Hi, we're planning a trip in late March for Vegas with our 2 children and we're thinking of staying at Mandalay for 5 nites. My kids want the wave pool and the lazy river (will it be open...the hotel says probably?) Do you think it's a good idea to stay at one place or should we check out another place while we are there that long? Any suggestions. Also, how is the attire for entering shows and restaurants. Do we dress casual day wear? or something fancier? I read that your clothes get all smoky from the casinos (just walking thru) is that true?
Thanks...great site!

Weather: late March is very unpredictable. Can be high 50's and drizzly, or high 80's and hot. April is the month that the weather becomes predictably warm. The hotel won't be able to offer much more than that in the way of guidance about the pool.

Attire: most people dress the same in LV as they would for a trip to WalMart. Seriously. Vegas is full of fanny packs, shiny running suits, bellies hanging out of T-shirts, etc. Wear whatever makes you comfortable.
There are very few places that require collared shirts for men, and only a handful of jacket/tie places. If the dinner is under $80/person there's usually not a restrictive dress code. A few shows used to ban jeans and such. Most have relaxed these rules.
Your clothes will smell like an ashtray when you get home regardles of what they cost.

Location: I wouldn't move during a 5 night stay without some compelling reason.

Thank you. Appreciate your comments. Glad to hear that we won't have to go buy a whole new wardrobe and can get away with our everyday clothes. I hope because we are going the last week in March that it won't be so bad, but one could only hope. Now let's just hope the pools are open, because that's why we're paying those high prices! Thanks again.

Mandalay Bay is a great hotel. It's at the end of the strip but nice nonetheless. If it's hot, you're going to really enjoy the pools there. Amazing pools.

As for shows, I would recommend wearing at least wear khakis and a button up shirt. Not that they wouldn't let you in otherwise, but you don't want to stand out. However, I wouldn't buy anything new for this trip.

i would recommend keeping it at one hotel. 5 days is not enough time to shchlepp everyone to another hotel. if you get a good rate at the end of march at MB, and you get pool weather, don't gamble, cause you've already won!

p.s., if I can add a post script... whatever its attraction for families used to be, vegas is in the process of reinventing itself yet again as a place to go WITHOUT kids. so, if you're thinking it'll be great to tote the kids around, i'd think again. most everything nowadays is really geared toward adults doing adult things. you might be better off taking that planned trip with the kids to a place like San Diego or Arizona.

Also - the last two weekends in March are some of the busiest in Vegas - March madness/College basketball/Final Four. Very tough time to get any sort of decent rates . . .

Thanks for all the responses. So far, Mandalay is offering pretty good rates. My kids are older and I think they'll enjoy some of the shows Vegas offers (free or paying). So we'll hope for the best. Will let you know. I've been checking all the sites everyone writes about, so I already have a couple of things in mind. I called the hotel again, and this time they said the beach will be open March 1st, so that's half the battle!

As a native of So. Cal., I frequent LV about 5-6 times a year with my family. Our last trip, New Years for 5 nights, began at Mandalay. We had a strip facing room on the House of Blues floor and it was great to see the fireworks from our room. My children are aged 1, 3, 16, and 17 (don't ask) and we unanimously feel that LV is a great place. It is accesable, child friendly, and stimulating for all ages. As a hotel, we did not have the best time at MB and checked out early and spent our last three nights at the Venetian. IMHO, the Venetian is a better choice for my families due to the fact that you have a more mature crowd at V, as opposed to the wild crowd at MB. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the MB, but for the overall exeriance, V is my choice.

Hi, thanks for your message. I looked into the Venetian (my first choice) and it was twice as much. Want to have some money for the shows and food! I figure my kids watch MTV so they've seen it all already! I'm hoping that if we don't like MB, we'll do what you did and check out early and find some place else.