Las Vegas First Time.. Any Tips?

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Is that not RamsayBurger anymore? We went a couple of years ago because it was the only “celebrity” place we could get into on a whim without reservations. The truffle fries were on his menu and they were pretty darned good albeit very $$$. Two burgers, a shard order of fries and one craft beer set us back $70 for lunch.

The author didn't make it clear whether they were talking about Planet Hollywood resort (which has Ramsay's place) or Planet Hollywood the restaurant (which is not at Planet Hollywood resort) I would assume she was talking about Gordon Ramsay's place.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

If you really want that retro vibe, try the peppermill.

 

[bcla]

I believe most sportsbooks have gone to a drink ticket system based on wagers placed, possibly due to many people gaming the system by not spending anything and getting free drinks.

It's been a while since I've placed a bet or been to a sportsbook. When I was there I got the impression that the servers didn't really care since they made their money off of tips. I figured $1 tip for a premium bottled beer (I'd usually ask for Sierra Nevada) was a reasonable tip. I'd see a lot of servers get stiffed though.

 

[neverlandsky]

Have plenty of cash for tips. Housekeeping $5 per day, dealers, cocktail waitress, valets, etc. as needed.

If you are taking a taxi from the airport to hotel, tell driver to avoid the 215 and take Paradise. The 215 is the long way to go hence more mileage/time charges. If you’re renting a car just follow the signs at the airport. The process from airport to car rental bus line to car rental place is so unbelievably easy and seamless.

Wicked Spoon & Bacchanal Buffets are good. Expect a wait with both.

Lots of free entertainment. Bellagio fountains, Mirage Volcano, Caesar’s Forum Shops, etc.

Some great breakfast places nearby the strip Hash House a Go Go, Egg Works, & The Omelette House, & Peppermill (watch parking at Peppermill they tow). Lunch/Dinner - Capriotti’s, In & Out Burger, Fat Burger, Raising Cane’s, Shake Shack, Jason’s Deli, Texas de Brazil, etc.

If there’s a fridge in the room, it most likely will pressurized and filled. It will charge to the room if disturb. Head to local gas station for a foam cooler and use the free hotel ice for water bottles, soda, liquor, etc.

 

[cabanafrau]

It's been a while since I've placed a bet or been to a sportsbook. When I was there I got the impression that the servers didn't really care since they made their money off of tips. I figured $1 tip for a premium bottled beer (I'd usually ask for Sierra Nevada) was a reasonable tip. I'd see a lot of servers get stiffed though.

The casino's bottom line isn't helped by tips, so whether the servers care or not doesn't matter. Casinos are watching their bottom line carefully in these times of shrinking gambling revenues. It's pretty standard for video poker to have a monitoring system that signals when a player can receive a free drink, something I've heard is in testing for slots as well.

$1 is standard tip for casino cocktail servers, nothing special there.

 

[SpartanMommy]

I love Vegas! My husband and I go once a year.

Here’s a few tips I’ve picked up over the years:

Wear comfortable shoes when walking the Strip. It can be a long walk home if your feet hurt!

Hydrate! Start drinking lots of water a few days before your trip, the Vegas heat is no joke. It shouldn’t be so bad in March (I’ve been there in March and it snowed) but still a good idea to plan on drinking more water than you normally would.

I second seeing Beatles LOVE at the Mirage. If you like their music, the show is fantastic!

Bally’s is a good location on the Strip, close to lots of casinos. If you plan on walking around and checking out a bunch of casinos, look at map and plan out which ones to see and where to cross the street. With all the pedestrian walkways that dump you into a casino or shops, it can be very annoying crossing in Vegas! Bally’s has a monorail stop, which would be helpful if you plan on going south to MGM.

Have a great time!

 

[DLgal]

The author didn't make it clear whether they were talking about Planet Hollywood resort (which has Ramsay's place) or Planet Hollywood the restaurant (which is not at Planet Hollywood resort) I would assume she was talking about Gordon Ramsay's place.

They were obviously referring to the resort, because why would a restaurant have another restaurant inside it?

By the way, it is a Gordon Ramsey burger restaurant now. We were just there.

 

[DLgal]

If there’s a fridge in the room, it most likely will pressurized and filled. It will charge to the room if disturb. Head to local gas station for a foam cooler and use the free hotel ice for water bottles, soda, liquor, etc.

Yes, this is true. Our work around was using the second bathroom sink and filling it with ice. We put all our drinks in there and just dumped in more ice once a day to keep things cold.

 

[cabanafrau]

Bally's Jubilee Tower rooms do have fridges in them for guest use. Resort Tower rooms (formerly Indigo Tower) are still in the process of being renovated and I'm not sure if they've added guest fridges or not.

 

[WaywardMemphian]

The projection mapping show at the Neon Museum is fantastic

 

[kaytieeldr]

Hash House a Go Go

Yup. This. Lots of food!

 

[longboard55]

The biggest mistake first timers make is they pick the wrong hotel. Pick a 4 or 5 star on the strip, don't go discount. The best hotels still have great rates most of the time.

 

[soccerdad72]

The biggest mistake first timers make is they pick the wrong hotel. Pick a 4 or 5 star on the strip, don't go discount. The best hotels still have great rates most of the time.

You used to be able to get away with staying off strip and just parking your car in any of the casino valet parking lots for free, but with everyone adding parking fees, that really doesn't make sense anymore.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

They were obviously referring to the resort, because why would a restaurant have another restaurant inside it?

By the way, it is a Gordon Ramsey burger restaurant now. We were just there.

I never said a restaurant had another restaurant inside it. I said the resort does not have the restaurant of the same name inside it and that the restaurant of that name is elsewhere. And it may have been obvious to you and to me but it wasn't obvious to the person I was answering. Hence why I answered.

 

[bcla]

I never said a restaurant had another restaurant inside it. I said the resort does not have the restaurant of the same name inside it and that the restaurant of that name is elsewhere. And it may have been obvious to you but it wasn't obvious to the person I was obviously answering. Hence why I answered.

I'm kind of surprised they're still around with any restaurant. I'm pretty sure I've only been to one once - the one in Stateline, Nevada. And I was literally the only customer there.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

The biggest mistake first timers make is they pick the wrong hotel. Pick a 4 or 5 star on the strip, don't go discount. The best hotels still have great rates most of the time.

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.

 

[sam_gordon]

Don't cab... Uber or Lyft!

 

[_19disnA]

How is renting a car and having to deal with parking it easier and cheaper than just hopping in a cab for the distances you don't want to walk? Renting a car just to stay on the Strip seems kinda odd to me.

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.

 

[sk!mom]

How is renting a car and having to deal with parking it easier and cheaper than just hopping in a cab for the distances you don't want to walk? Renting a car just to stay on the Strip seems kinda odd to me.

We're just back and I would never rent a car in Vegas. We used Lyft any time we didn't feel like walking. For us, that was usually late nights or if we had walked pretty far away and didn't want to walk back.

 

[Sweetpancake]

If you really want that retro vibe, try the peppermill.

The Peppermill is awesome and worth checking out!