Las Vegas tips?

[Bianca and Bernard]

Thank you so much! I was beginning to think that the Go Vegas card was full of things we don't really want to do. I will do some more research and see if I can find better deals before we go. I appreciate the tips!!!
Oh, and I was thinking we would be too far from the MGM to walk. I was planning to Uber. It's going to be HOT. There is a shuttle but I don't think it's very punctual.

But it's a dry heat...

Red Rock Casino is nice.

If you get a car, take a trip up to Red Rock Canyon and hike the trail. It's a bit of nature in a concrete world.

 

[Dan Murphy]

The Bluegreen Club is a bit of a hike to MGM

I was going to say that also, almost one mile.

Zumanity tickets in there too if you go at opening, because that isn't the most popular Cirque show. I've personally seen it and it was ok. Not worth full price though.

True.

I've seen -O-, Mystere, KA, and Beatles Love, all multiple times. Also several that are no longer showing. I would say -O- is my favorite. Though any of them are stunning.

Yes...if someone standing on the street corner of the strip tries to hand you a coupon...beware it's not what you think.

Yes, ignore the ever and very present porn slappers.


As far as distances are concerned, because the hotels are so big, you can look down the street and see several hotels up or down the way. And think they are not that far away. Walking from resort to resort is a real task.

If you happened to have a car, all the hotels do free valet, just tip as usual.

No drinking (maybe a beer or two) nor gambling (just not my 'thing') for me either, but I do enjoy the shows there.

The hotels and everywhere else, except the casinos themselves, are now smoke free. It seems LV does attract a disproportionate share of smokers. But mostly good now, if not in the casinos themselves. My only contact with the casinos is walking through them to get anywhere.

Enjoy.

 

[cabanafrau]

Parking is no longer free at most of the major hotels on the strip due to the TMobile Arena being built behind NYNY & the Monte Carlo -- soon to be Park MGM.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Parking is no longer free at most of the major hotels on the strip due to the TMobile Arena being built behind NYNY & the Monte Carlo -- soon to be Park MGM.

Thanks for the heads up. I used to go to LV once a year for a retirement planning seminar, no longer held there. Have not been there now for a few years.

 

[cabanafrau]

Thanks for the heads up. I used to go to LV once a year for a retirement planning seminar, no longer held there. Have not been there now for a few years.

No problem. Things change fast, it seems especially so in Vegas.

 

[NinaBella]

We didn't have a car to park in Vegas. We renting a car from the airport Hertz and although they said we didn't have to return it until the next morning, we returned it that evening (we took and uber to/from airport).

Before my trip, I was told of some free places to park. That thread is on the Budget Board if you search Vegas with Teens.

If you google free places to park on Las Vegas strip this list comes up:
http://www.latimes.com/travel/deals/la-tr-las-vegas-free-parking-20170413-story.html

We liked using Uber and being picked up and dropped off right at our destination. When calling an Uber to a hotel/casino, there are designated Uber pick-up locations that you must meet the Uber car at. The hotel staff monitors these areas so Ubers have to follow their instructions on places they can pick up. We were dropped off anywhere we wanted. It's just a restriction on pick-up and I can see why. We were told not to call Ubers until we were at our pick-up location. We noticed sometimes Ubers were at the pick-up locations and waiting 5, 10, or more minutes for the passengers that called them.

