My first meaningful return to Sin City in over a decade took me to the Conrad Las Vegas at Resorts World, a Hilton hotel. A nice hotel, but not for Diamonds.
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Location
Resorts World is the latest major hotel and casino property to open on the Las Vegas Strip, the first in ten years. At the end of the Strip past the Fashion mall but before Circus Circus, Resorts World is a little over a mile from the heart of the action but a brisk 30-minute walk brings it all relatively close. Not to overstate the fact, heading south is a continuation of the Strip and walking it is to pass by, and through all of the hallmark casinos, hotels, and restaurants you’d expect, while the north features a much rougher area. Within two blocks destitute drug users are on the street, openly using narcotics. Don’t go north.
Address: 111 Resorts World Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Phone: +1 702-676-7000
Property
The dual tower Resorts World is home to anything a visitor could want, spa or fitness, retail shopping, 40 restaurants and bars on-site, a casino, a theater, and three hotels along with a large conference facility.
Honors Benefits
Before we dive deep into what Hilton Honors benefits actually are at the Conrad, let’s see what they should be:
“Space-available room upgrades – If we have a better room available, it’s yours – up to a 1-bedroom suite.” and more specifically for Diamonds “DIAMOND: At Waldorf Astoria® Hotels & Resorts, LXR® Hotels & Resorts, Conrad® Hotels & Resorts, Canopy™ by Hilton, Signia by Hilton, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Curio Collection by Hilton™, DoubleTree by Hilton™ and Tapestry Collection by Hilton™ properties, Diamond Hilton Honors Members may receive upgrades to preferred rooms up to “junior”, “standard” or “one-bedroom” suites. Preferred rooms may also include those not on the Executive Floor but conferring Executive Lounge access, the next-best available room types, rooms with desirable views or amenities or other rooms identified as “preferred” by the hotel and may vary within each brand .This excludes executive suites, villas, specialty accommodations/floors/towers, and “Club” accommodation types, such as but not limited to the Sakura Club at Conrad Washington, D.C , Club Signia at Signia by Hilton hotels, Citrus Club at the Arizona Biltmore, and the Enclave at All-Inclusive resorts, unless the initial booking was also an Enclave-level accommodation.”
“2 Bottles of Water – Applies at Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, LXR Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Curio Collection by Hilton, DoubleTree by Hilton, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, Embassy Suites by Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn properties. Bottled Water is not free at properties with a resort charge that includes Bottled Water.
“Food & Beverage credit equal to the value shown in the table below is provided for the Member and up to one additional guest registered to the same room each day of Member’s stay. The Food & Beverage credit may only be used in the hotel’s designated restaurant(s) or Executive Lounge.” “Conrad Hotels & Resorts = $25/day”
In what is perhaps the single most indicative way the hotel could express its lack of respect for elites or even program members, let’s discuss your chances of an upgrade. There is no chance of an upgrade at this property. Despite paying around $400/nt for a standard room, plus hundreds in taxes and $45/nt in resort fees – I received none of these benefits.
“We have you in a standard room [facing the pool]” I waited for the front desk staff to indicate what room I’d be staying in. Nothing came. I know all about the Vegas $20 trick but, first, it’s no longer $20, and second, that doesn’t work with another agent free next to her.
“Do you have a Diamond upgrade available?” I loathe having to ask this question but did it all the same as I would be in residence for five nights.
“We can upgrade you to a suite for $75/nt.” She said.
“What does a Diamond [free] upgrade look like?” I asked.
“I’m sorry, but we are oversold so there are no upgrades available.” She said.
“But you just offered to upgrade me for $75/nt, so you’re not oversold and there are upgrades available which my status allows.” I said.
“No sir, your status allows you an upgrade to a Strip view, not a suite.”
“So if you’re oversold at the lower levels, but have a suite the hotel is not oversold, the category is. So you’re going to upgrade a non-Diamond member? I don’t understand.” I said.
“Sorry, we are sold out.” She said possibly correcting herself.
I know a dead-end conversation when I see one. That was the end of it. There were no instructions on where or when to redeem my daily $25/day/guest food & beverage credit nor an offer for two bottles of water daily. The daily food and beverage credit is available solely in the sports book restaurant of the 40 on-site venues that include a street food market with an Asian flair. If you have any hopes at all of your 60 nights/year being rewarded at the Conrad Las Vegas, you’re sorely mistaken.
