We just stayed 6 nights at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas June 11-17th and it was much better than these reviews. I was worried after reading some of the reviews. The room was large, clean and way above average. My 2 complaints are the bed is very firm, but they did put extra blankets under the sheet to try to make it softer. It did't work. I also can't believe that on a Saturday morning there were no pool towls to be found anywhere?? Big problem as far as I am concerned. We ate at the breakfast buffet most every morning, it was great. Check in was about a 20 minute wait, no big deal. We had no problem with self parking and the pool chair problem that everyone is complaining about? We never had one problem getting a chair each day 10:00 or 11:00am. I will tell you to bypass the main pool and go straight up to the south lagoon, it was almost empty each day but Saturday. This hotel is stars in my book !!

I was in Vegas 10 years ago, but had the chance to go back with my new partner - her first time in Vegas. We had booked the Mandalay Bay over the internet and had got a bargain price to say the least - about 75% reduction on the room rate.
We arrived on the 31st May from Zion National Park, arriving in the city at about 1700hrs.
Parking at the hotel was so easy, and we even managed to get a spot near the lifts!!.
The usual long walk to the Check-In area was interesting - Clare was blown away, nothing really prepares you for you first Vegas themed hotel.
Check In couldn't have been easier, no queue at all (it was a Wednesday), the lady behind the desk was absolutely lovely, and a credit to the Hotel, she found us a room "overlooking the strip" - i took this with a big pinch of salt bearing in mind what we had paid for the room!.
Check in took about 2 minutes (honestly!) - and we were at the room a few minutes later.
Wow - what a room, what a view - looking directly down the strip through floor to ceiling, full width windows. The room was spotless, and immaculate.
We stayed only two nights (strict fly drive plans) before heading to Death Valley and a huge culture shock.
Didn't use the pool, but it looked great although rather busy, and we didn't eat at the hotel either.
What we saw didn't appear too expensive for the quality, and access to the rest of the strip was no problem with the monorail - you're always going to walk a lot in Vegas.
We even saw David Copperfield at the MGM - brilliant !!
From our experience I would quite simply recommend the Mandalay Bay to anyone.

My husband and I spent the night at the MB specifically to enjoy the pool. However, once we checked in and went down to the pool there were no available lounge chairs. We were with another couple and eventually we were able to round up 3 chairs for the 4 of us. Not only did we have to stand around for about 15 minutes until we found 2 available chairs, but they were out of towels. We were told upon entering that there would be a 20 minute wait for towels, but the 20 minutes turned into an hour and a half. While a crowd of guests waited by the pool entrance for towels to arrive, the used towel receptacles were overflowing with discarded towels. I thought that maybe the towel issue was just a one time occurrence, but we went back to the pool the next morning (early enough to get towels and lounge chairs) and as we were leaving (at 9:30 AM!) they had a sign up saying the wait would be 1 hour for more towels. Anyhow, I'm pretty amazed at the lack of management at the pool which requires guests to wait and wait for chairs and towels. But, I must say that when we went to the pool early (8:30 AM) and were able to walk in and get a chair and a towel the experience was much more enjoyable.

The room was also very nice. I really enjoyed the lovely, spacious bathroom. So, maybe you'd have better luck at a different time of year, but for us what was supposed to be a relaxing day by the pool ended up being mostly uncomfortable and frustrating.

Just returned 6/17 after spending 5 nights at the MB. The day before we left I e-mailed requesting a non smoking king bed to celebrate our 25 wedding anniversary. Got a nice reply back that our request was noted but nothing could be guarenteed. Arrived to a empty lobby shortly after midnight early 6/11. Check in clerk asked our name and then said Happy Anniversary. Told us she was upgrading us to a suite-strip view. After our check in was complete we tipped her $10 which she seemed suprised to receive, even told us it wasnt necessary. Suite was on the 29th floor non smoking king room with living and kitchen area. Room was beautiful, few stains on the carpet but probably the nicest room we have ever stayed in. Everything in good shape, only complaint was in regards to the hot tub. Filled it the first time, and saw a bundle of black hairs floating in the water. Must have come from the jets or drain. I do not fault the MB, I dont know that more they can do. The hairs were NOT in the tub before I turned the water on.
We tipped $4.00 daily expect once when we honestly forgot. Interesting that that was the only day they forgot to leave us any washclothes and did not change the dirty water glasses. The third day 2 32oz of bottle water appeared in the room. I thought it was a nice touch until I read the note that if we used the water, we would be charge $4.95 for each bottle. We had housekeeping remove them the following day. We had a refrigerator and used it daily. Went to Whole Food Market and bought food for breakfasts each day.
We had no problem finding room to sit at the pool. It may have made a difference that we went in the afternoons. Great hint*****take your own inner tubes from home or buy them off site. The beach store closest to the lazy river will blow your own tubes up free. Renting a tube is $20 a day or purchase them for $17. The pools are very busy and adults do NOT appreciate kids jumping in from the sides and splashing water everywhere!
I did not feel that the lazy river was worthwhile, we have been in longer and visually nicer ones. The wave pool was nice, there is some construction going on by the wave pool.
We ate twice at the Bayside Buffet. Food is expensive but nicely presented and we had no complaints.
Casino was wonderful, Lots of nice signs to find your way around. Once you get your bearings it is easy to find your way around. Self parking garage is a distance away but as in Vegas-everything is a walk. Be careful driving in the garage. Directional signs are small and confusing.
Do not purchase anything in the little store by the elevators, unless absolutely necessary. Prices are high. I thought about buying a Fuji disposable camera. They sell for $6-7 here in MI-MB wanted $19.95 for exactly the same camera. We got one at the Vons grocery store a mile off strip for $7.95. A choke point seems to be at the elevators on the casino level. There are 2 banks of elevators. One bank of 8 goes up to the about the 17 floor, the second set of 8 go from the 18 to 30th floor or so. Then there are a set of private elevators to the top bars, etc. It gets really busy in that area.
We were amazed at all the children running around unsupervised. Could not believe it!
People-please thing twice about bringing anyone under 18 to Las Vegas, it is not the place for them. More than once we were in the elevators with both boys and girls alone under the age of 10. Absolutely unbeliveable! Vegas is not Disneyland!!!!
Only suggestion we would have for the Mandalay Bay would be to have some additional public sitting areas. There are only 2 couches on the Beach level in the corners by the escelators. I know this is Vegas and they want you in the casino's but it would have been nice to have an occasional sit in a quiet area outside or away from all the activity.
We rented a car so being on the south end of the strip was not an issue. Mandalay is a very classy wonderful hotel. I would recommend it, and we had a very positive experience. Please e-mail with questions.