Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas

We spent 4 days at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, over the end of July. OK, we love the place, despite its challenges for improvement. We will return. It beats the heck out of the Mirage and we love the Mirage.

Of course it was lacking in one of our key tests. No swim-up bar. The pools however were quite nice, if however a little overcrowded. I'll bet that they could double the size of their pools and still fill up every day. It is amazing the number of Las Vegas resorts that seriously fail in regard to sizing and designing pools that folks will want to stay at. We go to a resort more for the Pool and its amenities than the shows. Sitting around the pool, we hear similar comments. We fell in love with the Lazy River.... It appears that they lowered the water level in the Wave Pool, I scrape my chest on the bottom where the waves crash. But the wave pool is fun.

We did have to request a room change, but the staff was very accomodating. Restaurants are nice, but their House of Blues left me with a blue stomach for an entire day...... We didn't return there. The Southwest Grill or whatever the name of their mexican food restaurant was a very poor rendition of mexican food (can get better imitation mexican food at places like Chevy's). It was also grossly overpriced, had a cold atmosphere and poor service.

I have no clue what Mandalay Bay's entertainment management was thinking by bringing in a combo jazz band who's only skill seemed to be making loud noise in an otherwise nice bar. when I'd mention it to staff, their response was limited to a pained sympathetic expression and to say the group would be leaving soon.