Anyone been to Las Vegas??

[Scottish_Maleficent]

Just found out the other day that DH's father is getting married (again, wife #4) and they have decied to tie the knot in Las Vegas. So we are deciding whether to go...........and have been lookign at the vast selection of hotels available....

Anyone ever been....any hotel recommendations or other useful tips for me for me????


Cath

 

[signtalker]

Were off next year for 2 weeks, were doing a driving holiday, although we are having 2 days at the start of the holiday and 2 days at the end in Las vegas, we are also re exchanging our vows whilst there. Its cheaper to stay mid week in one of the upper market hotels, weve picked aladin and circus circus, which is $159 for the 3 of us for 2 nights which I thought was good. If you can push the boat out try the Luxor, but I think whatever you try you cant go wrong in Las vegas.

Jules

 

[CarolynU]

We stayed in the Luxor a couple of years back. It was fantastic. We just phoned the hotel direct, and they gave us a good price. Or at least I think it was! The only downside to this hotel is that it is on one end of the strip and if you want to have a nose in all the other hotels as we did be prepared for a lot of walking. Las Vegas was a good, fun place and even though we didn't really gamble I still enjoyed my time. You must see the Freemont Street light show. It is amazing. We also went to see a couple of shows one of which was the famous Siegfried and Roy, but I know that others on this board have seen many of the shows there so you should get a variety of reviews. Hope this helps. Carolyn

 

[Kaybee]

We stayed last year in the Paris Hotel. It was wonderful. It is
located in the center of the strip so it is easy access to all the
big hotels you might want to see. We just loved this place. Our
room overlooked the Belliago fountains...

 

[Mickeytaker]

We were in Vegas 2 weeks ago. Most of the hotels on the strip are very nice but HUGE, you need a map to get around!! I think the Mirage and Aladdin were offering the best deals for midweek stays, it always goes up on the weekend. Mirage had midweek for as low as $69 a night. I liked the Venetian and Paris best.
Don't set out walking, everything looks close and we made the mistake of thinking 'it's just a block away' one block = one mile!!! It's hard on the feet
There are so many shows you'd never be stuck for something to see - only thing is the big ones are around $60 - $100 each, gets expensive if you choose a few. We also took an afternoon trip to the Hoover Dam and a night at Freemont Street - it's awesome, a must see if you go.

 

[Fantasia Sam]

Just got back from Las Vegas and it was soo good.

We stayed at Treasure Island and it was a great hotel - they do good rates - when is the wedding?

If you want I can email you a copy of my trip report I haven't posted it on here pm me your email addy and I'll forward it to you.

My favourite casino was Paris and I'd probably like to stay here. I loved the Bellagio fountains. The view from the Stratosphere was awesome. New York New York is unbelievable just to look at it.......and the buffets and food is the best

 

[Scottish_Maleficent]

Thanks for the replies....
Just a few more questions.....what will the weather be like in October?
Will we need to hire a car? (only going for 3 or 4 nights)
Is it best to stay on the strip? We quite fancied the Golden Nugget Hotel but that's on Fremont Street. What's that like?

Is there any hotels that would be a definite no-no?

Thanks

Cath

 

[Mickeytaker]

Hi Cath,


In October it should be HOT in Vegas, not as hot as the summer but maybe 80 - 90's, it's very dry. Our first stop after getting there was wallmart for lip balm!! You need plenty of body cream with you too.
I think if you stay on the strip you wouldn't need a car to get about. You need to take your life in your hands driving there. They are NUTS.
Actually the bus driver who took us to Hoover Dam was saying it's one of the states where cars have full right of way. There is someone knocked down every 3 minutes ( use the overhead walkways to cross the street), he said he's known taxi drivers speed up seeing people cross and hit them deliberately - then claim for damage to the car!!!!!
We taxied to where we were going, then walked around between hotels and such and taxi back. It wasn't more than $6 - $10 a time.
If you're going between the hotels on the strip some have transport, there are links between hotels with trams but only on the same side. There is also a trolley bus circles the strip stopping at all the major hotels, it's only $1.65 and can get you from one end to the other.
Our dearest ride was to Freemont Street, it's at least 15 minutes away from the strip by car, that taxi was nearer $20. I would advise not to stay at that end of town. Visitors are warned against going to the downtown area and walking about. Not Freemont Street, it is blocked from all cars and a tourist area but just outside it's not the safest place to be. I would say stay on or near the strip and visit Freemont.

