MyVegas

“myVegas” Musings


Blonde4ever Muses about MyVegas…

I am not sure if this could be considered a valuable topic or not, but I intend to share this story anyhow. If you are a Vegas nut like me and hang around Vegas forums and Facebook groups, you have undoubtedly heard of the Playstudios game called MyVegas. It came into being a few years ago, and when the game was new, the rewards were fantastic. I managed to snag three nights in a Mirage Tower suite in 2013. It was the nicest set of rooms (you can’t call it “room” singular) that I have ever stayed in, and I was thrilled. I tried to “pay for my stay” by playing in their casino as much as I could afford.

Pictures from the Mirage Tower Suite

As time progressed the game changed; it became harder and harder to earn points, the prices of the rewards went up, and the rewards themselves were not as appealing. You couldn’t complain considering that it was a game you played for free. A frequent topic of conversation among MyVegas players nowadays is how we should best utilize our points to get the most value.

I have managed to amass over a million points, but like many people, I am having a difficult time figuring out what to spend them on.

Last spring I spent some points to stay one night at Mirage and for a “two for one” breakfast buffet. It is annoying to me to stay one night in any Vegas hotel; no sooner have you moved in than it is time to check out. I did not want to do that again this spring. I was wishing I had the option of spending two nights at one of the MLife hotels, but I learned that those rewards seemed to be saved for those who spent money on chips to play with. This is not something I have done in the past, but maybe if I bought a few sets of chips, I would get offered a two-night stay and be able to use up some of these MyVegas points I have just sitting around.

So I started purchasing chips; don’t ask me exactly how many as I am not really sure, but let’s just say it is a slippery slope. Once you start buying chips and playing higher…the gambler in you wants to continue. After spending about $50 in chips, I earned a fourth reward which I did not care about obtaining anyhow. Eventually, I started to see two-night stays appear, but not at the hotel I wanted; ARIA. If I am going to do this thing I might as well try for the nicest hotel, right? Finally, after a few more chip purchases a two-night stay at ARIA appeared, and I snapped it up.

MyVegas

No, I did not spend as much in chips as I would have spent to stay there two nights anyhow, far from it and yes I know about the resort fees. I will have to make my next trip a long one to be able to use this reward, but I think I can swing it.

Initially, I was thrilled that I had the reward I wanted, but then I got to thinking. “Ok, so I am staying at a fancy hotel but it will be at the very end of my trip, and I may be low on cash by then. Will I be able to afford to eat at ARIA?” I went online to study all the restaurants offered at that hotel. I would like to point out how much I hate the current policy that restaurants have of not putting their actual prices on their online menus; instead, they put a collection of dollar signs. If the restaurant posts three dollar signs I should not enter, if they post four dollar signs I should not get within twenty miles of their door. If they post two dollar signs, they describe that as being “moderately priced,” but that is open to interpretation. A “moderately priced” dinner to some might be an “out of my budget” meal to others. I wonder if they realize that they actually lose customers because of this policy?

I know there are people who say if you have to ask you shouldn’t be there or in Vegas at all for that matter, but I disagree. There are many of us who live on a budget and have only so much to spend a day on our Vegas trips. We have the right to enjoy Vegas like everyone else. If I look up a menu and see that the soup is $7 and the roasted chicken is $20 and I know I have enough to pay for that meal, then I am more likely to dine at your establishment. I don’t want to walk in, sit down and study the menu only to realize the prices are too high for me and to have to slink back out the door.

When my ARIA stay comes up, I will have to see if I can afford to have actual meals. I don’t drive so there will be no venturing to far off places and I have some mobility issues, so I am not willing or able to wander for miles in search of reasonably priced food. Aria does have a 24-hour “cafe” so I am hoping that the prices there will be manageable for me. Otherwise, my meals may consist of noshing on nuts and fruit in my room.

Even though this MyVegas stay gives me some new things to worry about, I am still grateful to PlayStudios for providing this game and allowing me experiences I would never have otherwise, but I STILL have a million points to spend!

[Photos: Blonde4ever]

37 thoughts on ““myVegas” Musings

  1. I stayed at Aria (through MyVegas) and bacon and eggs at 3:00 am in that 24 hour cafe was $20.

    You used one reward for your room, you can use three more for buffets. One for dinner on check in day, one for lunch the next day and one for breakfast on check out day. Or you can get a free crepe with MyVegas. Or walk across the street with your POV and get a Planet Hollywood breakfast for $10 after using the $10 coupon.

    There’s always ways to save money in Vegas.

    Side note: I am down to about 700k points. First time I have not been over a million in yearssssss. Too bad Stations are no longer partners.

    1. Thanks for the tips! I do intend to try and get some of those Aria buffet rewards. I stayed at Cosmo once and went across the street to eat at Planet Hollywood, but Aria is a much further “hobble” lol. No POV this year.
      I am sure I will figure it out…I always do!

