I just posted my trip report! I%26#39;ll post it here, also, and then give more details later. Please, ask me any questions I might be able to help you with!
I just want to thank everyone who helped me make my decision to stay at Monte Carlo. THANK YOU!
Trip Report - Monte Carlo - Aug. 18-20
BACKGROUND ~ We were 4 adults (2 couples) late 20s and early 30s from Phoenix visiting Vegas for the weekend. We’ve all been to Vegas many times before.
ARRIVAL ~ We arrived at the Monte Carlo around 9PM on Friday evening. We did Valet. We tipped VERY well (this came in handy later on…)
CHECK-IN ~ A breeze. No problems. Very friendly staff member. We were in our room within 10 minutes of arriving at the hotel. NOTE: I had brought my laptop with me. The bell guys will not take your laptop on the luggage cart. I was OK with bringing it in with me. Once in our room, called for our luggage, and our luggage was there within 10 minutes. Again, very friendly staff member.
ROOMS ~ Very nice, basic hotel room. We had a room with two beds (for 4 adults, we were 2 couples). Not a very interesting décor, but nice overall. We were on the 9th floor and had a view facing southeast, with mountains in the background and the rear of Excalibur/New York, New York. Everything in the room was in working order. The only thing I would mention about the room is that our shower did not drain well at all. After just a few minutes in the shower, I was standing in a puddle of water at least 2-3 inches deep. Then the next person would get in, and the water would get deeper, and so on. With 4 adults sharing one room, you do the math! Also, the sink in the bathroom had the same problem. It was a very slow drain. Also, as a female, it was a very small sink…hard to wash your face. It was small and difficult to bend over and splash water on your face…girls…you know what I’m talking about! There was also a hairdryer in the bathroom. The only thing we missed in the room…a coffee pot would have been nice. We would also have liked a small refrigerator. But overall, the room was nice enough.
NOISE ~ We had no problems with noise. Of course, we could hear our neighbors showering or flushing, but nothing extraordinary. No complaints.
FOOD ~ The first night, we just wanted to grab something to eat quickly before hitting the strip. We first stopped by the Monte Carlo Pub %26amp; Brewery. It was PACKED. Instead, we went to the food court. Bad decision. My husband and I got a piece of pizza from Sbarro. It was BAD. And the 2 guys working there were rude and slow and not friendly at all. Our friends got some food from Nathans…their food was BAD as well…and expensive! $12 for some wings and fries. Not worth it. On Saturday morning, I went down to go to Starbucks around 12:30 PM and the line was LOOOOOOOOONG! Decided against that. On Sunday morning, we went to one of the restaurants (I don’t remember the name, but it wasn’t the buffet, it was a sit-down restaurant.) We went for breakfast. It was a-la-carte. It was very good. Very nice service as well. Approximately $20 per person for breakfast.
LOCATION ~ GREAT! No complaints here! Right next door to Excalibur. New York, New York, Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand, Paris, Ballys, Bellagio…all of these hotels are within easy walking distance. I was really very happy with the location.
AMENITIES ~ I was disappointed. On Saturday morning, we were out of the room by 11AM. The two guys went down to play, us girls decided to hit the pool. We got all ready, walked down to the pool, and were very disappointed. We walked around the entire area and could not find 2 chairs together (we didn’t even see 1 chair available anywhere!) There were lots of open chairs, but they all had towels on them or stuff on them (they were all being used, not just a fresh towel laying on them). We decided not to waste anymore time…we’ll go get massages instead. So, we go back up to our room, call down to the Spa to schedule 2 massages…they are booked up for the entire day! So, needless to say, we were very disappointed, but we understood.
VALUE ~ We ended up paying $159 for Friday night and $179 for Saturday night. When I was checking rates, for 4 adults in 1 room, the rate was higher ($219/night). I fibbed and only claimed 2 adults per room to get the lesser rate. We had no problems. No one ever questioned me. I don’t recommend this to anyone, but it worked for us! I definitely think these rates were very fair.
CHECK-OUT ~ On Sunday morning, we checked out. Check-Out time is 11AM. We did the Express Check-Out on the TV. We called down to have someone come get our luggage for us. We had a staff member in our room about 15 minutes later. He, also, was very nice. He took our luggage and had it stored for us (since we didn’t plan on leaving town for a few more hours). NOTE: I had brought my laptop with me. Again, the bell guys will not take a laptop on the carts. Instead, he told me I could bring it down to the Bell Desk myself and put it in a locker (with a key) until I was ready to leave. I did. Once there, no one ever touched it…I did everything myself. I walked it into the back room and placed it in the locker and closed and locked the locker, all myself (with a staff member watching me, of course). I liked this, because I KNEW that I was the only one handling the laptop the entire time. When I picked it up, same thing. I unlocked the locker and took it out, all myself.
DEPARTURE ~ A few hours later, we were ready to go. Remember I said we tipped VERY well to the Valet when we first arrived? Well, they “have their ways” to remember that. We were told it would be 20-30 minute wait for our car (there were a TON of people outside waiting to depart). However, we got our car within 5 minutes. (What they did for us is on the part of the ticket that we had, they had made a little symbol on it. When we turned it in, they see this symbol and know that we tipped well, so they hurry to get our car. We then tip THEM very well.) We’ve done this everywhere and it ALWAYS works for us!
OVERALL ~ A very nice hotel. Not too big, not too small. Clean, basic room. Good food (stay away from the Food Court!) Very nice staff members. Good value. Stay, enjoy!
Trip Report - Monte Carlo - Aug. 18-20
thanks for report. Im staying there for last 3 nights of my holiday next March and cant wait.
Thanks! Stayed at the MC in February and will probably stay there in early September (they have $79/night special).
I hear their parking lot is under reno%26#39;s so using valet is a good idea. I will have my vehicle. How much should I tip to get that quick service you mentioned?
question about the pool.
was the entrance right by the brew pub?
we walked out there. and could walk right into the pool area.
no one asked to see our cards or aything.
we only saw a few small pools? is this right? is there different areas?
the lazy river was draned. but it looked very narrow. and not very long? what were your impressions?
they seemed to be putting people on a tenis court. there were tons of chairs out there. yuck!
is there additional areas we could ot have seen?
oh,
the brew pub.
strange it was busy.
when we went over memorial day. it was empty.
and the staff was pretty rude.
we wanted to drink. but could not sit at any table. they all were empty! we had to sit at the bar. with some old lady bartendeer. who really did not want to be there at all.
Just-hugh - Yes, there parking is under construction. When we pulled in, we were told Valet is ONLY for hotel guests. We tipped $20 and made sure we told the guy we want ';fast service';...they knew what we meant.
You can also self-park across the street in the parking lot behind the Excalibur.
gregdove - yes, the Brew Pub was packed when we tried to get in there. There were no seats available, either at a table or at the bar.
hey old friend beachbum...was very surprised to see you on this forum and not that other one...how you doing...I go to vegas 5-7 times a year and have stayed at the monte carlo many times..I am a sports book expert with a little roulette thrown in...anyway, great to see you on this thread ...I miss our old friend...she was so unfairly treated by that clique of timeshare owners....keep in touch and I,m so glad you are a vegas lover..
hey mlady! Yeah...i am a vegas lover too. usually go at least twice a year. i get real sick of the ';other'; forum way too quickly...i have to limit myself now or else I blow up and say mean stuff!
Hey MLady:
I see you proclaim yourself as a sportsbook expert...
Which sportsbook in Vegas do you like the best and why?
TG
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