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first timer . mandalay bay or nyny ??

Discussion in 'LV Strip Hotels' started by JULIAN.UK, Dec 26, 2012.

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  1. JULIAN.UK

    JULIAN.UK Tourist

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    going to vegas for the first time in august 2013. narrowed down hotel choices to the above two. any comments on either would be appreciated. thanks.
     
  2. rgerards

    rgerards Low-Roller

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    It all depends on what you prefer personally:

    Best pool ? Mandalay by far
    Best rooms ? Mandalay
    Better location ? NYNY

    It also depends on the price, but be aware that hotels.com slashed Mandalay Prices yesterday (atleast for my march trip) so the rooms (en even a suite at TheHotel) come up at lower or similar prices as a normal room in NYNY.

    Assuming it is very hot in August, location can be very relevant since walking outside might be a challenge. But keep in mind u can go up to Excalibur with internal escalators. From there u can walk past NYNY and take the tram to Bellagio/Citycenter. That way u can avoid the heat.
     
  3. Tubbs

    Tubbs High-Roller

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    You will get some detailed responses about the 2 hotels but I have not stayed at either place. The obvious question is why, out of all the places in Vegas, you have narrowed your selection to these 2 hotels. As your trip is not until August 2013 it cannot be down to cost.

    Mandalay Bay is one of the top 'second tier' hotels (or perhaps lower 'top tier') with a great pool and lots of restaurant choices. The casino is huge, open and often very quiet. I like the NYNY casino but most people would rate the hotel way below MB.

    I would not choose either hotel for a first stay. MB is right at the south end of the strip, requiring a taxi or a lengthy walk/tram to get to centre strip. That would be no problem once or twice but could easily become a pain if you want to do it regularly. NYNY is still south strip but a better base hotel. Having said that, there are many many hotels with better rooms than NYNY.

    If it has to be MB or NYNY then MB will usually get the votes because it is a far superior property, despite the location. But there are better choices for a first stay. If you state what is most important to you, you will get some useful information. The difficulty is with cost. As your trip is so far away, it is not possible to compare prices, although we can use general rules like Wynn is always going to be more expensive than NYNY etc.
     
    Last edited: Dec 26, 2012
  4. JULIAN.UK

    JULIAN.UK Tourist

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    thanks for your help so far. although i am not going til august im booking in february so although i have a while yet , we're almost in january so not too long left.

    no its not down to cost at all (well, within reason). its purely down to the fact that theyre the two i liked the look of / sound of best ! ive been to new york 6 times and when i saw there was a new york themed hotel in vegas it appealed.
    the amenities at the mb sounded pretty good - the pool, the Shark Reef etc. and the dining options sounded good aswell.

    but i know very little about vegas in general , hence why i joined this ! . im sure ill have a great time wherever i end up staying :)
     
  5. Gregsmt

    Gregsmt Low-Roller

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    I've never stayed at MB and it may be better in all ways, but I have stayed at
    NYNY and the rooms were ok. But geographically there's no way I would stay at MB and be that far away from the center of the strip. I like the casinos between the MGM Grand and the mirage. There are so many choices in that area on both sides of the street.
     
  6. Tubbs

    Tubbs High-Roller

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    It sounds like you are planning to book a flight/hotel package. Although that can sometimes provide a bargain, most people will book flights and hotels separately. That allows you to book the flights when a good price appears, perhaps during a BA/Virgin sale. The best offers for the hotels usually only appear 2-3 months ahead of time. There are lots of hotel offers and August is a good time to take advantage as prices are especially low. Vegas is always busy but August temperatures are just too hot for some visitors so some great hotel deals can be found.
     
  7. cha4zz

    cha4zz Tourist

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    What Tubbs said.

    Shop around a bit, don't restrict yourself to just a couple of hotels. I've booked to go back with Virgin on April 29th for a week staying at the Aria for £900 including strip view room and direct flights. Virgin currently offer that if you can find a cheaper price elsewhere that they'll match it (which I did with expedia) and the best thing about booking with Virgin is that they pay the resort fees for you.

    Researching beforehand is definitely a good idea though, last time I stayed for only 5 days and at the Luxor. Whilst I loved Vegas, 5 days on non-direct flights and staying at a hotel that is near enough as South Strip as possible meant that I didn't maximise my stay.
     
  8. Mayoman

    Mayoman High-Roller

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    I've stayed at NYNY. It's nice, good choices for dining, smallish casino, but fun.
    I'd recommend staying center strip for your first trip to Vegas. Caesars Palace, Bellagio, or Paris are nice.
     
  9. mdee

    mdee VIP Whale

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    I haven't stayed at either Resort but I stayed at Luxor several times in the past and I used to love hanging out on the South end of the Strip.
    MBay is nice to visit but the casino is usually dead... I mean like a ghost town! No vibe, no action! NYNY's casino has a vibe to it but I've never
    had any luck in their Casino EVER! These may be places you will want to visit but you do not necessarily have to stay there.
     
  10. rbspartan

    rbspartan Low-Roller

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    As many would tell you on this board: Since this is your first trip, you don't have to see/do EVERYTHING on your first trip. That being said, one's "home base" preference can change perspective.

    Of the 2 properties you suggest, I would recommend NYNY. As stated, MB is a bit remote on the south end ... however, a convenient tram ride can transport you to Luxor, then to Excaliber ... where you are a easy pedestrian bridge away from NYNY, MGM and Tropicana.

