Tag: mandarin oriental
View All TagsValentine's Day / Suites / Hotel Rates / Encore / Palazzo / Hotel 32 / Tropicana / Mandarin Oriental / → All Tags
What A Sweet Suite Will Run You For A Last-Minute Valentine's Getaway to Vegas
Maybe you didn't realize how big of a deal Valentine's Day was to your significant other. Maybe your hopes of getting on Mobbed for a surprise proposal fell short. Whatever the reason, you're contemplating a last-minute trip to Vegas for Valentine's Day. At just about the eleventh hour.
So, what's left out there and how much will it cost you? Well, the answer to the first question is just about everything. Of the suites we had in mind, all were available. And, even poking around at some other choices, we still found online availability. As to the second answer, there's the rub. Of the five sweet suites we singled out below, each ranges from $839.99 to $329. And, yes, that's just for one night. The most romantic of them all, February 14.
●Mandarin Oriental
Strip View Suite
The service and luxury of Mandarin paired with sensational views
$555 (plus fees)
Restaurant Week / Three Square / Mount Charleston / Gallagher's / New York-New York / Mandarin Oriental / BLT Burger / The Mirage / Yellowtail / Bellagio / → All Tags
Time For Restaurant Week Again Already?
Last fall, Restaurant Week treated Las Vegas with a twice as nice, two week eating extravaganza. Restaurant Week 2012 brings another double dose as a spring week has been added February 27 to March 4. This month's event is only one week, giving our still recovering waistbands a bit of relief. The event's website has a list of over 50 and growing restaurants offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner from $20.12 to $50.12. Some options popping out at us include:
CityCenter / CityCenter Fine Art Collection / Art / Art in Vegas / ARIA / Vdara / Veer Towers / Mandarin Oriental / → All Tags
The One Where We Remembered CityCenter's Art Collection Is Hidden in Plain Sight
Forty million dollars can buy you a lot of art. And to quote one of artist Jenny Holzer's Truisms, "money creates taste." The CityCenter Las Vegas Fine Art Collection aimed to make a splash and a forceful statement by positioning a tour of the modern art world around its properties. Sixteen artists in varied CityCenter locations and millions of dollars invested. Yet, many visitors will have walked by and never noticed these creations, or realized the fame or international impact of the artists chosen to be included in this grand experiment.
There are plenty of art world Blue Chip names: Henry Moore, Claes Oldenburg, Julian Schnabel. But none of their work carries the impact of a Jenny Holzer installation hidden in Aria's north valet pick-up area. If you go downstairs to the Haze nightclub, you'll see the video reflected in the windows to your left. If you are not going to the club or to pick up your car, you'll never know its there. Which is a shame, because its the crown jewel of the whole collection -- in this writer's opinion, at least. Brilliantly presented and utterly hypnotic. A streaming continuum of thought provoking texts. The display and lighting changes bring variety to the eye, as you stare intently for the next round of insights to appear.
This video installation includes 200 of Holzer's Truisms. Aphorisms, wisdoms, fragments. Good examples can be found in this list. A number of these phrases are melancholy, bitter and completely contrary to the Las Vegas landscape in which they are placed. But, it also fits perfectly. It's a true shame that it is hidden downstairs, though if placed in the lobby you'd probably create a mass pool of tranced-out viewers reading along.
Like the Holzer installation, a few of CityCenter's exhibit pieces are not immediately obvious to the visitor. Anthony Gormley's sculpture is described as located in the "VIP West Oculus." Next to the Aria buffet might be more helpful. And even then you'd probably not spot it. Others, such as Richard Long's pieces at Veer only really work at certain times of the day. Longs' enormous pieces are best appreciated at night. An advertised Robert Rauschenberg piece was moved when Vdara built Market Cafe and now resides in the Bellagio's collection.
Seeing all the current art takes you to Aria, Vdara, the Mandarin Oriental, and the exteriors of Crystals as well as to the Veer Towers. Go early. It's quiet, empty and people are nice and friendly. Particularly the staff who are used to seeing people on this artistic treasure hunt. Some know where the art is. Some most certainly don't. Make it an adventure. And, this gallery will give you a visual guide to help see all 16 art works:
Resort Fees / Four Seasons / Mandarin Oriental / WTF / → All Tags
Happy New Year! There Are More Resort Fees to Celebrate!
