Stayed at THE hotel from August 19th through the 24th. It was an absolute amazing experience. We were booked at the regular Mandalay Bay Hotel, but when using the front desk tip trick, we were upgraded to THE hotel. The rooms were very spacious and comfortable. I read some of the other reviews, and the talk about small closet space is ridiculous. My wife and I had more than enough room in the closets and there was even room for the additional clothes she bought when she went shopping!
The smell that hits you when you walk into THE hotel is great. I think they pump some kind of jasmine or something else, but it really refreshes you and is much more pleasant than the normal smell of a smoky Vegas casino.
Speaking of the casino, it is just a short walk from the entrance to THE hotel and all of its noise is kept away from you. The Mandalay Palace is right by the entrance to the casino which gives you quick access to many shops, restaurants and ultimately leads you to the Luxor. If you have to pick one spot, eat at the Burger Bar. Sit at the counter too, to get served quicker. The Kobe Beef Burger was the best burger I have ever eaten.
The pool is somewhat of a walk from THE hotel, but if you learn a short cut through the casino, it isn’t all that bad. Be sure to stop at your local Target before going to this pool so that you can purchase a tube for the lazy river, otherwise it will cost you $20 for a Mandalay Bay tube. The wave pool is absolutely awesome, just be sure to get there early because it can get jammed up with children later in the day. It was an out of this world experience to be in the middle of the desert in Las Vegas and sit by a wave pool with a beach.
The casino is very open and spacious, however the tables have fairly high minimums (no lower than $15 during the night and $10 during the day). I spent most of my time at the poker table, which was a very pleasant experience. The Sports book is possibly one of the biggest in Vegas.
For food, all of Mandalay Bay’s restaurants are available to you. The buffet was decent. If you go to it, be sure to have some of the chocolate candle cake, it was the best cake I have ever eaten. The Shanghai Lilly was excellent. My wife and I ate there on one of our last nights. It was a little pricey, but the meal is out of this world and the deserts will leave you speechless.
My wife checked out THE bathhouse and said that it was an excellent spa, so I guess I would have to recommend that as well.
In conclusion, my wife and I both agree that we will never stay at another place when going to Vegas.