I found a good YouTube channel from an Uber driver that had a lot of Uber in Las Vegas tips. Including him walking from the terminal to the Airport Uber Pick-Up location. I found this video helpful so upon arrival I knew how to navigate to the Uber Pick-Up. The airport staff is strict there too. Our driver didn't have his Uber sign in the window and airport staff immediately corrected him before we could even open the car door.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Tip 1. Tip. Everything runs on tips. $20 to the receptionist will usually get you better seats at shows that aren't preassigned seating. $20 at some places will get you a better room. Make sure you have ones for the maid, the bell hops and the valet parker.
Tip 2. Do tell them it's your anniversary. Many places will give you some special treatment. Some won't.
Tip 3. Always be aware of the natural state of Vegas. It's a desert. Buy a case of water at Walgreens and keep some with you at all times. But take a light jacket with you because it can get cold at night and the casinos are also kept cold. But it is important to note you're still losing water.
Tip 4. You'll usually find some lower limit tables off the strip. That said lower limit tables often have rules less favorable to the player. Know the rules of the particular table before you play. They can vary from table to table even within the same casino.
Tip 5. Most casinos have instructional classes for their games. They'll often take the class to an open table with extra low limits to play a few games for real with no pressure. They also might give you a diploma. Most of the dealers and croupiers are understanding. But some patrons may not be.
Tip 6. I like to have a car to get off strip. Most places have shuttles. But obviously sometimes, they're scheduled with you staying for some time in mind.
Tip 7. Parking center strip is no longer free.
Tip 8, The strip is a lot bigger than you think. It's 3.7 miles from the Mandalay Bay to the Circus Circus. So there is lots of walking. Don't try to do everything. Pick your spots.
Tip 9 Las Vegas for the most part is stuck in the 1970s regarding smoking. The Downtown hotels are particularly smoky.
Tip 10. There is more downtown than just what is under the cover.

 

[jalapeno_pretzel]

Immediately get a rental car and drive east to Zion National Park in Utah. Come back for flight home.

 

[NinaBella]

Tip 1. Tip. Everything runs on tips. $20 to the receptionist will usually get you better seats at shows that aren't preassigned seating. $20 at some places will get you a better room. Make sure you have ones for the maid, the bell hops and the valet parker.
Tip 2. Do tell them it's your anniversary. Many places will give you some special treatment. Some won't.
Tip 3. Always be aware of the natural state of Vegas. It's a desert. Buy a case of water at Walgreens and keep some with you at all times. But take a light jacket with you because it can get cold at night and the casinos are also kept cold. But it is important to note you're still losing water.
Tip 4. You'll usually find some lower limit tables off the strip. That said lower limit tables often have rules less favorable to the player. Know the rules of the particular table before you play. They can vary from table to table even within the same casino.
Tip 5. Most casinos have instructional classes for their games. They'll often take the class to an open table with extra low limits to play a few games for real with no pressure. They also might give you a diploma. Most of the dealers and croupiers are understanding. But some patrons may not be.
Tip 6. I like to have a car to get off strip. Most places have shuttles. But obviously sometimes, they're scheduled with you staying for some time in mind.
Tip 7. Parking center strip is no longer free.
Tip 8, The strip is a lot bigger than you think. It's 3.7 miles from the Mandalay Bay to the Circus Circus. So there is lots of walking. Don't try to do everything. Pick your spots.
Tip 9 Las Vegas for the most part is stuck in the 1970s regarding smoking. The Downtown hotels are particularly smoky.
Tip 10. There is more downtown than just what is under the cover.

We went to Vegas in January. I didn't even think to tip the guy who gave us our room keys. They booked a king room and we asked for two double because of the teens so he upgraded us to a very nice floor. Normally, we tip our housekeeping at the end of the stay. I was watching a video and it seems they tip daily. Very usual to outsiders, even more out of the norm for those traveling from overseas from countries where tipping is considered an insult.

It's good to know about the instructional class I would have liked that. We also didn't walk most of the strip. We took Ubers from Bellagio to the Venetian. Even if we could see the other resort in the background we didn't walk the entire strip. We are actually very active folks so it is not like we couldn't walk that far, we just choose not to. Like our uber driver told us, the sidewalks are designed to push you back into buildings and casinos.

 

[Albort]

Parking is no longer free at most of the major hotels on the strip due to the TMobile Arena being built behind NYNY & the Monte Carlo -- soon to be Park MGM.

dont forget about the resort fee too.

