We were at the Grand Opening this weekend and it was a strange affair but
interesting. I liked the Palazzo and the fact that you could go back and forth
easily on the 1st floor to the Venetian. So if your play was bad in one
casino, change casinos and hope for better luck.
There is a bank of 10 $1 multiplay/multidenomination VP machines at the
Palazzo, outside the high roller area. It has 9/6 JB. This is a lot more
machines than the measly 2 at the Venetian. Also there is a progressive on one of
the games. The $5 VP bank nearby was getting a lot of play and hits on DDB,
bad deuces, 9/6 JB, and 9/7 DB.
The room at the Palazzo was much better decorated than the Venetian. Our
suite had a flat floor - no step-down, but I think some do still have the
step-down. Our host was very accommodating in upgrading me to RFB after I did a
LOT of play ($5 reels and VP). The beds were plush and very comfortable. Flat
screen TVs, including in the bathroom.
By the way - warning for those staying at Palazzo -- construction is still
occurring, so you may hear odd noises, hammering, etc., starting as early as 4
am (we did). The Palazzo spa is not open yet either.
We ate at Tao which has excellent sushi and other Japanese food. We also
ate at the new Morale's in the Palazzo, which has excellent aged beef - the
best filet I've eaten in about 20 years, as well as fresh seafood and other
items (it is a French bistro). It is open for lunch (12-3) and dinner. The
service was excellent at both.
The new Club Grazie unfortunately has lowered its cashback rates. There are
some good deals for new signups though. The best is for 4000 points (that
would be $12000 VP) - you get the regular cashback, plus 1 Blue Man group
ticket, one $75 Canyon Ranch spa treatment, $50 Casino level food court comps,
and $75 slot credits. Also earn 3000 points and new signups get a slot tourney
invite with 2 complimentary suite nights. And players also get entries into
the daily tournament. Right now there is a slightly different one than the
usual "wheel deal", with a lot more prizes. I think it runs out before the
end of Jan.
The cashback rates are something along this line: Earn 2500 points and get
either $15 slot credits (best deal - though I always play and lose the $),
$10 Club Grazie Gift card, or $5 cash.
At Grazie Level $1 coin-in gets 1 point reels, $3 coin for 1 pt VP.
At Gold Level (requires 30,000 points for the current year) - $1 reels = 1.5
points; $2.50 VP gets 1 pt.
At Platinum level (big 600,000 points needed) $1 reels = 2 points; $2 VP
gets 1pt.
However, definitely at Gold level (and even for less play), you get lots of
tournament entries with free rooms, and some other perks which can be nice.
Your points also qualify you for end of year Grazzi gifts (unfortunately
selection is slim).
Vegas locals also may get weekly cash mailers. So use a Vegas local address
for the Venetian. They don't penalize you like Harrah's properties do.
If you show a Diamond or other "elite" card new signers can be upgraded to
Gold, but this perk isn't available if you already have a slot card.
The new Palazzo is very pretty with a lovely indoor waterfall. It seems
quite large because of the open feel of it. The shops continue the Venetian
shop area, and many are still closed. Upstairs in the shop it seemed like a
long and confusing walk around.
The "high roller" lounge in the Palazzo is apparently "platinum" - not for
"gold" members. Though if you walk in through the hi roller slot area you may
be able to eat without anyone asking for a card. Or you might be questioned
and told to leave. If your host books you, ask to get the "gold key" and
check in at VIP check in. If so, you can go into the "platinum" lounge, even
if you aren't. Just flash the "gold key" (I'm keeping mine.) At least for
this weekend they had more food than the Venetian's Gold Lounge. There was
hot tea/coffee, lemonade, but no soda or juice bottles. There were a lot more
servers who brought cocktails though.
Parking for the Palazzo is probably easier than for the Venetian, with
underground parking from Spring Mountain road.
Easy access between The Wynn and Palazzo by foot bridge might make playing
at these two places a good combo - especially if you are a Vegas local willing
to put through enough play to get the extra weekly mailers these places send.
As for the Grand Opening - it was a little strange, with invited guests on
Thursday being "treated" to wine and champagne open bars (but no soda pop!!!
arrrghhh), oddball "entertainers" wearing lampshades or some in nice clothes
acting as living statues as they stood in water (?) or elsewhere, and others of
such an oddball nature that they seemed of questionable taste to my
sensibilities. There were appetizers on many serving stations, but there was a
limited selection of types, so it seemed odd too.
Then the Sat. "Diana Ross" concert took a few oddball turns when the "house
band" on stage kept appearing between big-name acts (Wayne Brady, Andy Garcia
and a Cuban band, Seal, and Ross), so it ended up being about 1/3 of the
entertainment, and was pretty monotonous and not that good. A preview of
"Jersey Boys" was also included, and that looks great (show opens in April).
Surprisingly, people left the concert in droves when Diana started "singing" -
apparently lipsyncing pre-recorded music (no band or backup singers), or at
least singing with herself. Also the big screens overhead which were so helpful
earlier so that the huge audience could actually see the performers, suddenly
went to blank - whether because Ross is getting old (who could tell with all
that makeup and huge wig anyway) or because of lipsyncing (which was obvious
anyway). It was very annoying, which may also have led to the early exodus.
At the end of the show, the music ended, and Diana said "One more time..."
apparently expecting to go into a nice encore, only to have the music remain
off. She said "oh, no more music" - seemed confused - and exited through
the curtain without a goodbye, leaving the audience with jaws dropping open.
Very odd. "Host" Wayne Brady had his show going on, so he only did the
opening - which also seemed odd. Why not close his show and have him announce the
guests and do numbers or something in between, instead of the house band?
The show was too long and that house band really diluted the impact of the
better performers. Seal was the best thing, as everyone commented afterward as
we tried to figure out what was going on with the Diana Ross part.
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