Hotel Review: Mandalay Bay

I had a conference to attend this week in Las Vegas. It was in the Mandalay Bay Convention Center and my plans changed. I was now arriving a day early. My reservation was for the Delano (you can read my review from my last stay here) but there wasn’t a room available for the additional night. I arrived late and had a work function, so I wasn’t too concerned. Mandalay Bay had a room and it was surprisingly nice (especially for the price).

Anthony’s Take: While I still prefer the Bellagio (review here) and Crockfords (review here), Mandalay Bay was a nice change of scene for the night. I prefer the Delano if staying at this end of the Strip, but the Executive King Suite I was upgraded to was more than enough space and nicely furnished. The entry-level suite at Mandalay Bay is the Elite King (it’s 683 square feet). The Executive King Suite is even larger at 786 square feet. As I was there for work and just the night, I did not get to take advantage the amenities.

Booking

This rate was booked through my company’s Concur travel booking platform. It was a standard rate that could be cancelled up to 48 hours in advance and it cost $162 plus tax. Due to my MGM Gold status, the resort fee was waived. This saved $39 plus $5 in tax. The resort fee includes Wi-Fi, access to the gym, and free phone calls. My World of Hyatt number is linked to my account so my stay will earn points and credit towards renewing Globalist status.

Transportation to/from the Hotel

I took an Uber Comfort from Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) to the hotel. It cost $22 and took around 10 minutes to drive the approximately three miles with no traffic. When I left the hotel, I checked into the Delano, which is inside the Mandalay Bay.

Location

Mandalay Bay is at the south end of the Strip next to the Luxor. The Strip is easily accessible and it’s a short walk to many of the other hotels. I generally prefer to stay in the middle (Bellagio or Cosmopolitan) but this was fine for this trip since the conference was here.

Check-in

I arrived at the hotel around 4:00 PM and noticed many people manning the desks, but also a lengthy line.

Luckily, there is a separate lobby for MGM Rewards Gold, Platinum, and Noir members. It offers priority check-in and was completely empty.

Inside, there was seating as well as complimentary water and snacks. The desk agent quickly made my keys and told me that I had been upgraded to a suite. This is one of the few upgrades I’ve received from MGM (even as a Noir member they were few and far between).

The hotel is meant to have a South Pacific feel and it has lots of flowers and floral prints throughout.

The hallways were clean and in good repair.

The carpets were vibrant and bit dizzying.

Executive King Suite (8-102)

There are 3,209 rooms and suites at Mandalay Bay. This does not include the Four Seasons or Delano. The Executive King Suite is the one-level above the base category suite and several levels above what I booked.

Upon entering, you’re in a hallway with a large mirror.

Moving forward, you enter the bedroom. There is a king-sized bed, two nightstands, and a vanity with minibar and TV.

Next to the bed were several closets. One held an iron, ironing board, and safe.

The other had a luggage rack and additional hangers.

Across from the bed was a vanity and TV.

There were some snacks, an ice bucket, glasses, and a coffeemaker here. Coffee is not free and the cups are for sale, filled with a coffee pod and condiments.

The minibar was stocked. There was no room for personal items.

The bathroom door was between the two closets. It’s a huge bathroom with a double vanity, tub, glass shower, and separate room with a toilet.

A big tub that I did not use.

The glassed-in shower was spacious and water pressure was good.

The toilet was in a separate room.

Toiletries were plentiful, but nothing special. The same Almond & Olive toiletries are offered at the Delano.

There were several bars of soap throughout the bathroom.

When you go past the bedroom area, the room curves into an L-shape. A desk is closest to the bed.

Near the desk is a seating area with a couch, several chairs, and tables.

Amenities

As I was here on business, I did not have time to use the pool. The aerial shot above is credited to MGM. This is quite a huge setup with separate pools for the Delano and Four Seasons as well as the Beach, Lazy River, and Wave Pool. There is also a beach club here called Moorea.

I took a quick walk over, but everything was closed.

The complex is huge with something for everyone whether you want to party or relax.

Overall Impression:

I wasn’t sure what to expect at Mandalay Bay and I was pleasantly surprised. The suite was nice and the service was good. It’s a bargain compared to many other Las Vegas properties and MGM Rewards benefits were honored without question. I still have my favorites, but I would stay here again.