Mandalay Bay is a large resort at the south end of the Strip with an 11-acre beach and wave-pool complex, Shark Reef Aquarium and the Michelob ULTRA Arena. The campus also includes W Las Vegas and the Four Seasons, each with its own entrance and style. It is a strong pick for families, pool trips and stadium events.
Mandalay Bay sits at the far south end of the Strip, past Luxor, with Allegiant Stadium just across Interstate 15 and the airport a short drive away. It is owned by MGM Resorts and works as a self-contained resort campus. The main hotel has more than 3,000 rooms in its gold-glass tower. The campus also includes W Las Vegas, the all-suite tower that was Delano until its rebrand to the Marriott W brand, and the Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas, which occupies upper floors with its own lobby, pool and quieter atmosphere.
Choose the main hotel for value and the pools, W for larger suites and a younger feel, and the Four Seasons for service and calm.
Mandalay Bay Beach is the main draw for many guests. The complex covers about 11 acres with real sand, a wave pool, a lazy river and several pools, and in summer it hosts concerts on the beach. It runs on a seasonal schedule, so check hours outside summer. Shark Reef Aquarium, home to about 2,000 animals, is on site and is one of the best indoor options on the Strip for families on hot afternoons.
The Michelob ULTRA Arena hosts concerts and sporting events, and the Mandalay Bay Convention Center brings large trade shows, which can push up room rates on show weeks. Check the convention calendar if your dates are flexible.
Distances are long. The walk from the main tower to the convention center or the arena can take 15 minutes, and getting to the center Strip takes a while too. A free tram runs north to Luxor and Excalibur, and from there it is a walk or rideshare to the center Strip. Dining runs from Michael Mina's StripSteak to casual counters and cafes, and Mandalay Place, a skybridge of shops and restaurants, links to Luxor.
The hotel is a good base for Allegiant Stadium events, conventions and pool-focused trips. As at most MGM Resorts hotels, parking is paid (higher MGM Rewards tiers get it free) and a nightly resort fee is added to the room rate, so compare total prices before you book.
Why stay here
- ✓Mandalay Bay Beach: about 11 acres with real sand, a wave pool and a lazy river, on a seasonal schedule
- ✓Shark Reef Aquarium on site, with about 2,000 animals, a good indoor option for families
- ✓Three hotels on one campus: Mandalay Bay, the all-suite W Las Vegas (formerly Delano) and the Four Seasons
- ✓Michelob ULTRA Arena and Mandalay Bay Convention Center, plus easy access to Allegiant Stadium across I-15
- ✓Free tram north to Luxor and Excalibur, and Mandalay Place shops on the skybridge to Luxor
- ✓Michael Mina's StripSteak plus casual cafes and counters across the campus
- ✓Casino with slots, table games and a sportsbook
- ✓A nightly resort fee and paid parking apply, so compare the full cost before you choose
Good questions
Is Mandalay Bay good for families?+
Yes. It has an 11-acre beach with a wave pool and lazy river, plus Shark Reef Aquarium on site.
What other hotels are on the campus?+
The campus also includes the all-suite W Las Vegas and the Four Seasons, each with its own entrance and style.
How do I get to Luxor and Excalibur?+
A free tram runs north to Luxor and Excalibur.
