Las Vegas 50th. Birthday - Please help with plans, budget.

[ronandannette]

Honestly, considering it is July, you have some physical limitations, and you are pretty far away from center strip, I would rent a car for at least part of the trip.

That way you can zip around Vegas and check out places without having to walk around in the heat.

You will be fine. There is so much to do there.

Just make sure to get show tickets in advance as I know the popular ones sell out.

Have fun! It is on my own bucket list as I have never been either. One of these days!

Definitely get a car; it's easy to navigate around and all the hotels have free valet parking. (This is the only good thing I can think of to say about the place - I am so NOT a Vegas person...).

Anaheim is about a 5-hour drive; if it's your first (or only) trip West I'd definitely plan a couple of days in DL...low key is right about 8 days being too much.

 

[Poohforyou]

We've been to Vegas 2x in late June and will be there then this year. The heat really isn't a big deal compared to the heat the humidity we have on the east coast during the summer. We've stayed at the flamingo and Monte Carlo and at both resorts some of their pools were freezing. Honestly Vegas can be as cheap or pricey as you want it to be. I've used the site www.cheapovegas.com for some great tips.

 

[DWGal210]

Sounds like a fun trip!

I echo the other poster would said to budget $100/pp on the restaurants. I will say I had some of the best dining of my life in Vegas, but it's not cheap. It's been a few years since I was last there, but we went to Bobby Flay's restaurant at MGM and it was delightful, I remember that meal in particular.

We saw the Cirque show LOVE (set to the Beatles music) and it was INCREDIBLE. I don't know if that one is still there, but you really can't go wrong with one of the Cirque shows.

Also, look at Ticketmaster.com and see if there are any concerts while you're there.

We went to Hoover Dam for a day trip and that was interesting, I liked it. I believe LA/Anaheim is about a 4 hr drive from Vegas so it wouldn't be a day trip - I'd save that for another time.

 

[usnuzuloose]

When I go to Vegas I always sign up for groupon deals. I always search for coupons for other restaurants as well. There is an Earl of Sandwich in Planet Hollywood. I always use the bus system for the strip. It will take you all the way down to old freemont st.
I love taking in the hotels and see new things in them. Take comfortable walking shoes. Drink plenty of water. There are people who do sell bottled water on the strip. There is so much to see and do. I love going into the pawn stars shop. Just don't go before 3 as the line runs around the whole building for the filming time. But it cool to visit at least once. You can pictures in there.

 

[malibuconlee]

http://www.vegas.com/traveltips/top-10-tips-for-driving-from-la-to-vegas/

I see a lot of people talking about the drive to LA. Be aware of the "weekend traffic" if you decide to head that direction. I've heard lots of stories about the crazy traffic on Sunday afternoon headed back to LA from Vegas!!

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Thank you for all the great advice. I know the trip sounds like a long trip but it is a once in a lifetime for us.

I am going to have a long talk with my son. (He's the 18yo) I know that there is a lot to do and we do plan on doing that while on the trip, but yes some of the time will be in the casinos for DH and I.

I know his sister would go do other activities with him as she is cheap (sorry it is true) and if we were paying for them to do something else versus maybe $20 or $30 dollars in slot money I am sure she will go with her brother. I just don't want him to get there and regret not being able to do so. As I said here the Casinos have areas for 18yo.

I think we will do a car rental for half of the trip. Since we are there during the week also, we can do the stuff that is horribly busy on weekends during those days.

Just starting all the planning. I do think breakfast will be in the room, then a late lunch/early dinner for most days, and some easy sandwiches/chips in the room if needed later at night. Even at Disney we find the heavy meals tend to keep us full and find one large meal is more than enough for us.

I can't wait to look at all the links/establishments provided and will pop over and read on the Vegas thread (didn't know we had one here).

I know the weather is going to be brutal, but with my children growing up and both in colleges with different breaks it is hard to plan anything family anymore.

And while I know it isn't the greatest time, we have always done our "big" adventures to correspond with my husbands birthday. It is almost a tradition now.

Again, thank you everyone. My last question is can anyone compare what walking the strip is vs. walking something at Disney??

 

[Dahly]

Since you are thinking of getting a car for at least part of the trip, Hoover Dam is a fun/educational way to spend a few hours. Also, Valley of Fire State Park (not quite the Grand Canyon, but much closer) is a very neat place to walk around. July may be a little hot, so if you plan to do that, you may want to go very early in the day. It is about 45 minutes or so outside LV.

http://parks.nv.gov/parks/valley-of-fire-state-park/

There are a number of off -strip Casinos, mainly the Station Casinos, that have bowling allys and movie theathers. Not that your 18 year old wants to go on vacation and watch a movie, but some options while you are gambling with your DH.

