Stayed for spring break with my family. I was worried about my teenage daughters being there during spring break and all the college students. It was no different than any other time of the year. The hotel was very clean and we had a great time during our trip. We did have a problem one night since the people next to our room had a party. It seemed like the walls were paper thin since we could hear the music and talking. It was probably 1:00 A.M. and we were ready to go to sleep. We called security and they were there within five minutes to take care of the problem. Another problem was that there was only one restaurant open late. The service was terrible since it took a long time for them to give me my food. Overall, this hotel is nice and quiet but I will try another one next trip to Vegas. I am always receiving free night offers from other hotels hotels I have stayed at, but this one only sent me discounter rates. I enjoyed it because it was a family trip and I wanted to be away from the "partying scene" but wll stay somewhere else next time.

Stayed June 6th - 10th
Checked in Saturday around 5:00 pm, no problems, friendly customer service. got our rooms right away. Headed up to the Mix Lounge, a must see, even if you just stop by for a few drinks as we did. Got there around 7:30 and watched the lights come on over the strip. Went to the pool both Sunday and Monday. Sunday we did not find chairs right away so just set up along the pool side had a cabana all day (10:00-7:00) Monday. well worth extra money for us.
Amazingly it was a very relaxing trip and MB was great, nice staff.
elevators - never a problem
kids at the pool - more in the beach area but very few in the east or west lagoon pools
rooms - a little worn, but who cares, you are in them 6-8 hours a day

This is a video of our trip...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyEVBU5P8lM&feature=channel_page

We loved the hotel. Would definitely stay there again. Anytime. When we were out at the pools, it was like being at a resort on the beach in Hawaii, or the Caribbean or Mexico. Lots of palm trees and flowers. It was hard to leave the hotel and venture off.
First day we got to Las Vegas. We arrived at the hotel at 1 pm and were able to check in right away. The hotel is the largest on the strip and very imposing when you first drive up to it. Like how the heck am I going to find my way around here? But it was pretty easy. They had a lot of signs with arrows that helped a lot. Our room was VERY far from the elevator! The room was amazing! Very big and pretty. I love the big tub and HDTV in the bathroom. You wouldn't think you would want a TV. in the bathroom, but it was nice to watch the news in the morning while getting ready. One day I had a bubble bath and watched part of a movie. Only until the water got cold :) The bed had a down mattress topper and was very soft and comfortable. The windows were huge with an amazing view. The only bad thing was the fridge was full of stuff to buy and was electronically controlled to charge you if you took something out of it. So was not usable for us.

The first thing we did after getting tour room was to change and go down to the pool area. We luckily found lounge chairs because someone was just leaving. It was packed that day. Hundreds of people. Lots of college kids. After our swim we got showered and changed for dinner. It was our anniversary, so we went to the Rumjungle, in the hotel. They have Brazilian food. Their specialty is the barbecued meats on skewers. We each had the *Brazilian Rodizio-style "fire-pit," signature entrees include Wood-Fire Mai-Tai Cured Island Spiced Salmon and Huli-Huli Rotisserie Chicken with a Pineapple Teriyaki Glaze. Pork, Beef Sirloin, Tri Tip, Lamb etc. They start you off with salads and cheese All very interesting and different from anything we have had before. and very good rolls. Then they bring you a platter with rice and beans. Different guys come around with the meats on tall metal skewers and carve you off some. A few minutes later a another guy with something else. Until you finally say "no more" ! It is all you can eat. We could have asked to more of anything we had. Everything was very good and an experience to say the least. We walked all over the hotel afterwards to walk off some of the dinner. Played a few slots etc.

Day two we rented a car. We were able to pick it up right at the hotel. They had an office at the hotel. I reserved one before we left home. We started off going to Henderson and having breakfast at the Green Valley Ranch. It was a pretty resort with beautiful grounds. Very good price for a yummy buffet ( this was our only buffet of the trip). We drove to the Lake Mead recreation area. It was warm but not too hot. We went to a beach on the lake and I floated around on the ring for a bit. We took a nice drive through the area, and came out of the park at Lake Las Vegas, where we walked around the shops on the waterfront of the lake. Had a nice walk along the lake. Saw a cute baby wild bunny. Then on to the historic Freemont district to see "Old Las Vegas". We spent 4 hours there. It was fun. We played some old fashioned slots that took real quarters. Had a couple 99 cent Margaritas. We had dinner at Mickie Finnz. They had a Monday night special. Rib Steak dinner and a beer for $10.00. The chef was barbecuing the steaks outside in front. They were delicious! Drove down the strip at night and saw all the lights and hundreds of people walking on the strip. We got back to the hotel parked the car and went back to our room. We were tired out!