Room
The room was nice but not worth the cost, especially without the benefits. Walking in, I found a spacious room with a closet (and robe) to my left followed by the bathroom. After the bathroom is a triggered minibar with additional snacks and an intimacy kit for purchase because, well, this is sin city.
To the right is a dresser and built-in luggage rack underneath what appeared to be a 60″ screen equipped with smart tv casting. At the wall, floor-to-ceiling windows, a small cafe table with accompanying lipstick-red leather chairs, and a bed with premium sheets.
The bed was incredibly comfortable and featured four long pillows and premium sheets. The nightstands had space for electronics, but one side only operated with the lights on which was unhelpful. There was also a buzzing sound that appeared to come from the minibar but I couldn’t be sure.
Bathroom
The bathroom was the highlight with a separate water closet door for the toilet, large double vanity, and a huge shower with a built-in bench. The toiletries were nothing less than premium, and I would have loved to take a sampling home, but they were attached to the wall of the shower. Many hotels have switched to this as the small bottles are wasteful, but in a premium hotel such as the Conrad, securing them also to the countertop seemed to downgrade the experience.
Overall
The website boasts a cabana experience with its unique pool (which appeared to be staffed with lifeguards) but I didn’t get to experience this as it was a surprisingly cool 60-70 degrees during my stay. I don’t know if my room was intended to provide “views of the Las Vegas Strip” but from what I could see, they were actually over a rooftop, and of a vacant lot. The website lists it as “conveniently located” but that is on the periphery of the truth. I was there for a convention and didn’t have time for the spa or fitness treatments. The daily resort fee is a bit of a gut punch given that not even the daily bottles of water were adhered to. Toll-free calls from the landline phone are useless for all guests with a cell phone, internet access was serviceable throughout the property.
Value
The room and quality of the hotel warrant the price paid if the hotel adhered to its commitments to the Honors program and its privileges. If hotels are generally full in Las Vegas (as they were during my stay) and the guest doesn’t have status with Hilton (no disappointment) then $300-400/night seems fair. But even guests without Hilton status will not get their money’s worth on the $45/day resort fee. Those using points to pay for their stay will find a dynamic rate somewhere between 65,000 and 80,000 points per night and this is about the average value one should get for their Hilton Honors points. There are plenty of places to stay in Las Vegas with this level of attention to detail that will charge less and treat guests better. Stay elsewhere.
What do you think? Have you stayed at the Conrad Las Vegas at Resorts World? How was your experience?
I stayed at the Crockfords and thought the room itself was excellent. Their rooms are only on the upper floors so the views are fantastic. I don’t recall the cost because work was paying but I don’t think it was more than $200/nt midweek. No diamond recognition there either and the good restaurants at the resort all closed early. It’s also very far from the action. If you are going to the convention center or don’t mind driving everywhere it’s probably fine. When the area around it gets built up more it will probably be more lively.
Isn’t Amex’s FHR the way to go in Vegas?
A. Not sure where you ever got the impression that Hilton will ever upgrade a Diamond in the U.S. They don’t. Ever. Upgrade. Anyone. Period. A few upgrades overseas..sure.
B. I doubt many Diamonds spend 60 nights a year at Hilton. Nor do I think you do, Kyle. Have no idea why but I spend maybe 10 and I have been Diamond for years without any effort or knowing why. They throw it around to anyone and, as such, it means absolutely nothing to everyone.
Bonvoy is bad. Hilton is right there with them for other reasons.
@Stuart – Welcome back.
A. They do. There are reviews on this very blog, several of them. And yes, many more overseas, but your statement is patently false and the proof is published and public.
B. Wrong once again, Stuart. I’ve been clear that this year and last I did not qualify for Diamond (published this just last week) but I do, in fact, qualify by nights or stays. Three years on nights, one year on stays separate and apart from the extensions during COVID.
I won’t say that Hilton Honors is anywhere near as bad as Bonvoy, but the Conrad is openly flouting its commitments to Honors members and that’s a bad start. If you want the Hilton customers, you have to give Hilton benefits.
Don’t be silly… Who on this blog has got an upgrade at a US Hilton? Is DCS writing articles on Tuesday now?
