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Old Jun 9, 2012, 8:08 am
  #1  
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Encore vs. Mandarin; luxury for non-gamers

Hey guys, haven't been to Vegas in over 10 years and am taking my girlfriend who's never been for a two night stay on our way to California in early July. I've seen some positives and negatives but would appreciate some fresh insight and your advice. Visa Signature offer at MO is roughly same as Virtuoso offer at Encore, both under $200 with room credits and breakfast. We will not have a car.

Want:
Nice pool, preferably with shade/umbrella availability without cabana fees
Access to good variety of quality restaurants and bars--more eclectic than fancy
Tasteful, modern, chic and clean room.
Highly polished service.
Good base for exploring other close by hotels on foot (in july heat)

Don't want/need:
Party scene/Jersey Shore convention
Buffets
High floor/view (GF not big on heights)

Though there are some great deals, I've ruled out Vdara and Aria, as I've read a few reports of "lack of follow through"/cleanliness issues. These appear to be luxury veneer rather than true luxury.

The MO seems like the obvious choice, but will be disappointed if execution is far below international MO standards or restaurant choice is limited.

Encore has larger rooms, nice collection of restaurants, and more of a "Vegas" feel. I'm sure it will be impressive, but concerned that crowd/atmosphere will annoy.

Would love to hear any strong arguments or insight in favor of one of these. Thanks in advance!

Last edited by NYC Flyer; Jun 9, 2012 at 8:10 am Reason: Grammar
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Old Jun 9, 2012, 9:43 am
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Encore is a big gaming hotel attached to another big gaming hotel - both are nice however. Location of MO is also better IMO. Encore is quite a bit past Treasure Island.

Last time we stayed at Wynn and have vowed next time we go to LV we'll stay somewhere much smaller like the MO or FS. Wynncore has the luxury touches (marble, big rooms, soft sheets) but there's no getting away from the fact that a lot of people are staying there - queues for breakfast, queues to check in and out, and a swimming pool that was so crowded that it resembled a decent soup. Toiletries were really bad as well!
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Old Jun 9, 2012, 10:54 am
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I've never stayed at MO but I've been there many times to dine at Twist. It's a short walk to many good restaurants in City Center and Cosmopolitan, but of course you need to walk through casino scene to get to them.

If you do Encore, make sure it's Tower Suites. Service is excellent. Encore is very quiet except when the pool club is open, when there's a lot of .........gery somewhat compensated for by barely dressed girls. The Tower Suites are insulated from this but you will need to walk through the casino to get to restaurants.

Wynn Tower Suites (but not Encore) has a private pool.

Have fun!

QL
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Old Jun 9, 2012, 11:35 am
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As a non-gamer, I have a bias towards the MO. My last stay at the Wynn was very noisy (thin wall) until we moved to the Wynn Tower Suites.

I have loved all our stays at the MO and the breakfast at MOZen is particularly good. Lunch at MOZen is also good. That said, THE Encore has a much better restaurant selection and the Palazzo is across the Street. At the MO, Crystals and the Aria are a short walk and offer a good selection.

On another front, the MO is a more modern style while the Encore is more traditional. Depends what you like.

While I prefer the MO, the Encore does offer some pluses.
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Old Jun 9, 2012, 5:30 pm
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Thanks all. Still a bit undecided, but thinking the MO may not bring on enough Vegas for the GF to get a real feel of the place. Knowing ourselves, we may end up never leaving the property, so leaning toward Wynn's broad offering at the moment. Will spend some time researching City Center area dining before deciding (I've studied every menu at Wynn).


Originally Posted by QuietLion
If you do Encore, make sure it's Tower Suites. Service is excellent. Encore is very quiet except when the pool club is open,
QL
Definitely not looking at the tower suites, saving the $$$ for our Cali adventures. Please let me know if staying in the "main cabin" changes your view.

And, as an aside, QL, let me just say how much I've enjoyed your trip reports in the past!

Thanks.
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Old Jun 9, 2012, 6:09 pm
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If you're not doing Tower Suites, then it's MO no question. You still get the Vegas feel when you walk around Aria and Crystals. As well, Virtuoso with Mandarin Fan Club will get you breakfast, upgrade and spa credit at MO.
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Old Jun 9, 2012, 6:40 pm
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Based on your original list of wants and don't-wants, I'm wondering why you're going to Vegas at all. Palm Springs or Phoenix/Scottsdale are also on the way to California and have many more options with what you seem to want, with none of what you don't. Are either of those locations a possibility?
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Old Jun 10, 2012, 7:29 am
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Originally Posted by xray
If you're not doing Tower Suites, then it's MO no question. You still get the Vegas feel when you walk around Aria and Crystals. As well, Virtuoso with Mandarin Fan Club will get you breakfast, upgrade and spa credit at MO.
. Totally agree, if the choice is Wynncore resort room vs. MO, go with MO. I think the pool at MO is one of its weakest attributes, but overall service, room quality and location make up for it.
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Old Jun 13, 2012, 12:17 pm
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MO hands-down. It will do a much better job of meeting your expectations than Wynncore.
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Old Jun 13, 2012, 3:19 pm
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Originally Posted by waldob
MO hands-down. It will do a much better job of meeting your expectations than Wynncore.
I agree was just there in May. Stayed at both MO and Wynn. Had stayed at Wynn several times before but wanted to give MO a try for a couple of days to compare.

Service at MO in my opinion was superior.

Rooms about the same MO modern Wynn traditional. While you will definately get more of a Vegas feel at Wynn , it depends on what you want. More relaxed atmosphere or gliz. At MO you really don't feel you are in Vegas.

I would recommend morning breakfast at the MO restaurant by the pool. Nice experience.

Lunch at Milos? at cosmopolitan a short walk away is also a treat and inexpensive with a $20 price fix per person...where dinner would cost you $200.

Just feel like at Wynn you are getting nickeled and dimed, while MO at least gives you coffee with your resort fee.
Workout room was superior also
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Old Jun 13, 2012, 3:29 pm
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MO, no contest. And here's why from someone who once stayed nowhere BUT Wynncore properties:

Steve Wynn is courting a whole new slew of young money and with that comes the d'bag contingent and females who think it's okay to walk through a hotel drunk, loud and shoe-less. It's not. Frankly, it's tacky and no matter where you're staying at Wynncore, I'm seeing it now as the norm. A tower suite will not protect you from that.

MO is clubless, casinoless, smokeless and exudes a sense of calm and service that no other property on the strip can meet (sans places like MGM Mansion or any of the Wynncore villas). It appears that the d'bag contingent stay away from Mandarin because they know it's far above what they're wanting. Call me classist, but I'm fine with that. Ironically, it's the way Wynncore was before he started courting all of those idiotic nightclubs and beach spots.


Go with MO. Get a corner City Suite. You'll love it.




BN
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Old Jun 14, 2012, 4:19 pm
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MO no doubt. Just walk up or down the Strip a bit for the Vegas-ness, if you really think the GF needs it. Then retreat to peace at the MO.
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Old Jun 16, 2012, 9:35 pm
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Originally Posted by BenjaminNicholas
MO, no contest. And here's why from someone who once stayed nowhere BUT Wynncore properties:



BN

Completely agree. I just made the switch on my last trip after many years with Wynncore. Few nice restaurants any more at Wynn and too many clubs. Twist at MO is wonderful and so is their lobby bar.
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Old Jun 26, 2012, 7:23 am
  #14  
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Thanks all...scored a great deal using visa signature at the MO. Booked a standard king @185 including daily bfast, upgrade on arrival and $100 resort credit. Looking forward! Any chance of upgrade to premier room, or should I just hope for a better view?
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