Let's Talk Vegas

[disneychrista]

What hotel will you be staying at? Location matters when it comes to talking about transportation options. Many hotels are not within what I would consider 'walking distance'.

I am debating. I am wanting something center strip. I don't need anything fancy. Just a clean room to sleep & shower. I am thinking maybe Planet Hollywood or Paris? Any advice on this?

 

[disneychrista]

I go to Las Vegas (please don't call it "Vegas")

Why?

 

[gmi3804]

I am debating. I don't need anything fancy. Just a clean room to sleep & shower. I am thinking maybe Planet Hollywood or Paris? Any advice on this?

Paris is close to Caesars, easy walk. Great location. It'll be further to the museums, but you'll be able to walk to tons of places. Planet Hollywood is similar price wise, but not not nearly as nice. If you choose Paris, be sure to get a room in the Bordeaux Tower, not the Versailles Tower. Versailles is a renovated tower from the former Ballly's/Horseshoe; that part of the property is a bit gross.

 

[disneychrista]

Paris is close to Caesars, easy walk. Great location. It'll be further to the museums, but you'll be able to walk to tons of places. Planet Hollywood is similar price wise, but not not nearly as nice. If you choose Paris, be sure to get a room in the Bordeaux Tower, not the Versailles Tower. Versailles is a renovated tower from the former Ballly's/Horseshoe; that part of the property is a bit gross.

Thank you. Regardless of where I stay I assumed I would need to take transportation to the museums. I am hoping by staying mid strip it'll make getting around the strip easier.

 

[Karin1984]

I am in the beginning stages of planning my first trip to Las Vegas. My main question right now is about transportation. I am planning to go to the mob museum, brewery row at the arts district, the neon museum, the Fremont experience, see the Absinthe show and I am sure other things. What is the best & easiest way to get around? Should I plan on having a car? Should I rely on the bus? Uber?

But of course I am looking for all the tips, tricks and highlights. Anything I should add to my list of must do's?

I went to Vegas a bout 2 months ago. It's not a walkable city like New York, things are much further apart. I underestimated it. I walked to the mob museum, took the bus back to the Strip. I didn't mind the walking in itself. However, at some part of town just before Fremont, I started to feel unsafe.
The bus was easy, convenient, cheap.

I wasn't a fan of the Mob Museum, thought it was very expensive (and I was happy to get a student discount) for a museum and what you got in the end. I had hoped for a bit more interactive. It was very old-fashioned museum style of looking/reading. I had a feeling that you could do something more exciting with this topic.

My tip & trick is to look out for hidden costs. I would have gone to more shows, if they were more transparent about pricing. They advertise with a ticket price of $70, so that's what I budgeted, but then when you go further into the booking system $20-40 were added. I went to see one of the Cirque du Soleil shows, as I knew these shows are very technical, lots of cast, crew, moving parts in the set, that is expensive. My money goes to higher production value.

That's also the case with hotels. Most on the Strip advertise cheap prices, but then add a resort fee per night. So that in the end... the price is the same or higher than normal.
I get that this is the thing in Vegas, but not something I appreciate. I want to know in advance the full price.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

When booking a hotel on the strip, be mindful of the resort fees. You'll see the nightly rate, then small print next to it that says "plus taxes and resort fee." For some of the Caesar's brand hotels, the fee is up to $50 per night. If you're looking at a site like Hotels.com to compare prices, keep in mind that the nightly rate doesn't tell the whole story.

I agree about using Uber and public transit to get around. We took a cab to Fremont Street and a bus on the way back. The airport is literally at the end of the strip, so getting to and from using Uber or cabs is relatively inexpensive. We also use the monorail system to get between hotel/casinos, which works very well.

 

[gmi3804]

The airport is literally at the end of the strip, so getting to and from using Uber or cabs is relatively inexpensive.

You'd think, right? Not true. Ubers and cabs "long-haul" riders coming off the airport and almost always use I-15 to reach Strip hotels. Ostensibly it's to cut time off the ride, but they're covering about 3x the distance. So beware.

 

[_19disnA]

Where to stay in Vegas is mostly a matter of budget, personal preference/how you like a particular hotel's 'theming' and to some extent what you plan to do. Just like with airline tickets, you need to include other added costs to see the total price you will be paying. If you belong to one of the major player's clubs like MGM or Caesar's who own the majority of the largest hotels, you can get comps for things like meals/shows/free play/etc. depending on how much you gamble. Individual independent hotels also have their own player's club card, but unless you plan to gamble enough at their property, you probably will never accumulate enough 'points' to be worth anything.

However, at some part of town just before Fremont, I started to feel unsafe.

I agree. I would NOT recommend walking around Fremont street if you are by yourself. Parking is only available on surface lots (if driving) and you have to walk by a lot of sketchy people who will be laying around on the sidewalk. We went to Fremont street one time because friends we were with wanted to see it. Personally, I would never go back there. All of the casinos are tiny and just wasn't someplace we felt safe. Casinos nearer the airport feel MUCH safer, all have large casino floors and lots of dining/show options to consider.

It's not a walkable city like New York, things are much further apart. I underestimated it.

I agree, many first time visitors see large casinos/hotels nearby and assume it is easy to walk there. Unless you want to do a LOT of walking, you will quickly realize most places are farther apart then it first appears. In the Summer it is really way too hot to walk outside any long distance no matter how much you might like walking.

Shows in Vegas tend to be pricey since I assume they attract enough people willing to pay those high prices or those there for gambling consider it part of how they want to spend their entertainment dollars. Would you rather gamble for that time or watch a show, for example?

