A few times a year the Borgata offers special hotel packages at reduced rates. The current deal is the Suite Escape Hotel Package, which includes an overnight stay in a Fiore Suite, $100 in Dining Credit, 2 Comedy Club Tickets (Sunday through Thursday) and $50 Bonus Slot Dollars. Whether this is actually a deal depends on your personal circumstances. Let’s break it down.

Notice it’s FROM $179. You must phone to book the package and when I did, I found out that there is only one date, Monday, November 13, when the package rate is $179 and that is for a King Fiore Suite. A Fiore Suite with two Queens is more expensive, but if I were to book a Fiore Suite, I’m going to have a Fiore Suite Party and may need extra sleeping options!

But let’s figure that I want the least expensive option, a King Fiore Suite on Monday, November 13 for $179. (I know there’s a big couch and extra floor space in a Fiore Suite because I once slept in the foyer of one, during the 21^st Birthday Celebration of the daughter of my friend. Earlier that evening, I gave an impromptu video poker lesson to the youngsters so they could earn free drinks.) Anyway, I was quoted a total price of $219.20, which would have to be paid in full at the time of booking, although it is fully refundable up until 9pm on the day prior to the arrival date.

Interesting Maths

But, that $219.20 total did not add up correctly.

$179 – Base Package Rate
$25.06 – Total tax they quoted me
$22.36 – $15 Resort Fee plus tax, $2 Tourism Promotion Fee plus tax, $3 Casino Room Fee
$226.42 – Total, which is $7.22 more than $219.20

So, I called back to get a clarification and was told that my play merited a $79 room rate. Go figure, as I’m persona non grata at the Borgata, but this confused me further because the difference between $226.42 and $219.20 is only $7.22, but my room rate was a full $100 lower. For the third time (I called a second time, because I thought maybe I made a math error) I asked if I could have a specific break down of the taxes and fees, but I would have had to be transferred to someone else, as the agent did not have this information. When I declared that I was only trying to find out exactly what I was going to be charged for, this third agent said that there were taxes on everything in the package, so supposedly it included sales tax on the $100 dining credit and the two comedy club tickets, valued at $30 each. $160 x 6.875% is $11. The numbers do not add up at $79 a night OR $179 a night.

You should get clear and concise pricing information for any reservation you make and it’s a good idea to keep documentation of it, in case you have to dispute charges later. I did not actually book this reservation but am going to proceed as if I did and that the total package price for a Monday night in a King Fiore Suite, $100 in dining credit, 2 comedy club tickets and $50 of Bonus Slot Dollars, plus all taxes and fees is $219.20. (The customer service employees I have encountered at the Borgata are very courteous and professional, but I believe that the corporation purposefully limits the information that their representatives have access to, so they cannot properly answer specific inquiries. I’m getting tired of getting vague information when I ask a direct question. On multiple occasions, I have been given a stock reply that has nothing to do with my question. The fact that these non-answers are delivered in a super polite way is really irritating.)

Related: Living the Mlife: World of Hyatt Partnership

Back to the matter at hand. Is $219.20 a good deal for the package? You are paying for the room, food and show, although at a lower rate than Borgata usually charges. If you would normally pay for these items or you have an occasion where you’d like to stay in a suite and have a nice dinner and would be spending this amount anyway, then it is a bargain.

Fiore Suites are very comfortable and have an unusually large and luxurious bathroom and there are numerous dining choices at the Borgata where you can have a really lovely meal for two for $100. You could even stretch those dollars further by taking advantage of the special menu at Izakaya on Monday nights and save the excess for breakfast on Tuesday. I’ve always enjoyed going to the Comedy Club, though I’m not sure I would pay $60 for two tickets. If you would gamble anyway, the $50 in Bonus Slot Dollars cuts down the cost further. Of course, the taxes and fees are mandatory, even if you were being comped or got a lower rate. The prices start at $299 for a Friday night, which might be valuable if you don’t want to take a day off.

Bottom Line on this Offer – “maybe” $20’ish Fiore Suite

So, let’s sketch this out roughly:

$220 for the Package includes:
$100 in food
$50 in free play
$50 in taxes and additional fees if you’re going to a hotel in AC and paying NJ sales tax.

That leaves a total of $20 for the Fiore Suite itself. It doesn’t really break down to $20 for the suite though, unless you want to pay $220 for this overall experience. Note also, that I chose the least expensive package that I could get and MAY have gotten a casino rate discount for the room.

Although it wouldn’t be worth it to me to book this package, it is worthwhile to scan special offers and deals, in case there is occasion to save money on a splurge. This might be a decent opportunity for someone who wants to experience a Borgata suite but does not gamble in the casino.