I gave TheHotel a rating of 2/5 stars for the atmosphere, location, and value for money.
First, Mandalay Bay is too far down the strip. The tram was broken the week we were there. We ended up renting a car for the last two days, so we could get around more quickly. I will stay in the Center Strip next time (probably at the Paris Hotel, which has much cheaper restaurants and light colored decor and a central location).
TheHotel was lovely and elegant, but VERY dark! Even with all the lights on, the room was dim, and all of the colors were muted and depressing. The walls in the lobby were black - sleek, but dark. It was so dark in The Coffee Shop I couldn't read the labels for the milk (1% whole, half & half?). The flowers in the lobby (Calla lilies) and black and white artwork simply added to this morbid effect.
The Hotel was very expensive. I got a good deal on the room rate (179/129) but a $14.99/ day fee for Internet is ridiculous. It was $12 for a drink at the Beach. We ate at the Coffee Shop, to grab breakfast to go - banana, croissant, and tea cost $12, and the Beach Cafe - $40 for 2 hotdogs that were bland, french fries, and 2 drinks.
All of the staff I came into contact with were gracious and welcoming. The front desk staff spoke at the speed of light. I didn't have too much trouble understanding them (being from the East Coast, I guess!) but my mother-in-law couldn't understand a word any of them said.
We couldn't figure out how to change the clock in our room for daylight savings time. We unplugged it, because it was so bright, and the maids plugged it back in. They also wouldn't leave stuff like the tissue box and extra pillows, where we put them.
There was no coffee/teapot in the room. The mini-bar was well-stocked and typically priced.
The bathroom and amenities gorgeous, but there was no fan to clean the air or dull bathroom sounds. The walls were not very thick. People in the hall and people flushing the door toilet next door woke up up every night.
The view was nice but at 3AM I could hear dumpsters and sirens, 24 stories down. There was a long wait for the elevator (only 3 of the 5 were operational.
The beds were comfortable, but the linens were so starchy and scratchy I had to cover my pillow with my bathrobe.
Everything was pretty clean, but our towels were getting threadbare and had black marks on them. I had to call for new ones that were also stained.
It was a REALLY long walk to the pool, which is shared with Mandalay Bay. We were so looking forward to the pool! It was a primary reason for selecting TheHotel and it was a bit chilly to fully enjoy. There were no changing rooms or lockers. There was a fee for tube rentals. The music was obnoxious - not beachy, not peaceful - top 40 dance mixes. Not at all what I expected.
