THEHotel at Mandalay Bay

Without natural light, the lobby and lounge at THEhotel seems perpetually moody and atmospheric. Add in the sleek contemporary design and world-class art -- like the Jasper Johns piece near the elevators -- and the hotel achieves a mellow, cool, and dark urban-chic vibe. And that's what the relatively young guests want out of this more mature and sophisticated sister property of the adjoining Mandalay Bay: a cool and mellow respite from the over-the-top glitz and energy of the Strip.

Not that the hotel doesn't offer plenty of luxury, amenities, and even some pure fun of its own. Rooms are large, comfortable, and well-appointed. The service is casual yet attentive. A gorgeous Asian-inspired spa (with a solid fitness center attached) is available for pampering. And huge range of restaurants, clubs, and family-friendly pools (including a wave pool and a lazy river) at the Mandalay make for some out-of-the-ordinary recreation.

All in all, a great choice for those who want the full, over-the-top Vegas experience but also the ability to retreat quickly into a more mellow and refined atmosphere.

THEhotel is located within the larger Mandalay Bay Hotel complex at the southern end of the densely-packed three-and-a-half mile long stretch of hotel-casinos known as the Strip. Around the hotel are a few vacant lots, rundown motels, and strip malls. Guests can walk to the main part of the Strip, but cabs are a better bet -- or the free tram that connects the Mandalay with the Luxor and Excalibur, the two hotels directly to the north.

Cabs are easy to find at virtually any time of day or night. A generally less expensive option is the Deuce, a double-decker bus that runs up and down the strip 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and costs $3. But if you're traveling along the Strip with at least one other person, a cab is often the least expensive option.

Virtually every hotel on the Las Vegas Strip is a 10- to 15-minute cab ride from McCarran International Airport; the ride typically costs about $15.

All rooms at THEhotel are suites, with a living room and a bedroom in about 725 square feet of space. The design is urban modern luxury.

The beds are extremely comfortable, with pillow-top mattresses, thick mattress pads, high-thread count sheets, and heavy shiny comforters.

Each suite features two bathrooms, one full and one half. The full bath has a deep tub and glass shower with dark marble walls, and a double marble vanity. The bathroom comes stocked with various Bathe product, cotton balls and cotton swabs and moisturizer. The toilet is in a separate room -- a good feature for couples. I enjoyed the incredibly soft robes and slippers.

The living room features a 42-inch flat-screen TV that gets about 60 channels, though about half seem to be Las Vegas promotional channels.

The room comes stocked with Fiji water and a minibar with a standard array of drinks and snacks.

Wi-Fi costs a daily fee.

THEhotel is connected, through the casino, to the larger Mandalay Bay hotel. So all the endless amount of amenities, pools, shops and restaurants of Mandalay Bay are available to THEhotel guests.

The Bathhouse Spa is in THEhotel tower but is also open to Mandalay Bay guests. This Asian-inspired facility features soothing dark gray colors, fountains, and river rocks. The spa, split into male and female sections, has steam rooms, saunas, hot tubs and plunge pools. There’s also the relaxation room with fruit for noshing.

The gym is connected to Bathhouse and guests can use both for $30 a day or just the gym for $20 per day. It offers new cardio machines, including bikes, ellipticals, and treadmills, all with TVs attached; free weights; stretching mats; exercise balls; plenty of towels; and bottles of cold water.

On the top of THEhotel is Mix Lounge, a swanky club with a phenomenal view of Las Vegas. Lines begin to form around 10 p.m., so arrive early or be prepared to wait.

As with all MGM resorts, guests have access to the private Shadow Creek Golf Course, about a 20-minute drive from the hotel. The greens are only open to resort guests, and MGM offers a personal limo from the Strip and caddie service. Several other partner courses are open to guests, iuncluding Bali Hai Golf Club right on the Strip. Reservations for partner courses are available six months in advance, and varying seasonal and time rates apply.

The kid-friendly amenities of the Mandalay Bay complex are extensive, including what are probably the most kid-friendly pools in Las Vegas (among them a lazy river and a wave pool); the Shark Reef Aquarium; and some 20 restaurants, many of them good at serving kids.

THEhotel provides cribs and rollaway beds for $20 per night. (It doesn't arrange baby-sitting, however.)

And because THEhotel is part of the larger Mandalay Bay Hotel complex, the latter's 20 restaurant options are easily accessible to THEhotel guests.

Within THEHotel itself, the options are far more limited: The Café is a convenient and serviceable spot for breakfast and lunch; the Coffee Shop is even more utilitarian. Both are a little more expensive than comparable places outside the hotel -- you're paying for on-site convenience.

Very clean. My room was spotless. And the staff seemed to be almost constantly shampooing carpets and mopping the shiny floor in the lobby.