Vegas--A few questions....

[Harlie]

Okay I had my heart all set on staying at the Monte Carlo on February 28th, is this still possible after the fire? Expedia is still advertising rooms available. I understand there are a lot of rooms there I just wanted to check or find out how to check for myself.

The Monte Carlo is closed for sure until February 10 and there is no estimated date of re-opening at this time. I decided it would be best to not make a reservation at this time in case it would be cancelled. We booked for a stay at Excalibur

Also here is our proposed Itinerary for our one day in vegas, is it doable?

6:00AM-10:00AM Leave Anahiem – Breakfast on the road
10:00AM-1:00PM Arrive Las Vegas – Check in to hotel Excalibur – - Tour other strip hotels (What we can manage in the time we have some better then none) Head back to hotel for lunch To be decided
1:00PM Madamme Tussads Wax museum after done go back to hotel No swimming too Chilly but tour the arcade area at excalibur
4:00pm Boys go to Xtreme magic show while girls swim and get ready for Cirque D’Soeile
5:30pm Boys get back from show Meet for supper at Circus Circus
7:00pm Hopfully finish supper and head over to the Bellagio for lightshow after light show boys go back to hotel For arcade at excalibur
9:30pm Girls go to Cirque
11:30PM Girls should be back-Chad goes gambling

Times are Apx, we are flexible with everything but show times for obvious reasons. thank you for the information about what I was wanting to see being at the Bellagio rather then the Mirage lol!

 

[BillyFan]

I'm not at all an expert, but a I do have some input.
Will the pool be open in February? It's pretty darn cold in Vegas right now.
You mention teh Mirage Show, which I believe is a volcano show. Please be sure to check out the fountains at the Bellagio. They are truely fantastic! The best free entertainment on the strip. I believe the shows run every 15 minutes after dark. For me, it is not to be missed!

 

[everylastbreath]

Okay I had my heart all set on staying at the Monte Carlo on February 28th, is this still possible after the fire? Expedia is still advertising rooms available. I understand there are a lot of rooms there I just wanted to check or find out how to check for myself.

Also here is our proposed Itinerary for our one day in vegas, is it doable?

6:00AM-10:00AM Leave Anahiem – Breakfast on the road
10:00AM-1:00PM Arrive Las Vegas – Check in to hotel Monte Carlo – - Tour other strip hotels Head back to hotel for lunch at Diablo’s
1:00PM Madamme Tussads Wax museum after done go back to hotel girls go swimming for a bit
4:00pm Boys go to Xtreme magic show while girls swim and get ready for Cirque D’Soeile
5:30pm Boys get back from show go for supper at Circus Circus
7:00pm Hopfully finish supper and head over to the mirage for lightshow after light show boys go back to hotel to swim
9:30pm Girls go to Cirque
11:30PM Girls should be back-Chad goes gambling

I think you have a little too much crammed in there... Let's start:
10-1 Tour other strip hotels, get back for lunch - Well Crossing the street could take 20min. in Vegas, you have to walk thru hotels to get to walkways, you better stay very close to Monte at this point if you want to not have to choke on your lunch.
1- Wax Museum- Thats in the Venitian- plan on at probably 1/2 hr to get there (walking) Don't know how long you plan on spending there, but you have rush back for 4pm show, so figure you have to leave there at about 3pm (because show doors open early)
5:30- Down to Circus Circus, this is all the way down the other end of the strip from where you are staying, plan on a taxi (or if walking, plan about 45 min- 1 hr to get there)and if you plan on taking the monoral, plan on about a 20 min walk to get to it, then a walk when you get off at (I think) Hilton Stop, about another 15m. to get to Circus - now do this in reverse to get back to Monte. At this point you will probably be so exhausted, you'll fall asleep before your gambling time....

Just keep in mind that in Vegas, even though things appear very close together, getting there requires a little thought, walk ways are across streets at the corners, some are in the hotels above the sidewalks, I would suggest you try to stay closer to the area of the strip your in, will be much less stressful. Good luck Gambling!!! Have fun

Also- forgot to mention, it's way too cold there to go swimming now, better check the weather, pools are not even open right now.

 

[Harlie]

I updated above.

Thanks again!

 

[EltonJohn]

Actually, according to the Las Vegas Advisor many Las Vegas hotels keep at least one pool open year-round. As for staying at the Monte Carlo you need to speak directly to them.

 

[jlima]

My thoughts:

If you are going to eat breakfast on the road, I would allow at least half an hour or 45 minutes for that. My personal record time from I-15 & Flamingo to the Embassy Suites on Harbor Blvd. is 4 hours and 10 minutes, without stopping. Plus any traffic delays will add travel time. I would allow one more hour of travel time on your drive to LV.

From Excalibur, you can walk to Luxor and Mandalay Bay without even going outside; and getting over to NYNY is simple as there is a pedestrian crosswalk. But like others have said, be prepared for a lot of walking. It's about a 20 minute walk from the parking garage at Mandalay Bay to Excalibur; and this is without stopping to take pictures or to be a tourist and look at stuff.

Why are you going all the way to Circus Circus to eat dinner? It seems like a lot of needless travel time for what may be a mediocre food product. There are so many good restaurants in Las Vegas; I'd love to know why you want to go all the way to the other end of the strip to eat at Circus.

Which Cirque show are you seeing? Mystere and Ka are the only ones that start at 9:30; are you allowing travel time to get to TI or MGM Grand? Also, how old are your girls? All of the Cirque shows allow ages 5 and up, except for Zumanity which is 18 and up.

Good luck!

