It used to be, to get casino rate at the Flamingo Hilton was fairly easy, but now to get the best casino rate, has just gotten a bit harder. Or a stay has just gotten a bit cheaper, depending on how you look at it. This is what was explained to me by a host in great detail tonight.
1st casino rate teir; 59 weekdays, 79 weekends
2nd casino rate teit; 49 weekdays, 69 weekends (note it was 48/68 till a month ago. Probably trying to recoupe from all the people that didn't beat down the doors to get NYE reservations! LOL)
1st teir almost any play will be eligable for that.
But if you want the second teir rate, you'll need 4 hrs a day on quarters or 2hrs on dollars. I asked about nickles and she laughed and said, there isn't enough hours in a day!
Now to save an extra $10 on my room bill a night, I'd have to play longer, and with the Flamingos choice of VP, it will cost more then $10 for that extra time.

FWIW, this seems to be what happens to me after I get comfortable at a place. Bally's did the same thing, and I moved to the Flamingo, maybe it's getting time to move on. [img]http://www.talkvegas.com/ubb/frown.gif[/img]

------------------
Lee-PA
Moderator, What's New Forum
lee@talkvegas.com

Lee,T.I. 49bucks at their web site just have a gut feeling you would enjoy the ti,dont believe the kids everywhere comments you read on this bb. since kids are not allowed in the casino and the hotel is all casino= no kids.real easy to cruise the west side of the strip all the way to mandaly bay walk or tram. T.I. will always be my hotel of choice till someplace else beats 46 bucks a nite,on the strip,thats what i paid thanksgiving week

------------------
D.A.G.SEATTLE
furdoo3@aol.com

Lee, I agree with DAG's comments about the TI. I have a friend that stays there all the time and has no problems with kids.
The things you are experiencing at the Flamingo are the same things I ran into at the Rio. If I remember correctly you advised me to move to another place and I did. I am VERY happy I did so and I love Caesars. \
Why not give the TI a try and see what happens. I have learned that if you move to another property they don't even miss you at the old one. We are nothing but numbers to them.


------------------
John
Moderator Dining Forum
john@talkvegas.com

I stayed at the TI last month and the only kids I seen were at the check in counter or the shops none in the casino or restaurants.

I think all the casinos have raised their comp policies, business is good now. Try downtown the comp policies are much easier

John, Kizzy, DAG,

I couldn't understand your reluctance to move on from the Rio at the time you where making up your mind John. Now I see what the problem was. You build relationships and feel comfortable with a place and hate to bid it farewell. It won't be the same staying at another hotel and just visiting.

The TI I still have reservations about, the kid thing. You see most of my LV vacations are centered around some sort of 3 day weekend or Holiday to maxamize my wifes vacation days. These are mostly times when kids have off too and are more apt to travel with parents to LV.
Thanks for all the advice and input. I'll visit the TI again this upcoming trip.



------------------
Lee-PA
Moderator, What's New Forum
lee@talkvegas.com

Lee,

The times I stayed at the T.I. I mostly did not notice an abundance of kids. The room elevators open onto the casino floor so just go straight and the kids can't follow! [img]http://www.talkvegas.com/ubb/smile.gif[/img] The only places where there seemed to be kids were the shops and arcade areas. I'm sure summer weekends would be the worst times to stay, though.

For those of you defending the TI on the kids issue, there's a couple of points that you might be missing.

First, the ones that complain about kids at TI probably aren't thrilled to see any kids in any Vegas resort. We generally don't feel Vegas is a childs vacation destination, and aren't impressed with most of the excuses parents use to justify taking their kids to Vegas.

Second, there are kids all over, and they make it to all the Vegas resorts. You can't escape them unless you go to the X-rated strip joints. Some of the properties are kid friendly, some cater to families, some encourage families to stay in their hotels, some have attractions that draw kids from other properties for a visit. You're kidding yourself if you don't think TI is kid friendly and is a kiddie attraction.

And that excuse about avoiding kids by staying in the casino is really lame. Come on now! The same rules apply in ALL casinos. Okay, maybe Solts-A-Fun doesn't enforce the rules as much, but none of the resorts allow kids to hang out in the casino, and all except Bellagio allow them to pass through.

Based on building design the last time I checked TI, the pirate battle, room elevators, valet parking, and check in, were all on different parts of the main building, with the casino being the common link between them. I strongly suspect that the average mother, father, and 3 kids staying at TI would walk through the casino, if they wanted to get from their guest room to eat at the restaurant that overlooks the pirate battle.

