The bald and the beautiful are going to see SNOW-WIPE AGAIN. (take two) PTR!

[princessaw]

Yay! Sounds like you have a great trip planned so far!! It has been a LONG time since I've been to Vegas, but I remember having a great stay at the MGM Grand. I'm sure it's changed a lot since I've been there, but they've got a huge pool, and at least a dozen shops and restaurants. I also remember it being pretty huge, if that would be a drawback....But I haven't heard bad things about any of the ones that you mentioned, I don't think you can go wrong with any of them!

[Teki]

Originally Posted by reyasmommy

I’m currently trying to decide which hotel we’ll be staying at. As of now it’s between MGM Grand, NY NY, Hard Rock, Luxor, and the Golden Nugget.

Any comments or suggestions on this matter?

Day 2, to be continued…….

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Im a local so ill tell you what I know hope it helps!

MGM Grand: is located on the strip and with in walking distance from most thing you might want to do on the strip. The hotel has nice rooms but is pretty pricey. Ive been inside the suites there they were of course amazing Ive seen inside one room and it looked pretty sweet also

The Ny Ny is about on par with the MGM there very close to each other etc. Ny Ny does have the roller coaster which might be loud Im not sure Ive never been in the rooms there.

The Hard rock probably isn't good for little ones. The rooms are sweet but the pool is definitely not for kids and its sorta a party hotel. The are also going through a law suit because the owners of the hard rock name dont like the way the hotels are run representing that name Im not sure how that might be affecting the hotel it self but its something to think about.

The Luxor is undergoing a major remodel its half silvery adult entertainment style and half Egyptian kinda crazy. I might wait till the remodel is complete before staying here. They have the I max theater but its easy to get to the luxor if your staying on the strip.

The Golden nugget is probably the cheapest of your choices however its not on the strip its actually down town on Fremont street. Its also literally down the street from the Jail. I used to work at the jail and would walk to the nugget to get Starbucks during my half hour lunch, its that close and its a jail and not a prison so inmates are released pretty regularly through out the day. In addition Fremont is more of a party area at night more drunks etc. Our mayor is trying to put new life in to down town but it just isn't there yet. On the plus side they do have a pretty cool pool with a slide that goes through a fish tank. Also as far as I know they've recently remodeled so Im sure the rooms are nice.

[reyasmommy]

Originally Posted by Teki

Im a local so ill tell you what I know hope it helps!

MGM Grand: is located on the strip and with in walking distance from most thing you might want to do on the strip. The hotel has nice rooms but is pretty pricey. Ive been inside the suites there they were of course amazing Ive seen inside one room and it looked pretty sweet also

The Ny Ny is about on par with the MGM there very close to each other etc. Ny Ny does have the roller coaster which might be loud Im not sure Ive never been in the rooms there.

The Hard rock probably isn't good for little ones. The rooms are sweet but the pool is definitely not for kids and its sorta a party hotel. The are also going through a law suit because the owners of the hard rock name dont like the way the hotels are run representing that name Im not sure how that might be affecting the hotel it self but its something to think about.

The Luxor is undergoing a major remodel its half silvery adult entertainment style and half Egyptian kinda crazy. I might wait till the remodel is complete before staying here. They have the I max theater but its easy to get to the luxor if your staying on the strip.

The Golden nugget is probably the cheapest of your choices however its not on the strip its actually down town on Fremont street. Its also literally down the street from the Jail. I used to work at the jail and would walk to the nugget to get Starbucks during my half hour lunch, its that close and its a jail and not a prison so inmates are released pretty regularly through out the day. In addition Fremont is more of a party area at night more drunks etc. Our mayor is trying to put new life in to down town but it just isn't there yet. On the plus side they do have a pretty cool pool with a slide that goes through a fish tank. Also as far as I know they've recently remodeled so Im sure the rooms are nice.

Thank you so much for your input. "Almost" everything you said are things that I've considered.

I have stayed at the MGM a couple of times before. It's most likely where we'll be staying again. We've stayed in a standard room and we've stayed in one of their smaller suites. (( I actually prefered the standard room. )) I like the location, I like that you can pick up the tram from there and go anywhere up and down the strip, and I like the pool. Unfortuanately the lazy river will be closed when we're there though.

I've stayed at NYNY once before ((Years ago)) and I wasn't really impressed with the room, but they have some newly remodled rooms that look nice. I can get a bigger room for a decent price too. Location is also perfect.

