Question about upcoming trip

I'm going to Vegas soon, and I haven't been to Vegas in ages. I had a really good quarter and I'm going to have some fun.

So I called up my old host and he moved to Harrahs. I got a comped room at one of the Harrahs properties.

How does this work nowadays in Vegas...

Does Harrahs charge a resort fee despite having the comped room? Back in my days, there was no such thing as a resort fee. A comped room was a comped room. This resort fee thing is complete BS and now all the hotels are doing it.

Also, does Harrahs have free parking? I can't believe they charge for parking. Just on principle, I refuse to pay for parking.

Also, I was reading about the Vegas buffets. Some of the prices they charge for Vegas buffets nowadays are stupid. Just a random comment.

Also, anyone have a trip report on the Lucky Dragon casino?

Quote: klimate10

Also, anyone have a trip report on the Lucky Dragon casino?

I'm also looking for a TR on Lucky Dragon, as we'll be in Las Vegas in 2 days. Meanwhile, you can read these 2 articles/threads:

http://vitalvegas.com/lucky-dragon-casino-opens-las-vegas/

https://wizardofvegas.com/forum/info/help/27642-lucky-dragon-casino-now-open/#post565438

WRT Harrah's, fellow WoV readers will probably post something.

Have a good trip!

I've heard you must have Diamond status, or better, to have resort fees waived, even on a comped room. Platinum status, or better, to park for free.

Harrah's does not charge for self parking. Yet. The ticket machines are installed but not deployed. I think valet is free for high status card holders.
The buffet at Harrah's is not unreasonable, and pretty good.

On the issue of buffets, I live in a rather well-to-do region of a relatively prosperous Midwest state, where we have lots of options when it comes to dining.

A really good buffet is about $20.

Our Golden Corral buffets, which people around here mock, are $10, and they're huge, especially if it's a newer Golden Corral. I mention Golden Corral because back when I went to Vegas regularly, even the best buffets were about the same quality as a newer Golden Corral buffet.

The newer Golden Corrals have for dinner steak, prime rib (on Fridays), various shrimp, tons of desserts, etc. Meaning it's no different from what I remember at any 'high end' Vegas buffet.

I had friends just come back from Vegas, and they paid $50/person to dine at the Wicked Spoon buffet, which is allegedly a high end buffer. Their verdict? It was horrible.

The fact that any Vegas buffet costs more than $15 is absurd, no matter how allegedly high end the buffet. Vegas is just getting greedy.

I'll do a trip report on the Lucky Dragon. I'll include pics with my trip reports.

Quote: klimate10

The fact that any Vegas buffet costs more than $15 is absurd, no matter how allegedly high end the buffet. Vegas is just getting greedy.

How true. Buffets are too personal to be reviewed properly. Too many people enjoy the 'head of the line' part or the 'Adjectives' rather than the food.

Buffets are like rooms. If we price the room very high, we can flatter you by comping it for you. Same with the buffet, if we offer it an outrageous price we can flatter you by giving you a 'twofer'.

do you need a Bloody Mary fountain? Do you need an ommelette station? Do you need free wine/booze orare you there to eat? Do you need to see the oranges squeezed or just do with orange juice from a box the way you do most mornings? Do you need to see 300 deserts before you choose one?

Circus Circus started the buffet thing decades ago and don't you forget,,, they made a profit on it even then.

Vegas to me is kind of weird with how it's developed. You would think that with more completion, it would get better for the consumer.

Here in the Midwest casinos...

We have always free valet, even at Harrahs properties. The thought of paying to self park so that you can go in and lose money is absurd beyond belief (ala AC, but that's another story).

100x odds craps mostly. 10x is considered stingy here. I've never seen 3,4,5 in the midwest. I was at a rinky dink casino in Iowa (I think it was Iowa) and they had 100x odds.

Free buy 4 & 10 with ZERO house edge (in NM)

Triple/Triple field (in NM)

Until Harrahs took over, the Midwest also had the best BJ in the US, with at least one +EV player game.

Buffet? I guess they can charge $50 because, as FleaStiff said, they don't really expect you to pay for it. You play for an hour and just ask the floor person for a buffet pass. They give out buffet passes left and right. I've seen little old ladies betting $5 and getting buffet passes for four.

And there's way fewer casinos in the midwest. Less competition. You would think with less competition, and with Vegas having more competition, that the deals would be better in Vegas. Not so.

I'll stop. I'm sounding old. Lol

Quote: klimate10

Vegas to me is kind of weird with how it's developed. You would think that with more completion, it would get better for the consumer.

And yet the opposite seems to be true. At least as far as good promotions and good things to play goes.

I have noticed that when casinos are doing better, they seem to give out much more. When they are not doing so well they tend to cut the promotions and slash pay tables.

Quote: klimate10

On the issue of buffets, I live in a rather well-to-do region of a relatively prosperous Midwest state, where we have lots of options when it comes to dining. A really good buffet is about $20.

For buffet/food reports, use the WoV forum threads on "Las Vegas Casinos"; most commentaries will include something about buffets/food. There's supposed to be a new "dining" section, but it's not yet been released.

If you see food comments from "mamat", these are so far among the best reviews I've enjoyed.

I would also read http://vitalvegas.com/

See what I mean about other WoV forum members posting about Harrah's?

I might do my TR before yours, but I'll certainly keep my eyes peeled for you & the Lucky Dragon!

What competition are you talking about? 90% of the strip is owned by either MGM or CET. Boyd and Stations own most of the locals casinos. Even the pubs are dominated by two chains-Dotty's and PT's.

Quote: billryan

What competition are you talking about? 90% of the strip is owned by either MGM or CET. Boyd and Stations own most of the locals casinos. Even the pubs are dominated by two chains-Dotty's and PT's.

I knew someone was going to say that. Lol.

While that might be true...change that...most likely true, due to the 'soft' collision on the parking issue, there's still more competition than in the Midwest. Also Vegas has more independent operators than the rest of the country.

But yes, the big strip resorts tend to all stay out of each other's way.

Boyd and Stations are slowly buying up the Independents. In the last year, Aliante, Palms, Both Cannery's. In recent years, The Wildfires, Barleys.
Not many Indy's left in Vegas. Henderson and Summerlin have some, but its a matter of time before someone takes over Rampart and the ones in Henderson are more sawdust than resorts.

Quote: billryan

Boyd and Stations are slowly buying up the Independents.

This shouldn't be allowed in the casino market.

Quote: klimate10

Back in my days, there was no such thing as a resort fee. A comped room was a comped room. This resort fee thing is complete BS and now all the hotels are doing it.

Also, does Harrahs have free parking? I can't believe they charge for parking. Just on principle, I refuse to pay for parking.

I recently noticed one of my offers for a MGM property was "A room for three night, just pay resort fee." Which is now $40.

Are you parking a rental car? If you haven't been in a while, the airport car rentals are now off-site and all served by an airport shuttle bus. The first time we rented after the change, we waited 45-60 minute for the bus. Curb time has improved, but it's still about a 10 minute bus ride. We just cab it these days.

Quote: AxelWolf

This shouldn't be allowed in the casino market.

Why shouldn't Boyd and Red Rock a k a Stations be allowed to buy independents? Or should that also apply to other operations like Gaugin?