321LetsJam]

*I am double posting this from the Trip Reports section to see if I get any more responses*

OK, so my wife and I are headed to Vegas again. We've been twice already: the first time we stayed in Excalibur, the second the Trop (we see the hotel room as a place to shower and sleep, we're not looking for ultimate luxury).

So, while looking online at various travel services, we came across airfare/hotel accomodations for MGM Grand and TI. Both are great prices (cheaper then the Trop and Excalibur for the same stay), with TI about $20 cheaper then MGM. Here's my dilemma: both are rated 4.2 out of five (all the travel reviews), and nobody compares the two, so I would like to solicit your opinions.

I am leaning towards the TI (since we stayed on the south corner of the strip before), but we both love New York New York and Excalibur. Which one do you guys prefer? Or, should we be frugal and go with the Imperial Palace (remember, room is for sleep and shower).

Been reading reviews of MGM and there are a LOT of people complaingin about being sent to occupied rooms by the front desk staff. Also, many people found the size of the building (and the distance to the ool area) to be ridiculous. People at TI didn't like the over-crowded pool area.

[fingerstim]

Re: Vegas Help: MGM or TI

We stayed at the TI in December and had a good time (except the check-in line). It is a better location then the MGM because it is centered up on the Strip with an easy walk to the mall, as well as Wynn's and many other big name places. The only good thing close to MGM is the M&M store. For God sake avoid the IP because to sleep and shower you first must be able to get an elevator to your room which is tough at the IP. If you go on harrah's website, log-in, click on "reservations," enter your dates for all las vegas casinos, you can almost always get a free room at the IP. There must be a good reason for that, right? My wife is frugal but she will not stay at the IP. The rooms at the TI are luxurious and the beds are among the best. Take the deal. You get luxury at a frugal price. Have a good time. Report back when you return.

[Fighting Duck]

Re: Vegas Help: MGM or TI

Screw the strip, stay downtown. A lot more fun and the odds are better. We stay at the Golden Nugget. Decent rooms and really cheap. Freemont Steet is where the action is. We only livwe an hour away, so most of the time we just go home unless we have had too many libations.

The Strip is to suck in the tourists

[colbert]

Re: Vegas Help: MGM or TI

After staying in both, it's MGM for me. The rooms are nicer. Sure, the pool area is a long haul, but it beats the smallness of TI.

[fingerstim]

Re: Vegas Help: MGM or TI

I agree with Fighting Duck. We usually stay at Sam's Town, South Point, Cannery or lately Eastside Cannery. The video poker is much better and the food is much less expensive. The Strip is for tourists but the Strip is a great place to visit and the billion dollar establishments are great to walk through and look at (not to gamble). Since OK321LetsJam asked about MGM or TI I assume they want to stay on the Strip for the aforementioned reasons.

[EdAndersonVT]

Re: Vegas Help: MGM or TI

After staying at various "strip" hotels from The Venetian to Excalibur, my wife and I like the "MGM Corner" as you seem to do. We have found that by contacting the Excalibur, they have given us the best deals. Besides, who can beat breakfast at The Sherwood Forest !! Hope you have a good trip.

[Ok321LetsJam]

Re: Vegas Help: MGM or TI

I've tried booking flight and hotel separately to compare prices, but it seems like Expedia gets better package deals than any other site or booking separately. What's the best way to find deals on accomodations? I cannot seem to get any deals on the hotel's web sites.

We're now looking at Harrah's/Flamingo/Bally's/Paris. They charge a helluva deposit, though ($100 a day on credit card, or $200 cash for the entire stay). I'm leary about that, since they may be a "bad landlord" and nickel and dime my deposit away. Anyone have any experience with those places? Flamingo seems to have an awesome pool and waterslide area, and we want to replax in the sun a little when we go.

Also, we're planning on going at the end of May. I'm I making a mistake booking so far out? We usually go at the end of April, and we usually book in Jan/Feb. Do the casinos seem to lower prices as the trip date gets closer?

[fingerstim]

Re: Vegas Help: MGM or TI

We are staying at Harrahs May 31 - June 5 complimentary and we are only quarter video poker players. If you have a total rewards card go to Harrah's website, log in, click on "reservations" at the top of the page, call out "Las Vegas" then "all Las Vegas casinos." Below that enter your partner's total rewards card number and zip code as two members staying get a better price. Then enter your dates and see what comes up. The Imperial Palace is always complimentary but do not stay there unless you have to. Harrah's, Ballys, and the Rio are usually no more then $40 on a week day. Weekends are more expensive of course. I am sure that you and your partner have total rewards cards so go for it and report back. The other course is go to the Las Vegas Advisor website and use their accomodations search engine. I think it is Vegas.com but I am not sure. You will never get the best deal at expedia, travelocity, orbitz or any of those national search engines. The best package deals I have seen are found at NWAWorldVacations.com. Take a look there as well. We got in the TI in December cheap with non-stop flight as well as lodging. Do not book a rental car in any of those package deals as you can always get it much cheaper at a rental car website. Thrifty is usually the cheapest. Good luck.

[bonniestecher]

Re: Vegas Help: MGM or TI

We're headed to Vegas for trip #5 and are going to stay at Paris. Got the best deal there. Centrally located. We were going to stay at TI but when I booked it was way more than Paris.
Air and accomodations from Seattle $600. for 3 nights. We can never get deals..I guess we don't spend enough? We have all the rewards cards for everywhere... We have stayed at the Trop (smelly) Harrahs (was ok) Sahara (in the middle of a remodel & too far north) at an RV park and at Hooters (off strip,but fun) We always look for location..like to be in the middle & ride the Deuce both ways and then to Fremont for a day..it's ALL good

[cphllps]

Re: Vegas Help: MGM or TI

We are staying at Harrahs, for the 3rd time straight, May 17-23. Before staying there last April we had stayed at NYNY and Planet Hollywood. We really like the location of Harrahs and can't beat the comp'd rooms. We don't look for plush and have been very satisfied with Harrahs.

[Ok321LetsJam]

Re: Vegas Help: MGM or TI

Well, after some searching, we finally decided to book our stay at Paris in Las Vegas. We were going to look at the Flamingo, but after finding a coupon code thru Expedia, we saved $50 and decided to upgrade our stay. Plus, there seems to be a LOT of good reviews for the hotel online.

*Coupon code EPACK50 = $50 off any 3+ night vacation package. I believe the code was only good for booking on Feb 21 & 22, but the site I found it on could have been wrong.