The only reason I was considering Hard Rock was because of the price and the rooms look really nice. I also liked the way the pool looked, but if you're saying it's more of a party hotel I'll probably nix that idea.

The Golden Nugget has some some amazing looking rooms and I loved the Shark Pool. But I don't want to stay there if it's in a bad area.

Of course the hotels I really would like to stay at I can't justify paying the prices they are asking for.

In the past I've stayed at MGM, Luxor, NYNY, TI, Excalibur, and the Mirage. I would love to stay at the Wynn, Belagio, Ceasars, or Aria. ((maybe someday))

I'll let you know what I decide soon.

I'll probably book a room soon and keep my eyes open for better deals the closer we get to our travel date. Sometimes the price goes down significantly.

Since you're a local... Do you know who has the BEST breakfast buffet??!

[reyasmommy]

Since I’m currently planning the Vegas portion of our trip, I thought it would be fun to share some of my pictures from our last vacation.

These were taken in September of 2008. We stopped in Vegas for a couple of days on our way home from California. We stayed at the Treasure Island with my Brother, his Wife, and two kids.

Please enjoy









My brother and sister in law riding the crazy rides on top of the Stratosphere







Reya checking out the view from the top of the stratosphere



View from our room



Our favorite little ice cream spot in the Wynn

[Teki]

I cant really help with the buffet question theyre all pretty expensive so we locals tend to shy away lol but I usually go to any of the station casinos for buffet because the food is good and I have a boarding pass so its only 5 dollars. The Excalibur does a have a deal were for 25 dollars you can eat at the buffet all day I've heard the food isn't that great lol

[DizNee Luver]

I've seen those rides on top of the stratosphere on the Travel Channel......I think you have to be very comfortable with dying to get on those things......YIKES!!

[TheColtonsMom]

Originally Posted by DizNee Luver

I've seen those rides on top of the stratosphere on the Travel Channel......I think you have to be very comfortable with dying to get on those things......YIKES!!

We went to Vegas the week the Stratosphere opened and one of the ride cars fell off the tracks the day before we went. Ever since then I can't even walk on the sidewalk in front of that thing.

[reyasmommy]

Originally Posted by Teki

I cant really help with the buffet question theyre all pretty expensive so we locals tend to shy away lol but I usually go to any of the station casinos for buffet because the food is good and I have a boarding pass so its only 5 dollars. The Excalibur does a have a deal were for 25 dollars you can eat at the buffet all day I've heard the food isn't that great lol

I'm not much of a buffet person unless it's breakfast. We've eaten at the one at MGM, Luxor, Mirage, and the Tropicana. The Tropicana was pretty yummy. With the researching I'm doing, it sounds like the one at Mandalay bay sounds good?! Gosh, I remember years ago hearing about the great deals you get on buffets in vegas, but I've never seen it?

Yeah, I don't think I'll try the Excalibur. I hate that place, so I'm thinking the food isn't going to be great. We stayed there a couple of years ago and it was one of my worst hotel experiences EVER.... So I don't plan on giving that place one more dime.

Originally Posted by DizNee Luver

I've seen those rides on top of the stratosphere on the Travel Channel......I think you have to be very comfortable with dying to get on those things......YIKES!!

I hear ya. I didn't have the guts to do them. I'm usually good with thrill rides, but I wasn't going to spend that much money on endangering my life.

Originally Posted by TheColtonsMom

We went to Vegas the week the Stratosphere opened and one of the ride cars fell off the tracks the day before we went. Ever since then I can't even walk on the sidewalk in front of that thing.

Oh my goodness. When was this? Must have been a real long time ago.

[reyasmommy]

Day 2 CONTINUED

I’ve decided we’re going to stay at the MGM Grand


The rooms are under $100.00 per night. It’s in the perfect location. It has a huge beautiful pool. Plus we can pick the Tram up right there on the property This will REALLY be nice so we can let the car rest for a couple of nights!



Once we get checked in and freshen up a bit, we’ll go downstairs to have dinner at The Rainforest Cafe.



I know a lot of people aren’t too fond of this place and think it’s overpriced. ((This part I agree with)) But I love, love, love it. I love the atmosphere and I love the Chicken Fried Chicken. Mmmm, Mmmm, Mmmmm My mouth is watering just thinking about it. One of their yummy Fruity ((overpriced)) alcoholic drinks sound like heaven right now too..

