Linq Project Quietly Under Way

The new Linq project which includes bars and restaurants as well as a Ferris wheel in the alleyway between the “Flamingo” and current “Imperial Palace” seems to be well under way. In a city known for big resort implosions it seems the Capri tower at the back of the “Imperial Place” has been taken down piece by piece and is now gone. Next upon the list of things to be down is most like the removal of a parking garage most likely the employee garage at the “Flamingo.” On later stages of the project includes removing “O Shea’s” and redoing the current “Imperial Palace” which will be renamed. 

Credit/Debit Card Holds

More and more hotels are putting hold amounts on your credit/card for stuff you may charge to your room and at some properties its not an option its required. This hold amount can be released as soon as you check out or take up to two weeks to clear which is annoying to say the least. These hold amounts arn't always disclosed on companies web sites or if are its in tiny print and the desk clerk doesn't always tell you before they run the amount on your card. One interesting point is the amounts and rules can differ from property within the same chain; One such difference is i have not been charged at the "Fremont" downtown but am charged $100 at "The Orleans" both owned by Boyd's. I have my own internet and can watch movies on my laptop and don't use room service unless i have a comp credit so mostly don't want to charge stuff to my room. Here are some recent experiances at some properties.

El Cortez: $50 charged to my account that took two weeks to be credited back

Rio & Flamingo: They run your card but dont charge deposit if you don't want

Fremont: No charge

Orleans: $100 charged to my account released moment you check out

Las Vegas Club: No charge

Golden Nugget: No charge

Rules at different properties change all the time check with your hotel if its an issue for you.

New Donny & Marie Wrap

This is the new Donny & Marie wrap on the "Flamingo" from time to these wraps need to be replaced as entertainers runs ends or if the wraps get damaged or old. Donny & Marie recently signed a contract extension so it looks like this wrap is here to stay. I'm not a fan of building wraps because guests in these strip view rooms now have to look out through lots of little holes of the wrap but i can understand the hotels wanting to advertise. 

MGM Players Club Needs Work

Recently MGM announced they will be updating their players club and improving the website which in my opinion is long overdue. MGM announced that they would start with smaller properties back East and then in the next year get to the Las Vegas properties. The MGM website for players is no where near as easy to use or as advanced with offers as Harrah's Total Rewards or even Boyd's B Connected website which is a shame. Before you think i just prefer those companies in fact i often stayed at MGM properties at the Luxor for example either every month or every other month (yes i travel to Las Vegas a lot). Then late last year my MGM card became locked so i asked at the players club in the Luxor if they could unlock it so i could book rooms in the future, they said i would have to call they couldn't fix at the hotel. Once home i called and got a recorded message that said because of year end and tax season they weren't taking calls until the new year this was end of November. I called several other times in the new year and, got a voice mail that said they are busy assisting other customers and leave a message. I did this several times and even though the message said they would call me back between 9am-5pm PST they never did. I receive email offers all the time from the Luxor and, other MGM properties all the time but as i cannot log in to receive i now book rooms at the Flamingo, Rio and Orleans. The point of me sharing my personal experience is the players club should breed loyalty to a company and MGM should consider getting the new website going in Las Vegas as soon as possible.

Harrah's Buffet Of Buffets

Paris Hotel & CasinoHarrah's owners of many of the Strip properties recently came out with an all you can eat buffet deal for seven of its properties; The properties are as follows Caesars Palace, Flamingo, Harrah's, Imperial Palace, Paris, Planet Hollywood and the off strip property Rio. The deal was for $29.99 for a twenty four hour all access pass which is a great deal especially if you can fit four meals in that twenty four hour period. After the deal was announced there was much speculation about how long it would be before Harrah's either raised the price or removed the deal all together. Well about sixteen days later Harrah's raised the price citing long lines and wanting to improve the experience for its customers. Other than weekends at certain locations my opinion is they raised the prices to make more money but either way the new pricing isn't bad just not as generous as before. The new price for a twenty four hour period at all seven locations is $34.99 plus tax if you are a Total Rewards member or $39.99 plus tax for non members. My suggestion is if you aren't a Total Rewards member which is their slot club you sign up for free so you save the five dollars.