The Signature at MGM Grand was one of the first condo/hotel projects in Las Vegas. The idea was that people would buy suites as either residences or vacation condos and then recoup some of the cost by having them available as hotel rooms when the owners were away. Since it was intended to be a living space / vacation condo it includes amenities like a kitchenette, refrigerator and coffee maker that you don’t normally find at a Strip hotel. Additional dinnerware and kitchenware are available upon request, allowing you to take full advantage of the kitchenette.
The Signature is similar to a gated community. If you drive in, you will have to check in at the security gate on Harmon Avenue. If you are walking from the MGM Grand, you will need a room key to get through the access door at the far end of the MGM Studio Walk. While this adds an element of exclusivity, it also means driving or a lot of walking to get anywhere. They have moving walkways from the room towers to the MGM Grand which helps, but you will still have a long way to go if you are trying to get to the Strip.
The rooms are very nice. The basic suite is 550 square feet and feels a little larger than that. There is a nice sitting area and a small work/dining table. The bathroom has a glassed-in shower as well as a jacuzzi. There is also a small flat-screen TV in the bathroom. While I enjoy dining at the great restaurants in Las Vegas, it was nice to have the kitchenette available for snacks and smaller meals.
Rates of $100 per night during the week are not unusual, but the rates quickly go up to $300 per night during larger conventions. I have seen a few special offers that include room rates as low as $76 for some mid-week nights. The Signature offers AAA, military and Mlife discounts. You can find additional promotions on their Exclusive Offers page.
They do charge a resort fee of $29 per night ($32.48 after tax), so you will want to factor that in. The resort fee covers two bottles of drinking water per day (restocked in your fridge), fitness center access, high-speed internet access (in-suite and public areas), free local and (800) telephone calls, in-suite coffee and tea, in-suite safe, daily newspaper (available in lobby), boarding pass printing, and nightly turndown service (upon request).
Arriving by car can be a little disconcerting the first time. When you arrive you will stop at the security gate on Harmon (behind MGM Grand) and they will check your information, give you your valet parking pass (make sure to take one of the tickets on the pass) and let you know which of the 3 Towers you will be in. When you drive up to your tower, the valets will be eager to take your car. Unlike most situations, when you get to your tower and hand of the car keys, the valet won’t give you a ticket. That’s why you need to make sure you take one of the claim tickets from the parking pass the security guard at the gate gave you. You can use that claim ticket for the duration of your stay.
There is very little in terms of nightlife or dining available at the Signature. They have Delights deli and The Lounge which work in a crunch, but you probably going to want to head to the MGM Grand and its great dining options like Shibuya, Emeril’s and Craftsteak and nightlife options like Centrifuge and Hakkasan. Dining and other expenses can be charged to your Signature room from other MGM properties.
Each tower has its own pool. Signature guests also have access to the full MGM Grand pool complex and Wet Republic (some limitations apply). Fitness centers are available at towers 1 and 3.
If you are looking for an upscale room away from the action, The Signature may be right for you. It was perfect for my recent business trip where I knew I’d want to retire to my room to relax and soak in the jacuzzi after a long convention day. It would be inconvenient for my typical trip, though, and I think most Las Vegas visitors are going to find it too far away from everything.