 

[Fantasia Sam]

You definately won't need a car whilst there - we drove to Vegas and never saw the car again until we checked out and drove back to LA.

Freemont Street is a great tourist spot, the light show at night is fantastic and I didn't realise that they do a different show each hour, wish I'd seen more of them.

I went and gambled in the Golden Nugget and it is a fun casino - I don't know if you smoke or not but I found it too smokey and my eyes were streaming a lot of the old casinos have lower ceilings whilst the newer ones have higher ceilings.

Whilst Freemont Street and Downtown is certainly good value and the slots and tables give good odds I personally wouldn't want to stay here - call me a snob (although I'd have to say I'm not really a Bellagio person either, but you gotta love their pool) but the place wasn't for me.

I would suggest visiting some of the "Strip" hotel's websites and signing up somewhere on them and that way you'll be told of cheap deals as they come in.

Oh and yes those taxi drivers ARE mad make sure before you enter a cab that they have their cab permit shown as some friends of ours got in one that didn't which meant that either a) he'd stolen the car for the night b) he had his permit revoked. Apparently the taxi companies out there have their own taxi "police" force but id doesn't seem to help them with the way that they drive LOL

 

[marlouwrig]

I really fancy the idea of Las Vegas next year, but is it suitable for children. Would they enjoy a holiday there?

Hope you have a wonderful time!!

 

[Fantasia Sam]

Originally posted by marlouwrig
I really fancy the idea of Las Vegas next year, but is it suitable for children. Would they enjoy a holiday there?

Hope you have a wonderful time!!

OK I may be stomped on for saying this but I personally do not think Vegas is for kids. Within every hotel you have to walk through the casino to get to a restaurant, a show or a restaurant/buffet. These are noisy places where people are gambling, drinking and smoking. I do not have children so my comments may be taken harshly but this is not an environment I'd want my nephews and nieces to see or be seen in to be honest.

Also if a parent intends on gambling they cannot take their children into the gambling area - so what are thekids gonna do stand from a far wishing their parents would hurry up - or worse still if the children are in pushchairs have the spouse wait, or go off and do something else that wouldn't be my kinda Family holiday.

Circus Circus and Excalibur are definately geared up for families to stay there but IMHO if I had kids I'd rather take them to Disney and then see if a close member of my family can care for my children in the UK whilst me and my partner have adult time for 5 days. This is just my opinion.

 

[signtalker]

were taking our DS with us next year to Las vegas, I think if you have kids its nice to spend a couple of days here checkin out the hotels and entertainment, however were going to do a few of the sites and will be hiring a 4x4, were doing the grand canyon(north and south rim) Lake powell(swimming,water sports,tube riding,horse riding) Zion national park(animals,scenery,picnic ing), and a couple of others, travelling round, there are some EXCELLENT hotels at very good rates(all with swimming pools), and there are soooo many things to do, other than stay in Las Vegas, our itnerary is already all planned(we go august 2004!!), so if you want anymore info, please mail me. Our DS is Disabled so we wouldnt plan on going anywhere that wasnt suitable(hence the reason we plan so well in advance). Las Vegas looks great, but dont forget its abit like disney, there are other great things to see and do other than the obvious.

Jules

 

[WDWfan uk]

Sorry Sam , but friends of ours have taken their children twice - the first time they were 10 and 13. They thought it was the best holiday they had ever had! (...... and they've been to Disney a lot!)
I understand that children aren't allowed anywhere near the casinos.

They stayed at Excalibur the first time but they have stayed at a couple of the others - names escape me right now. It'll come to me later!

They thoroughly recommended the helicopter flight to the Grand Canyon - the helicopter landed in the Canyon and they had a picnic!

 

[Fantasia Sam]

What can I tell you I'm a snob LOL!! And the only places we went WERE the casinos (go figure) and some of the sights I saw saddened me e.g. children left on the sidelines being left to hear adults swearing and whooping it up (and that was just me that's a j/k) - so not a nice environment for kids IMHO.

