First Vegas Trip: Questions!!

[diznee25]

I'm planning a 3 day Vegas trip and have some questions.

How much money to bring for gambling purposes? (I love the slots and video poker, although I'd play blackjack, and poker tables as well.)

Do you play table games, slots, or a combination of both?

When you visit Vegas, how much of your vacation time is spent gambling?

What entertainment is not to be missed?

This is my first trip to Vegas so any tips, or stories of your past trips would be great!

Thanks,
Diznee25

 

[catsrule]

When we went to Vegas, we enjoyed just walking through all the hotels along the strip to see the different themes. This took us 2 days in itself! We aren't much of gamblers, we went more for the shows and sites. Went and toured Hoover Dam, saw Red Rock I think it was called, went to a little zoo, took a bus tour through town.

 

[FreshTressa]

Umm, you can just copy cats rules post here too!!

The hotels were fun enough for us. We gambled a little, but only like 6 dollars in nickel machines.

We ate at the buffets (the rio and bally's were the best), shopped saw a comedian, went on some rides, basically had a blast!!

 

[CPM]

Diznee,
Prepare to be overwhelmed! I have traveled a lot and I hadn't ever been to Vegas. We went for the first time last May on a convention. It's crazy! As soon as you land the energy is all over. My DH gambled more then I did. We limited it to $100.00 a day for the four days we were there. Luckily two of the days the $100.00 lasted a long time, but it can easily be gone in minutes! We mostly played at night for a few hours. We played a lot of "Let it ride" a poker game which we easily learned to play. Your money seems to last longer at the tables. Some casinos have free learning tables if you want to learn a new game.
We also took a day to see The Hoover Dam and Red Rock Canyon. Both were amazing! You can do both easily in a day. We got a late start because we had to wait for a rental car, but I wish we had more time in the Canyon.
If you want to see a big show make sure you book well in advance. I didn't think to do that and didn't get to see a few shows that I would have liked to have seen, especially "O". The resorts were entertainment enough for me! If you like coasters, there are plenty of good ones! I wanted to try the one at the top of the Stratospher but chickened out at the last minute! There are plenty of free things to do as well. The fountains show at Bellagio, the Caeser's Forums show, the Freemont experience, Traesure Ilsand pirates show and much more!!
Have a great time!!

 

[Danauk]

I loved Vegas when I visited 18 months ago. Here is a list of things I would recommend you do:
1) Look in all the hotels, the themes are amazing - the gambling cups are great to take home as momentos.
2) Take a helicopter flight over the hoover dam and to the Grand Canyon - quite expensive but worth it (we went with a company called Sun dance who we booked with on line and were excellent.)
3) Watch the shows outside the hotels in the evening - Bellagios dancing fountains, the pirate ships at Treasure Island etc.
4) Take a ride on a Gondola at the Venetian.
5) See the story telling fountain statues in the Forum shopping mall.
6)If you like rollercoaster try the Manahaten express at New York New York, Speed at the Sahara and the rides at the top of the Stratosphere (sp?) tower.
7) Go indoor skydiving (just off the strip oposite Circus Circus.)
8) Be in the Aladdin shopping mall when the fake storm hits the dock.
9) See a show.
10) Eat at a Buffet - we liked the one in the luxor.
11) Look around the tutenkhamun museum in the Luxor.

I think that is enough for now. We stayed in Vegas for 5 nights, 2 at the Venetian (where we were upgraded to a high roller suite - another story) and then 3 nights at the New York, New York. I would recommend both these hotels to anyone. Next time I go I want to stay at Bellagios.

We allowed ourselves $100 gambling money each but spent most of the time on the slots - we played a few slots in each hotel as we were looking around them. I was quite lucky and made more money on the slots than I lost. On the last day we played some tables though. If it is quiet and you do not know how to play the games they are willing to teach you. Although we gambled a little, after all that is the point of Vegas we enjoyed just looking around the hotels and malls the most.

Have a great trip.

I just wanted to add as well, wewent in August too and although it was hot it was a dry heat so was not uncomfortouble. Also a lot of the hotels either have connecting passages between them, monorails etc. There is also a trolly bus that goes up and down the strip which is useful during the middle of the day when it is the hottest.