  2. Excellent points, Bonnie….I’ve had similar experiences yet continue to play…in spurts. And once I’ve accrued enough points to “go shopping”, there’s really nothing to buy that fits into my plans. Especially now that they’ve rolled out the parking fees, am I going to pay ten dollars or so to redeem a ten-dollar free cocktail voucher? Of course not. The offers for free show tickets are very slim anymore, and often just sit there with “Sold Out” notifications, as if they’re place-holders and incentives for people to keep playing in hopes that those rewards will be available again. It’s frustrating, but yet here we are.

  3. I have to say I think it was nuts of you to buy chips hoping to get 2 night rewards, then buy more to get Aria.

    I mean, if you are buying because you like to play their game, go nuts.

    But addressing your math of “I spent less on chips than a 2 night stay at Aria” to rationalize:

    The comparison is not to the cost of a room rate at Aria, because you probably were not going to STAY at Aria. That higher room rate is one you would never have paid. You compare what you spend on the chips plus the resort fees and extra you spend on food to what you would have spent at the Plaza or wherever else you would have stayed. And then the increase in room quality is the intangible tie breaker.

    MyVegas for the last couple years have done 2 night rewards on select november and december nights for even people who did not buy chips. The rewards are declining. The terms and conditions are constantly more limiting. Buying chips was a mistake. If the rewards were no use anymore, it was a reason to stop playing, not buy in.

    1. Well…this is not the first time I have been accused of acting ” nutty” and I am sure it won’t be the last. I am staying at both of my usual haunts this upcoming trip, the Plaza and the D. I will have my son in town and he spends that first night with mom, then his buddies hit town the next day. I was hoping to treat him to a posh place just for fun and this was a way to do it, but sadly their room availability is super restricted and I could only stay at Aria after he has gone home.
      I do enjoy playing the game and I am sure I will enjoy my brief stay at Aria.

  4. Fantastic article, Blonde! I really, really wish I was going to be your Roomie on this trip, (To see YOU of course, not to be able to stay at the ARIA, hahaha).

  5. I quit playing quite awhile ago. I refused to spend any money on it and needless to say the decent rewards dried up. I did use a few while they were available though.

  6. I won’t pay for chips, though I did get up to about 950K when i stopped actively playing.

    For my upcoming trip in April, I was able to snag a BOGO for a helicopter Strip tour from Maverick, so I am kind of excited about that. Also got a BOGO for a Bellagio dinner buffet. We will be walking distance, so the parking fee at Bellagio won’t be a concern.

    Part of me hopes that I have a ton of chips when a cruise appears, but I likely wouldn’t be able to work around the fixed dates that would be offered.

  7. I have never spent money on chips and have played since the game started. We have used coins for buffets and starbucks, on six different trips. I admit this has kept us going to just MGM properties for meals. We always have comped rooms. But if there are no rewards for buffets I might actually start going into Caesars/Harrahs properties. Free meals gets us in the door, and we can use dinner money for gambling. Too many choices to go to-they need to make me want to choose them. But the games are mindless fun to play when watching tv.

  8. When I went last I used my free ticket to shows. It took a while, but I scored Love and Fantasy. The third one I used as a two for one at Aria’s buffet. I love that buffet. My son went with me. However, we parked for free behind Bally’s. It would be a longer walk now were I to go to Aria and want to park for free. The shows I did on the bus.
    I regret the loss of Station Casinos. I was just starting this year to leave the strip and downtown for most of my trip, and I thought that I’d manage some free station deals.
    Two years ago I had two free nights at Red Rock ( and “free” meant no resort fee) Last year I booked one night and my son another so we had two free nights again (but they had dropped the spa as free)
    I actually had booked those nights for cash, so I saved $263. What gambling we did, we lost. We bought a nice meal at the Yardhouse and had a great father/son talk. I had some wonderful halibut. On buffets it is hard to get good fish. This was perfect. It was one of only three meals I paid cash for in 20 days.
    I used MyVegas Sunset Station coupons when I stayed out Boulder. So, I was sorry to see them drop off the game. I’m still collecting and sharing chips daily, but I don’t play much at all on MyVegas. When I amass a couple million, I play them off in high bets.
    I have not bought any.
    But then I am really not a slot player, so I don’t get the fun benefit. Adding Laughlin into my trips makes rooms so cheap that I don’t use many coupons from anywhere at all. I’m grateful to all the freebies this promotion gave me. I’m surprised it lasted so long for frugal guys like me. Once, in early times, my wife came along (rare) and in 3 days we redeemed $700 in value in shows and food.
    I now get better value from the Boyd Casinos, even when I pay the price of a room and don’t gamble, as I do at the Gold Coast. Both Sam’s and Orleans send me great free room offers on VP play that is full pay. Include senior day in that, and I eat two meals for free. If I am going out to Boulder at the beginning of a trip, I print up some Eastside Cannery coupons from their Webpass games. The vouchers have to be printed and redeemed within 7 days. Last trip I ate one buffet and one breakfast for free.
    Perhaps I had a matchplay as well.
    Nice article, Bonnie. Nice to see these discussions published in a new venue.

