Visitreno

[alison]

Hi Everyone,
Just wondering if any of you have stayed/played here? Is it a nice place? Are comps generous?

Just wondering as i am looking to expand outside of the Peppermill.....

Ali

[remano]

I haven't stayed there but I visit there occasionally. First, it is big by Reno standards. When it first opened as the MGM Grand it was the biggest hotel in the world, shortly to be eclipsed by the one in Vegas. Before GSR it was the Reno Hilton. The new owners came in with big plans many of which have not yet materialized. Foremost among those is the plan to build the world's biggest indoor water park, which seems to be going nowhere. They also converted the top several floors into condo's which, I am told, are not selling. They say the other floors are being remodeled.

What they did get done was to renovate the casino area (new carpet, new machines) and bring in some new restaurants and clubs including two Charlie Palmer restaurants and a Nikki Beach Club. The buffet is also pretty good. The pool area is very nice but plain - no lazy rivers, wave pools or sand beaches. They also have a nice second run movie theater. For $3 you can see big name movies after they've run their course in the major chain theaters but before they come out on DVD. They also do a lot of concerts both in their showroom and in an outdoor venue when weather permits.

The gambling is OK. I don't play slots so I can't say about those but the video poker is good. Their poker room is very active and they have lots of tournaments including some very big money events. Their blackjack used to be horrible but when I was there about a month ago they had gotten rid of many of the CSM's and shoes and gone back to better single and double deck games. Since then I have received a mailer saying that they have liberalized their blackjack rules. I don't know if that means they made more changes or if they are just referring to the changes I just mentioned.

It is off by itself with not much of interest around it, but I suppose not much worse than Atlantis or Peppermill.

[jerry]

I think Remano is far and away your best source.
Having said that, I'll chip in.
I have never liked the place. Not the bigness, it is just that I never found slot machines that I liked to play. When I found anything of interest at all, it was in too high a denomination.
I could never find decent video poker anywhere in the casino.
Rest rooms were always pretty nice though.

Maybe things have changed but I am not inclined to waste my time going out there.

OTOH, I used to call on them for business purposes. It was interesting to visit the executive offices and see the grand plans on the walls. They always looked real fine. Troub le is that none of them ever materialized.

I used to love the breakfast buffet. Even juice tasted fresh-squeezed. But they remodeled and it went way down hill. I haven't been back since, maybe 2-3 years.

So, as I say, Remano is a better source and certainly more recent. I would simply caution one not to expect too much. They always reminded me of a Harrahs operation. Nuff said!

[Mammothgambler]

Hey Alison,

I haven't been there yet either but several of my neighbors here have, I have heard mixed responses. I've heard the rooms are nice but the casino is so-so. On my last trip to the Pep I bumped into a couple who were checking out to move over there so I guess it's to each his own. As many times as I've been I keep forgetting it's right there by the airport (although now I'm coming into town on the Virginia Street side LOL)

Mammothgambler

[lvbear584]

I've been harshly critical of the casino operation in the past (see Grand Sierra — “Luxury resort” meets sweatshop operator: http://www.thebeargrowls.com/?p=50 ). However, management has made some badly-needed changes and the place has become more patron-friendly.

Some better blackjack games have been installed. Room comps are easy, and "free play" is generous. Actually, it is better than free play, as it is just handed over to the patron in cash. No play requirement at all.

For Alison's benefit, comparisons to the Peppermill:

GOOD:

1. The rooms are adequate, about equal to the Peppermill non-suite rooms.

2. There is now less sweating the money at table games than there once was; and much less than at the Peppermill.

3. Exact comp balance is readily accessible by inserting your player's card into a machine, like JA Nugget. Not a "military secret" like Peppermill.

4. Grand Sierra needs business more than does the ever-crowded Peppermill, so it is usually easier to get more freebies from the hosts.

5. If you care about such things, there is a lively nightclub.

6. There is a 24-hour sundry shop near the room elevators.

BAD:

1. Self-parking is far away and inconvenient.

2. Valet parking is usually slow.

3. Sports betting comps are not as generous as Peppermill's, but still better than most.

4. Many employees with bad attitudes who let their disdain for their employer show through. Of course, often this can be worked to the patron's advantage.


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Opinions and Commentary on the Gaming Industry: www.TheBearGrowls.com

[alison]

Thanks everyone for all the replies.

Have yet to venture in there so I might give it a try. Just to see.

[mommy2boys]

We have never stayed there, but have played there. I have done ok there on nickle and pennies, but my hubby hasn't had any luck on dollars. I have done some shopping in the mini mall and found some cute things although they were a little pricey.

Have fun and good luck