Also, on the strip, the M&M store is fun to walk through..there is a short movie starrring Red and Yellow... The store is next to the MGM Grand.

Walk through the Conservatory and Botanical Gardens at the Bellagio. And be sure to plan an evening walk to see the fountain show.

The Wildlife Habitat at the Flamingo is free to walk through.

The Freemont Street experience is also free. (light show)

My DH's favorite off strip food is the Metro Pizza place on East Tropicana.

Yes, Vegas can be expensive, but if you do a couple big things, and supplement with some free/low cost activities. you can have a great trip.

have a wonderful time!

Leslie (former LV resident)

 

[SydSim]

I went to Vegas several years ago and we only stayed three days - we wish we had four more! And we were right in the thick of things at the Bellagio!

My only information is that I found a Cirque special for $50/ticket. Great seats (maybe 12th row) for the KA show. For the life of me, I can't remember how I found it (probably googled Vegas discounts or something).

Oh, and I wholeheartedly agree with a day/night DL trip. Since you'll be in Vegas for over a week, you can totally take two or three days to go to Cali (maybe Priceline a 4*hotel near a beach), during the middle of the week.

Have fun!

 

[cabanafrau]

Thank you for all the great advice. I know the trip sounds like a long trip but it is a once in a lifetime for us.

I am going to have a long talk with my son. (He's the 18yo) I know that there is a lot to do and we do plan on doing that while on the trip, but yes some of the time will be in the casinos for DH and I.

I know his sister would go do other activities with him as she is cheap (sorry it is true) and if we were paying for them to do something else versus maybe $20 or $30 dollars in slot money I am sure she will go with her brother. I just don't want him to get there and regret not being able to do so. As I said here the Casinos have areas for 18yo.

I think we will do a car rental for half of the trip. Since we are there during the week also, we can do the stuff that is horribly busy on weekends during those days.

Just starting all the planning. I do think breakfast will be in the room, then a late lunch/early dinner for most days, and some easy sandwiches/chips in the room if needed later at night. Even at Disney we find the heavy meals tend to keep us full and find one large meal is more than enough for us.

I can't wait to look at all the links/establishments provided and will pop over and read on the Vegas thread (didn't know we had one here).

I know the weather is going to be brutal, but with my children growing up and both in colleges with different breaks it is hard to plan anything family anymore.

And while I know it isn't the greatest time, we have always done our "big" adventures to correspond with my husbands birthday. It is almost a tradition now.

Again, thank you everyone. My last question is can anyone compare what walking the strip is vs. walking something at Disney??

Depending on what you are doing, it's as much or more walking than at Disney. Many of the strip casinos are linked indoors, some w/ a tram outdoors. IMO you're not going to want to do much walking outdoors in the height of summer, although plenty of people do it. The Mac King magic show runs afternoons and is very highly rated. DH & I will be going to see him this summer. He's appropriate for all ages, but don't let that run you off thinking it's for the kiddie set. If you read around enough you will see he is very highly recommended, and being an afternoon show w/ discounts available, can be more budget friendly.

The buffets are actually pretty pricey IMO, but then again I'm not keen on the whole concept. If you wanted to grab some nicer meals but aren't prepared for a huge tab, the steakhouse at the Orleans Casino is very well recommended, and you can catch the free shuttle from Bally's in the middle of the strip to get back and forth. There is also a shuttle to and from the Rio off strip from Bally's as well. The Tuscany casino is an offstrip casino that has a couple moderate priced restaurants that come highly recommended as well. I think this is the casino used in the Las Vegas TV show a few years back.

Lots of tapas options around for buying several plates for a group to share at minimal price, especially during the many happy hours offered. We are looking at cabbing it over to Roy's Hawaiian off strip for either their happy hour or just for a meal. We're renting a car, but plan to use the cab for that one in case we have an extra beverage.

If you really want to venture a few miles off strip, we're going to be trying out a place called Forte on Rainbow(the street) that was featured by Guy Fieri a ways back on his show. They've got European tapas that looked delish. I believe I looked at their website to check them out after the show & it looked quite reasonable also. Rainbow runs parallel to the strip off to the west. You would get there by taking Tropicana west to Rainbow to reach the place. The intersection of Tropicana and LV Blvd. is where MGM, NYNY, the Tropicana, Excalibur sit at the 4 corners.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Definitely Hash-House-A-Go-Go. Portions are HUGE while prices are more than reasonable. There's one in The Quad Casino between Harrah's and the Flamingo. Go early in the trip, you may be able to by on leftovers all week!

 

[mickeyboat]

Lots and lots of walking - the hotels are so huge that the long walk doesn't look like it would be all that far. Then you keep walking and walking and walking.

