Mandalay Bay Las Vegas Review: Is It Worth Staying Just for the Pool?

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Sometimes the best travel experiences are the ones you never planned.

I had absolutely no intention of staying at Mandalay Bay during this Las Vegas trip. In fact, the idea didn't even exist until about three hours before I checked in.

A couple of days earlier, I visited Swingers, the mini golf experience inside Mandalay Bay, with my boyfriend, Tyrone. While we were walking around the resort waiting for our reservation, we caught a glimpse of Mandalay Bay Beach.

There was a sandy beach. A wave pool. And, most importantly to me, a lazy river.

I love lazy rivers.

We looked at each other and thought, "We should come back here one day just for the pool."

Well, "one day" turned out to be about 48 hours later.

Mandalay Beach Lazy River

How We Ended Up Booking Mandalay Bay at the Last Minute

On the morning of August 20, 2026, I decided to check Mandalay Bay's room rates just to see how much it would cost to stay there for a night.

To my surprise, I found a Resort King room for $124.94 total, including the resort fee, and our offer also came with a $50 food and beverage credit.

At that point, staying there for the night seemed like a no-brainer.

I asked Tyrone if he wanted to just book a room and make a pool day out of it. A few hours later, we were checking into Mandalay Bay.

If you count the full $50 food and beverage credit, which we had no trouble using, our effective cost was about $75.

And really, we weren't booking Mandalay Bay because we needed another hotel room.

We booked it for the pool.

Of course, Las Vegas hotel prices can vary quite a bit depending on the day, season and what's happening in town. We happened to find this deal for a Thursday night in August, so it's always worth checking rates for your dates.

Mandalay Bay Beach Was the Reason We Booked

Mandalay Bay doesn't have your typical hotel pool.

Mandalay Bay Beach is an enormous pool complex with a sandy beach, wave pool, lazy river and several other pool areas.

It feels more like spending the day at a small water park than hanging out at a regular Vegas hotel pool.

We arrived close to noon on a Thursday in August, and it was definitely busy.

Super excited to head to the pool

At first, I thought we might have trouble finding somewhere to sit. But even though the pool was packed, there were still plenty of standard lounge chairs available.

The harder thing to find was shade.

Most of the shaded areas were associated with reserved seating or cabanas, although there were some complimentary chairs with shade scattered around.

We weren't too concerned about it because we planned on spending most of our time in the water anyway. We would float around the lazy river, relax on our chairs for a little while, then get right back in the water.

If having shade is important to you, I'd try to get to the pool earlier.

Plenty of lounge chairs avaliable

The Mandalay Bay Lazy River Was My Favorite

This was what I had been waiting for.

We went around the lazy river several times throughout the afternoon, and it ended up being one of my favorite parts of Mandalay Bay Beach.

There's something so relaxing about floating around a lazy river under the Vegas sun with palm trees all around you.

We'd float for a while, get out and relax on our lounge chairs, then eventually decide it was time for another lap.

But there's something you should know before heading to the lazy river.

Mandalay Bay Lazy River

Bring Your Own Tube

When we first saw the lazy river a few days earlier, I noticed quite a few people carrying their own tubes.

I wondered why, so I looked into it.

We learned that tubes weren't simply provided for everyone using the lazy river. I had also read online that purchasing tubes at the resort could get expensive, so we decided to make a quick Walmart stop before checking in.

We found two Ozark Trail river tubes for $5 each.

So instead of spending a lot of money on tubes at the resort, we spent just $10 for both of us.

They worked perfectly.

So nice to enjoy the lazy river on a hot Vegas day

Tyrone even manually inflated both giant tubes for us before we headed to the pool.

Then we discovered Mandalay Bay had an inflation station.

Sorry, Tyrone.

At least he got a free workout out of it.

If you're planning to bring your own tube, I'd check Mandalay Bay's current pool rules before your trip since requirements can change.

The Wave Pool Was Fun and Surprisingly Nostalgic

We also spent some time in the wave pool.

It wasn't my favorite part of the pool complex, but it brought back a memory I hadn't thought about in years.

When I was growing up in Japan, I used to go to an indoor swimming facility that had a wave pool. I remember sitting there for hours and letting the waves roll toward me.

Being in the Mandalay Bay wave pool suddenly reminded me of that.

It's funny how something as simple as a swimming pool can take you right back to being a kid.

Feeling like a kid again at the wave pool

The experience at Mandalay Bay was a little different, though.

The lifeguards here were very attentive.

There was a lot of whistle blowing.

At one point, we sat down near the shore where the waves were coming in and immediately got whistled at to stand up. After that, every time I heard a whistle, I wondered if we were doing something wrong again.

