I am thinking about trying Qua and Mandalay Bay next time. If someone would be kind enough -- can you give me instructions for dummies? Much appreciated!
Here's a somewhat lengthy post on MB that will hopefully answer most of your questions.
First, the basics. The spa is open quite early to around 7:30pm. They attendants start making their rounds around 7:00pm, reminding patrons of closing time. Other than that, they are pretty inobtrusive. That can be a good thing or bad thing. They don't go into the steamroom often, but it gets filled with towels, water bottles, and today, a stack of uses cucumbers (thankfully used on eyes and not assholes).
This week was slow at the hotel but the spa was pretty busy. I would say 75 percent of the clientele is gay. Some couples even come together. Most everyone is cool if everyone behaves. Unfortunately that's not always the case (keep reading). The gay clientele typically goes nude. The straight guys -- especially those who come with friends or co-workers -- wear board shorts. Again no one really seems to mind either way.
As for time of day, mornings are slower. However the quality of guy is better -- usually the guys who get up and go to the gym. Coming early assures you of snagging a lounger (they have 10). Late afternoons get busier especially as closing time nears. It's like the club; the stragglers try to get one last hookup in.
Now to the clientele. Don't expect this to be Century; this is Vegas we're talking about. I'm "average" in LA but was told I had a "great" body by several guys in Vegas. It's all relative. When I said it was mostly bears this week, that's me being kind. Most of the guys were overweight to obese. The guys who are fitter are usually straight. But not always.
"Straight" is relative, too. Most of the gay patrons are pretty "straight acting." In fact, I've has more action with guys wearing wedding rings there. They also pursue me the most.
The creep factor can be high there. I've detailed my run-ins with a few overly aggressive guys before and have a new story. There is always an utterly clueless guy there. He can be gay or "straight" but always annoying -- going in an out of the steamroom, not reading the room, etc.
This visit I ran into a creeper from before and was surprised he acted much more respectfully this time. However, there was an super creeper -- an Asian guy from the OC -- that annoyed many guys and we almost reported.
He would creep on guys really hard -- staring at them in the pools, sitting way too close in the steamroom, and I even caught him following a guy back to the locker room and staring at him while he undressed (I had just arrived and had an adjacent locker and was like, "dude, go away.")
I soon learned his MO -- he'd go up to guys he found attractive and struck up a conversation with them. Sure, that seems normal if you're sitting in a lounger. But he'd do this while they were changing or coming out of the pool.
So an attractive guy was coming out of the steam and right into the pool. He was nude. Creep beelines right up to him and is like, "Did you just come from the steamroom?" This conversation was happening at the foot of my lounger. Creeps is standing way too close and asks, "was it (temperature) hot in there?" The guy is like, "yeah pretty hot." Creep then proceeds to TOUCH the guy's stomach and says, "hot." The guy was totally taken aback. First off, he could've been straight. Second, even if he isnt, that is inappropriate. Third, creep is not remotely attractive.
So the guy goes into the pool and looks at me like "did you see that." He's shaking his head in disbelief. I asked "do you know that guy?"and he said no. He was really offended. So later the guy and I are in the steam. Guy goes to shower, creep comes in right behind him and shouts "oh yeah." Both the guy and I left and discussed reporting the creep. By now the guy is rightfully pissed and getting ready to leave. I as well. We have lockers and he asks "I just hope he isn't here tomorrow." Unfortunately I told him that the creep said he had a five day pass.
So, long story short. Don't be a creep. Be discreet. Read the room and don't think everyone is there to play. Also, just because someone is polite is not an invitation to touch them.
When I've made a connection with someone, I've totally taken it upstairs. As for staying a long time, if you're respectful no one has an issue with it. I checked out are 11am and was there for several hours ahead of my evening flight and no one cared because I wasn't creeping and darting in and out of the steam. I sat, read, slept etc. No one cares if you re-enter either unless, once again, it's obvious you're creeping.
Gay dudes re-enter and straight guys might come in from the pool and hang out. Just be chill and not an asshole. Hope this helps.