Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas H-M

When it opened in 1999 it was billed as a hip, happening, luxury hotel aimed at a younger demographic looking for an upscale place to party and play. Over the years, as newer more decidedly youth-targeted hotels came on the scene, Mandalay Bay grew up, losing the whatever whimsy may have existed in the Burmese jungle and becoming a more grown up hotel.

Now the pendulum is swinging back the other way as big portions of the hotel have gotten makeovers. The casino is lighter and brighter than it used to be; the Cirque du Soleil Michael Jackson show is drawing hordes of prime demographic audiences; and the Cirque du Soleil nightclub Light has block-long lines to get in. New restaurants, lounge spaces, and a poolside day club have also been added. The result of all these changes is a new, more youthful vibe and a definite increase in energy, both good and bad. Good in that it's a more exciting place to hang out and bad in that all of that excitement can get annoying after awhile.

In a welcome change of pace, you don't need to go through the casino area to get to the elevators or from the elevators to the pool area. The bad news is that check-in lines can be long at peak times and the elevator lobby, which sits at the intersection of several different paths, can be a navigation nightmare especially when loaded down with luggage. If you're driving in and choose to self-park, you do have quite a hike from the parking garage to the front desk through the casino but it's not as bad as it is in some other hotels (I'm looking at you Caesars Palace).