"As hotel room prices sink, quality of casino guests also takes dive"

http://www.lvrj.com/news/as-hotel-ro...-68496902.html

This column has caused some heated discussions and I wanted to see what you think.

Originally Posted by leo21

http://www.lvrj.com/news/as-hotel-ro...-68496902.html

This column has caused some heated discussions and I wanted to see what you think.

There have been a few posts on this subject on this site in the past few months. I have really noticed this especially this summer.
I wonder if this reporter visits this site as some of her examples have been mentioned here, the pizza boxes, beer coolers......
I have on three occasions moved rooms because of the hillbillies next door. What really surprised me how these fools are getting good rooms on the upper floors with good views at the Paris.

In July I seen a room trashed at the Paris. I was surprised by house keepings saying this was a common occurance.

I no longer stay at Paris, I now stay at Caesars.

She doesn't want to sound Snobbish, yet that is exactly as she comes off!!! And anytime an article cannot substansiate any of it's statements that should be a RED FLAG to any reader. She can not provide any facts, just hearsey, that should tell you all you need to know!!!

NO! Don't tell me Vegas is turning into Laughlin????

Reading the article its hard to say...

The article starts off saying they are talking to somebody at a locals casino.

About a year ago somebody posted a link to an article on the LVRJ that was about how the locals casinos are being hit very hard by the recession - the problem: with hotel rates dropping so hard on The Strip the people who would normally stay at the off strip hotels/casinos because of the super cheap room rates were able to get similar rates on The Strip.

So what they say in the article is very possible if all those low to mid level gamblers stopped staying at the locals joints and are now staying at the big resorts on Las Vegas Blvd, then all that would be left at the locals joints would pretty much be the dregs of hotel guestdom.


But that doesn't mean things are taking a big slide everywhere, or that its something new "because of the recession"

People have been asking on here about where to buy an ice chest for years. Maybe its not an indication of a lower class of clientele, but more a sign that people don't want to pay $3.50 for a bottle of Coke or $4 for a bottle of Miller Lite at the hotels gift shop.

I personally have taken food up to the room from McDonalds and other fast food restaurants. I do this because sometimes I want something small to eat. To justify the fact that almost everything in the casino cafes go for $9-15 the casinos give you huge portions. What if I just want something small to eat and don't want to shell out $14 for food where I'll only eat half at most? I rarely eat breakfast at the hotels cafe because I only want something small for breakfast and I just don't feel like paying $3.50 to $5.50 for two pieces of toast.


I'm not saying that there isn't a lower class of people coming to Vegas... it actually makes sense that there is:
- Las Vegas is now an affordable vacation for just about anybody, so anybody is going.
- When recessions come around the people they hit and hurt the most are the people with money. The more money you have then the more they hurt.

Your Joe Average type person who keeps their money in a savings account, doesn't have an RRSP or investments in mutual funds, has a stable and secure job that he isn't likely ever to be in any danger of losing... it doesn't matter to him when a recession hits or how hard, he is hardly going to be impacted by it, if at all. So when the recession comes these are the people that have money to spend.

I found it to be a good article and I believe every word of it... Why? Because some people seem to lose control while they are in Vegas. I guess if they can't be high rollers they can at least act like a rock star and trash their hotel room.

Who is she quoting? Just some unnamed local?

Some unnamed hotel employees. One is aparently associated with a locals joint and another with a strip joint. I was annoyed reading the complaints about McDs and people not buying burgers in the hotels they are staying in. Hello! If it took a $30 room to get someone into your hotel, you are nuts to think that those someone's can afford food that is still really overpriced!

Okay I am trying not to be one of "those guys" but last time I checked in to Caesers I couldn't help but notice this couple loaded down with a cooler, a 24 pack of soda, etc trudging thought the lobby. All I'm asking is this:

1) Why are you staying at Caesers if you are sweating a $3 soda in the machine when you are paying at the very least $99 a night?

2) Is saving that money worth that trouble?

For me, if it meant staying at the Mirage rather than Caesers to save a few bucks, I would do that and not lug around the soda and cooler.

I am not saying it is wrong (perhaps it was a family that always wanted to stay at Caesers or something, fair enough) it was just my initial thoughts when I observed it on the Friday I was checking in.

A Strip source said when rooms drop to under $30, "Frankly, we'll be lucky if they buy a burger from you.

Okay. Where on the Strip can you get a room for under $30.00??

That article is completely anecdotal. Back it up with some facts. In other words, the writer needs to do her job as a journalist.

Patty

Originally Posted by Vegasguy

Okay. Where on the Strip can you get a room for under $30.00??

Imperial Palace, Tropicana, Hooters, Circus Circus, Riviera, Sahara. There used to be more, but they've been impolded.

