Vegas Tips, Please!

[snowwhitesmom]

DH and I are going for the first time in February - any and all tips and suggestions welcome!TIA!

 

[goofinoff]

OOOOO...my second favorite subject (WDW #1!!)!
Don't go for more that 5 or 6 days. You will get sick of it after that! Vegas is a blast! Bring really comfy shoes. Lots of walking! Stay on the strip!! I would suggest some place central (Bellagio, Paris, Treasure Island). Take a trip to the hoover dam! Worth it! Take a helicopter tour over the strip at night! Worth it!! Do not rent a car! you don't need it! There is a monorail that runs behind the east side of the strip. The bus takes a long time! I wouldn't bother going to Downtown Vegas or old Vegas...Old being the key word! Try to see all of the hotels! They're awesome!!! Take tons of pics and have fun!!!! Remember that if you're in the casino gambling, you get free drinks!!!

 

[momrek06]

OOOOO...my second favorite subject (WDW #1!!)!
Don't go for more that 5 or 6 days. You will get sick of it after that! Vegas is a blast! Bring really comfy shoes. Lots of walking! Stay on the strip!! I would suggest some place central (Bellagio, Paris, Treasure Island). Take a trip to the hoover dam! Worth it! Take a helicopter tour over the strip at night! Worth it!! Do not rent a car! you don't need it! There is a monorail that runs behind the east side of the strip. The bus takes a long time! I wouldn't bother going to Downtown Vegas or old Vegas...Old being the key word! Try to see all of the hotels! They're awesome!!! Take tons of pics and have fun!!!! Remember that if you're in the casino gambling, you get free drinks!!!

ITA!

Get SHOW tickets. There are some of the BEST shows in Vegas...Celine Dion to name one. She was AMAZING!!! The Cirque shows are FABULOUS. And tons of comedians. Try to take a peek in each Casino. You will be amazed at the theming of the different casinos. Venetian ride the Gondolas. Ny Ny, go on their rollercoaster. Luxor tour through the Egyptian museum. Caesars, the SHOPPES. Bellagio, the fountains.
Definitely try a trip to Hoover Dam.

 

[pbnjrockette]

We were there in July (too hot!) but February sounds fabulous.

We stayed at Paris and the central location was sooo convenient and having the Bellagio fountains across the street was magical!! Breakfast in Paris was sooooooo good! The crepes in Bellagio (for snack) were the best!

Be sure to book your shows early to get the best selection and seats. We saw Mystere (wonderful, fabulous!) the Blue Man Group (strange but not to be missed) and Danny Gans (the new Mr. Vegas).

We did go downtown to "Glitter Gulch" at night just for the experience and to see the older casinos and restaurants (Go inside "Main Street Station"---fabulous antique woodwork and gorgeous old chandeliers.

Enjoy!!!

 

[Papa Deuce]

NUMBER ONE - ABOVE ALL ELSE........ wear comfortable shoes! Everything in Vegas seems closer than it really is. You look at something and think it is a 3 minute walk, and it turns out to be a 10 minute walk. I estimate that when in Vegas, I walk 5 - 7 MILES a day.

2. Don't try to do to much. Vegas will be there when you are ready to go back. Enjoy the actual hotels - they are SPECTACULAR. Smell the roses!

3. Go see the Hoover Dam... about a half hour away. It is awesome in every sense of the word.

4. Ignore the time share people.... if they pester you, just tell them you are leaving later in the day to go home.

5. Pick one restaurant to absolutely go "all in" for a meal. There are so many tremendous restaurants.

6. Don't play "double zero" roulette... it is for suckers!

7. If you do buffets, go about 30 minutes before their official Dinner starts... you will pay half the cost, and get the dinner items available as they switch over.... my 3 favorites are Bellagio, Paris..... and the much cheaper Main Street Station ( downtown area )

8. I don't think the helicopter rides over the strip are still available.... if that is the case, ride to the top of the Stratosphere Hotel at dusk..... hang out up there as it becomes dark.

9. There is a place to go INDOOR SKY DIVING! What a blast!

10..... please re-read rule number 1.