 

[Sweetpancake]

There's so much to do in Vegas, including stuff off the strip. The great thing is, evening attractions that are off the strip are usually no more than a 10 minute drive. If you head to old Vegas, I would HIGHLY recommend the Mob Museum. It's so well done and fascinating. I didn't think it would be my thing at all, as I had no interest in learning about the mob but really enjoyed it. Last time we went, we took a tour of Wayne Newton's ranch which was fun as well.

As for restaurants, there are so many great ones. We really love the Peppermill which is located not far from the Wynn, on the strip. It's a fun place and the food is good. Casa Di Amore is a great italian restaurant just off the strip. There's great pizza at Pin-up pizza just outside Planet Hollywood, Mon Ami Gabi is very good at the Paris Hotel. The options are endless!

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

dont forget about the resort fee too.

What an awesome room we got for $60. Whoops. It's $120 with the parking and resort fees tacked on.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

There's so much to do in Vegas, including stuff off the strip. The great thing is, evening attractions that are off the strip are usually no more than a 10 minute drive. If you head to old Vegas, I would HIGHLY recommend the Mob Museum. It's so well done and fascinating. I didn't think it would be my thing at all, as I had no interest in learning about the mob but really enjoyed it. Last time we went, we took a tour of Wayne Newton's ranch which was fun as well.

As for restaurants, there are so many great ones. We really love the Peppermill which is located not far from the Wynn, on the strip. It's a fun place and the food is good. Casa Di Amore is a great italian restaurant just off the strip. There's great pizza at Pin-up pizza just outside Planet Hollywood, Mon Ami Gabi is very good at the Paris Hotel. The options are endless!

The Peppermill in Las Vegas hasn't changed a bit since I was a kid save for the exterior signage. That's some old school right there.

 

[Albort]

What an awesome room we got for $60. Whoops. It's $120 with the parking and resort fees tacked on.

ehh... thats not that bad... soon, its gonna be $1 rooms! with $250 resort fee. CHEAP!

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

ehh... thats not that bad... soon, its gonna be $1 rooms! with $250 resort fee. CHEAP!

That's a great idea. Sincerely, Disney

 

[Pacolovestacos]

We also didn't walk most of the strip. We took Ubers from Bellagio to the Venetian. Even if we could see the other resort in the background we didn't walk the entire strip. We are actually very active folks so it is not like we couldn't walk that far, we just choose not to. Like our uber driver told us, the sidewalks are designed to push you back into buildings and casinos.

It's a workout for sure but walking is part of the fun. You see a lot of crazy stuff, way more than you do in an Uber.

 

[xlxo]

How many days are you in Vegas? I love the side trip to the Grand Canyon.

 

[NinaBella]

It's a workout for sure but walking is part of the fun. You see a lot of crazy stuff, way more than you do in an Uber.

We went in January. Didn’t see any craziness, even on Fremont... it was pretty mild. The only thing that really made me laugh was walking from one of the popular shopping areas where they were handing out a lot of flyers the guy who yelled in Our ears “Wanna party with sluts?” LOL. We had our teens with us who just laughed too.

Just asked DH and he said Unless you count girls with only electrical tape covering their nipples or guys in g-strings as crazy?

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

We went in January. Didn’t see any craziness, even on Fremont... it was pretty mild. The only thing that really made me laugh was walking from one of the popular shopping areas where they were handing out a lot of flyers the guy who yelled in Our ears “Wanna party with sluts?” LOL. We had our teens with us who just laughed too.

Just asked DH and he said Unless you count girls with only electrical tape covering their nipples or guys in g-strings as crazy?

The craziest thing I've ever seen is when one of those characters asks you if you want to take your picture and some unsuspecting tourist doesn't pay them not knowing they expect to be paid. HAHAHAHA.

 

[Tikitoi]

The Bacchanal buffet--Caesars--is amazing and you will not regret that Groupon purchase!!

I saw one on Groupon for $35/pp but the hours were from 7:30 am to 10:30 am, is that the one you're talking about? Just wondering are the choices at that time of day worth that cost...