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Bally's Ain't Bad

Discussion in 'LV Strip Hotels' started by VegasSchemer, Oct 23, 2020.

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  1. VegasSchemer

    VegasSchemer VIP Whale

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    Stayed at Bally's for two nights last weekend and wanted to share my review in case others had the same concerns.

    I don't have lots of experience with CET and have stayed away from their "lower tier" properties because I had liked MGM properties a lot and heard their rooms weren't good. But I'm making a last minute trip due to cheap flights and a light work schedule, and Bally's was my cheapest option.

    Room is clean, pretty spacious, has a mini fridge you can use if you like bringing drinks back to the room- a solid play all around it seems. This isn't a comment on gaming conditions, of course, but I had been skeptical of Bally's, Harrah's, Linq and Flamingo but I might give this group a shot if the others are similar.

    Not a lot in terms of restaurants, but in the current times, that seems to be weak at a lot of places except the top end joints.
     
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  2. rex2

    rex2 Low-Roller

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    I stayed there last month and there was always a long line to get into the elevator at the resort/casino tower. My room also reeked of cigarette smoke even though it was a non-smoking room. Switched rooms and it made no difference. I have a feeling non-smoking rooms didn't really exist in its prior iterations and all the renovation did nothing to remove decades of built-up cigarette smoke from before. Either that or cigarette smoke just travels freely back up to the rooms because of the low ceilings in the casino.

    The room itself is a solid product. I would rank it below Harrah's but above Flamingo. I just wish it weren't so smoky. Park MGM would be my jam if it weren't a ghost town, not to mention that it feels like lipstick on the Monte Carlo pig.
     
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  3. VegasSchemer

    VegasSchemer VIP Whale

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    Sorry to hear you had some bad luck of the draw. Lines have been good for the Jubilee Tower at least and no smoke smell issues. Thanks for the room comparison info, too! Definitely makes me want to give Harrah's a shot.
     
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  4. Ten_On_The_End

    Ten_On_The_End VIP Whale

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    I've stayed at Bally's 15 times in the last 5 years ( last time March 2020) and never had a problem with smoke smell on non-smoking floors but YMMV. Did they switch rooms on the same floor ? What floor were you on ? I was always on floor 20 and up.
     
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  5. Kobra2848

    Kobra2848 VIP Whale

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    I have only stayed at Bally’s once in the Jubilee Tower several years ago but really enjoyed the room. It is a long walk to the food court by the sports book but it was nice having Nosh right off the elevators for coffee and a quick morning bite to take up to the room while getting ready. If I ever stop getting comped at PHO I would have no problem moving to Bally’s.

    Mark
     
  6. rex2

    rex2 Low-Roller

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    Yeah it was on the same floor. I think I was on 22 if memory serves me right. I opted out of the room switch since my new room smelled just as bad and had a more depressing view of the parking lot. I'm terrible with remembering tower names but the tower I stayed at was relatively close to the registration area.
     
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  7. rex2

    rex2 Low-Roller

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    I wish I could get the Linq's casino using Cromwell's odds paired with a Harrah's room and Flamingo's views.
     
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  8. prodaddy

    prodaddy Low-Roller

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    had a nice room, slight upgrade. did not enjoy the mile long hike to the pool tho...did the gambling at the cromwell and the slumming at the little dive bar across the street.
     
  9. Suekel

    Suekel VIP Whale

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    I have stayed at Bally's many, many times. For me it's the combo of good comps, location, very decent rooms and most of all the people. Only once did we have an issue with a smoky smell in a non smoking room. I reported it mainly so we would not be charged for it.

    It's not the best in terms of casino or food offerings, certainly can't compete with some of the bigger resorts, but we can always go to them to have a meal or play a little. And between Bally's and Paris there are certainly enough options to keep us happy. Nosh is good for a bagel in the AM, I like the dim sum place in the walkway, and there are a few options for a better, sit down meal.

    I know all casinos have some good friendly bartenders, but as someone who plays a lot of bartop VP, the ones at Bally's are just so great, and several have become friends over the years.
     
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  10. dmr

    dmr Registered Abuser

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    I've stayed at Bally's off and on over the decades and it's always been decent.
     
