Last month, I booked the Palazzo Las Vegas Resort Hotel for $149+ tax on an American Express Fine Hotel & Resorts rate. I love visiting Las Vegas because it’s such a short hop from Los Angeles. In May, I Planned a Quick Jaunt to Las Vegas On A Budget Using Miles And Elite Status. I also love AMEX FHR rates because they include early noon check-in, $100 dining credit (in this case), daily breakfast, and guaranteed 4pm late checkout.
I rented a car from Budget at McCarren LAS Airport using American Airlines miles. I wrote a guide on How To Use American Airlines AAdvantage Miles And Elite Status For Cheap Car Rentals. I arrived to the Palazzo at noon and used the “Invited Guest” Check-in because I was booked on a FHR rate.
The front desk agent handed me a welcome letter that explained all of the Amex FHR benefits. I used the $20 trick and she could not upgrade me to a better suite, but was able to secure a Premier Passaporto di Carnevale coupon book (valued at $1,400), four drink vouchers, and gladly waived resort fee for me.
I booked a standard Luxury Suite at the Palazzo. The hotel is basically an all-suites property.
The Luxury Suite contained a king sized bed with a sunken living room.
The bathroom was very spacious and luxurious with its own vanity area tucked away in the corner.
The bathroom also contained a separate shower and bathtub.
The best part about the room was the view overlooking the Las Vegas Strip.
For the $100 dining credit, I used it at Chef Mario Batali’s Carnevino restaurant. Be aware that you can use the dining credit spread over at any restaurant listed on the welcome letter. This is a new change because previously, you had to use the $100 dining credit in one setting.
To start, I was served a cheese ball which was compliments from the chef. It tasted like a Brazilian Pao de Queijo.
I ordered a Medium-Rare Bone-In New York Strip with mashed potatoes which was delicious.
I used the $40 breakfast credit ($20 per person) the next morning at Grand Lux Café. I ordered eggs and hash browns which was basic, but fundamentally delicious.
I had a great time at the Palazzo and utilized the 4pm late checkout which was granted. After I checked out, I received a call from the hotel asking me if I would participate in a brief survey about the hotel linens that I slept on the previous night. Apparently, the hotel was testing out new linens and I was lucky enough to be in one of the random rooms to be chosen for this survey. She offered me a $50 credit back to my credit card for a 5 minute survey which I gladly took in a heartbeat. With this $50 credit and no resort fee, my total out of pocket cost for this hotel was just $99 + tax which is a bargain considering I ate $40 worth of free breakfast and $100 worth of free dinner.
I really love staying at the Palazzo. In addition to the spacious rooms and variety of restaurants, I’ve found the service to be consistently great as well … I’ve stayed there both on “comp” as well as “paid” stays and found the experience to be the same. Spending a day at the pool was nice too … even in 100 degree weather 🙂 The thing I like the most is that it’s not a “party” hotel … the atmosphere is a bit more subdued (for Vegas at least) than some of the other hotels on the Strip … more of a “refined” feel to the place.
you’re right – it’s not a “party” hotel like the cosmopolitan or wynn/encore
I need to learn more about the Amex fine hotels and resorts program. Looks like some great benefits!
Vegas has the best uses as far as the Amex FHR program goes….
The 4:00 pm guaranteed late checkout that you received is particularly sweet! Allows you take one of the later eastbound flights … and get one last round in at the slot machines or to sleep in 😉
That survey was like icing on the cake! Good review, Thanks Jameson.
Is the AMEX Plat required for these bookings and benefits, or can a person book with another AMEX, like the Delta Plat?
I have a Sept. booking at the Palazzo, booked with an IHG card. However I just received a new AmExp. Platinum card which I need to learn about maximizing the benefits. My question is: Would there be any benefit presenting this at check-in, since I didn’t book with it?
you must book with the Amex Plat card on americanexpress.com/fhr on a FHR rate in order to receive Fine Hotel & Resorts benefits. There will be no benefit presenting your Amex Plat at check in if you booked anywhere else.