Mirage- How Is The Atmosphere?

Hey all,

Going to give Mirage a shot on my upcoming trip in July. Have been in the property briefly on numerous occasions across separate trips.

The biggest concern for me is the pool as this is where we spend the 10a-4 or 5p hours of every day. The pool area itself looks great. How is the atmosphere out there on a typical summer weekend? I don't necessarily need an "oontz-oontz" pool party, but hopefully there will be some lively music and a decent number of people enjoying some beverages and making a little bit of noise. For comparison's sake, I have really enjoyed the pools at Caesars and Planet Hollywood in the past. (despite PHs being nothing more than a pair of holes in concrete)

I tend to bar/casino hop at night so regardless of where I stay, I'm rarely at the property between 8p and 2a or so. If I'm still standing after that, I do like to return to my home base and finish the night with a few more drinks and an hour or two at the tables. Again, I don't need anyone screaming at the top of their lungs, but I also don't want to sit in a casino that's about as lively as a mortuary. Similar to the pool, I really enjoyed the casino at Caesars for this purpose.

Will the Mirage be a good fit for me? Any tips for a first timer?

Thanks in advance for any replies!

 

Mirage pool is one of the nicest in Vegas. There won't be a DJ but should be some music piped in and some groups having fun.

There is usually a good vibe in the casino, although it is very dark and can get smokey.

 

As Universal said, the pool is very nice and very big. For that reason its actually pretty quiet (a perk for many) because its so spread out. But it will be busy in July.

My only problem with the casino is the dealers. They appear to HATE their jobs (at least the handful I dealt with last trip).

 

I've become disenchanted with the Mirage because of the very reasons you are interested. I stayed at the Mirage in April of this year for a golf trip, so I didn't spend any time at the pool; however, I did check out the pool area late morning (around 11:00 a.m.) and it was a very subdued scene. It was early, so it may pick up later in the afternoon, but based on my previous stays at the Mirage, the main pool area tends to be a relaxed retreat from the Vegas party, not another party outside. I was out there with a group a couple of years ago and we got a Cabana at the BARE Pool, which was more of a party atmosphere, but not a crazy EDM pool party like some of the pool clubs at other hotels. The BARE pool was a good time and I would recommend you check that out at least one day.

I have found that the casino atmosphere at the Mirage has declined considerably over the past several years. I primarily play BJ and most of the dealers I've encountered there recently have been older and crotchety. Most of the cocktail waitresses lean more towards the retirement crowd and seem to be equally crotchety.

 

I'm gonna have to disagree on this one. You'll have to really focus to hear any music unless you're positioned close to the speakers. Sure there are people having drinks but it's nowhere near a party of any sort. The bare pool might be different. As for the casino, it's one of my favorites, party like but not too loud.

 

4 couples stayed their in August and we really enjoyed the pool. I'm not much of a pool person but we had such a good time Day1 by the pool that we did it again day 2. we rented a cabana at the Private Oasis:
Private Oasis
The sun is shining and your private lounge is waiting. Reserve your chair. Come and go as you please. VIP service is the standard in this exclusive small pool area that features poolside padded chaise loungers and shared umbrellas. The Mirage Cabana staff provides complimentary service including tastings of fruit, juice and refreshing sorbet. Poolside food and beverage service is available from the Paradise Café as well as complimentary fruit-infused water.

They also had lounge chairs for rent in the private oasis. It was less crowded than the main pool and they played good music. Wait staff very attentive.
We brought our own adult mixers into the cabana and they didn't say anything. we didn't advertise it, but they didn't do a diligent bag check which was nice.
I'd do it again. Highly recommend.

As for the casino - I pretty much played like you - I played at the Mirage before we left for the evening (7p) and when we got back (i.e 2a). It was just OK. I prefer to play downtown and if it doesn't have a downtown feel, I don't care for it. just personal preference. I was fine playing at Mirage in small doses, but I wouldn't make it a mainstay by any stretch.

 

Opposite experience here with them this week and three weeks ago. Far happier than expected. Might be the tipping but even the cantankerous old people will smile back and engage with friendly conversation and provide professional service.

Not a party hotel but someone has been having a hell of a good time on floor D by the elevators. Still can't hear them two rooms down.

It's older and shows its age and casino is smaller and a bit meh on some games but craps bar none best crews I've had in five years.

