MGM Grand
 

My husband and I are going to Vegas on Nov. 2. This will be my 7th trip and his first. I let him pick the hotel since it was his first trip. I wanted Bally's - he picked the MGM Grand. I've heard good and bad....I'm most concerned about how huge it is and getting around it. Any tips from someone who has stayed there recently???

Thanks

Last trip to Vegas I stayed at Bally's but was not so impressed -- decor very dated, check-in was middle of casino and extremely loud and smoky. Aside from location across from Bellagio, so it was convenient to walk out to see the fountains, it wasn't better than low average. Booked MGM for next trip on New Years and hope it might be better than that; not my first choice but best available at a decent rate for that date.

It is huge. My first time there I had to use a map to find my way around the hotel. I've stayed in a low end room in the Emerald Tower. It was just a small, average room without a view, and about a 10 minute trip down to the casino. I've also stayed in a beautiful suite with fabulous views of the strip, and that wasn't nearly as far a walk to the lobby. In both cases, I found the hotel to be extremely clean (considering the size)and well kept. And although I don't gamble much, when I do I really enjoy the MGM's casino. All in all, my husband and I both like the hotel very much, but it is overwhelmingly huge. Have fun.

Between the two choices, I would say MGM is the better one. We stayed at Ballys recently and thought it was horrible. The rooms are dingy and somewhat smelly. We moved out of Ballys and into Paris because it was so bad. MGM is huge, but does have signs hanging everywhere directing you to what ever you are looking for. I have not stayed at Mandelay Bay but I have been in it a number of times, it is beautiful. I know people who have stayed there and they say they wont stay anywhere else. It's pricey, but worth it??

We were there this past July. Ask for a Grand Tower room with a view of the strip.

Not sure what your concern is. It is huge, and it takes a while to get your bearings, but there are plenty of distractions to keep your mind off any negatives about its size.

Unfortunately, our only choice was staying in the Emerald Tower...I don't know if we'll be able to upgrade or not once we arrive. My biggest concern was just the amout of walking you had to do to get from you room to the pool, restaurants, casino etc. And the fact that I'll never find my husband in the casino!

I spent quite a bit of time wandering around MGM the first time I was in Vegas, and it was not a bad thing! (I was actually looking for the box office to pick up my George Carlin tickets...) I ended up watching the lions in their habitat, and playing for a couple of hours in their beautiful horse race book area. MGM has a very impressive selection of restaurants, too.

I was told to request the Grand Tower!!

No question, MGM is huge. I've now stayed there twice. You get your bearings after a few walks around, and then you know how to get straight to your destination (which "landmarks" to look for/signs to look for, etc) and then it's easy after that. But it is a lot of walking! (good exercise)