What should I do in Las Vegas?

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Okay I leave for Las Vegas in a week for a short trip (3 days, 2 nights) I have only been there once and I was under age. I am asking for suggestions on what to do there in that short of time. I plan on staying on the strip. Can anyone help me plan my spur of the moment trip. Any hints or suggestion would be great. Thanks.

 

[lecach]

We'll be in Vegas next week - fourth time for me. We love it. We like to play table games so thats where we spend most of our time. But other favorites are:

Best buffett - Aladdin. Go at lunch its cheaper.

Best inexpensive little known deal - $4.99 steak dinner at the Ellis Island casino. Its off the strip and looks like a dump but the steak is huge and very good.

You have to see the Belagio fountains at night

You have to see Fremont Street (downtown) at night

The stratosphere tower is a must do - the observation deck has a great view

Circus Circus and Excalibur both have Krispy Kreme - they make them there

Our favorite casinos to check out (based on stuff to look at - not necessarily on the gambling): Bellagio, Venetian, Paris

Let me know if you have any other questions.

 

[mickeyboat]

See the shows outside at the Mirage and Treasure Island.

We made a trip out of just going from one hotel to another admiring the decor, etc. I loved the Venetian and Caesar's Palace.

Try to take in a nightly show. We saw Siegfried and Roy and the show with Rick Springfield at the MGM Grand (Can't remember the name but Rick Springfield is still a hottie in my book).

We also took a bus tour to the Hoover Dam. I would recommend renting a car and going on your own. The bus trip was excruciating.

Have a great time.

Denae

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Thank you for your help. Does anyone have any suggestions on transportation to and from the airport and the Hotel? Should I take a taxi or is there a better/cheaper way of transportation? I am staying at the Riviera because it is cheap and I figured I wouldn't spend much time there anyway.

How about walking distance on the strip, do you suggest I take a cab, bus, or walk?

How far is Hoover Dam and Fremont Street from the strip?

And one more question, I promise......Where can you go to get the best drinks? I heard that in the basement of MGM they have a frozen alcholic drink station there...is that true or a myth?

Thanks again everyone.

 

[lecach]

We usually get a taxi. And tell the driver to avoid the strip because it takes longer and costs more money. A lot of times we'll share a taxi with someone - our last trip there was a guy getting a taxi to the hotel next door to ours so we just split the cost.

Things on the strip are farther than they appear. It may look like a casino is just a block away but often its much farther. There is plenty of public transportation. Buses, trolleys, taxis and a monorail.

I think Hoover Dam is 1 hour. Fremont is just at the end of the strip - maybe a 10 minute bus ride depending on traffic.

We dont drink much so I cant help you there (did more than my share in college). As a matter of fact when we go next week I will be 7 weeks pregnant so I wont even be considering alcohol. When you gamble you get free drinks but I have always asked for bottled water.

And feel free to ask any questions.

 

[Aimeedyan]

We just spent our days wandering through the hotels... many of them have actual malls within them, and plenty of great things to see.

Things to hit:

- tigers at MGM
- coaster at NYNY
- pirate show at Treasure Island (note-there is a patio bar there that you can snag a seat at for the show, its a 2 drink minimum but WORTH it to have front row seats. We happened upon this)
- fountains at Bellagio
- shopping and a gondola ride at the Venetian
- mall at Caesars

We found that between the free entertainment (walking the strip) and nickel slots, we didn't have to pay for any other entertainment. We didnt even make it to the old section!

Have fun!!!!!

 

[mommytotwo]

We are going on Friday to Vegas and is wanting to see what sort of decorations they have at the Bellagio conservatory. If you are a flower/garden person I defintly recommend going there.

 

[Dopey Sharon]

Originally posted by Pooh_Friend#1
Thank you for your help. Does anyone have any suggestions on transportation to and from the airport and the Hotel? Should I take a taxi or is there a better/cheaper way of transportation? I am staying at the Riviera because it is cheap and I figured I wouldn't spend much time there anyway.

How about walking distance on the strip, do you suggest I take a cab, bus, or walk?

How far is Hoover Dam and Fremont Street from the strip?

And one more question, I promise......Where can you go to get the best drinks? I heard that in the basement of MGM they have a frozen alcholic drink station there...is that true or a myth?

Thanks again everyone.

