MAN(with-a-plan)DALAY BAY Aug 22, two or three nights

It's 1pm. Hmmm, still no lunch. Ah, exactly 24 hours from now, I'll be arriving for my first ever visit to Border Grill. Impetus to start a trip report.

This will be my first time at Mandalay Bay since Memorial Day 2018.... and first time away from my Center-Strip homebase of Aria-Cosmo-Bellagio in 14 trips. The only reason I'm giving MB a try - in February, I was able to book a one bedroom Penthouse Sky View Suite. I'm a little concerned about the remoteness from the buzz of Center-Strip, but I recall really enjoying moving between MB, Luxor, NYNY and MGM Grand last time.

Many of my plans are tentative, even contingency.

• I have a car reserved for part of the trip, if the tram is out of service, or if I decide I need to get away from the Strip altogether. May or may not pick-up.
• I have a flight home on the 24th, and on the 25th. At $69, couldn't pass on the flexibility- I travel frequently enough that I'll easily reuse the credit on SWA.
• a little obsessive planning: I have contingency plans in mind should I arrive to a downgrade from the suite.
  
• I don't have many meal reservations. Monday-Tuesday dining options are probably fewest throughout all resorts. I have the Border Grill rez, and breakfast at Della's Kitchen Monday.
• I plan to continue trend of recent trips to include more dice and tables. Hoping that Mon-Tues may yield some lower minimum craps, and I enjoyed Shoot-to-Win last trip, so would play it again if it's in any south-end resort. I know it's at MGMG.
• I plan to consume a little more vodka than usual. Work has been like constant babysitting for the past month. I need to be around people who want to have fun rather than whine.
• I plan to be spontaneous.... except, uhhhh......

 

Can’t wait to hear about it!

If you pick up the car, I really hope they have their valet drop off situation figured out from last month. Waits of 15-20 minutes minimum to drop the car off. Severely short staffed from what I was told.

 

Following along. I was able to get the Penthouse Sky View and the Two Bedroom Suites to show up as comped, too.

If you have time, please let us know any of the following:

- Is there a separate line for Pearl members, or M Life credit card holders for checking in?

- The adult to kid ratio. Now that school is back in session in most areas, I'm guessing there are less kids running around. They are known as the family hotel because of their Beach pools.

- Is there still a separate M Life Rewards desk, or did they combine it with the cashier?

- Condition of your suite. I keep wondering why M life is literally giving these rooms away, and wonder if they've gone downhill as I've seen in some reviews online.

 

Shoot to Win definitely at NYNY, Excalibur and Luxor. Given that, it's probably at MB as well, I just can't personally vouch as I didn't get down that far last trip. Just FYI.

 

Do you notice a decidedly "metal" crowd there this weekend?

 

Not there yet.

I'd expect to find a fight-fan crowd given the event at T Mobile

Why metal?

 

Can't wait to hear your opinion of Border Grill @ReTriggerMe!

 

Same here… It’s on the agenda for the next trip!

 

You chose the weekend of Psycho Las Vegas for your return trip to Mandalay. The festival is all this weekend at that resort. If you see the guys from Cannibal Corpse, Eyehategod, Pig Destroyer or Dying Fetus at the Fortune Cup machine, tell them Johnny Bollocks says hi.

 

I had no idea. I made the reservations in February.

As long as it doesn't mean disdain for and non compliance with masks, I probably won't notice

 

I doubt it will be any sort of issue. You'll probably have a handful of assholes and mostly cool people, just like with any other subset of the population. I was just wondering if there were a bunch of long haired dudes walking around..

 

Shoot to Win definitely at Mandalay. You should see $15 min craps Mon Tuesday daytime but it's possible only the crapless will be open which is a bummer.

Have fun! SkyView is one of my favorite Vegas suites.

 

Didn't know Della's Kitchen opened up!

 

Good Luck, have a great trip.

 

Looking forward to this. MB is on my short list for a 2022 trip.

Have a great time!!

 

Have a good trip!

 

At Oakland airport. You wouldn't think anyone is afraid of Delta. Its mobbed

My flight scheduled for 945 departure. New departure time on the board. 946. Is that impressive precision, or just a waste of space on the screen?

 

Easy arrival. Easy cab. Wow, major smell of weed outside porte cochere. But inside has that tropical smell they spray.

Inside not very busy at all.

Played dumb... went to VIP check in, saying I thought included for suite. It's not, but great rep took care of me. Said she's contacting host on duty to try to get me coded to some lounge upstairs. Will text when room ready

I had choice of pool view now, or wait for strip view. She even checked on whether current room occupant coded for late checkout... they're out, so I'm waiting.

Wish I was wearing shorts

 

Stayed in one I June. Busy time and got the pool view. I would have waited for hours for strip but all were occupied. The best thing to me is the fridge. If you get coded for the lounge that would be quite the upgrade!

 

Holy Drums! First machine I sit at. Four retriggers for 22 spins. Those fu dogs paid well over $3k.

Biggest handpay ever

I LOVE Mandalay Bay!