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Just 10 short days after visiting Las Vegas with Team TPG for Vegas Uncork’d, I was scheduled to return to Sin City to celebrate my birthday with family and friends. I had just experienced a great stay at The Palazzo Las Vegas and was excited to try out a different property this time around — I’d heard great things about the Wynn Las Vegas from many people and decided to give it a try.
The Wynn and its sister hotel, The Encore, are not members of any major hotel loyalty programs. However, if you’re an Amex Platinum cardholder, you can book your stay through the Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts program, which entitles guests to special perks that can add up to hundreds of dollars in value.
I booked my stay with my Amex Platinum card, so when I checked in, the agent explained that I would receive one $40 daily breakfast credit per person (for up to two guests), guaranteed late check-out (no later than 4:00pm) and a $100 credit for spa services. The Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts program also offers other perks like noon check-in and a complimentary room upgrade, both of which are subject to availability.
The best part of booking through the Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts program is the complimentary 4th night, applicable at select properties. While not as widely available as the 4th night free perk of the Citi Prestige card, it’s undeniably one of the top features of the program. Luckily, the Wynn participates in the complimentary 4th night, so I was able to save almost $300 on my stay because of it.
Check-In
My Southwest Airlines flight from Newark (EWR) landed on a Wednesday afternoon, and as soon I was off the plane, I quickly made my way to the Uber pick-up location outside the terminal. After a quick and uneventful ride from the airport, I arrived at the hotel and headed to the check-in desk, once again worried that the lines would be terribly long. Amazingly, I lucked out again and there were just a few other people in line along with me. Lesson learned: Wednesday is definitely the day to check-in to your hotel in Vegas!
When it was my turn to check in, the agent came from behind the desk and brought me up to the counter to begin the process, which I found to be a great professional and personal touch. The agent found my reservation, acknowledged that it had been booked with the Amex Platinum card and went on to explain all the benefits I would receive during my stay.
I was hoping to score an upgrade through FHR, but the agent explained that the only room type available at the time was a Double Room (two double beds). She went on to say that while an upgrade was not available at my check-in time, one could become available the following morning and that I should call back and check. I followed her instructions and while there was a room available the next morning, I was already settled in my own room, so I decided to stay put.
The Room
My room was located at the far end of the hall on floor 29. While not as large as my Luxury Suite at The Palazzo, this room certainly felt big enough for me and my belongings.
I opened the door to my room and stepped into the foyer, which was covered in light marble tiles. On the right side, there was a gigantic mirror that made the space feel a lot larger than it really was. Opposite that was the entrance to the bathroom.
Past the marble foyer was the bedroom area which featured two double beds separated by a night table and two reading lamps.
Across from the beds were two incredibly comfortable chairs covered in a light beige fabric. The room was very wide so when I sat in the chairs it almost felt like I was in a separate sitting area, which added to the overall luxurious feel of the room. The TV — mounted on the wall opposite the beds — seemed to be small for a space this wide.
Between the two chairs was a dresser that housed a fully stocked mini-fridge as well as glasses for wine and water — I appreciated the fact that this fridge allowed you to pick up a drink for up to 30 seconds before charging you.
The room also featured a selection of snacks — for purchase, of course. In true Vegas fashion, the hotel included a hangover cure kit, which they labeled “Bounce Back.”
My room featured a large bathroom with amenities such as a double vanity, soaking tub and stand alone shower. The hotel also included practical items like a hair dryer, scale and an assortment of lotions and other toiletries.
One peculiar feature in the bathroom was the TV built in to the wall. Maybe it was designed for people to watch while taking a bath, but from any other angle it would be uncomfortable to watch.
The bathroom included both a soaking tub as well as a standalone shower. Both were very nice, but I’m inclined to prefer a larger shower instead of having a tub as well. Overall, the shower was fine and had great water pressure, but it paled in comparison to the amazing shower that TPG Associate Editor Emily McNutt had during her stay at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.
The hotel provided shampoo, conditioner, body wash and lotion by Molton Brown, which I really enjoyed — I really wish I had taken some home to add to my collection of hotel toiletries.
Amenities
Another great perk that came with the package I booked through Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts was the credit for daily room service breakfast that was applied to my room. This allowed me to order breakfast each day — up to $40 per person for two people. On the morning of my birthday, I ordered as much as I could within the limit — the staff even included a special birthday cake to accompany my breakfast!
I found the Wi-Fi performance to be very strong, and it maintained my connection for the duration of my stay — unlike at The Palazzo.
The Wynn was truly a gorgeous property — all of the interior spaces were decorated in a whimsical but elegant way. The common area boasted a carousel adorned with beautiful flower arrangements that evoked a classic European style.
The areas around the casino featured lush landscaping with flowers, decorative tiles on the floor and trees lit with Christmas lights that formed a canopy over the guests. I noticed several groups of people in this area throughout my stay taking engagement or wedding photos.
One of my favorite features of the resort was the tranquil Lake of Dreams — a lake adjacent to the hotel that featured a 40-foot waterfall as well as nightly light shows. The lake was surrounded by restaurants that featured outside seating right next to the water. It was a nice place to sit, relax and get away from the noise of Las Vegas.
For me, the best part of this resort was the pool area. It was positively huge, but never felt overly crowded. It’s set on multiple levels, with the bottom being home to individual lounge chairs and the top featuring private pools as well as cabanas for rent. I had no problem finding a chair and experienced great service from all the pool staff members.
The Wynn’s pool is composed of two massive ovals at each end that are joined by a long, narrow strip with multiple pedestrian bridges passing overhead.
The European-style decor of the inside continues on the outside, with manicured hedges and brightly colored poolside cabanas.
No Vegas hotel would be complete without high-end shopping, and the Wynn had plenty of boutiques to keep even the most discerning shopper happy.
Often, the stores themselves were mostly empty, with an occasional person or two stepping in to browse. The individual stores seemed to be more of a marketing play for brands, as the storefronts were an attraction in their own right.
Bottom Line
I really enjoyed my four-night stay at the Wynn Las Vegas. My room was spacious, luxurious and supremely comfortable. But where this property really shines is its gorgeous public areas — from the lobby to the pool deck, it truly feels like you’re staying in a five-star property. Booking through Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts provided a great value for a property of this caliber. On my next trip to Las Vegas, the Wynn (and Encore) will certainly be near the top of my list for accommodations.
Source: thepointsguy.com