Ok.. The MGM has very nice rooms.. I swear it was one of the softest beds I have ever slept in! But with out the Lazy River... the pool area just isn't as cool as the one at the Flaming o. So if it were me.. I'd decide.. which is more important.. the room or the pool. The flaming o is also center strip, the MGm is on a great corner though..

Having stayed at both, I would choose MGM for your group. The MGM rooms are larger and better kept up than the Flamingo Deluxe rooms. You will not be disappointed in the MGM pool complex. Although not as central, MGM is on the monorail so it is still convenient to get around.

Ditto Stratton =)

I was booked at the Flamingo for early October, but just switched to MGM. I switched due to reports about the crowded pool at the Flamingo and the rundown condition of the hotel. Price was a little bit more at MGM, but includes about $50 in meal credits.

Major ditto Statton.

And, one more thing - the MGM doesn't have those annoying time share people that Flamingo does.

And, one more thing after that - every time we have stayed at Flamingo (we stay there once a year for DH convention) there is an issue with the air conditioning. We have had problems with it cooling enough, and every time have problems with how loud it is, stops and starts often, and with a big "clunk."

And another thing (just thought of) - I think the location of the MGM is no problem at all, and we are up and down the strip all the time.

i have to go the other way and suggest the flamingo.

personally, i find the mgm to be really dark and kinda depressing. i love the open airy feeling of the flamingo. and for a group of all ladies, on their first trip, i think you'd all love to GO room decor.

i absolutely loved the decor through the entire hotel... i never get sick of hot pink :)

the pool area at the flamingo is great, and i was also concerned about the "open to the public after 2pm" thing... but really, there's a reason why they do that... it's because most people are done at the pool by 2pm. it really won't be any more busy than any other pool on the strip. very few people even know about the public opening, and even less take advantage of it.

if the flamingo costs less as well, then to me it would be an easy decision. plus, the strip location is ideal.

I've stayed at both and I'd go with the Flamingo too. The location for me sells it.

All of the posters are correct. You have to decide which is more important. We stayed at the Flamingo in January, for the first time in 12 years. Our room was really old and run down. And, I have never had to walk so far to an elevator...all the way down one hall, then all the way down another, then all the way down a third. We would only go to our room at night, since it was so inconvient.

However, if you want a tropical pool, this is the place. Also, the location is great. I don't like the restaurants in the hotel. I seriously don't think we will stay there again, unless there are not other rooms available. Have fun.

Just a couple of additional comments. cindylou is absolutely right about some of the Flamingo rooms having very long walks to the elevator, but MGM can be almost as bad in this regard.

I do recall the AC in my Flamingo room turning on and off frequently, but it only bothered me at night, at which point, having been on for hours, I just turned it off completely.

You ladies will have an awesome time! I am in your age group and have stayed at both the Flamingo (Apr 06)and the MGM Grand (Oct 07).

Both are nice hotels, it all depends on what your looking for. I personally look for location and CLEAN rooms with comfy bed. Views ok - but not a priority as I am only in the room to sleep and shower.

The Flamingo: The location on the strip is by far the best, the pools are comparible to the MGM (both very nice). We (my husband & I)stayed in a Deluxe Room in 2006, we requested a King bed - but ended up with 2 Queens - the beds were standard - we had a beautiful view of the pools and gardens. The bathroom was ok - a little small. Our friends stayed across the hall and had a strip view (Bellegio fountains etc.). The room was very large - the decor was a little dated, but clean. It was a standard room like you would have at a Best Western or Holiday Inn. I believe they have renovated the rooms since my visit. The Flamingo is a smaller hotel and easy to navigate around. I do not recommend the Buffet, but did like the little restaurant near the Buffet - it looks like a cafe booth style - good food. Again - the location is excellent - the hotel/casino and pool areas very nice and they also have the monorail. The price is affordable - for clean room, bed & shower.

The MGM Grand: This hotel is huge - a little harder to find your way around - by the 3rd day you will have figured it out - you are going to be walking no matter where you are in Vegas - so size really doesn't matter. The location is further down the strip - it also has the monorail. We (my friend & I)stayed (Oct 2007)in a Queen Bungalow Suite. The suite was very nice, large and clean - updated decor - a very large bathroom - great for 2 ladies to get ready. Unfortunatly my friend came down with the flu on day 2 - we asked the front desk for a room change as we did not want to share the same open space with 2 queen beds (she was snoring and really feeling ill with the flu)The front desk couldn't have been nicer...they upgraded us to a Marquee Suite for $30 extra a night. I wasn't sure what we were getting until we opened the double doors at the end of the hallway - we had a grand (at least 1500 sq feet) 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, full living area and bar area. The panoramic views of Vegas, just beautiful. It was absolutely out of this world. The beds and pillows at this hotel are the best I've ever experienced (really!). On check out we went to the lady who upgraded us and gave her a gift for the upgrade (as it was well worth it). We later learned that this room goes for $900+/night pending hotel events and we paid $189/night.

No matter where you stay - you are going to venture to all the other hotels - you will have an awesome time- be sure to fit in one night (take the deuce or taxi) to Downtown Vegas. It's a little smokey and seeding but I absolutely loved it! You can gamble and afford to play the tables - the slots were good to us as well.

I am booked to stay a Bally's this October and can't wait. I should stay at the MGM because they were so good to me - but Vegas has so many hotels and I like to try something different each visit.

Whereever you choose - who cares - as long as the bed is comfortable and the room is clean - you are on vacation - live it up and have fun and just maybe, you will go home a winner!