Las Vegas - What hotel: Bellagio, Four Seasons or Mandarin?

I've narrowed my choice down to the Bellagio Penthouse (£1426), Four Seasons Premier Strip-view Suite (£1534) or Mandarin Strip View Suite (£1571).

The Bellagio has an Executive lounge with free food and drink.

The Four Seasons has no casino ^ and a free House car service but no Executive lounge.

The Mandarin is the most luxurious and probably most peacefully as there is also no casino (I think)?

Another thing I'm looking for is the quality of the spa.

Appears you favor hotels without casino, if so then Four Seasons is your best bet. Spa is good, albeit smaller than the other properties.

However, if you want to be closer to other attractions, MO is better choice being more centrally located.

I am assuimg that hotels without a casino has less stag/hen parties and weddings?

Hotels without casinos tend to be smaller, more personal, less of a long walk from front door thru casion floor to elevator bank to your rooms. MO has a house car too I think. Bellagio Executive Lounge is useless. You wouldn't walk from your room to the lobby to get a bottle of water and save $4.00. Wynn Tower suites would also be on my list.

Hotels without casinos tend to be smaller, more personal, less of a long walk from front door thru casion floor to elevator bank to your rooms. MO has a house car too I think. Bellagio Executive Lounge is useless. You wouldn't walk from your room to the lobby to get a bottle of water and save $4.00. Wynn Tower suites would also be on my list.

But the Bellagio Executive Lounge includes breakfast and evening snacks which saves a bit?

I'm not sure whether I should miss out of the casino hotel experience since this is my 1st visit even though I wont be gambling.

Wynn's website has completely put me off them!

The MO's standard rooms and suites are much better than the other two IMHO. The location is a lot better than the Four Seasons.

MO's rooms may be nicer, but my preference for strip views would be 4S.

Encore tower suites will be the best casino-hotel experience. If you want a luxury non-casino experience I'd go with MO (although the FS does have great Strip views) because it's brand new, has an amazing bar on the 23rd floor (plus Twist restaurant) and is more centrally located. Four Seasons is actually part of the Mandalay Bay casino hotel but has a separate entrance, lobby, and pool.

QL

But the Bellagio Executive Lounge includes breakfast and evening snacks which saves a bit?


Its really not anything to be thrilled about....All the way next to the lobby check in desk. Look at FHR,Virtuoso or Signature if you want breakie included @ Bellagio, Wynn, FS or Mandarin.

Would suggest Wynn Tower suites over Bellagio 1 bedroom suites

The MO spa is rated very highly but the Encore Spa is gorgeous as well.

The FS House car will take you to the airport if available; the MO House car will not take you to the airport.

The MO does nickle and dime you, however.

Its really not anything to be thrilled about....All the way next to the lobby check in desk. Look at FHR,Virtuoso or Signature if you want breakie included @ Bellagio, Wynn, FS or Mandarin.


I'm UK based so I dont think I can use those sites? Anyway I have to give them all my details even before I get a quote which I'm not comfortable in doing.


The MO does nickle and dime you, however.

What do you mean by nickle and dime?

Encore has the best spa in Las Vegas. It is a small cozy property, easy to get around, great restaurants and shopping.
Short walk to the Fashion Show mall.
Encore Tower suites are very nice.

Since this is my 1st visit maybe a casnio hotel might be better for the experience even though i wont be playing? I'd really like a good view of the Strip as well. Be nice to take in a show, either Blue Man or Cirque.

I've heard that there are sometimes long queues to check-in/out so i might have to go for a place with a separate Lounge check-in? Plus some offer line-passes which sound good.

Also thinking about the famous buffet breakfasts, only the Wynn and Bellagio do them?

Wynn Tower Executive suite, Encore Tower Suite, Bellagio suite or Plazzo prestige suite?

I will only speak to the Bellagio as I have stayed in the penthouse twice while only having a non-tower suite at Encore, and standard suite at Palazzo/Venetian.

Since this is my 1st visit maybe a casnio hotel might be better for the experience even though i wont be playing? I'd really like a good view of the Strip as well. Be nice to take in a show, either Blue Man or Cirque.
Bellagio has a beautiful casino that is well-staffed by servers and managers (impeccable tables, well-mannered customers). Request a Lake view suite when booking and you'll have one of the most amazing views on the Strip. If you also request the top floor, you'll have higher ceilings. Bellagio also hosts my favorite Cirque show, "O", which hardly ever has discounted tickets so the opportunity cost of using the VIP concierge to get your tickets is low.

