Hotel Reviews
Travel Tuesday: MGM Grand King Room Review Revisited
It’s been a while since I’ve added to my Las Vegas Content Bonanza™. Well, that’s also because it had been some time since I last had a chance to visit Sin City. But, back in January for CES, that changed. This time around, I spent a week at the MGM Grand — which happens to be a hotel I’ve reviewed before. But, because it’s been a couple of years, I thought I’d see what (if anything) was new.
So, with that, let me walk you through my 2024 stay at the MGM Grand in a King room.
In the interest of disclosure, I once again want to note that my room at the MGM Grand was complimentary thanks to my friend’s casino host.
Another Stay at the MGM Grand
Checking in
In the past, I’ve had pretty good success with MGM’s mobile check in. Specifically, I’ve used the app to get my room details but then headed to one of the iPads they have set up in the lobby to “print” my own physical keys. So, I went with this strategy again, telling the MGM Grand when I expected to arrive.
When I landed in Vegas and made my way to the Grand, I was a bit surprised to see that my room was not yet ready. In the meantime, I walked myself and my luggage over to the Shake Shack to have lunch and use my Amex Gold Card credit. Sadly for me, even after taking my time eating, doing some work while at Shake Shack, and walking back to MGM, there was still no update on my room. Plus, the line at the desk was pretty long — so I didn’t want to make it even longer, just to get to the desk and be told “Yeah, it’s not ready.”
As I stared at the Platinum Lounge from the lobby, wishing I were good enough to hang out in there, I turned around to notice that there was a Gold Lounge as well! Seeing as I was still Gold at the time, I headed over there — mostly just so I’d have a better place to sit while I waited. However, when I stopped at the desk, they were able to find me an open room. Moreover, the team member even walked over to the main desk to ensure she could snap up the room for me. With that, I grabbed a quick glass of sparkling water and finally headed up to my room.
Elevators
I already gave the MGM Grand’s elevator banks a passing grade in my previous review — while also jealously gushing over how the Skylofts at MGM Grand have their own dedicated elevator. Well, this time around, my friend was again staying in the Skylofts, so I decided to test something. After using his key to gain access to the elevator itself, I tapped my key and selected my floor. To my surprise and delight, it worked! Granted, this strategy wouldn’t have been an option if I didn’t happen to be on a floor also serviced by this bank of elevators, but I was pumped.
As cool as it was, I only got to experience this joy once and spent the rest of the time using the normal elevators like a normal person. But, things were actually pretty chill during my CES stay and I never had to wait more than a moment or two for an elevator. So, consider that passing grade renewed.
The room
Funny story. When I first had the idea to do this review, I thought I was reviewing a different room type from what I did before. Turns out, that wasn’t the case. Why did I think this? I don’t really know — although I will say that I don’t remember there being a couch in the room last time as there was this time. As for the rest, though, it was the same.
To keep it short, the room is a pretty good size and the bathroom is fairly nice. The downside here, as is the case in many other hotels, is how thin the walls are. Luckily, the CES crowd tends to be a bit quieter than the regular weekend guests, so this wasn’t too big of an issue for me.
One amenity that came in clutch this time was the vending machine on each floor, which accepted credit cards. Although I didn’t love paying $4 each time I wanted a bottle of water, at least I didn’t have to go downstairs or wait in line to get it. Also, this isn’t to suggest that these machines are new — just that I used them this time. If you’re asking “what about the minibar?,” well, I couldn’t get it open. Looking at my previous review, the same thing happened! So maybe you need to ask for a key? Who’s to say?
Something that was new since my last Vegas visit was The Sphere. As luck would have it, my room was facing in such a direction that I could see the building’s much-hyped projections from my room. This came in extra handy as I was able to tout that the What If? ad was playing on The Sphere, giving me content for the Disney site I write for. Alas, for that video, I had to venture closer to the structure since my room had a wrap over it (promoting either Jabbawockeez, Hakkasan, or David Copperfield, I believe.) It was impossible to get a good photo or video by zooming in. But, from the bed with my own two eyes, it was fun to watch.
Dining
During this particular stay, I got to check off a couple of dining experiences from my list of want-tos — and even sampled a relatively new location. First, my friends and I dined at Morimoto, located in The District. After a sushi appetizer, I opted to get the “ishi yaki chashu bop.” In simple terms, this dish is a bowl of rice served in a hot stone bowl and is cooked tableside. So, essentially, it’s fried rice, but fancy fried rice made in front of you.
As delicious as this dish was, I do have some warnings. First, while the cooks prepare the item for you, I recommend giving your pork a bit more time on the hot surface as you may encounter a cold bite if you don’t. This is ironic because, as I discovered, the rest of the dish remains remarkably hot for a while. Look, I love fried rice and was very excited to get it — so I probably wasn’t as patient as I should have been. In turn, the roof of my mouth was a disaster afterward. Still, I loved this dish and would get it again if I could control myself. Also, this dish was definitely pricey for the serving, but that’s par for the course in Vegas these days.
The other restaurant that I’ve walked past dozens of times but never had a chance to try until now is Grand Wok. Actually, I ended up eating here twice during my stay — and on back-to-back nights. In each case, I opted for take-out and was thankful for the online/mobile ordering feature. This is also where I used the MGM Rewards Points I earned from completing my Resort Hopping Offer.
Across the two nights, I had potstickers, orange chicken, and rice — all of which were delicious. Unfortunately, though, I failed to pick up a fork on my first visit and ended up eating the rice with my hands. Yes, I resorted to this option rather than trying to go back downstairs. I admit to my flaws.
Finally, another place I happened to patronize twice while at the Grand was the Slice Shop at Luchini Italian Restaurant. While I usually frequent Pieology in The Underground for my MGM Grand pizza needs, I couldn’t resist the NY-style slices here. This pizza absolutely hit the spot (hence the return visit), even if it was still frustratingly expensive. Side note: this Slice Shop is not only next to the table service restaurant it’s a part of but is also near the entrance to a speakeasy. I didn’t go inside said speakeasy, but I did clock where the entrance was. Hint: check the vending machines.
Of course, these are just a few of the many dining options you’ll find at the MGM Grand and nearby Strip locations. So, as long as you have your credit card and a good amount of available limit, you’ll do fine.
Final Thoughts on My Latest MGM Grand Visit
Once again, my stay at the MGM Grand was solid. What’s more, it turned out to be the perfect location for my needs as it offered me easy access to the Monorail when I needed to head up to CES but also put me near the South Strip spots I love so much. Plus, being able to see The Sphere from my room turned out to be an unexpected bonus. So, if you’re looking for a convenient place to stay on the Strip, depending on the rate, the MGM Grand is worth a look (and grab yourself a slice of pizza!).
Per FTC guidelines, this website may be compensated by companies mentioned through advertising, affiliate programs or otherwise. (Note: advertising relationships do not have any influence on editorial content. Advertising compensation allows Money@30 to provide quality content for free. All editorial opinions are those of Kyle Burbank.)
Author
Other Articles by Kyle Burbank
Quick Tips
Travel Tips
Travel Tuesday: Transferring Points Between MGM Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy
Last year, MGM Resorts announced that it was breaking off its long-standing partnership with Hyatt... but then nearly immediately revealed a new deal with Marriott Bonvoy. At the time, I was hopeful that pact would mean enticing status matching as it did with Hyatt, but that sadly turned out not...
Quick Tips
