Vdara Panoramic Suite vs. Mandalay Bay 750 GR

Let me start by saying this isn't a question of just room vs. room...I'm trying to decide what I want to book. My family is staying at NYNY and that commute will be of question. Although I know from Vdara I could just go to Aria, then MC, then outside to NYNY. Any current pictures, videos, first hand accounts would be awesome. I haven't stayed at MB before but I have stayed at THEhotel which I really did enjoy.

Vdara Panoramic
CONS:
- $200 more expensive TOTAL
- Further from family
- No casino feel to the hotel (I like the busy bustling of people)
- No restaurants
PROS:
- Extremely nice looking room from the pictures (please weigh in anyone who has experience here).
- Closer to casinos that I like to gamble at most (Bellagio, Aria)
- Hotel is much newer and therefore much cleaner (I'm a germ freak)

Mandalay Bay 750 GR
CONS:
- Room likely isn't as nice as Vdara
- Rooms perhaps are dated? Would like to see pictures or hear of any first hand recent accounts of the room
- Not close to where I typically like to gamble, although I do have a really good time at Excalibur
PROS:
- Closer to family
- $200 cheaper
- Close to cheap eats at Excalibur if I choose so
- Has a spa tub (this is actually a big plus for me)

 

Vadara room will be nicer. I assume that is one of the 1 BR suites at MB? Yes, they are dated, but still think that would be my choice.

MB has so many gambling and food choices. You and family have the whole NYNY-Excal-Luxor-MB thing to work with. Mostly inside connections.

Yea, MB for me unless you are just hanging in room and room is more important than daily events, etc.

 

Good points, and yeah I've spent a lot of time at the NYNY/Excal/Luxor/MB part of the strip over the years and I do really enjoy it. I guess I'm torn more because I've never stayed at Vdara and I would just like to try it, however I've also never stayed at MB but I have THEhotel and really view it was the same property.

 

I have stayed at both and here is my opinion.

As far as distance goes, both shouldn't matter, because both have trams that will run to the nearby hotel. Vdara has tram that will run to Monte Carlo, then you just walk out to NYNY next door. MB has tram to Excalibur, then cross the bridge to NYNY. So again distance isn't a matter to your family.

As far as how nice the room are, the Vdara will definitely have a nicer look to it. However all the amenities are pretty much the same, with MB having spa tub+tv in room that Vdara doesn't. As far as Casino goes, both are still about the same, MB is slightly closer since you just talk an elevator down, but Vdara isn't all that far either, you just cross basically a bridge from the lobby. And since you like gaming at Aria and Bellagio, I would say Vdara wins here.

SO I guess after all that ramble, I would say this, it all comes down to do you want the extras from the bathrooms in the MB or play at your favorite gaming areas.

 

Vdara:
Pros:
--love the location, aria and Bellagio are very close, Cosmo not much farther.
--don't think it's much further from nyny than Mandalay is, if you take into account how big the Mandalay property is
--do a city view room, pretty sure you get the same floor plan on a lower floor and partially make up the cost difference
--I like the relatively calm feel of vdara after a day+night on the strip
--great valet service and easy in and out if you drive
--excellent free wifi
--quiet ac, modern furnishings, many tv channels, etc.

Cons:
--family will be upset that you're staying in such a nice hotel and they're not

 

I have never in my life heard "proximity to the food at Excalibur" as a pro for a resort.

That being said, I'd probably pick Mandalay. I like gambling at Bellagio and Aria a lot, but I like Mandalay's casino, too, and though Vdara's rooms are a bit nicer than the spa rooms at Mandalay, the room on its own is overall a pretty minor consideration for me. When you add in the significant extra cost for Vdara, I think Mandalay definitely wins out to me.

 

I'd pick Mandalay. I prefer being in a hotel with a casino. Allows me to run down and have a cigar at a penny slot or vp machine.

 

Well the distance and time from Vdara would be considerably more, you have to ride the tram to Aria, then walk through MC, then walk outside down to NYNY where as MB I could ride a tram and just walk across a bridge.

I'm a big fan of Baja Fresh, and they have an excellent fast food court for quick cheap eats.

 

I ended up going with ol' faithful and just booking at Aria lol The rates are getting pretty insane....check out how much MGM Grand is that Saturday night, I saw 700% increases in prices for that night.

 

Good choice. Nice room with nice food and a casino.

 

I would love either personally. Vdara the room is going to be 10000000x nicer, and obviously the best view ever! I stayed in a City Corner Suite and loved it. It's an easy in and out. But since you aren't driving, it's kind of a pain that you can't do anything in Vdara. Yea it's close to a lot of things, but still a pain to have to leave all the time.

But, I love Mandalay Bay, their casino, their restaurants and everything they have to offer. I stayed there last week in a regular room, and it was good, it could use a little refresh, but the room was fine, and it was clean. The bathroom was large and clean. We didn't have a car either and we kept ourselves plenty entertained, we did a concert at MB, did Thunder at Excalibur, dinner at Luxor, a few more meals at MB.. I felt like I accomplished a lot without leaving the area. BUT, in that note going to the 2 other resorts is a pain and LOT OF WALKING. Also Mandalay is busy all the time, long check-in lines, lots of people bustling in and out of the elevators. Nothing that was really an issue, but Vdara would be much more mellow.

To save $200 I'd go with MB, but what about a City Corner Suite at Vdara instead? We had the most spectacular view... I'm guessing it's just a slightly lower floor, is that cheaper? You mentioned the spa tub, well Vdara has huge soaker tubs and it would be overlooking the Bellagio fountain doesn't get much better than that!!

 

Your comments are making me consider dropping my Aria reservation and going to Vdara lol....I've stayed at Aria 3 times before so it's hard to decide.

 

You walk out the front door of VDara and across the driveway to the North entrance of Aria.No tram needed. The north entrance is closer to the walkway to MC.
I would pick VDara.

 

Check out oyster.com for real pictures not from management etc.

I really like that sight for the most part. Good details, pics of almost any hotel.

Good,luck.

Im stuck between vdara, mgm sig or M Resort.

 

Yeah, I frequest oyster.com ....Vdara is the only one I haven't been inside a room before, I've got Aria booked as of now.....we will see how my mind sways in the next few days lol. Thanks everyone for the posts.