I've heard that there are sometimes long queues to check-in/out so i might have to go for a place with a separate Lounge check-in? Plus some offer line-passes which sound good. During a Penthouse stay you have separate checkin/checkout in the VIP lounge. While others are correct in noting it's not a true meal replacement, my wife loved "popping in" to the VIP lounge to grab a glass of champagne, a chocolate covered strawberry, and a couple bottles of water and Diet Coke to carry with us on our walk. Since it's in a separate area with limited access, there's hardly ever a wait for the VIP concierge in there, who helped us get reservations, printed our boarding passes for us when we left, and gave us line passes to a bunch of MGM-property buffets and restaurants.

Also thinking about the famous buffet breakfasts, only the Wynn and Bellagio do them?
Many have decried the downfall of the vegas buffet; check out one of the other great discussion threads. We usually end up just using a buy-one-get-one coupon at the PH Spice Market buffet to satisfy our buffet craving. Decent mid-level buffet for $11/person, with a line pass from Bellagio VIP concierge so you don't have to wait.

To be honest you can't go wrong. I can't wait to stay at the MO, but mainly due to romantic ties to the MOSF. I'd recommend a gaming casino, because you're coming all the way to Las Vegas, you might as well get at least an exposure to the gaming atmosphere.

Others in this forum are much better-qualified to comment on the luxury aspects and the spa qualities, since my experiences are still limited.

Thank you very much for the detailed reply. If you could choose: Lake View Suite without Executive lounge ot Penthouse without the lake view?

I would choose lakeview suite as you can't see the lake from the penthouse when you are sitting down as the railing blocks the view.
With that said, I would still pick the Encore Tower Suite, high floor, strip view.
and see the Le Reve Show at Wynn.

I would choose lakeview suite as you can't see the lake from the penthouse when you are sitting down as the railing blocks the view.
With that said, I would still pick the Encore Tower Suite, high floor, strip view.
and see the Le Reve Show at Wynn.

Location wise, the Encore seeems to be right at the end of the strip, whereas the Bellagio is right in the middle?

Yes Bellagio is right in the middle of the strip and was my favorite all time hotel before Encore was built. Bellagio is beautiful, has the wonderful atrium, 10 million dollar Chihuly sculpture in the lobby and the fountain show. It is still one of my favorites, just not number one, but I know many still love it, and if you stay there, I doubt that you would be disappointed.

What suites have access to the Executive Suite Lounge or is it all of them? Their website doesnt make it very clear.

Penthouse and suites $450.00 (USD) per night and above.

Since this is my 1st visit maybe a casnio hotel might be better for the experience even though i wont be playing? I'd really like a good view of the Strip as well. Be nice to take in a show, either Blue Man or Cirque.

A dear friend of mine got married at a chapel at the Bellagio last week, so I stayed in one of their recently refurbished deluxe rooms on an upper floor (but not a suite) for two nights. I would highly recommend staying on the lake view side, especially if this is your first trip. You'll not only get to enjoy seeing the fountains, but you'll get a sweeping the view of The Strip.

I am not much of a gambler myself either, but walking past the slot machines and gaming tables isn't something I do every day, so I found that entertaining. I highly recommend the Cirque "O" show; it is phenomenal.

Location wise, the Encore seeems to be right at the end of the strip, whereas the Bellagio is right in the middle?

Also bellagio is a much larger casino, more to explore.

Penthouse and suites $450.00 (USD) per night and above.

Unfortuantely some of the suites only let you book via phone so I cannot see the prices. I reckon the Cypress, Tower, Penthouse and Executive should be in my price range. Which ones have access to the lounge and lakeviews?

Best bet is to email the concierge your questions.
Luck to you.

Thank you very much for the detailed reply. If you could choose: Lake View Suite without Executive lounge ot Penthouse without the lake view?

Well first off, Bellagio is my hotel of choice and I stay there 4 times a year, every year. But, for your trip, it depends how much time you plan on spending in the room. The Penthouse rooms are quite nice, but if you aren't spending a lot of time there, or having a "few friends in", all the area is just money wasted you could spend elsewhere. Truly, the executive lounge is really nothing.

The Best Western hotels with their included continental breakfast has a better deal.... LOL LOL

I would take a Lake View Suite for less money. Enjoy a night in with room service and watch the fountains ;) ;)

Unfortuantely some of the suites only let you book via phone so I cannot see the prices. I reckon the Cypress, Tower, Penthouse and Executive should be in my price range. Which ones have access to the lounge and lakeviews?