After dinner we will head over to M&M world to look around and let Reya use some of her money to buy a treat. Maybe see the 3-D movie "if" they still have it.


When we're finished there, we will find Krispy Kreme to purchase some donuts for breakfast the next morning. I don't want to feel rushed when we wake up, and I don't want to fill up our tummies to much so we're full for lunch.



After we've done that we'll head back to the room to get the kids ready for bed. They will once again notice a gift from Tinkerbell! ((I haven't decided what yet)) I’m thinking a cute pair of pj’s?

Once the kids are tucked in and IF I’m not too tired, I might head down to the casino for a little bit. I most likely will be too exhausted to do so, and will just want to crawl into bed , watch some tv and relax for the rest of the night?!?

So that's the
End of Day 2 ………..

Up Next ….. More photos
Plus ...Dolphins/Eating with the Stars/Swimming/Pretty flowers and fountains/Ice Cream/And MAYBE some fun with Toys and Bears?!

[TheColtonsMom]

Originally Posted by reyasmommy

I'm not much of a buffet person unless it's breakfast. We've eaten at the one at MGM, Luxor, Mirage, and the Tropicana. The Tropicana was pretty yummy. With the researching I'm doing, it sounds like the one at Mandalay bay sounds good?! Gosh, I remember years ago hearing about the great deals you get on buffets in vegas, but I've never seen it?

Yeah, I don't think I'll try the Excalibur. I hate that place, so I'm thinking the food isn't going to be great. We stayed there a couple of years ago and it was one of my worst hotel experiences EVER.... So I don't plan on giving that place one more dime.


I hear ya. I didn't have the guts to do them. I'm usually good with thrill rides, but I wasn't going to spend that much money on endangering my life.

Oh my goodness. When was this? Must have been a real long time ago.

Found this description online "Perhaps one of the scariest roller coasters, the Stratosphere Tower, got even scarier on May 10th, 1996! While the coaster was circling the top of the 1,149 foot tower, the cylinder fell off, crashing into the observation tower. Soon after, the entire train plummeted to the ground." Nobody was mon the car that fell thank god but how they managed only minor injuries on the ground is beyond me!

There have also been minor incidents where train wheels fell and there have been 5 suicides that jumped from the tower. I therefore choose to walk on the other side of the street way too many things/people have fallen/jumped from that tower to date after many more trips to Vegas I have never been in the stratosphere or on the sidewalk in front of it.

[reyasmommy]

Originally Posted by TheColtonsMom

Found this description online "Perhaps one of the scariest roller coasters, the Stratosphere Tower, got even scarier on May 10th, 1996! While the coaster was circling the top of the 1,149 foot tower, the cylinder fell off, crashing into the observation tower. Soon after, the entire train plummeted to the ground." Nobody was mon the car that fell thank god but how they managed only minor injuries on the ground is beyond me!

There have also been minor incidents where train wheels fell and there have been 5 suicides that jumped from the tower. I therefore choose to walk on the other side of the street way too many things/people have fallen/jumped from that tower to date after many more trips to Vegas I have never been in the stratosphere or on the sidewalk in front of it.

Very interesting.

I know they no longer have the coaster up there. (For good reason I guess) And the coaster looked totally tame compared to the two my brother went on. Those rides hang you right over the edge. We have no plan to go back to the stratosphere this trip. I don't want to go on any of the rides and once you've seen the view, there's no reason to go again.

[reyasmommy]

Here’s a few pictures from our 2006 DLR Trip…((In NO particular order))

This was Reya’s 1st Road Trip. It consisted of stops in Vegas, the Grand Canyon, San Diego, and Disneyland.



My Dad in the Muppets 4-D theatre



Reya relaxing in the comfy hotel bed at the Grand Canyon














Reya checking out the room service menu





Our room at the MGM





Poor DH can NEVER find a Mickey Ear hat that fits his big, fat head.

[smile4stamps]

Hello! Your trip sounds like a good one! I Love that you are stopping along the way to take in other attractions!

[Teki]

The 3d movie and walk through at the M and Ms factory was gone last time I was there. I dont know if they were just remodeling it or completely removing it as the area was under construction. Since Coke factory has been just a gift shop for a really long time I sorta just assumed they were taking it out