I don’t book a hotel room without first consulting the firsthand reviews and rankings on TripAdvisor.com. (I also do a search on Uptake.com, where I blog about hotels, for still more reviews from other sites.) I take all hotel reviews with a grain of salt — there’s always someone who wants to complain about the hard beds or a surly 
front-desk staffer. But on the whole, I can get a great feel from a place with user-generated reviews. Two top hotels I stayed at in Las Vegas earlier this month were among the best of the best, ranked #2 and #4 out of all the hotels in Vegas — plus, they were named big winners in the TripAdvisor.com 2009 Travelers Choice Awards: The Signature at MGM Grand and the Four Seasons.
The Signature at MGM Grand
This property is ranked second by TripAdvisor.com users out of all 292 Vegas properties. Plus, it was named a top hotel for romance in the United States (ranked #7 out of 10) in the TripAdvisor.com Travelers Choice Awards. This is a huge feat for a relatively new hotel that opened its first tower just three years ago. But, frankly, I’m not that surprised. It’s fabulous.
The Signature is a non-gaming, non-smoking hotel comprised of three towers about a 15-minute walk from the Strip, behind its sister property the massive MGM Grand. Set far from the action of the MGM’s casino, nightclubs and busy restaurants, The Signature caters to a crowd that appreciates quiet sophistication.
The Signature hosted me and my husband in a junior suite in Tower 2; our spacious room overlooked the pool area and the Strip. While we didn’t use the kitchenette in our suite, I think it’s great for longer stays and storing snacks in the mini fridge or preparing simple meals with the cooktop stove and microwave (dishes, glasses, cooking utensils included).
We found the beds comfy, the on-site Delights deli yummy, and the pool relaxing (as opposed to the super-crowded and loud MGM Grand pool). Yes, it’s a hike to the Strip — at least 15 minutes and more than a half-mile — but when you’re in Vegas you tend to walk a lot anyway. We didn’t gamble once on this weekend getaway, so we didn’t miss the casino at all.
I highly recommend the Signature for couples — it feels romantic and sophisticated because it doesn’t have that crazy party atmosphere that the mega resorts do. I also saw just one family with young children in my tower during my two-night stay (though the one-bedroom units, with full kitchen, would be fabulous for families). It’s also a nice place for girlfriend getaways; each suite type has a pull-out sofabed, so if friends don’t mind bunking together, you could fit four adults in a room easily.
TripAdvisor.com says average nightly rates are $200, but I see prices starting at $129/night at The Signature website.
Four Seasons Las Vegas
The Four Seasons Las Vegas was named in the TripAdvisor.com Travlers Choice Awards as the fourth-best hotel in the United States in terms of luxury. It also got the top-ranking hotel in Las Vegas as part of the “Best in the Top 25 World Cities” category.
TripAdvisor.com actually hosted my night’s stay to this top hotel to see if all the fuss is legit. On many levels, I’d have to say, “Absolutely.” Like all Four Seasons properties, this one exudes elegance and sophistication. Service (for the most part; more on that later) is very attentive.
The Vegas property is actually on the top 4 foors of the Mandalay Bay. The lobby and check-in process are totally separate from the Manadaly Bay (which is more like a cattle-herding process, with more than a dozen front-desk staffers). So from the moment you step into the Four Seasons and the door is held open for you by a smiling bellman, you feel special.
Our Executive Suite (upgraded from the standard room that was booked) featured a separate living room and bedroom with large bathroom. I loved the generous portions of spa toiletries (Bulgari; yes I took some home) and the separate shower with Jacuzzi tub.
Guests at the Four Seasons enjoy use of the private Four Seasons pool (packed by 10 a.m.; we couldn’t find an empty chair) or the monstrosity that is the Mandalay Bay pool area, with lazy river, wave pool and sandy beach (where guests are packed in like sardines and whose average age is likely 22). The entire pool and nearby full-service spa area smelled heavenly, like eucalyptus. That was a small touch, but one I fully appreciated. The fitness center is filled with cardio machines, strength training equipment and free weights.
We didn’t eat on site, even though our package included 20 percent off at the Verandah restaurant (still too expensive for our pocketbook); buffet brunch cost $35 for adults ($16 for children, who would adore the decorate-your-own freshly made donuts station).
I suppose my only complaint about the Four Seasons is this: When we left the Four Seasons to transfer to The Signature, the bellman handed us our luggage and asked if we needed transportation. “Nope,” we said, “We’re taking the bus.” He made a digusted face and said, “Reeeeeaaaallly?” — like we were absolute idiots to pay a few bucks for a bus ride instead of paying closer to $15 to get us up the street in relative luxury in a taxi. No, we didn’t save that much money, but we’d bought the 3-day bus passes and wanted to use them. No big deal to us, but the snotty attitude of the bellman put a damper on our last few moments at the Four Seasons.
Here’s a funny: I’m now reading on the Four Seasons Las Vegas website that the property offers “house car service,” which delivers passengers to where they need to go within a 3-mile radius. The Signature at MGM might have made it within that distance limit; but we weren’t offered any complimentary ride. Just attitude.
TripAdvisor.com says rates at the Four Seasons average $398/night, but we had a package that starts at $279/night (standard room), and includes the 20 percent off restaurant coupon, $25 off a spa treatment and general $50 resort credit that can be applied to any room charges or even the nightly room-rate fees — not a bad deal for one of the best hotels in Las Vegas.
