The Luxor Hotel Review is part of the Vegas Hotel Reviews section which covers most of the hotels in Vegas.
Getting There: Take the bridge on the second floor above the baggage claim to the parking garage. From there, take the elevator to 2M and wait for your Uber driver. Directions in pics available here.
The Hotel
Compared to my experience in Luxor, Egypt where I was ripped off at every corner, my two stays at the Luxor Casino in Vegas was much more positive. Let’s start with my biggest gripe about Vegas, the hidden Uber pickup and drop off areas. At the Luxor, the pickup is conveniently located at the North Entrance which is right next to the M Life lounge.
The LuxorLuxor VegasLuxor VegasLuxor VegasLuxor VegasPharaohBeautiful exteriorThe lobbyThe pyramidThe Lounge
The lounge is a safe haven from crazy Vegas but it does have complimentary beer in case you want to keep your buzz going in peace.
Best M Life loungeStacked fridgeKeurig coffeeThe Room
The room is simple, comfortable, and usually affordable.
The roomStandard bedStandard TVWeak view from the roomThe Bathroom
At least the bathroom is better than the Excalibur.
The soapsGold like Emirates haaThe bathroomThe Club
LAX is a terrible nightclub but it was fun to see Naughty By Nature perform live.
Naughty By NatureThe Buffet
The buffet is great because it is only $25 and offers great Arabic mezze.
All for mePizza!Overall
If you’re looking for a great value hotel with a great M Life lounge in a decent location, choose the Luxor.
The Excalibur Hotel Review is part of the Vegas Hotel Reviews section which covers most of the hotels in Vegas.
Getting There: Take the bridge on the second floor above the baggage claim to the parking garage. From there, take the elevator to 2M and wait for your Uber driver. Directions in pics available here.
What a s&*thole! Do not stay here. This hotel, to quote Charles Barkley, is turrible. The check-in for M Life Platinums is slow, the room is motel style with those sheets, and the entertainment is nonexistent.
Having said that, the buffet is great for over eaters like myself who have no shame. I’ll load up my plate(s) and get after it like there’s no tomorrow. For $25, I always get my money’s worth. I wish the tables were closer to the food so I wouldn’t have to walk so far to get my fill.
Other than that, I wouldn’t recommend staying here, especially when rates are over $100.
The Room Lines everywhere, including to the elevatorWe at the hotel, motel Holiday InnIs that an LCD?Beer is necessaryOld school as it getsAnd I half expected them to be emptyBeautiful parking lotThe most confusing room number for simpletons like myself to rememberThe Lounge The loungeFree Keurig coffeeThe Buffet Mashed potatoesThe ribs were badThe fried shrimp was goodPasta!Pizza!Fattoush saladShrimp and macaroni, great comboThanksgivingYou know I’m fat, I’m fatGoodbye It is cool from the exterior
The MGM Grand Las Vegas Hotel Review is part of the Vegas Hotel Reviews section which covers most of the hotels in Vegas.
Getting There: Take the bridge on the second floor above the baggage claim to the parking garage. From there, take the elevator to 2M and wait for your Uber driver. Directions in pics available here.
The king
Overrated! Overrated!
That’s the familiar chant as guests march out of the MGM Grand. This mega hotel which is the third largest in the world has 6,852 rooms. That’s a remarkable amount of soaps and mini bars to stock. The logistics of operating such a hotel are beyond my comprehension.
With such volume of rooms and guests, it is not a surprise that the service was underwhelming. The line to check-in stretches for miles. It’s so long that guests are graciously provided free refreshments while they wait. As an M Life Platinum, I went to the VIP room where I was told that I could check-in but not use the services. There’s a difference between Platinums that actually gamble and those that sneak in with their Hyatt Diamond status.
Awesome that they had UEFA finals at check-inThe Standard Room
Initially I was given a standard room. The TV didn’t work, the Wi-Fi wouldn’t connect, and housekeeping came in without knocking. Disappointed, I asked if I could change rooms. With little hesitation, the woman at the front desk offered me the spa suite. It was definitely a step up from the standard room.
The standard roomWho stocks the Oreos for thousands of rooms and makes sure that the TV works?Standard showerPoor soap selectionThe Spa Suite Spa suiteSpa suiteSpa suiteSpa suiteSpa suiteSpa suiteSpa suiteSpa suiteThe Catch
When I checked-out, I received my folio and was surprised that I was charged $80 for the upgrade. That explains why I was given an upgrade with no push back. Since I didn’t agree to the up charge and didn’t sign anything to validate the charge, I went back to the front desk to voice my concern. The front desk confirmed the miscommunication and credited me back the charge.
The Pool
The pool experience is one of two extremes: very peaceful or out of control. Wet Republic is MGM’s pool party and it’s too much for my taste. The lazy river and other MGM pools were good enough for relaxing but not as upbeat as the pool at the Encore.
