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Exactly what makes Mandalay Bay "less" impressive?

Discussion in 'LV Strip Hotels' started by Snowbelle3, Jul 23, 2012.

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  1. sco5123

    sco5123 VIP Whale

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    I am a lover of this property. I find it on par with Wynn in my opinion but that's based on looks, comfort, things to do, and ambiance generally.

    However, I find that, while I rarely if ever hear people dislike MB, people tend to agree with it's 1/2 to 1 full step rating below the strip giants like Bellagio, Wynn, and Cosmopolitan.

    Some discussion here if you will: What makes Mandalay Bay less impressive based off your experience?
     
  2. NickPapageorgio

    NickPapageorgio OG of the Sal Sagev Hotel

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    Nothing. I agree 100% with you. Mandalay doesn't get the love. I adore that property. Their location results in lower traffic, and the casino can seem like an empty cavern at times, but the property is amazing. I love Mandalay!

    Nick:beer:
     
  3. daveg000

    daveg000 VIP Whale

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    Location, Location, Location
     
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  4. iowa1525

    iowa1525 Tourist

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    Like others said, location. Not just that it is at the far south end, but the next closest casinos are Luxor and Excal. It is also starting to show some age as well. I like the place. I like going up to Mix for a drink and they have great resturants.
     
  5. Drambler

    Drambler High-Roller

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    I think MB is great. The only thing for me that makes it not as good as the Wynn or Cosmo is that it is showing it's age. Given the choice I'd pick it over those places though. The south strip location doesn't bother me.
     
  6. celticnoel79

    celticnoel79 Low-Roller

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    Ill be staying there for the 1st time in Dec so ill be able to rate it alongside Wynn/Aria/Cosmo as ive stayed in the previous 3, just hope the poker room is to my liking!
     
  7. BlondWidow

    BlondWidow Low-Roller

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    I don't get it. I love that place! THEhotel was the place we stayed on my very first trip. That room was awesome. And the casino at MB – it's one of my favorites, really. I can see where the location may deter people a bit, I suppose, but I think the property is every bit as nice as some of the nicer ones on the strip.
     
  8. numeno

    numeno VIP Whale

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    While I still think it is a great hotel, there are quite a few things that stand out to me that move it down a tier. First, I can't comment on the rooms, or service from the staff while staying there. I've simply never stayed there, so if you were asking more about the hotel itself, then ignore this. :)


    - I get no feel of it being over the top expensive. When I'm walking to Bellagio or Wynn, I'm generally walking by shops that I wouldn't spend a dime in even if they dropped their prices 90%. The shops between Luxor and MB just don't give me the feeling of exclusive.

    - You never see the outside of MB other than from a distance. The outdoor areas at both Bellagio and Wynn just offer a high end entrance. With MB, I'm walking basically out of a Mall into one of the big stores at the end.

    - While I have used a few Restaurant.com coupons there and enjoyed them, it does give me the impression that it is cheaper than other places. I can say nothing bad about the food I've had at any MB restaurant, the coupons just scream lower tier.

    - Location isn't the best. It being down on the end isn't the big thing for me, it is that the 2 closest casinos are 2 of the lowest tier MGM properties. I'm not saying there isn't some crap near by Bellagio/Wynn, but they are surrounded by quite a few other top tier properties.




    Don't get me wrong, I still love Mandalay Bay. I gamble there often if I'm staying on that side of the strip. All of these just knock it down a little bit. If it happens that you get a great room/experience for 60-75% of the cost of Bellagio/Wynn, then I guess that is a win for you.
     
  9. Nevyn

    Nevyn VIP Whale

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    1) Location:Mandalay Bay is the last hotel/casino at one end of the strip.

    2) Age: Vegas is a city of spectacle and one-upsmanship. Just as with Mirage (which was once king of the castle), MB loses its latest and greatest feel a bit more with each successive new luxury wonder to be build. It will happen someday to Wynn and Bellagio, too.

    3) Branding within a group: MB is owned by a group with several other properties, and how they treat those properties defines how they are perceived. The CityCenter and Bellagio brands are treated as elite, and MGM has a seperate elite area (the Mansion). That leaves MB and Mirage as "best of the rest", and even between them Mirage is better located and more iconic.
     
