OT-Las Vegas

[connie254]

DH wants to go to Vegas. His friends suggest staying in downtown area for best hotel prices. I heard through one of my coworkers that there is a monorail/bus service on the strip and if your hotel isn't far off the strip, if isn't too far of a walk. Can anyone give me a little more info?
Do I need a rental car or is there a shuttle from the airport?
Without venturing too far away from the main area, is there anything else to do?
This may be a trip in 2014 if this is any help.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

There is a Vegas board on the DIS. You might check there

I don't like downtown. It is too seedy for my taste.

If you time the trip right, good hotels on the strip can be very cheap (Monday-Thursday nights, no major conventions ). I go a few times a year for business and casino strip hotels are generally cheaper then off strip

Monorail is a joke. Far away from the strip and $$$$$


You can take a cab or shuttle to your hotel and they have a decent bus service on the strip

The Unofficial Guide to Las Vegas is a good tool

 

[pink_fins]

When we went last we stayed downtown at golden nugget. It didn't look seedy to us... they had the nightly overhead lights and some bands playing here and there and Elvis, Dolly etc imitators. There was also a drugstore for the blisters we got LOL .

If we wanted to go to the strip we took the very clean bus and could get off lots of places.

I would say cruise lots of forums and boards and go for it. We went 4 days and the was enough. Didn't gamble much just enjoyed people watching and the sites.

If you want to see a show check on line for dates it will be there. We wanted to see Lion king and just couldn't find tickets anywhere. Well we finally found out they took the week off for a vacation. This time we will get tickets before leaving home..

 

[ThatBrunette]

The downtown area has gone downhill in the last few years. It is the older section of Vegas with casinos and gift shops built together like a strip mall. Parts of it have been blocked off to traffic and then domed over. After dusk, there is a light show on the dome.

We were in Vegas during October of last year. Husband and I like to hit downtown at least once during our trip. Normally, we meander our way down the street and visit the casinos and buy some touristy stuff. This time, when we walked out of the casino, we were accosted by panhandlers and street performers asking for money. They were aggressive! I'm from NY and these people made me nervous.

The hotel prices are usually cheaper downtown but, they don't have the same amenities as those on the strip and it has become a seedy area.

The strip is very long. The Hotel/Casinos are huge. Some of the casinos are owned in groups and connected by walkways or tunnels. You can spend a lot of time just walking down the strip visiting the different casinos and checking out the 'tourist traps'.

The monorail was intended to make strip travel easier for tourists. It is expensive and makes few stops. Disney got it right, Vegas didn't.

When we visit, we rent a car so we can get groceries and go out and see the national parks. For used book lovers, I recommend Amber Unicorn books. Last time, we stayed at the Luxor and drove down to have lunch at the Caesar's Palace Bacchanal.

Some of the casinos and hotels offer shuttle service from the airport. A few of them have check-in desks at the airport.

 

[Pakey]

I also dislike downtown. I stayed one night at the Nugget a few months ago and moved to the strip the next morning because I was so uncomfortable staying there.

Unless I'm going there on business where I have to get around, I do not rent a car. On the strip, the hotels are about a half mile apart and I walk. Or I take the Deuce, the bus that runs the strip. It's cheaper and more convenient than the monorail.

You can sign up on various resort websites and you will get emails for special offers. Staying on the strip can be very reasonable; year before last I got New York New York at $15/night midweek.

I have stayed at almost every hotel on the strip and unless there's a big convention in town you can usually find reasonably priced rooms. Weekends will of course be a lot more money. But I would not go if I had to stay downtown again!

 

[brymolmom]

I also recommend the strip - especially for those who are going more for sightseeing and less for gambling.

You can get a decent place on the strip for between $75 - $150 per night (Flamingo and Harrah's are frequently what I find that are great location and inexpensive). However, Flamingo pool area has a 'party/spring break' atmosphere and they close it at 5 or 6 pm due to all the young drinkers. DH and I like to walk the strip during the day and relax in the hot tub in the evening with a glass of wine - so Flamingo is off our list for that reason.

Things to do/see:
1) Bellaggio fountains (LOVE THEM - see them every night every time I go)
2) M&M store
3) Lots of shows - you can get same day half price tickets on the strip near M&M store (not for any of the big name shows - if it's someone you love and have heard of - get the tickets ahead of time but it will likely be $150 per ticket)
4) NyNy has a great Irish bar with an awesome band and also a great piano bar (that can get a bit annoying when they ask for tips to continue playing songs, but some nights it's awesome)
5) Downtown and the light show as pp's have mentioned

 

[Lisa71]

We live in so cal and I have been to Vegas many times. The monorail is on one side of the strip and I have found it awesome. You can get a shuttle to any hotel from the airport or a taxi. We never drive in Vegas and taxi or monorail all over. I like the MGM as it is on the monorail loop and you can also walk to several resorts. Have fun! Stay at a newer property for the best feel IMHO. I have stayed at dozens of places there over the years and the older resorts I find more smokey and cheap feeling.

 

[jpeppers]

I use to love Freemont but agree with the previous posters who have said it has went down hill. we were there in November and there were bums everywhere and people dressed in really bad, dirty costumes trying to get money. The Golden Nugget is nice but you can probably get a hotel on the strip for cheaper than it. I stayed at the Flamingo in November for $28 a night during the week and it is mid strip. It might be a little older but still nice and you can't beat the location, across the street from Caesars Palace and with a Monorail stop out the back. Harrahs and Bally's also have good rates. I would suggest visiting downtown but there is so much more to do on the strip. As far as staying off the strip and walking, I personally wouldn't do it. You walk a block off the strip and things start getting shady.

 

[usnuzuloose]

I also dislike downtown. I stayed one night at the Nugget a few months ago and moved to the strip the next morning because I was so uncomfortable staying there.

Unless I'm going there on business where I have to get around, I do not rent a car. On the strip, the hotels are about a half mile apart and I walk. Or I take the Deuce, the bus that runs the strip. It's cheaper and more convenient than the monorail.

You can sign up on various resort websites and you will get emails for special offers. Staying on the strip can be very reasonable; year before last I got New York New York at $15/night midweek.

I have stayed at almost every hotel on the strip and unless there's a big convention in town you can usually find reasonably priced rooms. Weekends will of course be a lot more money. But I would not go if I had to stay downtown again!

Hello stranger! I miss you! Any way 15 a night at NYNY? We will be back there in Aug. Stop by the Old section and say hello.

 

[usnuzuloose]

DH wants to go to Vegas. His friends suggest staying in downtown area for best hotel prices. I heard through one of my coworkers that there is a monorail/bus service on the strip and if your hotel isn't far off the strip, if isn't too far of a walk. Can anyone give me a little more info?
Do I need a rental car or is there a shuttle from the airport?
Without venturing too far away from the main area, is there anything else to do?
This may be a trip in 2014 if this is any help.

I would not stay down town. The strip has allot to do. So much shopping, and so much to see in the hotels. I love the Deuce bus. I use it every time. The last time I we were there it was 7 dollars for a 24 hour pass. Watch the groupon and living social sites for great bargains on food. I bought 2 different ones for the buffets. If you like Earl of Sandwich there is one in Planet Hollywood. There is a M&m store and Coca cola store. They have the Mob attraction at the Tropicana. That was fun. We stay at the Desert Rose which is right behind The Tropicana and Hooters.