People arriving with coolers at Cesar's probably don't want to walk to Bellagio to buy a Coke.

http://www.vegastodayandtomorrow.com/coke-or-pepsi.htm

Originally Posted by Gaggles

Okay I am trying not to be one of "those guys" but last time I checked in to Caesers I couldn't help but notice this couple loaded down with a cooler, a 24 pack of soda, etc trudging thought the lobby. All I'm asking is this:

1) Why are you staying at Caesers if you are sweating a $3 soda in the machine when you are paying at the very least $99 a night?

2) Is saving that money worth that trouble?

For me, if it meant staying at the Mirage rather than Caesers to save a few bucks, I would do that and not lug around the soda and cooler.

I am not saying it is wrong (perhaps it was a family that always wanted to stay at Caesers or something, fair enough) it was just my initial thoughts when I observed it on the Friday I was checking in.

On point 1, I am with you totally. I could have stayed at Wynn free my last trip but didn't because the total package didn't fit my budget. The credit card hold would have been more than my gambling budget! People think they are getting a super bargain and responding to it. They can brag to folks at home that they stayed at the Caesars Palace! Plus, people keep hearing about the $20 trick and are sure they can get Augustus Tower for free when they booked Centurion. The coolers to me mean that they don't plan on gambling. I don't need more than a bottle of room temp water in the room because I have drinks in the casino all day and can't imagine staying in the room long enough to mix a drink or drink a whole pop.

On point 2, I don't think so. Look at all the time you are spending gathering supplies and cab fare to In and Out Burger.

BTW, I would spend more on a standard Mirage room than I would a classic at CP. But when you look at what you get in a classic at CP, $99 is a foolish price to pay when the comparable room at Harrah's is nicer and cheaper.

Okay I am trying not to be one of "those guys" but last time I checked in to Caesers I couldn't help but notice this couple loaded down with a cooler, a 24 pack of soda, etc trudging thought the lobby. All I'm asking is this:

1) Why are you staying at Caesers if you are sweating a $3 soda in the machine when you are paying at the very least $99 a night?

2) Is saving that money worth that trouble?

For me, if it meant staying at the Mirage rather than Caesers to save a few bucks, I would do that and not lug around the soda and cooler.

I am not saying it is wrong (perhaps it was a family that always wanted to stay at Caesers or something, fair enough) it was just my initial thoughts when I observed it on the Friday I was checking in.


To respond to this I think you are completely off base. While I may spend a little bit of extra money to stay in a nicer hotel that does not mean I am willing to pay extroidinary prices on other items when down the street I can get them cheaper. It is about the value for the money. A nice hotel means nice value. An extra $2 for a soda does not get me anymore value. Saving money is worth the trouble. I would gladly go to a seven eleven off the strip to fill up on snacks and drinks allowing myself that much more money to spend on items that give me value.

Originally Posted by Gaggles

Okay I am trying not to be one of "those guys" but last time I checked in to Caesers I couldn't help but notice this couple loaded down with a cooler, a 24 pack of soda, etc trudging thought the lobby.

I agree "tailgating" is a little too much.

I'm not a fan of bringing multiple grocery bags filled with things up to a room, or cases of pop, beer, etc (at the very least check in and then bring it up separately). But I don't think it's wrong to bring something up to the room whether it's cola or some snacks. The comment about value is a solid one in that paying two bucks for a soda is exuberant considering what some other options are.

However I think it's something people should think about and at least try and approach it in a respectful manner. Plus I know a number of people that drive in from LA or other areas, if I'm driving from somewhere I'm more likely to have a cooler then if I didn't but I probably wouldn't lug it up the front desk and through the casino if I could avoid it. (not as possible though in Vegas as it is with some other hotels across the country)

Well, Vegas has no one to blame but itself. They've overbuilt too much too fast and the recession has killed the heyday of the mega casino. So now you have people who could only afford Circus Circus or Imperial Palace staying at 3-5 star resorts? Too bad, maybe they'll re-think this whole mega-casino, expensive nite club theme and go back to the days when decent gamblers got decent comps and the trailor trash booked at the nearest Motel 6.

Gaggles:

We stop and a get a case of water for the hotel room no matter where we stay, in Las Vegas or any other city. I am not sure what saving money on items the cost of which adds up quickly has to do with how much a hotel room costs.

Just because I am on vacation does not make me feel any better about paying xxx% markup on beverages or anything else. Using your logic, I should not pack any generally available toiletries either because I can simply buy them at twice the normal cost at the hotel gift shop.

If not sweating the small stuff helps one to relax, then by all means use that mini bar.

I dont take a cooler with me (I dont own one) but I do buy drinks and snacks and leave them in the room..pop and a few beers to drink while I am getting ready to go out in the evening.. We only have a limited supply of spending money and I dont want to trash it on drinks and snacks. I have tried buying a packet of chips at the hotel shop and I could buy a whole multi pack at walmart or walgreens for the same price.