My girlfriend and I will be traveling to Vegas in the next two months. I had my heart set on MB but then started looking at the Palms (We love video poker and cheapovegas says the Palms is great for that).

We are 30ish and looking for a fun crowd in that age group (NO meat markets!) Good food and rooms are a plus! Any advice?

All I know about these two hotels that might make a difference is that Mandalay Bay is on the Strip and the Palms is not. You would have to cab to the Strip every time you leave the hotel. That would make a big difference to me.
Have fun whatever you decide!

I would choose Mandalay Bay in a heartbeat over the Palms, if only because the Palms is trying desperately to be hip and chic-- which in my book makes it painfully UNhip. Mandalay Bay is classy (well, for Vegas) and doesn't break a sweat to try to be hip. And it's on the Strip-- immediately better in my book.

Mandalay Bay is one of my favorites & is on the Strip (albeit the end of it). The Palms is off as mentioned & seems to be catering to the MTV crowd which may be a tad young for you. Particularly since you threw in the NO meat markets reference. MB also has Rum JUngle & Red Square is one of my favoraite restaurants in Vegas.

I have not been to the Palms yet, but I have also read about its good video poker - although I am not sure if the good pay-out tables are on the $.25 or $1.00 machines or both.

I have stayed at Mandalay Bay several times, and the video poker there is pretty standard for strip casinos - not horrible but not great.

That being said, unless you are going there primarily to play video poker, I wouldn't necessarily choose based on that factor alone. Mandalay Bay has a lot to offer for a 30ish couple - including a great pool area, spa, excellent restaurants and varied nightlife. Rooms at Mandalay Bay are nice, particularly the bathroom which is marble and has a deep soaking tub and separate shower. As I said, since I haven't been to the Palms yet, can't compare the two.

The Palms will meet all your requirements for food and rooms. As for Video poker - any serious VP player wouldn't drop a nickel at Mandalay Bay.

Seems people are obsessed with staying "on the strip". I go through this every time I have friends come to town. Mandalay Bay is not near anything on the strip except the Luxor. A cab ride from the Palms to Bellagio will cost about $5.00. There are shuttles available for free from the Gold Coast and the Rio - both within walking distance of the Palms.

How about for a bachelorette party? The Palms or Mandalay Bay?

i'd choose mandaley bay and just jump on the shuttle and go play at the palms for a while.

If you aren't interested in a "meat market" - skip the Palms - everything they do screams "meat market" and that's exactly the crowd they seek and attract. MB is much classier and doesn't seek that type of clientele. Have you considered the new Wynn resort? It will open the end of this month and will be THE place to be - at least for awhile. Another alternative is Bellagio.

I would probably choose MB too, between those two options. Though my favorites are Bellagio and Four Seasons, and I'd love to try the new Wynn hotel.) But MB has large rooms, and lots of great restaurants. Maybe head over to the Palms one evening--have a great dinner at Nine Steakhouse, play vidio poker, check out a bar or two...