Stay cation at Flamingo

[Alan Mendelson]

My GF thought it would be fun to check into the Flamingo for a "staycation" so we checked in Sunday for a two night stay with a $400 free play offer, $100 resort credit and free one bedroom suite. The room was fantastic. The bathroom was superior to anything I ever had at Caesars. Furniture was in excellent condition. High floor with great view.

Surprisingly the room came with robes, shower gel, extra towels, extra soap, two TVs plus a third in the main bathroom. The suite had a second bathroom too. But except for the room we weren't happy at all.

She is 54 and at the pool she was treated like a grandma by the young workers there who suggested she'd be more comfortable at the kids pool with the grandmas.

We ordered room service breakfast. Our oatmeal came in cardboard bowls and was cold. The bacon was not in the original delivery and came twenty minutes later. Oh, the room service delivery came in a paper bag with plastic utensils and cost $52.

When I was given the check, the room service delivery person was silent when I asked THREE TIMES if a tip was included. By that time I saw an 18% tip was included. It was clear to me she was silent hoping I would leave an additional tip.

I played some craps. WORST DEALERS EVER. They stood there complaining about their work and shift schedules and paid only the minimal amount of attention to the game. I played with three crews and they were all complainers. I even had to remind them to mark the numbers on the Bonus bets.

Oh... when I called to apply my resort credit at checkout I was on hold for twenty minutes.

Video poker sucked. 7/5 Bonus in high limit and 6/5 Bonus on most if not all of the lower denomination games.

The hotel is old and rundown. It reminded me of Miami Beach hotels in the 1980s with a humid, tacky feel.

The Diamond Lounge was okay but nothing great.

We could have stayed a second night but didn't.

We won't go back. This staycation would have been better if we had just stayed away.

[redietz]

My GF thought it would be fun to check into the Flamingo for a "staycation" so we checked in Sunday for a two night stay with a $400 free play offer, $100 resort credit and free one bedroom suite. The room was fantastic. The bathroom was superior to anything I ever had at Caesars. Furniture was in excellent condition. High floor with great view.

Surprisingly the room came with robes, shower gel, extra towels, extra soap, two TVs plus a third in the main bathroom. The suite had a second bathroom too. But except for the room we weren't happy at all.

She is 54 and at the pool she was treated like a grandma by the young workers there who suggested she'd be more comfortable at the kids pool with the grandmas.

We ordered room service breakfast. Our oatmeal came in cardboard bowls and was cold. The bacon was not in the original delivery and came twenty minutes later. Oh, the room service delivery came in a paper bag with plastic utensils and cost $52.

When I was given the check, the room service delivery person was silent when I asked THREE TIMES if a tip was included. By that time I saw an 18% tip was included. It was clear to me she was silent hoping I would leave an additional tip.

I played some craps. WORST DEALERS EVER. They stood there complaining about their work and shift schedules and paid only the minimal amount of attention to the game. I played with three crews and they were all complainers. I even had to remind them to mark the numbers on the Bonus bets.

Oh... when I called to apply my resort credit at checkout I was on hold for twenty minutes.

Video poker sucked. 7/5 Bonus in high limit and 6/5 Bonus on most if not all of the lower denomination games.

The hotel is old and rundown. It reminded me of Miami Beach hotels in the 1980s with a humid, tacky feel.

The Diamond Lounge was okay but nothing great.

We could have stayed a second night but didn't.

We won't go back. This staycation would have been better if we had just stayed away.

I just missed you, Alan. I wandered between Harrah's and the Flamingo while waiting to catch the LuxBus back to Anaheim on Sunday.

You know, the Flamingo emphasis to attract a young demographic may have stressed their resources this last weekend with the electronica festival in town, which is the biggest thing in LV since COMDEX. That's not really an excuse -- the Flamingo looked raggedy to me. The festival had downtown places asking truly ridiculous rates. The Fremont wanted $800 for Friday night. Not kidding. So the Flamingo may have been completely exhausted by Sunday.

Harrah's seemed to have somewhat better video poker -- the deuces wild games weren't great, but better than anything at Flamingo.

I'm somewhat angered at the pool responses your girlfriend received. That would really set me off, as my girlfriend is 52, and I do not think "grandma" stuff would go over too well.

Was the pool still pretty nice?

I was somewhat surprised the room itself was as good as you report. Good to know. While I'm not a big Flamingo fan, it is possible the festival really slammed them and left them unprepared to recover on Sunday. That would explain the room service issues, at least.