Have a fabulous time! Vegas is my favorite 4 - 5 day vacation spot in the USA!

 

[Papa Deuce]

...I wouldn't bother going to Downtown Vegas or old Vegas...Old being the key word! Try to see all of the hotels! They're awesome!!! Take tons of pics and have fun!!!! Remember that if you're in the casino gambling, you get free drinks!!!

To each their own, but I LOVE downtown Vegas! A much slower pace, and definitely more like what Vegas "used" to be. Yes, it is "old", but there is a lot of charm in many of those hotels / casinos.

For an absolutely ROMANTIC meal, visit the 4 Queens casino, and eat at Hugo's ( in the basement )..... many tourists never even know it is there.

( I will say, I haven't been to Vegas in 6 years, but we used to go at least once a year... things change when ya have kids..... )

 

[rer1972]

You lucky folks. I love Vegas too. I've lost track of how many times I've visited (guessing 20+). Here is my IMHO list...

1. Check out this site www.lasvegasadvisor.com Look under the Vegas Info & Gambling Info sections. Make sure to look at the Top 10 Values too.
2. Downtown can be fun. I go there to people watch (lotsa wierdos).
3. If you don't eat much the buffets arent' worth it. I'd try a good one just to ge a feel for them, but I'm in Vegas so spending my money on food is not tops on my list.
4. My favorite place to eat & grab a $1 beer is Ellis Island on Koval Lane (East of the Strip behind Bally's). They got a $4.99 steak dinner (24hrs) that pretty good. Oh, and they brew their own beer (it's a buck! and it's good). Ask for a glass at the casino bar and take it into the restaurant.
5. Do check out the fountains at Bellagio at night. Very romantic. Take a jacket though it'll be cool at night. If you check out the Pirate Show at TI beware it's crawlin with picpockets.
6. If there is a show you really want to see I recommend buying tickets in advance. If you just want to get there and see what shows are available go by Tix4Tonight here's there link for the locations in Vegas http://www.lasvegasleisureguide.com/lasvegas/calls/c-t2fr1.htm . I've used them several times, and can get tickets at or very close to half price on shows. The tickets available depend on demand for that show during the day; so they only start selling tickets at noon when the shows want to start getting rid of tickets.
7. If you like Cirque Du Soleil I recommend watching Mystere or O. Both are worth the price.
8. As noted by other posters stay away from the timeshare sales guys. Unless you really want one. There are better things to do in Vegas.
9. If you are going to gamble make sure to sign up for the players clubs at each hotel you gamble at. You can sign up before you go with some casinos (check las vegas advisor they have links to all the casinos). These players clubs is how the casinos know to send you promotions and special rates on future stays. Also, many of them will give you cash back on what you gamble. Thats right CASH back. It may not be much, but it's better than nothing.

Well, good luck. I think you will really enjoy yourselves.

 

[DisneyMagdelaine]

The Las Vegas Hilton has a great Star Trek themed area with Disney-esque rides that are FANTASTIC!

 

[Papa Deuce]

The Las Vegas Hilton has a great Star Trek themed area with Disney-esque rides that are FANTASTIC!

I enjoyed that and I don't even really like Star Trek that much.... but fortunately we had free passes! I think it is about $25pp....... and I would say it is worth $15 tops..... unless you are a Trekkie. The restaurant the ride leads you into is pretty darn good for a them restaurant!

 

[LoraJ]

Another Vote for downtown. We love Freemont Street Experience.

Most people will tell you not to, but we always rent a car. Much rather drive around in the AC of a car than walk around in the heat. Parking is free just about everywhere and it's possible you'll pay less for the car than in cab/monorail fare.

If you have the time and don't mind small planes, take a tour to the Grand Canyon. It's amazing.

 

[funhouse8]

Another Vote for downtown. We love Freemont Street Experience.

Most people will tell you not to, but we always rent a car. Much rather drive around in the AC of a car than walk around in the heat. Parking is free just about everywhere and it's possible you'll pay less for the car than in cab/monorail fare.

If you have the time and don't mind small planes, take a tour to the Grand Canyon. It's amazing.

