The hotel is technically part of the Mandalay Bay resort but unless you come in from that direction you'd have a hard time knowing it. There is a separate entrance, lobby, bars, restaurants, spa, pool, elevators, and rooms that are only accessible to guests of The Four Seasons. It is quite remarkable how well they have isolated themselves from the hubbub of their next-door neighbor. Every square inch of the public areas is infused with a quiet opulence that only changes when you wander down the long halls and are faced with the din of casino madness.

These public areas are filled with classical, yet somehow very modern, pieces of furniture, art, and other miscellaneous decorations. As would be expected there is lots of fine marble and wood detail work. Of special note are the giant floral arrangements, which, in addition to being stunning, are actually real flowers - a welcome change from the typical Vegas fakery.

Private elevators access The Four Seasons rooms, which occupy the 35th through 39th floors of the Mandalay Bay Tower. Despite having similar layouts, these are not just nicer versions of the Mandalay Bay rooms. The décor, the furnishings, and the general feel of even the elevators and hallways are completely different - much more luxurious at The Four Seasons.

Guest rooms have flat-panel televisions, fluffy duvet covers, high-speed Internet, Bose stereos, and luxe furnishings. It may not be as big or over-the-top wowing as rooms at newer resorts like Aria or The Cosmopolian, but this is the Four Seasons... "wowing" would be gauche. Instead they are comfortably posh in a "I've got money but don't want to wave it in your face" kind of way.

Rooms also come with a standard wet-bar and mini-fridge, comfy robes, in-room coffee makers, safes, irons and boards, and other niceties.

The up-level suites go all the way up to massive three bedroom affairs that wrap around the entire end of the hotel, offering 180-degree views of Vegas. The amenities and facilities here are too numerous to mention.

There is a very nice spa area with treatment rooms larger than my apartment, a full workout facility, and a private pool separate from the Mandalay Bay's facility. It is here that you'll really start to get the concept behind this hotel with luxurious service that borders on the ridiculous. For instance, they actually have people who will mist you with Evian water or provide chilled towels and popsicles if the desert sun gets to be too much.

It is all about service at The Four Seasons. The staff is omnipresent yet not at all intrusive, waiting to cater to your every whim and pampering you with special little touches that will mostly go unnoticed. For instance, when you arrive the bedside clock/stereo is facing toward the room but during turn-down service, the maids turn it toward the bed so you can see how late you're going to bed. Simple stuff but when every hotel in town has flat panel TVs and fluffy duvets, you need the little things to set yourself apart.

I could go on and on but I think you probably get the idea. So where is the bad news? It'll come with your bill. To get all of this luxury you can expect to pay at least (with an emphasis on the "at least") $200 per night for a standard room and usually more than that.

Of note are the many hotel packages they offer that inevitably jack up the room rates but offer plenty of fun extras. They have everything from simple bed and breakfast packages that give you a morning meal at their café to more elaborate and creative packages that could include things like gas cards and a car wash for those road-tripping it to town.

They also offer family packages and even if you don't opt for that, kids get special treatment here with a welcome/activity package for the wee ones.

Is it worth it? If you need to ask that question, then probably not. The Four Seasons caters to a very specific, very wealthy, very pampered market - one that wouldn't say "Ouch" at the thought of spending $200.00 per night for a hotel room in Vegas (or anywhere else). I'm not part of that market. If you are and want to stay on The Strip, then this is one of your best options.

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