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  11. Horseplayer1

    Horseplayer1 High-Roller

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    Used to stay there up until a couple years ago when MLife and Cosmo gave me much better offers. Didn't care for the rooms facing Flamingo Rd-too many sirens all night long-the others are fine, noise wise. The rooms are really spacious, always clean, friendly staff there. Being attached to Paris really does give you the options of two casinos in one, and the food options just along that corridor and into Paris are more than adequate. Totally agree about the bartop VP bartenders-first rate.
     
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  12. hammie

    hammie VIP Whale

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    We stayed at Bally's one time for 6 nights, a late Saturday night check in and we scored a comp upgrade to a two room suite. I think for the 6 nights it was about $225 all in. I actually enjoyed the pool, it was pretty deserted, but kind of a hike. Great location with easy access to Paris, Cromwell, Bellagio, Caesars, and of course, the Stage Door for cheap beers and fun times. If you exit by the sports book, its a quick walk to Ellis Island and there is an Enterprise car rental desk at the Westin across Flamingo. I would absolutely stay there again.
     
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  13. rex2

    rex2 Low-Roller

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    Speaking of bartop VP, my favorite place is Gustav's at Paris (because they have the frozen drink machines) followed by the Bally's bar. They see my diamond card and they start serving. Had to fight for a comped drink at Caesar's when I was meeting a friend at the bar (pre-COVID).
     
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  14. KKB

    KKB VIP Whale

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    It's where we have stayed more than anywhere.
    Why? Usually comped, dead center Strip, large neutral rooms.
    We like the resort tower, cut out the north door, cross to Cromwell & on our way! Or go through to Paris & out to the Strip the other way.
     
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  15. irishdave

    irishdave VIP Whale

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    IMHO, Bally's rooms are one of the best mid-tier values on the center strip. Great location. I agree with @Suekel about the bartenders, especially at Sully's. However, I just don't care for the casino and as stated before, the food options are meh. I've drifted away from CET, but Bally's is my first choice to stay at in the CET portfolio, but except for playing VP at Sully's, I'll gamble at the other nearby places.
     
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  16. IDoLuvVegas

    IDoLuvVegas Low-Roller

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    We have done Vegas 2-3 times a year for the past 25 years. We have stayed at Bally’s more than any other place. I am comped at all Caesar and MGM mid tier properties, but we like Bally’s location, pool, monorail access, but most of all the people. Everyone there has treated us well all the time. We left something in a cab on one trip and the security people went above and beyond reviewing the videotape to try to get the cab number. Even though it was not readable, the company was and they then contacted the company. The next day we got a phone call from the cab company and our property returned. Cocktail waitresses and poker bar bartenders always very personable and friendly. We usually eat at Paris or the eateries between the two.
     
  17. shokhead

    shokhead No big spender unless eating drinking having fun!

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    We almost always stay at CP. Except for suites, we get any room at any of the CP hotels comped. We have been thinking of switching to Bally's. Closer to the other properties. OTOH, hard to not stay at CP because the rooms are so nice and quiet. Would it be a mistake to make Bally's our new home base?
     
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  18. oghuman

    oghuman VIP Whale

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    I never stayed in Bally's yet and I didn't even realized it until I thought about where I stayed there, I didn't. I've been staying at Caesars my last 16 trips and I like it there. Why switch when I usually get an Augustus tower room? Occasionally had a suite there. I can't imagine that the room at Bally's would be better.
     
    Last edited: Nov 20, 2020
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  19. bdautch

    bdautch VIP Whale

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    Bally's is where CET routinely comps me, and I enjoy it a lot. I like the Jubilee Tower elevator being close to the casino and the Strip, check-in is always quick, they honor my "high floor/far away from the elevator" thing, and the rooms are oversized and reasonably tasteful. Granted, the casino floor can be boring and the food offerings are meh, but that can be solved by proximity to basically everything. I think it's a highly competent place that does the basics well and makes the Strip your oyster as soon as you step out the door.

    EDIT: apologies to @irishdave I literally did not realize that we'd written basically the same review until I scrolled back up, but yes I see this your way to say the least!
     
    Last edited: Nov 19, 2020
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  20. Jejas

    Jejas VIP Whale

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    depends.
    Some people like to play at where they stay. In such case, I would say Bally's is better than CP.
    Some CP dealers are the worst in CET, or on the entire Strip.
     
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