Just back from a business/pleasure trip in LV from 9/14 – 9/17.
Got to the airport on Friday night, arriving at the Southwest gates about 7:40pm. Very crowded in this portion of the airport. Had to wait for two trams – I couldn’t believe how people were shoving and crowding into each tram. We went all the way to the last doors and had more room. Our bags were up in five minutes (wow) but the Harrah’s check-in was closed (bummer). The taxi line nearest baggage claim 16 had a quick three minute wait. Our cab driver was OK (no tunnel) but very opinionated and wanted to either start something, or just espouse his views about the people coming in for Mexican Independence Day. (note: shut up, cabbie, and maybe I’ll tip better).
Check in at Bally’s was quick – no line, so I didn’t bother with the Diamond Lounge. Front desk was friendly and we were on our way in a matter of minutes to 11th floor, King Jacuzzi suite. These rooms are corner rooms and are quite a hike from the elevator. Comfy bed (on the hard side, but I like it that way). White linens, four pillows. No bedspread, which feels cleaner, but I got cold the first night without more cover.
The Jacuzzi and marble bathroom are outstanding, although the room is starting to show some age. Nice twin vanities on each side of the room, separate potty room and shower, even a bidet room. Marble floor can be slippery around the sunken tub. There is a couch, ottoman and coffee table between the bed and TV. The TV should be bigger by current Vegas standards (not a plasma) but I didn’t watch much TV anyway. My hotel contact sent up a fruit basket and bottled water, which I enjoyed.
The casino was pretty quiet for the big crowd in town. I never saw anyone winning on the slots, including me. The $1 Bally’s Wild machines, which are usually packed, were empty (not a good sign) and I only hit one $150 win for my $200 bucks. The penny machines seem to be taking over the floor. The tables were pretty popular on Friday and Saturday night. Paris, for some reason, was unbelievably smoky, which I’ve never seen before – the high ceiling usually keeps that at bay. We tried out the Top Gun machines (ate our $40 in about ten minutes) and then dropped $400 in the Champagne Slots in 15 minutes, so we decided to save our money for another hotel. Breakfast at the Sidewalk Café was OK, nothing special.
My event on Saturday night was exceptional. We took over the 26th floor ballroom, which has a great view of the strip and beyond. Food was great, service was outstanding and my guests were very happy. No problems there.
Sunday, we checked our bags and went to Flamingo to meet some friends for brunch in the Tropical Breeze Café. Food (comped) was good. Note: the menu says “French Toast Casserole” which ended up being bread pudding. DH liked it. We played a while at Bill’s (they’ve cleaned out some of the machines and have newer slots but haven’t replaced the carpet, which still smells musty). They have nicer dealers and pit bosses than most strip casinos, and we stayed even for our play, cashing out after 30 minutes. We then collected our bags and went to South Point, which is a $20 cab ride south on the strip. I had hosted an event there last year and we liked it, so we thought we’d give it another try.
The front desk was not great (no “welcome”, no smile, no mention of our suite), but we only had to wait about five minutes. We were off to our room – a huge two room suite on the 25th floor. Wet bar with fridge, sofa, plasma TV, dining room table and lots of windows overlooking the mountains. The bedroom had a huge elevated King bed (one of the most comfy beds I’ve ever slept in) and another huge plasma TV. We unpacked, slipped into the SP robes and watched the Cowboys/Dolphins game for the afternoon. Heaven! The bathroom was large, with a marble floor, nice sized vanity with small TV (the remote didn’t work, though) and a huge soaking tub. How are you supposed to get in and out of this tub without killing yourself? I tried three different ways and never felt like I was “safe”
What would a shorter person or a senior citizen do? The shower was very large and had a rainshower nozzle. The toiletries were Bath and Body Works Coconut Lime Verbena – I loved them, DH didn’t. The separate potty room had a pocket door with a latch that was tricky to work. The whole suite had perhaps the best lighting I’ve ever seen in a hotel. Each switch had a dimmer, so you could adjust the level to your comfort. Extremely nice late at night, or while doing makeup.
Dinner at Don Vitos was all I remembered it to be. Excellent bread and olive spread, a killer shrimp cocktail and wonderful lasagna and penne pasta – all for $60.00, including tip. Some wonderful iced tea, too. The hotel is adding a new tower and three bars. I hope this restaurant remains unchanged. It is a small room, but had great value. We also tried the Coronado café (typical coffee shop fare for OK prices) and the ice cream shop (DH). There is a very large gift shop near the hotel elevators that sells snacks, liquor and various Vegas souvenirs.