[FleaStiff]

Surprisingly the room came with robes, shower gel, extra towels, extra soap, two TVs plus a third in the main bathroom. The suite had a second bathroom too. But except for the room we weren't happy at all.

She is 54 and at the pool she was treated like a grandma by the young workers there who suggested she'd be more comfortable at the kids pool with the grandmas.

I played some craps. WORST DEALERS EVER. They stood there complaining about their work and shift schedules and paid only the minimal amount of attention to the game. I played with three crews and they were all complainers. I even had to remind them to mark the numbers on the Bonus bets.

Video poker sucked. 7/5 Bonus in high limit and 6/5 Bonus on most if not all of the lower denomination games.
The hotel is old and rundown.
You know, the Flamingo emphasis to attract a young demographic may have stressed their resources

My take on all of this:
It sounds like the Flamingo did a cheap cosmetic rehab of their rooms but not an upgrade to the facility. Well, we all knew that.
The pool attitude is totally unacceptable but indicative of their problem.
Perhaps there was some temporary strain on their performance, but that is not an excuse.

However my main comment is to the original poster: SHAME ON YOU. It should not be your responsibility to police the craps dealers. it is the responsibility of the Box to dampen the complainers about shifts and tips and the world in general. If the base dealers are offensive and the Box is either too tolerant or is even joining in, it is the responsibility of the players to SPEAK UP then and there. Do NOT tolerate flagrant misbehavior. INSTRUCT the Box to maintain proper control over the dealers non-game related conversations. Do not point out that something has not been marked: INSTRUCT the box to see that the numbers are properly marked. Cut right into the dealers chatter and INSTRUCT the Box to see that they behave. If the situation does not resolve, give ONE warning: after that... call out FLOOR or PIT and inform them of the problem and the box's inattention to his supervisory duties.

If craps games deteriorate of course there will be lousy tips and even more gripes. The dealers have to realize that it is 'snap to'. Not complain and be slow or annoying. If the dealers argue with you over your comments to them, immediately get the PIT there and ask for the shift manager or director of table games to attend. State your point succinctly and be firm.

Its your money and if you lose it you want it to be at a well run table and solely the fault of the dice not the dealers who make mistakes and ruin your concentration on what is going on. Slow empty table or fast full one, it makes no difference. Get a serious crew or get lost.

[regnis]

i haven't played craps at Flamingo in years but I assume there is no box to complain to.

At a local casino, I once had a dealer muttering under his breath "7 out--7 out" on each roll. I announced to the other dealers that there would be no tips as long as he was on duty. A suit came over and asked what the problem was and I told him. They moved him to another table. I said that's not good enough as they split tips. He said they would talk to him. I told the dealers there would still be no tips until they (the dealers) talked to him, and got the rest of the players at that table to agree not to tip.

Timing was perfect as after they moved him we got a monster roll.

[FleaStiff]

I don't go out of my way to be rude at a craps table and I sure tolerate a good deal of jokes and frivolity... it supposed to be festive; its not a somber funeral. I'm used to a fully crewed table: two based dealers, a stick, a supervisory box and somewher the former stick is on break and will return in 20 minutes. So I'm used to speaking to dealers and Box men. I've never been at a craps tub or half table or anything like that.

I once plunked a cnote on teh felt and said Cheque Change Only. He wise cracked 'what else would I do with it'. I did not like that but I didn't jump down his throat. Banter, jokes, pretty girls, are just fine. Not mistakes, not insults, not criticism. And any dealer who urges a player to lose much less does it repeatedly should be rotated to the Employee Parking Lot where his fellow dealers will have a chat with him.

[Alan Mendelson]

Like Regnis said... no box men. Which is another gripe of the dealers that is non stop and frankly I support them on that one. Eliminating box men was a big mistake.

[Dan Druff]

I agree with FleaStiff. If you are experiencing bad attitudes from the casino employees while playing, ask for the highest manager available and complain.

Then if you don't get satisfaction, demand to speak to the person in charge of the entire casino, even if it means getting his info and calling him the next day when he comes in.

I suppose it's also acceptable to just walk out and stop playing, but I feel it's a mistake to keep playing while being given a bad attitude by the employees.

Many years ago, I was playing blackjack at Rio. It was a $25 minimum game, but it was full of degenerate poker players who were betting all black ($100) chips.

I joined them and also played. I was counting cards, but the dealer had no idea, and in fact the count wasn't changing much during the shoe, so it didn't even appear I was counting to someone observant anyway.

