So we are thinking about doing a trip to Vegas. Looks like it will be 4 nights, mid-week in May. It has been something like 6 years or so since we've been to Vegas and were hoping for some thoughts from folks.

Some stuff about what we are looking for:
- It will be my wife and I - no kids
- We do gamble, but we are not "gamblers"; I'm sure we will do it some, but it isn't the primary purpose of the trip
- Want to spend some time relaxing: a good pool and maybe a good spa (wife only, I'm not interested) would be great
- On-site dining options for lunch would be a plus; for dinner we are fine with a taxi

My initial read of what is coming up on Expedia kind of points me to the following:
- The Hotel @ Mandalay Bay looks like a possible front-runner. $130/night. Pretty sure that Mandalay Bay still has one of the top pools in Vegas. Rooms look very nice. Location is a bit annoying, but not a deal-breaker.

- The Mirage might be a contender too. $130/night. Again, what I believe to be a top pool. Much better location. Rooms look like a notch below The Hotel in terms of size and amenities (e.g. no separate shower).

- The Signature @ MGM. We like the dining options at MGM. I like the addition of a pool at each tower, in addition to the main complex. Rooms look tacky, but large and comfortable. Good location.

Some of the other hotels just seem to offer poor value. The next batch of hotels seems to represent a jump up in price. Venetian and Cosmopolitan are almost $300. Bellagio over $300. MO over $300. Wynn and Encore between $450 and $500. The one intriguing option above the The Hotel/Mirage/Signature triumvarate might be the 4S, coming in at $250.

I guess the question is two-fold:

1) Which of the 3 primary choices would you choose?
2) Is there any reason to spend 2x or more for any of the other options? I mean, I know that the service level at some of these is likely higher, but enough to deliver real value?

I was there isn April which seems like just yesterday but in fact it wa 9 months ago. WOW.

Trip Advisor has an amazing Vegas forum where people know every detail about Vegas a feeely share the best info. So my recommendation is to post there as well.

Loved Bellagio - but our favorite is now the Wynn - and sometimes they have good promos - under $200, sometimes including a spa credit. Suggest you contact them directly.

In addition to Wynn's (and the adjacent Encore) pools and spa - my wife liked the penny/nickel slots - where you can order champagne for free (and it's a decent quality) and if you have a couple glasses in an hour - even if you lose $10 to $20 to the one arm bandits - it's been a fun time.

Thanks for the advice.

The Wynn does look great, but I can't find any promos and they don't seem to be budging from their published rates. We aren't high rollers, so no real hope of love on that front. I just can't see the $500 they are charging at this point.

Check out the reviews for the Wynn and Encore first on Tripadvisor and take heed of some comments regarding excessive loud thumping music from the night clubs permeating into the rooms well into the early hours.

Mandalay Bay and The Hotel are having extensive renovations carried out so check their website for details of disruptions to guests. The Signature @ MGM is a good solid choice if you need to be strip based. I personally prefer to stay off strip now.

We were very pleased with The Signature @ MGM. Nicely appointed. Large bedroom and living room. Kitchen. Two bathrooms--one very large. It was a genuine bargain.

HTtY

Hi tg

If you are going midweek, check Hotwires 5* rates for your dates. Trump is often the 5* North Strip sub $100/nt, and Cosmopolitan the 5* South(with 'casino' as an amentity) around $100-110. You can figure out the hotel by the amenity sets listed at Better Bidding. com

If you find something you like but are unsure of which hotel it is, I also have other ways of finding out

Mandalay & Mirage are very good hotels. I'd probably give the nod to Mirage based on location.

For good value, or mid-range, look as well at:
NYNY, Luxor, Tropicana, Excalibur(best value buffet, good rooms);

Bally's, Harrah's, TI are real good value;

Palms, Rio(both off strip),

Flamingo, Caesar's might be above your price point.

I wouldnt care if I was in Downtown(Fremont st.), Riviera, Hilton, or Howard Johnson, as long as rooms are clean and I get a good 5 night rate($450-$650).

