Discussion
nikaiyo2 said:
Nah fremont is fun, in a gritty way.
Also, the demographics of people visiting Fremont Street seems to be no different to people milling about around the Strip Casinos - at least the Downtown area has restrictions on the street performers, on the Strip it is a wild west of panhandlers. I'm sure you get a better quality of punter in the High Limit Room at the Wynn, one of the Michelin Star resturants or in a night club VIP area, but the main tourist casino patrons either on the Strip, Downtown or in the suburbs are much of a muchness (* maybe not full on local's places like Jerry's Nugget that are in proper dodgy neighbourhoods though, but you'd not accidentally end up there anyway).
98elise said:
Agreed.
My brother has gone multiple times for over a week and I just don't get the attraction. He's not even a big gambler. I think he just likes flash hotels, and cheap buffets!
We did 5 days and it was more than enough. I would only go for longer if it was to visit the canyon for a couple of days.
....aaaand its gone...! Our holiday to Vegas in August, at least. Airline cancelled flights, and to be honest its impossible to still get out there if you are not a US citizen without some faff. Rebooked for April... heres to hoping (again!)...My brother has gone multiple times for over a week and I just don't get the attraction. He's not even a big gambler. I think he just likes flash hotels, and cheap buffets!
We did 5 days and it was more than enough. I would only go for longer if it was to visit the canyon for a couple of days.
On the 2 weeks in Vegas, we have been many times before. Its not really a full 2 weeks in LV, but more like a week in Vegas and a week usually in Laguna Beach (with 1-2 days in LA thrown in), so a healthy balance. Agree, 14 days on the strip might be a bit much!
2 GKC said:
It was 30 times on 1 May 2020. Good effort going 20 times during the pandemic
Last visit was new year, 2019/20 , as you will understand. At the mandarin alone just checked it was 38 nights in the ten years it was there. Been twice a year, two nights for 25 years so , more than 50 ! David Beer said:
Been many times, maybe 30, as part of road trips. first time 7 nights, now two maximum.
Agreed with the trips out, Fremont no way!
City centre good location, stayed most but The Mandarin was favourite, now the Waldorf.
Stayed Waldorf this Xmas and would be there again mid July!!!
Agreed with the trips out, Fremont no way!
City centre good location, stayed most but The Mandarin was favourite, now the Waldorf.
Stayed Waldorf this Xmas and would be there again mid July!!!
On a few trips I've stayed there for 3 weeks (normally average a fortnight duration once or twice a year), so it's doable. You sometimes need to change hotel midway thru as the max stay is 14 nights at many of them.
After 3 weeks you will come home with your ears still ringing and your eyes strained though
On a quick note about buffets, what used to be a major "pull" for casinos and often a loss-leader (they still cost single $ figures for a lot of dinner buffets in late 90's), are gradually getting closed permanently, including sadly some decent mid-range options at the Mirage and TI (Treasure Island). Some of this predates Covid but Covid sped up the closures
Similarly, some reasonably busy poker rooms (Mirage/Harrahs/Excalibur etc) were shut for Covid but are taking a helluva long time to make a come back.
In general I'd say the place isn't going to be back up to speed for a while yet
After 3 weeks you will come home with your ears still ringing and your eyes strained though
On a quick note about buffets, what used to be a major "pull" for casinos and often a loss-leader (they still cost single $ figures for a lot of dinner buffets in late 90's), are gradually getting closed permanently, including sadly some decent mid-range options at the Mirage and TI (Treasure Island). Some of this predates Covid but Covid sped up the closures
Similarly, some reasonably busy poker rooms (Mirage/Harrahs/Excalibur etc) were shut for Covid but are taking a helluva long time to make a come back.
In general I'd say the place isn't going to be back up to speed for a while yet
R33FAL said:
....aaaand its gone...! Our holiday to Vegas in August, at least. Airline cancelled flights, and to be honest its impossible to still get out there if you are not a US citizen without some faff. Rebooked for April... heres to hoping (again!)...
On the 2 weeks in Vegas, we have been many times before. Its not really a full 2 weeks in LV, but more like a week in Vegas and a week usually in Laguna Beach (with 1-2 days in LA thrown in), so a healthy balance. Agree, 14 days on the strip might be a bit much!
On the 2 weeks in Vegas, we have been many times before. Its not really a full 2 weeks in LV, but more like a week in Vegas and a week usually in Laguna Beach (with 1-2 days in LA thrown in), so a healthy balance. Agree, 14 days on the strip might be a bit much!
