Discussion
I'm 30 in March (14th) and the wife is wanting to take me to Vegas for the week.
Perfect timing as I will be at the Scotland game at Murrayfield on the Sunday and fly out Monday.
Any tips? Been a first timer to Vegas.
Wanting to do the typical touristy stuff - Grand Canyon,Hoover Dam, maybe out the Area 51 direction.
Also going to rent a car for a day aswell. Notice you can hire "Exotics" so will probably do that.
What are the name of some good hotels on the strip?
Any tips would be great.
Thanks in advance.
Perfect timing as I will be at the Scotland game at Murrayfield on the Sunday and fly out Monday.
Any tips? Been a first timer to Vegas.
Wanting to do the typical touristy stuff - Grand Canyon,Hoover Dam, maybe out the Area 51 direction.
Also going to rent a car for a day aswell. Notice you can hire "Exotics" so will probably do that.
What are the name of some good hotels on the strip?
Any tips would be great.
Thanks in advance.
All depends on your budget really, but Planet Hollywood is good so far as mid-range budget and good mid-strip location.
Definitely go to Peppermills for breakfast one day, and one evening do 'old' Vegas Fremont Street, watch the LED light show, enjoy the 'cheaper' tables in the casinos, eat a deep fried Twinkie or Oreos in Mermaids, and if you like that sort of thing, eat at the Heart Attack Grill (although its know for its gimmickery rather than the quality of its food, I ate there and rated it poor on food, but high on entertainment).
Definitely go to Peppermills for breakfast one day, and one evening do 'old' Vegas Fremont Street, watch the LED light show, enjoy the 'cheaper' tables in the casinos, eat a deep fried Twinkie or Oreos in Mermaids, and if you like that sort of thing, eat at the Heart Attack Grill (although its know for its gimmickery rather than the quality of its food, I ate there and rated it poor on food, but high on entertainment).
Don't dismiss the more looking at the more expensive hotels because it can turn out to be cheaper if you find a good package. Me and a few friends went for 5 nights early September and it actually worked out cheaper at Bellagio + Flights than it did at some of the lower priced ones like the Luxor for example.
Also I'd recommend going to Gordon Ramseys BurGR at Planet Hollywood for food. Probably the nicest burger I've ever had.
Also I'd recommend going to Gordon Ramseys BurGR at Planet Hollywood for food. Probably the nicest burger I've ever had.
One tip is to consider staying at a cheaper hotel over the peak weekend period (Friday and Saturday) and then switch to one of the top tier hotel during the week when the rates are much less, especially in March as it is the finals of the college basketball season so lots of people in town to wager on the outcome and watch the games on tv.
shakotan said:
All depends on your budget really, but Planet Hollywood is good so far as mid-range budget and good mid-strip location.
I really like that hotel, the gaming floor is much less oppressive than some of the others and you get some real tier 4 movie memorabilia in your room (for instance I once had a still frame from something like Honey I shrunk the kids 4). Plus the logo looks like a PH logo.Been twice with the wife and going with lads next year. First time we stayed in the Bellagio total cost was £701 each jersey to gatwick, gatwick to Vegas and 5 nights. Second time was 3 nights in the Flamingo at £18 a night plus a $9 breakfast voucher per day.
For me Vegas musts are:
helicopter to Grand Canyon and over Hoover dam
Shot some guns at the gun range
Visit all main hotels, casinos
Fremont street at night
Outlet shopping either end of strip
Take in a show (avoid blue man group was pants)
Go up the stratosphere for the view. Go just before dusk and see the view in day light and night time. Ride the rides if you have big balls.
Ride the roller coaster in NYNY
Catch the Bellagion fountain show and other hotel free shows.
Bellagio breakfast buffet
Hotdog and fries and Serendipities 3
My advice on hotel is stick to one betwee NYNY and TI. Go for the cheapest remembering the resort fee. Each time we slept and changed in our room and that's it. Half the fun is going to all the hotels and casinos. I picked up a table chip from most.