VOH2OX2 and Emeraldcity gave great advice. Bellagio was Wynn's masterpiece in the middle of his career, while the Encore is that vision brought into laser-focus; you really can't go wrong. I find Bellagio to be romantic and airy: outdoor dining by the lake at Olives; the sun streaming through the glass roof of the shopping promenade; turning on the tv in the room to hear the music synchronized to the dancing water three hundred feet below. The Encore feels personal, fun, and the attention to detail is incredible. The gaming tables are spotless, drink service prompt, and you can tell whether you're in the Wynn or the Encore by whether the stones inlaid in the walkways are in the shape of flowers or butterflies.

As for the Bellagio rooms: Cypress suites by definition will have fountain views since they are in the central "hub" of the tower facing the Strip. Some who have stayed in Cypress on the lower floors feel that the view is hindered by the roof of the shopping area. As far as I'm aware, the only reason to book an Executive Suite is if you need the adjoining conference table room. I agree with EmeraldCity to choose the Penthouse only if you will be spending a lot of time in the room either hosting guests or recuperating. Otherwise, the view of the fountains will likely be better from a Lakeview Suite, and you can probably get a couple tickets to "O" and a nice dinner for the difference in price for a single night. One perk of the PH that you don't, I believe, get with the Lakeview Suite is complimentary airport transfer in a house limousine.

I also recommend just giving Bellagio a call. They were incredibly helpful when I was planning my engagement celebration and my nit-pick factor was at an all-time high.

Full disclosure: I haven't been to Vegas since last July, and I have yet to have the pleasure of staying at anything above a standard King suite at the Encore property.

I don't understand the interest in the Executive Suite Lounge. It is nothing special and really should not factor into your decision.

Bellagio really went downhill after the MGM takeover and then the subsequent cost-cutting especially after the City Center disaster. While I still stayed in the 1br Penthouse many times and enjoyed it, the service on the hotel ops side leaves lots to be desired and only the hard product justifies any "luxury" label. I do like the gaming areas though and still mainly gamble there, even though I usually now stay at the Cosmo next door.


Thank you very much for the detailed reply. If you could choose: Lake View Suite without Executive lounge or Penthouse without the lake view?

For a first-time visit I'd probably take the lake view Bellagio. The Penthouse is always preferable but the Bellagio is still quite suitable. Just don't get tricked into a Salon "Suite" as it's not even a so-called "junior" suite.


I would choose lakeview suite as you can't see the lake from the penthouse when you are sitting down as the railing blocks the view.

The railing depends on the location of the room, not the room type. Both the Bellagio Suite and Penthouse Suite can have the railing.

If you want to be able to step off the elevator right into a busy casino, Bellagio is great. If you want to keep some distance, then I would say MO. You have to leave the building and walk up to Aria. If you don't want a casino right off the elevator, but don't want to walk outside, Four Seasons works. You can easily transition from the FS to the Mandalay Bay lobby and into casino. Biggest issue with FS is that it seems rooms are a little outdated and in need of renovation. You won't have that issue at MO. It's a very new hotel.

MO: Smaller property, highest level of service no matter what room you're in, a new property and they have stunning reviews so far.



BN

Since this is my 1st visit maybe a casnio hotel might be better for the experience even though i wont be playing? I'd really like a good view of the Strip as well. Be nice to take in a show, either Blue Man or Cirque.

I've heard that there are sometimes long queues to check-in/out so i might have to go for a place with a separate Lounge check-in? Plus some offer line-passes which sound good.

Also thinking about the famous buffet breakfasts, only the Wynn and Bellagio do them?

Wynn Tower Executive suite, Encore Tower Suite, Bellagio suite or Plazzo prestige suite?

I say book a Cosmopolitan wraparound terrace suite, make sure you ask for an east tower, high floor, facing north-east room.... best views of Vegas! (and you have a terrace which is pretty rare for a Vegas hotel) Also the wicked spoon buffet is great, and the parkign is directly uinderneath the hotel, so short walks everywhere. The east tower is located right on the strip.

I say book a Cosmopolitan wraparound terrace suite, make sure you ask for an east tower, high floor, facing north-east room.... best views of Vegas! (and you have a terrace which is pretty rare for a Vegas hotel) Also the wicked spoon buffet is great, and the parkign is directly uinderneath the hotel, so short walks everywhere. The east tower is located right on the strip.