Thanks for the honest review. So many reviews gloss over the question of whether the hotel is a reasonable value. Vegas is a unique case and some of the other chains are pretty upfront about limits on elite benefits. I try to avoid vegas but when I most go have found IC ambassador benefits were honored (in theory those are guaranteed). Hilton and Bonvoy, not so much. Cannot speak to other properties.
Not sure if it’s actually an honest review, the rooms are just fine and it’s not that much for a night. Room rates in Vegas varies a lot depending on the day or what is going on in the city. Seems that the writer doesn’t know that and expected a lot of freebies…you don’t get that anymore anywhere in the world.
@Martin Stone – Welcome to the blog, we are happy to have you. I think I describe the room as you do, “fine” and then give some of the room rate variations in the Value section which refelct occpancy changes and days of the week. I included the benefits as they should have been to be clear that was what was promised, and then made it clear what was delivered.
If you visit Outback Steakhouses because you belong to their loyalty program and in so doing gives you free drinks, an appetizer, and a secret menu item, you’d be more likely to use them. But let’s say you go out of your way to eat at an Outback and they charge you for the drinks, the appetizer, and there’s no secret menu because that location just doesn’t want to do it – would you be upset, or nah?
I went midweek in October and I think a slow period for Vegas in general. I was able to book the Conrad for about 50k in points. Lifetime diamond and I think the agents can see the different kinds of Diamond in there system. I’ve stayed at other US Conrads and I don’t think I’ve been given a suite upgrade except at the Chicago Conrad #1 (now another hotel brand). Chicago Conrad #2 hasnt interested me enough to book a stay.
Even a late checkout request was denied unless I was willing to pay $50 for an extea hour. That was more annoying than the no suite upgrade, I was given their highest floor so the view was nice enough.
The food beverage credit was fine to me even though limited to one restauramt. I found the food good and the service friendly.
Overall, I was happy enough for my overnight stay. I checked in near midnight and was gone by noon.
Hahaha. Your check in experience was very similar to mine. Except when I went to my room, I realized that not only did I not get an upgrade, but they downgraded me from a strip view to a non strip view. Complaining at the front desk didn’t help. But filing a complaint to AMEX FHR and Hilton Diamond desk corrected their error with hotel credits and future voucher. In probably will not stay there again.
Unwritten rule of any hotel loyalty program: they don’t actually apply in Las Vegas.
Vegas competes for big spenders; not road warriors. They don’t care if you spent 60 nights at Hampton Inns, aside from the fact you probably have a little bit of disposable income. They’ll throw some watered down benefits at you accordingly.
The elite treatment actually goes to those who have a proven history of spending (big) money at their casino.
I continue to not understand why people just don’t book casino hotels directly, or book hotels via something like Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts where benefits are actually provided. I have had little or no interest in the new Hilton properties in Vegas, besides maybe as a redemption. Much rather stay at the Wynn across the street. And Hilton destroyed the best hotel in Vegas (Mandarin Oriental) already.
I stayed at the RW Conrad in late Aug. I had a 2 night comp (+$90 resort fees) from playing in the casino in July. I’d rate it 3 stars based on broken furniture, not cleaning my room with the clean req tag on the door and a big fail on the online check in feature. I waited over an hour at the Starbucks sipping a juice as I kept checking the app. I gave up and went to the front desk. He immediately put me in a low floor when I chose a very high floor. I complained and got a mid floor. Sigh so it began. I’m Silver via my Amex. My IT traveling days are over. I was Gold just missed Diamond. The property is nice but the Hotel needs work. I mean a broken drawer in the dresser below th TV was much. I miss comps that are what they say.
If staying at the Conrad RWLV on FHR program, is the “free daily breakfast” also limited to Dawg Haus at the sportsbook? What happened to The Kitchen or SOBO? That’s crazy to have no choice of eateries, and Dawg Haus is
super loud with blaring music.
I stayed at the Conrad December 2021 and was upgraded from a strip view premium room to a suite without asking. I am a diamond (lifetime now but not then) and have never had my diamond status given to me – when I check in at most Hilton Resorts, Conrad Miami etc I do get acknowledgment and often an upgrade. Depends on how busy the hotel is and who checks you in (and how you treat them 🙂
Good luck to those trying out the Conrad LVRW .:: I’m headed there this week to try it again. Fingers crossed because my experience was awesome!!
PS – clearly I stay at Hilton properties a lot but my opinion Hyatt has the best reward / points program. I use that one whenever possible!