Key Points:
- The word “Renovated” may be a stretch, but the hand-me-down furnishings from MGM Grand elevate the room.
- Excalibur is getting back to its budget roots, offering $3 margaritas, happy hours, and $5 blackjack.
- Starting at $51/nt after fees, this room is a good deal for value seekers.
Excalibur’s Resort Tower has recently received attention and is prominently labeled “Newly Renovated” on the website; the biggest difference being “new” furnishings from MGM Grand’s main tower, inherited during that property’s own renovation project.
Considering it’s been a decade since my last stay at the castle, I figured it was time to stop in and gauge the value proposition of these freshened-up rooms.
Adding to my intrigue are the slew of budget-stretching promotions available, including $3 margaritas, $5 blackjack, and dining deals at TAP Sports Bar.
Room and Check-In
My “Newly Renovated Resort Strip View King” room (that’s how they’re labeled on the website) was complimentary thanks to my play within the MGM Rewards loyalty program. I was still on the hook for the resort fee + tax of $51.02.
10 years ago, I had to stand in line in the medieval-themed lobby, but on this trip, I leveraged mobile check-in & keys via the MGM app instead.
As has become the norm for my stays at MGM properties, my room was ready at 11 am, well before the standard check-in time. Armed with digital keys, I waltzed past the hotel lobby and up to my room on the 27th floor.
Excalibur Resort King Review
The approach to the room was reminiscent of my previous stays at Excalibur. The elevator had debris on the floor, etchings on the metal door, and the hallway wasn’t exactly generating much excitement.
First impressions of the 382 SF Resort King room were pretty solid. That said, the word “renovated” is doing a lot of work for a room with used furniture and new carpet.
It’s an improvement, but surface-level.
While I wasn’t a fan of this furniture over at MGM Grand, the autumnal color scheme just gave me “the ick,” as my teenager says… I thought it dressed these rooms up nicely.
It was in good shape.
The biggest change to the room I could discern, aside from the furniture, was the fresh carpeting, which is in good shape.
I was thrilled to find an empty mini-fridge, which I typically use to squirrel away lower-cost drinks, but that cost-cutting maneuver isn’t as necessary at Excalibur, thanks to the drink deals I’ll dive into later.
Nothing screams “budget joint” like plastic cups, but I’ll give ’em credit for the metallic ice bucket. Ritzy stuff.
The 55″ TV is abysmal. No channel guide, so you’re hunting and pecking to find something to watch, and the picture is fuzzy AF.
This was also the case in my Luxor Pyramid room recently, and it’s infuriating.
The A/C unit kept the room admirably cool and produced a delightful white noise.
One of my little gripes with older hotels is how small the windows can be compared to new construction, but my view north was pretty cool.
The bathroom is nothing special, but it works. Nearly everything is unchanged except the shower, which replaced the tile walls with a white faux-tile surface.
What’s Not To Like?
I aim to give the whole story when reviewing hotels, not just the good, so that you can make a more informed decision.
Aside from the fuzzy TV mentioned above, the bathroom had a few blemishes, including a perma-stain on the floor, a crusty faucet handle, rogue hairs, and rusty overhead light fixtures.
Next to the bed were some wall dings, and a patched section of wallpaper you wouldn’t expect to find in a truly renovated room.
Lastly, I detest connecting doors like the one on the right. I could hear my neighbor’s conversation as clear as day, but thankfully all was quiet at night.
Resort Experience
Excalibur’s resort Experience has recently been significantly enhanced for budget travelers, and this was the main reason for my stay.
Food & Drink
Let’s start with the best first: All casino bars are serving $3 margaritas around the clock. It was damn good for $3.
In addition to the margs, Excalibur has rolled out happy hour deals at bars & restaurants property-wide, which I detail in my rundown of Strip Happy Hours.
I thought Excalibur’s new Tiki Bar was a fun novelty, and they also offer a daily happy hour from 5-7pm that includes:
- $5 domestic beer
- $6 imported beer
- $8 cocktails
I grabbed dinner at TAP Sports Bar because they’re running a 3-for-$33 deal, but I got sidetracked and ordered from their Restaurant Week Menu (which has since ended).
My Restaurant Week Deal got me all this for $40.
The food was great; I couldn’t eat it all, and they’re still offering the 3-for-$33 deal, which includes an appetizer, an entree, and a choice of a soft drink or a 16-oz domestic draft.
I’d eat here again in a heartbeat. You should too.
It was also a fun venue to catch the game.
Excalibur’s collection of dining options don’t venture far from the budget end of the price-quality spectrum, including a second-level food court, a buffet, Dick’s Last Resort, and Buca di Beppo.
The resort shares a hoppin’ intersection with MGM Grand and NYNY, and is also connected via free tram & indoor walkway to Luxor & Mandalay Bay to the south. There’s plenty to eat nearby, if you don’t like the options within the castle.
The Pool
Excalibur’s pool complex is large, relatively “unfancy”, but hardly a slouch. I visited the moment it opened, so the majority of it was unfortunately roped off.
There’s a lot of water, though.
Uniquely, the pool is open to the public for $10 per person, or $30 for a family of 4. The cabanas are among the cheapest on the Strip.
The Casino
I love the look of Excalibur’s gaming floor, as the medieval theming is still thick. During my visit, they were dealing $10 craps & roulette in addition to $5 6:5 blackjack, which is offered 24/7.
Verdict On Excalibur’s Renovated Rooms
There’s a reason I’ve avoided Excalibur for nearly 10 years. It’s just not my preferred hotel (yeah, I’ve grown to be a bit snobby).
That said, MGM’s value push sucked me right back in. I’m a sucker for cheap drinks, and the $3 margaritas are a HIT. I really hope they keep it going.
I’m too much of a degenerate to bet just $5 per hand, but the $5 blackjack table was packed every time I walked past, and folks were lining up at TAP to take advantage of the 3-for-$33 deal.
The room itself is far from perfect.
The TV sucks, the room is dinged up in spots, the bathroom gives off “motel vibes”, and I think “refreshed” is a more appropriate word than “renovated”.
That said, I love the addition of an empty fridge, you can’t go wrong with new carpet, and I thought MGM Grand’s old furniture worked.
While I’d describe my room 10 years ago as “depressing”, this one felt “upbeat”. I liked the look of it more than I anticipated.
Starting at about $51/nt *after fees* off-peak, this is a great deal for the right person.
I’m a former software salesman turned Vegas aficionado. While the craps table is my preferred habitat, I pull myself away to explore new attractions, shows, restaurants, and outdoor activities around Las Vegas with the intent of sharing my experiences.
Ultimately, I just want to help folks plan a better trip and save a few bucks in the process.