Mandalay Bay & Paris 4/18-22

Okay, after nearly a decade of trips to Vegas and almost as long on this site, I finally decided to document my trip this year. I'm way too unfocused while in Vegas to do it live and I'll be going off of memory. I also tend to take very few pics so I'm just going to admit this will be a bit boring as compared to most of the other great TR's I've read. I won't do an hour by hour breakdown but will just give some observations from my four days in everyone's favorite town!


I traveled with one of my friends - both mid to late 30's guys, Vegas veterans (10+ trips each), drinking/gambling degenerates (although definitely low rollers).


Flights

Traveled Southwest from PIT (direct) on Tuesday morning. Purchased Early Bird and only got A54! I was still able to secure an aisle seat in an open row - my buddy was well into the B's and was able to get the window seat in my row and we lucked out with nobody in the middle! Score #1 - this is like Southwest's version of First Class when it happens! Flight was uneventful and we were on the ground in Vegas by 9AM. I hate leaving my house at 4:30 in the morning but I love getting to Vegas so early that the travel day still leaves you basically a full day to get settled and started!


Traveled home solo on Saturday afternoon with a connection at LAX. Early Bird netted me low A's on both legs of the trip home. However, the flight from LAS to LAX had my 6'5" 285# frame squeezed in like a sausage - thank God that's a quick flight! We were delayed leaving LAS and I only had a 60 minute layover so I basically hopped over a few wheelchairs sitting idle in the jetway and ran out into the terminal. And what did I find, my plane to PIT was at the adjacent gate and I had plenty of time. Sorry to any older folks who may have been frightened by my giant self leaping over them! Made it home around Midnight and spent an hour trying to get my suitcase at lovely Pittsburgh International (six flights coming in…let’s use one belt!).


Travel Around Town

We did a LOT of walking. Based off my FitBit I went over 120,000 steps or nearly 60 miles on my feet. My feet are still buzzing a bit.


Never used the Monorail this trip but did make use of the Excalibur-Mandalay Bay, Bellagio-Monte Carlo, and Mirage-TI trams.


We also used Uber and Lyft to travel Downtown and also around the strip to meet up with friends who were also in town. First time I’ve used Uber and Lyft in Vegas – definitely preferable to a cab. However, the day we arrived we used a cab to Mandalay Bay. When I checked Uber, the price at 9AM on a Tuesday was coming up as $29 (Lyft was like $25-$33)…the cab was $14!


Mandalay Bay

First time staying here – we stayed two nights on a myVegas reward. 15th floor Queen room overlooking the airport/south Las Vegas Blvd., and the pool. The room was remodeled, nicely sized and definitely roomy enough for the two of us. The hotel is very nice and the pool complex is definitely one of the best. We spent all day there on Tuesday when it was very windy and a little cooler than normal. The wave pool is pretty awesome and the waitress service at our cabana was fantastic. Very impressed! The location is definitely far out and it adds to your commute to anything. The tram helps for sure, but it would definitely make me think about staying again (especially because I LOATHE Luxor AND Excalibur!).


Paris

First time staying here as well – booked two nights through TR, one comped. The hotel is very nice although it’s getting a bit beat. We had a Queen Red Room on the 30th floor facing south. We had a moderately good view of the east side of the strip facing south but nothing to write home about unless you’re interested in the roof of the Miracle Mile Shops. Location can’t be beat however and I love that Paris is basically a few steps off of the Strip! The room was worn and a bit smaller than MB but it worked for us.

Food

We stayed very simple. I can’t remember every single place, but of note:

Crush at MGM – not bad but overpriced for the filet that I had

ARIA Buffet – used a BOGO myVegas lunch reward and was pretty impressed; great selection of food and everything was fresh and very tasty (and I typically hate buffets!)

Grotto at Golden Nugget – I wanted to do the chicken parm at Martorano’s inside of Paris but ended up here one afternoon for lunch. Very impressed with the portion size and taste for the price point – would definitely dine here again! Plus, the eye candy at the pool while we were eating was top notch!

Lobster Me – I love this place, the lobster roll is delicious

Earl of Sandwich – I freaking love this place…such a great choice after a day of walking, gambling, and drinking!!


