Las Vegas ?'s

[Mickeefan]

I'm trying to plan a trip to Vegas and I've only been there once (I won a trip 3 years ago). Can anyone who has been there more than once give me advice as to where to stay and what shows to see? We don't want to "break the bank" with our lodging expenses, but we don't want to stay in a "roach motel" either. Any help from fellow DISers would be great! Thanks.

 

[Tina]

The best place to start for lodging is to visit the website of each hotel and look at their promotional rates. Keep in mind that rates are higher on the weekends and during large conventions. Http://www.a2zlasvegas is a good place to read about just about everything, including conventions. I recommend newer strip hotels for lodging. We go to Vegas every winter, so we've stayed at just about every hotel. We are leaving this Sunday for a 3-day stay at the Treasure Island. We were able to get a great deal on a petite suite for only $85 per night. As for shows, there are so many to choose from. You can't go wrong with the Cirque shows. We are seeing O at Bellagio on Monday night. I've heard wonderful things about it. I'll let you know how it goes next week when we return. For other shows, you can usually find coupons in the local magazines (available in every hotel lobby). This is a good place to find dinner and attraction coupons as well. Feel free to ask me any questions.

 

[Steve H.]

I agree with Tina about a2zlasvegas.com, also check out http://www.lvol.com -- they have a good message board as well that can be helpful in hearing other people's opinions on things.

When are you planning on going? During the week or on the weekend? Do you want to stay on Strip, off Strip or downtown? Those are a couple questions that can be a good start.

 

[Mickeefan]

We're going mid-March over a weekend. I realize it's more expensive on the weekend, but . . .

We'd like to stay on the strip.

 

[Tina]

March could cause you some problems. March Madness (basketball) is a VERY popular time in Vegas. Rooms will be at a premium. Choose your dates carefully.

 

[preshi]

Ok here's where i have stayed so far:

MGM: We eloped and decided to stay there. It was really cheap (we worked for a sister company and got a discount) and we got a spa suite. It was a nice big room with a large bathroom and jacuzzi spa. Hotel is huge and easy to get lost in though

Bellagio: My best stay so far. We had a Lakeview Suite. HUGE room with his and hers bathrooms actually had 3 total bathrooms a huge living area and bar. Plus a spectacular view of the fountains. It was gorgeous and we were trated so well there. Pools were nice.

Monte Carlo: Small room. For 2 girls with lots of luggage it was too tiny. We barely stayed there actually we met some friends and stayed at their suite at Orleans. It was a decent room 2 br 2 bth and living area but not in the greatest of locations!

Ballys: Room was clean, a smidge bigger than Monte Carlo same size bathroom. LOUD there because it's so cheap... our "neighbors" were a rowdy bunch there for a wedding and we had some interesting encounters early in the morning. Pool was nice. Plus its an easy walk to Paris where they have better food selections.

Next staying at New York New York and Excalibur in 2 weeks. I'll let you know!

 

[bekkiz]

This is copied from another post on the disneyland board--many thanks to BobbiKK:
To DW MOUSER: We just came back from Las Vegas in May and had an incredible time! Never realized how much there was to do there besides gambling. We were given a great "TO DO" list from my daughter, whose in-laws live in Las Vegas, so she has gone there often. Here is the list we had:

Bellagio-- every 15 minutes at night, the lights and music "show" in front of the fountain. FREE. (Also goes on every hour in daytime starting at 2 p.m. but its much nicer at night!) They play music (all kinds) and set the water fountains to "dance" to the music. Just great! Also, make sure you go inside to see the ceiling of the lobby and the conservatory. We had lunch in the restaurant right off the conservatory. Food was delicious and atmosphere elegant. Slightly expensive, but what a treat.
We were hoping to run into George Clooney or Julia Roberts, but no such luck!

Caesars- Forum shops-- Animatronic show goes on every hour I think, and there is a really neat circular fish tank (FREE); Motion simulator ride--cinema ride (mild) opened 11a-12mn (not sure of price); Race for Atlantis (Imax and simulator) 10a to 11/12 - $9.50adults/8.50seniors (OK to do once, but too expensive and not that great to do again)

Circus Circus--not a must, but fun. Adventure dome--indoor theme park-- pay for rides only. Flume inside there. Great if you are traveling with small children. Grandkids love it there!