Come say hi… I live just outside Laguna Beach. Was down there today. Resplendent as ever. Edited by reapercushions on Tuesday 3rd August 18:43
reapercushions said:
R33FAL said:
....aaaand its gone...! Our holiday to Vegas in August, at least. Airline cancelled flights, and to be honest its impossible to still get out there if you are not a US citizen without some faff. Rebooked for April... heres to hoping (again!)...
On the 2 weeks in Vegas, we have been many times before. Its not really a full 2 weeks in LV, but more like a week in Vegas and a week usually in Laguna Beach (with 1-2 days in LA thrown in), so a healthy balance. Agree, 14 days on the strip might be a bit much!
: byebye: Come say hi… I live just outside Laguna Beach. Was down there today. Resplendent as ever. On the 2 weeks in Vegas, we have been many times before. Its not really a full 2 weeks in LV, but more like a week in Vegas and a week usually in Laguna Beach (with 1-2 days in LA thrown in), so a healthy balance. Agree, 14 days on the strip might be a bit much!
Great way to offset the Vegas side of the holiday aswell as it's so chilled down that way.
D1on said:
Looking at booking Vegas for next year through Virgin. Any tips?
I've used Vegas as a start/finish point when RV'ing some of the national and state parks. A night at the start and a couple of days at the end is enough for me. There is a lot to go and see within a few days drive, if you are interested in any routes including RV parks let me know and I'll send you some info.If you are just renting a car then you should really go further afield and stay cheaply in a few places - make a road trip out of it ... this is PH afterall !
rustyuk said:
Our trip at the end of September hasn't been cancelled yet by BA. Got to be just a matter of time as I can't see the travel corridor being open by then.
Good luck! It seems to be the direct LV flights being the ones getting cancelled. Seems flights to LA are still going, but of course the question is whether you will be able to go. By end of September seems like a decent bet I would have thought though! Have been to Vegas once, 5 nights.
We stayed at Nobu which is within Ceasers Palace. Gives access to the amazing pool at Ceasers. Well worth it and was priced competitively. Rooms have a great view of the strip and Hotel Paris.
After day 3 every casino is the same, you need a big pot of money to be ready to loose if you want to enjoy them.
Advise to pick up a hire car from the Ballagio and drive out to Hoover dam, really good trip out. We were lucky and got an Ecoboost Mustang convertible just for the day.
The main reason we stayed in Vegas was for the day trip we took from there to the South Rim of the grand canyon, the South rim is far far more impressive than the helicopter trips direct from Vegas. A one hour plane flight and then a helicopter trip over the South rim was amazing, we also got to stand on the edge of the canyon at Grand Canyon Village.
Restaurants are hugely expensive, on the strip, if you can get a few blocks away, real Vegas offers great food.
Lastly, the old town Downtown Vegas is great, more authentic than the strip casinos and street performers are great up there, just ride the bus up the strip with the locals.
We stayed at Nobu which is within Ceasers Palace. Gives access to the amazing pool at Ceasers. Well worth it and was priced competitively. Rooms have a great view of the strip and Hotel Paris.
After day 3 every casino is the same, you need a big pot of money to be ready to loose if you want to enjoy them.
Advise to pick up a hire car from the Ballagio and drive out to Hoover dam, really good trip out. We were lucky and got an Ecoboost Mustang convertible just for the day.
The main reason we stayed in Vegas was for the day trip we took from there to the South Rim of the grand canyon, the South rim is far far more impressive than the helicopter trips direct from Vegas. A one hour plane flight and then a helicopter trip over the South rim was amazing, we also got to stand on the edge of the canyon at Grand Canyon Village.
Restaurants are hugely expensive, on the strip, if you can get a few blocks away, real Vegas offers great food.
Lastly, the old town Downtown Vegas is great, more authentic than the strip casinos and street performers are great up there, just ride the bus up the strip with the locals.
PaulW100 said:
...the South rim is far far more impressive than the helicopter trips direct from Vegas....
Indeed. The helicopters from Vegas don't have the range to get far into the Canyon (and aren't allowed in the National Park bit even if they could) so you just get to see some random fairly shallow canyon. But worth doing if you don't often ride in helicopters just for the views of the Hoover Dam and the Strip, especially if you can get a trip as it is getting dark.I think a couple of days in Page AZ is worthwhile, breaks up the excess and sensory overload of a longer Vegas trip. Do the south rim on the way to or from, Antelope canyon, Horseshoe Bend, kayak/SUP on Lake Powell, drive out to Monument Valley and Mexican Hat. There’s a not too shabby BBQ restaurant there as a bonus.