Jim's birthday. We decided to explore the strip a bit. We took the tram that went to the Luxor and walked from there to the MGM. We saw the Lion exhibit and took part in a group survey for a new T.V. episode. It was interesting. We didn't care for the show though. We planned to go to lunch at Ellis Island. We heard it had really good food for reasonable prices. We took a free shuttle to the Hard Rock. Someone told us we could walk to Ellis Island no problem .Well it was WAY TOO FAR! We were very relieved when we finally found it. It was good and cheap. Afterwards we walked to the nearest hotel to get a cab back to our hotel. A limo driver said he would only charge us $10.00 to take us back. So we got back in style in a limo :)

We went to the pool and swam a bit when we got back. They have something there called the "Lazy River" It was really fun to ride the swim ring on it. It was crowded with other people. Kind of like bumper boats. But beware There is a waterfall around a corner that you can only escape by going way to the right then they way to the left. Or you get soaked! We tried the wave pool. It was kind of boring.

For Jim's Birthday dinner Jim wanted to go back to the Rumjungle for happy hour and order drinks and free appetizers. They had good drinks but the appetizers were two small Chimichungas. So we walked around trying to decide which of the many restaurants in the hotel Jim wanted to go to. We walked by one of the nightclubs at the hotel and a really good band was playing. Very good female lead singer. It was a promotional party for Rockstar energy drinks. We went in to listen to the music and a gal brought us two drinks. Rockstar with vodka, for free! We ended up staying there for over an hour. Free drinks and great band . We danced too! It was packed with people and very fun. We got too drunk and decided to find some place for dinner. We ate at the House of Blues. I had a barbecue sandwich and Jim had a Margarita pizza and half my sandwich. Afterwards we played some slots and back to the room to bed.

Next day home. Tired and slightly hung over. :)

We loved the hotel. Would definitely stay there again. Anytime. When we were out at the pools, it was like being at a resort on the beach in Hawaii, or the Caribbean or Mexico. Lots of palm trees and flowers. It was hard to leave the hotel and venture off.
First day we got to Las Vegas. We arrived at the hotel at 1 pm and were able to check in right away. The hotel is the largest on the strip and very imposing when you first drive up to it. Like how the heck am I going to find my way around here? But it was pretty easy. They had a lot of signs with arrows that helped a lot. Our room was VERY far from the elevator! The room was amazing! Very big and pretty. I love the big tub and HDTV in the bathroom. You wouldn't think you would want a TV. in the bathroom, but it was nice to watch the news in the morning while getting ready. One day I had a bubble bath and watched part of a movie. Only until the water got cold :) The bed had a down mattress topper and was very soft and comfortable. The windows were huge with an amazing view. The only bad thing was the fridge was full of stuff to buy and was electronically controlled to charge you if you took something out of it. So was not usable for us.

The first thing we did after getting tour room was to change and go down to the pool area. We luckily found lounge chairs because someone was just leaving. It was packed that day. Hundreds of people. Lots of college kids. After our swim we got showered and changed for dinner. It was our anniversary, so we went to the Rumjungle, in the hotel. They have Brazilian food. Their specialty is the barbecued meats on skewers. We each had the *Brazilian Rodizio-style "fire-pit," signature entrees include Wood-Fire Mai-Tai Cured Island Spiced Salmon and Huli-Huli Rotisserie Chicken with a Pineapple Teriyaki Glaze. Pork, Beef Sirloin, Tri Tip, Lamb etc. They start you off with salads and cheese All very interesting and different from anything we have had before. and very good rolls. Then they bring you a platter with rice and beans. Different guys come around with the meats on tall metal skewers and carve you off some. A few minutes later a another guy with something else. Until you finally say "no more" ! It is all you can eat. We could have asked to more of anything we had. Everything was very good and an experience to say the least. We walked all over the hotel afterwards to walk off some of the dinner. Played a few slots etc.

Day two we rented a car. We were able to pick it up right at the hotel. They had an office at the hotel. I reserved one before we left home. We started off going to Henderson and having breakfast at the Green Valley Ranch. It was a pretty resort with beautiful grounds. Very good price for a yummy buffet ( this was our only buffet of the trip). We drove to the Lake Mead recreation area. It was warm but not too hot. We went to a beach on the lake and I floated around on the ring for a bit. We took a nice drive through the area, and came out of the park at Lake Las Vegas, where we walked around the shops on the waterfront of the lake. Had a nice walk along the lake. Saw a cute baby wild bunny. Then on to the historic Freemont district to see "Old Las Vegas". We spent 4 hours there. It was fun. We played some old fashioned slots that took real quarters. Had a couple 99 cent Margaritas. We had dinner at Mickie Finnz. They had a Monday night special. Rib Steak dinner and a beer for $10.00. The chef was barbecuing the steaks outside in front. They were delicious! Drove down the strip at night and saw all the lights and hundreds of people walking on the strip. We got back to the hotel parked the car and went back to our room. We were tired out!

Jim's birthday. We decided to explore the strip a bit. We took the tram that went to the Luxor and walked from there to the MGM. We saw the Lion exhibit and took part in a group survey for a new T.V. episode. It was interesting. We didn't care for the show though. We planned to go to lunch at Ellis Island. We heard it had really good food for reasonable prices. We took a free shuttle to the Hard Rock. Someone told us we could walk to Ellis Island no problem .Well it was WAY TOO FAR! We were very relieved when we finally found it. It was good and cheap. Afterwards we walked to the nearest hotel to get a cab back to our hotel. A limo driver said he would only charge us $10.00 to take us back. So we got back in style in a limo :)

We went to the pool and swam a bit when we got back. They have something there called the "Lazy River" It was really fun to ride the swim ring on it. It was crowded with other people. Kind of like bumper boats. But beware There is a waterfall around a corner that you can only escape by going way to the right then they way to the left. Or you get soaked! We tried the wave pool. It was kind of boring. The kids really enjoyed it. They waited for the wave and rode it in on their bellies.