They have a shuttle service from the airport to the hotels. I think it's $8 pp, roundtrip, but you will be stopping at other hotels and dropping people off too, like Mears does at WDW. If you're lucky, you will be the first stop, but you could be the last of four or five stops. I'm not sure how much a cab costs, since we used the shuttle, but it can't be that much....it's not far from the airport.

We walked to everything, on the strip, but we stayed more in the center. You're down towards the end. Like someone else said, things look a lot closer than then actually are. The day we walked from Treasure Island to the Riveria, we ended up taking the bus back. After three days of walking, I couldn't do it anymore! There are buses and trolleys traveling the strip all day and night. The bus was $2. You need exact change.

Can't help with the drinks, but my friend's daughter hung out at O'Sheas a lot, drinking. That's down the strip, next to Flamingo and Imperial Palace.

Have a great time!

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

When we stayed at MGM last summer they had the BEST frozen margaritas! There is a place in the "mall" area off of the casino - don't know about the one downstairs though.

I've also found that if you sit in the Keno parlors - and make sure that the "dealer" know you want to get a drink - the cocktail waitresses will make frequent trips through. You don't have to gamble much - we just tip the gals $1 each time. DH & I love the rum punch at TI - drank a little too much last time we went without the kids!

DItto what everyone said about things being farther apart than you think! We used the busses the first time we went and it worked out great to get from one casino to the next. At that time it was $1.50 each time you get on and off - but I think it's gone up since then.

 

[JayCT]

The roller coaster and the moon shot at the Stratisphere is wild. I did both several years ago. because I just had to and it was the ride of my life. Not that they are particularly exciting rides in themselves. There is just something about hanging off the side of a building a thousand feet in the air that is a bit scary when you think about it. Enjoy. Jay

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Wow thanks for all the hints and suggestions. I am getting so excited.

Does anyone know how much a cab ride would be from the airport to the Riviera and I was also wondering if you could get something like a day pass for the bus where you could have unlimited use for that day?

What other places do you suggest to eat at?

Thanks for all your help.

 

[DwarfMaster]

Does anyone know how much a cab ride would be from the airport to the Riviera

I'm not exactly sure, but I can tell you last year we went from the Excalibur downtown to the courthouse and the cabbie cost us $30!!! It wasn't very far, but the guy got on the freeway at 5:00 on a Friday eve....then he kept shutting off the car (so it wouldn't overheat) but everytime he restarted it another $2 was added to the meter. It took us like an hour to get there. We rode the bus back and it was about 20 minutes (Including a stop at every corner) and $2.

 

[carole88]

I highly recommend renting a car. There are a lot of good deals, especially through Alamo or National. Try to find coupon codes through internet searches to get the best rates. Driving from the car rental places to all of the hotels on the strip is really easy. We were there last month and had no problem with the car. We valet parked at every hotel for no charge except a couple of dollars tip to the valet.

There is also going to be a tram that goes to different hotels opening up soon, but I don't think that it is open just yet.

We ate dinner one night at Emeril's New Orleans Fish House in the MGM. The food and service were out of this world.

Have a wonderful time!

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Wow $30.00 that sounds way too expensive!!! I think I will stay with the bus idea and try and take the shuttle for 8 pp.

Does anyone know where to pick up the shuttle at the airport? Do I have to make arrangements or can I just catch the shuttle when I get there?

I am not 24 yet (only 1 month away) so I don't think I will be able to rent a car or else I would have loved to rent a car. Are most hotel parking lots free?

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

Yes - all of the parking lots are free. We use the valet parking - you only need to tip a couple of dollars - and it's worth it to get dropped off right at the front door.

 

[DwarfMaster]

Does anyone know where to pick up the shuttle at the airport? Do I have to make arrangements or can I just catch the shuttle when I get there?

There was a booth right outside the baggage claim area. You can buy a round-trip ticket right there & the shuttles run pretty frequently. You will have to call & arrange pick-up at your hotel appx 24hrs b4 leaving.

 

[hucifer]

Do yourself a favor and go see the Blue Man Group.

By far the best and most indescribable entertainment I saw in Vegas.

 

[spb999]

The Coca-Cola museum is a pretty neat walk through too ......

 

[crazywig]

expensive but the Cirque show 'O' at the Bellagio was fantastic

 

[Danauk]

I loved going indoor skydiving at the indoor skydive centre opposite circus circus it was amazing, floating on top of a big fan!!!!