The dealer was extremely grumpy and barking orders to everyone. I think he felt he could treat us like shit because we were all young (I was early 30s, the others were all 20s), and he looked about 55. I remember I jokingly bounced my chip into the betting area rather than just placing it there (it still easily landed in the proper place), and he went off on me.

"Don't ever do that again!", he barked. "You place your chips there, you don't bounce them!"

I finally had enough.

I said to him, "You see all this action at this table? We're all friends and betting big. And you've been a jerk to us the entire time. Now I'm giving you two choices. You can shut up and deal cards, or we're going to take all of our action away, get your boss, and tell him that we're never gambling another penny here because of you and your rudeness. Which one is it going to be?"

He quickly lost his gruff demeanor, hung his head down, and quietly dealt the cards without saying a word for the rest of the time.

[Dan Druff]

But yes, the Flamingo is still a dump with (some) upgraded rooms.

They are in the process of upgrading the rest of the rooms, but I believe the rest of the property will still remain the worn down piece of crap it currently is.

[james40]

But yes, the Flamingo is still a dump with (some) upgraded rooms.

They are in the process of upgrading the rest of the rooms, but I believe the rest of the property will still remain the worn down piece of crap it currently is.

I have to agree, one of my least favorite properties in LV. Nothing about it appeals to me, tired facility, smoky, with the outside surrounded by every bum, begger and sketchy person in LV. I've dropped a few bucks over in VP over the years, and had lunch at their overpriced Johnny Rockets once, otherwise it's been a walk-thru to somewhere else on the strip.

[FleaStiff]

I remember I jokingly bounced my chip into the betting area rather than just placing it there (it still easily landed in the proper place), and he went off on me.

He should have made one firm statement but done it politely. Floors and surveillance don't like chips landing in the Tray. Or being taken from dealer's working area and manually moved somewhere that is beyond standard procedures.

I remember when two beautiful women walked thru the Flamingo and all games were paused as they strolled by. Players stared, dealers pretended to look at their trays but actually looked at the scenery. One dealer commented "Don't they know they are in the Flamingo?". I guess that even when it comes to StayCations... you have to remember: Its the Flamingo!

[redietz]

I remember I jokingly bounced my chip into the betting area rather than just placing it there (it still easily landed in the proper place), and he went off on me.

He should have made one firm statement but done it politely. Floors and surveillance don't like chips landing in the Tray. Or being taken from dealer's working area and manually moved somewhere that is beyond standard procedures.

I remember when two beautiful women walked thru the Flamingo and all games were paused as they strolled by. Players stared, dealers pretended to look at their trays but actually looked at the scenery. One dealer commented "Don't they know they are in the Flamingo?". I guess that even when it comes to StayCations... you have to remember: Its the Flamingo!

Up until two or three years ago, if a sociologist, anthropologist or historian were visiting LV for the first time, I'd recommend the Flamingo because no car would be required, the Flamingo's historical significance, the moderate price, and the central location. Now I just cannot recommend the place as it is too, and I use Charles' Barkley's word here, raggedy.

I switched and recommend Paris now for a first-timer, even though it leans to the pricey range and it obviously lacks history.

[Alan Mendelson]

I remember I jokingly bounced my chip into the betting area rather than just placing it there (it still easily landed in the proper place), and he went off on me.

He should have made one firm statement but done it politely. Floors and surveillance don't like chips landing in the Tray. Or being taken from dealer's working area and manually moved somewhere that is beyond standard procedures.

I have to agree with FleaStiff here. There are procedures for making bets with chips and for removing the chips when you've been paid. If you don't follow the procedures you THE PLAYER can be hurt.

For example, when you have a winning passline bet in craps you do NOT remove your chips from the passline until AFTER you have been paid by the dealer. I have actually seen players remove their passline bet after the point was made but before the dealer paid their matching bet and odds. The players did the wrong thing because the dealers cannot pay them unless the chips are out there. In this case the players argued that their bet won and they could take the money whenever they wanted to - but they were wrong.

Flipping chips into a betting position, such as the big circle at a blackjack table, might be a sign of your tiddly winks skill, but it also invites problems if your chip rolls into someone else's position or into the dealers' tray. I wonder what kind of problem there would have been if Dan's green or black chip rolled into the dealer's tray and the dealer didn't see it happen because he was shuffling or paying another player?

Follow procedures. It makes everyone happy.

Just like it would have made me happy with the Flamingo craps dealers had been following procedure. By the way, I've played craps at Caesars, Paris, Ballys, Bellagio... and never have I seen the whining that went on at Flamingo.

[Rob.Singer]

I remember I jokingly bounced my chip into the betting area rather than just placing it there (it still easily landed in the proper place), and he went off on me.