 

[keishashadow]

what type room did u book @ Excalibur? We went w/Wide Screen Tower room (was told they are the only ones with a safe in the room-otherwise we would've picked the standard ones.

please post back & let us know how you liked it

believe i read that the Tropicana (across the street from Excalibur has an indoor pool; along with a nice looking lagoon type outdoor one
anyone know for sure?;

it had great rates for end of June, just ot the best reviews on TA (evidently the garden rooms are beat, towers are nicer apparently)

 

[everylastbreath]

Totally agree with jlima- why go to circus circus for dinner, there are so many good places closer, I can't imagine anything in that hotel being that good.

Also- Just because Trop has a pool open, doesn't mean you can use it, Monte & Trop are not affiliated (as far as I know).

 

[jims2cool]

The only GREAT place to eat at Circus Circus is at the Steakhouse. Though there is a good Mexican place there.

 

[Harlie]

DH wants to eat at Circus Circus, he did as a kid and remembers it fondly. So that is why we are going there, since I have picked out all of our other restaurants I let him have this one(and as long as they have a salad bar I will be happy).

As for the allowing 45 mins to eat on the road, we litterally are eating while driving. We are not stopping, I am giving my kids dry cereal and muffins and fruit and a juice box, so I really don't think I need 45 mins for that. As for the driving time it is all aproximate we are travelling with 4 kids we know we need to be flexable

 

[everylastbreath]

DH wants to eat at Circus Circus, he did as a kid and remembers it fondly. So that is why we are going there, since I have picked out all of our other restaurants I let him have this one(and as long as they have a salad bar I will be happy).

As for the allowing 45 mins to eat on the road, we litterally are eating while driving. We are not stopping, I am giving my kids dry cereal and muffins and fruit and a juice box, so I really don't think I need 45 mins for that. As for the driving time it is all aproximate we are travelling with 4 kids we know we need to be flexable

I'm sure Dear Hubby will find it EXACTLY as he left it as a child, I don't think they have updated hotel since.... I hope the food it good, the place is really dumpy.

 

[jims2cool]

DH wants to eat at Circus Circus, he did as a kid and remembers it fondly. So that is why we are going there, since I have picked out all of our other restaurants I let him have this one(and as long as they have a salad bar I will be happy).

As for the allowing 45 mins to eat on the road, we litterally are eating while driving. We are not stopping, I am giving my kids dry cereal and muffins and fruit and a juice box, so I really don't think I need 45 mins for that. As for the driving time it is all aproximate we are travelling with 4 kids we know we need to be flexable

The good news is it will be the same as when he was a kid... I think it may even have the same food.... kinda like sourdough bread... only we shall call it sourdough buffet !!

 

[jlima]

DH wants to eat at Circus Circus, he did as a kid and remembers it fondly. So that is why we are going there, since I have picked out all of our other restaurants I let him have this one(and as long as they have a salad bar I will be happy).

Tell him the world's largest plate is gone; and so is the Pink Pony Coffee Shop. He might want to leave his memories the way they are!!

Which Cirque show are you seeing?

 

[LauraAnn630]

I hope you have a great time! Youll cram in as much as you can.

We are going in June for 5 days. Im going to book our room this week.
I want to stay somewhere cheap and spend my money shoppin and gamblin!

I dont know where Im going to book yet, cant decide.

We want to see Madamme Tussads Wax museum to.
DH want to see Blue Man Group and I want to see Zumanity.

Post when you get back and let us know how your visit was!

 

[VegasMike21]

I hope you have a great time! Youll cram in as much as you can.

We are going in June for 5 days. Im going to book our room this week.
I want to stay somewhere cheap and spend my money shoppin and gamblin!

I dont know where Im going to book yet, cant decide.

We want to see Madamme Tussads Wax museum to.
DH want to see Blue Man Group and I want to see Zumanity.

Post when you get back and let us know how your visit was!

Some good cheaper hotels to stay on the strip are at the Trop and Excalibur.

I've seen both Blue Man and Zumanity. Both were good. I really enjoyed Zumanity but if your not open minded don't bother seeing it cause you might be offended by some stuff that goes on in the show.

 

[Alice's Mom]

My mother is staying at the Monte Carlo right now, you should be fine.

 

[VegasMike21]

My mother is staying at the Monte Carlo right now, you should be fine.

not to mention the monte carlo has some great rates going on right now due to the fire they had. $99 for fri/sat nights is a steal! you can even get their suite for under $200 right now.

 

[WatchinCaptKangaroo]

Circus Circus has gone seriously downhill since any of us were kids. It's a complete and total dive now.

Excalibur arcade is dinky - you need maybe 10 minutes max to "tour" it.

It takes about an hour to walk from the Excalibur/Tropanica area to the Venetian/Cesar's Palace. Nothing is as close as it seems.

 

[VegasMike21]

Circus Circus has gone seriously downhill since any of us were kids. It's a complete and total dive now.

Excalibur arcade is dinky - you need maybe 10 minutes max to "tour" it.

It takes about an hour to walk from the Excalibur/Tropanica area to the Venetian/Cesar's Palace. Nothing is as close as it seems.

yes the circus circus is definetly a dump. the only thing i like is their midway arcade...it's pretty big and they have a bunch of carnival games to play.

excalibur arcade yes is kinda dinky, they do have a lot of carnival games to choose from though with my favorite being the ring toss game, my fiance actually won on this and one a giant stuff turtle...boy i just loved dragging that big thing around the casino floor with people looking at me.

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

not to mention the monte carlo has some great rates going on right now due to the fire they had. $99 for fri/sat nights is a steal! you can even get their suite for under $200 right now.

They just sent me a postcard (not sure why, I last stayed there 10 years ago, but maybe have a players club card?) giving me 2 free nights in a suite (!), 2 tix to Lance Burton, and $175 in free play.

Yep, I called and booked it! Better than the 2 free nights I had offered at Luxor, which is also not what it used to be in terms of quality...

It was a sure fire way to get me back to the Monte Carlo! Good marketing.