Jules, I knew I'd get stomped on If I can expand I didn't see the other side of Vegas ::Sigh:: next time and I hope you don't think that I think ALL people who take their children to Vegas are bad parents I'm only commenting on what I saw which was just in the casinos in the hotels along the Strip. I'm not sure if it is your first trip or not but to get to most places in the hotels you DO have to pass through or along the gaming areas. This is all well and nice in some of the more upscale hotels but there are other hotels where the clientele weren't so "nice" even for a down to earth Publican's daughter like myself Anyway not my intention to offend anyone here just stating my opinion on the way that I spent my time in Vegas.

Shirley, children ARE allowed in the casinos just not in the gaming area, and never once did I see anyone who looked dodgily under age checked for I.D in the gaming areas except in bars. Typically there are carpet strips that guests with children have to keep to when walking through the hotel but they do go through the gaming areas and as I said before I saw some very sad sights. It made me sick and sad at times to see and that is where my above opinion stems from. I just wish that there were other ways to get to your hotel room but then they wouldn't hook people into gambling.

Anyway all, Shirley has asked me to post my trip report and you will read that what I did on my Vegas trip was really meet up with friends and eat, see the Strip and gamble. Some were only gonna be there a short while and I didn't want to spend time away from them so I still haven't seen all the sights but the Strip, next time

 

[signtalker]

SAM, I think vegas is the worst place for us to visit LOL, as we both HATE gambling and couldnt think of anything worse than being sat in a casino, were the out door kind of family, the only reason we are having 2 days in vegas at the start and end of the holiday is to visit and look at the outside of the hotels and the shopping!.
Nothing shocks us really, but I cant see the point in spending all that money to go on holiday to sit infront of a crap table(no pun intended!), lots of fantastic parks and much better scenery further afield, each to there own sam everybody is entitled to their own opion, I guess its what you make it, and again i think it all goes down to that word we all love "Planning"

Jules

 

[marlouwrig]

Thankyou ALL for your replies.

We have no intention of gambling (doesn't really appeal) - just wanted to see the sights and just wanted to know if there were sights which would also appeal to our kids.

Feedback like Sams coincided pretty much with what I suspected myself although the other points of view make me think that perhaps a couple of days would be a good idea.

Thanks so much all!!!!

 

[Sharby]

. . . .And for those that are still unsure: a quick stop at the public library or a bookstore to read the Unofficial Guide to Las Vegas or similar travel books should help you decide whether it's suitable for your family and can help you plan the family's activities during your stay. There's a few small sections on families in there and generally they recommend lots of outdoor activities (Grand Canyon, etc.) and choosing where you stay carefully - things that the families here who have posted seemed to have considered carefully anyway.

I happen to have the book here because I did consider it one time as a quick family holiday. However, I ultimately decided that I held views about underage children in Las Vegas similar to Fantasia Sam's and we went to Disneyland instead. HTH

 

[WDWfan uk]

....... I really recommend reading Sam's report ! Watch out if you are feeling hungry though

Sam's Vegas trip report


Sam - I understand what you are saying about the children - having them hanging around like that is a great shame and not something our friends did. They enjoyed just checking out all the hotels and rides and experiences, the mall and Grand Canyon.

 

[Scottish_Maleficent]

Thanks everyone for your help.
Sam - trip report was really helpful. Thanks!!

We had already decided not to take our two DS's on the trip to Las Vegas.

Still can't decide on which hotel - but like the look if New York, New York and Luxor, but every day we change our mind!!!!!

New York New York had some nice Jacuzzi suites with the jacuzzi actually in the bedroom next to the huge bed - very tempted, but don't know if the budget will stretch to it.


Cath

 

[Fantasia Sam]

Cath - my choice would be NY NY - the rooms are said to be very good and the location is better IMHO than the Luxor. That said I never saw the inside of the Luxor so I can't comment on that but I loved the inside of NY NY it was really good theming and your just a walkway across from MGM which has lots of stuff going on in there. If I had been making the decision on where to stay I would have changed my mind hourly - fortunately someone else made the decision