las vegas questions.....

[rflorek]

And there's lions somewhere?

They are at MGM

 

[minnierocks]

Subscribing...I'm planning a "just the two of us" trip ...
Thanks to all for the info!

 

[rach2674]

My two favorite "local" casinos are Green Valley Ranch and Silverton. They've redone the Silverton and attached a Bass Pro Shops. It's awesome! And GVR is really fun too. I like their buffet. We ate there about once a week because we always had a coupon or used points. And lots of penny machines at both!!!!


Rachel

 

[rach2674]

Oh and for those of you trying to plan a trip, one of the best deals around is www.worryfreevacations.com. They do charter trips, but don't go from a lot of cities. But if you live in one that they do, you can sign up for their weekly specials and I've seen some awesome deals.

Rachel

 

[bearette]

The best place to get tickets is ticketsfor2night and there is another discount ticket place that i forget the name of. They sell same day tickets and they open at 11am. There is one in the hawaiian market place, the mall in the center of the strip, downtown and by the coke place by MGM. You can usually find coupons for $2 off on top of their 1/2 price tickets. You can find the coupons in the where and what's on magazines. They sell alot of the girly shows and comedians. I have even seen some of the bigger shows like Mama Mia and the O at bellagio. it ia all luck though what you get. if you get there early you have first choice on what they have. Pick a few shows that you would like to see and go there to see if they have them. You might not get your first pick, but for the bargain prices you can't go wrong. I have even gone later in the evening and gotten shows that i wanted too.

 

[KellyluvsDisney]

I love this thread.......My two favorite things Disney and Vegas!

Also, a great place to play Texas Hold Em is at the Sahara. Everyone there is so friendly. We didnt stay at the Hotel, but it was a really cool place. It's kiinda far down the strip near the Stratsophere. They have a cool roller coaster too.

 

[antmaril]

We're going in August too and are still hunting for a hotel. I don't know if I want to stay just off the Strip for a cheaper rate since we're bringing the little guy (and Grandma to babysit at night) and need two rooms. I want to see O and Spamalot so need to save on the hotel!!

Spirit Airlines has a hotel special at Planet Hollywood (formerly known as The Aladdin). Rates in August are VERY cheap. Go to spiritairlines.com and click on "See Today's Picks". Scroll down and you will see an offer at Planet Hollywood for the month of August. Planet Hollywood is very centrally located and would be a great choice for you - especially if you need two rooms.

Good luck.

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

I stayed at the Aladdin last year and wanted to stay there again this year, but we ended up going with the Monte Carlo because I could get that cheaper than the Aladdin. I loved the ABC store in the mall at Aladdin, but I am sure the wave pool and lazy river will make up for it. The price we got was 3 nights and airfare for $324/person.

 

[hydster]

As someone who frequents Vegas multiple times each year here are a few tips I can offer you.....take them for what they are worth!

~Have one dinner at Mon Ami Gabi on the outside patio. You are right across from the Bellagio fountains and you can hear the music while you sit and dine!

~Buffets that we've eaten at and liked Bellagio, Paris, Bally's and the Mirage.

~Shows we usually go down for a specific purpose like a Jimmy Buffett concert so I am not really up on them but I do know that Blue Man Group is awesome and any of the Cirque shows too.

~Things to do:
Bellagio and Venetian both have an art gallery *charge*

Caesars has the fountain show and exotic cars*no charge*

Flamingo has a wildlife habitat*no charge*

Luxor has rides, Imax theater and king tut's tomb *charge*

Mandalay Bay shark reef *charge*

MGM lion habitat *free to look or you can go inside for a charge*

Mirage has volcano eruption and tiger habitat*free* along with the dolphin habitat*charge*

NY NY roller coaster *charge*

Paris Eiffel tower *charge*

Stratosphere rides *charge*

Treasure Island Sirens of TI *free*

Tropicana Titanic exhibit *charge*

Venetian gondolas, madame tussauds wax museum, art gallery *charge*

Use either the trolley or the monorail to go up and down the strip at least in the day.....it's HOT in August!~

Drink a LOT of water! You'll be amazed at how fast you get dehydrated.

Never think something is close..it's NOT

Porn slappers...they stand on the sidewalks and slap cards with semi naked women on them. My best advice is to not take ANYTHING from them, don't look at them and just keep on walking. The street and sidewalks are littered with these things.

Feel free to ask anything else......I talking about Vegas!

 

[Illuminations_Rocks]

just subbing to read this later!

 

[*Flower*]

planning my next trip.....

 

[MOMTOMOOTOO]

We were there in March for the 1st time in 20 or so years, my how things have changed. Loved it. On the strip we ate at TheCafe @ TheHotel and it was wonderful. We also ate at Wolfgang Pucks in Mandalay bay and that was good as was tried and true House of Blues. When we were downtown, someone told us to try the coffee shop @ Bunions for dinner, and it was really good and so inexpensive. (not the best looking place either). Also we went to Hash House A go go and that was delicious.

 

[DisneyJan]

I talking about Vegas!

Me too! GREAT list. We have a trip planned for July and even though I have been many times I am printing your list to take along.

