Travel Blogging Junkie: Living The M Life At MGM Resorts

He's an excellent driver, but proved to be an even more excellent gambler.

Oprah talked about the importance of living one's best life, but after experiencing a jam-packed weekend of high roller opportunities MGM Resorts has to offer in their new M Life loyalty program, I'd posit that living the M Life is the very best life one can live. It's a players' club, and like most, the perks improve on what you spend, but with M Life, you're also able to gain perks based on what you spend on property at restaurants, rooms, stores, nightlife and more. From touring what I dub the "Rain Man" suites at MGM Grand (including their STAY WELL suites, pimped out with extras for a relaxing enclave) and Aria to a mixology course at Monte Carlo to petting a dolphin at The Mirage, here are some highlights of the trip.



Mixology Course
On day 1, we hit up Hit Bar & Lounge at Monte Carlo for a tasting and training course with the hotel's Director of Beverage. Here, he shows us how to make a flaming cocktail. Delish!



Yoga With Dolphins
Here's where my long-conditioned "skill" of managing expectations cultivated after years of dating and disappointing financial office gigs did not serve me. When I read that we, as guests, could choose to either swim with dolphins or do yoga in a room with glass looking into the dolphins' ginormous habitat, I simply did not believe that they REALLY meant swimming WITH them. I thought maybe we'd swim in a pool and be able to watch them leaping around Sea World-style, would get to be in close proximity, etc. I thought there's no way these dolphins and I were going to be allowed to HANG THE EFF OUT. So I chose yoga, which was phenomenal--instructor Willow was wonderful and seeing a dolphin casually gliding by while you're in a "tree" pose is an experience I enjoyed immensely.



But I was so disappointed that I missed out on the group who FULLY got to hang with dolphins, hanging onto them while they gave them a dolphin-back ride, essentially, in the pool. I was so visibly crestfallen that I was actually allowed to pet a dolphin, which was THRILLING. It felt like a wet pool raft and was SUPER nice. Above, a video of two nice dolphins who liked to swim TOGETHER. When I go back, I absolutely want to take advantage of the swimming with dolphins M Life experience. I also had a chance to tour the spa at The Mirage, which thoughtfully hosts lounges for men and women. The one for the former boasts chairs instead of sofas, as they wanted to accomodate men's dislike of sitting too close to other men. Anthropologically considerate!

Breakfast Buffet At Aria 
A fat parade of the highest order, this incredible selection of breakfast culinary delights features a large selection of gluten-free goodies. Chef Shawn Smilie harbors an unfortunate intolerance, but that translates into tons of offerings for those afflicted and those simply looking to slim down. International dishes abound, as does an insane seafood offering (king crab legs at breakfast!). I'm embarrassed to tell you I ate a ton of French toast, eggs, yogurt, fruit and even gazpacho soup. In a city where partying till dawn is practically the reason it was established, a robust breakfast buffet is vital. Don't miss this one.

Zarkana and Ka
True patrons and patronesses of the arts (even in Vegas!) we took in not one but two Cirque Du Soleil shows, Ka and Zarkana. Above, we're at Aria restaurant American Fish with the cast of Zarkana. Ka felt a little Ewok Village to me, but was cool to see all of the acrobatic feats of a talented cast. Zarkana was a little more of a traditional show and the makeup was major.

Choosing A Song For The Fountains of Bellagio
Our group got to choose two songs which summon the spectacular dancing water show, while enjoying some bevvies at Hyde Bellagio, one of  Las Vegas’ hottest nightclubs, scenically located on the 50-yard-line of Bellagio’s iconic lake. We chose "Luck Be A Lady" (a personal fave) and "Viva Las Vegas." Obviously.

Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational
We hung out with celebrities and professional athletes like Will Smith, Brody Jenner, among others and of course, MJ at the Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational.  The event was hosted at MGM Resorts’ breathtaking desert oasis, Shadow Creek, one of the nation’s top-rated golf courses. Naturally, Nadine wondered if Michael refers to it as the "Me Invitational." 

Thai Poultice Massage 
An 50-minute treatment helped me unwind during the busy whirlwind of activities in one Aria’s private Spa Suites. Despite my beauty obsession, I had never heard of a poultice. It's a warm wrapped mallet of sorts, kind of like the netting-wrapped lemon you get with your salmon. It's infused with lemongrass, ginger and fragrant herbs. You can actually keep them post-massage; the material in which they're wrapped actually has exfoliating capabilities. I left feeling calm, cool and collected, three emotions rarely associated with this New Yorker. If you have time before or after your service, I recommend checking out the spa's steam room.

After tweeting/Vining/YouTubeing/Facebooking/Instagraming, my friends and followers actually told me that they were convinced they needed to be living the M Life. What say you? Does the program appeal to you?

Share Horowitz: Do you love Vegas as much as I do? I'll be there again in July to stay at Mandalay Bay for a beauty trade show and kind of can't wait to get back.

Disclosure: Flight, hotel, food and experience were covered by MGM Resorts for editorial consideration. 

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