MGM, Mirage, or TI
 

My sister and I are both elementary teachers and heading to vegas 4 days after school is out. I'm 33, she's 24. Traveling alone. Will want to swim/hang out at the pool a bit, but we can do that at home. Looking for fun! Not a lot of kids. Don't want to spend too much, but don't want to miss out either. These are our price quotes: Treasure Island $85, Mirage $89, MGM $85. Any suggestions would be so helpful. Going June 17 - 20. What shouldn't we miss? shows?

Go with MGM. It's a no brainer. Avoid Treasure Island (rubes and overrun with children) and Mirage (tired and worn--needs and overhaul). MGM is across from New York, New York and just down the strip from the all new Alladin and Paris and Bellagio.

mgm... and call now and reserve a table at emerils for dinners...BAM!

I agree that MGM is by far the best of the three choices. It is a city unto itself and you could entertain yourselves for four days without leaving the property--which is not something people would say about the other two. And MGM is incredibly convenient to the action. Highly recommended! <BR><BR>Oh, and insist on a high floor with a view of the strip!

MGM is the perfect place to stay in Las Vegas--and I've tried them all. There are better choices in terms of luxury, but MGM is like a nice business class hotel with large rooms and all the amenities. For the money, I'd agree it's a no-brainer. Make sure you try the buffet--amazing!

MGM is too big. It could take you the entire 4 days just to finally make it to the front door of the casino. <BR>

I DISAGREE, big time!! I hope you do more research before just following the first few replies to your post.<BR><BR>Go with the Mirage, nicest hotel of the bunch, AND the best pool of the bunch!<BR><BR>Barney's info is outdated, as the Mirage's rooms have just been remodeled.<BR><BR>And if you want to be around the fewest amount of kids, the MGM will have the MOST kids of that list!!<BR><BR>At the rates you quoted, i agree it's a NO BRAINER, but choose the Mirage and NOT the MGM. And after you book the Mirage, reserve yourself some tickets to see Mystere.

If the MGM is a no-brainer in Barney's opinion then it's obvious that Barney is in fact a no-brainer.<BR><BR>Mirage just finished redoing every room on site. Mirage's pools are by far the best of the 3. Mirage's location is the best of the 3. <BR><BR>MGM was a pretty classy place when it opened. Over the past 5 years it has sunk steadily as it has sought more and more bargain clientele. The last time I was at the casino it resembled more of an inner city crowd than anything else. Lots of shady looking types and plenty of obvious hookers. Yech! Plus it takes a half a day to walk from the strip sidewalk outside the hotel to your room.<BR><BR>Of these three Mirage is easily the best choice, especially for women travelling together who want to avoid kids and unsavory types.

I think a couple of Mirage employees have hopped on board. <BR><BR>Mirage is so outdated it's laughable. I stayed there in March and the room I got ("remodeled", mind you) was suffering from peeling wallpaper, stains on the carpet and a door lock that appeared ready to fall off. If that's what these clowns are referring to as "remodeled" then they are welcome to it. Next time, I'm going back to MGM. I have always been happy with my experience there.

Why is this somethow such a difficult choice? :) I'd hate to be influenced by hotel employees! Also, these three choices aren't a narrowed down list. I think we've been qouted some pretty good prices: Mandalay $109 (but it's so far away from everything else, and we don't want to just stay there) New York, New York $79, Monte Carlo $79. We aren't gamblers. Just looking for a quick fun getaway, not overwhelmed with kids! and it doesn't cost too much! Any other help would be great. Thanks so much for all your comments. Also, what's the best way to book, I've called the airlines and hotels directly. Any magic words?

Have only stayed at MGM, so I can't really compare it with the other two, but we thought it was great. What impressed us most was that they upgraded us, for not a cent extra, from a room in the Emerald Tower to a suite with jacuzzi and view in the Grand Tower, and said that WE were doing THEM a favour. It IS a big hotel, as one of the earlier people said, but you'll navigate it in no time..... and my memory of the other two is that they aren't exactly boutique, anyway, so size isn't much of an issue!

Go with Mirage. This is a no brainer, to steal Barney's words. Mirage is a very nice property in a very good location with a great pool. The rooms are good (only negative is that the bathrooms are too small). Staying at the Mirage gives easy access to Bellagio, Caesars, Venetian, and Paris.<BR><BR>Admittedly, I've never been a big fan of MGM - too big and just don't care for the vibe (I know I'm not being too specific but it's more of an intangible). Mirage theme is cool and the casino is big but not overwhelming.