Excalibur-- (FREE) Medieval troupe like Renaissance Faire. Also late at night they have a Merlin and dragon show near the moat, on the hour beginning after dark, but check for exact times; Magic motion machine-- simulator ride (near the arcade), $3.

Flamingo- wildlife habitat (open 9:30 am to 9:30 pm)

Imperial Palace – Car museum FREE with AAA card (we never made it there on this trip)

Luxor—Check out inside and out -- its amazing! Motion Simulator ride: "In Search of the Obelisk" - open 9a-11p $7; IMAX-- $9 - check out what film is showing; Walk through copy of king Tuts tomb- $5 All these were fun, but not absolutely necessary. The lobby alone is worth the trip in to visit.

Mandelay Bay -- Shark reef (cost $13); Supposedly best selection of 5 cent machines and other slots. (I had no luck at the nickel slots here though!)

MGM--lion exhibit (FREE) open 11a-11p

Mirage - Secret gardens of Sigfreid and Roy /dolphin habitat (white tigers are free, garden/dolphins cost $10) See "erupting volcano" outside at night, every 15 min, starting after dark. FREE

NY NY-- Midway games (ski ball, etc) Rides. Great for kids. Check out casino and lobby- great decor! 10a-11p Outside of hotel is amazing. There is also a roller coaster on the top. Didn't go on this one though.

Orleans- Oldies performer nightly.

Paris-- Beautiful inside and out! Ride to top of Eiffel tower- $9ad/7srs. Open 10am-1 am We had a delicious lunch at a crepe cafe.

Rio-- "Masquerade in the sky" (indoors) is a simulated mardi gras parade with floats that hang from the ceiling. Show is 3 or 4 times nightly. You can see it from the casino floor, but seen better from second floor balcony. FREE

Stratosphere-- take elevator to observatory. There are two rides at the top of the hotel--one is a roller coaster (very mild, and very short and I am not a roller coaster person and I loved it) Great view if you keep your eyes open! There is also a free fall ride (can't remember the name of it) but I chickened out for that one.

Treasure island --pirate battle (outside) 10 min. long, starts at 4 p.m. every 90 min through 10 p.m /Fri. and Sat. till 11:30 p.m. Fun show. Is closed during windy nights. We had to get there 30 minutes early for a good spot, but if there are not a lot of people you can squeeze in somewhere at the last minute.

Venetian-- Grand Canal shops-- gondola rides ($$) but go and look even if you don’t go on ride. There is an inside and outside ride. Lines were too long, so we never got on these. Maybe next time.

Have lunch at Stage deli – Caesars or Bally’s. HUGE sandwiches you can probably share!

Elvis O'Rama museum-- 3401 Industrial road , 1 block off strip near Treasure Island (no Mondays) 10a-6p $10ad/$8 Srs.

Ethel M Chocolates (division of M&M) - self guided factory tour, FREE

Fremont Street-- old downtown casinos, and the whole strip is covered with a ceiling and has lights and a light show. Known as the Freemont Street experience-- every hour on the hour after sunset. FREE. This was a really great show. If you stick around for another show, its different than the first one.

Ghost town-- Goodsprings-- 35 miles SW of Las Vegas. Old pioneer saloon-- I15 S. to Jean, turn W. on state hwy 161 for 7 miles to Goodsprings. Never been there but sounds interesting. next trip.

Hoover Dam -- on the way you will pass through Boulder City—there is a great diner that serves excellent hamburgers with very reasonable prices and regular diner food (Happy Days diner) 512 Nevada Highway (also known as Arizona Street). Other lunch option: restaurant at marina on Lake Meade. Hoover Dam: Check out hours at Hoover dam--changed since 9/11. Free outside, $6/5 for tour. Call for hours. But no bags allowed on the tour, not even pocketbooks, cameras, diaper bags, etc. (1 hour time difference since it is in Arizona, so keep that in mind.)

Liberace Museusm-- 1775 East Tropican Ave. (abt. 1 1/2 m E. of strip) open 10a-5p, Sun 1p. $7adults/ $5 seniors SUPPOSED TO BE A MUST SEE, even if you are not a fan. We totally enjoyed seeing all the great costumes and memorabilia. We got in for free, since they were in the process of moving to a building across the street and some things were missing. We also got a personal guided tour by one of the workers! It was fun.