 

Pool scene is lively but not a party. It's a nice middle ground that suits me. I don't like a dead boring pool but I can't stand wall to wall people and oontz music.

My only beef with the casino is crummy limits and rules. Always a bunch of unstaffed tables at times when the open tables are packed. Nothing sends my money across the street faster than not being able to get a seat.

 

Agreed, i have stayed there twice once was due to comp of 4 nights and Resort credits. I like the pool area, if you are looking for a party similar to MGM's pool not really happening there.
My beef is with the casino, my first stay there i loved it, atmosphere felt great and dealers seemed friendly. Had the feeling of winning there (even if I didn't) my last stay... dealers seemed crummy so did the CWs, I brought my play over to Venetian last trip as it seem more alive and dealers/CW were a lot nicer.

My last trip I stayed at Cosmo, did the walk down to V/P to play there, walked through mirage was thinking of playing but again the feeling in there was just down.. so didnt play there again.

Sucks because i like the location of the resort/casino and i generally provide home base (whatever casino offers me accomodations) the majority of playing time.

 

I would agree with the previous posts. Mirage is more of the relax scene then the party scene. I would disagree about the dealers, most of the dealers I encountered were friendly and knowledgable. Oh and CPK is awesome for lunch.

 

I like the craps scene at the Mirage dealers are very good. I can get lunch and dinner out of a sandwich at the deli. Relaxed vibe at this property for sure.

 

Is Bare okay for a group of guys to go without looking like pervs? i want the party but don't want to be creepy either.

 

I stayed at Mirage in April, and that was my 3rd stay there. I like Mirage, except they killed the BJ for me after being one of the first Mlife casinos to offer 6:5. Even their machine offers 1:1 pay for BJ! Other than that, it's a nice place all around (pool, food, casino, environment, rooms). Just avoid blackjack there.

 

I've stayed there twice, for reasons that are beyond me, and I can't even begin to describe how much I dislike the casino.
its low, dark, and sterile.

last time we stayed there, I actually went across to Harrah's to play instead.
Harrahs!!!

 

The whole "friendly" or "unfriendly" dealer thing varies from table to table, pit to pit, shift to shift, day to day, etc..., it's really hard to categorize a casino as having "good" or "bad" dealers.

 

Agreed with the dealer comment regarding shift to shift, day to day, i must have caught a bad day/shift or what not that last trip. prior to that I had enjoyed playing at Mirage, it was the last two trips that caught me off guard. Just in Vegas, so many casinos to play, I don't strictly play at one to earn maximum comps (probably will get slammed for that) but I play where I like the "atmosphere".

 

I also spread my play around. If I did play in one place and/or for one company my comps would be pretty good. But I hate being tied down and playing for comps. I play where I want when I want and let the comps happen. I also go by atmosphere. For instance I love playing craps at the Orleans. It's always an upbeat, friendly vibe. One of the craps tables is non smoking, they have TV's there to watch games (although there isn't much downtime in craps). And while the dealers there are usually friendly sometimes you run into some that aren't.

Back on topic, personally I think the Mirage has gone downhill. In part maybe it's just perception. When it opened it was considered a high end place, now it isn't. It's a combination of the place getting a bit run down and other places opening that are much nicer. You can get a good rate at the Mirage and it has a good location (if you enjoy that part of the strip, personally I like it further south).

 

We had a mixed group in the cabana, the time that we were there. It may be a little creepy for a group of guys in a cabana there, because the pool area is small and being a topless pool (although only 10-20% probably go topless). I would recommend that you try to find a group of girls at the main pool and invite them to go with you to a cabana at the BARE pool. If you don't get a cabana, you could probably just go with your buddies if its a small group, 3 or 4 guys.

Truthfully, I would recommend a different hotel for what you are seeking. I think MGM Grand sounds like a good fit for your group. The pool area there is more active, but not a crazy party and if you want the crazy party they do have a day club (Wet Republic). The casino at MGM Grand is more lively, as well.

 

I think the Mirage is just fine for what you're looking for. There won't really be lively music, but it is a nice laid back pool with plenty of other people out there. I went to Bare for a little bit on my last trip a couple of weeks ago. It was nice, but we didn't feel like spending the money for a cabana or a chair, so we just went back to the other pool. I've stayed at the Mirage my last two trips and loved it. I'll probably stay closer to the south end my next trip just to change it up though.

 

Appreciate the responses! As long as the pool atmosphere is on par with Caesars I'll be happy.