Bellagio Is Upselling VIP Access to a Garden That Is Famously Free

^{Would you pay to drink adult beverages here at The Watering Hole at the Conservatory and Botanical Gardens? (Photo: Kerry Bilicki / X.com)}

Bellagio recently announced two new ways to enjoy the beautiful Conservatory and Botanical Gardens alongside its refreshed summer display that opened in June. Anyone can pay to enjoy cocktails during the evening at The Watering Hole. Additionally, MGM Rewards members Gold and above can enjoy a complimentary Golden Hour once a month.

The Bellagio Conservatory is still free for anyone to enjoy on a daily basis. However, guests who want to take the experience to the next level now have dining and drinking options.

These adventures aren't cheap, but they're not crazy expensive. The prices are in line with what guests might expect at a luxury casino resort like Bellagio.

Inside The Watering Hole Cocktail Hour

The Watering Hole is available three times daily until Sept. 12, when the summer display closes. Reservations for The Watering Hole are available at 6 p.m., 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.

Guests can enjoy cocktails and small plates in an intimate setting within the Botanical Gardens and Conservatory for 90 minutes. The price is $500 for up to four guests and $1,000 for five or more.

Paying $500 for four people works out to be $125 per person for 90 minutes of booze and snacks. Drinks and small bites at the nearby Petrossian Bar range from $12 for a beer to $40 for a "Bellagio Martini," while small bites and most cocktails are in the middle of the range according to various menus. On a related note, is it too much to ask for a bar or restaurant to include prices?

In my opinion, the average person should enjoy one cocktail every 30 minutes. They could probably enjoy a healthy snack during the 90-minute cocktail extravaganza.

Yes, this is a premium offering at a luxury resort, and it's not cheap. However, the price isn’t out of line for paying customers. 

This probably wouldn't be worth the upcharge for a beer drinker, but it might be worth the price for someone who enjoys the craftsmanship that goes into Bellagio's signature cocktails. 

Bellagio excels in many things, including drinks. The comp cocktails on the gaming floor are among the best in Las Vegas. Petrossian is as good as it gets for drinks, as simple as a vodka and soda. 

Comped Golden Hour: What Top-Tier Rewards Members Get for Free

Golden Hour is a new way for select MGM Rewards members to experience the Conservatory. Named after the time the sunsets and turns the sky "golden", this experience is complimentary for active MGM Rewards members at the Gold, Platinum, or NOIR tier. 

Guests can enjoy the display in a more intimate, much less crowded setting while sipping on a selection of complimentary alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Golden Hour offers these tiers of MGM Rewards members private access to Bellagio's Conservatory for up to two hours.

The event will take place monthly (with the exception of November) from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. for the rest of the year on the following dates:

• July 17 
• August 21
• September 18
• October 16
• December 18

To access this event, members must present a card at the entrance near Giardini Garden Store next to Michael Mina.

Bellagio Conservatory Still Free (for Now)

Sorry rage baiters, this is not the end of free entry to the Bellagio's Conservatory. Bellagio still has some of the best free attractions, including the Fountain Show, the Conservatory, and even Chihuly art on the lobby ceiling.

Las Vegas casino operators have been trying to monetize every square inch of their properties for decades. We’re in an era where everything has a price, and nothing is free, so adding some events to generate revenue isn’t much of a surprise. 

Hotels have been charging more for certain views, including the Bellagio fountains, for years. More recently, restaurants have been either charging a fee or requiring a minimum spend for nicer views.

Last year, Carbone Riviera at Bellagio announced it would require guests to spend $175 per person for anyone sitting outside on the lake with a clear view of the Fountain Show. Even Giada at Vanderpump Hotel across the street requires a minimum spend of $125 per person for this view, even though it feels like the show is a mile away.

Aside from the Conservatory closing to the public for two hours every month, nothing is changing in the day-to-day experience. Guests who want to pay for a unique experience can do so.

MGM is also using the Conservatory to offer an exclusive amenity to the highest-tier rewards members. This is only about 5% of the 50 million MGM Rewardss cardholders who generate the majority of the company's gaming revenue.

This could just be the beginning of the company looking to monetize unique experiences or use them as a way to bring more guests to the property. It will be easier to make unpopular decisions like this if the company accepts People Inc.'s offer to go private since they won't have to divulge the information to investors.

Don't be surprised if there's a bean counter in MGM's corporate offices trying to figure out how much guests will pay to rent the Conservatory for weddings or special events. Along with the economic boost from convention visitors, those corporate group events generate big bucks!