Las Vegas First Time.. Any Tips?

[bcla]

And never go dirt cheap. A $15-$30 room may seem great. But unless you're getting a promo at a place you know to be nice, uh Vegas is not the place to a dirt cheap room at a dirt cheap place out.

I've stayed in a $25/night room and it was great. However, that came with a lot of Harrah's play involved where we got some killer deals. We've even stayed for free. But that requires gambling to some extent. I'm not a huge gambler either, and I've gotten rates like that.

Back around Christmas 2012 we stayed at Paris for $25/night. That was the worst day for travel all year, with white out conditions on the East Coast delaying the arrival of aircraft. Even though conditions on the west were fine, it doesn't do much good when your plane is stuck in Virginia. I remember arriving separately (off work) SJC-LAX-LAS about an hour late (maybe 11 PM). My wife and kid went SFO-LAS and were supposed to arrive before I did and wait for me at the airport. Only their flight didn't arrive until about 4 AM. But even though we were late the rental counter was still open, with almost no line. Even though I was late they didn't cancel on me. The clerk even said if I had arrived on time I would have been waiting 90 minutes. And when we got to Paris they still had our reservation and even upgraded us to a bed size.

Still - I thought Paris would be a really nice place. It's was pretty much a standard hotel room with some pseudo-European touches. No in-room coffee, which meant $4 coffee downstairs unless I found some other place.

 

[AuntieMe3]

Love the Peppermill!! Its soo retro!!

 

[bcla]

The Peppermill is awesome and worth checking out!

Isn't that just a restaurant? I'm more familiar with the original Peppermill Hotel & Casino in Reno. I guess they hired the same interior designer.

 

[Sweetpancake]

Isn't that just a restaurant? I'm more familiar with the original Peppermill Hotel & Casino in Reno. I guess they hired the same interior designer.

It is just a restaurant, no casino

 

[Micca]

A taxi driver told us once "what happens in Vegas, ends up on Facebook..."

What happens in Vegas...can be photoshopped out

 

[nkereina]

Be sure to rent a car since most of the casinos LOOK close-by but are way too far to walk.

I would respectfully disagree with this advice. Traffic can be bad there and parking is exorbitant. We are two adults in our 30s, somewhat average shape, and we had no trouble walking between the hotels and casinos. The only ones too far for us to walk was Stratosphere and Circus Circus, which IMO, are not worth the visit anyway. But it would be a quick/easy Uber or taxi ride if someone wanted to. Also, if you choose a hotel that has a center strip location, you're not a terrible distance to anything on the strip really. I'll also add that several of the resorts are connected indoors and there are monorails/transportation between some of the resorts. Uber/Taxi can get you anywhere else if need be.

If someone wanted to visit the Grand Canyon or Hoover Dam, there are many bus tours available which may be cheaper and easier than a car. Or they could do a day rental with a car.

 

[skyblue17]

OP indicated this is there first time going to Vegas. Casinos are MUCH further apart then they appear so walking isn't always practical for everyone. When it's 100+ degrees in warmer months, we don't find walking anywhere to make much sense. If they ever plan to go to Red Rock Canyon and/or the Grand Canyon, you certainly wouldn't take a cab to those locations. Cab rides can get to be very pricey with the gridlock traffic in the evening on the Strip. Some people may walk everywhere or never leave the place they are staying, just depends on how you choose to experience Vegas.

Right, if you're going to something away from the Strip or downtown, it makes sense to rent a car for a day, or to take a bus trip Grand Canyon or Hoover Dam. We actually took a city bus to Fremont St. and it was quicky, easy and cheap. My friend also took a city bus to the outlets. It doesn't make sense to drive from casino to casino yourself, especially since cabs and ride shares can get you to better access points than you can with your car. I also have walked a lot in Vegas, so if you ARE able, it shouldn't be that bad in March when it isn't so hot.

 

[cinnaminny]

I am going to Vegas for the first time in March for 4 nights . We are staying at Bally’s and plan on seeing the Grand Canyon also. Any suggestions on restaurants and things to do? Thanks

Right next to Ballys is a little shuttle that will take you to the Rio, in case you were interested in checking that out. Or if you want a super cheap way to see Penn and Teller, you would probably have to take a cab home though. The Wynn has a really good buffet. The Paris does not, do not believe reviews lol We always try a new buffet every trip. Our next try is going to be at the Bellagio. Like others have said, I would check out Freemont street. To me it feels like every stereotype of Vegas. Its pretty fun. Take a walk through the Bellagio in the day time, its rather pretty Have fun!!

 

[Hillbeans]

I am in my 40's and don't quite feel comfortable going to the fancy nightclubs, so our go-to place for good drinks, dancing and music is the Carnival Court at Harrah's (walking distance from your hotel). It's either little or no cover charge depending on the night and time you go, and the bartenders do tricks and there is always either a live band or DJ. Worth checking out!

 

[_19disnA]

Taking several cab rides will probably cost as much or more then renting a car/parking. Cabs will run into the same traffic issues as driving your own car. Since the OP indicated this is their first time visiting, recognize it will involve a LOT of walking if you plan to get around that way. Monorails/trams MAY be an option depending on where you are staying and which casinos you plan to visit. The monorail between Luxor & Mandalay bay, for example, is non-stop in only one direction. You have to travel via Excalibur in order to return.