I'm sorry, but the Cosmo is a service-less casino geared towards kiddies who can only afford to charge on plastic. Yes, I've stayed there and no, I found everything from the check-in to the suite to the property to be plastic and somewhat tacky.

It's just a hot mess of design. It also feels like they got their employee training from MGM. Not a good thing.

I'm sorry, but the Cosmo is a service-less casino geared towards kiddies who can only afford to charge on plastic. Yes, I've stayed there and no, I found everything from the check-in to the suite to the property to be plastic and somewhat tacky.

It's just a hot mess of design. It also feels like they got their employee training from MGM. Not a good thing.

Well, we had the exact opposite experience at Cosmo, but hey I guess to each his own taste.

The MO spa is rated very highly but the Encore Spa is gorgeous as well.

The FS House car will take you to the airport if available; the MO House car will not take you to the airport.

The MO does nickle and dime you, however.

I fully agree that the MO loves to nickle and dime :
- The SPA charged us USD 25 extra PP as I asked to be on the same massage room than my wife (it was not not mentionned at the time of reservation and it was not a SPA suite with a jacuzzi etc with extra time to play with)

I don't understand the interest in the Executive Suite Lounge. It is nothing special and really should not factor into your decision.

There are 2 lounges at Bellagio
- The executive lounge is small and you have access to this one for Penthouse'booking
- The VIP lounge is much larger and have elevators inside with access directly to the room, so there is very little walking from the hotel entrance.
2 months ago Bellagio told me that to have access to the VIP lounge, there is an extra of USD 200 / NY which also includes few extra like priority seating, reservations bla bla etc.

Does anyone know when the Suites are going to be renovated at Bellagio ? They're still nice with steam shower & jacuzzi .
MO none of the suites has jacuzzi (except the 3 presidential suites )
Encore parlor and Salone suite both have jacuzi but no steam showers.

There are 2 lounges at Bellagio
- The executive lounge is small and you have access to this one for Penthouse'booking
- The VIP lounge is much larger and have elevators inside with access directly to the room, so there is very little walking from the hotel entrance.
2 months ago Bellagio told me that to have access to the VIP lounge, there is an extra of USD 200 / NY which also includes few extra like priority seating, reservations bla bla etc.

Yes, I'm aware of both lounges; the OP asked about the ESL. That said, the RFB lounge is also not something I would factor into my decision. It is definitely not worth $200/night by any stretch of the imagination, although knowing how Bellagio/MGM operates these days, I'm not surprised they're trying to pawn off this benefit for chump change in incremental revenue.

Also, please note that the south elevators to the suite floors are not actually in the RFB lounge, only adjacent to the lounge (after all, the RFB lounge does close at night). Access only requires keycard verification in the elevator. I would also point out that the south elevators only shorten walks to the rooms in the south wing of the main tower (although of course it can be nice to have the option to avoid walks through the casino floor).

I'd like to go for the Executive Lounge as I can get a quick check-in and out, free snacks and drinks plus free airport transfer.

Yes, I'm aware of both lounges; the OP asked about the ESL. That said, the RFB lounge is also not something I would factor into my decision. It is definitely not worth $200/night by any stretch of the imagination, although knowing how Bellagio/MGM operates these days, I'm not surprised they're trying to pawn off this benefit for chump change in incremental revenue.

Also, please note that the south elevators to the suite floors are not actually in the RFB lounge, only adjacent to the lounge (after all, the RFB lounge does close at night). Access only requires keycard verification in the elevator. I would also point out that the south elevators only shorten walks to the rooms in the south wing of the main tower (although of course it can be nice to have the option to avoid walks through the casino floor).

Yes you're correct. However even if the RFB / VIP lounge is closed, you can still use the other lounge entrance by the bar (I can't remember his name) and still have access to the "private" elevators but not the lounge.
Speaking about these eleveators, the one on the very right is for Villa / Limo.
I pressed limo and had to walk about 100 meters and arrived in a sort of parking garage with gates on both sides. Does anyone knows where are the entry of these gates ? I'm curious to know.

It's a great hotel. The one time I stayed there I had a 1BR Penthouse suite through a hotels.com promo and was upgraded without asking to a 2BR. It was the nicest hotel room I ever have, or ever will, stay in in my entire life. It has five bathrooms. When you check in, try a tip and see if that will get you an extra bedroom, if it is not offered to you.

(President Obama was staying at the Bellagio the same night we did; fortunately he was in the back wing, so we didn't have to pass through the airport security they had set up to get to our room.)

