Las Vegas - 1 weeknight - NYNY, Monte Carlo, or Mandalay Bay?

For a Thursday night in mid-November, I want to stay at one of these 3 hotels, I am soliciting comments on which one should I pick? The price for all of them is about the same, around 100. I've been to LV many times (and seen all the sights), and have been in the casinos at these 3 places (but not in the past couple years), but have never seen the hotel rooms. None of them have any promotion packages available for that night, so no extras like free or 2-1 drinks, buffet, etc. Here are some specific comments:

1. Travelling by myself on business, so just need a single room; minibar, room service, etc. are irrelevant.
2. Internet availability would be nice (wired or wireless), free even better (but not expecting it!)
3. Hate taking long long hikes from room to casino, or parking garage to room/casino.
4. Best chance of a high-floor strip view room at which hotel?
5. Good furnishings/work desk would be nice.
6. Any have free fitness rooms? (I don't think they do)
7. I'm looking at these 3 hotels mainly because I haven't stayed in them before, and they don't exceed the amount I'll be reimbursed for the room.

I'm leaning towards Mandalay Bay (nicest, I think) or NYNY (most convenient for walking to nearby casinos) but don't know if I've missed anything. Any comments welcome. Thanks!

Go with Mandalay Bay, but if you plan on walking around the strip, Monte Carlo would be better because of location.

I've stayed at the Monte Carlo and Mandalay Bay, and my choice would be Mandalay Bay. The rooms at the Monte Carlo are nice, but Mandalay Bay is much better. Also, restaurant options at Mandalay Bay are better. Unfortunately, the walk from the parking garage to the casino and hotel elevators is rather long. However, I usually avoid that whole bother by using valet parking.

I've stayed at the Monte Carlo and Mandalay Bay, and my choice would be Mandalay Bay. The rooms at the Monte Carlo are nice, but Mandalay Bay is much better. Also, restaurant options at Mandalay Bay are better. Unfortunately, the walk from the parking garage to the casino and hotel elevators is rather long. However, I usually avoid that whole bother by using valet parking.

I usually use valet too, but sometimes, if I know ahead of time I have to leave at a busy time, when there will be a wait to get the car from valet, I will plan ahead and self-park so I can grab the car quickly and be on my way.

And it turns out that I'll be there for multiple nights, so I'm going to hotel-hop, just to check out ones I haven't been to. I've booked 1 night at Monte Carlo, and 1 at Mandalay Bay. Will try to add NYNY and Paris, if their prices drop.

Hello Maxwell Smart,

And how is Agent 99? She was supposed to wait for me to grow up so I could marry her, and so she could bear my children, same with Samantha Stevens assuming she would dump Darren for me :D

Mandalay Bay is my favorite, especially THEhotel. I don't like NYNY at all. Monte Carlo is a nice casino me thinks, though I have never been in their rooms. I am told it is one of the more under-rated casinos in Vegas. They've got a nice small and friendly card room for poker. Report back here and let us know what you think of the Monte Carlo rooms.

Love and kisses to 99 :cool:

M8

Hi,

another vote for the Mandalay Bay- I love the hotel ( great design and good faciliities)

My bother stayed at the Monte Carlo in September and said it was begining to be a bit dated/worn but as you will only be in there one night it should be ok ( it is in a good location though)

Regards

TBS

Aladdin's $88 for that night, but not a strip view and the walk from parking to the hotel is long. Rooms a bit better than Monte Carlo IMHO. If you're SPG Plat or Gold you'd get upgraded to a strip view in all likelihood.

The Las Vegas Hotel Specials (http://www.vegashotelspecial.com/index.php/category/las-vegas-hotel-special/) site might have some stuff to pique your interest - Harrah's is $77, but you trade excellent location for a notch down in room quality.

I usually use valet too, but sometimes, if I know ahead of time I have to leave at a busy time, when there will be a wait to get the car from valet, I will plan ahead and self-park so I can grab the car quickly and be on my way.


One strategy to employ at Mandalay Bay for quick valet service is to use either the valet at TheHotel or the valet at Mandalay Place. The valet service at these places is fairly quiet and you'll get your car faster.

My choice would be NYNY first - fun place with nice decor, good food court, great free entertainment (dueling piano show) and great location.

Mandalay Bay is a nicer hotel, but a bit further from the action - still, they have the House of Blues (great Sunday brunch with gospel music and Cajun buffet) and several other cool features.

Monte Carlo has a great location (next to NYNY) but is sort of bland - other than a very nice brew pub that is huge and a great place to hang out if you like to drink beer and meet people.

I rate the hotels on my website (in my highly opinionated way), but of the three you mentioned, NYNY and Mandalay Bay are very good choices and you will be happy at either one!

DMark,

That's a funny website you have. Great job! I agree with most of your opinions except for NYNY. For some reason that place gets on my nerves, kinda like girls from Jersey. Mandalay Bay would be located in Myanmar (Burma), not Phillipines.

Your pirate show review at TI is hilarious! And I couldn't agree more with you on the kids in Vegas thing.

We were just at SunCoast last month and stopped by at Red Rock. I think RR is still having post-consruction disasters. Seems like they may have built the place too fast, and now they are having to do repairs. Glad you mentioned the bowling alleys too, that has been a draw for us at The Orleans and SunCoast. Who goes to Vegas to bowl? We have found it's kind of fun to do after coming back from the Strip late at night. $1 a game after midnight with some chili-cheese fries for that "unsophisticated" Las Vegas experience. My bowling average and golf scores are about the same :D I told the staff at Bellagio last time we stayed there that they should get a bowling alley put in there like over at SunCoast or The Orleans, they just rolled their eyes :D

M8

DMark,

That's a funny website you have. Great job! I agree with most of your opinions except for NYNY. F
Glad you mentioned the bowling alleys too, that has been a draw for us at The Orleans and SunCoast. Who goes to Vegas to bowl? We have found it's kind of fun to do after coming back from the Strip late at night. $1 a game after midnight with some chili-cheese fries for that "unsophisticated" Las Vegas experience. My bowling average and golf scores are about the same :D I told the staff at Bellagio last time we stayed there that they should get a bowling alley put in there like over at SunCoast or The Orleans, they just rolled their eyes :D

M8

Thanks for the compliment!
The Sunset Station (quite a schlep from the Strip) just built a brand new, huge bowling alley complex, and the casino itself is quite nice (one of the local Station chain). They also re-did their buffet, which improved it 100%..so if you don't mind being away from the center of the action, give the Sunset a try! But for bowling near the Strip, try Gold Coast (behind Rio and across the street from the Palms) as that is a favorite place for bowling leagues in town, and the bowling alleys are a fun place to hang out.