Not up to par with the rest of the new casinos
Written: Jun 17 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Terrific gambling. New variations to some game. Generous comp system.
Cons: Rooms were nothing special. Hotel didn't have much unique about it.
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| hbomb's Full Review: Monte Carlo Resort And Casino |
I just recently concluded a 4 day trip to Las Vegas in which I stayed at the Monte Carlo. Before choosing the hotel I had heard a lot about it, mostly good, so I figured I spend the little bit extra to get a nicer place. The rates were reasonable, in the middle tier for Strip hotels. On the weekdays our rate was $89 a night, and for the weekend it went up to $169.
Upon arrival the Monte Carlo looks pretty impressive. First off, it is huge. I think it has around 35 floors with two massive wings. The front looks very nice with marble statues and walls. However, most of the impressiveness wore off there. The rooms were pretty average. Certainly nicer than the rooms at the Excalibur, but to be honest not a whole lot better than the Tropicana's rooms which were half the price. One thing that was nice was it had two queen size beds instead of two full beds. Gave us a bit more room. The furniture was comfortable but average and the decorations were ok. The bathroom was decent sized but nothing to write home about. Everything was clean and well taken care of though. Overall, I was disappointed in the room for the prices.
The inside of the Monte Carlo was also nothing spectacular. They have a small mall which while not horrible, pales in comparison to the malls in the other casinos like Belagio or the Venetian. They have a their own brew pub which was a nice twist, but to be honest the beer wasn't really that great. Within the brew pub, was a dance floor but this was pretty weak when you see some of the other clubs like Club Rio, Ra, or C2K. The restaurants weren't too bad. There is a Chinese Restaurant on the main floor which was very good and there is a decent cafe where you can get lunch or breakfast. I didn't try the buffet so I can't comment on it.
The casino floor itself is a pretty decent size. It has two main sections divided by a wall of slot machines. There were plenty of tables, and even on the weekend nights there was never a problem getting a couple of seats at one. The price range was terrific, even on the weekends. There were always lower $5 tables available. One really nice thing were the Pai Gao (spelt wrong I think) tables. First off there were enough of the to go around, but Monte Carlo plays it very old style. They don't use a shuffler, and the use the dice to decide what seat goes first. What you get in return for the slower game is the dragon hand. This was the first time I'd played with this and instantly loved it. The dragon hand is an optional hand that you may buy if there is an empty spot at the table. What this allows you to do is see your hand and if it is strong, almost double down and buy the dragon hand. I was very pleased with the tables, selection and the range of betting levels.
Unfortunately what counter acted the great range of tables was Monte Carlo's comping system. First off, you only get rated if you bet $25 or more on a hand. While this wasn't an issue for me it was pretty frustrating for some of my friends that came along. The other downside was that they seems purposely vague in what you could get for your points. The pitbosses were unable to comp you anything on their own and they were unable to tell you how many points you had. Instead you had to call over a host, which was not always available right away. Once you actually got hold of a host, they were generous enough. (we had all of our meals and rooms comped by the end of the trip) It was really just a hassle being unable to get an instant comp if I wanted to get a drink or maybe have breakfast. Instead, you had to charge it to the room, and then while at a table later, get it comped by a host.
Overall, I have to admit I was disappointed with the Monte Carlo. I enjoyed the gambling atmosphere a lot but for the base cost of the rooms, I didn't feel I got a lot in return. I would probably go back just for the simple reason I know I can get my stay comped while there, but if you are looking for a more upscale hotel, Monte Carlo falls short.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
hbomb
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Location: Cambridge, MA
Reviews written: 210
Trusted by: 124 members
About Me:
I'm an avid reader of science fiction & fantasy.
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