  9. I’ve been playing since late 2013, I’ve never paid a cent for chips (have 30 million+), I’ve always had the option to get all rewards – 2 nights at Aria etc (level is 325). It’s a great game, last year I used 250,000 gold coins for $200 on Royal Caribbean. This year went to Vegas on 1/1, used 150,000 coins for $50 Freeplay at MGM, free buffet at MGM, free buffet at Aria, and I got a fourth reward on a drink at Lobby Bar at Aria. If you want to eat at Aria, I recommend Lemongrass (only items you recognize like curry or pad Thai)

    1. Strange…how different people see different rewards. I was level 724 and had no two night offers (Except in winter months when I don’t go) until I decided to buy some chips last month.
      Thanks for your comments

  10. congrats on snagging Aria! never mind the critics, it IS ok to look at the food prices. I am a budget traveler in Vegas for sure. expensive dinners are worth nothing to me, other than a few minutes of pleasure, but I would rather indulge in gambling. I use coupons and look for lunch / dinner specials. this allows me to do Vegas 3-4 times per year instead of 1 or 2. I would much rather do this than going once a year and blowing everything in one trip. I missed out on the early days of “myvegas”. :-(

      1. Garden Court Buffet all the way! Get your SDX pass and then eat for $10 every day! More gambling money = More Happy.

  11. Always love reading your articles. Here’s a look at the prices at the Aria 24 hour cafe. They are at the top, select which tab looks interesting. The food at Aria, to me, is always overpriced. The buffet is fancy, but again very expensive. I agree that the MyVegas rewards have gone down, which is unfortunate. I won’t pay for chips or points.

    http://www.google.com/#q=aria+cafe+menu

  12. What you can try is go to Yelp and see if anyone has posted pictures they’ve taken of the menus at the place you’re looking for. Once in awhile you’ll get lucky.

  13. Ignore anyone who has scolded you, it’s your vacation and your money and you should spend it in ways that make you happy. I know I’m adding to the echo chamber here, but I love the Aria Buffet – such a great selection of foods. Another idea that no one has mentioned is that there is a tram that runs between Aria and Monte Carlo and Bellagio. I know Monte Carlo is under renovations but there are probably some decent offerings still available at a lower price point, and Bellagio has a cafe which could change things up from the Aria cafe. And you wouldn’t have to walk that weird, long stretch between Aria and Las Vegas Blvd.

  14. The food is overpriced. The cheapest places are the pizza place and the burger bar.

    Do keep in mind that you can duck over to Monte Carlo’s food court if you like to eat fast food via the underground walkway if you have the mobility for this. It’s more expensive than fast food at a stand alone restaurant but it’s cheaper than the Cafe.

  15. The Menus have no prices as they change them depending on the day “Surge Pricing”. If conventions are in town or the weekends. Bar prices change too. Thats how MGM is operating these days….sigh.

  16. Thanks for another great article! I’ve yet to be able to cash in my own myVEGAS points. I have enough for a free night at the Aria which I may use to cap off a future trip after staying somewhere else a bit less pricey. I wish they would make the Vdara available, though. I too lament that deals aren’t what they used to be.

  17. Bobby’s Burger Palace is right outside of Aria – the burgers were delicious and reasonably priced ($10-$12 each). Also lots of reasonably priced eats at Monte Carlo (at least there were a month ago, who knows with the ongoing “upgrade” of MC to “The Park”)

  18. I’m a buffet nut so that’s usually my big meal for the day. But after a couple days I get sick of so much food and want something really light and good.

    I tried out the counter inside Julian Serrano where they have tapas. I only go for the Happy Hour which I think ends at 4:00. Each dish is may $4 to $7 and I usually get 2 or three and a drink. They have Sangria for $5. A little on the high end for my budget but you just want to eat something that tastes good and the decor/location can’t be beat. I’ve always had pretty good service, it’s not too crowded and I never feel rushed, just sit and relax. Somehow I feel more relaxed and taken out of the strip madness when I’m in there – the lighting is nice I feel a little pampered even though I’m not spending too much and it’s a break from the Vegas buffet rush where people seem to act like they haven’t eaten in days and have to step in front of you because they think they have to get their food first or there won’t be any left. Oh yeah, even the bathrooms are “pamper me” quality.

    The prices are ridiculous at dinner so skip that. Aria is problematic. Too much high end dining that would only be a once in a while or once in a lifetime kind of thing. Even their cafe which looks good served me a really stale muffin with watery coffee. I think the tab for coffee and muffin was 8 or 9 dollars. Just incredibly bad as far as price and quality goes, although even most Starbucks on the strip charge $4 for the coffee.

    The quick eat joint oner at Bellagio has a steak sandwich for about $11.00 You’re right their by the casino. The shop is right next to the nightclub which used to be called “The Bank.” I think it’s called something else now.

    I hate spending too much money on food, especially if I’m alone. I’ll go out of my way for whatever buffet has the best price/value happening. I’m addicted to Jules buffet videos. She keeps so current on which buffet is still good or is slipping.

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