The VIP lounge is small but nice, and I agree that it is nice to have a place to stop by for a snack and pour yourself a glass of wine. There is not room to sit for a meal. However if you are paying $2500 American dollars for a room (per night?), you could probably get a room that is "almost" as nice at the Venetian for about $300, and probably beyond any you have ever seen in Britain (although maybe not the uae), and it would leave you plenty of money for snacks and transportation.

Whereever you go the amenities will not disappoint. The question is what environment are you looking for? Each hotel has a different personality and market that it is targeting.

The only thing about the Bellagio that I found to be merely "very good" is the spa. Las Vegas has a very high standard for spas, so they are all pretty fabulous, and the Bellagio's is no exception, but what was state of the art when it was built in the late 1990s is no longer anything special, and it is beginning to show its age. It's also very crowded.

On the plus side, you can visit almost any spa in town if you have a treatment there, or you can pay $25-35 to use facilities without a treatment at many of them, which can be a great bargain for those of us who usually stay in lesser properties.

My personal favorite is the South Point which I'm sure you won't get to (off strip) but I've heard that the spa at Caesar's is very nice.

Also, everyone's opinion is different, but mine is that the Bellagio buffet can't be beat. Best deal is to go for lunch on a weekday. (Everything in vegas is much cheaper and less crowded on a weekday.)

Doug

Do i still need to pay the resort fee if I'm staying in the bellagio penthouse?

Do i still need to pay the resort fee if I'm staying in the bellagio penthouse?

Most likely, unless you are comped.

I like the small size of the Four Seasons, its separate entrance from the Mandalay Bay and the lack of casino noises in the lobby area. I also like being on that end of the Strip.

But you certainly can not go wrong at the Mandarin Oriental.

I am not a fan of Bellagio. I think its best days are behind it.

if you want the vegas experience, the bellagio is the place to go. i don't understand why the free snacks at the bellagio are even being mentioned as a factor when you are looking at rooms that are 200-300x the cost of the said snacks (which at bellagio is a rather small array of cookies and such and small bottles of water and juice...and this is after a 10 minute stroll from your room down the elevator, through the casino, and back to the lobby)...the check-in/out is not that much faster than the normal check-in/out, but the free limo service from/to the airport is certainly nice (and it's usually an actual limo instead of a town car :p)

I just booked the Mandarin for memorial day.

I've just booked the Bellagio Penthouse lakeview suite in September :)

I've just booked the Bellagio Penthouse lakeview suite in September :)

Hello GodAtum

On the bellagio web site, there is no lakeview penthouse available.
How did you manage to have a lakeview booked ?

merci very much :o)

I did the booking through Virtuso and had to pay slightly more for a guaranteed lakeview :)

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry9700/5.0.0.593 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/117)

I did the booking through Virtuso and had to pay slightly more for a guaranteed lakeview :)

Thank you for the info

If you are using the FS free car service, do you tip the driver every time you use it? How much? And how do you get back from where they drop you when you are ready to return? Or do you just cab back to the hotel?

If you are using the FS free car service, do you tip the driver every time you use it? How much? And how do you get back from where they drop you when you are ready to return? Or do you just cab back to the hotel?

I have only gotten rides to the airport so no heading back; yes, you'd just ca back.

I tip $10-$15.

Would that be the same for the Bellagio free car service?

MO doesn't accept tips. It's their policy company wide. Their house car (a custom Mercedes S600 sedan) will take you anywhere you need to go.

MO has no need for 'lounges' as the whole hotel is only 330 rooms. They can easily take care of every guest rather than generally deal with the masses the way most other Vegas properties do.

No smoke

No casino (although CC is only 5 minutes away by foot)

IMO, best spa in Vegas. Very quiet. Very exclusive.

What other hotel in Vegas knows your name from the moment you check in and refers to you personally throughout your visit? Not Bellagio. Not Wynncore. That's for sure.


I'm a full-on convert: Mandarin Oriental is the cat's pajamas.




BN

MO doesn't accept tips. It's their policy company wide.

BN


I have tips several times at MO Las Vegas (almost everyone from the front desk who escort to my room, house car driver, bellman, etc etc ) and a tip has never been refused and always accepted with a nice smile.

I have been to few MO in Europe , US & Asia and a tip has never been refused. (last MO stay was 2 weeks ago in Asia)
Did they just change their policy lately ?

Also who owns the MO in Las Vegas ? On the MO corporate web site it's said that LAS is under a management contract, I guess the owners could be MGM ....

By the way, some of the encore tower staff called me by my name after a couple of days and I notice they also did that for other guests.