Not gonna recommend restaurants and when in the states I don't want fine dining, I like cheese cake factory, hooters, senior frogs and maggianos etc
For me Vegas musts are:
helicopter to Grand Canyon and over Hoover dam
Shot some guns at the gun range
Visit all main hotels, casinos
Fremont street at night
Outlet shopping either end of strip
Take in a show (avoid blue man group was pants)
Go up the stratosphere for the view. Go just before dusk and see the view in day light and night time. Ride the rides if you have big balls.
Ride the roller coaster in NYNY
Catch the Bellagion fountain show and other hotel free shows.
Bellagio breakfast buffet
Hotdog and fries and Serendipities 3
My advice on hotel is stick to one betwee NYNY and TI. Go for the cheapest remembering the resort fee. Each time we slept and changed in our room and that's it. Half the fun is going to all the hotels and casinos. I picked up a table chip from most.
Not gonna recommend restaurants and when in the states I don't want fine dining, I like cheese cake factory, hooters, senior frogs and maggianos etc
I hired a 650S earlier this year, visited Hoover Dam and Lake Mead, I really enjoyed the experience. My wife who is not into cars said it was the best thing we did on our 5 day trip there. You can hire cars at the speedway too but I wanted something different and the Freeways are well sited for the occasional excessive speed moment 
We stayed at Wynn, everything was perfect and had a good crowd, the breakfast buffet was sensational well worth it, I managed to wangle it free. It is at one end of the strip, so if wanting to stay central Bellagio is a good choice and the dancing fountains are really good.
Fremont Street at night is good fun in retro/traditional sense and worth a visit.
Helicopter flight to Grand Canyon was superb, Sundance really looked after us, we were lucky only 4 in our helicopter on our sunset tour, got collected and dropped off at a chosen location by a Limo.
Loads of places to eat, didn't have a bad meal but you can spend an awful lot if you dine at the big hotels like Wynn and Bellagio. We went cheap a couple of nights think our cheapest meal was $15 for two for Hot Dogs, chips, chilli, onions etc and a couple of drinks.
We stayed at Wynn, everything was perfect and had a good crowd, the breakfast buffet was sensational well worth it, I managed to wangle it free. It is at one end of the strip, so if wanting to stay central Bellagio is a good choice and the dancing fountains are really good.
Fremont Street at night is good fun in retro/traditional sense and worth a visit.
Helicopter flight to Grand Canyon was superb, Sundance really looked after us, we were lucky only 4 in our helicopter on our sunset tour, got collected and dropped off at a chosen location by a Limo.
Loads of places to eat, didn't have a bad meal but you can spend an awful lot if you dine at the big hotels like Wynn and Bellagio. We went cheap a couple of nights think our cheapest meal was $15 for two for Hot Dogs, chips, chilli, onions etc and a couple of drinks.
We stayed at the Marriot Grand Chateau in one of their self catering "villas". It was about 200m from the Bellagio.
All mod cons included in the price and, Wheeler Dealers on the TV, if you can't find anything else to do in Vegas
.
Only downside is no restaurant, but that's not really a problem in Vegas with food outlets every 10 metres on the Strip.
All mod cons included in the price and, Wheeler Dealers on the TV, if you can't find anything else to do in Vegas
. Only downside is no restaurant, but that's not really a problem in Vegas with food outlets every 10 metres on the Strip.
I would really recommend heading to Dream Racing (www.dreamracing.com) for your PH fix. I've been to Vegas twice over the past 2 years and I'm going back again in December for the Connor Mcgregor UFC fight. Dream Racing is by far the best thing I've done in Vegas. The choice of cars is epic and they really let you push them - HARD. We did hire a Corvette Stingray last year and done a little bit of touring. I wouldn't pay big money to hire a car. I found there was a very large State Trooper presence on the roads and I actually got done for speeding. $200 fine for 48 in a 35.