 

[mommytotwo]

I have been to Vegas two times, and we are planning on going there another time this year along with Disneyland.
I like seeing the attractions at the hotels-if you enjoy flowers, don't forget to see the conservatory in the Bellagio Hotel-it is a big area where they make an artwork out of flowers-very pretty.
I enjoyed the buffet at The Alladin Hotel-Spicy Market buffet, and enjoyed the shopping at Belz Outlet Mall and Primm Valley. If you go to Henderson, go to the Ethel Ms Chocolate Factory-definte place for us since I like the dark chocolate silk truffles. Another thing that I suggest is that you bring your camera. There are lots of different sites to take pictures of. During our two trips, we had stayed for two weeks and did gamble each day. We had put our limit to a hundred dollars per day, but there were days when my husband or I would win, and we would keep winning on that money or I would go on a shopping spree. There were days when we would lose a total of five hundred dollars, but would make up a bit for it the next couple of days. I love to shop, and my husband loves to gamble. Which month are you planning on going?

 

[diznee25]

Wow! Thanks for all the information everyone. My only expertise is planning Disney vacations. I know nothing about Vegas!

We're actually planning to go near the end of August for my 25th birthday. There's a local airline company in town that offers attractive Vegas packages which include roundtrip air and hotel stay. I think we want to try the Excalibour Hotel.

I'll have to go thru this thread later and write down some activites for us to do!

Thanks,
Diznee25

 

[jsmith]

It will be very very hot in Vegas at the end of August-well over 100 in the day time. Plan for outdoor activities in the evening. and stay somewhere a little nicer than Excalibur!

 

[ivanova]

How much money to bring for gambling purposes? (I love the slots and video poker, although I'd play blackjack, and poker tables as well.)

Gamble what you can afford to lose. We budget $100 per person per day, and expect not to bring home a dime of it at the end. If we bring home any winnings then we're ahead, and not scrambling to pay the bills once we get home. I never recommend gambling the rent or car payment.

Do you play table games, slots, or a combination of both?

Combination - love the slots & video poker - love playing Let it Ride & 3 Card Stud table games.

When you visit Vegas, how much of your vacation time is spent gambling?

Depends on if we have anything else scheduled (we go at least a couple of times a year). I'd say anywhere from 1 to 8 hours a day is spent on the casino floors. A lot also has to do with how long the budgeted $$$ lasts that day. If I hit a losing streak, $100 might not even last an hour.

August is going to be EXTREMELY miserably HOT. If you'll be out doors, make sure you use plenty of sunscreen, and drink LOTS of water!!

I'm not partial to the Excalibur, but that's just a personal bias. Usually any hotel/resort along the strip would be good. Transportation around the strip is pretty easy too, especially now that the new monorail is open (I think). It starts behind the MGM Grand, runs behind Ballys & the Flamingo & ultimately stops at the Las Vegas Hilton (off strip).

 

[CPM]

personally I would think twice about excalibur. I went through every hotel on the strip. It was pretty run down. There should be plenty of deals in August. We stayed at the RIO which was really nice but a bit far out. We also stayed at the HGVC at the Flamingo, which we loved. Great location!

 

[Stepharoonie!]

You CAN NOT miss
<font size=10 color=blue>
THE BLUE MAN GROUP!!!!!!!!!!</FONT>

 

[swea_pea1]

I've been to Vegas 4 times and am going again in May. I'm a little embarrassed to say that I've done little else than gamble each time I was there Haven't seen the Hoover Dam but I'd like to and have never taken the helicopter to see the Grand Canyon, but I've heard that's very cool.
When we go in May, we'll be going to see Celine Dion I'd also like to see the Blue Man Group, but we're going right before Mother's Day and I don't think my mom would appreciate it as much as I would.

I take $200 per day and I usually come home with a little left over. I play blackjack, roulette, and a little bit of Let It Ride. I don't play the slots but I am partial to video poker. I've also played craps (that's a lot of fun once you get the hang of it), Keno (not so fun) and the sports book (the folks there had to explain to me over and over again how to bet) I take only what I feel comfortable losing and get up and walk around whenever I've lost too much in one sitting....a very memorable 10 minute $60 losing streak comes immediately to mind

I always come back wishing I was there again though, so go figure....

 

[The Mystery Machine]

From what I have read and researched you should be able to get some wonderful deals for August.

Check out www.cheapovegas.com for some good info.

One of these days I will get there.

