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Advice On Final Strip Stay As Senior Solo

Discussion in 'LV Strip Hotels' started by Breeze147, Dec 30, 2013.

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  1. Breeze147

    Breeze147 Button Man

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    I have decided that for many factors, age difference being the most prevalent, that my upcoming July (?) trip will be my last stay on the Strip.

    I have been doing 5 nights Mirage and 3 nights Golden Nugget for several years now. I'm thinking 5 nights Mandalay Bay and 3 nights Golden Nugget for this final trip. From here on out, it's going to be all Fremont St.

    What can you tell me about the Mandy, as far as it being overrun with kids and also other things like the ******bag/******tte factor, gangsta wannabe factor, gambling conditions, affordable food, etc.?
     
  2. Tree DA

    Tree DA High-Roller

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    I stayed there a while ago and don't recall any cheap food options. ie, no food court. They do have some casual restaurants with typical Vegas strip prices. If you're worried about the DB factor, you'll have to deal with that a little. Can only speak to BJ...3/2 shoe games at $15 mins (maybe $10?) were available sometimes but usually it was higher. It's been about a year. Even though it's technically on the strip it's so far from everything...if you are making this your last strip hoorah maybe consider something more central? Anyway, good luck.

    Oh, one more thing, if you're a pool guy MB has a great pool complex. You probably know that but just throwing it out there. Might offset the location a bit if the pool is important to you.
     
  3. vegasqc

    vegasqc VIP Whale

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    Because of the great pool they have a lot of kids in the summer, unless you go to the 18+ pool of course
     
    Last edited: Dec 30, 2013
  4. Tree DA

    Tree DA High-Roller

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    I didn't notice that many kids..but that does make sense. Maybe I wasn't paying much attention.
     
  5. thecarve

    thecarve Misanthrope

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    Holy crap...where are these kids getting their money? First $1000 tables at clubs and now polo? :poke:
     
  6. ams722

    ams722 Side Bet Shunner

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    What is it that makes you want to transition away from the strip? Is it all the walking that you have to do compared to the convenience of downtown?

    If there are any walking/mobility issues, I definitely wouldn't recommend Mandalay.

    Actually, I wouldn't recommend Mandalay anyway. I much prefer the location/vibe of the Mirage, where you usually stay. But that's just me.
     
  7. spicole

    spicole No shirt, no shoes... NO DICE!

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    MB has some good restaurants. I particularly liked Border Grill, and they have a decent buffet. I thought the DB factor was very low. The pool attracts a LOT of kids. It is a great pool but it is popular with families.

    I am partial to Mlife properties because of their excellent blackjack rules. The last time I was at MB they had S17 DAS at $25. I like the open, airy casino and the sportsbook is good. Overall, I really like MB and would definitely recommend it.

    If this is your last stay on the strip, why not consider "going out with style" at either Bellagio or Aria?
     
  8. Breeze147

    Breeze147 Button Man

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    I don't have mobility issues. I just realize that Mirage has gone stale for me. I definitely seek lower table minimums. $10 is plenty for me.

    I'm just tired of the *****s and *****ettes at most of the Strip hotels. It seems as though on the last trip that Mirage had more than it's share and the gangsta pretend mugs really turn me off.

    I know the area around The Mirage like the back of my hand. It's familiar and safe to me and I'm never lost or at a loss to find things to do. I can easily walk to at least 10 other properties.

    I can't afford Aria or Bellagio. I only make 55% and no bonuses from when I was working, which is another reason for switching to all-Fremont St.

    I think talking this out is leading me back to Mirage. I had an Mlife offer of $59 on a mid-week standard room last August which was okay except for the lock issues I had because of which I ended up in a one-bedroom suite.

    Okay, you guys win, I'm sticking with Mirage.

    On a side note: At CPK in Mirage, there's a bartender named Jim. I see this guy once a year maybe once or twice. As soon as I sit down he says "Meat Lovers pizza and a Coors Light draft". You can't replace that. And the older black gentleman bartender at the VP bar. As soon as I sit down, we pick up our discussion about the Philadelphia Eagles right where we left off the previous year. You can't replace that, either.

    Mirage it is, thanks for the help.:beer:
     
  9. kps

    kps High-Roller

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    If it was my last stay on the strip I wouldn't even consider Mandalay Bay. We're about location/accessibility to other properties and we hated being so far away from everything when we stayed there 3 years ago.

    Aria has great pools and had no DB probs there. If they were around they were paying to go to Liquid. Did Aria MDW 2011.

    MC has a great pool scenario also which we did MDW 2012. Has the lazy river which the wife loves. MAture crowd primarily with some kids with parents.

    I would go MGM over Mandalay personally. Their pools are real nice and was pretty quiet when we were there in July of 2013 to visit friends who stayed there. Room were real nice and we are considering there for our next trip as the monorail makes things easy to get around along that side of the strip.
     
  10. nostresshere

    nostresshere Mr. Anti Debit Card

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    Only place you have to deal with kids is at the pool. Not in casino, and we never noticed many in restaurants (too expensive maybe).

    Totally different vibe than Mirage. You should give it a try.

