Last weekend, we got to spend a night at the newly-opened Encore at Wynn Las Vegas. It was the second night of our trip after spending the first night at the Las Vegas Hilton. A review the LVH will get posted tomorrow. We arrived pretty early on a Sunday and were greeted by not oen but two valets as we arrived. The first thing you notice is RED. They introduced the theme at Wynn and boldly extended it, particularly the chandeliers in the casino, big and 100% red.
The other "big" difference between Encore and Wynn is butterflies as the background element instead of flowers.
There was only a small crowd in the lobby. A nice touch is there isn't a queue line but actual person directing you to the shortest check-in line. After only about 5 minute wait,
we were checked in. We were offered a room on the 20th floor with a north strip view immediately or we could wait for a south facing view.We choose not to wait and were up to the rooms in a few minutes. The room, in a word, awesome. Much like the rooms at Wynn but much more intimate feel with the divide between the rooms. Though not a true suite, the wall is sufficient to achieve the result. The room is loaded with the latest whiz bang features. Flat Screen TV with multiple inputs, automated drapes even a fax machine/printer if you have a USB cable. The lights, drapes and even the "Do not disturb" sign are automated and controlled by a little box next to the bed. The bathroom is huge with dual sinks, large bath tub and a stand-up shower. Other amenities in the room are a safe, mini-bar, robes and a scale. The room just feels top-notch through and through. The north facing view did not disappoint either. From the 20th floor, we had a great view of Fontainebleu going up as well as out to downtown and beyond. It was definitely good enough to stare at for more than a few minutes.
The best part about the room was the price... $159 on NASCAR Sunday and I could have gotten Monday free if we were staying the extra day. As a result, both Encore and Wynn seemed to be pretty busy the entire time we were there. By contrast, we walked over to Palazzo for dinner and it did not have nearly the same action. Steve Wynn apparently gets it. In the new economic world, you better offer value or you are going perish and that is what he is doing. For that same night, we could have stayed at Luxor for $109 or get Encore for $50 more. Where are you going to stay? We felt like high-rollers just sitting in that room and after all, isn't that what Vegas is supposed to be about? For 24 hours, I didn't even think about my 401K balance!
The one draw back to the 5-star luxury is a lack of comfort amenities that we enjoy; no quick eat places even a coffee joint. All of the restaurants are high-end, including the "coffee shop" and room service prices are through the roof. So while it was certainly an great experience staying at Encore, it will never be a place I can stay at and not leave for an entire weekend like I have done at the Palms and South Point. But definitely something everyone should experience especially now that it is such a deal.
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1 comment:
I pretty much agree with your review, as I actually had the privilege of staying at Encore for 4 nights during my last visit to town. The one drawback is that everything's so darn expensive that it's nearly impossible to stay on site 24/7 and not pillage one's own entire bank account. But since I'm not one to stay put for very long, I was just fine.
During my entire stay at Encore, I was treated like royalty. Concierge never complained when changing my reservation for Daniel Boulud. Room service never harrassed me about my requests. Even the casino staff were pleasantly helpful when directing me to where I needed to go to cash my ticket or ask questions about my Red Card!
Everything I tried there was superb! Sinatra is now my new favorite Italian restaurant, and Daniel Boulud is my new favorite French Brasserie. Le Reve was a truly fabulous dance/theater production, and thanks to my "VIP Indulgence Pass" I was able to get into Blush (Wynn's boutique nightclub) for no extra charge!
Basically Steve Wynn upped the ante by creating Wynn & Encore, and all the other big Vegas players need to catch up. MGM Mirage has ruined Bellagio while Harrah's has not let Rio age gracefully. Hopefully the recession is a wake-up call for the Vegas casinos and all the rest of them will soon follow Steve Wynn's lead in bringing real hospitality back to the "hospitality industry"
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