The mirage casino

How did it strike you on arrival?
Where are we? This Polynesian-themed hotel, with its tropical jungle oasis vibe inside and bellowing volcano outside, is a fun throwback to the '80s, when most would say it changed the complexion of the Las Vegas Strip, propelling it into the theme park it has become in recent years. And although it's one of the older hotels still operating with more-or-less its original design, MGM Mirage has done a good job of keeping it from feeling old. Rooms were renovated just a few years ago, and the lobby—although it can feel kitschy—is just the sort of thing a lot of people love in Las Vegas.

Nice. What’s the crowd like?
These are people who don't want to pay a premium to be right in the middle of the Las Vegas Strip. But you also get those clever gamers who aren't high rollers, but earn their comped rooms—and realize that they'll get a better comp here than in a higher-end luxury hotel. And of course it's a family-friendly place because of its playful attractions (you can specifically request a volcano-view room so the kids can watch the fire show).

The good stuff: Tell us about your room.
There are so many room categories at Mirage. It has taken a page from MGM Grand's book and created "Stay Well" rooms (personalized lighting, hypoallergenic surfaces, etc.), but I booked a Resort King, which is one of the standard rooms (and the smallest, at just under square feet). But the rooms have all been renovated relatively recently, and so you're not getting anything musty. Plus, there's now a penalty to smoke in the non-smoking rooms, so even though once upon a time, you might get a non-smoking room that smelled like stale smoke, that likely not happen now.

We’re craving some deep, restorative sleep. They got us?
The bed is a nice pillow-top mattress with a big duvet and feather-down pillows.

How about the little things, like mini bar, or shower goodies. Any of that find its way into your suitcase?
There are a few little nice amenities that make up for the small size of some of the rooms, like media hubs. But there's a pretty big gap between the size of these standard rooms and the suites, and sometimes there's not that large a price difference. You might find you're more comfortable booking a room like a two-bedroom Tower Suite, which is 1, square feet and could recently be booked for only $ per night.

Please tell us the bathroom won’t let us down.
The bathrooms in the smaller rooms are small, with Mirage-branded amenities, and although they have marble-topped sinks and nice extras like a makeup mirror, they have a combined bath and tub. The best call if these things are important to you is to go to the Mirage site, or better yet, call a reservationist who can help you get the extra space and a better view.

Maybe the most important topic of all: Wi-Fi. What’s the word?
The Wi-Fi works fine and is included in the daily $40 resort fee

Room service: Worth it?
In recent years, Mirage seems to have scaled back its room service menu, now offering delivery from its hour cafe, The Pantry. It's a nice selection of burgers, salads, tacos, breakfast specialties (all day), but it's not really a formal in-room dining production.

Staff: If you could award one a trophy, who gets it, and why?
The concierge staff at Mirage has their hands full, directing people to all the special events in Mirage. Not only is there the Dolphin Habitat and Secret Garden (with white tigers and lions), but there's also yoga with dolphins (underground by the side of the tank), and a lot of people wanting a lot of reservations. They're a busy crew indeed.

Anything stand out about other services and features? Whether it’s childcare, gyms, spas, even parking—whatever stuck with you.
There are a big range in restaurants here, so just because it's a slightly lower-priced hotel doesn't also mean you won't find some great dining, like Tom Colicchio's (terrific) Heritage Steak, Carnegie Delicatessen and a super-fun sports bar, The Still.

What was most memorable—or heartbreaking—about your stay?
It's hard to drive room rates much further down in Las Vegas for what you get, so the difference between room rates for a smaller room here in and a giant suite in Delano is not that big. Somehow, even though rooms are relatively inexpensive, you don't always feel like you're getting an amazing deal. However, the larger you go in room size, the better the deal will be. Suites in Mirage can actually be some of the best deal in town.

Bottom line: worth it, and why?
The room I booked was fine, but small, but I could have had a better bathroom in a larger room in a different hotel. If I booked at Mirage again, I'd go for a large suite.