LGA

Planning a surprise Birthday present for my husband ... a long weekend in May in Las Vegas. I have narrowed by hotel choices down to the Bellagio, Venetian or Mandalay Bay. Which would you choose?

Lori

Bellagio!!!!

xxx

Bellagio is beautiful and is centrally located.

John

Bellagio and MB both have lots going for them. The rooms (standard rooms) are in the same quality range. The suites at B are really worth the extra $$ if the difference is in the $150-200 range IMO; they're among the best hotel suites in the US. B is clearly a more 'formal' casino, MB a bit more casual feeling. I like the array of restaurants at MB better than B's. B's are more expensive overall and MB's more thematically interesting and 'fun' to me. MB just feels a bit 'livelier' in a way. So it depends on what you want: for formal, elegant, truly upscale lodging, eating, gambling it's definitely B.For a very nice yet more casual experience MB.
Venetian has nice rooms but really falters on service, restaurants (overall) and atmosphere. It's not in the same league as the others.

barb

I'll dissent with the earlier postings. I took my elderly mother on a well deserved vacation after my dad passed in October. We stayed at the Venetian and both loved it. We also spent one day at the Bellagio but we had a real problem finding someplace to grab something quick to eat. There is a very nice large food court at Venetian where you can get a quick snack. At Bellagio, there was one very small snack bar with a 45 minute wait. I found the service at BOTH Bellagio and Venetian to be less than cordial but at the Venetian, my mom found lots of people to talk to. Bellagio customers were quite snooty. Both were very beautiful but we felt more comfortable at the Venetian. I'm not a gambler but my mom said the slots at Venetian paid off better.

John

Ummmm....Barb, this may be a small point but how can you evealuate a hotel you've never stayed at? (Bellagio).
Do you think the staff treat the thousands of ogling/traffic-clogging non-paying visitors the same as they do paying guests?
The buffet at Bellagio is far superior to that at Venetian.
As for the slots and how they pay out, I'll admit I have no idea....about the rest I speak from experience.

Gary

Barb,
My vote goes to you. I evaluate hotels all the time when traveling when I do not have a room there. I evalutate the lobby, restaurants, grounds, health club facitlites, and overall helpfullness of the employees. I do not like to book into a place without first investigating it in person (I realize this is impossible to do if it is your first trip to a destination). I have seldom if ever been mistaken by my impressions before actually booking a room. As far as the gawking tourists, I thought the places wanted people to come spend their money there. I am voting for MB or the Venetian.

barb

Thanks Gary, I would'nt have thought carrying a room key should have any influence on how the staff treats its visitors. Especially in Vegas where they must rely heavily on walk-in traffic. My impressions on how comfortable I felt were purely mine. That was my first trip to Vegas and I generally found the waitstaff, where ever we went, to be barely tolerating their job. Is that too much of a generalization?? I'll be returning in April with some friends. Is there a corner of Vegas thats still really friendly??

Mr. Bitterpants

Service overall in Vegas -- as with most major tourist destinations -- is getting worse. Vegas is growing by more than 2,000 new families relocating to this mecca each month. With a supposedly booming economy with the most educated workforce in USA's history, a mega resort is going to have a sparse, overworked, uneducated workforce to cater to your self-indulgant whims.

(You think they LIKE mopping up vomit in hallways at 3 in the morning?)

Whew! Didn't mean to sound like a socialistic soapbox spouter... but I've been traveling lately. And, as someone who's waited tables to now being waited on, I didn't forget where I started.

The solution to the problem? All those out-of-work dotcom ex-employees will do anything for a job now that no one is hiring anybody with a title like "web master" or "intranet guru."

LGA

WOW! I appreciate all you replies.
Thanks Lori, xxx, John, Barb, and Gary. However, you all have quite a few differing viewpoints. So far, Bellagio is winning out as a favorite. I'll keep checking on responses for another day before I make my decision. Thanks for all the your insight!

Greg

I vote for Bellagio. We have stayed at the hotel twice, and I agree that an upgrade to one of their suites is worth it if in your budget. The hotel is centrally located. Mandalay Bay is very nice but a little out of the way. Do not miss the Cirque du Solei performance at the "O" theater. Guests of Bellagio may purchase tickets 90 days in advance. Non guests are 30 days in advance of this almost always sold out show.

LGA

Greg,
Thanks for your reply... that settles it. I have now heard more good things about Bellagio. I will book a room at the Bellagio. Great advice about seeing "O." Thank you!