Mandalay Bay

Mandalay Bay

At Mandalay Bay, excess is the norm. Las Vegas visitors can listen to some of music's greatest artists, spot some of the world's most dangerous predators and bodysurf some of the city's largest waves without ever leaving the 120-acre property.

The AAA Four Diamond Award-winning resort (from 2000 through 2012) is practically dripping in nightlife, dining, entertainment, recreation and relaxation. The accommodations are modern and up to date, offering wireless internet, iHome clock radios and large plasma-screen TVs in every room. The all-suite adjoining THEhotel (which will become Delano Las Vegas in late 2013) complements the already impressive property, offering a boutique experience for guests looking for a more cosmopolitan atmosphere.

Hip and high-end, Mandalay Bay is a bustling, Polynesian paradise, accented by fountains, sculptures, marble and flora. Surrounding it is dining at its finest, from the proletariat Red Square and the elegant Aureole by Charlie Palmer to Michael Mina's stylish STRIPSTEAK. Lupo by Wolfgang Puck is an Italian restaurant featuring a few twists on some old classics. Rick Moonen’s RM seafood provides patrons with everything from gourmet- and café-style seafood eateries to a sushi/raw bar. He'll be unveiling a new steampunk-inspired venture, RX Boiler Room, showcasing classic comfort food in small and large plate portions on the restaurant's second floor in June 2013. Another fine dining option is Fleur by Hubert Keller. And the creative Japanese cuisine of Toshiyuki Motoyama will debut in Kumi Japanese Restaurant and Bar in summer 2013.

Mandalay Bay's casual foodie offerings also keep in mind the relaxed tropical atmosphere. From the authentic Irish pub fare at Rí Rá, the 24-hour bistro menu at Citizens Kitchen and Bar and the Mexican favorites at the Border Grill and Hussong's Cantina to the decadent hamburgers at Burger Bar, the By the Slice counter at Slice of Vegas and the Cantonese dishes in The Noodle Shop, there is something to suit virtually every palate.

Entertainment also abounds at the resort. Scheduled to debut on May 23 is "Michael Jackson ONE," created by the estate of Michael Jackson and Cirque du Soleil. It will fuse together the music of Jackson and his hope for unity and a better world through a plot that follows four misfits on a state-of-the-art visual and audio adventure.

At night, eyecandy sound lounge offers an interactive experience with high-tech touch tables (don't forget to bring your iPod), while the Foundation Room and Mix Lounge boast unparalleled views of the Strip from high above Mandalay Bay and THEhotel, respectfully. Light, a new nightlife venue "turned on by Cirque du Soleil," will debut on Memorial Day weekend.

Whether you're a fan of rock, reggae, rap, rockabilly, jazz or blues, the House of Blues has it all. The venue not only books musical legends, but also puts on a soulful Sunday Gospel Brunch, featuring great live music and a traditional Southern food buffet. The Mandalay Bay Events Center meanwhile, provides a venue for sporting events and arena-sized musical acts.

It's not all about the nightlife though -- Mandalay Bay has plenty of things to do in the bright light of day. Get up close with some toothy friends at the Shark Reef, featuring more than 2,000 animals. If you'd rather do the swimming yourself, take a dip in the one of the resort's four pools at Mandalay Bay Beach, which also features a lazy river, a wave pool, the three-tiered Beachside Casino, bungalows, annual summer concerts and Moorea Beach Club (an adults-only pool experience).

You'll think back on this Vegas vacation forever after heading over to Starlight Tattoo, where celebrity tattoo artist Mario Barth may be on hand to ink a permanent reminder on the body part of choice.

And there's still much, much more to see and do, including gambling on the 135,000-square-foot casino floor, shopping at The Shoppes at Mandalay Place, getting pampered at Spa Mandalay and the BATHHOUSE, or creating the ultimate Vegas cliché by tying the knot at one of three wedding chapels in the complex.