Truckosaurus said:
Indeed. The helicopters from Vegas don't have the range to get far into the Canyon (and aren't allowed in the National Park bit even if they could) so you just get to see some random fairly shallow canyon. But worth doing if you don't often ride in helicopters just for the views of the Hoover Dam and the Strip, especially if you can get a trip as it is getting dark.
Yep, We came back into Vegas as the sun was setting and the pilot flew us right up the strip back to the airport. The Sunset reflecting in a million windows with the neon signs flashing was a semi-Bladerunner experience.PaulW100 said:
Have been to Vegas once, 5 nights.
We stayed at Nobu which is within Ceasers Palace. Gives access to the amazing pool at Ceasers. Well worth it and was priced competitively. Rooms have a great view of the strip and Hotel Paris.
After day 3 every casino is the same, you need a big pot of money to be ready to loose if you want to enjoy them.
Advise to pick up a hire car from the Ballagio and drive out to Hoover dam, really good trip out. We were lucky and got an Ecoboost Mustang convertible just for the day.
The main reason we stayed in Vegas was for the day trip we took from there to the South Rim of the grand canyon, the South rim is far far more impressive than the helicopter trips direct from Vegas. A one hour plane flight and then a helicopter trip over the South rim was amazing, we also got to stand on the edge of the canyon at Grand Canyon Village.
Restaurants are hugely expensive, on the strip, if you can get a few blocks away, real Vegas offers great food.
Lastly, the old town Downtown Vegas is great, more authentic than the strip casinos and street performers are great up there, just ride the bus up the strip with the locals.
We drove to Hoover dam as well, and did the Valley of Fire on the same day. Well worth the trip.We stayed at Nobu which is within Ceasers Palace. Gives access to the amazing pool at Ceasers. Well worth it and was priced competitively. Rooms have a great view of the strip and Hotel Paris.
After day 3 every casino is the same, you need a big pot of money to be ready to loose if you want to enjoy them.
Advise to pick up a hire car from the Ballagio and drive out to Hoover dam, really good trip out. We were lucky and got an Ecoboost Mustang convertible just for the day.
The main reason we stayed in Vegas was for the day trip we took from there to the South Rim of the grand canyon, the South rim is far far more impressive than the helicopter trips direct from Vegas. A one hour plane flight and then a helicopter trip over the South rim was amazing, we also got to stand on the edge of the canyon at Grand Canyon Village.
Restaurants are hugely expensive, on the strip, if you can get a few blocks away, real Vegas offers great food.
Lastly, the old town Downtown Vegas is great, more authentic than the strip casinos and street performers are great up there, just ride the bus up the strip with the locals.
I am just trying to decide if its worth staying in Vegas for any length of time or not between Williams and Reno.
A lot of the reviews I read is its just not really a very nice place on the other hand some people rave about it.
It would be right around Christmas day so could do 2 nights or up to 3-4 nights...
A lot of the reviews I read is its just not really a very nice place on the other hand some people rave about it.
It would be right around Christmas day so could do 2 nights or up to 3-4 nights...
red_slr said:
I am just trying to decide if its worth staying in Vegas for any length of time or not between Williams and Reno.
A lot of the reviews I read is its just not really a very nice place on the other hand some people rave about it.
It would be right around Christmas day so could do 2 nights or up to 3-4 nights...
NYE in Vegas is actually really good ! Was at the top of Tower 2 at MGM 2019/2020 - great view and atmosphere around the areaA lot of the reviews I read is its just not really a very nice place on the other hand some people rave about it.
It would be right around Christmas day so could do 2 nights or up to 3-4 nights...
red_slr said:
...It would be right around Christmas day so could do 2 nights or up to 3-4 nights...
The week before Xmas is the quietest week of the year, therefore the cheapest. Xmas day leading up to NYE is the busiest week of the year so most expensive, so check out the prices before planning it in.If you are on a road trip in the region it is worth stopping over for a couple of nights and forming your own opinion. For the price of a random roadside motel elsewhere you should be able to get a fancy room in a mega-casino so that's a 'win' even if the town is not to your taste.
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