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#834117 by northernhenry
07 Jan 2013, 11:47
Can sort of expect the answer, however- have friends staying at the Bell, and the MO does seem very close by.
MO is more expensive, but anyone any experience in terms of a comparison..

FHR, through amex gives some decent rates compared to the wider online offers.

Towards end of sept, would you expect the weather to be good enough for use of pools etc?
#834119 by joeyc
07 Jan 2013, 12:11
Whoop whoop... first Vegas talk of the year y) y)

Both are about as dated as each other.. Bellagio is more centrally located to get to stuff for the first timer although the MO has got good transport access to and down the strip via the bus and monorails so depends on what you are looking for really.

Let cost win out if the Bellagio is cheaper... go for the central strip location!! Easy :P :P

Yep weather is still good mid/end of Sept. Def pool worthy and in fact better than during the height of the summer where the temperatures make sitting by the pool akin to taking a stroll around a rather hot bread oven!!

Bugger.... I've caught the Vegas bug again now!!! 8D
#834120 by northernhenry
07 Jan 2013, 12:17
joeyc wrote:Whoop whoop... first Vegas talk of the year y) y)

Both are about as dated as each other.. Bellagio is more centrally located to get to stuff for the first timer although the MO has got good transport access to and down the strip via the bus and monorails so depends on what you are looking for really.

Let cost win out if the Bellagio is cheaper... go for the central strip location!! Easy :P :P

Yep weather is still good mid/end of Sept. Def pool worthy and in fact better than during the height of the summer where the temperatures make sitting by the pool akin to taking a stroll around a rather hot bread oven!!

Bugger.... I've caught the Vegas bug again now!!! 8D


Sorry maybe some confusion, apologies, MO on here generally relates to Mandarin Oriental.

I get the impression your thinking elsewhere? As the MO is in the new city centre development, near enough "next door" to the Bellagio
#834121 by joeyc
07 Jan 2013, 12:19
Let's see if I can get it right this time shall we.... I blame sleep deprivation..

Sorry about the confusion.. Only realised my rather school boy error after I consulted a map of the Vegas strip, I was thinking of the Imperial Palace as opposed to the MO.. completely my error NH.. Sorry about that :# :#

I would shell out the extra dough and go for the Mandarin Oriental. The Bellagio is a bit dated in my eyes, have always found it packed with people just wandering around and usually getting in the way around the casino, bars, restaurants etc... Also have found the restaurant and buffet staff less than accommodating if you don't look the part :?

Have you tried calling the hotel? A bit of banter with the agent can usually work wonders with the price ):

Apologies again 8D
#834156 by 747Rich
07 Jan 2013, 18:24
Hi, I've not stayed at the MO, but have had afternoon tea there. Stayed at the Bellagio a few times and in my personal opinion, is the best place to stay in Vegas.

I was last at the Bellagio last year and I do not feel it is looking dated. Staff have always been a joy in there, rooms are spacious with fantastic views (if you pay the extra for a lake view room, which is more than worth it in my opinion)Good choice of Restaurants, the casino is very good and yes, it is busy, but not been over busy in my opinion.

The MO did look really nice, but doesn't have a casino and is very quiet in comparison to the rest of Vegas - but you do feel very relaxed when inside and the service was very good indeed.

Bellagio for me, but hard to really compare as I've not stayed at the MO.
#834176 by Hev60
07 Jan 2013, 21:22
I absolutely agree with you 747Rich as I too have actually stayed at the Bellagio Hotel many times and my next visit is in March.

The Bellagio is a wonderful luxurious hotel which has a perfect location on the strip. It is immaculately clean and well maintained. The lobby area is beautiful and the moment you step in there the wow factor takes over.

All the staff in this spectacular and iconic hotel are very kind, helpful and exceptionally professional.

The rooms facing the strip have wonderful views and the amazing beautiful fountain show from a lake view room is mesmerising.
After a recent billion dollar refurbishment the bedrooms are impeccable, as is the entire hotel though.

The pool area is another wow factor and is somewhere that only hotel guest can get to via their room key. I’ve found the pool areas to be relaxing and enjoyable. They don’t go for the loud pool party scene.

We’ve had two family trips to the Bellagio and we have never felt uncomfortable or frowned upon because we had kids with us. We saw the marvellous ‘O’ by Cirque du Soleil, surreal and beautiful. The hotel has some fine restaurants and their buffet meal choice restaurant caters for all.

My only hesitation staying here again was recalling the stench of smoke in the casino and for that reason we did consider the Mandarin Oriental which looks extremely stylist. However I felt it lacked character and it looked as glitzy as its location in the new City Centre. Yes crowds flock to see the Bellagio but that is to be expected bearing in mind the hotel’s notoriety.

'northernhenry' I think if you stayed at the Bellagio you would not be disappointed :)
#834183 by joeyc
07 Jan 2013, 23:11
**sigh** ok then deep breath folks ....

The Bellagio.... last time I stayed there was two years ago - my info a bit dated??