Gambling

As I said, low rollers for sure. I stick to VP, BJ, and slots. This time I ended up focusing mostly on $.25 VP and despite a few small hits earlier on, I couldn’t get a hit to save my life. It was brutal and I was burning through $100’s starting the second day until right as I left for the Airport! Total bankroll was only $2k so it was rough. I tried different games, different casinos, played $1 VP..didn’t matter, I was lucky to get 3OAK on anything. I ended up coming home with half my bankroll so overall I can’t complain but it definitely didn’t go the way I was hoping. BJ was mostly 6:5 on the Strip and I didn’t play too much at all. And I pretty much avoided slots the entire time except for one Flintstone machine at Mandalay Bay where I won $135 on a bonus game. Downtown was just as tight for me. I couldn’t even win anything on Sigma Derby!!


General Comments

· The older I get the more I find myself annoyed with some of the ******baggery you encounter on the Strip; Bro culture in full force and my frat party days are long past

· The amount of kids this trip just amazed me; kids everywhere at all hours from as young as infants to pre-teens

· I saw the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen at the pool Friday – I know nobody cares but wow, I’m still in awe

· The casinos were HOT!!! I usually travel in June so I am used to them being freezing and this trip was exactly the opposite. It was truly uncomfortable and the same issue in every casino. At Gustav’s Bar at Paris, there was actually some sort of heat vent pumping out as I was trying to play VP. I prefer about 65 degrees at all times inside so this was just brutal torture all week.

· Downtown was more enjoyable during the day than it has been at night on my last several trips – the weirdness that permeates the entire area after 5PM has gotten to be too much for this guy. Holy crap I have gotten old!

· MGM still has the best pool complex on the strip

· Monte Carlo still has a smell in the front area that reminds me that they are continuously trying to cover up the poop smell that has been in that place for years

· I basically just shrug at the Park thing….maybe once MC is redone it will make more sense

· First time I didn’t get lost in City Center and could actually simply find Aria

· I hit every casino on the Strip from Circus Circus (brutally awful) to Mandalay Bay on this trip

· I drink way too much in Vegas (shock)

· 190 Octanes from Fat Tuesday’s are my guilty pleasure there – with the extra shot of 151, I am stumbling around in no time

· Speaking of booze, I'm in the room at about 3AM and my buddy is texting me "I don't have my key let me in"....I go to the door, nobody's there. He calls me and is yelling at me to let him in. Turns out he was on the 9th floor and our room was on 15. Once he finally figures it out, he comes in, trips into the bed and falls face first on the floor. I love Vegas!!

So that’s about it. I’m already planning a second trip this year around Labor Day and it looks like I should have some comped rooms from CET. MLife basically just laughs at my paltry play.

 

Pics of the beautiful girls please

 

Totally agree about Earl!

If only this was an all-pic TR!

Great report, jmn3!
BR was a little lighter coming home, but otherwise this trip sounded like a winner!

Thanks for sharing!

RICHARD

 

Agree on the children part - this has been going on for a couple of years now.
Always loved MB -Delano is very nice.
If you have options on comped rooms, PH have remodeled rooms and nice location - bridge to Cosmo and many nice ladies at Cosmo.

 

I'm 51, been going to Vegas since I was 30, I too have had it with the ****** bag club kids. It's almost comical to see how hard they work to get some attention. They could save some effort and just bring their moms with them to tell them how super cool they are.

 

Good wrap-up! Thanks for sharing your trip observations!

 

I thought I would add some pics. Like I said, I took very few and half of the ones I took were after a few too many 190 Octanes or weren't "appropriate!"

This place is the death of me on every trip...

some of my very few wins...


Love this view from the Trop/Excalibur bridge...


Downtown...Binions maybe...what the heck is this? It's like a very sad and terrible flea market..lol

Mandalay Bay view from the 15th floor...


Paris room view from the 30th floor...

 

Haha sorry those pics are locked down. Also, the one in particular that I mentioned I only could see while I was in the pool so no phone available. Her ridiculous beauty shall forever live in my memory however. Lol

 

I too have noticed this increasing over the last several years. I'll never fathom the little kids in strollers on the strip at Midnight. I'm not even a Father yet and it incenses me to see this constantly.

I have comped rooms the week of Labor Day at almost every CET casino including Caesars (never had a comped night there on TR website before!). We haven't formalized plans yet but PH or Caesars are likely the two we would look at - I love a good pool which has me leaning toward Caesars. Never stayed at either so I'm definitely open to suggestions or comments!!

 

Yes!!! Exactly! The amount of people trying to get into Omnia at Caesars on Friday night was insane. As I'm out scouting my next drink and meal, I'm looking at these guys and just shaking my head at the amount of effort they put in to standing in a ridiculously hot and long line. Then I looked at the girls also in the line and decided I was just too old, fat, and gave zero ****'s about ever even trying to get into such a place anymore.