by Scott Laird
Last updated: 3:00 AM ET, Fri June 9, 2017
Mandalay Bay has long been one of my favorite hotel resorts in Las Vegas, and much of it has to do with the design of the place.
There's a distinct romance with the expansive polished marble floors, soaring ceilings and British-colonial-architecture-meets-Southeast-Asian-succulence design aesthetic. The resort was one of the last in a string of internationally themed 1990s construction projects (think Bellagio, Paris, Venetian, Luxor, Aladdin) before less-themed resorts focusing on touches of whimsical luxury became more en vogue (Wynn, Aria, Cosmopolitan).
Coming up on almost two decades on the Las Vegas Strip, the space has gone through several changes over the years. Long gone is the once-hot nightclub Rum Jungle, as are several incarnations of restaurants that seem to rotate through for a few years at a time, many of which seemed to quickly fall victim to their own trendiness. On the other end of the spectrum are the favorite standbys, many of which have been open as long as the resort: Aureole, Noodle Shop, Wolfgang Puck's Lupo and Red Square (which even withstood controversy over the statue of the communist leader that stood guard over the entrance).
Other dining outlets seem to have followed the changes in tastes of Las Vegas visitors (resortists, as the hotel calls their guests). The former 24 hour Raffles Café has a new name and oeuvre as a breakfast-and-lunch spot, while the buffet, once a bulwark of any Las Vegas casino resort, now closes during the dinner hours.
Changes in the casino also give clues that perhaps the resort isn't quite as near the top of the list among high rollers as it might have been in in the past. Some high-limit gaming areas were devoid of tables and cordoned off and there seemed to be fewer tables and more lower limit slots than in previous years. However, the things that attracted the hordes to the casino all those years ago remain intact - the spotless interior, the high ceilings and easy-to-navigate layout and the sparkling colonial-style chandeliers.
Other changes, which weren't particular to Mandalay Bay, speak more toward the changing model of Las Vegas as a destination. Reliance on non-gaming revenue is apparent-where meals and amenities were once a good value in Las Vegas, many resorts seem to have begun following the urban business hotel practice of pricing for convenience-they're so large that going off-site to dine is impractical, which explains the $17 omelet at breakfast (admittedly, it's a great omelet, and thick slices of toast are bottomless). Other amenities such as in-room coffee are available for a charge of $4.50.
The resort fee of $35 per night, while standard in Las Vegas, is one of the least inclusive I've seen. The fee includes high-speed Internet access, unlimited local and toll-free calls, airline boarding pass printing, notary service and fitness center access for guests over 18.
Two of the best reasons to stay at Mandalay Bay are the beach and the spa. A departure from your basic hotel pool, the beach at Mandalay Bay butts up against a salt water pool with a wave machine and features tropical landscaping, A lazy river weaves through cabanas, which are available for rent, and in addition to the beach there's the adults-only Moorea Beach Club, where you can rent everything from reserved chairs to day beds to entire villas to entertain guests or luxuriate on your own. There's also beachside gaming for those who can't be away from the tables for too long.
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The spa is another relatively unchanged feature of the hotel and it's always been great. With arena-sized wet areas for men and women with that same sort of Mandalay theme (think concrete koi fish spouting water into a perfectly temped whirlpool that wouldn't be out of place in Singapore or Malaysia) where cascading water is a pleasant Zen backdrop while waiting for a massage or body treatment.
It's a good place to sit and meditate on how travel has and hasn't quite changed over the past two centuries. British colonialists on the Mandalay Peninsula comforted themselves with familiar things from home-gin and tonic, volumes of novels and English poetry, all mixed in with the exciting-slash-terrifying possibility of being menaced by a tiger at any moment.
Add air conditioning, slot machines, and enough great restaurants that take the better part of a week to work through-and it's easy to see why Mandalay Bay remains a favorite on the Las Vegas Strip.
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The Takeaway: Mandalay Bay has all you might expect from a resort hotel on the strip with a notable pool, navigable casino, and uniquely Mandalay vibe.
The Damage: Rates are understandably higher on weekends (midweek rates also run higher during Spring Break periods and fall convention season.) The first two weeks of December are the trough for the year, and during that period I've seen rates from about $109.
Instagrammable Moment: Photos from the beach or a cabana will definitely get attention; many rooms have prize-winning views of the Las Vegas Strip.
Loyalty: The hotel participates in MGM's mlife program, which can be linked to a World of Hyatt account.
Good To Know: When booking, check to see whether the resort fee is included in the quoted price.
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