 

[diznee25]

Thanks for the link Mystery Machine! Cheapovegas.com has really great reviews of the hotels. The review of the Excalibour was dead on with what some people mentioned on this thread. So needless to say, we won't be staying there!

The Luxor looks really nice, has anyone stayed there?

Stepharoonie, I was actually thinking about buying tickets to see the Blue Man Group. It looks fun!


Diznee25

 

[dbogen]

OK all you Vegas experts. My mom wants to go this year (her b-day gift to herself) I was considering it but would bring my kids with us (ds11 and 8) are there things for hubby and kids to do? Hubby isn't a big gambler and we really don't have that much to loose. I know they tried to market vegas as a family place put really, its Vegas....

Thank you in advance.
Deanna

 

[Danauk]

The luxor looked a nice hotel from the inside but I am glad we didn't stay there. I didn't like being able to see all the coridoors for the rooms in the pyramid whilst stood inside it. Maybe thats an English thing though, in our hotels you can never see the coridoors leading to the rooms unless you are staying there. I would recommend the New York New York which should be in a similar price range I think. The hotel is a little further up the strip from the Luxor and so in a better position (IMHO) to get to see the rest of the hotels easier (remember the heat will get to you so you will not feel like walking too far.) If you want to splash out I can really recommend the Venetian as it is an all suite hotel. We were amazingly lucky to be up graded to one of the top high roller suites (don't know how!) but even the standard suites there looked amazing. Next time we go we are going to spalsh out and stay at Bellagios.
Have a fun trip. Plus I really do recommend the Hoover Dam/Grand Canyon helicopter flight and the indoor skydiving.

 

[Danauk]

Deanna, The New York New York would be great for kids. It has a nice pool and a great Colney Island games arcade. Your kids would enjoy Circus Circus (I personally would not recommend staying there) as it has lots for kids to do. MGM has a small park around the back of it, plus there is a wet and wild water park at the top end of the strip too. There will be plenty for kids to do during the day. Plus there are shows to see in the evening and the kids would probably like looking around the malls as they have statues and fountains that move and tell stories and the Aladdin has an indoor thunder storm with rain ever hour or so!! Plus they could see the tigers at MGM or the animals in the Mirage and don't forget the free shows outside the hotels on an evening.
You and your family should have a great trip.

 

[phisigprincess]

My best friend and I went to Vegas for spring break last year (and oh how I wish we were going again this year!! ) and we had a ball. We stayed with her aunt in Henderson (10 min. outside the strip) so I don't know too much about staying in the hotels. We spent most of our time touring the hotels, eating (Excalibur had a great lunch buffet. They give you a map to find your way around it!!), and seeing the sights. I recommend going to the cheap tickets booth (just like in NYC). They didn't have blue man tickets, but we got half price tickets for La Cage (the drag queen show). It was SOOO funny! Obviously not for kids, but definately one to check out. The booth is right by the coca-cola bottle. It's going to be very hot, so again, DRINK THAT WATER!!! You'll have a blast. As a poor college student I only gambled about $8, won nothing and still had a blast.

 

[CPM]

Originally posted by dbogen
OK all you Vegas experts. My mom wants to go this year (her b-day gift to herself) I was considering it but would bring my kids with us (ds11 and 8) are there things for hubby and kids to do? Hubby isn't a big gambler and we really don't have that much to loose. I know they tried to market vegas as a family place put really, its Vegas....

Thank you in advance.
Deanna

when we were there we kept saying we wish we had the kids with us!!! Thing is my DD is 16 and my DS is 7. She can babysit. I wouldn't go without a babysitter. There are stuff for both to do. Many of the shows are kid friendly. There is just so much to do it's hard to mention them all. There's an aquarium, M&M world, the Sigfried and Roy tigers, the TI pirate show and just so much more! I would highly suggest staying at the HGVC Falmingo with a family. The units are large, it's behind the regular Flamingo so there isn't a casino in your lobby. They have a quiet pool, you can grill out and get away from it all even though you are within footsteps of the strip.

BTW, Diznee. The Luxor looked very nice!! It's on the monorail also.

 

[CPM]

I get a Vegas newsletter monthy. I do not know how to post it here. If anyone wants it, email me. It helped me immensly when we planned our fisrt Vegas trip. It tells you what is going on at each hotel, what's free and usually how to play one game. This months happens to be how to play the famous "Let it ride"

BTW, the Luxor reminds me of the Contemporary with it's corridors of rooms.