My favorite thing to do in Vegas is people watch.

 

[MayMom]

I can't wait...my brother's fiance is taking me and my mom there for 3 nights in July - we are staying at the Bellagio and I don't have to pay a dime!!!! Yahoooo...I have heard the Bellagio is very nice When I was a flight attendent, we stayed at the Circus Circus, so my expectations are incredibly low...

 

[IluvXU]

We went to Vegas in March... my first time and my dh had been as a teenager! We saw O- so totally awesome. I was totally impressed and did not think I would be into it. We ate at the Mesa Grille.... yummy. It is in Cesears, and owned by Bobby Flay. It was the best meal ever. We loved roaming the hotels... especially the Wynn... Bellagio... and Cesears... The TI Siren show was interesting... and free. We also ate at one of the restaurants inside the Venitian along the canal, out on the "patio" but the strolling singers made it so fun!

 

[jgates]

You have received some great advice here!!! Read thru all of it. Another place to possibly find coupon books is on racks near the front of Walgreens or ?CSV - whatever the other big pharmacy is. ALSO - take note where these are located, LOL. Trust me. I am a pro packer and I have still forgotten to grab deodorant or other oddball things each trip. And when it is late and you are tired it becomes a LONG WAY FROM THE PARIS ELEVATORS TO THE WALGREENS FRONT DOOR!!!!!!!!!!!

I stayed the first two nights of my first trip at the Sahara. The Sahara rooms to me are very comparable to a midwest Super 8. Nothing spectacular but clean and comfy. Now the good part? If you sign up for their newsletter on their website you can often get VERY cheap rooms. The first time I stayed I believe it was $45 or $49 per night - depending on if I took the 'nicer' tower or the older tower. The second time they comped my room based on my play the previous time. The first trip was also a conference & I stayed at MGM for 4 nights. Despite the fact that MGM was newer, flashier, fancier, etc., the people were MUCH nicer at the Sahara. I have heard both good & bad about the buffet at Sahara but we had an outstanding brunch there. Also, their 24 hour cafe has nice normal food. I checked the newsletter I received from them for members & it is quoting rates of $45 to $108 for the month of August. And as I stated - it's not as fancy or as frilly but nice, clean and FRIENDLY employees. Also the monorail is the most convenient at this station & at MGM station. Close easy safe walk out the back. You can buy multiple types of monorail passes. I usually buy a multi-trip one that is good for up to a year (its also a shareable one for multiple people).

The next thing I discovered on the 2nd trip was that I really liked playing at Paris & Rio. Well, I got a card and they are both a Harrah's property. I figured - oh what they hey - and I signed up when I got the card to receive promotional mailings, etc. Pretty soon I was receiving offers 2 to 9 times a month for slot tourneys (w/free rooms), free rooms, free eiffel tower tickets, etc. The basis is - if you find a property line you like - play at that line of properties. Harrah's includes Harrahs, Bally's, Rio, Flamingo, Paris, etc. MGM includes NYNY, MGM, Bellagio, ?Excalibur, etc. Despite dropping a bundle at MGM & NYNY I have never received much in the way of offers from them. Harrah's seems to be more generous with comps & offers.

Now....if you have built up a lot of comps on your card, make sure you spend them off if you don't plan on coming back within 6 months - or else they will just drop off (at least at Harrahs & I believe Sahara). So if you have a room balance, or have charged anything to the room you can at the end ask if they can apply the comps to the room balance when you check out. When I first signed up it was 18 mos & I didn't realize it had changed (should pay more attention to those emails, LOL). I ended up losing about $75 in comps because it was 6 months & 2 weeks between a visit!!!! The way to get around that at Harrah's is to have a Harrahs credit card - then your comps stay on there indefenitely. Not sure if MGM has that type of arrangement or not.

I will admit that I have remained a Paris 'junkie' and have stayed the last 2 times there (both comped - one for a slot tourney which also provided $50 add'l food comps for Ballys). I promised that I would stay at Ballys or Flamingo or Rio this next trip, but you guessed it.....I'm back at Paris, LOL.

And yes, the Paris buffet is outstanding. Buffet at Flamingo was also very nice but a bit more spread out to walk from your table to food. Nice view at Flamingo too out into the gardens. Seafood buffet at Rio was outstanding - of course I couldn't get my $$ worth but it was still outstanding & used comp dollars, LOL.

I think they have pretty much covered all the must see items. I don't remember seeing the conservatory at the Bellagio in their list. Make sure you go there - the displays change with every season so it is ALWAYS a new experience!!! And the awesome ceiling in the check-in area - was displayed on a Travel Channel show - amazing!

Eiffel Tower is worth the $ to go up in but I would recommend going at night - daytime was fine but nighttime was more appealing to me. Same with fountains outside Bellagio.

And pack some bandaids in your purse. If you don't need them, you will be bound to run into someone that does!! I had a girl in tears because she was so happy I offered her bandaids when she was complaining of a blister.

And my show experience this last trip was Cirq's LOVE (Beatles themed). I never would have believed that a show was worth $135 - but it was worth every penny!!!