Awesome review! My wife and I are staying at Paris for our anniversary and I've been considering the Strat for our actual anniversary dinner. I hadn't considered the Eiffel Tower restaurant at all but you gave good context comparing the two.
Both are good options! For me: Rooms - Cosmopolitan by far Fine Dining - Bellagio Casual Dining - Cosmopolitan Buffet - Cosmopolitan Bars - Cosmopolitan Casino - Bellagio by far Pools - Bellagio, as I prefer a quieter, more relaxed experience Nightclubs - Not my thing, no rating Special features - Bellagio for the Conservatory and Fountains Since the two now have a connecting walkway, it’s easy to spend time at both. If the prices were equal I would stay at Cosmopolitan in a room away from nightclub and dayclub noise and do my gambling at Bellagio.
I find your videos really cool, like explanation and overall overview. + 1 subscriber What are your thoughts on off strip dining?? Some gems, that that far from the strip, but cool and delicious
Excalibur is definitely still an acceptable choice if you adjust and temper your expectations when planning your stay: especially if one wants to visit Vegas on a smaller budget, is a family person and/or has a soft spot for the peak of themed Vegas between 1990 and 2005. If I'm being brutally honest, I fit only one of those target demographics (the latter)..................and thus Excalibur just doesn't do it for me overall. I don't feel comfortable sauntering their casino floor with how it doesn't have good flow, the dining options here are among the worst on the Strip in my opinion, their pool is a Top Five Worst Strip Pool in my opinion, and their rooms overall being quite dated and dingy. So the most I can possibly give Excalibur grading-wise in its current state is a 3.5/10: especially when comparing it to other three-star resorts on the Strip. But I can acknowledge that and in the same breath get WHY it touches a soft spot in many's hearts. Where else in greater Vegas are you going to get a castle-themed sort of experience? Where else are you going to get a spectacle reminiscent of Medieval Times? And hey: I may personally loathe fast food and lament that pretty much everything at Excalibur is fast food, but at the same time I know having access to more convenient and (relatively) cheaper grab-and-go options is attractive to a lot of other visitors so more power to them. 🙂 So while I rarely find myself spending substantial time at Excalibur because it's just not my jam, I'm nonetheless also grateful we still have Excalibur as I really want to see plenty of golden age-themed Vegas preserved for future generations to enjoy and experience (I do surely hope they refresh ALL the rooms ASAP, though...)
Another excellent review you two, and I wholeheartedly agree with the rating (though I'd actually give it closer to 8.5/10 because I genuinely think Mandalay Bay's entry-level rooms are incredibly spacious, luxurious and better-themed with unique accent wall colors compared to most Strip rooms. 🙂 I can't help but feel many overlook Mandalay Bay/Delano solely for its location: which I honestly consider location to be the single most overrated aspect of planning a Vegas trip in my opinion. I intuit you do agree with me already on the following, but I'd much rather have an exceptional experience on either extreme end of the Strip (or elsewhere in Vegas) over a mediocre one dead-central Strip ANY day. I'll always happily make the stroll up or down the Strip if I want to be at the heart of the action anyway, but I'm choosing quality of experience over convenience every time. The dining (as well as lush tropical landscaping and theming which I'm always such a misty-eyed sucker for 😊) is extremely underrated at Mandalay Bay/Delano in my opinion. Besides RiRa Irish Pub and Hussong's Cantina, it flummoxes me why their other restaurants don't seem to get referenced in casual conversation often (at least in my experience): which is their loss because besides STRIPSTEAK (which is no shock it's great because it's a Michael Mina restaurant and unlike many established celebrity chefs, Mina is known for frequently visiting his own Vegas restaurants which probably explains why the food quality has been maintained), I think KUMI is an extremely underrated Japanese restaurant there as well as the Border Grill. In fact the only underwhelming-to-negative dining experience I've had at Mandalay Bay to date has been at the Seabreeze Cafe, but even there the food is reasonably priced so I didn't feel robbed the same way I'd be if it were at a fine-dining establishment. I could tell gauging by the warmly wistful tone of your voice at times in this review that this resort emotionally resonates with you in a dearly special way, and I'm much the same way. I find that refreshing as I'd really love to see the sentimental side of resort stays come out more in reviews. Because that underlying ache makes the heart grow fonder and provides a lot of substantive emotional context for WHY one keeps coming back, you know? So thanks for another great video! =)
Ever since we've been to cosmo, we fell in love with its party-like, young and active atmosphere. We especially liked drinking wine and beer at the chandelier bar :)
Given the Cosmopolitan usually has the single most expensive rates of any resort on the Strip (I say usually because you occasionally see Encore and/or Wynn edging them out, but more often than not the Cosmopolitan is in fact THE most expensive)...............it's quite easy to perceive it as overrated in that context alone. I personally always enjoy staying as well as visiting there, but it's not at all hard to see why it's not for everyone. It is frequently overcrowded there (at least on the casino and second levels, not so much the upper level), the rooms are showing signs of wear like you mentioned, and in my opinion I consider the Cosmopolitan BARELY five-stars in technicality when you consider what you get over what you pay. I feel one of the fine lines (among others) between a four-star resort and a five-star resort............is that over-the-top customer service experience. It's something I always get at Wynn/Encore, Venetian/Palazzo, the Bellagio (since Blackstone took over ownership from MGM) and even Mandalay Bay even though the latter is considered a four-star resort..............but that simply isn't the case with the Cosmopolitan. To be clear I'd say the customer service experience is favorable, but the point I'm making is that there's a palpable difference between customer service that is more expected and that which genuinely feels like going the extra dozen miles............and it's for that reason in good faith I just don't consider the Cosmopolitan nor the Aria five-star resorts in their current state. Still: shifting back to praise again..............I totally get WHY the Cosmopolitan is a favorite among many. Because it genuinely epitomizes and personifies the dynamic, sexy, vivacious essence of Vegas better than any other resort on the Strip. The Bellagio may be awe-inspiring and beautiful, but it's often a bit too quiet and classical. The newly-opened Fontainebleau may be extraordinarily impressive and have a lot to offer, but it doesn't really have that quintessential Vegas vibe. There are plentiful other resorts on the Strip that all offer a lot and are a lot of fun to visit and even stay at, but between their de-theming and inconsistency are less likely to inspire and engender picturesque memories. And it is for that reason why the Cosmopolitan stands out: because it best harnesses and personifies the modern Vegas energy and essence and, thus, has near-unrivaled potential for memory-making (especially with the Mirage Volcano Show going away soon sadly).