We didn’t have much luck at the slots here, other than playing for hours on a VP (Dueces) progressive for $20. Racked up 3500 points, but that turned out to be hardly anything. We did enjoy their tables. Lots of $5 tables, which is great for me. I play $5, DH likes higher limits, so we can play together here. At 3 Card Poker, he hit a Straight Flush and Trips, along with maybe a dozen straights, so we cashed out at $1800 after a $400 buy-in. On Sunday, I hit a SF early on, so we played on their money for two hours before getting a cold streak after the dealer change. Overall , the tables here were lots of fun!
The trip was too short and I had to work for most of it, but we really do enjoy our time in Vegas (much more so when DH gets to come along). We’d choose the South Point again over Bally’s, even though Harrah’s always gives us comped rooms. My next trip, though, will be next month at Palace Station (OJ land?). I toured their renovated rooms earlier this year and hope they are all as nice as the one I saw. More next month!
Quick trip - TR Bally's and South Point 9/14 - 9/17Sounds like you had a great time! How great to have a suite at both places.
Quick trip - TR Bally's and South Point 9/14 - 9/17Sounds like a fun quick trip! Wow....the South Point suite sounds great...I love that they have Bath %26amp; Body works ';goodies'; in the bathroom! =)
We are staying at SP next month...so did you book the suite or get a complimentary upgrade?
Thanks for the report.
Wow, never seen Paris smokey either. Was great in June. Maybe something was broken?
South Point? I LOVE this lil hotel!
I wrote in my South Point review how great I thought the service and food was at Don Vitos! Just loved it there. Glad it%26#39;s still as good as you expected!
$1800 out of a $400 buy it? Way to go!!!!!
Nice room too. I stayed in the smallest room, but saw the larger one bedroom Luxury suite and loved that too. I do see what you%26#39;re talking about with the tub though. Could be very dangerous.
Glad you had a good time!
Hey, corgimom! Did you try the ';diamond'; machine in Champagne slots? Was it cold for you??????? Uh-oh.........
I%26#39;ll be at Bally%26#39;s in October for two nights........the room you stayed in sounds fabulous! We%26#39;ve had a ';jacuzzi'; suite in the OLD tower, and it was nice, but very dated. We%26#39;ve had 1/2 of a suite in the NEW tower...(the bedroom portion of a suite...it was nice) But, the one you describe sounds fabulous! Was it in the NEW tower? (remodeled rooms) Did it have ANY type of view? That%26#39;s why I always prefer the ';older'; tower, because I can get a great view.
Welcome back! And, I know all about what you mean about having DH along. I went with my friend earlier this month, and had a blast, but it%26#39;s just not like going with my spouse. Guess that%26#39;s why we%26#39;re (DH and I) going back next month! lol.
Ducky - we paid $200 for the SP suite since we didn%26#39;t have any prior comps from this hotel - the last time I was there, it was a Coast Casino. I think the $200 was worth it since the room was so nice and DH loves nice rooms (he thought the Ballys suite was too old, even though it really is a nice room).
TX TJ - I gave an ol%26#39; Diamond machine $400 worth of try and it didn%26#39;t budge. I think it was the right one - near the entrance (only two of them, called Diamond Fives or something like that). There were only three people in the Champagne Slots at 11pm on a Saturday night and no one had any credits. How awful is that? I once hit a $5900, $2499 and a $2700 all in one day in there.
The King Suite we had (1134 in the North Tower) had a view mostly of the Planet Ho, but you could see the fountains if you looked very sharply to the right, or opened up the sliding door and stuck your head out :)
I%26#39;ve seen the fountains 100 times, and they are lovely, but usually if you can see them, you can hear them, too, and we don%26#39;t enjoy that after a few times. I could hear that last ';boom'; when they go very high even from this room.
Thanks for Report
I will be staying at South Point in October and glad to hear good review.
Good TR and you won some cash,thanks for sharing.
OH NOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooo!!!! I was hoping you would say that you did NOT go to the ';Diamond'; machine. Yes, that is absolutely the one. OMG! $400? That%26#39;s just TERRIBLE! I must have just hit it at the right time............eeks! At least you know from experience that it CAN be done since you have won there previously! I would feel terrible....just like I did when I told LOW about those darned Majestic Lions! Wow....now I%26#39;m a little apprehensive about playing there next month........................nah.....that won%26#39;t stop me! LOL
Wish it would have been a big win on the strip but maybe next time. For our next trip DH and I are thinking about staying at SP for a few before moving up on the strip. Good to hear that the food was good as we found that as well on our past trips through. Nice TR and thanks for sharing.
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