For almost $500 a night during the Labor Day weeke...

For almost $500 a night during the Labor Day weekend, I expected the typical luxury and customer experience that I usually get from a Mandarin Oriental or The Peninsula hotel group. With the exception of the supposed 'grandeur' of the structure and the place, the hotel was lacking in 'spirit'.

Upon check-in, despite noting we flew in from NYC to celebrate the LDW here, my husband's birthday and our anniversary getaway, the front desk staff checking us in was practically monotone and couldn't even welcome us properly, in complete contrast to the one who checked us out who was wonderful and polite and kind. That alone felt like a flat start.

The suites were nice of course but also felt a little dated now. My pet peeve was the AC being so weak and takes forever to really cool the room. Nothing else comes in the room by the way, not even a complimentary bottle of water. That considering we also paid a $45 resort fee each day. If someone apparently wanted free bottle of water, they'd have to hang out and play at the casino to get one.

The most annoying thing which we truly felt was so unacceptable was the shower and the water pressure. The water pressure was so weak and went on and off, you couldn't have a proper shower. And this was a 5 star hotel? We also had to ask for a DND sign which was nowhere to be found. Who wants to be woken up by Housekeeping early in the morning?

The only pros for this place would be the location. The pools especially on the Palazzo side. And the restaurants, Yardbird and Noodle Asia.