All I can say for sure is that your #1 choice is correct. Mandalay Bay is the best. I haven't found one that I didn't like but some are far better than others. Will be back at the end of June enjoying that wave pool. My niece just graduated college and my gift to her is some fun in the sun. Great list Robert. Cheers from Seattle.
Vdara Is my favorite. I have stayed at both. I like the quietness of the Vdara. The Vdara suite is my favorite; you can go the Aria and eat as both are MGM properties; the bill can still be charged to the room for convenience.
Great video thankyou all look amazing if there is one place you would recommend for a special occasion where would it be please I was thinking mayfair club. Thankyou best wishes 😊
Love how everyone in like 50/50 on which stay at make its so easy for me to decide!!!!! I want the balcony at the Bellagio then it would be no decision.
You mention $15 black jack tables at PH. However, is it 6:5 or 3:2 blackjack? I heard most of the strip has ruined it with 6:5 unless it's $50 or more minimums.
6:5 is the norm on the strip ! However if your lucky you just might find 3:2 but the table minimum will be $25! Take an uber or taxi to fremont if you spend a majority of your time gambling.
There is no comparison. PH is much better. First, location is the best of any strip hotel. All the options for food, shopping, 2 minute walk to get on the strip, etc. Hands down PH is the best and a great bargain.
hi, thanks for the video. i thought for sure venitian/pallazo and fountain blue would be on your list. i think you would really like those two. cheers!
I like your explanations for some of your choices: particularly the Luxor and Park MGM/NoMad picks. I feel Luxor's pool complex is underrated especially given it's a three-star resort and you usually aren't expecting much out of a three-star resort's pool complex, but it's absolutely legit between its ample space, overall aesthetic and generous sun window. And I think Park MGM/NoMad's pool complex is the second most underrated on the entire Strip only behind Sahara's Ultra Azilo Pool (more on that momentarily). I will say I strongly disagree with some of your selections as well as respectfully disagree with some of your rankings. For one: no damn way is Aria a Top Ten Strip Pool. Aria has by far one of the single most disappointing pools on the entire Strip along with the Venetian's pool complex. Aria is a five-star resort and so it is inexcusable their pool is as small, boring and uneventful as it is. I will say the lawnscaping surrounding the pool is nice, but still it's got nothing on Wynn, Encore, Bellagio, Mandalay Bay, Sahara's, etc. pools. So I don't get that pick whatsoever, let alone it being placed as high as #4 (?!). I also dislike Paris' pool (along with most Caesars' resort pools) because it is just so unremarkable, its surrounding scenery is dull and, like you surmised, gets overcrowded EASILY. So I don't consider Paris anywhere near Top Ten either. Now in terms of pools you didn't list but I DEFINITELY consider Top Ten Strip Pools: Encore's European Pool (not to be confused with their standard pool: which is beautiful but nothing all that remarkable beyond that) is hands-down my favorite pool on the entire Strip. It's breathtaking beautiful, it draws one of the best crowds period, it has some of the best music, there's a bar situated right in the middle of it you can get some awesome signature cocktails or small bites from, you can order said things from your seat...........it's just simply one-of-a-kind. Another pool I HIGHLY recommend you give a fair shake is Sahara's Ultra Azilo Pool. EASILY the most underrated standard pool in my opinion on the Strip (undoubtedly just because it happens to be on the extreme northern end of the Strip). It was thoroughly renovated last year and now is just simply stunning and remains an unsung heroine on the Strip between having this fine blend of more luxurious, upscale Encore-esque aspects to its decor and ambience balanced with more Cosmopolitan and Resorts World ones. It is a DEFINITE. And if we're talking beyond the Strip as well: Circa Stadium Swim is a no-brainer to check out as well. =) Enjoy your content as always, Robert! =)
@@roberts_story Oh, I just realized I forgot one very important one: Flamingo's standard pool. The Flamingo is a three-star resort, but their standard pool is in my opinion among the best on the entire Strip and the ONLY Caesars' resort pool I love. I HIGHLY recommend that one because it has soooooooo much personality and character, it has all these cute little nooks and crannies, it has all that lush tropical vegetation, it has a great youthful crowd...........just a definite. =)
I have been to a few of the pools that you have mentioned. I really like the Wynn pool, not so much the Encore as it is fairly small, too small for a resort that size. Caesars Palace needs to redo their pools as they are all in the exact same area and there is hardly any separation between the 7 pools. Aria at least has some separation between Liquid and the other 3 pools. I haven't been to the Sky Suites pool yet, but Liquid was easily my favorite as they have cabanas, daybeds and better service from the staff there. Not going to be going to Circa with the wife ever, however, with a guys trip I could see that possibly happening. I do see the wife and I checking out Resorts World and Fontainebleau pools sometime soon though.
Thank you! Have reservations at Strip House for September, finding a good review of any kind has been difficult! Now i feel comfortable going, it's a surprise for Hubs BD!
