So it has been decided that Corj and I will be getting married on October 11th in scenic, historic Las Vegas, Nevada.
The talk was to stay at and get married at Mandalay Bay. However, after some searching and digging… Mandalay Bay is expensive. So… here’s what’s up.
If you are coming to the wedding, or maybe you don’t know me well enough to come to my wedding… but let’s say you were my friend… then the question is, where should we all stay?
Last May, Natalie and Tyler got married in Vegas and it was an outrageously fun time. We stayed at the Flamingo, Coral and I know this place to be good (and likely we’ll be saying the “I do’s” in one of the gardens there). Coral and I made a short list of Casino’s that we like for cost/pool/location/family friendliness. What do you think?
01) Mandalay Bay – Best Pool on the strip. Seriously, look at it from space on Google Maps, it crushes every other casino. Sadly, one of the more expensive hotel’s and located at the beginning of the strip so not as central.
02) Flamingo – The cheapest of the decent hotels, great pool, centrally located, likely having the ceremony in the garden here. Downside really is that Corj and I already stayed here for Nat’s wedding and we were thinking of trying a new place.
03) Monte Carlo – Whoa… Coral and I hadn’t really thought of it till we searched “best pools in Vegas” and this place ranked just behind Mandalay Bay. Central location, good price. ***Natalie says that is beside the City Center mega project construction which could be a problem and the pool is in shade a lot of the time.
04) MGM Grand – Epic Pool, alright rooms, a little on the more expensive side, alright location.
05) Luxor – The pyramid one. Also down at the end, bit not as end of the strip as Mandalay Bay. Neat rooms… alright pool, alright price.
06) Mirage – Lush pool just like Flamingo. Centrally located, OK price.
What are your thoughts? if you are planning on coming to the wedding, where would YOU like to stay?… and don’t be shy. Coral and I are going to book next week or the week and your thoughts and ideas will make the difference! huzzah.
For all things travel related and especially Vegas related, hit Vancityrockgirl’s blog!
***
some thoughts from Vancityrockgirl that she posted on my Facebook:
of the hotel options listed, mandalay bay is definitely the best hotel and the nicest pool.
second choice would be the mirage. newly renovated rooms and pool area. their “bare” pool is very hot right now… lots of celebs.
flamingo is great, but as you said, been there, done that. so i don’t need to tell you anything about there.
luxor sucks. rooms are very old and run down and the pool area is very basic.
mgm has a great pool area, but the rooms are so-so. if you decide to stay here, upgrade to a suite. i’d avoid the basic rooms. … Read More
monte carlo is a great hotel, i love it there…. and the pool area is great… but (and this is a BIG BUT) it is currently totally shaded all day long because of the mammoth construction next door at city center. the rooms are not quiet because of the construction and the pool area doesn’t get sun anymore. total bummer, but that’s why you see their rates so cheap.
lso, (and perhaps most importantly) keep in mind that when you book direct with the hotel, you can cancel your reservation with no penalty. promo codes for october won’t come out until the end of summer (prob august), so i’d book and then keep an eye out for deals and either change hotels in august/september or get your rate matched to the current promo rate.
if you book with a 3rd party (expedia etc) or a package, you will not have this option.
The Morning After 
I’ve stayed at The Mirage and loved it.
No matter where you stay, remember to use “The Twenty Dollar Trick” (http://www.thetwentydollartrick.com/)
Worked like a charm for us! We went from a run of the mill room to one with a private elevator for the floor which was 2nd to the top. Ask for a strip view!
that ios a special trick! thanks Quentin.
I’ve done the Vegas thing a couple times now and here are my opinions on the hotels you have listed.
1. Mandalay Bay – I love that place, great hotel really nice staff (some of the best on the strip) But as you said its fairly pricey and at the South end of the strip which is kinda annoying.
2. Flamingo – Super awesome location, and while it is nice to stay different places when it comes to vegas you spend so much time out of your your room it doesn’t matter, HOWEVER this is your wedding and as I wrote that last sentence I realized what most people do after they get married 😛 Which means more time in your room. But maybe just go for a nicer room than you had before?
3. Monte Carlo is actually the place I stayed at last time I was in Vegas, however it was only a short over night whirlwind trip of which I remember very little from. I seem to recall a fairly standard hotel and casino, never got a chance to get to the pool. But again something you already mentioned it that it’s right beside City Center.
4. I’m not a huge fan of the MGM so I don’t really have anything nice to say about it.
5. Luxor is old and boring, its got a neat light but you can see that better from outside 🙂
6. I am a big fan of the Mirage, in fact I pretty much have to agree with almost all of what Vancity Rockgirl has to say, and she knows her Vegas.
I think the important thing to think about is getting the location you want for your wedding and then going from there. I made a joke about spending more time in your room than normal but fact is your going to have friends and family there and will want to spend lots of time with all of them. I would say go for middle of the road hotel rooms and use the money saved for other things.
Dude, call me. I would love to go, but I have a really good reason why I can’t come. 604-780-0050. Sorry, I only have Coral’s cell and I don’t know if you’re working right now or not.
Circus Circus sucks. That’s where I stayed to relive HST.
technically HST never stayed at circus circus.
he just drank in the bar there.
he stayed at the old flamingo (which no longer exists) and… oh shit… i’m having a brain fart… the hilton? wherever the National District Attorneys Association’s Conference on Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs was.
well.. it is sounding more and more like the Mirage, Flamingo or Mandalay Bay. I’ll hash this out with Coral and we’ll have a final countdown no-hold bar vote off! muhahahaha
if you choose the mirage, check out the wedding options there.
“the secret garden” as they call it, with dolphins and the white tigers and stuff is as beautiful as the flamingo grounds.
You guys are making me wanna go to vegas. Also, I must be crazy because for a split second, there, I was all, ‘hmm, could I drag the kid down there? She’d prolly dig it.’
she prolly would! we’re bringing ours and Coral little brother is coming too.
Yeah, I our place the wedding is usually in a hotel.