 

[DLgal]

Taking several cab rides will probably cost as much or more then renting a car/parking. Cabs will run into the same traffic issues as driving your own car. Since the OP indicated this is their first time visiting, recognize it will involve a LOT of walking if you plan to get around that way. Monorails/trams MAY be an option depending on where you are staying and which casinos you plan to visit. The monorail between Luxor & Mandalay bay, for example, is non-stop in only one direction. You have to travel via Excalibur in order to return.

Yes, but most hotels now charge for parking as well (all the ones on the strip do, except for Venetian/Palazzo), so how is renting a car AND paying for parking going to cost less than using Uber/Lyft every once in awhile? I would not recommend using cabs, there really aren't that many around nowadays. It's mostly ride share, and they are everywhere, and it's cheap! It cost us less than $10 one way to go almost all the way up the strip in one direction.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Taking several cab rides will probably cost as much or more then renting a car/parking. Cabs will run into the same traffic issues as driving your own car. Since the OP indicated this is their first time visiting, recognize it will involve a LOT of walking if you plan to get around that way. Monorails/trams MAY be an option depending on where you are staying and which casinos you plan to visit. The monorail between Luxor & Mandalay bay, for example, is non-stop in only one direction. You have to travel via Excalibur in order to return.

I would def advise against a rental car for the purpose of going from casino to casino.

Heck I hated honestly taking cabs/taxis back in 2009 when we were at Mandalay Bay. My mom insisted and so we did it. My husband and I were in total agreement that when we went to Vegas in 2017 for business and my mom tagged along that we wouldn't be using cabs/taxis. I would agree with the cost aspect there. I'm not really a fan of Uber/Lyft so I probably wouldn't use it but my husband is less against it as I am.

We did have a rental car as my husband was on business. We did stay the street behind the Strip at Hilton's timeshare place. We used the rental car on arrival day to get to Hoover Dam and on departure day when we went to Red Rock Canyon. My husband used it for several days to get to the conference he was attending and then we did use it to drive to Fremont Street. We would not have used the rental car from casino to casino. Rental car has its uses just not IMO for the use that you're talking about.

The Las Vegas Monorail actually was quite nice in our opinions. We tried a day pass for the monorail and a day pass for The Deuce and found the monorail was better so we did that the rest of the time when my mom and I went to the Strip while my husband was at the conference and then at night when we would go back to the Strip. I'm not talking about the shuttle between Luxor and Mandalay Bay because that's different than the Las Vegas Monorail; the shuttle between Luxor and Mandalay Bay isn't really a public transit thing in the sense that we're talking about. While the monorail didn't have all the stops one may want and the location of the station not always advantageous it was far easier for us to take it; we'd start at the Westgate station. We'd do a combination of that and walking when on the Strip.

 

[bcla]

It is just a restaurant, no casino

Just to clarify, that photo I linked was of the Fireside Lounge at the Peppermill Hotel & Casino in Reno. The ownership is kind of odd though. It's owned by a couple of families, but still operated by the company in Reno. The vibe is the same to some degree. I guess they don't have any slots other than countertop ones like you'll see in Nevada.

https://www.reviewjournal.com/busin...otal-ownership-of-peppermill-fireside-lounge/

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

With the deuce available at a reasonable price and the monos, I don't see a reason to rent a car if all you are doing is hanging out on the strip. Yes the deuce can be slow but they also have the express deuce with more limited stops. But walking to your car or waiting to get it, and driving can be when all is said and done just as slow. However, if you plan to do anything else, then get yourself a car.

 

[bcla]

With the deuce available at a reasonable price and the monos, I don't see a reason to rent a car if all you are doing is hanging out on the strip. Yes the deuce can be slow but they also have the express deuce with more limited stops. But walking to your car or waiting to get it, and driving can be when all is said and done just as slow. However, if you plan to do anything else, then get yourself a car.

I've haven't tried the monorail. I think the original plan was to have it go down the Strip instead of the current location, but some of the casinos balked at the possibility that it would block views of their properties.

And who came up with "The Deuce"? Didn't anyone ask around if there might be a slang meaning for the word other than cards?

 

[cabanafrau]

Right next to Ballys is a little shuttle that will take you to the Rio, in case you were interested in checking that out. Or if you want a super cheap way to see Penn and Teller, you would probably have to take a cab home though. The Wynn has a really good buffet. The Paris does not, do not believe reviews lol We always try a new buffet every trip. Our next try is going to be at the Bellagio. Like others have said, I would check out Freemont street. To me it feels like every stereotype of Vegas. Its pretty fun. Take a walk through the Bellagio in the day time, its rather pretty Have fun!!

The free shuttle from Rio to the strip has been eliminated.

 

[bcla]

The free shuttle from Rio to the strip has been eliminated.

I get that they discontinued it for the very reason that Rio still has free parking. Then they'd get people who didn't intend on being there using the shuttle to get to The Strip.

 

[cabanafrau]

I get that they discontinued it for the very reason that Rio still has free parking. Then they'd get people who didn't intend on being there using the shuttle to get to The Strip.

Obviously. I offered the info. as a travel planning tip and therefore didn't feel that information was germane.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

I've haven't tried the monorail. I think the original plan was to have it go down the Strip instead of the current location, but some of the casinos balked at the possibility that it would block views of their properties.

And who came up with "The Deuce"? Didn't anyone ask around if there might be a slang meaning for the word other than cards?

I really don't know who came up with the deuce. HAHA. At least they don't call the mono the ace or the boxcars or something.

 

[cedricandsophie]

See the Bronx Wanderers at Bally’s. The best show in Vegas and super cheap.