Review: Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas

How did it strike you on arrival?
When you arrive in the little circle where the valet is, it feels impossible that this hotel could be in Vegas, and what's more, that it could be connected to Mandalay Bay. It's a gaming-free sanctuary at the southernmost end of the Strip, and barely feels like it's connected to the action. And although it occupies floors 35 - 39 of Mandalay Bay, it has its own lobby, scene, restaurants—and best of all, serene pool scene and beautiful spa. Much like many Four Seasons hotels, you'll pull up into a porte cochere, all done in creamy beiges and whites, and immediately be greeted by valets, bellmen, giving fast and attentive service.

What’s the crowd like?
Most of these travelers are Four Seasons devotees. They love the consistency of the experience and are attracted to the strength of the brand.

The good stuff: Tell us about your room.
Just a few years ago, Four Seasons completely renovated its rooms, and what were very lovely but kind of standard cream-colored Four Seasons rooms became classic Art Deco-inspired rooms with a sophisticated color scheme (I checked into a one-bedroom suite with a view west toward the mountains and desert (you can opt for one with a view of the Strip.) Neutrals, chrome and reflective surfaces with silvery blue/grey fabrics made my room feel super-lush. And in a town where nothing's for free, little extras like a coffee maker in the room are so nice! The rooms, incidentally, are enormous. The smallest is 800 square feet and the one-bedroom is 1,100.

We’re craving some deep, restorative sleep. They got us?
My bed was lovely and high, with down pillows and a down duvet. I'm not a fan of a too-soft pillow, so I called and got the pillow swapped out with a firmer, hypoallergenic pillow—no problem.

How about the little things, like mini bar, or shower goodies. Any of that find its way into your suitcase?
The mini-bar, after the renovation a few years ago, became a kind of fabulous tiered affair, which makes you want to channel a Fitzgerald character and make yourself a drink. It completely elevates the mini-bar experience from a loveless affair—drinking and snacking out of desperation—to a glamorous (if not inexpensive) experience.

Please tell us the bathroom won’t let us down.
I love the bathrooms at Four Seasons hotels all over the world. And these are fully marble and fabulous with mirrors that have integrated televisions in them (sort of a must in Las Vegas these days).

Maybe the most important topic of all: Wi-Fi. What’s the word?
The Wi-Fi is strong enough for streaming and included in the resort fee (which iaround $44 daily).

Room service: Worth it?
The in-room dining menu at Four Seasons has a good range of things, although I think it's best at breakfast. Like most Vegas hotels, it attaches a gratuity and service charge in addition to tax. Then again, if all you really want is some kind of grab-and-go breakfast, your options are limited (there is the coffee bar, Press, in the lobby, but you'll hike a ways to find the Starbucks in Mandalay Bay). So you might as well enjoy in-room breakfast, which has some lovely healthy options (like smoothies) and gluten-free items as well as amazing pancakes and waffles. This makes sense, because the downstairs restaurant, Veranda, has one of the best breakfasts (if not the best) in Las Vegas, and the menu is pretty similar.

Staff: If you could award one a trophy, who gets it, and why?
I'm always amazed by the door staff. They're your first indication that you've stepped out of the giant casino realm of Las Vegas: The valets aren't harried, you'll never open a door yourself, and it's always totally pleasant.

Anything stand out about other services and features? Whether it’s childcare, gyms, spas, even parking—whatever stuck with you.
The spa at Four Seasons is small but totally lovely. It's all natural woods that are reminiscent of the desert that surround you. One of the best little perks of this Four Seasons, though is the walk-in nail spa. Most people won't realize what a rarity this is; but, in fact, you're not able to bypass a big spa experience in any other hotel if you just want to get your nails done. The nail bar in Four Seasons is expensive but a great little place to relax and get your nails done before a meeting or night out if you don't have time for the spa.

What was most memorable—or heartbreaking—about your stay?
Veranda, the inside-outside Italian restaurant in Four Seasons, is actually one of Las Vegas's best places to go for a power breakfast. You'll see agents, rock stars, casino execs, movie stars. And the staff recognizes all the regulars. Happily for guests, you can only book a cabana if you are a guest of the hotel (unlike other pool areas, where anyone can book), so the pool scene stays small, intimate and mellow. There's no "scene" here, which is fabulous for people who just want to relax and not be bothered.

Anything left to mention? Although Four Seasons Las Vegas has one of the most tranquil pool scenes on the Strip, open only to Four Seasons guests and completely without the spring break-style chaos of other resorts, families will love that they also have access to the Mandalay Bay Pools complex, which has a real sand beach (2,700 tons of sand, to be exact),a lazy river, villas for rent, a 1.6 million-gallon wave pool, and a lazy river. Just in case tranquility is not what everyone in your party is seeking.

Bottom line: worth it, and why?
The rooms are enormous and luxurious, and with their recent update, are worth the extra money—especially since you're in recognizably Four Seasons-quality surrounds, with notably fewer guests than a regular Four Seasons, since it occupies only four floors of Mandalay Bay (but has its own entrance).