We went to Las Vegas with the main purpose of exploring and hiking Death Valley and Valley of Fire parks. Buuuuut we still like the nightlife crowd, a good drink, and a comfy bed to sleep in. For these reasons, we thought it would be fun to stay on the strip. This way, we could adventure during the day, and partayy at night (okay, party is a strong word). With a bit of research, we settled on staying at Mandalay Bay. Of course, there are many choices for hotels on the strip, so I did want to share my honest review of the stay and answer some frequently asked questions.
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Table of Contents
Where do you park?
The Mandalay has a large connected parking garage that you can park in for 18 dollars a night. You can use your room key to get in and out of the garage at any time. You can also use your key to park at any of the other MGM properties (which is nice if you want to explore more of the strip without walking the entire strip).
How was checking in?
I’ve heard horror stories of checking in at hotels on the strip (waiting for hours, no rooms available, etc). But, checking in at the Mandalay was extremely simple. They even have an app where you can check in virtually and get your room key right on your phone.
I’m slightly old-fashioned and checked in at the desk, but every time we walked by the lobby there were only one or two people in line.
Were the rooms clean?
We were pleasantly surprised when we entered the room. My husband has stayed at other hotels on the strip and has complained about a lingering smoke smell in each and every room. The rooms at the Mandalay were clean and spacious.
What amenities are included?
Not much is included, but that’s Vegas for ya. You are charged a daily resort fee (39 per night) to pay for the use of the pool and wifi and public use areas.
There’s a fridge and mini-bar in the room but beware of opening it, because they will charge you for simply using the fridge (sensor-operated). There are also snacks and water bottles in the room that you will be charged for if you touch them (they don’t mess around).
Are there suites available at Mandalay Bay?
Yep! We stayed in a basic room which was…well…basic. Our room had your typical two doubles, TV, and bathroom. Nothing extra, but it was everything we needed.
If you are a bit more bougie, you can upgrade to a suite that range from 600 to almost 6,000 square feet!!! A 6,000-square-foot hotel suite, will likely be something I never experience, BUT if you do…let me know how it goes 🙂
Can I bring my dog?
We, unfortunately, left Thor at home for this trip, but Mandalay Bay DOES HAVE DOG-FRIENDLY ROOMS! But, they come at a hefty price. You can bring up to 2 dogs (no more than 100 pounds combined) with you for an additional 100 dollars per night. They cannot be left alone in the rooms (unless in a kennel) and are not allowed in any of the public areas.
The Mandalay even offers doggy butler services such as check-ins (while you are out), dog-walking services, and treats for additional charges.
What restaurants are on-site?
So. many. restaurants. It’s actually crazy how much can be going on inside a hotel. There are 19 different sit-down restaurants, a food court, and a beachside grill.
We only ate at Ri Ra Irish Pub, but it was the best salmon I have ever had. So so good!
If looking for a quick bite to eat (and save a bit of money), you can head to the Food Court and grab Subway, pizza or something from Johnny Rockets. Other “affordable” choices are the Noodle Shop, Burger Bar, Hussong’s Catina, Citizens, or BBQ Mexicana.
If you want a fancy night, head to Kumi for Japanese, Lupo for Italian, or Fleur for steak.
Is there anything to do inside the hotel?
Besides eating and drinking at the above restaurants, you can of course gamble at the large casino. If gambling isn’t your thing. There are also nightly shows and the Shark Reef Aquarium where you can feed the sharks and stingrays and walk through the underwater tunnel. Tickets for these activities are extra and can be purchased via the app or at the front desk.
Was it safe?
Vegas is busy and attracts all sorts of different individuals. With this being said, we did feel safe inside the hotel and walking the strip. You of course always have to be aware of your surroundings and make sure you are making common sense decisions (ex: do not get too drunk on the strip and walk home alone at 2 am).
What additional costs were associated with the stay?
In addition to the room fee, you should also expect to pay a 39 dollar per night resort fee, resort fee tax (about 5 dollars per night), and 18 dollars per night in overnight parking fee (if bringing a car). There are snacks and drinks in the room, but they will of course cost you.
How do you get to the other end of the strip?
Initially, we walked the entire strip the first night. But its important to note that Mandalay Bay is at the very end of the strip and therefore is about a 3-mile walk to the other end. If you are wanting to get to a restaurant or show that is at the other end of the strip, you have several options. You can of course walk if you have the extra time or grab an uber if you don’t mind spending a bit of money. You could also find another MGM property and use your room key to park there.
OR you can ride the FREE mono-rail to different hotels. This is what we ended up using on the way back and it ended up being very easy and convenient. The monorail connects Mandalay Bay to Luxor and Excalibur and then you can walk to the Park MGM and ride another Tram to the Bellagio. If you want to go further down the strip you can then get on the monorail from the Mirage to Treasure Island.
The Trams run 7 days a week from 10am-midnight (except for the last leg Mirage-TI which only runs from noon-9 pm on weekdays and noon- 2 am on Fridays and Saturdays). They arrive every 5 minutes or so and we found them to be easy and clean to ride.
Is it worth staying on the Las Vegas Strip?
Yes!! We have stayed off of the strip before and did not feel as safe in those hotels. It’s nice to have SO many restaurant and activity choices at the tip of your fingers.
Would I stay at the Mandalay Bay Hotel again?
Yep! Although the rooms were very basic and everything cost extra (looking at you mini fridge), we had zero complaints with the Mandalay. It was clean and well-organized and close to everything you could need.
Book your stay at Mandalay Bay here!
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