Help choosing a hotel

Hello folks! The time has come for me to finally visit Las Vegas. My family has decided to spend our next vacation in the U.S West Coast. We will be visiting California for a week and after that we are going to spend 4 days in Las Vegas before going back to Brazil.
I know there is a whole bunch of hotels to choose from but I would like to maximize the value of our play but not to let the "Vegas" atmosphere scape. We want to have a true Vegas experience, staying in a nice hotel (U$100-U$130 for a double room) that can offer us comfort (pools, gym, bars) and good location (Strip, preferable).

My dad plays blackjack at an average of U$100-200 and high limit slots (U$5 and above)
My mom plays carnival games at an average of U$25 (3CP, Caribbean stud, let it ride)
Me and my brother play blackjack from U$10-30 and mini bacc.

Where would you suggest to focus the stay/play in order to get some nice amenities and comps? Does the fact of being turists (Brazilian) affect possible benefits because we will not become "regulars"?

Thanks in advance!

That level of play (from your Mom and your Dad) will get you superb comps anywhere. Traditionally, Harrah's/Caesars does not comp table game players well, but your host may be able to give discretionary comps depending on your rating. Pick a Caesars property (preferably Caesars Palace, Paris, or Planet Hollywood) if you want to get a lot of future offers and freebies. In my opinion, not worth it. I would recommend an MGM property: MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, Aria, Bellagio or Mirage. Aria looks fantastic from what I've seen. You should get some great comps for food, rooms, etc. on this and future trips. The price point for a double room at Aria is right at your budget: $109 weekdays/$139 weekends, and you should be able to get at least some of that adjusted based on play. Ask for a host as soon as you get there or soon after you (and by you I mean your parents) start playing. They will probably seek you out, but if you are proactive you can choose who you want. It wouldn't surprise me if one of the properties has a Portuguese (certainly Spanish) speaking host. Don't be afraid to ask for things either, and charge everything (meals, spa treatments, etc.) to your room.

I have seen some amazing pictures of Aria and Mandalay Bay. Do you think this prices will be kept for December? Thanks for your atention!

Quote: aluisio

Do you think this prices will be kept for December?

Depends. From December 1-23, you will see those same prices if not lower. From December 23-31, prices will skyrocket two, three or more times that. If you are going at that time, I would book now.

I have not stayed at Mandalay Bay, but I have stayed at Aria, and the rooms are REALLY NICE. It is a younger crowd at Aria, and they have a couple of clubs that seem to draw a crowd. There is a variety of games to play there. Have your dad book both rooms, and as teddys said, charge EVERYTHING to your rooms. Before you checkout, your dad should get with his host and see how much they will cover. I would think room charges would certainly be covered, if not some or all of the meals.

Aria is closer to the center of the strip, however, it sits towards the back of the block, so it is a little bit of a walk to get to the strip. It is much newer than Mandalay Bay.

Paris is very nice. It is a little bit older crowd than Aria. I have always had good luck with my comps there, but I have not been in a couple of years now, and Harrah's has tightened up on their comps a bit. The casino is smaller at Paris, as compared to Aria. I feel Paris has the best location. It is almost dead center of the majority of the strip, and the Duece (bus) stops right outside the front door. One negative there though is the Bellagio fountains across the street. You can hear them from in the rooms at Paris, and they sound like muffled gun shots going off. If you should want to sleep before the last shows, you can hear those water cannons.

MGM is reported to have hiked its Resort Fees recently:

Bellagio, MGM Grand, Aria, Vdara, The Mirage, Mandalay Bay -- now $25 (previously $20)
Monte Carlo -- now $20 (previously $15)
New York-New York, Luxor -- now $18 (was $15)
Excalibur -- now $15 (from $12.50)
Circus Circus -- now $8.95 (up from $7.95)

By all means, give the host the impression that you will be a regular customer if you like how you are treated.
There is no need for you to tell them this is a once in a lifetime trip.

The recommend The Mirage.

I am happy to announce that I booked 2 rooms for 4 nights during 12/12-15/12 at Aria. It was U$129.00 at hotels.com
Thank you for your sugestions, I hope we can enjoy the place!

Quote: aluisio

I am happy to announce that I booked 2 rooms for 4 nights during 12/12-15/12 at Aria. It was U$129.00 at hotels.com
Thank you for your sugestions, I hope we can enjoy the place!

I know it is too late now, but many times it is better to book direct with the casino. Then if the rate is lower they will reduce your rate to the current rate. CZR does that all the time as rates are always changing. Either way, have a great time.

Also someone else can correct me if I am wrong but I don't think the casinos can comp rooms that were booked through one of the discount sites. You have already paid the discount site for the room in advance.

This particular website let you pay upon checkout, not in advance. If they do not comp those kind of rooms I can cancel the reservation, what do you think?

Quote: jml24

Also someone else can correct me if I am wrong but I don't think the casinos can comp rooms that were booked through one of the discount sites. You have already paid the discount site for the room in advance.

You are correct. It will be impossible to get the rooms comp'd now. However, if you put all of the other charges and drinks, spa, etc on the room charge, there would be a good chance that all of that may get comp'd.
Also, comps cannot be used to cover tips, so if you eat a meal and leave a $20 tip, you will not get that $20 comp'd. You will have to pay that.
I was told it had to do with compensation. If the casino reimbursed you for that, then they were paying the waiter more wages, so they would now owe the extra taxes that go along with compensation costs. I have no idea if that is true or not, but it sounded reasonable.

Quote: aluisio

This particular website let you pay upon checkout, not in advance. If they do not comp those kind of rooms I can cancel the reservation, what do you think?

I would cancel the Hotels.com reservation and book directly with Aria. You have nothing to lose, and possibly free hotel rooms to gain.

My latest email from Aria was fifteen percent off, some credit and also a 100.00 Airline credit to come back to the Aria next time.

I agree wih the others. Cancel your reservation and book directly with the Aria on their website. A casino will not comp a room that was reserved on a discount site. This happened to me before with expedia and travelocity.

Aria is a different vibe than the old school casinos: you might like it, but your folks would probably prefer gambling at MGM Grand (I know I do).

Be sure to check out Bellagio while you're in town, it's a swank casino.

Quote: Ayecarumba

I would cancel the Hotels.com reservation and book directly with Aria. You have nothing to lose, and possibly free hotel rooms to gain.

100% agree with this. Book direct and any amount you saved on the other website will easily be made up with what they can take off your bill due to comps.

Be sure to put any dining you do at MGM properties on your room as well. They may be able to comp some of this at the end as well. Worst case is you can use all your express comps when you checkout on the bill.