Me and my wife spent 4 nights / 5 days in this fantastic hotel thanks to an all expense paid trip from my workplace- and it was a wonderful experience. Of course we were there on a fight weekend- Paquiao vs. Hatton and to our surprise the Mandalay Hotel is the official resort hotel for Manny Paquiao so there was quite a contagious buzz in the air that week. Since it was our first time there the FD agent asked if we would like a view of the strip or the beach, we chose beach because..we'll who wouldn't choose a beach view- little did we know that this meant pool area and Airport landing strip complete with an hourly motel and McDonalds view- so, if you are presented the choice- maybe pick the strip. The room was very clean and well kept, we each had our own closet and sink which was very nice so me and the wife could compare organizational and closet management skills all weekend. The individual sinks however finally pointed the finger of blame on me in regards to puddles around the sink back home- at least I won the closet contest. Aside from the ample living space, closet and main bathroom space, the toilet however was stuck in what appears to me as a laundry closet- quite crammed and small...I guess you could say it was kinda (-----). One thing I was surprised by was the lack of turn down service or towel changes- we really only received housekeeping once or twice in our room- maybe I scared them off with the puddles by my sink. The lobby and layout of the hotel is fine and you could spend a day walking around the place if you really wanted. The fitness facility is clean, bright and has ample equipment for cardio and kinda limited for weights- and yes to get there walk right through the spa.. I know the entrance and directions on their map don't mention this - but trust me- blast right through the spa and at the end of it you'll reach the hallway that leads you to the gym. Food choices are vast and go anywhere from cheap to outrageous- the only places we ate at in this hotel was the Noodle Shop (nothing stood out- not good or bad) and the Bayside Buffet which has a Fantastic breakfast buffet. Shops are kinda limited and useless really- hit the strip instead and the Casino... Don't waste your money, if you play the slots they seem to be especially ruthless here and after a few g's we gave up- in the whole time we were there we witnessed no jackpot winners and it explains the lack of players in this place, sling your money in Freemont- avoid the strip- your only fighting chance is where the locals go.. Head to Freemont! Finally, the Beach- wow, waves, sand and beautiful people under the sweltering Nevada sun- fantastic place. The river pool lets you follow the stream around and around-and the huge wave pool (keep in mind to go past the yellow line- those lifeguards will insist…trust me on this) is just awesome. Spend a day out there, definitely worth it! In regards to the price, she is not cheap. In response to all the complaints in regards to the distance from the strip- it ain't that bad- if you cut through the casino and head up the escalator you can take the Free Tram that takes you all the way to the walkway by the MGM and bam- your on the strip- walking won't kill you...it's all the margarita's and condo reps going up and down the strip- that's the killer! The hotel meals, poolside lunches, beverages and room rates are in the higher range of pricing so do this as a splurge, is it worth the price….after settling years of closet and sink controversies at home- definitely!