Other kid related problems might come when the average family goes to the parking garage, or any public area. They will probably walk side by side, instead of single file. This 5 across blockade will almost never walk a consistant pace. They will be distracted by the shops, stopping, pointing, arguing with parents, etc. This doesn't make them bad, it is a pretty normal situation for that family, and they do it in their own local shopping malls, but it is a product of the family attraction.

TI is a family attraction. Because they are a family attraction, they will have a higher ratio of kids than non-family attractions. If you like TI, good for you. If you like kids, good for you. If the kids don't bother you, good for you. If you have found a way to avoid the kids at TI, good for you. That's nothing to be ashamed of. If you think TI has fewer kids than resorts without family attractions, you're wrong...IMO.<g>

Although my visits to TI have been rather infrequent, I agree with Joe -- there usually are a good number of kids there, although not as many as Circus Circus or MGM, IMO.

Now, you can chalk me up as one of those people who doesn't "mind" the kids in general. In my opinion, the same rules apply in Las Vegas as anywhere else -- there are places and times for kids in any American city, and there are ways those kids should behave. I don't mind seeing a gaggle of kids during the afternoon, walking, well-behaved, with their parents, through a Las Vegas attraction (e.g., the Dolphin Habitat at Mirage, Forum Shops, etc.). I DO mind seeing young kids hanging around the perimeter of a casino at night, while their parents have abandoned them to gamble. I DO mind seeing babies and very young kids in fancy restraunts, where adults are trying to enjoy a nice (expensive) meal. I DO mind seeing poorly-behaved children running amock while their parents seem oblivious to all that is around them. But all these rules apply anywhere.

All that said, wherever there are kids, a percentage of them will be poorly-behaved or be accompanied by clueless parents. That's why it certainly makes sense to avoid the places with larger numbers of kids -- and I think TI is definitely one of those places.

------------------
Mark L. in NJ

I'm not sure anyone is trying to say there are fewer kids at the TI than non-kid friendly resorts. We are just saying don't automatically exclude the place because of the perceived notion that it is always jammed with kids. Our experiences are that is not necessarily so. I am one of those that would be the FIRST to have a problem with too many kids. Zero would be my preferred number. Another plus for Lee is that the swashbuckler bar has .25 progressives that gets high a lot of times. Can't vouch for the friendliness of the bartenders, though.

I'd like to post my latest findings on the casino rate with the Flamingo.
I called today for my July trip and was quoted $69 weekends, and $39 midweek.
Then on top of that they gave me all 9 nights at those prices. This has only happened one other time. They normally inforce a 7 day limit on casino rate. Forcing me to go someplace else for 2 nights.
So they sucked me back into the fray with cheap room rates and friendly service....I feel so cheap!... [img]http://www.talkvegas.com/ubb/wink.gif[/img]

In a couple of weeks I'll see how they are for September rates.

BTW, I now have 3 trips lined up and ready. I am having trouble keeping things straight. I must call National and find out if I have a car for all 3 trips! I can't remember. I know, I know, this is gonna get worse as I get older!

------------------
Lee-PA
Moderator, What's New Forum
lee@talkvegas.com

It can get better the older you get. I got to shooting craps one time and forgot to go pack and catch the plane. My wife left with out me and took all my clothes thinking I would be at the air port. I had to pay for another plane ticket the next day a hotel room that night buy clean closes and I was not even winning

Kizzy,
That's a great story! Are you still married to her? I think at that point the stuff would have hit the fan (wife would have been really ticked at me, and I would have been cooking myself with no clothes to wear).

So far, my clothes haven't left Las Vegas without me! [img]http://www.talkvegas.com/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

------------------
Lee-PA
Moderator, What's New Forum
lee@talkvegas.com

Kizzy,

I, like Lee, loved reading the story about your wife leaving LV without you. I printed it out for my husband to read and told him I would like to meet you sometime. Better yet, I would love to meet your wife.<g>

I got a good laugh out of it. Sure it wasn't funny to you when it happened.

Beth

Been married to this same old girl 42 years this Oct. We always come to Vegas to celebrate our anniversary. Will be there Apr 9-14 and then in Oct. if not sooner. Tulsa won today I think they have a good chance to make the last eight. Maybe the final four

Kizzy,

Looks like we'll miss meeting this spring. We're heading out in March.

Have a great April trip!

Beth

Kizzy,
I would like to meet the both of you also, but this April I only arrive the 14th late in the evening. looks like we just miss each other this trip.
With a story that great, I'd really like to meet you!.....have any more to share?
Lee-PA