We joked that it felt a little like pool boot camp.

One useful thing to know if you're visiting with kids is that Mandalay Bay currently requires guests to be at least 48 inches tall to enter the wave pool.

Mandalay Bay Vegas wave pool

Don't Skip the Quieter Pools

The lazy river was probably the highlight for me, but I also really enjoyed the quieter pool areas.

After spending most of the day going around the lazy river and checking out the wave pool, we eventually wandered over to one of the calmer pools.

It was such a nice change of pace.

There were fewer people, no waves and no need to go anywhere. We could just get in the water and relax.

Toward the end of our pool day, that's exactly what we wanted.

If you're staying at Mandalay Bay, I'd definitely explore beyond the lazy river and wave pool. The quieter pools don't get nearly as much attention, but they ended up being one of my favorite parts of the entire afternoon.

The quieter pools were where the adults relaxed

Food and Drinks at the Mandalay Bay Pool

Vegas resort prices are Vegas resort prices.

We ordered chicken tenders with fries and a bottle of water at the pool, and with the tip, we spent around $38.

Luckily, we had our $50 food and beverage credit.

That one meal alone used up most of it.

Average chicken tenders at Mandalay Bay Beach

We also ordered two cocktails from the pool bar for around $20 each.

Those I wouldn't order again.

They looked good, but we both thought they tasted a little watered down. For around $20 a drink, I expected more.

Mandalay Bay has food and drinks available inside the pool area, so you don't have to leave when you get hungry. Just expect typical Las Vegas resort pricing.

Our Surprisingly Easy Early Check-In

We arrived at Mandalay Bay around 11 to 11:30 a.m., several hours before the normal afternoon check-in time.

Since our whole reason for staying there was the pool, I was hoping we'd somehow be able to get into our room early.

When we arrived, the front desk line was pretty long.

While we were standing there, I remembered that Mandalay Bay had sent me a text with an online check-in link.

I figured I'd give it a try.

I completed the online check-in while we were waiting, and shortly afterward, I received another text saying our room was ready.

I couldn't believe it.

This line at the lobby was insane

There was a separate self-service kiosk area nearby with practically no line, so we walked over, printed our room keys and were done.

It was incredibly convenient.

The staff member helping people in the check-in area was also really friendly and stayed with us through the process until we had our keys.

Obviously, getting a room that early isn't something I'd count on. But if Mandalay Bay sends you an online check-in link, it's definitely worth trying.

Our Mandalay Bay Resort King Room

Considering we booked Mandalay Bay almost entirely for the pool, I wasn't expecting to care that much about the room.

But the room really surprised me.

Our Resort King felt huge.

Resort King Room

There was so much open space around the bed, plus two large nightstands, a long cushioned bench, extra seating, a desk area and two large closets.

The bench at the foot of the bed was especially useful because we could put both of our carry-on suitcases on it instead of leaving them on the floor.

Lounge area

There was also an ottoman that gave us even more room for our things.

The king bed was extremely comfortable, and the room got wonderfully dark at night.

We slept really well.

Unfortunately, that darkness wasn't quite as wonderful during the daytime.

Convenient bench to lay out our luggage

Two huge closets

My Biggest Complaint: The Room Was Too Dark

This was easily my biggest complaint about our room.

There just wasn't enough natural light.

Even with all the lamps turned on, the room still felt dark during the day. The window only covered part of the wall, so we weren't getting much sunlight inside either.

It wasn't something that would stop me from staying here again, especially since we weren't spending much time in the room.

But if you like bright hotel rooms with lots of natural light, it's something to keep in mind.

Our view wasn't particularly exciting either. We could see the stadium and Luxor in the distance, but we definitely weren't booking this room for the view.

This room was incredibly dark

The Bathroom Was One of the Best Parts of the Room

The bathroom was fantastic.

We had two sinks with plenty of counter space, a large soaking tub, a separate stand-up shower and a separate toilet area.

It felt spacious enough that we could both get ready without being on top of each other.

very spacious bathroom

And because we were only staying one night, we made sure to use that giant tub before checking out the next morning.

If you're paying for the room, you might as well use the amenities.

Be Careful With the Minibar

One small room tip that could save you some money: be careful with the minibar.

The refrigerator in our room was stocked with items for purchase and appeared to use sensors.

We were careful not to remove anything because we didn't want to accidentally get charged for something we weren't using.

Tyrone managed to find a little space near the top to keep some water cool without disturbing anything.

Mini fridge filled with goods for purchase

More goods for purchase

Dinner at Libertine Social

There are plenty of places to eat inside Mandalay Bay, so we decided there was no reason to leave the resort for dinner.

