If you're going to Vegas, consider Mandalay Bay -- awesome!

AndrewR

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
11,157
0
0
I stayed at Mandalay Bay last week, and I was VERY impressed overall with the place. My wife and I have stayed at some very upscale hotels over the years (five stars in Paris and London, JW Marriott in Seoul), and Mandalay Bay is quite high on the scale. I used the "$20 trick" to get a larger room, and it was terrific. Service was impeccable in every respect, and the cocktail waitresses in the casino were the hottest I've seen apart from the Hard Rock (admittedly, haven't gambled at the Wynn, Hooters, Venetian or Bellagio which may be better).

Just a PSA for you in case you're heading to Vegas and want to be pampered. It'll cost you, but we thought it was worth it. We even walked away with an extra $50. If I had stayed away from blackjack, it would have been $200. ;)
 

thegimp03

Diamond Member
Jul 5, 2004
7,420
2
81
Try The Hotel at Mandalay Bay...you can find decent deals for it so you don't have to spend $500/night. It's pretty awesome.
 

AndrewR

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
11,157
0
0
Originally posted by: AgentUnknown
What is the $20 trick? Popping them a $20 works?

When you check-in, slip the desk agent a $20 bill and ask for a "complimentary upgrade". There's a thread about it at Fatwallet, and I think there's even a website which addresses it in even greater detail. Bottomline, it works over 90% of the time, and even when it doesn't work, you typically get your money back. Proof positive for me -- room was double the size of a standard room and had a strip view! :thumbsup:
 

AndrewR

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
11,157
0
0
Originally posted by: thegimp03
Try The Hotel at Mandalay Bay...you can find decent deals for it so you don't have to spend $500/night. It's pretty awesome.

Would have loved to, but there's no way that I could swing the cost for an entire week, even with the government paying $100/night (normal room cost was actually within gov't per deim rates for last week except for Friday night which I was paying for anyway). I got a nice picture of The Hotel from my 30th floor room. :D
 

RichieZ

Diamond Member
Jun 1, 2000
6,549
37
91
i dunno i've stayed at the hotel at mandalay bay and I don't find it to be very upscale, the four seasons on the top few floors tho....
 

HamburgerBoy

Lifer
Apr 12, 2004
27,111
318
126
Who cares about fanciness in a hotel when you only spend the night there? So long as it's sanitary I'd take a Motel 6 any day.
 

Fayd

Diamond Member
Jun 28, 2001
7,970
2
76
www.manwhoring.com
Originally posted by: HamburgerBoy
Who cares about fanciness in a hotel when you only spend the night there? So long as it's sanitary I'd take a Motel 6 any day.

mandalay bay also has a big ass pool / water park available only to hotel stayers.
 

Syringer

Lifer
Aug 2, 2001
19,333
2
71
Last time I was in Vegas was in returning from Europe, and stayed a night at the Luxor. When I checked in the girl at the desk just asked me if I wanted an upgrade to a suite, I said umm..sure, and there I went.
 

Ameesh

Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
23,686
0
0
Originally posted by: HamburgerBoy
Who cares about fanciness in a hotel when you only spend the night there? So long as it's sanitary I'd take a Motel 6 any day.

lol, you clearly don't like being pampered or haven't ever stayed at a nice place. my favorite hotel chain is the ritz carlton. When you have a room at a great hotel you are not compelled to leave the hotel the same way you are if you stayed in a motel 6. you can stay and enjoy the amenities.
 

RossMAN

Grand Nagus
Feb 24, 2000
78,855
355
136
Originally posted by: Syringer
Last time I was in Vegas was in returning from Europe, and stayed a night at the Luxor. When I checked in the girl at the desk just asked me if I wanted an upgrade to a suite, I said umm..sure, and there I went to find the elusive spider.

Fixed.
 

HamburgerBoy

Lifer
Apr 12, 2004
27,111
318
126
Originally posted by: Ameesh
lol, you clearly don't like being pampered or haven't ever stayed at a nice place. my favorite hotel chain is the ritz carlton. When you have a room at a great hotel you are not compelled to leave the hotel the same way you are if you stayed in a motel 6. you can stay and enjoy the amenities.