One of many poolsWet Republic HellTranquil poolThe Hotel Itself
The regal lion in the MMA ring that greets guests as they enter the lobby is iconic. The one that sits right on the intersection of the Strip is majestic. Other than that, there isn’t anything grand about this property which justifies the $200+ daily rate. With so many other choices at that price point, I recommend staying elsewhere.
Your majestyInsert disappear + MGM joke and how old is Tiesto at this point?
What is car pool etiquette? I’m in a Via, the best bus ride in NYC. I get into the Chevy Suburban and there are two passengers already in the vehicle. Nobody says hello, nobody acknowledges the other rider. We drop off the first passenger and pick up another. She also doesn’t say hello. Now hopefully we are en route to where I need to be.
My question is whether saying hello is necessary or should this be like an actual bus where we all remain strangers? What a sad reality if that’s the case. Why leave the house if all you do is stare down at your incompassionate phone?
The Four Points Las Vegas Hotel Review is part of the Vegas Hotel Reviews section which covers most of the hotels in Vegas.
Getting There: Take the bridge on the second floor above the baggage claim to the parking garage. From there, take the elevator to 2M and wait for your Uber driver. Directions in pics available here.
Saturday in Vegas was UFC 200. It was the start of NBA Summer League. I was also slated to arrive at 12:30AM in Vegas. Instead of staying on the Strip at someplace fancy like the Excalibur (scathing review to follow), I decided to take the economical route by booking a room at the Four Points Las Vegas. For 3000 SPG points and no resort fees, the hotel was a great deal.
Although it isn’t on the Strip it is still walking distance to it. I stopped at a Rebels gas station, grabbed two tall boys, and only was done with one of them by the time I arrived at the Cromwell Hotel.
Since I arrived at 2:30AM, was out till 7AM (thank you Drais), and checked out at 8AM, I didn’t get to experience much of the hotel. Still, for a mattress run or for a cheap way to skip the exorbitant prices of a Saturday night stay, I recommend the Four Points.
230AM hallwayThe bed that was never used. Check the clockComfortable pillows3AM time to go outMr CoffeeMr TVMr BathroomMr OrigamiMr CleanMr BubblesSunglasses and advilFour Points Las Vegas
Where is Uber LAS?
I recently wrote a post on capturing Uber and Lyft in Vegas, a compulsion on par with finding Pokémon in Central Park. One thing I left out is how to find Uber in the most critical of all places in Las Vegas- the airport.
Like the hotels, McCarran International Airport doesn’t make it easy to find the ride share programs. Here are some quick directions in case you end up downstairs in the baggage claim and are tempted to take a taxi instead of searching for Uber.
After retrieving your bags, head to the second floor and take the walkway bridge to the parking garage. From there, take the elevator to floor 2M. Wallah, you have averted a taxi nightmare. Uber does charge a $2.45 Las Airport Surcharge but that is tolerable compared to the Vegas taxi mafia which charges whatever it wants depending on their desire to be generous or nefarious.
Skip the slotsRide Share means Uber/LyftTake the elevator to ExcaliburThere’s UberOr Lyft depending on who you call
Vegas is the city of comps for the gambler but what about those of us who are too unlucky to win at anything? Are we supposed to pay for what others get for ‘free’? I was in Vegas for one week which is one week too much. The eating, drinking, and lack of sleep catches up quickly to even the most astute Vegas-goer.
The trip became a mini mattress run to requalify for Hyatt Diamond. Five out of the six nights I stayed at M Life/Hyatt properties including the Hyatt Place which was much nicer this time around, the Excalibur, which may look like a castle but the guests are treated like peasants, the MGM, an overrated hotel past its prime, and the Luxor, my favorite low-cost Vegas hotel.
I exploited my M Life Platinum status at each hotel and at sister properties to get the most bang for my resort fee buck. Here is the Top Ten List of freebies:
Free Pool Party Entrance: I went to Wet Republic, the loud, too much house in your face pool party at the MGM and was spared the $100 entrance fee.
Bass in your face!Daylight Mandalay
Free Beer: The Luxor and Excalibur had a mini-fridge stocked with beers for guests. The MGM said that my Platinum status wasn’t good enough for the VIP Lounge which is reserved for the Noir players. Mandalay only served coffee and snacks.
The alternative is two buy 2 25 oz beers for $16 and get a free shot.
Free Snacks: Sometimes you need a Baby Ruth or Kit-Kat to keep the blood sugar up between drinks. The Lounge has chips, candy bars, water, and coffee.
Excalibur lounge
Free Club Entrance: Vegas doormen are interesting characters. They truly enjoy their power. Although the clubs are owned and operated independent of the hotels, I used my M Life card to gain free access to the clubs.
The door guy
Free Peeping Tom: Entrance to the tame topless pool at the Mandalay Bay is usually $20. It is free for M Life Platinums. While it’s called the Moorea Beach Club, I saw as many similarities to the real Moorea in French Polynesia as I did with the Mandalay Bay Hotel to the real Mandalay in Burma.
Creeper cam!
Line Bypass for the Buffet: The lines are ridiculous for the $25 fat man’s special. M Life lets you cut the line and expedite the gorging process.
