| rev:text
| - Any devoted party girl will tell you ... the best place in the world to detox from a ringing hangover is a top-notch Vegas spa, and for years, Spa Mandalay has set the bar for quality, complimentary amenities, and superior customer service. Nothing cures a dehydration headache better than a serious sweating in their eucalyptus steam room, or sipping a cleansing cranberry juice next to the whirpool waterfall.
Sadly, Spa Mandalay seems to be yet another victim of this "bad economy" and has gone from 5+ star quality to an average 3 star experience.
So what gives? Looks like a serious case of downsizing:
1. No more complimentary snacks & juices. Nothing gets the electrolytes flowing like some vital nutrients following an evening of Belvedere vodka shots, and Spa Mandalay used to offer their patrons fresh fruit (bananas, apples, oranges, pears), a wide array of beverages (pineapple juice, cranberry juice, sparkling water, apple juice, herbal teas), and my personal favorite ... mixed nuts. And not those crappy tins of "deluxe nuts" which are 80% peanut (the red headed step-child of the nut world), bit those really good mixed nuts full of salty, meaty cashews, almond, brazil nuts, and pecans. Spa Mandalay is now nut-less. There were some glasses of pineapple juice available and a couple of bruised bananas, but that was your only choice other than water.
2. No more bottled water. There used to be bins of bottled water scattered throughout the spa, so you could grab one on your way into the sauna, or soothe your parched throat as you soak in the whirlpool. Anyone who enjoys a good steam knows that hydration is key, so easy access to transportable water is vital. Now the bottles of water are gone, and anytime you want to wet your whistle you have to walk back out into the common check in area and fill up a tiny cup of water from a glass container. They might as well have placed dixie cups next to an Arrowhead jug. After several trips to the water cooler, I gave up and started filling two cups at a time while the perplexed check-in attendant glared at me like I was stealing her tips.
3. Dated decor and suspect sanitation. While it is impossible to keep anything "fresh" for 12 years, Spa Mandalay is starting to show it's wrinkles. The grout was so filthy in my shower, I debated wearing sandals to protect me from the filth. The water pressure seemed extremely low, and no matter how hard I tried, the water either ran too hot or too cold, and it smelled of sewage the whole time. Te area where you can do your hair/make-up still provides some amenities like hair spray, lotion, and mousse, but the sanitized containers of brushes and combs have dwindled down to just one and the mouthwash, toothpaste, and toothbrushes are gone for good.
4. Inconsiderate staff. Usually an oasis of silence and solitude in an otherwise sinful city, Spa Mandalay was bustling with staff who were more concerned with talking to each other than taking care of their clients. At one point while I was in the restroom having, three staff members came in and proceeded to have a 10 minute long conversation, in Spanish, at the top of their lungs. Laughing and giggling the whole time, they didn't even bat an eyelash when I exited the stall or even acknowledged that a guest was in the room. They just kept on talking and clucking VERY loudly. Later when I was changing into my clothes to leave, I placed my robe down on a bench underneath my clothes and an attendant walked through, snatched it off the bench, and kept going without even an "excuse me", "hello", or "how are you?" She actually pulled it off with so much force it sent my clothes tumbling to the floor.
So how do I give this place a 3 star rating??
They still have an amazing facility that even the worst staff can't ruin. I love the steam room and the iced towels they provide, and there is absolutely nothing better than napping on one of the many lounge chairs that surround the whirpool area. The whirpools are warm, soothing, and relaxing. One nice upgrade they've added is fresh cucumber slices to soothe your puffy peepers. While the showers need a deep cleaning, the rest of the facility is very clean and well-maintained, but smells a little musty in spots.
It hurts me to give this place a measly 3 stars, because it is still one of my favorite spas in Vegas, but it is impossible for it to go from what it was to what it is now without someone commenting on the changes.
As minor as they may be.
Still, at $25 for a day pass, it is easily the best hangover cure on the strip.
|
![[RDF Data]](/fct/images/sw-rdf-blue.png)
![[cxml]](/fct/images/cxml_doc.png)
![[csv]](/fct/images/csv_doc.png)
![[text]](/fct/images/ntriples_doc.png)
![[turtle]](/fct/images/n3turtle_doc.png)
![[ld+json]](/fct/images/jsonld_doc.png)
![[rdf+json]](/fct/images/json_doc.png)
![[rdf+xml]](/fct/images/xml_doc.png)
![[atom+xml]](/fct/images/atom_doc.png)
![[html]](/fct/images/html_doc.png)