Need help please with budget trip to Vegas

[cheshirecatsbaby]

Lucky you! There are all kids of deals for locals. Have you checked out http://www.mgmmirage.com/locals/ - lots of discounts.

Thanks, I can't remember the last time I was at MGM, I think they still had the amusement park!

 

[aclov]

Thanks for all the great info. We are thinking of visiting the Grand Canyon as we are so close. Has anyone been to the "Skywalk at the Grand Canyon northern rim. The Southern rim is too long of a drive.It seems the northern rim does not open until mid way but the Skywalk is in that area and it is open. Any input on driving from Vegas to the northen rim would be appreciated. We are not planning on any hilking, just would like to see it.

Was thinking of doing a day tour which is about 15 years of Grand Canyon since I won't have a car, if anyone has input?

 

[jgates]

Grand Canyon is a long one day trip - just be prepared to leave early in a.m. & get back late.

One option is renting from your hotel for one day for a car if you don't feel you would need or get the value for it over a 4 or 5 day rental. Then you could still go to Hoover Damn & Red Rock Canyon. With discount codes from the rental car thread (on page 1 of about a 140 page thread LOL) from fatwallet, I did a one day rental at Paris for $48 including taxes last trip. My only change would be to next time rent it the day BEFORE I leave & change return location to the normal rental car center. Might be a few bucks extra for a location change for drop-off but still less than taxi back to airport.

One hotel option if you are not really gamblers might be Desert Rose Resort. They reviews of it have been very good at vegasmessageboard.com. Sounds like they have a continental breakfast also & nice rates. From what I could tell in the reviews it is close to MGM - just walking distance off strip. There is also a Marriott Village type of location east on Flamingo then about a block north (just north of Bahama Breeze I believe) where they have a Springhill Suites as well as a couple other properties. (I'm a big Marriott fan).

Valet parking is free at all strip hotels, however, on weekends it may be restricted to hotel guests or higher level players club members. Self-parking is also free & normally will always have room.

I was VERY surprised at the comment about the casinos being filled with smoke. They are some of the CLEANEST casinos I have ever been in. You will notice differences at the older, lower ceilinged casinos where the air doesn't circulate as well. Example - it is smokier in the front area of Flamingo, the Penny Pit in Harrahs, Casino Royale, etc than it is in Bellagio, Paris, Ballys, MGM, etc. It is the design of the building - older - lower ceilings. But in the bigger ones, I can hang my shirt out at night & it doesn't smell like smoke in the morning. (At our local casino I have to stuff it into bottom of laundry basket because it stinks so bad). I also can breathe easier in the Vegas casinos.

You cannot smoke in any dining areas in Vegas, however, if there is someone bothered by smoke, make sure you are seated away from the exterior areas of the restaurant - example - at Cafe St. Louis in Paris there is an 'outdoor' (it's all inside) patio area - it is adjacent to the casino floor so there could be smoke there from the players. However, inside the restaurant you would be away from it.

Come & visit us at vegasmessageboard - someone here directed me to them a couple of years ago - a great bunch & willing to answer your questions!! Just as friendly & wonderful as the people here.

I have not read too much in the wonderful terms on the West Wing rooms - most people feel you should try to get a Tower room instead.

There are tons of things to do on the strip itself that do not involve gambling - enjoy!

 

[aclov]

Spring for the American Casino Guide. It is around $15 (surf the web...be sure it is the 2010 one). The listing of Vegas coupons is on their site www.americancasinoguide.com.
Lasvegasadvisor has a coupon book for $37 also.

I'm going in April and again in June, so it sounds like this might be worth buying