On our last trip we finally made it down to Freemont Street and it was a great show. I also would recommend it. Enjoy Vegas it is a great town and
Papa Deuce is correct follow #1.

 

[Mugg Mann]

Having just gotten back a month ago from my first visit in many years, this site was far and away the most helpful for helping me decide what to do;

visitlasvegas.com

It has interactive maps and lets you pull up attractions and shows in each hotel/casino as well as other points of interest.

We enjoyed spending a few minutes walking around each hotel/casino and soaking in the ambiance. A good suggestion is to give yourself a fixed time to gamble in each casino; say about 15 minutes or so, and then move on.

Huge thumbs up to;
-The Star Trek experience at the Las Vegas Hilton. If you're remotely a fan of any of the shows, this is a must.
-The Caesars Palce Forum shops. I'm not a shopper, but this was very unique, and an experience/ambiance not to be found elsewhere
-Like hitting La Nouba at WDW, do go to one of the Cirque De Soliel shows. You'll lay out about $100-125 each for a good seat, but it's a great experience
-The Freemont Street Experience. Lots of fun; this is a must do at night. If you have a camcorder of any type, bring it just to take in the neon and the overhead show.

The advice someone gave about the bus up and down the strip was right on target. We bought an all-day pass for it, but only rode it once after finding out we could have walked faster, and rode the monorail all day instead.

Walking in Vegas is like walking in Epcot. Be prepared to walk anywhere from 5-10 miles in the course of the day. The difference in Vegas is that there's no humidity, so as long as you stay hydrated with plenty of water (Very important!) if you're up to it you can keep going until your feet give out.

Hope this helps!

 

[Jeafl]

I agree with everything that has already been posted, you got some great tips here. I just want to reiterate one thing: WEAR SHOES FOR COMFORT NOT LOOKS!!! Take it from someone who learned the hard way.
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Some of my favorite restaurants:

Emeril's New Orleans Fish House at MGM Grand--Excellent (and expensive!) even if you don't like seafood

The Eiffel Tower Restaurant at Paris--Unparalleled view of the strip, fairly expensive but worth it

Grand Luxe Cafe at the Venetian--Similar to Cheesecake Factory. Huge portions, moderately priced

The Italian restaurant at Paris (can't remember the name) Great food, moderately priced. Also the buffet at Paris is excellent for both dinner and breakfast. You must try the crepes!

Olives at the Bellagio--very good food, fairly expensive. Ask for a table overlooking the fountain show. Very romantic.


Avoid like the Plague--

Kokomos at the Mirage--Ok food, but EXTREMELY expensive, plus you need to stop at McDonalds on the way back because you are still hungry. The couple we were with ordered a shrimp appetizer at "Market Price" which was basically a jumbo shrimp cocktail over blue glow-in-the-dark ice. When the bill came they found out it was $100!!!! For an appetizer!

Keep in mind that at just about every fine restaurant in Vegas everything is a la carte!

 

[snowwhitesmom]

Thanks everyone! Keep em coming! You're the best!
Question - How scary would it be to stay at the Tropicana? We think we may want to try a "faded glory" type of hotel.....

 

[Papa Deuce]

Thanks everyone! Keep em coming! You're the best!
Question - How scary would it be to stay at the Tropicana? We think we may want to try a "faded glory" type of hotel.....

Isn't the Trop getting knocked down? I stayed there and it was fine in the renovated tower. But I thought I heard it was coming down. Could be wrong.

 

[snowwhitesmom]

I hope not, Papa - we booked there our first night! In the "something or other" Tower - it was okay? When were you there?

 

[Kae]

Emeril's New Orleans Fish House at MGM Grand--Excellent (and expensive!) even if you don't like seafood

And the chef is "oh my" John Paul love him. We had a better steak at the Fish House then Delmonico. We ate in the kitchen is was awsome. If you love seafood go to the Seafood Buffett at the Rio(not the huge one) Not cheap but good.

Also there is a Mexican Cantana is the Shopping area at the Venetian that is good & had great Ritas.

don't miss the Water Fountains at Belligo, the Show at TI is ok worth seeing but I would not stand in the cold for it.