Other recommendations;
Absinthe at Caesars (show) - Excellent
Rock of Ages at Planet Hollywood - very good
Eat at Gordon's Ramsey's 'Steak' at Paris - Best steak I've ever had
Fat Burger just down from MGM on the strip - excellent lunch stop
Duelling Piano bar in NYNY - good fun
Yard House at Town Square or The Linq - huge beer selection and great food
Wicked Spoon at Cosmo - superb breakfast buffet with unlimited Champagne
Outlet Stores at either end of strip - good shopping and cheap
Street Performers outside Planet Hollywood - usually always some very good performers
Volcano show at the Mirage - free show during the evenings and very good
With regards to Hotels, we have stayed at the MGM Signature and Caesars Palace. All the rooms at Signature are Suites and its joined onto the main MGM Resort. We had the upgraded Augustus tower deluxe room at Caesars which was very nice but not as nice/big as the suite in Signature. Caesars was a much better location and we had a strip/Bellagio fountain view which was nice but I'm not sure the extra money we paid to stay at Caesars was worth the extra over the MGM Signature. If I was you I'd browse all of the hotels online and see where best takes your fancy. Just try your best to get a hotel mid strip. Vegas is a huge place so don't under estimate how much walking is involved.
Other recommendations;
Absinthe at Caesars (show) - Excellent
Rock of Ages at Planet Hollywood - very good
Eat at Gordon's Ramsey's 'Steak' at Paris - Best steak I've ever had
Fat Burger just down from MGM on the strip - excellent lunch stop
Duelling Piano bar in NYNY - good fun
Yard House at Town Square or The Linq - huge beer selection and great food
Wicked Spoon at Cosmo - superb breakfast buffet with unlimited Champagne
Outlet Stores at either end of strip - good shopping and cheap
Street Performers outside Planet Hollywood - usually always some very good performers
Volcano show at the Mirage - free show during the evenings and very good
With regards to Hotels, we have stayed at the MGM Signature and Caesars Palace. All the rooms at Signature are Suites and its joined onto the main MGM Resort. We had the upgraded Augustus tower deluxe room at Caesars which was very nice but not as nice/big as the suite in Signature. Caesars was a much better location and we had a strip/Bellagio fountain view which was nice but I'm not sure the extra money we paid to stay at Caesars was worth the extra over the MGM Signature. If I was you I'd browse all of the hotels online and see where best takes your fancy. Just try your best to get a hotel mid strip. Vegas is a huge place so don't under estimate how much walking is involved.
All of the above is good info.
The Bellagio is a nice place indeed and just proper quality. If you play it right you book flights and hotel with the likes of BA and get the connection flight and the hotel very cheap. Sorry if that was obvious. I got a que jump pass for the Bellagio for the breakfast buffet as non residents form a long que.
The Shelby factory and museum is in vegas and if you make sure the old guy does the talk its a nice gig to take in. Just get a taxi and I think it starts at 10am. If the guy isnt there its a bit bland.
I almost didn't do the helicopter trip to the grand canyon and what a mistake that would have been. Its almost as n ice as Glencoe....
Tip everyone especially the waiting staff and carry some smaller bills so your not tipping too much.
I eat very well and you cant really go wrong but the highlights were Hash House A Go Go (man v food went there) and Andiamo in the D Casino in old vegas.
Many people dont gamble so dont let all that stuff get in the way of having a holiday there.
And at the end of your stay there are decent malls at sensible prices a $20 taxi ride away from the strip.
The Bellagio is a nice place indeed and just proper quality. If you play it right you book flights and hotel with the likes of BA and get the connection flight and the hotel very cheap. Sorry if that was obvious. I got a que jump pass for the Bellagio for the breakfast buffet as non residents form a long que.
The Shelby factory and museum is in vegas and if you make sure the old guy does the talk its a nice gig to take in. Just get a taxi and I think it starts at 10am. If the guy isnt there its a bit bland.
I almost didn't do the helicopter trip to the grand canyon and what a mistake that would have been. Its almost as n ice as Glencoe....
Tip everyone especially the waiting staff and carry some smaller bills so your not tipping too much.
I eat very well and you cant really go wrong but the highlights were Hash House A Go Go (man v food went there) and Andiamo in the D Casino in old vegas.
Many people dont gamble so dont let all that stuff get in the way of having a holiday there.
And at the end of your stay there are decent malls at sensible prices a $20 taxi ride away from the strip.
Almost forgot, the 'Auto Collection' at the top of the Linq Hotel and Casino.
http://autocollections.com/
http://autocollections.com/
uknick said:
We stayed at the Marriot Grand Chateau in one of their self catering "villas". It was about 200m from the Bellagio.