 

[CallieMar]

Taxis are now fixed rate from the airport to the Strip, the price depends on which zone your hotel is in. Uber/Lyft is cheaper but you do have to walk over to the garage for pick up. Most resorts now charge for parking unless you have status with them, so I’d only rent a car maybe for a day if you’re planning on going off strip. There is a monorail but it is way in the back of the hotels on the east side of the Strip, and it’s a long walk just to get to the station. There is also the Deuce Bus that goes up and down the strip itself but is subject to the usual traffic. We prefer to take our time walking through all the various hotels and then Uber/lyft back when we’re done. Last time we spent a full day walking around, starting at Park MGM, walking down to Excalibur and back up again, ending at Venetian. It was about $10 plus tip for an Uber back to our hotel.

We always go to a show, but otherwise don’t really do any other paid experiences. Lots of stuff to see in the hotels for free like the Fountains and Conservatory at the Bellagio, walking through the Forums at Caesars Palace and wandering around the canals at the Venetian. The hotels are very spread out, double the walking estimates that Google gives. We generally make our dinner plans within walking distance of our hotel (meaning usually no more than maybe two hotels away). If we had a reservation further away we just take an Uber.

Fremont Street is crazy at night but we still enjoy it in small doses. They usually have pretty good bands playing on the stages and the people watching is either amazing or awful depending on your view lol. We like to take an Uber downtown to go to dinner, then wander Fremont and listen to the music for a couple hours before taking an Uber back. It was about $13 each way, plus tip.

 

[neverlandsky]

*Taxi if they pick you up from the airport and hop on the 215 fwy, it’s a longer way around and more mileage. They should be taking you from the airport the back way, up Paradise Road and cut up the strip Tropicana, Flamingo, Desert Inn, etc. to where hotel is at.

*Uber/Lyft. Pretty easy. However does get backup often when it’s busy. You could be waiting a bit.

*Hire a personal car service to meet you at baggage claim.

*Rental car, a shuttle from each terminal 1 or terminal 3 will take you directly to the car rental place. Which is a 5-10 minute drive from the airport. Process is super easy. You’re in and out fast. Same with car rental drop off. Then hop on terminal 1 or terminal 3 shuttle back to airport.

Lots of locally owned good eateries off strip if you’re a foodie.

If you have no checked bags, you only have to be at the airport about 90 minutes before flight.

 

[disneychrista]

This may seem like a silly or odd question but is it safe to have a backpack for things like water, sunblock, medications, book, notes, back-up battery, etc? Do any places NOT allow you to carry a backpack?

 

[neverlandsky]

This may seem like a silly or odd question but is it safe to have a backpack for things like water, sunblock, medications, book, notes, back-up battery, etc? Do any places NOT allow you to carry a backpack?

Venues have restrictions. Hotels/Casinos you’re good. Waking the strip, I wouldn’t recommend it. It’s best to just carry your wallet in your front pocket and carry your drink. Plus with the heat and carrying a backpack, you’ll have a sweaty back.

 

[DisneyDebbie]

This may seem like a silly or odd question but is it safe to have a backpack for things like water, sunblock, medications, book, notes, back-up battery, etc? Do any places NOT allow you to carry a backpack?

I used a crossbody/fanny pack bag with no issues.

 

[disneychrista]

Venues have restrictions. Hotels/Casinos you’re good. Waking the strip, I wouldn’t recommend it. It’s best to just carry your wallet in your front pocket and carry your drink. Plus with the heat and carrying a backpack, you’ll have a sweaty back.

Definitely was planning on keeping my wallet/money/phone in my front pocket.

I am just wondering how I would carry the things, especially when I go off the strip to visit the museums and the arts district.

 

[Sykes]

This may seem like a silly or odd question but is it safe to have a backpack for things like water, sunblock, medications, book, notes, back-up battery, etc? Do any places NOT allow you to carry a backpack?

I carry a backpack all the time and it’s not a big deal, but it can be a bit hot to have it on my back. Most theaters, sports venues, night clubs, and day clubs (and a few bars that are closer to a night club than a normal bar) have some restrictions on bags and what you can carry in, but aside from that you shouldn’t get much pushback about carrying a backpack most places. Usually it’ll say on the website if a venue has restrictions (for example, the Mob Museum says they don’t allow “large backpacks”). If you need it, at hotels you can usually check a bag at the bell desk even if you are aren’t staying there (but be mindful of leaving any valuables).

 

[disneychrista]

the Mob Museum says they don’t allow “large backpacks”).

This may be a question to ask them directly but do you know if they will hold a backpack for you?

 

[neverlandsky]

This may be a question to ask them directly but do you know if they will hold a backpack for you?

Museums don’t hold bags.

 

[disneychrista]

Museums don’t hold bags.

I kind of assumed as much and I do understand but it frustrating at the same time. There are things I need for a day out and about. Thankfully I do have several months to figure something out.

 

[Sykes]

This may be a question to ask them directly but do you know if they will hold a backpack for you?

Their website shows that bag check is available on the first floor at the box office, but it may be worth reaching out to them for details.

Museums don’t hold bags.

Incorrect for the Mob Museum. (I’ve also used bag check at some other museums.) Not sure why you’d confidently reply without checking first.

 

[FreeTime]

You'd think, right? Not true. Ubers and cabs "long-haul" riders coming off the airport and almost always use I-15 to reach Strip hotels. Ostensibly it's to cut time off the ride, but they're covering about 3x the distance. So beware.

Agree that they take the long route. I always get in and say I am familiar with the area take the short route.