Also if you have not pick out your hotel check out www.cheapovegas.com.

Kae

 

[princess pooh]

I agree with what everyone says about the comfy shoes. We had to buy DH a new pair of walking shoes because he wore out the soles of his Pumas after a day. Everything looks close but it's really, really not!

Book the popular shows in advance, especially if you go during a busy time. I tried to book O a month in advance but it was already sold out.

Check out the half price ticket booths. We got cheap tickets to Avenue Q and Hairspray, and I even found a discount coupon in one of the tourist magazines.

Expect to spend lots of money. We used points for the flight and hotel, and still spent a fortune

 

[goofinoff]

Isn't the Trop getting knocked down? I stayed there and it was fine in the renovated tower. But I thought I heard it was coming down. Could be wrong.

I heard it was coming down sooner or later. The comfortable shoes is stressed a lot on this thread! BIG TIME!! I made the mistake of bringing brand new sneakers! The first day I wore them I got HUGE blisters on my pinky toes. I was miserable!! I ended up wearing my flip flops that I happened to throw in my bag the night before we left! My feet were so sore that there was no way I could get my foot into a shoe! I learned my lesson and am breaking in my new sneakers for WDW!!
Definately take in a show or two! The Venetian has Madaam Tussauds Wax Museum. Very cool. I think some one mentioned the time share dudes. They are annoying as heck and will tell you that they want to give you show tickets! don't fall for it! To get your "free" tickets they want you to give them 2 hours of your time to go listen to a time share presentation. Just tell them that you're leaving "tonight" or "tomorrow" and keep walking. I think someone mentioned how close everything looks. It's amazing. You see another hotel "right next door". Nope!!! It's a mirage!!! Very weird!
There is certainly no place like Vegas! I remember my husband and I were walking across one of the skywalks the night before we left and we passed these group of guys who must of just gotten there because one of them said "this place is like Disney World on crack!!" It's so true!

 

[hydster]

Just found this thread but we go to Vegas at LEAST 4 times a year. It's a 6 hour drive for us so we go!

Here are some tips I can give you

1- The Tropicana isn't terrible. The rooms are OK if you just want a basic room and the rate is good. We stayed there last time we went because we went down a day earlier than we thought so we got a room for 40 bux and it was OK.

2-NOTHING in Vegas is as close as it looks! We've been probably 40 times and we still get fooled sometimes as things LOOK close and they are NOT. The last time was the walk to the Wynn.

3-We drive so we don't have to rent a car but honestly I'd not rent one unless you have a day trip planned. We rarely use our car. There is a monorail for free from Excalibur to Mandalay Bay. The monorail behind the MGM and down the strip you can buy a shared pass for cheaper than a car. IN MY OPINION ONLY!

4- Try to stay somewhere central

5- Be prepared to WALK. Even INSIDE the casinos you will walk and you will walk alot

6 - Unless you are a HUGE eater the buffets in Vegas are NOT worth it.

7 - BEWARE of the porn slappers. They stand on the sidewalks and you CANNOT miss them. Don't look them in the eye and whatever you do do NOT accept what they are offering! If you are curious just look down...you'll see dozens of discarded porn cards

8 - Don't take an offer for a free show from someone on the street or in a casino. They are NOT free!

9 - Try to visit a show while there. Blue Man, O, Mystere, Le Reve at the Wynn.

10- Eat at Mon Ami Gabi at Paris! If the weather is ok try to eat outside. You can watch and listen to the Bellagio Fountains from there and the people watching can be amusing as well.

11 - The Forum shops at Caesars are just fun to browse through

12 - Did I mention be prepared to walk?

13 - What happens in Vegas did happen you just don't talk about it!

14 - Have a GREAT time!!! We leave in 2 weeks again for Vegas and I cannot wait!!

15 - Freemont is cool. You can take the monorail downtown and then catch a shuttle to Freemont. It's worth a one time looksee.

16 - Alcohol flows freely there......and it's always available to help with a hangover

17 - The tables are VERY expensive *at least to us* so beware

18 - Anything else you need to know...pm me. We go A LOT!