May 11

May 11 Viva Las Vegas - The Signature at MGM Grand

Isn’t it confusing when brands try to create different sub-brands at different price points? Like when Armani confusingly had Exchange, Jeans, Emporio, Collezioni, Giorgio, Prive, among many others? Well, the MGM has this strategy with the MGM Grand, The Signature at MGM Grand and Park MGM. Confused? Hopefully this article sheds a bit of light between the MGM Grand and the Signature at MGM Grand.

Overview

MGM Resorts International is the parent company of MGM Grand - beyond just that hotel, in Las Vegas it owns other properties like Bellagio, Aria, New York New York, Excalibur, Luxor. The Signature at MGM Grand (which I will refer to as the Signature) is located right next to the MGM Grand. Instead of being a true hotel, it is a condo hotel, similar to One King West. Owners can rent out their rooms anytime, either through MGM or through 3rd party booking sites like Airbnb.

The Signature is comprised of 3 towers - we stayed at the closest first tower. The entrance was very car friendly, but unfortunately not very pedestrian friendly given this was indeed America.

On the topic of car friendliness, one should note that the Signature isn’t technically on the Las Vegas strip. That meant a leisurely walk was needed to get to most places, which took about 10-15 minutes.

Personally, I didn’t mind it much as that means the area was quieter at night (something that I didn’t appreciate until I walked the streets at 1am). And that I needed to work off the calories from all the buffets. There was a walkway through which you could access both the MGM Grand and Las Vegas Strip.

You can also enter the hotel from the MGM side as well, although after hours will require a key card.

Check In

The check in area was nightly decorated, and reminded me of an upscale hotel (even though this was Vegas lol). The check in associate was quite friendly, and was able to waive resort fees based on my MGM Gold Status. Pro-tip for Vegas: Always check those resort fees as they can range from between $30-50 a night, and are literally cash grabs. And while MGM Gold members were typically given upgrades, the fact that we were staying during a busy long weekend meant an upgrade was not available.

Instead, we were given the keys to a Penthouse level Deluxe Suite. There was a young couple before us that tried to argue for a higher floor, but were unfortunately denied. Turns out MGM Status overrides young love.

However, they probably had the last laugh: half of the elevators broke down, leaving the staff to shuttle us up and down using the hotel’s maintenance elevators! Prehaps it was due to someone not obeying the below sign…

After that long wait, we walked through the dated halls of the Signature to our humble home for the next couple days.

Room

The 550 Sq ft room was a mix between a hotel and condo building: upon opening the door, we were greeted with a kitchenette / microwave, whirlpool spa and separate shower, things typically not found in a hotel room.

The highlight of the room was a massive king sized bed that was quite comfy.

The was also the option of a large sofa bed, which was understandably but decidedly less comfortable.

Anticipating a travelle’s needs. here was a chair / lamp next to the bed to stow one’s belongings. Note that this bed was made up by a kind housekeeper, who interestingly didn’t take the tip we left them.

There was also a desk in the room, although I discovered it was more of a decoration than an actual desk - thankfully my boss did let me off for the weekend.

At this point there would usually be a bathroom picture. Unfortunately, the only picture I got was below. For reference, there were 2 sinks, as well as a separate toilet.

Part of the reason for a lack of bathroom pictures is that we spent all the time trying to get the hot tub to work, but we weren’t able to find the controls.

Amenities

The Signature is connected to the MGM Grand, and allows access to all of the latter’s amenities (both good and bad). Starting with the good, there is actually a fairly reasonable fitness center in the Signature. It’s not a proper gym, but it does have a wide range of machines and free weights.

While we didn’t venture in, there was also a Grand Spa and Fitness Centre at the MGM - protip, look on Groupon for cheaper spa / massage places. The one we went to in Chinatown (yes, Las Vegas has a Chinatown), was amazing and tackled all the right places.

Another great thing about saying at the MGM Grand is the access to the massive pool…that unfortunately has half closed off. However, we were informed that the pool would be fully opening in March 2022.

Extras

How was gambling? Well, there wasn’t that much difference between the hotels to be honest in terms of things that were actually offered. Remember, the fantastic hotels are built on the amount of money people lose. That being said, there food and entertainment in Vegas are second to none.

The Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars Palace, pictured above, is amazing but expensive at around $60-80 a pop. The combination of variety and quality is unparalleled, particularly as many buffets tend to cheap out on one of those. The MGM Buffet, pictured below, is half the price, but ultimately did not turn out to be as much of an experience as Bacchanal.

The outside of casino buildings are attractions in and of themselves, especially since casinos offer a homogenous product (gambling games are generally the same and “hot” tables don’t really exist).

Final Thoughts

Hotels in Las Vegas differ mainly by the length of time they have been renovated. The Signature at MGM Grand in my opinion hit a sweet spot: not new enough that all the kinks (okay, outside of the elevator) were worked out, but not old enough to be outdated. While I was slightly annoyed at the walking distance required to get to the Strip, overall our hotel was a great experience. It featured amenities like kitchenettes and sofa beds, while not being outrageously priced. You’ll be spending plenty of time outside your rooms in Las Vegas, and have an affordable, clean and modern place to rest your head is typically what you’ll be looking for. The Signature, being at around ~$150 during a busy weekend, hit that mark.