Check in was really good and some of the good ol english charm managed to get myself and the group checking in fountain view centre rooms.... a really excellent piece of customer service on the part of the front desk staff and they really bent over backwards to help myself and the lads I was with. y) y)

Unfortunately the customer service stopped there.... the casino staff were rude and very short with us and others around us.. one of the group never gambled before and was asking advice and how to play the games.. at the Wynn, the Encore, Palazzo, Ariel, Monte Carlo, Mandalay, even the TI the dealers and croupiers had been very cheery and up to explaining to a vegas first timer and also playing along with us 'old hands' so to speak - the Bellagio.. none of that, one dealer even suggested that if he did not know how to play then he should vacate the seat so others could play.. needless to say pit boss alerted and dealer disappeared, 'shift change' supposedly!! Next dealer not much better but at least not openly flippant and rude - arrogance of the location abound unfortunately.

Restaurant staff.. heard we were British and avoided us like the group of rabid lepers that we were... several words with manager and yes a server appeared to offer us a drink... then disappeared. n( n( n( Manager approached again, apparently it was his break too!!!! Well next couple of servers that came along, threw food across the table - at least they were called on that one without prompt.. they were also moody beyond belief that sitting there for the hours we were, I even started to feel sorry for myself!! Never again..

Buffet selection was a tad basic but to be honest on that one, after experiencing the buffet at the Wynn, all others are far inferior :P :P

As for the luxury part.. maybe once upon a time, but with half hanging off door signs and areas of missing wall paper I would not call it the best offering on the strip - ever since Steve Wynn sold it to the MGM group there have been massive cutbacks in the decor maintenance and they are gambling (apt word for the town) that the tourist draw of the Bellagio will keep them busy... appears to be working, but without some serious changes I will not be staying there again.

I am glad that the two reviewers above me managed to get good experience at the Bellagio, I however did not.. As everywhere I guess... some good, some bad ii)

Funnily enough, that all said, I have had worse experiences at the TI involving the bleach habit of the cleaners and the Imperial Palace, where most of the staff spoke only Spanish, which thereby made asking where our mattresses had gone all that more entertaining...

Personally speaking, with the Bellagio's complacency shining through, I would try the MO .... it's a new hotel so, I would hope, everything is up to date. More so, it is a non casino hotel so you have somewhere to escape to after all the hum drum of the rest of the strip. In addition to this, in order to compete in real terms the service offering would have to be excellent - that alone would be a massive draw in my book. y) y)

Whichever one you chose, I hope it works out and hell now I have stopped confusing the MO with the Imperial, I am def drawn back there..... now if only I could find some time off in the next 6 months :P :P

Hope you enjoy planning the trip 8D
Last edited by joeyc on 08 Jan 2013, 10:33, edited 1 time in total.
#834188 by Hoppy
08 Jan 2013, 00:26
Having stayed at both hotels on several occasions I would go for the MO. The rooms are exceptional, the pool area is very quiet and relaxed and the service throughout is very personal, for example frozen fruits, drinks, and ice cold towels are brought out at regular intervals while sunbathing.

The Bellagio is a fantastic hotel but I would agree that the rooms are looking a little dated in terms of the furniture, TV etc, the pools do get very busy and it can be difficult to find sunbeds over the weekend. That said it has a great Casino and more choice of restaurants and the fountains have to be seen to be believed.

If you want a quite relaxing hotel away from the Vegas 24/7 in my opinion nothing can touch the MO and the Aria and Cosmo Casinos are a few minutes walk away for when you want to drink and gamble.

If you're looking for a more traditional Vegas experience then the Bellagio would be the better option. But just to confuse issues more I'd stay at the Wynn/Encore or the Cosmopolitan ahead of the Bellagio these days....
#834197 by northernhenry
08 Jan 2013, 08:08
Thanks,
The dated rooms would really annoy me given the rate/star rating. Also hate walking 3/4 mile to my room. MO might be winning.
#834205 by DragonLady
08 Jan 2013, 09:08
northernhenry wrote:Thanks,
The dated rooms would really annoy me given the rate/star rating. Also hate walking 3/4 mile to my room. MO might be winning.


Personally I'd save your money and stay at a less swanky hotel. My stay at the Bellagio was dire ( customer service was dreadful and the voyeuristic tourists intrusive) as was my last stay in the Palazzo ( the room was so filthy that had to move us). My two best stays in Vegas have both been at the PH-ultra convenient right on The Strip ( so no long schleps to get anywhere), Miracle Mile on your doorstep and right in the thick of the action. It's got a decent pool area too which gets the sun all day :) .
Vegas is for having fun , not spending time in your hotel room
:D .
That being said I'd go for the MO over The Bellagio.
DL
#834337 by jaguarpig
09 Jan 2013, 14:07
The Four seasons on top of the Mandalay bay is a cracking hotel, booked through FHR and got a good price and a massive beautiful suite.
#834346 by gumshoe
09 Jan 2013, 14:53
Another vote for the Cosmopolitan.

