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Mandalay Bay: Elite King vs. Executive?

Discussion in 'LV Strip Hotels' started by Multifarious5, May 20, 2017.

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  1. Multifarious5

    Multifarious5 VIP Whale

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    We are going to try Mandalay Bay this trip.

    Some will say Delano, but the rooms are just too white for me.

    Floor-to-ceiling windows and a separate shower and tub are important to us. Are there any elite/executive rooms in MB with half windows vs. floor-to-ceiling? (I found an old video that showed a pre-"elite" room, but it had half windows. Do all elite room have floor-to-ceiling windows?)

    My second question is, do you like the executive king or Elite king better? (We don't like a separate bedroom and living room, we like the openness of a junior suite more, so no interest in higher rooms.)

    Between the elite and the executive, I want the room with the airiest feel/best view when waking up. Has anyone stayed in both, do you have a preference, and why? (Not worried about the walk from the hallway...mainly how bright, and if you have a good view when you wake up.)

    Hubby likes the separate seating area in the executive, but it's just us, and I personally think we'll like the roomy layout of the elite. Which has more light? Which feels more spacious?

    I'm planning on booking my hubby's preference for the Executive, but I am a little nervous the separate sitting are will be "dead space" that we don't use that much other than the first day.

    Whike i like the Elite room, It looks like it has a big wall behind part of the curtains, does that make the room darker/worse view than the executive?

    Thanks all...I am probably more excited than I should be to be trying a new hotel!!!!!!
     
    Last edited: May 20, 2017
  2. Vegas6821

    Vegas6821 Low-Roller

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    I know you said it's too white. Delano has the completely separate living area not to mention the half bath. It came in handy when I wanted to chill for a while without getting in the bed. Especially if you are on different schedules with your SO.
     
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  3. DAVID BLAKE

    DAVID BLAKE Tourist

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    Your husband is right. The executive is better than the elite. The executive gives the feel that the room is more airy and spread out.
    I have stayed in both and whilst the room are of the same floor space the layout gives the impression the room is larger. With the executive I believe you will gain a strip view. I have stayed in them 3 times and had a strip view each time.
    Dont worry about the feel of the extra space. Make a point of using it. Take an an hour to enjoy a bottle of wine evening.
    I dont know what type of budget you are on but the SkyView suites at the MB are amazing and always worth the extra for a special occasion.
    Hope you both enjoy the trip. Take care.
     
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  4. Chuck2009x

    Chuck2009x VIP Whale

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    From looking at the pics on their website, it looks like the Executive room has extra window frontage due to how they placed the sofa in a little nook. Looks like maybe it has 9 panes of glass instead of 6.

    The Elite has a support beam in between its two sets of windows. The Executive, it's hard to tell - either the blackout drapes are bunched in the middle of the windows in the pic, or there's some exterior feature there (and so no extra windows). When you look at pics of the MB exterior, you can see they have several white "stripes" running most of the way up the building.

    Obviously more space between the headboard and the facing wall in the Elite.
     
    Last edited: May 20, 2017
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  5. Multifarious5

    Multifarious5 VIP Whale

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    Thank so much guys, great feedback from all. David, that is GREAT feedback from you having stayed in both! Actually the bottle of wine is a tradition our first night, and I DO think we'll make use of it (the seating area----the wine's a given :whistle:). I was just worried it wouldn't feel airy in the main part...now I know it does. (Hubby also grinned when I told him you said "he's right"!)

    Chuck, fantastic feedback, as always! You even counted the windows---talk about an absolutely logical, methodical way to determine airinessness. I also bet you're right on the white strip. Probably applies to either. I'm also excited about your upcoming trip--you're getting closer!!!!!!!!!!!

    Dnreyes, thank you as well on Delano. It's not just the white, but it's also that we're looking for a more standard fill-in. I am skipping Aria this trip to build inroads on a upper mid-tier place...if I jump to Delano or the Skyview suite, then it's no longer upper mid-tier, it's top tier :)
     
    Last edited: May 21, 2017
  6. Chuck2009x

    Chuck2009x VIP Whale

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    I think you'll like MB. The negatives I hear most often are the elevators and the location relative to the rest of the strip. I can't say much about the elevators because the only time I stayed at MB proper, it was in a SkyView which had its own elevator bank. All of the rest of the time, I was in Delano before the changeover. I hear what you're saying about the all white, I think they could have splashed a little color in there somewhere, but the old THEhotel rooms there were very drab. They were a great value for a true suite, even though they're not huge.

    Location obviously is just a matter of whether you want/need to go anywhere. MB is big enough to be self contained, you don't have to leave unless you want to.

    I'm not sure how much lower the play requirements will be at MB vs Aria, probably not huge, maybe $500/night less coin in? I think you'd be OK at MGM Grand too (if it comes to that, lol). The Executive or Spa Suites there are nice, comparable in size to the rooms you're looking at at MB, although at MGM Grand the windows are only half-height and probably half the rooms don't have much of a view. If you get a room with an odd number in the "2" wing of MB facing up the strip, you'll probably be pretty happy.
     
  7. Multifarious5

    Multifarious5 VIP Whale

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    HI Chuck! No worries on location. We've been mid-strip for the last two years, so it'll be fun in "uncharted territory". Plus I am a camper, so as long as I like the hotel, I am good.

    Also, don't worry that I am going in starry-eyed on play expectations. I know MB won't be much less on coin-in requirements. I always play the same amount at each hotel (budget-wise), but I just find I always have to be really strategic about how I play my budget at Aria, to hit the coin-in levels I want. I LOVE the hotel, but have never quite found my groove gaming there.

