Adam Bauer
It had been about 30 years since I last stayed at MGM Grand. I still remember the bright green hue from the exterior lights pouring into the room. I may be retaining a memory that’s more majestic than reality. That was when lions roamed inside, and the Wizard of Oz theme dotted the resort. I remember being completely overwhelmed with the scale of the hotel. It remains one of the biggest in the world. Much has changed since my first visit. There’s no amusement park, virtually no remnants of Oz remain, and the lions are gone. For my first time staying as an adult, I hoped there was still some magic in one of Vegas’ most iconic resorts.
MGM Grand is like a casino-resort superstore. It has everything, but few things stand out. When I visit Vegas, I want to feel something in a resort. The only thing I felt when I was in MGM Grand was that I wanted to leave. Perhaps because it’s so expansive, it lacks energy even when the casino is lively. At no point was I enticed to sit and play. It was only at the tail end of a long night that I settled at a bar to play some video poker, but it was a resigned fate. I didn’t want to trek back out.
The double queen room was tattered. The paper-like blinds had tears, the lounge chairs were worn through on the seats, and most furnishings had noticeable chips or scrapes. This wasn’t a room befit for MGM’s namesake.
Vegas is home to some of the largest resorts in the world, MGM Grand being one of them. Maintaining the vast number of rooms guests check in and out of daily poses a perpetual challenge. MGM Grand doesn’t seem to provide employees with the time and tools to confront this challenge.
This would be an otherwise fine room, but for the price, mid-range in the MGM Resorts portfolio, its value pales to NYNY and even Luxor. I’d instead save a few bucks and stay in one of NYNY’s renovated rooms or a Luxor Tower Room.
One bright spot is MGM Grand’s pool complex, with a lazy river and plenty of cabanas and daybeds to rent. Half of the rental fee goes towards a food and beverage minimum. Even though this is a significant downgrade from years past when the entire reservation fee acted as a food and beverage minimum, this is still one of the better cabana values in Vegas.
And despite my misgivings, the casino can be quite crowded. There are plenty of slot machines, table games, and video poker terminals. There’s just no place I feel comfortable for an extended play. That may be more of a personal taste than a legitimate grievance. High-end restaurants like Morimoto and Craftsteak may be the only reason I’d return unless my international status secures me a stay at The Mansion.
As I’ve returned to this piece multiple times, I’ve realized that I seem to have few positive things to say about MGM Grand. To be clear, it’s a fine resort that will be entirely satisfactory for most guests. This is just one of those examples of certain places speaking to some and not others. And right now, MGM Grand doesn’t speak to me.
Have you tried the Signature? Would be interested in the comparison as I’ve only ever stayed at the Sig
I think I’ve stayed at the Sig 95% of the times I’ve been in Vegas and it feels like a respite away from the noise of the main hotel despite it only being a 5 minute walk (or a 10 minute drunken stumble if I’ve been over-served!)
I haven’t. Though it intrigues me because of how big the rooms are. That, along with Vdara, are good options for people going to conferences who aren’t really into Vegas.