All mod cons included in the price and, Wheeler Dealers on the TV, if you can't find anything else to do in Vegas.
Only downside is no restaurant, but that's not really a problem in Vegas with food outlets every 10 metres on the Strip.
I had my honeymoon in Vegas and got back last week, I also stayed at the Grand Chateau this time around and the Bellagio the first year I went.All mod cons included in the price and, Wheeler Dealers on the TV, if you can't find anything else to do in Vegas
. Only downside is no restaurant, but that's not really a problem in Vegas with food outlets every 10 metres on the Strip.
I found that it's very expensive there now and my £2000 spending money really didn't go that far although I think the casinos took most of it.
You do get a lot for your money with food the portion sizes are huge.
Taxies I found expensive this time around with each fare costing a minimum of $15 + tip usually.
I would do everything that people have said to do in previous comments, I would also add that the Gordon Ramsey steak house in the Paris hotel and the Eiffel tower restaurant are amazing, Go for the lobster and Kobe steak.
If you want to do some shopping visit the North premium outlets its an outdoor shopping centre where the prices are a lot cheaper than the strip, just remember that anything you buy in Vegas you have to add State Tax to the ticket price
They also have the Cheese cake factory there and I would recommend the Strawberry Cheese cake amazing.
to get there you need a taxi its about 10/15 mins drive
Have Fun you will love it
megapixels83 said:
For me Vegas musts are:
helicopter to Grand Canyon and over Hoover dam
Shot some guns at the gun range
Visit all main hotels, casinos
Fremont street at night
Outlet shopping either end of strip
Take in a show (avoid blue man group was pants)
Go up the stratosphere for the view. Go just before dusk and see the view in day light and night time. Ride the rides if you have big balls.
Ride the roller coaster in NYNY
Catch the Bellagion fountain show and other hotel free shows.
Bellagio breakfast buffet
Hotdog and fries and Serendipities 3
Half the fun is going to all the hotels and casinos. I picked up a table chip from most.
Solid advice, do all the above OP and you'll have a great trip. helicopter to Grand Canyon and over Hoover dam
Shot some guns at the gun range
Visit all main hotels, casinos
Fremont street at night
Outlet shopping either end of strip
Take in a show (avoid blue man group was pants)
Go up the stratosphere for the view. Go just before dusk and see the view in day light and night time. Ride the rides if you have big balls.
Ride the roller coaster in NYNY
Catch the Bellagion fountain show and other hotel free shows.
Bellagio breakfast buffet
Hotdog and fries and Serendipities 3
Half the fun is going to all the hotels and casinos. I picked up a table chip from most.
Oh, and try not to lose your shirt gambling, it leaves a bitter taste.
Sorry for the hijack
Theres numerous Vegas threads on search and this one has as good info as any other
We're off to Vegas next July
Planning on just over a week with a view to doing the Grand Canyon +/- whatever else for 2-3 days then 4-5 days in Vegas itself
Questions:
a) Which companies if any are likely to be the best on price with flights + hotel for this kind of holiday?
b) Where to stay at the Grand Canyon?
c) Wynn is the most likely hotel due to friends preferences - hot tips on blagging deals here (eg breakfast and spa) especially welcome
Cheers!
Please avoid The Mirage Hotel - behind the hotel is a swimming pool where captive dolphins are held for gullible tourists. There is no shade from the desert sun for the dolphins.
http://dolphinproject.org/blog/post/the-vegas-dolp...
http://dolphinproject.org/blog/post/the-vegas-dolp...
We've got Vegas booked for my 30th in April next year. We're flying into Vegas and staying in the Bellagio for 3 nights then driving to San Diego as the wife wants to go to the zoo there - not booked the car yet but wanting something V8 and convertible to do that in. From there we're on a Virgin America flight to LA for a couple of days and then over to Longboat Key, FL for a week on the beach.
I'll be watching this thread with interest!
I'll be watching this thread with interest!
Just a reply to AB really. The Zoo at San Diego is way over hyped. Plenty of walking up and down what they call canyons with hardly any animals on display. I was really disappointed with it, certainly not worth the drive from Vegas. There are plenty of better/more interesting places to visit.
regards
Kevin
regards
Kevin
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