While MGM isn't bad, I have found the staff there a little too taken with themselves at times. MGM really needs to put some dough into their rooms, it's quickly becoming an aging property.
Mirage's rooms are small, but comfortable and have been well maintained over the years.
Restaurants are probably a pick'em, although I have a fondness for Mirage's coffee shop (probably the best in town) as well as Samba Grill. Mikado has long been well regarded for sushi, and anything with Alex Stratta's name on it is going to be excellent, although heavy. In short, it's a matter of taste. MGM has some big name restauranteurs as well, including Michael Mina (Nob Hill), but my meals there just seemed to be just competent, nothing really exceptional. Their Sunday brunch at Brown Derby is widely considered to be the best in Vegas.
The gaming is better at Mirage (double deck blackjack at reasonable minimums during the day), but if I were a high roller, I'd probably prefer MGM.
Security-wise, as others have noted, you're going to need to escort the guest to the room. It's no big deal. As long as the guest has not been previously 86d and trespassed, there should be no issue. You know, what happens in Vegas...
I was wondering what the security was like at the MGM and Mirage these days. I have stayed at Mandalay a bunch and there are no security issues in having a date come up to the room. In August I am coming out to LV and can get a good deal at the MGM or Mirage. Anyone have any insight on either of these before I make my reservations? I searched the board and didn't find anything.
Thnx
Mirage has security after 6pm MGM never does except when Mike Tyson bites someone's ear off 
Always
Nico
Actually they both do .... If you end up in the West Wing of the MGM you have security and a key lock system ... the rest of the MGM pretty much no security....
You can get around the MGM security by going up the main elevators though.
In my recent trip, I had bar girls clawing at me in front of security near the elevators. They didn't seem to care, but they did want to see a room key after 6:00pm.
No. If it's there, is it too much to have the person tell security to call your room or actually meeting the person in a public place and bringing them up with you?
If you're worried about being caught, forget it. There's probably more security cameras per capita here than anywhere else in the world. You will be caught on camera during your stay here in Vegas and whoever walks into your room will also be caught on camera so there's really no privacy, just discretion.
My personal feeling on the matter is that security rocks (cept at Harrah's, nazis). You got millions of visitors coming in every month and who knows how many of the riff raff are wandering the halls (or worse, trying to steal/assault unsuspecting guests). There was an uproar here about the random bar girl that was found dead in the hallway on one of Mandalay Bay's guest floors earlier this year (no one said security was going to eliminate this stuff, just make it less likely). Having that small measure of security at the guest elevators is not a big deal.
Bob
Im coming to vegas in july and Im staying at Harrahs, so your telling me that I will not be able to take someone up to my room? I thought all you have to do is show them your card key and thats it, I know in the past if a friend was visiting me all I had to do was meet them downstairs and walk them up,never had someone stop me and say "hey you can't take that person up there",how do they even no that the other person isn't staying with me in the room?
but if that is the case then what to do?
The management at Harrahs is directed to be provider-unfriendly straight from the top. I've heard that now that they've bought up the town, the fearless leader would like to do that at all of their properties, but is meeting with resistance. It's sort of hearsay, but it comes from someone that knows him personally.
As to the question of can you get a provider past security at Harrahs...it's becoming more of an issue finding one that will bother dealing with it.
It's been told a few times now but security at Harrah's (hasn't spread to the other Harrah/Caesar properties yet) have been requesting photo IDs and writing down names at the guest elevators. As said before, extremely provider unfriendly. Here's hoping it doesn't spread.
Bob
1) Harrah's is a 3* motor inn impersonating (badly, I might add) a Strip Resort (the suites are good, FWIH). Why anyone would want to take a date back there is a mystery to me.
2) They are provider hostile for a reason-look at their clientele, mostly seniors from the Heartland. The place is a retirement home masquerading as a casino. I'm interpreting the hate as just playing to keeping their clientele happy.
2a) Harrah's management is extremely intelligent and especially savvy when it comes to marketing. Gary Loveman took the company from the brink of bankruptcy to the largest gaming company in the world in 6 years' time. What I'm saying here is that they understand their brands, and what to do with them. Let me put it this way, 3a in Caesars, especially near Cleo's and the Shadow Bar, is still Pimp & Ho Central. They've had control of the property for over six months now and they're still allowing hookups. Besides, there's likely too much bakshish between the girls, the pimps, casino security, and most likely, middle and senior management to kill it off overnight. Also, they know, but won't nor can publicly admit it, that this is something the customers really want as part of their Las Vegas Experience. So, I don't see anything major happening anytime soon, save a ho doing something really stupid, like mickeying a john in the room.
BTW, Bob, notice that unlike GVR, the pros are leaving their "husbands" at home when visiting Red Rock? Yes, I know, no shit, Sherlock...
At Caesars. the bar at the barge is tame now. They yanked the slot machines in the area and stuck a security desk in the hallway to watch the bar. I'm guessing they moved to the bar near Pure/sportsbook or Shadow Bar. Nearby, the bacarrat bar in Mirage is gone and I haven't figure out where they moved there yet.
Bob
..and I go into Mirage maybe 2x a year. My blackjack was judged "too good" for them many moons ago. I do go to Caesars on a semi-regular basis.
The 3a crowd is mostly AA babes and their handlers. While the ghetto factor is high, there are some fine lookers in the late evening crowd-generally better looking on avg than the white girls.
Found this thread, from a couple of months ago. Read and make up your own mind. Good luck.
p.s. Firs post is actually by vmt
While MGM isn't bad, I have found the staff there a little too taken with themselves at times. MGM really needs to put some dough into their rooms, it's quickly becoming an aging property.
Mirage's rooms are small, but comfortable and have been well maintained over the years.
Restaurants are probably a pick'em, although I have a fondness for Mirage's coffee shop (probably the best in town) as well as Samba Grill. Mikado has long been well regarded for sushi, and anything with Alex Stratta's name on it is going to be excellent, although heavy. In short, it's a matter of taste. MGM has some big name restauranteurs as well, including Michael Mina (Nob Hill), but my meals there just seemed to be just competent, nothing really exceptional. Their Sunday brunch at Brown Derby is widely considered to be the best in Vegas.
The gaming is better at Mirage (double deck blackjack at reasonable minimums during the day), but if I were a high roller, I'd probably prefer MGM.
Security-wise, as others have noted, you're going to need to escort the guest to the room. It's no big deal. As long as the guest has not been previously 86d and trespassed, there should be no issue. You know, what happens in Vegas...