    If the slots at MB are even slightly looser than Aria, and even if MB is only slightly lower on coin-in requirements,combined with the fact that their rooms are also cheaper, this trifecta, while slight for each component, might make for a great second Mlife homebase.

    I tried Mirage last trip for this exact strategy, and I actually really, really enjoyed the gaming. But, they not only bumped me down severely on the room during check-in, it was pretty much finished with a "don't let the door hit you in the fanny" approach. And this was despite substantially higher coin-in at Mirage, versus the coin-in I need at Aria for them to take great care of me. I think Mirage is a GREAT option if you're paying for rooms, but on a mid-tier player's comp, it's not going to be one I'm really comfortable focusing on as a potential second homebase/back-up Mlife hotel, so I am trying MB.

    Aria will still be my top Mlife homebase as long as they'll have me, but you know I'm just a mid-level player, a minor market shift could cause me to go from "comps" to "no comps". I just feel more comfortable having another lillypad ready to jump to, if I need it. :) And if I'm forced to jump due to a market shift, then it's logical to target a hotel with slightly lower play ceilings than the hotels I'm jumping from...even if it's only slightly lower.

    And I actually HAVE considered MGM, 100% because you have liked it! (I value your insight/preferences immensely, and if you like someplace, I absolutely consider it heavily!)

    So why did I pick MB vs. MGM? I've learned Mlife can bump you down on corporate offers...so I just want to make sure that I like a hotel's very, very basic room, so that if I AM bumped down, I feel the sting less. I decided on MB for the floor-to-ceiling windows and a glass shower, even in basic rooms.

    MGM has some gorgeous rooms, but I am not sure I'd like the basic, basic rooms as much at MGM (shower curtain and no floor-to-ceiling window in basic rooms) as I would like the basic, basic rooms at MB. I learned a huge lesson from Mirage, don't just book on the room they say is available to you, book based on whether you'll be happy with a room you could be bumped down into. ;) Fool me once and all....

    So, while I am looking at an elite or executive, I picked MB because I know I'll still like the standard king, if bumped down.

    But the biggie, I've been at the same places center-strip so long, it would be fun to try a new place, and I've always found MB lovely.

    Thank you SO much for the great insight, and I am REALLY looking forward to see how it goes for you next trip, on breaking into some new hotels, and solidifying others. Thanks a million Chuck, and have a GREAT week, and upcoming Memorial Day!
     
    Last edited: May 21, 2017
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  8. Geogran

    Geogran VIP Whale

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    Hey M! So sorry you had that bummer of an experience at Mirage - doesn't sound like they fulfilled anything even close to the offer you had. The couple that we travel with have had some room downgrades that were less than their offer over the years. My friend plays long hours almost non stop, is a fairly low roller on spend but maintains platinum; they aren't crazy about their host who rarely accommodates even the simplest request or acts all put out. But they like to play there and stay where we stay so graciously book Mirage on trips we do together (we usually stay at two hotels so at least half their trip nets them better rooms (Cosmo, Wynn, V/P). We have a great host at Mirage and we do spend (and lose, haha) pretty large there most of the time so are lucky to get a Tower or Penthouse suite. We are loyal to Mirage because we like to play there and we win there more so than any other place plus our host goes out of her way to ensure we are taken care of there (we are low maintenance, happy campers who don't ask for much). Again, M, so sorry your experience at Mirage wasn't better - you deserved better!

    Would love to hear how you like your accomodations and stay at MB. Hope you get the exact room and view you want - I remember your tootsie toes pic at the Aria, so I know how important that floor length window is to you!!
    We have never stayed in a Mandalay Bay room. We used to stay at 'the Hotel' and loved it there, especially the half bath and separate bedroom, and quiet elegance; stayed once right after it changed to Delano and, like you, did not like the decor at all. Guess we are old fashioned fogeys, lol. We do like the slots at MB, although the casino itself feels a bit like a large warehouse. We like the variety of dining choices and the tram makes it easy to switch casinos. Really enjoyed MJOne last year. I know y'all will have a great time there and hope you hit a handpay!!

    I'm guessing you will be beating us to Vegas on your next trip as we don't have one on the boards yet, but hope to squeeze one in before end of Sept. We've only had one trip this year so far and are about 12k shy of Platinum but more importantly, we have the Vegas fever :whistle:. We have an Alaskan cruise first week in Sept. and still trying to work in a short DisneyWorld trip with our two grandsons in early Aug. if we can convince their respective helicopter parents to loosen the reins of those busy scamps :D and allow us to leave the parents at home...
     
  9. Multifarious5

    Multifarious5 VIP Whale

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    Geogran, what an amazing response...this warmed my heart, and it exemplifies what an amazing, considerate, gracious person you are.

    Honestly we still loved the trip and don't regret a thing. A free room is a free room, and we still had a blast, and it was fun trying a new place.

    We are excited about MB next, and if you liked the slots OK there, that pleases me. (You are also part of why I am trying new hotels. You've repeatedly said how some of our favorites are tight, which I've experienced as well....so if even GEOGRAN even feels the heat in those places....it spurred me to explore some new spots, and it's been really fun!)

    So excited about your Disneyworld trip with your grandson! AND an Alaska cruise? It sounds like 2017 is shaping up to be a neat year! I'd love to hear any fun details on both!

    Thanks,so much again Geo, and yes, it'll be interesting to see which one of us hits Vegas first. We'll be following in Chuck's dust though, looks like his trip is right around the corner! ;)
     
    Last edited: May 22, 2017
  10. Jidery

    Jidery Low-Roller

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    edit: Wrong post
     
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