Why shouldn't you want to leave? I guess it makes sense if you're going to some boring town/city for a business trip and want something to do, but how many people take business trips to Vegas?
 

Yzzim

Lifer
Feb 13, 2000
11,990
1
76
Originally posted by: RossMAN
Originally posted by: Syringer
Last time I was in Vegas was in returning from Europe, and stayed a night at the Luxor. When I checked in the girl at the desk just asked me if I wanted an upgrade to a suite, I said umm..sure, and there I went to find the elusive spider.

Fixed.

LMAO :laugh:
 

JS80

Lifer
Oct 24, 2005
26,271
7
81
Originally posted by: AndrewR
Originally posted by: AgentUnknown
What is the $20 trick? Popping them a $20 works?

When you check-in, slip the desk agent a $20 bill and ask for a "complimentary upgrade". There's a thread about it at Fatwallet, and I think there's even a website which addresses it in even greater detail. Bottomline, it works over 90% of the time, and even when it doesn't work, you typically get your money back. Proof positive for me -- room was double the size of a standard room and had a strip view! :thumbsup:

FYI it only works on non-busy days (for obvious reasons). The Hotel is very sweet. I personally love the Venetian and the Wynn.
 

Syringer

Lifer
Aug 2, 2001
19,333
2
71
Originally posted by: Ameesh
Originally posted by: HamburgerBoy
Who cares about fanciness in a hotel when you only spend the night there? So long as it's sanitary I'd take a Motel 6 any day.

lol, you clearly don't like being pampered or haven't ever stayed at a nice place. my favorite hotel chain is the ritz carlton. When you have a room at a great hotel you are not compelled to leave the hotel the same way you are if you stayed in a motel 6. you can stay and enjoy the amenities.

That's the point. When you visit somewhere you should be in your hotel as little as possible. When I was I Madrid for instance we had a great hotel with a great view with A/C to combat the 95+ temperatures out there, and we spent way too much time there rather than exploring the city.

When I was in Mallorca conversely, our hotel was a sh*t hole with no A/C, where the sheets aren't changed..and we just stayed there as little as possible and got to enjoy the beaches all morning, partying at night, and only when we were completely drunk enough to pass out would we be able to sleep.

Situation A may be overall more "enjoyable" for some, but the situation B was a lot more FUN, and if you're young that's all you should really aim for.
 

AndrewR

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
11,157
0
0
Originally posted by: HamburgerBoy
Originally posted by: Ameesh
lol, you clearly don't like being pampered or haven't ever stayed at a nice place. my favorite hotel chain is the ritz carlton. When you have a room at a great hotel you are not compelled to leave the hotel the same way you are if you stayed in a motel 6. you can stay and enjoy the amenities.

Why shouldn't you want to leave? I guess it makes sense if you're going to some boring town/city for a business trip and want something to do, but how many people take business trips to Vegas?

Umm, Vegas is the world capital for conventions and conferences so a significant number of people take business trips there every day. I was there on business but combined it with a mini-vacation with the wife.

To further answer the question, Mandalay Bay is a nice complex with the casino, the restaurants, shopping and clubs. It's also connected indoors to the Luxor and Excalibur if you want to go slumming (the clientele difference is amazing) or for cheaper tables.

Ordinarily, I agree that staying in the hotel is not the thing to do on a vacation, but it's always nice to have a great room to come back to. The jacuzzi was a nice touch.
 

thegimp03

Diamond Member
Jul 5, 2004
7,420
2
81
Venetian rooms are nice too...haven't stayed in the Bellagio or Wynn yet but want to.
 

compuwiz1

Admin Emeritus Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
27,111
926
126
Mandalay, so I'm told, also has a topless and nude pool, but from what I've heard, it's for a fee, and by invite only. Any truth to this ?
 

NuclearNed

Raconteur
May 18, 2001
7,857
345
126
Mandalay Bay is one of my favorite hotels in Vegas, but it has one huge downside - it is at one extreme end of the strip, away from everything else.