Location/Overview
The Four Seasons Hotel rests quietly in back of the Mandalay Bay Hotel/Casino at the southern most end of the Las Vegas Strip. It is accessible by a hidden drive off Las Vegas Blvd. or through two entrances inside the Mandalay Bay. One entrance is by key-card only, provides direct access to the Four Seasons guest elevators, and sits just off Mandalay’s lobby. The other is tucked into a corner of Mandalay’s pool/shop/spa level. Guest rooms make up the top four floors (35-59) of the Mandalay Bay.

The lobby is made up of two main seating areas, one with a fireplace and desk. As soon as you get up someone will inevitably be by to fluff the indent you left in the pillows, or pick up the gum wrapper that unexpectedly fell out of your pocket (okay, I’m guilty). You may even be offered a bottle of water if refreshments aren't already being served. Everything about this hotel whispers elegance, from the rich furniture and wood mosaic floors, to the carefully placed floral arrangements by Subrosa, the hotel’s florist.

Large hallways extend from either side of the lobby area: left are the Charlie Palmer Steak Restaurant, The Verandah restaurant, and grand spiral staircase to the meeting facilities; right leads to the concierge, spa, Palm Room (another meeting room), gift shop, and several boutiques. This way also leads to the guest elevators and a nondescript door to the Mandalay Bay’s pool/shop/spa level (take a right just before entering the elevator area). The main door to the Four Seasons/Mandalay Bay pool areas is also adjacent to these elevators. The Four Seasons Hotel does not have a casino.

Price
This was an extremely special occasion so my husband and I decided to splurge. I made the reservations in April for an October stay and paid $500 for Saturday night and $400 for each additional night. I called the hotel’s reservation department directly and saved $50 a night off the prices quoted on their web site. We stayed in a Four Seasons room, which is similar to an Executive Suite except it has a strip view and does not have a separate bedroom area. Both rooms are 800 square feet. Larger rooms are available (as are smaller) and the hotel’s web site clearly explains every available option.

Regular rooms average about $200 a night (depending on time of year, day of week), however packages including free breakfast or spa treatments (to name a few) are available on their web site. My parents also stayed here the same weekend we did and paid about $200 a night for a standard room through Delta Vacations.

Phone calls are $1.00 a piece and parking is around $8 a day.

What We Think
The Four Seasons is expensive but does offer a level of service and comfort unmatched by many hotels in Las Vegas (and beyond). If you have a special occasion to celebrate or a reason to splurge I would highly recommend a suite. Otherwise, I would not recommend a standard room unless you really want to stay here and an upgraded room is not an option. In fact, if I had to choose between the Four Seasons and the Mandalay Bay, I would definitely recommend Mandalay’s standard rooms over the Four Seasons (similar in size but lack the Four Seasons special touches and personal service). I know that Mandalay’s standard room prices can sometimes soar into the realm of expensive to very expensive, and if this is the case I would definitely advise also pricing rooms at the Four Seasons.

Our Room
After a hassle free mid-Saturday morning check-in and a mini-tour of the hotel by the gentlemen handling our bags, we were escorted to our room. A small foyer area greeted us when we opened the door, with an extremely large walk-in closet to the right, including a complimentary safe, L’Occitane lavender water, fabric covered hangers, and plenty of shelving. To the left, a completely marble bathroom boasted a Jacuzzi tub, shower with glass doors, two luscious robes, scale, magnifying mirror, hair dryer, cotton balls, and an assortment of L’Occitane products scattered over the glass shelf above the sink, around the tub, and in the shower. I greedily used as many of these products as I could each day and they were always replenished. The toilet and one of 4 telephones (including a cordless) were in a separate room off the bathroom.

When we first entered the foyer area, we were immediately struck by the full wall of windows directly in front of us, all of which overlooked the Strip and mountain area. Past the foyer, the room contained a canopy bed decked out in a subtle gold-print bedspread and dark wooden end tables (one with the cordless phone, the other with a Bose alarm clock). An armoire with a large TV ( HBO) and stereo system was also present. The TV rolled out and tilted toward the bed for an easy view. A desk area with two chairs and the usual lamp, phone, writing utensils, etc. was flush against the windows, and a large potted fern interrupted the space between the second desk chair and the couch/coffee table/wing chair arrangement on the far side of the room. (Check out the wonderful candies in a dish on the coffee table – also replenished daily!) Two more end tables flanked the couch and were home to another phone, lamps, and some miscellaneous plants. A wet bar with a refrigerator and more than the usual assortment of goodies completed the room.

Housekeeping came twice per day, once to clean and the other to remove the bedspread and turn down the most amazing down comforter my husband and I have ever encountered. We thought the robes were to die for until we got into bed! (The robes are available from the spa for $85). A beautiful arrangement of flowers also showed up courtesy of the hotel to celebrate our special occasion. (Later we also received chocolate mousse cake and champagne!!) You can also make arrangements to have massages and other spa treatments done in your room.

Standard Rooms
Standard rooms are somewhat bland in style, overlook the mountains, and average about 450 square feet. When you enter the room, the mini bar area and closets are directly to the left with the bathroom to the right. Everything present in our bathroom was present here (including the robes). A large armoire was at the foot of the king-sized bed, which was covered in that wonderful comforter. End tables flanked each side of the bed, along with a wing chair and desk area. My parents loved this room because it was extremely quiet at night, very comfortable, and afforded them the level of service that accompanies a stay at the Four Seasons.

Mandalay Bay
The Four Seasons elevators do not stop at any of the Mandalay Bay’s room floors but do let you out in their lobby (casino level). One of the best parts about staying at the Four Seasons is being able to enjoy everything at the Mandalay Bay, including their pools, restaurants, and casino ambiance, without stepping outside. Most mornings my parents ate at Raffles, Mandalay Bay’s 24-hour café that offers a wonderful variety of food in a tropical setting. The House of Blues also serves breakfast. Trattoria del Lupo (Wolfgang Puck’s restaurant) at the Mandalay is very good but pricey for dinner. Across from Trattoria is rumjungle, which is an excellent pre-dinner meeting place to soak up atmosphere and plenty of overpriced-but-worth-it drinks. They also serve dinner and can get very crowded. The Coral Reef lounge serves great sushi and its open air environment off the casino lets you keep tabs on the hot slot machines. Take note of the wonderful fish tank, too.

My husband and I love Mandalay’s pool area (especially the wave pool and lazy river) even though it can get crowded. Here’s where you win by staying at the Four Seasons: should Mandalay start to disappoint, you can always return to the Four Seasons pool area via two guest key-card only wrought iron gates. Here, luxury greets you in the form of comfy lounge chairs, plenty of palm-frond created shade, and attentive staff. (Note: If you are offered an Evian face misting, take it! You’ll get over the I-don’t-really-deserve-this-luxury feeling soon enough!)

Besides room service (which was prompt, hot, and extremely yummy), the only Four Seasons restaurant we ate at was The Verandah – the outside of which envelopes the pool area with wooden slated tables and chairs, and plenty of lush ferns. The food here is excellent. My Mom even special ordered something that wasn’t on the Lunch menu and they gave it to her. Don’t forget to take note of the bread and olive oil/apple vinegar combination they lay out for you to indulge in before your meal arrives. Even my iced tea had frozen iced tea iced cubes in it! Lunch for three cost around $50.


Recommended: Yes