We just stayed at The Signature and it was great. I can't imagine why you think the rooms look tacky, quite the opposite. The kitchens were fitted with top name appliances and had nice stem ware and had
Villeroy & Boch bone china.

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...s-and-more.cfm

Would try to stay center strip - and Mirage may be your best option for that. Nice pool area.

Tropicana has also been refurbished and it has a nice pool area, but again, prefer staying closer to center strip - Mirage, or Bellagio (great pool area) - if you can find a deal. Bellagio also has a great spa. Keep checking - as again - sometimes - Bellagio will have deals - as does Wynn's, which also has a great spa.

The "deals" depend a lot on what type of conventions are in town, or more properly - not in town.

Rio has a good pool area - and a shuttle to center strip. Big rooms.


And I would not stay downtown - it's tacky, but will do in a pinch.

check this out:

http://www.cheapovegas.com/best-swimming-vegas-hotels

I agree with center strip and I would not stay at the Rio due to its location but that's subjective.

Have you looked at the Aria?

Mand Bay is fine but a bit removed IMO

We just stayed at The Signature and it was great.

That is very good to hear. We are leaning that direction for the dedicated pools, better location, and available dining options - we are definitely looking to go to Joel Robuchon, possibly Shibuya, and if we do a steakhouse it might be Craftsteak.

I can't imagine why you think the rooms look tacky, quite the opposite.

Perhaps dowdy is a better term? The furniture just looks very hotel-like and dated, and lacking any kind of cohesive style. It is strange to me as I think the regular rooms at the MGM have a much more upscale look to them. I'm not sure I'm going to let displeasure with the style dissuade me, but it factors in.

Rio has a good pool area - and a shuttle to center strip. Big rooms.

I stayed at the Rio once and don't think I would return. Too far away, the rooms were poorly done (wasted space), and lousy odds in the casino.

Palms, Rio(both off strip),

I've looked at Palms Place. The suites look decent and they have some of the cheapest cabana rentals around. Any direct experience?

And I would not stay downtown - it's tacky, but will do in a pinch.

I'm not in a pinch, so downtown is out.

Flamingo, Caesar's might be above your price point.
Keep checking - as again - sometimes - Bellagio will have deals - as does Wynn's, which also has a great spa.

The Flamingo is very much within the range of the other options, but it doesn't seem to measure up to the other options.

Caesar's is delightfully tacky in a very Vegas way, but I'm not willing to pay their premiums for tackiness.

I would be happy to pay for the Wynn or Bellagio if someone could convince me that they are worth the premium. As I see it, the likes of the Signature or The Hotel get me a 4-star hotel for around $120 or so. To jump up to the Wynn or Bellagio would run an extra $200 or so and that would be trading down to a regular (though nice) room from a suite. I'm not sure it is worth that kind of premium for what is still a very large hotel and all that entails (tales of lines at check-in, noise, traffic, crowded pools, etc). I mean, for the $400 or so the Wynn is charging, I could get a suite at The Hotel AND a cabana rental - I would trade down in service, but still...

Perhaps the MO or 4S might be better options than Wynn or Bellagio if I wanted to trade up? Anyone stayed at either? Specifically, how crowded are the pools?

The bed was super comfortable and then bed linens were luxe, to be sure. I wouldn't hesitate to go back to The Signature, especially considering the drop in price during the week leading up to check-in.

The bed was super comfortable and then bed linens were luxe, to be sure. I wouldn't hesitate to go back to The Signature, especially considering the drop in price during the week leading up to check-in.

Can I ask what the rate ended up being? Right now I'm seeing rooms starting around $120 and would be surprised to see that drop lower, but if you paid $60, maybe I'd hold off.

I booked at $100 and I just kept track of the rates using both their website and smartervegas.com. It dropped to $78 plus we got a $50 food credit to use at MGM Grand restaurants (didn't include some restaurants run by chefs.)

Well, that is good to know. At $80, the Signature becomes an incredible bargain.

Suggest you book something - and then keep checking back for better deals.

Suggest you book something - and then keep checking back for better deals.

Yep. I was just trying to get a sense of whether to save the couple of bucks by booking non-refundable or whether the flexibility would be rewarded with a deal closer to check-in.