He should have made one firm statement but done it politely. Floors and surveillance don't like chips landing in the Tray. Or being taken from dealer's working area and manually moved somewhere that is beyond standard procedures.

I remember when two beautiful women walked thru the Flamingo and all games were paused as they strolled by. Players stared, dealers pretended to look at their trays but actually looked at the scenery. One dealer commented "Don't they know they are in the Flamingo?". I guess that even when it comes to StayCations... you have to remember: Its the Flamingo!

I switched and recommend Paris now for a first-timer, even though it leans to the pricey range and it obviously lacks history.

Has it ever crossed any of your misguided minds that there's other hotels and casinos in LV besides the CET dumps....you know, the ones you guys CONSTANTLY gripe, moan, and complain about?

[Alan Mendelson]

Yeah, Ive tried the other hotels in Vegas and I still think Caesars Palace is the best.

[redietz]

He should have made one firm statement but done it politely. Floors and surveillance don't like chips landing in the Tray. Or being taken from dealer's working area and manually moved somewhere that is beyond standard procedures.

I remember when two beautiful women walked thru the Flamingo and all games were paused as they strolled by. Players stared, dealers pretended to look at their trays but actually looked at the scenery. One dealer commented "Don't they know they are in the Flamingo?". I guess that even when it comes to StayCations... you have to remember: Its the Flamingo!

I switched and recommend Paris now for a first-timer, even though it leans to the pricey range and it obviously lacks history.

Has it ever crossed any of your misguided minds that there's other hotels and casinos in LV besides the CET dumps....you know, the ones you guys CONSTANTLY gripe, moan, and complain about?

Rob, as usual, you don't have much of a clue. I haven't stayed at a CET property in a couple of years. I recommend Paris for first-timers primarily because of location, easy walking to familiarize people with the strip, no need for a vehicle driving the first time in LV, the range of restaurants at Paris, and last but not least, the dueling piano lounge and Cook E. Jarr. I'm not going to recommend that a first-timer who's not going to spend any time in a room stay at Bellagio. And I'm not going to recommend the Wynn or Venetian during the summer due to walking distances. So if you have a better recommendation than Paris for a first-timer, share your wisdom.

And I don't complain about much of anything. As you recall, I'm more of an Ellis Island kind of guy myself.

[jbjb]

He should have made one firm statement but done it politely. Floors and surveillance don't like chips landing in the Tray. Or being taken from dealer's working area and manually moved somewhere that is beyond standard procedures.

I remember when two beautiful women walked thru the Flamingo and all games were paused as they strolled by. Players stared, dealers pretended to look at their trays but actually looked at the scenery. One dealer commented "Don't they know they are in the Flamingo?". I guess that even when it comes to StayCations... you have to remember: Its the Flamingo!

I switched and recommend Paris now for a first-timer, even though it leans to the pricey range and it obviously lacks history.

Has it ever crossed any of your misguided minds that there's other hotels and casinos in LV besides the CET dumps....you know, the ones you guys CONSTANTLY gripe, moan, and complain about?

This is one instance that I agree 100% with Rob.

I recommend Cosmo. You can still go do your gambling elsewhere.

[Alan Mendelson]

I recommend Cosmo. You can still go do your gambling elsewhere.

What is the cost of staying at Cosmo, and if I stay there and do my gambling elsewhere what will it actually cost me to stay there since I am guessing there will be no comps for a "no play stay"?

One of the advantages we loyal CET players have is that we can stay at our favorite CET casinos and not have to pay. I didn't pay for our trip to Flamingo, and I played very little and I was given $400 of free play plus a $100 dining credit. I think my room was listed at about $400 a night.

[jbjb]

You're stays at Caesars aren't "free" and I'm sure you're aware of that. Whatever you might shell out in cash for Cosmo, or any other place for that matter, would be well worth the peace of mind. They do have your 8/5 up to $100 denominations too.

[Alan Mendelson]

I can stay, and have stayed at Caesars without playing. I have also obtained second and third rooms for relatives who don't play. So I am going to ask again: if I stay at the Cosmo but play elsewhere, what will it cost for the rooms at the Cosmo?

[Dan Druff]

Cosmo isn't really a good place for someone Alan's age to hang out unless he's dating a 25-year-old.

The place is definitely aimed at young people and old perverts dating young people.

I'm 20 years younger than Alan, and even I feel like an old guy at Cosmo.

As far as room prices go at Cosmo, they are reasonable during the week, and outrageous during the weekend and holidays.