AboutTom Expertise I can tell you detail of every major hotel in Vegas, such as the restaurants they offer and the attractions they maintain, on the Las Vegas Strip. The kind of patrons each hotel attracts. How to play blackjack, both etiquette and strategy. How to obtain comps and make the most of your money when in town. Any Vegas general knowledge.
Experience
Past/Present clients Caesar's Palace, Flamingo Las Vegas, Bally's, Paris and Las Vegas Hilton.
I was wondering where the best place for mexican food on the strip is? Also, are there any smoke free resturants or clubs out there? I would like to go to dinner at a great resturant and then stay at the same hotel to dance at a club. What is the best club for a 40yr old who wants to dance to current hip hop and top 40 dj music?
Thanks,
Marsha
ANSWER: Marsha,
What fun questions. I like answering these kind!
Mexican food is my favorite type of cuisine, and I tend to like just about all of it. In terms of taste, I really like the flavors at Taqueria Canonita in the Venetian Canal Shoppes, but it's really more of a lunch type restaurant than a nice dinner place.
For dinner, I would steer you toward Isla over at Treasure Island. The food is great and the atmosphere is fun and lively. Its a hip and popular place to see and be seen. You might also investigate the brand new Dos Caminos restaurant inside the Palazzo. Its new and very trendy - I've only been there for drinks, but the atmosphere is very clubby. It's very dark and modern inside, and I think they have a lot of gourment type food on the menu. One last place you might want to investigate is the new Diablos down at Monte Carlo. The food is pretty okay, not the best I've ever had, but the portions are huge. Diablos reminds me of a mexican cantina somewhere down on the Mexican Riveria - concrete floors, pastel colors and margaritas everywhere. The restaurant has a very young vibe, and its usually crowded in there. The music is loud and the bartenders keep the party going. There is a cabana and dancefloor upstairs overlooking the strip. You really feel like you're on spring break in there.
For clubs, any of the mainstream joints are going to have current hip hop and dj music. I'd check out Blush at Wynn, Studio54 at MGM and the 40/40 Club at Palazzo. But anywhere you can find passes or get on the list will work for dancing and hip hop. Make sure to check out NapkinNights.com where you can sign up to get on guestlists in advance - avoid the line and sometimes the cover charge.
Let me know if that helps, or if you have any other questions.
Have a great time!
Tom
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QUESTION: Tom,
Thanks for your advice. I have more questions for you. I can't decide between the Mirage and Mandalay Bay. Which do you think overall is better for clubs, rooms, restaurants and less crowded and smoke filled? Depending upon where I choose, what restaurant and club do you recommend that I should not miss at both of those hotels?
P.S. Do those vip services where you pay around 40.00 really get you in without waiting in line at a club? If yes, is there one you recommend?
Thanks,
Marsha
ANSWER: Marsha,
Given the choice, all else being equal, I would choose Mandalay Bay in a heartbeat. The property itself is much newer (built in 1999 vs. Mirage in 1987, I think), and the overall vibe is just more modern. The rooms at Mandalay have recently been renovated, and of course the pool is the best in town for a lot of reasons (casino cabana, lazy river, wave pool, sand beach, private pool area, etc.) As far as clubs and restaurants, I'd say the properties are pretty equal - I really like Border Grille at Mandalay, but I also really like Stack at Mirage. Clubs are pretty equal too, although if you can get into Foundation Room at Mandalay Bay I think its the best place in town. Neither casino is "smoke filled" but I do think Mandalay is brighter and more airy. Go for Mandalay Bay, hands down.
So yeah, at Mandalay, make sure you hit Border Grille, House of Blues, Mandalay Place mall, Foundation Room (private nightclub) and Forty Deuce (throwback nightclub with go-go dancers). If you do Mirage, eat at Stack. I could take or leave Jet, but lots of people swear by it, so maybe I just need to give it another chance. I've also heard great things about Cravings, the Mirage buffet, but haven't ever eaten there myself.
Don't bother with the $40 VIP pass. For every time I hear that someone got them to work, I hear another report that they didn't work. Admission is always up to the bouncer's discretion, and if they don't want you coming in, then there's no pass that is going to help. So what I recommend is use all the free avenues you have to get access to the club, then just be confident and let the doormen know you're on the list, or have a pass. By "free" avenues, I mean sign up on the napkinnights.com guestlists (I've also heard you can sign up on clubplanet.com, although I've never used it). Or, you can get paper passes for most clubs from cabs and from some trendy clothing stores around town, especially in the Forum Shops and Miracle Mile malls. Just keep your eyes open, passes are everywhere. So then once you have some kind of "excuse" (i.e. pass or guestlist) then just use it as a reason for approaching the doorman and gaining access. Since you are female, I'd say your chances are pretty good that you'll be pulled inside pretty quick. Just dress nice, be confident and flirty and if all else fails offer a tip.
Good luck and have fun out there!
Tom
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QUESTION: HI Tom,
My Wife has been asking you some questions about hotels and clubs. I have a question for you. I found a good rate at MGM Grand and want to know how you rate it compared to the Mandalay. We are thinking about seeing KA and she is thinking about going to Studio 54. What are good restaurants at the MGM? How are the rooms and the casinos?
Thanks,
Tom
Answer MGM is a fine choice. They've done a good job of keeping up with the times with a series of renovations, expansion and new developments. About three years ago they unveiled the "Studio Walk" which was a new wing of fancy restaurants and upscale clothing stores, and they remain some of the best places in town to eat and shop. Studio54 was one of the first "mega" nightclubs of its kind in Vegas, and it still draws a crowd every night. KA is mind-blowing, and I always recommend seeing that show if Cirque appeals to you at all.
It's hard for me to compare MGM with Mandalay Bay, because I personally am a huge fan of the whole Mandalay Bay experience. I love their pool (for reasons mentioned in previous answers), the Foundation Room, the Mix lounge, the new rooms, the suites over at THEhotel and just the overall airy tropical vibe - for me, it's the complete package and I stay there whenever I can swing it.
Empirically speaking, however, the two properties really have just about the same experiences at either place. The rooms at Mandalay were recently renovated with new stylish linens, flat panel TVs and daybeds. The rooms at MGM are nice, too, even though they haven't had the recent upgrades quite like Mandalay. For restaurants, I'd probably give the edge to MGM, at least for approachable, experiential restaurants. They both have wonderful eateries, but MGMs are a little more manageable, with places like Diego (Mexican), Grand Wok (Pan Asian), Nobhill (Continental). Mandalay also has great restaurants, but some are just too fancy for my taste.
The casino at MGM is probably the biggest difference I'd note between the two properties. Its kind of hard to navigate around MGM because it is so big. It is easy to get lost or turned around in MGM. Being an older property, the ceilings in the MGM casino aren't as high as they are at Mandalay Bay, which makes the room seem more crowded and darker. And just the age of the MGM makes the smell on the casino floor just a little bit more stale - not really noticible, but if you focus on it, you'll tell a difference.
So I'd give the edge to Mandalay on a newer, shinier feel, open airy casino floor and slightly more modern rooms. But I wouldn't pay more than a 25% premium over MGM to stay there.
Where you stay is important, but not critical. Keep in mind you can enjoy all the restaurants, casinos, clubs and shows of every resort in town no matter where you stay. So don't break the bank on Mandalay if you've found a great deal at MGM. I think you'll enjoy putting the savings toward other things while you're in town.
Hope that helps, let me know if I can answer any other questions or make any clarifications.