Just after we learned that the Grinch visited Las Vegas in the form of a resort fee hike over at Tropicana comes word from Twitter's @mlsdc that two luxury properties on The Strip are now enforcing their own resort fees -- Mandarin Oriental and Four Seasons.
The Four Seasons' resort fee of $20 (plus tax), which went into effect in mid-October and includes in-room Internet for multiple devices, WiFi throughout the property, access to the fitness and wet areas (pools and saunas, we gather), in-room coffee and tea, daily newspaper, unlimited in-room local and toll-free calls and shoeshine service.
Deals / Mandarin Oriental / Luxe Vegas / → All Tags
You Can Now Zen With A Friend At Mandarin For Half-Off
So, you know when you ask us where's the best place to stay with a group of friends? The answer is Mandarin Oriental, at least until their "Double the Zen" offer expires.
A new promotion gives you a second room, at half off, when you want it. And, you don't have to stay a minimum number of nights, either. You do have to book at least a Strip View Room or higher, but who doesn't want a room with a view?
You won't find this tempting offer listed under, errr, Tempting Offers, but thankfully you have us to tell you about these types of things. Instead, just pick your dates through the booking site and then choose "Double the Zen" from there. You'll automatically get two rooms for the rate you see on the screen. Or, skip the hassle and call 888.881.9578 to have operators book it for you.
Memorial Day Weekend / Mandarin Oriental / Bellagio / Rio Las Vegas / Treasure Island / Tropicana / Palazzo / → All Tags
Stay At Mandarin For Less Than Bellagio This Memorial Weekend
We're not sure what sort of bizarro world we've tumbled into, but we'll take it.
After wondering what Memorial Weekend hotel rates are looking like just under two weeks out, we were surprised to see that it's cheaper to rest our head at Mandarin Oriental than it is to grab a bed at Bellagio.
Granted, it's not loads cheaper, but it's still less. A three-night stay at Bellagio May 27-30 is pricing out at $1,037 right now while Mandarin Oriental is at $915 for the same three days.
Looking to come to Vegas for the holiday weekend, but spend far less? Go to hotelrates.hotelchatter.com to see you're best bets. Right now, Palazzo is at $178 a night, the Rio is at $138, Treasure Island is at $164 and the Tropicana is at $150 a night.
Coming to Vegas for Memorial Day Weekend? Tell us where you are staying and why below!
[Photo: MandarinOriental.com]
Memorial Day Weekend / Hard Rock / Mandalay Bay / Tropicana / Planet Hollywood / ARIA / Bellagio / Encore / Rumor Resort / Hooters / Riviera / Stratosphere / Circus Circus / Mandarin Oriental / → All Tags
Start Thinking Now About Memorial Weekend Digs
We already know the parties are going to be amazing, but if you haven't booked your room yet for Memorial Day weekend, it's best to start thinking about it now so your money goes more to booze and then to your bed.
A quick check of HotelRates.HotelChatter.com shows the Hard Rock to be running at about $260 a night for the weekend of May 27-30. Mandalay Bay at $207, Tropicana at $169, Planet Hollywood Towers at $234, ARIA at $259, and Bellagio at $279.
At the top of the tier is Encore at $320 per, but there are surprisingly a lot of rooms still available for under the one hundred mark including Rumor ($84), Hooters ($74), Riviera ($77), Stratosphere ($99) and Circus Circus ($88).
Hotel Promotions / Royal Wedding / The Palms / Palms Place / Mandarin Oriental / Trump Las Vegas / → All Tags
So There's One Less Prince On The Market, Vegas Still Offers Ways To Be A Princess
So you didn't win a chance to report on the royal wedding for CNN. (Congrats, mister.) And, you can't afford to cross the pond on your own to help Flickr put together The People's Royal Wedding Album. Vegas wants you to know that it's still willing to pamper you like the princess you (unofficially) are.
