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Four Seasons or Mandarin Oriental?

Discussion in 'LV Strip Hotels' started by FlyoverFi, Jun 18, 2013.

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  1. FlyoverFi

    FlyoverFi Tourist

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    We got married in Vegas in August 2008, and we're thinking of going back to celebrate our fifth anniversary. Since it's a fairly big anniversary, we're thinking of splurging and staying at either the Fours Seasons or the Mandarin Oriental. I'd love any thoughts on experiences (both positive and negative) at either.
     
  2. nostresshere

    nostresshere Mr. Anti Debit Card

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    Assuming you do not have comps, gonna be expensive. Nice, but expensive.

    Like so many that ask about rooms, my next question is always - where will you play, gamble, eat, shows, etc? That could make a big difference.


    Never been to MO - and probably will not. It is very valuable to me to take the elevator to the lobby and walk into the casino. Did Vdara once - great room, but I still had to go outside to get to casino. Just me.

    Four Seasons? We get offers for there, but have opted for TheHotel instead. Main reason? Real suite vs very nice room at Four Seasons.

    What sort of prices are you getting?
     
  3. heatherlovesvegas

    heatherlovesvegas VIP Whale

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    Never stayed at either, but I'd probably pick Mandarin. I mean it's brand new, right in the middle of the strip. But, Four Seasons does have access to the Mandalay casino and amenities, yet an extremely far walk away from them.

    But yea as said above REALLY expensive. I can't justify spending 3x as much as it would cost to stay at Cosmo or Aria or almost any other 5 star to stay at either of those properties. Is there a reason you prefer these places over the other 5 stars?

    Personally, I'd look into a large penthouse suite at Vdara, or maybe a 1 bedroom suite at Aria or Cosmo. It'll probably cost the same as a regular room at FS or Mandarin.
     
  4. valsdad

    valsdad Tourist

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    The reason to stay at a hotel like the MO or Four Seasons is to stay at a real 5 star hotel. Bellagio, Aria and the like are nice hotels to be sure, but service levels fall far short of 5 star status. We've stayed at the Mandarin many times, choosing it over FS due to location and love the facility, but it is the service that brings us back. The FS recently finished renovations to update rooms and lobby. I'm sure no matter which one you choose you'll have a great time.
     
  5. FlyoverFi

    FlyoverFi Tourist

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    For the three nights I'm looking at all-in (taxes + resort fees) around $830 for the basic rooms at both MO and FS. The prices seem right to me - only marginally more than Bellagio / Aria. I've stayed in a Corner Suite at Aria before and I wasn't wildly impressed, so I don't think we'd bump up for a suite there. I think we're going for the luxe treatment, which is why we're looking at either FS or MO rather than somewhere else. The lack of the casino at MO does give me a little bit of pause, since we do like to gamble, but it is mid-strip. I've stayed at Mandalay Bay before and I didn't love being at the edge of the action, but we've already done Vegas a number of times, so I don't think we'll feel the need to walk the entire length of the Strip like we did on our first couple of visits.
     
  6. nostresshere

    nostresshere Mr. Anti Debit Card

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    Okay, I have stayed at Ritz Carlton and other high end hotels. There is a difference.

    But, when we are in Vegas, the only service we use is the Checkin. After that we do not use room service, maid service, valet, etc. We do like a nice room, but there is no "great service" that we take advantage of.

    Guess we are just different.
     
  7. xmarksx

    xmarksx VIP Whale

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    Flyover I weighed each for my August trip and chose Four Seasons over M-O. One reason, reviews of FS pool were all very good and it was larger than MO's pool area and I plan to have dinner at Charlie Trotters one night. I also liked the fact you could share other pool areas from Mandalay, if you chose. What ultimately was my deciding factor, I just am not a fan of City Center but you are correct, it is a better Strip location.
    Rooms at FS seemed larger and were all just re-done. I know this sounds snobbish but I will admit, many people who have never been to Asia do not recognize the MO brand but most people do recognize Four Seasons as a high end property.

    Positives for MO, it is number one on Trip Advisor with Four Seasons being 2. MO's rooms also were or appeared higher tech/newer cool. Plus, how can you go wrong staying at a Mandarin property? You know it has to be great.
     
  8. Mac62398

    Mac62398 Tourist

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    @Flyover - check out the free night offer on the MO website. I got 3 nights for $650 inclusive of taxes and resort fees ($265/nt x 2 plus 1 complimentary night plus resort fees and taxes). It'll be my first stay there. Four Seasons is fantastic. I stayed at FS last time and all the rooms are brand new (renovated). Pool options can't be beat. But I'm partial to the MB complex.

