January Las Vegas girl's trip report

Being one of the lucky few to still get offers from Venetian and Palazzo I took advantage of my latest one for $300 free play, $75.00 food/bev credit and 4 nights at Palazzo and booked it for a girl's trip starting January 10th.

I flew in a day earlier then my 2 girlfriend's because I was taking my friend Socalgirl who lives in Vegas out for her birthday on Monday. My Southwest flight from San Jose to Las Vegas was smooth, luggage came out quickly and using my gold grazie card for a free ride to Palazzo on the Executive shuttle was quick and easy since Palazzo is the second stop after Venetian. Check in at Palazzo was also smooth and I was in my suite with the usual view overlooking Treasure Island.

I quickly unpacked and had a hour before Socalgirl picked me up for dinner so I was quite happy when the first slot I tried the $5 Wheel of Fortune pictured above gave me a spin on the 2nd push and I won $400. I then went to my favorite Wolf Run and had a couple nice hits on it including the one above.

Socalgirl was on time as always and she drove us to Cosmopolitan for my first look at it in person and for us to meet another friend Doris who lives in Alaska and had arrived in Las Vegas on Saturday. While walking into the casino we passed this display of Buddha's that had coins on it and made our own small offering.

Cosmopolitan Identity Club Benefits

One of the views of the Cosmopolitan Casino's Chandelier Bar!

When I signed up for the Identity player's club card at Cosmopolitan on January 10th, I showed my Grazie gold card to the desk and asked to be upgraded. They said I would have to speak to a host and tried to reach one, but for some reason they were having a lot of trouble that evening finding a host that wasn't busy, so eventually by phone one of the hosts said to go ahead and upgrade. My friend Socalgirl was previously upgraded by a host too by showing her Gold Grazie Card and I've heard from others that CET's diamond card should also get upgraded. Excuse the finger below but it's hiding my name and number, however that's what the Gold Identity card looks like.

When the details of Cosmopolitan's player's club "Identity" went online on their site, the following was posted as tier benefits. They no longer seem to be online so perhaps they are no longer accurate? When I return and stay there over Valentine's Day weekend, I will try to verify the following.

EARN ANYWHERE
As a member, you accumulate Identity Points on all types of spending at The Cosmopolitan: be it dining, spa treatments, entertainment, gaming… or simply staying a night with us. So, it’s more than slots and table play – you earn Identity Points for all your favorite experiences, too.

TO EARN 10 IDENTITY POINTS, YOU NEED ONLY SPEND:
$1 on room or suite accommodations, $4 on other resort spending (e.g., restaurants, Sahra Spa & Hammam, Marquee Nightclub & Dayclub), $10 in any shop, $15 wagered on reel/video reel slot, $50 wagered on video poker, $100 wagered on table games (approximate – varies by game type)

REDEEM ANYWHERE
Our members’ passions and preferences vary. That’s why Identity Membership lets you choose from a rich variety of benefits – great experiences that you’ll find only at The Cosmopolitan.
Just a few of your options…
Dinner for two
Spa treatment
Free room upgrade

STAY 8 GET 1
With Identity Membership, you get a free night after staying just 8 nights at The Cosmopolitan. And since you earn points for your spending on experiences and game play, you’ll rack up Points faster than you do with most other Vegas membership programs.

ENJOY A HOST
Identity Membership makes it easier for you to earn access to a personal host. Because we recognize your spending on experiences as much as slots and table play, you don’t have to be a high roller to reach Platinum status… where a personal host will treat you to the utmost in hospitality.
At The Cosmopolitan, personal hosts give guests the ultimate in special treatment including,
Custom-tailored benefits
Complimentary benefits
Special access

OWN THE COSMOPOLITAN
Identity Membership gives you additional complimentary benefits for joining and for reaching higher membership levels. All new members start at the Silver Level, and we increase the range of benefits at the Gold and Platinum Levels. At each Level, you’ll get privileges to increase your...
Enjoyment: giving you more ways to have fun
and
Ease: giving you more time to have fun

OVERVIEW OF IDENTITY MEMBERSHIP LEVELS-

SILVER MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS
ENJOYMENT
Inside information to get the most out of Vegas from Zagat
EASE
Access to special offers and unpublished room rates
To qualify, simply enroll… for free.

GOLD MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS
ENJOYMENT
Upgrade to terraced suite (when available)
24-hour advanced ticket sales and/or invitations for headliners and other entertainment
Complimentary fitness center access
Arrival amenity
Upgraded turndown service
One in-room movie per visit
Birthday champagne toast
Invitations to special tournaments
More inside Vegas information from Wallpaper
EASE
Dedicated Gold reservations hotline
Early check-in and/or late check-out (when available)
Priority buffet line
VIP nightclub access
Qualify by earning 20,000 Identity Points in a 12-month period.

PLATINUM MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS
ENJOYMENT
Personal host service
Pool host service
Insider tours of restaurants (kitchen tour, meet the chef, etc.)
Preferred seating in restaurants (e.g., prime outdoor tables)
Deluxe arrival amenity
Deluxe turndown service
Complimentary Sahra Spa access
Enhanced Sahra Spa services
Access to member lounge
Access to chauffeured limousine
EASE
Dedicated Platinum reservations hotline
VIP check-in
Priority valet


WARNING, since the above doesn't seem to be on the Cosmopolitan site any longer it may no longer be accurate!Guaranteed room/suite availability
Complimentary transportation to/from McCarran airport
Qualify by earning 80,000 Identity Points in a 12-month period.

Jaleo at Cosmopolitan Review

Jaleo's menu, click to enlarge. 

Tapas restaurants are all the rage these day on the Vegas strip as the last 8 weeks has seen Mandalay Bay's, Fleur De Lys restaurant by Hebert Keller turned into Fleur a tapas restaurant, La Cave opened at Wynn and now Jaleo by Jose Andres has opened up at the new resort Cosmopolitan. Jose Andres, original Jaleo restaurant in Washington DC has been one of the most successful tapas restaurants in the country now for almost two decades.

Paella station below during a quiet period. Usually there was about 3 chefs around there cooking and it can get a bit warm if your table is in that general seating area.

There was three in our party, Alaska, myself and Socalgirl whose birthday we were celebrating. We were seated at a comfortable booth raised up a level but close to the Paella station.

Since we had already had a couple fine cocktails in the Cosmopolitan casino I was the only one to order a drink and my deconstructed Clementine Martini was marvelous. There's a short video of our server preparing it in the video clip section of my blog. Don't think the deconstructed part was just a gimmick, the drink itself was great just the right amount of sweet and sour and I would order it again.

We ordered a lot of plates among the three of us to try. The first to arrive was the pan con tomate which was a excellent bruschetta but nothing that stood out from ones I have had at other restaurants.

Croquetas de pollo, traditional chicken fritters is in the above photo. They were tasty and a good choice for anyone who likes more meat and potatoes type of food.