The Mirage Las Vegas

Room Quality:

Nice rooms. The Mirage Hotel Vegas rooms are average in size, but have good views and are well-appointed in rich dark tones, with some wood paneling and so much marble in the bathroom you'll think you fell into a quarry. The bedspreads feel expensive and so does the flat screen TV on the wall (they're almost impossible to sneak out when you leave - trust us). There is also an iPod dock in case you have that dance party urge. The bathrooms are small but with marble everywhere, even the walls. The Mirage Las Vegas rooms have separate showers and tubs, but both are small. They come equipped with hairdryers, irons, mini-bars (overpriced) and safes. Rooms also offer high-speed Internet if you are so inclined to go to Vegas and then spend time away from the city. Suites are enormous, with big plush couches, and if you have a ton of money, you can even get a two-bedroom suite. All rooms have robes for your relaxation. Or, if you're like us, wear on a late-night stroll down the Strip.

Service Quality:

Good. The Mirage Las Vegas makes a point of letting you know they have good service. Room service is excellent, and if you need extra towels, they come quickly.

What You Get Bottles of in the Bathroom:

All kinds of goop, including lotion and shampoo and conditioner. It's all laid out in a quaint little basket.

Clientele:

The Mirage Resort and Casino Las Vegas hosts a diverse mix of folks, from young Angelenos to middle-aged Ohioans, and all the way to old women from Phoenix.

How's the Pool?

The Mirage Las Vegas pool is pretty fancy and tropical. It's one of the best pools in town; the waterfall is cool, and you will see lots of attractive and wealthy people laying about. The biggest drawback is that the pool at the Mirage Hotel Vegas gets very crowded on weekends. Don't even think about sneaking in, unless you know some trick we don't. The pools are heated and open year-round. For the more adventurous among us (or at least the more voyeuristic) the Mirage Resort and Casino features Bare, a small DJ-equipped, top-optional pool area that costs extra for everyone, and a lot extra for the dudes on weekends.

Resort Fee:

Yes.  You get in room and property wide internet access, access to the fitness center, a daily newspaper, notary services, printed boarding pass, copies and faxes at the Business Services Center and unlimited local and toll-free calls.

Is it Worth It?

Table Games:

All the usual games like blackjack, craps, roulette, 3-card poker, Pai Gow and some oddball games. Blackjack is dealt with MGM Mirage's traditional rules.

Bet Minimums:

$10 and up - way up on weekends. If it's a busy time, like there's a big fight in town or a holiday weekend, you can expect to see very few tables lower than $25. Craps is the Strip standard 3x4x5x at the Mirage Resort and Casino. $2 for races, $5 for sports.

Machines:

The Mirage Las Vegas machines range from pennies to $500. There are very few full-pay video poker machines, and none for less than a dollar.

Cocktails?

Good. If being drunk in a classy joint is your goal, you've come to the right place.

Who Gets Comps?

Big shots. Expect to spend a lot of time betting black chips or more before the Mirage Las Vegas offers you anything to eat, and get out the big bucks if you want to work your way to one of their many varieties of room. The M Life slot club is meant to make you very loyal to the MGM casinos, hotels, restaurants, etc.

Number of TVs:

29 total TVs, split fairly evenly between sports and racing. There are six big screens on the sports side, of the Mirage Resort and Casino Sports book and five other big ones on the racing side.

Number of Seats:

About 140 for race bettors, 112 with individual TVs and about 100 for sports. Some chairs are nicer leather ones. They are all slightly above average. This is one of those rooms with a very clear demarcation between the race and sports area. The race seats are all lined up in rows, with desks and little TVs, and the sports seats are arranged like a lounge.

Number of Betting Windows:

16 total, with ten of those for the race fans. At the Mirage Las Vegas they have electronic signboards.

Free Drinks?

Yes, there are free drinks for betters when you ask for a drink ticket and are betting a lot.

Snack Bar?

There's a small snack bar and deli just steps away from the Mirage Las Vegas book, and the California Pizza Kitchen is so close you can smell the artichoke hearts on top of some guy's fru-fru pizza while you're placing your bets.

Other Notes:

Minimum Wager: $2 for races, $5 for sports.

The Mirage Resort and Casino has a nice room for its sports book with nice wood decor and excellent soft lighting. The only drawback is the lack of TVs for the size of the room. In fact, the signboards take up significantly more room than the TVs. It's a pretty utilitarian space, better suited for checking lots of race results than for hanging around watching the big game.

Number of Tables:

There are about 19 poker tables at the Mirage Resort and Casino, with five in the high-limit area that they won't let us into. We're talking limits higher than our paychecks. This is a non-smoking poker room.

Comfort of Chairs:

The chairs are okay.

Closed Room or Open to Casino?

It's open to the MGM Mirage casino but sort of tucked away so the noise isn't too awful. The high-limit area is in the very back where it's quieter.

Game Spreads and Limits:

They'll pretty much deal anything, especially Omaha, Stud, and Hold 'Em. There are limits in all ranges, including some low-limit, like $3-$6 Hold 'em up to $200-$400 in the back room. Sometimes it goes even higher. The No-limit games range from $1/$2 to $2/$5 with buy-ins from $50-$1000. You can find Omaha too, starting at $4/$8.

Beginner Games or Classes:

Anytime you want a lesson they say they'll be happy to give you one. Like, right now. and now. And now. Wait, I forgot already. Can you show me again now?

How Crowded is the Room?

There are games 24 hours a day and this place can be insane on a weekend night. If you show up at the Mirage casino at 10:00pm on Friday, expect to wait a long time for a seat.

Comps?

Free drinks while playing. $1 an hour on your player's card. So, just like everyone else.

How Good Are the Players?

Among the best in Vegas. But, the Mirage also attracts some dinghy tourists with more money than brains. If you're not super fantastic, play low-limit for fun and leave the suckers for the pros to fleece. Otherwise, you just might find yourself getting shorn too.

What Else Do I Need to Know?

This is one of our five favorite rooms in Vegas (with Bellagio, Caesars, Venetian and The Orleans). They have tournaments and Sit'N'Gos.

The Mirage Las Vegas Guest Rooms

One Bedroom Tower Suite

With floor-to-ceiling windows looking out on classic Vegas views and 1,241 square feet of lounging space, the Tower Suite at the MGM Mirage does Las Vegas right. The Sealy Posturepedic king bed in the bedroom offers comfort and luxury but why spend time there when you can cavort in the living room with a 4-seat dining set, sound bar with DVD/MP3/CD player connections and surround sound? The bathroom will also vie for your attention with its jetted tub and separate glass enclosed shower.