Amazing rooms, all with balconies (very rare in Vegas), many overlooking the Bellagio fountains - young, modern and contemporary and in the middle of it all.

The Bellagio's popular with rich elderly Americans and just feels like a tourist trap that's past its best. And it takes the best part of 15 minutes to get from the hotel lifts to the strip.
#834351 by paulb
09 Jan 2013, 15:44
Hi all,

I got married in vegas in september and stayed at the cosmoplitan in a wrap around suite.
Lovely rooms but the hotel is very ponsy and also if you are there at the weekend full of drunk american teens obviously using mum and dads credit card !

Got stuck in the lift twice with lots of drunk 'kids' ! dont get me wrong i am not a fuddy duddy and like a good drink but the hotel made me feel very uncomfortable and also when we got there at 4 in the afternoon our room that we paid alot of money for wasnt ready !

We had friends with us and they stayed at new york new york and we spent most of our time there as they felt the same as us when they came to visit our hotel once !!

Just thought i would let you know what i thought of cosmopolitan.
#834354 by slinky09
09 Jan 2013, 15:57
paulb wrote:Hi all,

I got married in vegas in september and stayed at the cosmoplitan in a wrap around suite.
Lovely rooms but the hotel is very ponsy and also if you are there at the weekend full of drunk american teens obviously using mum and dads credit card !


Congratulations on that! I've got a conference at the Cosmopolitan in April, so that's useful to know, albeit that I'll be there during the week and not the weekend!
#834355 by paulb
09 Jan 2013, 16:00
Hi,

In fairness to the hotel it was a bit better and quiter during the week so you should be ok unless of course you a spoilt american rich kid !! :D
#834360 by slinky09
09 Jan 2013, 17:52
paulb wrote:Hi,

In fairness to the hotel it was a bit better and quiter during the week so you should be ok unless of course you a spoilt american rich kid !! :D


Sadly not. Self paying grumpy middle age man might fit the bill, definitely less grumpy if martini in hand though!
#834361 by Neil
09 Jan 2013, 17:55
Encore at The Wynn would be my suggestion. Book a standard tower suite and you should get an upgrade to a panoramic suite (think that's what it's called) if booked through FHR, plus the daily buffet breakfasts are very useful!. You the can use facilities at both Encore and Wynn properties also.
#834362 by MMOOLL2
09 Jan 2013, 18:29
Stayed in The Aria last September. Beautiful shallow pools signifcantly better than those at Bellagio. However,at weekends they host those stupid pool parties! Hence significantly increased footfall in the pool area which was managed/directed effeciently and very little noise disturbance from the specific party pool which is in designated location. IMO a fab hotel and good midstrip location.
#834365 by Nikolic
09 Jan 2013, 19:39
Have just booked the Bellagio myself for this summer. Was a hard choice between the Vdara, Encore and the Bellagio. Chose the Bellagio in the end for its central location as its our first trip to Vegas. The pools look nice too (the Vdara "death ray" put me off somewhat!)

All those mentioning the dated rooms: Bellagio has just finished refreshing all its standard rooms so flat screen tvs all round and a more modern/refreshed look.
#834370 by joeyc
09 Jan 2013, 21:01
Oh ok, if we are branching from the MO or Bellagio question... I vote for the Encore y) y)
#834389 by Hev60
09 Jan 2013, 23:05
joeyc wrote:Oh ok, if we are branching from the MO or Bellagio question... I vote for the Encore y) y)


as would a certain young Prince H ): ):
#834403 by Ainswon
10 Jan 2013, 01:56
Have been a regular visitor to Vegas over the past ten years and have stayed at The Wynn and Encore in every type of room as well as the Cosmopolitan in a wrap around suite overlooking the Bellagio fountains. IMHO, the Wynn is a one of the best hotels I have ever stayed in, from the service, the rooms, the feeling of exclusivity, the communal areas in the lobby and even the air that you breathe!!! The Cosmopolitan Suite was fantastic and the views were unbeatable but the hotel and casino felt like a train station, with people of all types coming and going and in all states of sobriety. I am fortunate to have a Casino Host at both hotels and regularly receive invitations for complimentary stays and casino credits but have a new baby due in March so won't be able to go until the end of the year. The Wynn also offers me a friends and family discount, with preferential rates and free buffet passes etc - anyone interested, message me your email address and I will forward it to the Red Card Team - managed to get two free suites for 6 nights over New Year with an invite to the most amazing New Years Ball at The Wynn in 2011 which must have cost over £1million.....although I probably contributed to some of that with my time on the tables!!!!
#835228 by easygoingeezer
18 Jan 2013, 00:51
Stayed at Bellagio and thought the room a bit pokey also the public areas a bit grubby and confusing to navigate, stayed in a strip view suite at MO and it was slick and clean. Also in contrast there were no hen gangs with their baps hanging out in the MO.
#835233 by Scrooge
18 Jan 2013, 03:04
Signature at the MGM ?

I would take the MO over the Bellagio, if only for the piece and quiet you get once you go through the lobby doors.
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