We tried Libertine Social and really enjoyed it.

We ordered two flatbreads, a dessert and two cocktails, and the total came to around $100.

Dinner at Libertine Social

Once you start adding cocktails to a Vegas dinner, the bill climbs very quickly.

Between dinner and what we'd already purchased at the pool, we had absolutely no problem using our $50 food and beverage credit.

If you're comparing Mandalay Bay room offers and see one that includes a dining credit, I wouldn't worry too much about whether you'll be able to use it.

We certainly did.

Flatbread was delicious but expensive

The cheesecake dessert was amazing

Getting Around From Mandalay Bay

One thing to keep in mind is that Mandalay Bay is located toward the southern end of the Las Vegas Strip.

If most of your plans are around Bellagio, Caesars Palace or the center of the Strip, you're not going to be right in the middle of everything.

But Mandalay Bay does have a complimentary tram that connects the resort with Luxor and Excalibur.

We didn't use the tram during this stay, but it's nice to know it's there if you want to explore this part of the Strip without walking the entire way.

If you're driving, I'd also check the current MGM parking rates before your trip since parking prices can change.

Driving up to the Las Vegas Strip

Mandalay Bay Pros and Cons

Pros

• Mandalay Bay Beach is the star of the resort.

• Lazy river is fun and relaxing.

• Quieter pools give you somewhere to escape the busiest areas.

• Wave pool adds something different from a typical Vegas hotel pool.

• Plenty of complimentary lounge chairs were still available when we arrived around noon.

• Our Resort King room was extremely spacious.

• Large bathroom with two sinks, soaking tub and separate shower.

• Very comfortable bed.

• Online check-in and self-service kiosks made arrival easy.

• Lots of restaurants and entertainment without having to leave the resort.

• Complimentary tram makes it easier to reach Luxor and Excalibur.

• Can be an excellent value if you find a good room promotion.

Cons

• The main pool areas can get very crowded.

• Complimentary shaded seating was harder to find later in the day.

• Food and cocktails at the pool are expensive.

• We didn't think our pool cocktails were worth $20 each.

• Our room was very dark during the daytime.

• Our particular room didn't have much of a view.

• Mandalay Bay is farther south than many of the major central Strip resorts.

• Lazy river tubes aren't something I'd assume will be included, so check the current policy before your trip.

So, Is Mandalay Bay Worth It?

For us, absolutely.

But I also think the price we found played a big role in that.

We paid $124.94 total including the resort fee, and our package came with a $50 food and beverage credit.

At that price, I'd book it again without hesitation.

What started as us simply wanting to try a cool Vegas pool turned into one of those spontaneous travel days that I think we'll remember more than some of the things we actually planned.

We spent the afternoon floating around a lazy river, took a few trips into the wave pool, escaped to the quieter pools when we wanted to relax, ate dinner at the resort and ended the night in a surprisingly spacious hotel room.

Was everything perfect?

No.

The room was too dark for me. The drinks were expensive. The pool was crowded.

But none of those things outweighed how much fun we had.

And when I think back on this stay, the thing I remember most is floating around that lazy river with Tyrone and thinking:

I'm really glad we decided to do this.

Sometimes the last-minute decisions turn into the best travel memories.

Mandalay Bay FAQ

• Does Mandalay Bay Have a Lazy River?

  Yes. The lazy river was actually one of our favorite parts of Mandalay Bay Beach. We went around it several times throughout the afternoon.

• Should I Bring My Own Tube to the Mandalay Bay Lazy River?

  Yes. Currently, you have to buy a tube at Mandalay Bay (not rent) and it’s quite expensive at the hotel. We bought ours at Walmart for $5 each before checking in. I'd check Mandalay Bay's current rules before your trip since tube requirements and policies can change.

• Does Mandalay Bay Have a Wave Pool?

  Yes. There's a large wave pool at Mandalay Bay Beach. It was fun and brought back some childhood memories for me, although the lazy river and quieter pools were personally my favorite parts of the pool complex.

• Is It Hard to Find a Lounge Chair at Mandalay Bay Beach?

  No. We arrived close to noon on a busy Thursday in August and still found plenty of complimentary lounge chairs. Shade was much harder to find, though. If shade is important to you, I'd arrive earlier.

• Are Food and Drinks Expensive at the Mandalay Bay Pool?

  Yes. Chicken tenders, fries and bottled water came to around $38 including tip, and our cocktails were about $20 each.

• Is Mandalay Bay Good for a Pool Vacation in Las Vegas?

  Yes. I think this is where Mandalay Bay really shines. If having a lazy river, wave pool and multiple swimming areas matters more to you than being in the center of the Strip, it's definitely worth considering.