I am planning a trip to Las Vegas this summer and have 3 hotels in mind. The Luxor is a a great price and seems like a nice place, and since I don't plan on spending tons of time in my room, I'm leaning that way. I really would love to stay at the Venetian but the price is a little too steep for me. The other two hotels I was looking at were Paris and Mandalay Bay. They are both more expensive, but within my price range. I've heard great things about them, but since I've never been to Vegas, I really don't know if there's that much of a difference.

Which hotel would any of you recommend and why?

Go to this message board and post your question again. These are the most knowledgeable, vegas-loving people you will ever meet.

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Mike, You can also go to "Rants & Raves" and find Las Vegas Hotels
on this site.

I stayed at the Luxor once and once was enough! The service was indifferent and the rooms were very bland, certainly not worth the price we paid. Our room seemed like just one step above a Motel 6. Also, those famed "inclinators" are built into the hotel in such a way that there's only one set of inclinator (elevator) banks per floor--and our room was at the absolute farthest point from them. They're inadequate for the number of rooms in the hotel--many times, when the inclinator doors opened, the thing was packed to the gills and I had to wait and wait for another one.
No thanks!
BTilke

hello,

I would recommend staying in the towers for the luxor, not in the pyramid, everyone who stayed in the pyramids seemed to be very unhappy, everyone who stayed in the towers seemed to love it, i stayed in a tower room, east tower i think, and the room was absolutley beautiful and only 59$ a night on the weekdays, i think mandalay bay would be very nice too, but i've heard it's very expensive,

that's my two cents

steve

Mike -

Can't comment on Luxor.

Out of the other two, MB is the winner. We just stayed at Paris this past weekend and while it was pretty nice, the rooms and pool at MB are better. Especially the pool area!

Go for MB.

Lynn

Certainly the pool area and the rooms at MB are superior to the other 2, but the rooms at Paris are superior to those at Luxor. Last year, they had an internet rate thatI heard about and asked for..just phone their 800 number and ask for their internet rate...it was 39 rather than 89 a night(yes, dollars...in the summer though) Paris has a much better location...restaurants at MB seemed to pricier, more gourmet...their buffet was good...but at Paris it is a hop across the road to the Bellagio, etc. Hope this helps.

Any of the others you mentioned are great but forget the Luxor, I think its just too old compared the the others around it. Paris has a nice atmosphere and Mandalay Bay has a great pool and alot going on with the House of Blues and the shark reef etc. I stayed at the Bellagio a week ago and it was great but next time I'm going for MB.

We've just stayed at the Paris last weekend. It is a very nice hotel, the room we got was incredible (a mini-suite, when we were supposed to have a regular room), good service, the slots didn't seem very tight, superb location and one of the best buffets in Vegas.

The only downside was their crappy Blackjack rules...

Hi Mike, I agree with the others on the Luxor. It can't compare with the other two. Paris is nice with a wonderful breakfast buffet. Probably the nicest on the strip, but Mandalay Bay wins my vote for the nicest overall. The regular rooms are larger and the pool area is much larger and nicer with more to do. The casino at Paris is much noiser. The only downside to Mandalay Bay is the location. If you want to be in the middle of things Paris is more for you. Mandalay Bay has a tram that runs to Luxor and Excalibur so the walk isn't so bad.

The Mandalay Bay is very nice (especially the spa), but I agree with Sheila -- if you want to go to other various casinos, it's a pain cause it's on the very end of the strip.

Mike, I would go with Paris because of its EXCELLENT location! Then, after you check out the other hotels when you're there (and you will!), then you can decide where to stay the next time. However, I am NOT a fan of Paris as I think the exterior is much nicer than the interior. BUT--since you said that you won't be staying in your room that much anyway, I get the impression that the room isn't all that important to you! Anyway, I would still go with Paris (When you get to the front desk, ask for a room on a high floor facing the Bellagio fountains directly across the street!)

I also stayed at both the Paris and Luxor and agree that Paris is more centrally located and the buffet was great both for breakfast and dinner. Luxor was just ok and to me not worth the little bit that you save. Have heard great things about Mandalay Bay but it is further down the strip and pricier. Check out Monte Carlo also.

If you don't plan on spending much time in the hotel, go with the cheaper of those hotels. Paris is a better location for walking around the strip, and the rates are pretty good right now. i have never stayed there though. i have stayed at the luxor in the towers and at manadalay bay. if you are at all interested in lounging poolside, then you should stay at mandalay bay for sure. they have the best pools and atmosphere. overall, the luxor is fine too though - i like the tower rooms. either way you go, you won't be disappointed.

Thanks for the info.

Seems like Luxor is not the way to go. Mandalay seems to be the more popular. Now the question is "How far out of the way is Mandalay from the strip?" Can you walk from Mandalay to the Mirage or do you have to cab/tram it? I may be more interested in Paris only because it is 'right there'.

Mandalay IS on the Strip.
It's just way down south on the Strip.
Yes, you can walk to the Mirage...but it'll take you more than a half hour if you're walking briskly and don't have to wait for a lot of traffic. And if it's warm out (which it WILL be) by the time you get to your destination you'll be soaked in sweat. (I speak from experience).
Confession: the first time I went to Vegas was the year Luxor opened. Was attending a convention at the (new at that time) Convention Center next to the LVHilton. And I looked at the map and thought, hey, we can walk this, it's nice out. BIG mistake. We did walk it. It took almost an hour and we were soaked with sore feet by the time we got there (and I'm trim and exercise 4 days per week). Moral: Don't walk unless you're planning on stopping into most of the casinos on the way to look around and cool off.

Okay, if I remember this correctly as we walked from MB to Paris twice....walk from MB across the street, through massive MGM tp tram out back, get off at Ballys, through Ballys walking, out from door and cross kiddy corner and down a bit to Mirage...OR...walk MB through NYNY, Excalibur, Luxor..out door to MOnte Carlo, into MOnte Carlo to hop a tram...get off at Bellagio, walk through Bellagio, out front and cross at intersection for Caesar's Palace and Forum Shops then Mirage. You know the MB seems great although we didn't stay there but the rooms at Paris have the regular rooms at the MC, Luxor, Treasure Island all beat...furniture is new, beds are comfy, quiet...we liked it.(did a lot of reading and most of the travel books will say the same..rooms at Paris are not the highest but are pretty nice and certainly nicer than all the above other than the MB.)