    @valsdad - any recommendations on what kind of view to ask for at the MO front desk when checking in? Will be staying there for the first time too in a few weeks.
     
  9. KellyLovesVegas

    KellyLovesVegas Earthling/retired space nerd

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    We are fans of Four Seasons Las Vegas, having stayed there at least once/yr over the past decade, with three trips there in 2013. It is a wonderful oasis of calm in the chaos that is Las Vegas.
    Yes, the FS pool is nice, and it is great to be able to opt for the Mandalay Bay pool complex if the mood strikes. Twice daily maid service is great, as is their room service.
    Charlie Palmer Steak is my favorite steakhouse in Vegas - so much so that our NYE dinner was at Charlie Palmer. Verandah is a casual Italian restaurant with creative entrees and good service.
    The elevator lobby for the FS rooms is tucked around a corner from the Mandalay Bay room elevators. Literally, you walk from the casino, past the MB room elevators and the little eyewear shop, make a hard right and you are at the FS elevator lobby door.
    Perhaps Heather was thinking of the main stairway and single elevator located on the far end of FS which one can take if walking from the MB checkin area to Charlie Palmer and Verandah.
    I posted some pics of our suite in late Dec-early Jan, probably in the trip reports folder.
     
  10. KellyLovesVegas

    KellyLovesVegas Earthling/retired space nerd

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    I forgot to mention - if you have a platinum AMEX, FS is a member of the Fine Hotels and Resorts program.
     
  11. AusTex11

    AusTex11 Tourist

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    I can't speak for the Four Seasons, but I did stay at the Mandarin this past April. As I'm sure of the same at the FS, the Mandarin won't disappoint you if you're looking for that luxe treatment.

    Either one I'm sure will provide you a room that's a calming oasis, but I'm a big tech nerd and was just a huge fan of the automated system at the Mandarin - it's leagues better than the overworked terminals at Aria that do the same. I think I heard that FS rooms have had an overhaul, but the Mandarin in it's entirety is still the shiny, new thing on the block.

    Service again is something that I'm sure they compete with closely. My last trip centered a bit on food, and I used the concierge at MO to book all my dinner reservations. Every email got a reply the next day if not sooner, and each one came loaded with an itinerary all set up. If anything needed to be changed, they didn't even blink and did everything I needed or wanted, going so far as to book me a table via verbal confirmation at a restaurant that was "fully booked" based on it's website and OpenTable. On one night, we were running late for a reservation, so I phoned up the front desk to see what they could do. They called the restaurant for me, changed my reservation time, managed to wrangle me a black belt AND made sure their house car was ready and waiting downstairs for us so that we could go straight to the restaurant. If you don't want to worry about a thing, you're in good hands with the Mandarin.

    Having said that, even as a modest gambler, I found it a bit irksome to not have a casino downstairs, and I frankly missed all of the ********* that comes with that. Despite it's location, the Mandarin still made me feel miles away. It's a true oasis with Vegas right at it's doorstep. I was just hoping to find Vegas a little bit closer than that ;) Either way, congrats on your anniversary, and I wish ya'll the best trip!
     
  12. egelston2

    egelston2 Low-Roller

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    We stayed at the FS last year and loved it. The spa was great and the service was outstanding. We have stayed at MOs before but not the one in Vegas and they were truly enjoyable experiences. We are more partial to the restaurants at MB so that is why we choose FS over MO.
     
  13. Kathy98

    Kathy98 Tourist

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    the pool is everything to me

    I love the pool at the FS. The one at the MO is just, basically, a hole in the ground.

    I think the MO is amazing, except if you are a pool peep, like me. The rooms are so much nicer than the FS. And, the spa at the MO is amazing.

    They are actually both great hotels. I would stay at the MO over the FS if I was not concerned about the pool. But, I spend my entire day at the pool just relaxing. And, so, during pool weather, you can catch me at the FS.
     
  14. nostresshere

    nostresshere Mr. Anti Debit Card

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    That is one big hole in the ground since the pool deck is on the 8th floor!


    LOL!
     
  15. FlyoverFi

    FlyoverFi Tourist

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    Pulled the trigger on MO, prices for FS went up over night, and now there's a $300 difference. With the 3rd night free deal, I got 3 nights at the MO for $694 (including taxes and resort fees). I'm really, really, really excited. I've had tea at the original Mandarin Oriental when I lived in Thailand, but I've never stayed at a MO property.
     
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