Madame Toussad’s Wax Musesum-- near Venetian and Harrahs open 10a-11p $13.50 Enjoyed this because you were allowed to touch the figures and take pictures with them! Figures looked much better in person than on the pictures that I took though.

Red Rock Canyon- Abt. 20minutes away, then you drive a circle route of 13 miles to see GORGEOUS scenery . Daylight hours only. $5 per car. Directions: Head west on W. Charleston Blvd , which is located between the N. end of strip and Downtown. Take W. Charleston Blvd. for about 16 miles and follow signs to RRC. A MUST SEE! Breathtaking scenery.

GRAND CANYON: We took a plane ride over the grand canyon. Its a small 12 seater plane that flies you to the grand canyon airport, where a bus picks you up and drives you to the west rim, you have lunch, walk around, then drive to the south rim, take more pics, etc. Then head home. Bus picks you up and drops you off at your hotel. Wonderful, wonderful trip and worth every bit of money. ($250 including all taxes, etc). If you've never seen the Grand Canyon then this is the way to see it!

SHOWS: (reasonably priced)
American superstars: $27; In Stratosphere. Check it out if you want. (impersonators)
Legends in Concert-- another impersonator show--best of them all--$35 including tax/tip and 2 drinks. No sunday (shows at 7:30p and 10:30p) We saw this one and it was wonderful! Lots of fun.

Lance Burton at the Monte Carlo-- magician. (he was off on vacation the week I was there)

Cirque de soleil--has two different shows. "O" is supposed to be the best--done underwater. We couldn't get tickets but my daughter and parents have seen it and said its amazing.


I posted this on another board in responce to a question of hotels:
I would say Paris, only because of location. I've stayed at Venitian (LOVED IT!) and Luxor, but both were at ends and involved a lot of walking, and if I go back, I'd want to stay at Paris, Bellagio or Alladin--all center strip.

However, it really depends on what you want to do. If you guys are nightclubers or looking just to kick back and not do a ton of stuff, I would suggest Mandalay--tons of clubs, amazing restaurants(key for me!), great spa and a terrifc pool. You wouldn't have to leave. I'd want to stay center srip b/c the FI likes to gamble at Bellagio, but if that's not important, stay at what ever propety holds the best stuff for your vacation type.

Two tips--if you have the budget (you can get rates of about 15/day), rent a car. You can get off the strip and see the natural sites (red rock is awesome) and every hoel has free parking. It saves on cab fares and gives you a bit of freedom

#2- See Blue Man Group. It's at the Luxor, it's amazing and everyone loves it. It is just sooooo funny. Again, it's a little expensive (~80/person?), but so worth it. The Cirque de Soilels are good too, but BMG is the best

 

[Jen S]

I was just in Vegas this past December, and we stayed at The Mirage. The room and the bathroom were huge, and we had a great view of the volcano erupting. Pool area was fabulous, but alas it was too cold to enjoy while we were there. The room also had the best pillow I have ever had at a hotel. Last time we went we stayed at Treasure Island, which was also enjoyable, but Mirage was definitely a step up.

I really fell in love with the Paris casino while we were walking around. Just a really pretty hotel, and right across from Bellagio (I imagine lots of those rooms have great fountain views). Next time I'll be aiming at staying there. They also had the best buffet in town IMHO, and if you go right before 5:30 they will only charge you the lunch price. Great value!!

Red Rock Canyon also gets my vote for a day out. Very easy trip from the Strip and absolutely incredible views. Well worth the time to go.

Hope you have a great trip!

 

[Chuck S]

If you'll have a car, and don't mind staying just off the strip, Palace Station has very nice, clean rooms - and usually they are reasonable (I have seen them pretty pricey from time to time, though). I usually opt for a tower room, even though it cost about $10 more. Their restaurants have always been good, too. It is located "behind" Circus Circus, on the other side of the freeway on Sahara.

I'm afraid the days of really "cheap, cheap" meals and rooms in Vegas is over, unless you're a high roller.

If you want to stay on the strip, I like Treasure Island. It just seems more confortable to me me than the really glitzy newer hotels. (I usually have better luck with the slots there, too! )

I really like "Mystere" the Cirque de Soleil show at Treasure Island - pricey, but cheaper than "O" at Bellagio.

 

[Tina]

Here's a link to a March Madness discussion on a Las Vegas board:

http://pub50.ezboard.com/flasvegastalkfrm1.showMessage?topicID=18556.topic