For Jim's Birthday dinner Jim wanted to go back to the Rumjungle for happy hour and order drinks and free appetizers. They had good drinks but the appetizers were two small Chimichungas. So we walked around trying to decide which of the many restaurants in the hotel Jim wanted to go to. We walked by one of the nightclubs at the hotel and a really good band was playing. Very good female lead singer. It was a promotional party for Rockstar energy drinks. We went in to listen to the music and a gal brought us two drinks. Rockstar with vodka, for free! We ended up staying there for over an hour. Free drinks and great band . "Oddyssey" We danced too! It was packed with people and very fun. We got too drunk and decided to find some place for dinner. We ate at the House of Blues. I had a barbecue sandwich and Jim had a Margarita pizza and half my sandwich. I had read on here that the Barbecue sandwich was good, but it was over done and dry and the bun was hard. Not real good. JIm loved his pizza and the fires were good. Afterwards we played some slots and back to the room to bed.

Next day home. Tired and slightly hung over. :)

My wife and I were planning on spending a long weekend in Vegas with her family, who were flying in from the west coast, and we all wanted to stay at a casino with excellent outdoor facilities for sunbathing as well as quality lodging, dining opportunities and gambling. Our online research leaned towards Mandalay Bay (MB) and so we decided to give the casino/resort a try.

Our four day/three night vacation at MB began early Friday afternoon with a quick and pleasant check-in experience. Our first impressions were very positive as everything appeared luxurious and visually appealing. Our room had a cozy king size bed, big screen television and luxurious marble/tile bath. The closet space was more than adequate and a nice touch included a safe inside to secure valuables. Concerned that some casino hotel rooms recycle smoky air through the vents, we need not have worried as our 14th floor room at MB circulated nothing but clean air over our entire stay. Our only other concern was the chance of picking up other folks' conversations due to "thin walls." Although some young folks were a bit inconsiderate in loudly conversing on one of our nights (hopefully they were celebrating a big win in the casinos!), we really didn't have any problems with noise from adjacent rooms which was a plus.

The main reason we stayed at MB was to take in their famous pools and poolside setting. To say it was a treat would be quite an understatement! We were surrounded predominantly by a 20 and 30-something crowd; however, they were having a great time and everyone was, for the most part, considerate. For example, one day we were late in getting to the pool are which meant no lounge chairs were available. So, as we made do with throwing towels down on the beach, folks near us were nice enough to let us know when they were leaving so we could use their lounge chairs. The facilities themselves were very clean and well organized ... though the sidewalks to get from one area to another were a bit narrow but not a big deal at all. The temps were in the mid 80s during our stay and the wave pool was around 80 degrees or so which was a perfect refresher after getting toasty from the warm, dry sun. We didn't use any of the other pools but did hop in the lazy river which was fun. We also used the spa but it was only lukewarm and not too enjoyable. Servers passed by regularly to take drink orders and had no problem letting us charge them to our room which was very convenient. We didn't try out the Moorea Beach Club but it looked very elegant and perhaps we'll give it a go the next time we stay here (spoiler alert on our recommendation for this hotel!). In all, the pool area lived up to its hype as one of the best in Vegas - if not, THE best.

We dined at MB for all meals during our stay and were most impressed by the quality (and quantity) of our meals everywhere we ate. The Noodle Shop (reminded me of the type of food served at PF Changs but better) was wonderful on our first night. Breakfast the next morning at Raffles Cafe was not only delicious but kept us full the entire day! Dinner that night at rumjungle was an absolute dream! They filled us up so much that we scaled down to a small breakfast, the next morning, at Red, White and Blue which was still filling! Our final night was spent at Jpop Sushi Bar & Lounge and the sushi was, by far, the best we've eaten in over a decade! Lucky for my wife and I that we're runners, as we both gained a few pounds on this vacation, which means we had a few extra miles to run when we returned home to burn it all off! Dining at MB was first class all the way and there's something available for every taste to ensure nobody is left disappointed.

Finally, we visited the Shark Reef Aquarium and were very impressed. Admission buys you a tour of the aquarium with an audio guide that provides helpful and informative information on the exhibit. I loved it all but was most impressed by the sharks who, when they pay you up-close face time, can be somewhat intimidating; I sure wouldn't want to have a run-in with them!

In summary, MB is an outstanding casino resort at the very end of the Vegas strip. We both had a wonderful time and will definitely visit again. The only advice I'll offer, and it's something that's been said over and over, is get to the pool as soon as it opens in order to guarantee yourself a lounge chair! MB gave us plenty of "fun in the sun" and we'll be sure to come back for more in the future!