    Or maybe NYNY
     
  11. RiddickBull

    RiddickBull VIP Whale

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    MB location is terrible. However, the quality is better than Mirage, IMO. You could also try MGM instead of Mirage. I do like Mirage. The rooms need renovation tho.

    I think most casinos will have the "gangster wannabes", it's Vegas. I remember seeing these kids even at the Wynn and Bellagio, not sure if they were staying, but were walking through. I would say MB and Mirage caters towards mid-age adults (30-50 years old).
     
  12. socalguy92010

    socalguy92010 Tourist

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    IMO MGM turned into a gangsta haven many years ago. Never stayed at MB but my gut tells me you're gonna have an issue there as well. We slowly moved up the strip over the past 10-14 years from MGM to Bellagio and now we stay at Wynncore. Haven't noticed too much of an idiot crowd there.

    But here's the crux of the problem if you ask me: Once the hotels found out they could make huge money with the clubs, that locked in the idiot, 20-something crowd.

    Kind of ironic actually, the first time I went to Vegas was 1976. I was 20 years old and all I could think at the time was, "Damn...everyone here is in their 50's and 60's"

    Now I go and all I think is, "Damn...everyone here is in their 20's and 30's"
     
  13. Busyman

    Busyman VIP Whale

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    Gangstas and wannabe gangstas are everywhere.

    If you think one spot has a lock on them, you are naïve.

    I'm at a loss the few times anyone may see these folk, how tears up a trip.

    Keep it movin....
     
  14. socalguy92010

    socalguy92010 Tourist

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    Doesn't tear up my trip but like I said, the hotels wanna cater to ass holes to fill their clubs? Fine. When you have a few hundred 20 something dudes strolling around before the clubs open, jacked up on liquor, redbull and testosterone....well, I prefer to avoid it.

    And no, not one place has a lock but if you think they're all equally spread out then you're being naive.

    You've been there 4 times? Take a few more trips out and spread yourself to more hotels.
     
  15. pikabu

    pikabu Low roller, but always enjoy the ride!

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    There is a food court very near to MB. Just walk through Mandalay Place and go to the Luxor end. There's McD's, Popeyes, a pizza place, good sandwich place and Starbucks.
     
  16. Bommen

    Bommen High-Roller

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    Maybe u should try Laughlin. I stayed there one night after being to tired when driving from the canyons to Vegas. Let me tell you, old people only and no clubs so no worries you will run in to them there. Also like the other poster mentioned you will run in to the db crowd everywhere on the strip Wynncore is definitely no exception considering how big there club scene is.
     
  17. socalguy92010

    socalguy92010 Tourist

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    Funny thing is we go to Laughlin almost every year for the River Run. Definitely no urban gangsters. Just bikers..lol.

    All I'm saying is that when I'm in Vegas, I at least try to stay classy. That's why we're trying the Wynn these days. Yes, if there's a club there's drunk young wannabe turks but at least its' not like down at MGM where some guys idea of fun is stopping in the middle of a casino every 10 feet, bending over and using his fart machine while his buddies and stupid girlfriends laugh like hyenas. And actually, we tend to gamble in Encore anyway.
     
  18. heatherlovesvegas

    heatherlovesvegas VIP Whale

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    Mandalay Bay is great! There are children in the summer, because of the beach. But it wasn't intrusive to me (though I didn't go to the beach). You just see them in the elevator basically. Honestly I think the crowd would be very similar to whatever Mirage has.

    I love their casino, it's huge and spaced out, good variety of slot games. I really like playing there. Way better casino than Mirage in my opinion.

    Affordable food... well, not too much, I guess it would depend on what you consider affordable. They don't have a food court (they are building one, but I don't know if it'll be done then) but you do have easy access to Luxor and Excal if you should need that. Also in the Mandalay Place they have more affordable options. I love Border Grill though! I'd eat all my meals there haha.

    The ****** factor didn't seem bad to me. Light is open now, but it's not the #1 club... so I think they stay else where, also the place is SO big. Things and people are spread out. I stayed in July and didn't notice any weirdness. Besides you will be there 5 days, they might be around on Friday and Saturday, but then they file out.

    I'd be happy at either place!
     
  19. andrew5499

    andrew5499 Low-Roller

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    TI

    Did you look at rates for TI ?
    Same location - maybe you could split with a couple nights at Mirage and pop down to MB or Luxor fro a couple nights.

    I would think MGM might give you decent rates
     
  20. Breeze147

    Breeze147 Button Man

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    I have decided, after much pondering, to forgo Mandalay Bay for location and cost reasons, plus the high table minimums and return to Mirage, but this time make it a 4 and 4 split with Golden Nugget.

    Starting in 2015, all trips will be to the Nugget only.

    The vast majority of you wonderful folks will have no inkling as to what I am going to say, but I have been called "old man" either directly or by unmistakable inference one time too many while on the Strip. Once you reach my age (65 on 1/12/14) you will realize that while playing tackle football is no longer possible, inside of your head you can feel as young as you want, because you have already been there.

    Just like everyone else who has come this way, I never thought this would happen to me. You realize this when a 25 year old hottie looks to you like a little girl playing dress up and their male counterparts treat you as though you were dog shit.

    It's time to be with my own kind that I understand and no, I do not wish to go to Laughlin or The Orleans, thanks anyway.
     
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