I know this is not the information you want, but you are staying way too long if you are not planning day trips out of the city. DH and I only stayed for four days. We went to a wedding, saw two shows, toured the big hotels on the strip and took a day trip to the Hoover Dam - and we were so happy to get out of there on the fourth day.

I hope you have a wonderful time! Good luck and happy planning.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Definitely Hash-House-A-Go-Go. Portions are HUGE while prices are more than reasonable. There's one in The Quad Casino between Harrah's and the Flamingo. Go early in the trip, you may be able to by on leftovers all week!

Thanks for the tip. Had to giggle though as we call my husband, "King of the Leftovers". He really enjoys them, especially if it was a meal he really liked. He hasn't had a sandwich for lunch is ages. Always takes the dinner leftovers.

Also, I will check out the Casino the poster stated where the show Vegas was one of his favorites and it is his "visual".

I can walk Disney from open to close with rests, so if there are places to sit and watch people and or shows I should be okay. The only concern I have is last trip I needed a wheelchair for the last few days. We did push though, and we are planning on resort days and if we were to take day trips, being in the car will also help.

 

[SLCborn]

I live 6 hours from Vegas and go quite regularly with my kids. We have a blast every time we go. My kids are now 20, 19 and 15. We were there in January, we've gone in every month over the last few years with the exception of December, April and November. Here are my thoughts (take them for what they are)

I'd rent a car just to help you get around easier. I would NOT park in the free hotel lots. I'd do valet, tip the valet person a couple of bucks when you are ready to go and get your car delivered to you. The parking garages are forever away from the actual hotel/casino entrance.

Do not let your "minor" child anywhere near the gambling floor. They watch those like hawks. We walked through when it was just my daughter and I and a person hit a huge payout on one of the machines and my daughter was about 2 feet over the "golden walkway" and they freaked.

Budget for meals is harder. You can eat fairly cheap if you eat at the food court/counter service type places in hotels. You can go from McDonalds, to Nathans hot dogs/NY pizza/deli to Margaritaville or much higher priced meals. I would say to plan at least 100 for food per day dependent on where/what you want to eat. For us it is a tradition to eat at the Paris' Mon Ami Gabi and eat outside so we can people watch and watch the Bellagio fountains. We usually do a later lunch so it's cheaper but closer to dinner so we just will need a "snack" later. There are so many delicious restaurants in Vegas. We also love the Italian Trevi restaurant in the forum shops at Caesar's Palace.

Things to do: Mandalay Bay's Shark Reef is really fun and we've spent hours there. NY NY Roller coaster,dolphin habitat,madame tussaud, venetian gondola or you can get the las vegas power pass to get unlimited entrance for 1/2/3 or 5 days to these attractions but it is not cheap. I believe the 1 day pass is $85.00 but to ride the NY NY Roller Coaster is almost $20.00 so...........the pass lets you get into these places:

BeatleShow!
Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art $16.00 per person
Eiffel Tower Experience $11.50 pp
Erotic Heritage Museum
Grand Canyon West Legacy Tour
Hoover Dam Motor Coach Tour
Hot Rod City
King Putt Indoor Mini-Golf $9.00 pp
Mid-day Lake Mead Cruise
Las Vegas Fashion Outlet Shopping Tour
Las Vegas Mini Grand Prix
Las Vegas Natural History Museum
Lion Habitat Ranch
Madame Tussauds Las Vegas $29.95 pp
National Atomic Testing Museum
Nevada State Museum at Springs Preserve
$10 credit at Planet Hollywood Restaurant (at Caesars Palace)
Putt Park Miniature Golf
Roller coaster at New York New York $14.00 pp
Siegfried and Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat $14.95 pp
Sky Zone Recreational Center
Southern Nevada Museum of Fine Arts
Springs Preserve Las Vegas
Stratosphere Tower Observation Deck
The Mob Museum

Most all of the hotels have free things/shows to see and do. Be warned that there are porn slappers on every street corner handing out cards with "girls" on them and they end up on the street. Make sure your kids are prepared for that. They can be aggressive at times. We just put our hand up and keep walking. Don't put your hand out and just walk on by. You are not obligated to take them and I would suggest you don't.

It will be hot! It's a "dry heat" but it is hot and the strip with all of it's signs,concrete etc make it much hotter. Be prepared that things will look much closer than they are. Keep yourself hydrated, wear comfortable walking shoes, it's always crowded.

Disneyland is a 4 hr drive on a good day from Vegas. I wouldn't really want to do that if it were me but if you do a great place to get good rates is www.getawaytoday.com

Please feel free to PM me if you have any more questions. I'm taking my daughter to Vegas in October for her 21st birthday.