In fact, Palms is searching Facebook for a lucky follower who wants to be "Princess For A Day." You have until day's end to like Palms Pool and Bungalows on FB and post why you deserve to win. If Palms picks you, you'll get treated to a one-night stay at Palms Place, a mani, pedi, facial and body scrub at Drift Spa, a spray tan or poolside cabana, dinner for two at Nove, VIP entry to all the Palms' clubs and "a sexy dress from Filthy Mouth Clothing." The royal treatment you'll receive is valued at $1,500 bucks.
CityCenter / Vdara / Mandarin Oriental / Veer Towers / Craigslist / → All Tags
CityCenter For Rent
If you've ever gazed out at the view of The Strip from your hotel room and said 'I could look at this everyday,' now you have the chance to make it a reality.
CityCenter, built with a plethora of condos for sale, is now renting out several of those units instead thanks to an economy that has left them sitting vacant.
Condos are for rent in Mandarin Oriental and Veer Towers, but you'll have to commit to a one-year lease before you move in.
The cheapest digs we could find at Mandarin Oriental were for $2,100 a month. That will get you a one-bedroom, 1,105-square-foot condo on a low floor with a westerly view (i.e., not much of The Strip).
Deals / Mandarin Oriental / Spas / Luxe Vegas / Honeymoons / → All Tags
Mandarin Oriental Has A Spa Freebie For Jet-Lagged Honeymooners (Insert Asterisk)
Newlyweds who chose Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas as their romantic destination will be able to indulge in $300 in spa freebies when they're ready to get out of bed.
But, as with any good deal these days, there's an asterisk attached. This special is only valid for honeymooners traveling from overseas and who book five nights or more. (ahem, Prince William and Kate Middleton...)
If you fit the bill, tho, jet-lagged newlyweds will be pampered with complimentary, unlimited access to the Spa at Mandarin Oriental, a Forbes Five Star facility (that means its super posh in award-ese), every day of their stay. Access includes use of the spas luxe wet and public areas (like the one shown below), entry into the spa's daily yoga or Pilates classes and a free 60-minute Oriental Essence massage.
Auctions / CityCenter / ARIA / Vdara / Veer / Mandarin Oriental / → All Tags
CityCenter Up For Bid! (Kinda)
In what has to easily be the most heart-stopping moments of the week, we just ran across a press release about a CityCenter auction. Did the naysayers predicting its dire demise, get it right? Upon further reading, no. But, while CityCenter is not, exactly, up for bid, a CityCenter auction really is taking place.
Apparently, more than one thousand furnishings from ARIA, Vdara, Mandarin Oriental and Veer are being sold to the highest online bidders this Monday, February 21. A peek at the auction catalogue shows everything from ice buckets, scales and vanity mirrors to lamps, art, sofas and chairs. Most of the notes for each item report minor scratches, broken parts and/or wear, but some are seemingly damage free.
Live Music / Mandarin Oriental / Mandarin Bar / Jazz / → All Tags
Mandarin Oriental Jazzes Up Wednesday Nights
When anyone wants to meet up for a good time on the Strip, going to the Mandarin Oriental isn't the first thing that comes to mind. Ok, it doesn't really come to mind at all. But, now we're singing a different, jazzier tune after popping in on MO's newly launched Jazz Wednesdays last night.
The Brian Czach Jazz Trio takes over a corner of Mandarin Bar every Wednesday evening from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. In writing, the location would seem like the trio is an afterthought, but nobody would ever complain about this corner, baby, as glass walls showcasing gorgeous views of The Strip served as a captivating backdrop. (Pictured above.)
The musicians were as relaxed and easy-going as the bar they played in (the one that we initially feared would make us feel a bit out-of-place as we tend to gravitate to more low-brow locales), exchanging friendly banter with themselves and a few listeners every now and again. You could tell that they loved their gig and it was nice to not be heckled for tips.
The volume of the music was pitched just right, loud enough to appreciate while not drowning out convos. And, even though only a handful of people were actually watching the trio (or even present in the bar), the rest of the crowd was classy enough to pause to applaud at the end of each set. It really bugs us when live musicians are ignored so it warmed our hearts to see signs of true respect.