    I believe you would like the vibe at NYNY more. The standard rooms are not huge, by any measure. The casino is just the right size to be manageable. In addition to the above stated casinos within walking/tram distance, you would also be able to easily walk to Monte Carlo, and tram to Aria & Bellagio. (notice I am trying to minimize long walking trips in the August heat.) From B, you are a pedestrian bridge (or 2) away from Paris, Bally's, Caesar's and Flamingo. From there, you can travel as far North as your weary legs and the heat will allow... you can always cab it back to your home base.

    And I believe NYNY makes an excellent home base.

    Good Luck, and have FUN :beer:
     
  11. nostresshere

    nostresshere Mr. Anti Debit Card

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    On very first trip - mid-strip trumps everything. Next is overall hotel/room experience. You will want to visit lots of places. You should plan on walking lots. Sure, there are cabs and rental cars. Neither are great options sometimes.

    MBay is a great property. We are taking friends soon and can get free suites there, but will NOT do it, due to location.

    NYNY is not too bad for location, but I would consider Paris for first timer, at reasonable cost.

    If you scroll down through older postings (maybe a month ago or more), there are lots of threads about first timer visits and where to stay.
     
  12. daveg000

    daveg000 VIP Whale

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    I'm one that believes in location - even though I always rent a car. Taking a walk in Vegas is a wonderful thing, downtown or the the center strip. I prefer to stay near Flamingo Rd, there are many atractions in that general area, and I will drive to Mandalay for a Visit. If you are going to stay at an MGM property, I would look at Bellagio or Mirage. (Play the MyVegas game to get free rooms, bUffets, etc) or if you decide to go to a CET property, you have Ceasar's, Paris, Harrahs etc.
     
    15 NIGHTS, 16 DAYS, May 8-23, MGM PK, GOLDN NUGGET, TIMESH, MANDALAY
    15 NIGHTS, 16 DAYS, May 8-23, MGM PK, GOLDN NUGGET, TIMESH, MANDALAY
  13. gerry53

    gerry53 VIP Whale

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    I am surprised that nobody has mentioned how much they have de themed nyny from what it was before.

    It looks cool when passing by the place but most of the theming inside the casino area is long gone.

    I always book air and room seperate for vegas and then have freedom to change hotels if price changes or I just change my mind.

    this seems to be pretty far away to get decent air or room prices.
     
  14. dmbrat

    dmbrat Low-Roller

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    I have stayed at both places, albeit NYNY just once and MB probably 8 times. If I put myself into the shoes of a first timer, then I agree with the posters above who say, between those two, NYNY is a better choice on account of the location. However, if you're more interested in amenities and such and are less interested in leaving the property, then MB is a clear winner in my opinion.
     
  15. oldarmy

    oldarmy Low-Roller

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    My first time I stayed at the Luxor and I did not like the location. Stay mid strip.
     
  16. JulieM

    JulieM Low-Roller

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    NYNY is my favorite..so NYNY has my vote....:beer:
     
  17. JULIAN.UK

    JULIAN.UK Tourist

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    wow. thanks to everyone for their helpful tips and opinions. i had no idea so many of you would take the time to comment on this.

    i guess every hotel has its merits and its down sides - deciding is gona be the hardest part but its given me much to think about. but i will definately take the advice of booking the flight seperately first and then the accommodation tho.

    thanks :)
     
  18. Kickin

    Kickin Flea

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    Oh god...

    Please DO NOT under any circumstance expect the NYNY hotel to look or feel anything like New York City. As a New Yorker I'll tell you that the NYNY hotel is to NYC as what the Paris Hotel is to Paris, France....or better yet as to what a motorcycle is to a lobster. You will be severely disappointed if you think being at that hotel will give you the feeling you're vacationing in NYC. It's not even supposed to.

    That being said, I think NYNY (the casino) has a pretty fun vibe and its often overlooked. I don't know how the rooms are. MB is nice enough but as others have said for a first timers the location of it kind of sucks. NYNY has a pretty good location where you can walk to anywhere on the strip you'd want to go, from MB walking is a pretty long hike.

    Also, you didn't mention if you gambled. Both are part of the same company and under the M Life players club but if you don't gamble much, NYNY will send you better offers for a small amount of play versus Mandalay Bay. I played at NYNY for a few hours once years ago and still seem to be getting free room offers from them.
     
  19. Nittany1

    Nittany1 VIP Whale

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    I agree with earlier posters that location is important on your first trip to get the entire experience.
    If you are at MBay you will not be able to get the feel of walking the Strip.
    NYNY is closer but still not optimally located but it does not stack up against the nicer strip properties.
    Center Strip is best for first trip and there are many choices there.
    Bellagio is probably best overall location and theme if price is not important.
    Caesars would be the next hotel in terms of pricey themed hotels thst has a lot to offer.

    There are many hotels that are one to two tiers down located in the same are that are also very nice and more affordable..
    Mirage
    Planet Hollywood
    Ballys
    Paris
    I'm not a big fan of the Flamingo but any of the other properties close to the intersection of Las Vegas Blvd. and Flamingo are located in the right area.
     
  20. TMAN

    TMAN Tourist

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    NYNY for location. Otherwise you will spend $$$ on cabs
     
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