I didn’t like the ribsAnd the pizza was meh
Expedited Check-In: People are probably still waiting in line to check-in at the Excalibur from yesterday. The line is massive and the service is so slow and inefficient. M Life members get their own line. If you are staying at the Luxor, check in at the lounge.
Excalibur is so busy there’s a line for the elevator.
Free Parking: Vegas used to provide free parking. Now MGM hotels charge for self-parking and valet. This is not the case if you have M Life status.
I used Uber/Lyft when I could find the pick up spots.
Complimentary Room Upgrades: The front desk claims that M Life Platinums are given better rooms. I was upgraded at the Luxor but not at the Lower Calibur. I was given a room upgrade at the MGM which I thought w
So Egypt$80 up charge at MGM for spa suite which I was not told about. They later refunded it after I complained.
Late Check-Out: Again, this is up to the discretion of the front desk and your ability to schmooze.
Get me on the fastest thing out of here, keep your late check-out
I wrote a few days ago that I’m switching from Southwest to JetBlue. Besides being unable to qualify for the companion pass, I am tired of Southwest’s inconvenient routing. The Vegas flight to New York left conveniently at 7AM, only it stops in Milwaukee first. From here I have to wait four hours for my flight to LGA.
When booking points tickets, it’s easy to fall for the lowest award=best award trap. This mistake is compounded when arriving in an airport that doesn’t have an accessible lounge. When I got off of the plane, I Googled Milwaukee Airport Lounge. I saw that there was one for Delta and a generic one called Airport Lounge. I assumed this was a Priority Pass lounge. Unfortunately, this lounge is not connected to the airport which is why I was unable to visit and provide a more detailed review. Judging by the website, it could be a nice time.
Greetings and salutations from Vegas. I’m at the Mandalay wave pool, the geriatric hangout for those who can’t handle the previously documented pool party.
Since I’m here for NBA Summer League as a basketball agent, I’ve had to run around Vegas from gym to gym. In retrospect it would’ve been smarter to rent a car and stay off of the strip but then what fun would that be? Instead of doing that, I’ve relied on Uber and Lyft to get around. Uber seems to be surging at all hours which is why I’ve been utilizing Lyft more frequently.
The real issue is the city’s general disdain for these programs. At the Excalibur, Uber can only pick up and drop off at the rear of the hotel. At MGM, I was misinformed as to where the pickup location was. My Lyft driver understandably canceled because I didn’t show up in a timely manner. At Mandalay, I was scolded by my Uber driver for not asking the hotel for directions. The app says Beach Entrance and I was told to go to the pool area exit. That was not correct. At the airport, clients have to pick up their bags and head back upstairs, walk across the bridge then take the elevator to the mezzanine level to meet the driver. Now that I know where that is, it’s not a big deal. But the first time it was frustrating for me and the driver. Last, for Summer League, the pickup location has changed each of the days I was there.
I asked a couple of the drivers about the tolerance for Uber and they said that hotels purposefully have made it this Pokémon capture game in order to dissuade guests from using the service. One driver said that Uber’s presence is such a polarizing issue that a local official is using it as part of her platform for reelection. The politician evidently took $78,000 from the taxi lobby to further their cause of curtailing Uber’s expansion.
Try as they might, the Vegas taxi mafia won’t be able to block Uber’s growth in a place home to some of the worst taxis in the world. Rather than fight market forces, hotels should embrace change and do something really bold- kick the taxis out.
It’ll be a cold day in Vegas before that happens.
Greetings from the desert, my home for the rest of the week. I’m here for NBA Summer League, a spectacle I will chronicle at another time. Right now I’m blogging from the serene pool at the MGM. Yesterday I was missing in action because I made the near fatal choice of going to the Wet Republic pool party, a party full of fun and filth. The cover charge to enter can be as much as $100. Luckily my MGM room key got me in for free. That savings was quickly erased when I bought my first drink for $40. To be fair, it was probably the equivalent of three to four drinks.
With house music played at decibels far beyond what is safe for human consumption and a nonstop beat down from the sun, I feel fortunate to have made it out alive. The craziness is compounded by the massive crowd who collectively do not know the meaning of moderation. I escaped the mob and found a retreat by way of a pool bungalow. I’m not sure how much the bungalows go for but I’m guessing a few thousand dollars. When the Grey Goose ran dry and the last of the Don Julio was consumed, the tenants of the bungalow also left. Friendships in Vegas only last as long as bottle service.
I’ve been to a few pool parties in Vegas and this one by far is my least favorite. Maybe I’m getting too old for this shit but I can’t deal with the pandemonium. I can’t imagine going to Rehab at Hard Rock and last time I was at Tao Beach I felt the same way. Gentler pool experiences like the main pool at XS are more my speed. Pool parties are one of the best inventions of mankind so I’m hoping that my dislike of Wet Republic was an aberration. Otherwise I see no reason to come to Vegas since I don’t gamble and I don’t go to Cirque shows.
The only way to test my hypothesis is to go to one more pool party before I go. That way I will know for sure.