  10. CFioren317

    CFioren317 Low-Roller

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    I have only stayed at Mandalay Bay once in 2007 so maybe they have upgraded their rooms since. If they haven't changed, then I would rate them far below Wynn, Venetian, and Aria as far as luxury regarding the rooms. The casino is nice, but all casinos are pretty much the same to me. BJ, slots, poker, roulette, etc etc. Same with the restaurants...I don't eat at the fancy places so I can't comment on them. And of course, as has been said, the location sucks.

    However, I still think Mandalay Bay has the best hotel pool area that I have ever seen.
     
  11. earth-3

    earth-3 VIP Whale

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    Has nothing to do with the ambiance but does effect where I stay; I got better comps with the same size bankroll and playing time at Bellagio, than I did at Mandalay Bay.
     
  12. mjames1229

    mjames1229 # of visits includes only trips w/ hotel stays

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    Poker room is very comfortable, however it is separated by the huge sportsbook by wooden railings. During football weekends in the fall, there will be a dozen or so games being shown and constant cheering from the viewers. If that doesn't distract you (or if that is actually enjoyable for you, like it was for me and my various football bets) then you will like the MB poker room.
     
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  13. LV_Bound

    LV_Bound VIP Whale

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    Definitely the location.
    Walking through the casino and there always seems to be a very diverse selection of slot machines but we never spend time there to check them out.
    Usually we stop by to eat them move on down the strip.
     
  14. blizzard96

    blizzard96 Low-Roller

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    I have never stayed there so cant comment on the rooms. I have never felt any energy on the gaming floor there. Place is huge yet i never find anything that great to play. Maybe the fact i've never won a buck there plays into it but never feels full or exciting to me. I always make the trek from nyny through excal,luxor and then mb. I try to like it evey trip....but it never happens for me.
     
  15. zerofan

    zerofan VIP Whale

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    In past trips I have stayed at Mandalay and at The Hotel.

    I love the wide open casino - nice restaurants, cigars, etc...

    Loved the pools, the Shark Reef and thought their buffet was pretty good - this was back about 8 yrs ago but like everyone else mentioned....the location is not ideal without a car.

    Although, having plenty of casinos in "walking distance" is a big help.
     
  16. john meriman

    john meriman merri by name merry by nature

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    1- location
    2-over the top bar prices
    3-ambiance:beer::wink2:
     
  17. JillyFromPhilly

    JillyFromPhilly Tourist

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    As someone who only stays at the "top tier" resorts [Aria, Wynn, etc.] the #1 reason I haven't stayed at Mandalay Bay yet is because - while the physical property itself is very, very nice [it was built to be a direct competitor to Bellagio after all] - the #1 negative thing I've heard about MB [and THEhotel] is that service isn't up to snuff compared to the other "top tier" resorts. However, now that they're supposedly comping stays at the Four Seasons, I might someday give it a try.
     
  18. worldtraveler661

    worldtraveler661 VIP Whale

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    Its the location mainly. It all depends on what you plan to do for that trip. Lately, all my action has been center strip so there is no point in being that far away from it all when I can stay at Aria or similar.

    I've stayed at MB 3 times the last 12 months and 2 times at Encore. I've only stayed at the standard MB room and the std Encore room but theres no comparison between the 2. Theyre totally different and Encore/Wynn is way nicer and much more upscale.

    MB used to be at the top for 1999 standards, but not 2012.
     
  19. leo21

    leo21 VIP Whale

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    I haven't stayed at MB or even visited the casino. I just haven't been moved to do it so far. That being said I recall a lot of high praises for MB and TheHotel specifically before MGM acquired it on TA. People just thought it was the best thing ever. I think Wynn stole some of it's thunder when it opened but after a year under MGM, I remember seeing a dropoff in recommendations for MB and even some regular customers swearing off the place. I don't know where those folks ended up but they definitely stopped being at MB. They don't seem to have a hardcore base like they used to.
     
  20. Travel Fanatic

    Travel Fanatic The Arbiter of Taste Caviar Kid

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    I like MB. But I don't think it is on par with Bellagio or Aria. The rooms are a bit more worn than those two and the high limit gaming area isn't nearly as good as the other two. But this property still has a lot going for it and I would stay here over any CET property, Grand, or Mirage any day of the week
     
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