Here's some reviews of all the stip hotels from people that have stayed there (just make sure to click on the LEFT part where it says Ratings and Comments rather than the hotel name itself).<BR><BR>http://www.ratelv.com/hotels/strip.html<BR><BR>Not that the above sight is the "end all be all", but the Mirage has a better overall rating than the MGM, as well as a greater percentage of people that would stay at the property again.<BR><BR>However, the BIGGEST thing of all... look at the "Family Friendly" ratings as this will give you an indication of which hotel will have more kids running around (which i think, being school teachers, you'd be trying to get away from while on vacation). The MGM is MUCH MORE family friendly, the Mirage not-so.<BR><BR>Of your list, i think the Mirage is still the best choice, but others seem to like the MGM, so i would choose between those 2. I will also add that the rooms are pretty basic at the Mirage, but the hotel has a much better "feel" and it doesn't take forever to get from one part of the hotel to the other.<BR><BR>Lastly, for a first time visitor, i think there is more to see in the Mirage area of the strip than the MGM area (but by all means, see them both, AND go downtown one nite).

I`d stay at Flamingo for $70.....it`s a great location...easy access...in and out check-out and safe area....great pool and casino....ck website...flamingolasvegas.com--call direct for info...see Mystere at TI or O at Bellagio...gamble at O'Sheas (next door to flamingo) or Barbary Coast....Bally`s has a tram to MGM and Bellagio has one to Monte Carlo..eat bkfst at Stage Deli in Bally`s(good price)..and O'Sheas has a Burger King and a subway..can save some money..ck out cheapovegas.com for reviews of hotels----have fun..

i'm not an expert, but was there for the 1st time in March for 3 days. We stayed at the Mirage and thought it was great. Our room was clean as a whistle, no stains, or peeling wall paper. It did not look run down at all, quite the opposite. I just walked through MGM and thought it was kind of scuzzy. Mirage is across from The Venetian, which is rally something.

Babette,<BR><BR>I travel to Vegas four times a year--every year, and I have to say that IMHO "thereyouare" and "Mary" are right: The Mirage is, by far, the best choice of these three. The rooms HAVE been recently remodeled, the pool IS one of the best anywhere and there difinitely WILL BE more children (MANY more children) running around at the MGM.<BR><BR>Plus, The Mirage has that beautiful tropical rainforest, good restaurants and is geared more toward adults. Maybe the standard rooms aren't quite as large as the MGM but they are big enough and more elegantly appointed.<BR><BR>If you want gaudy ambience and enough children to fill Disneyland then, by all means book at the MGM. If, however, you want to stay in what is still a beautiful hotel with an amazing pool area and fewer children, then choose The Mirage...you won't be disappointed.<BR><BR>DJ

Mirage all the way. I can't say for sure but I'm willing to bet that anon@maus has never stayed anywhere else other than the MGM in Las Vegas. This is the ONLY explanation I can come up with for wanting to stay there a second time. The original MGM Grand was spectacular; the new MGM is gawd-awful.<BR><BR>NiceGal

The Mirage pool is carefully guarded. You can't get in to even see it or the spas without showing your Mirage room key. There are children, but if you sit by the waterfall it will "drown" out most kiddy noise.

I personally like the Monte Carlo when I go to Vegas -- not many kids, nice rooms, *great* views if you're on a high floor on the Strip side, good service. It's not immensely huge like MGM, and has always just felt a little more laid-back (but still very elegant). The pool area is terrific, and for my money the location can't be beat: next-door to NYNY, across the street from MGM, and there's a monorail to Bellagio (from which you're right across the street from Caesar's and Bally's/Paris). You're also close to the Aladdin, which is nice, and can also make easy trips to Mandalay Bay and Luxor (though I'd skip Excalibur, which has about 25 kids per square yard and is something of a dump).<BR><BR>The sit-down restaurants at MC are good, the brew pub is great, and there's a food court for cheap meals, too (which has a bakery that makes some fantastic pastries). My only complaint is that the MC buffet isn't so great. Not bad, just not great. If you love food, don't miss the Mandalay Bay buffet, which I think is the best in Vegas, even better than the famed Rio one.<BR><BR>All that said, Mirage or MGM would be good choices, too, though I find MGM just too huge, and I don't like the Mirage end of the Strip as much as I like the end around the Tropicana intersection. TI is, as many others have said, full of kids running around everywhere.<BR><BR>If you enjoy nature and sightseeing, I'd take a half-day trip out to Red Rock Canyon, which is gorgeous. I hear Valley of Fire is even better, but it's farther away and I think would be a daylong excursion.<BR><BR>Have fun!<BR>

Mirage. No question.