Las Vegas Recommendations?

[Silgo]

I've got a couple of days spare in Vegas next month, so I was looking at making the most of it, as it's my first time there...

I'm planning on a helicopter flight over the Grand Canyon and a trip to a shooting range, but not sure where is best?

I've found Papillon and Maverick for the helicopter flight - anyone used either of these?

I've found Machine Gun Vegas and Battlefield Vegas for the shooting range - again any experiences with these?

I was wondering about hiring a Mustang (V8, obviously ), but I've been told that traffic is too busy in LV to even consider it. How long does it take to get to quiet roads?

Anything else that people would recommend?

Thanks

[anonymous-user]

Loads of Vegas threads if you search.
We did Machine Guns Vegas....pretty good. Wide range of guns, all very professionally done by ex or serving police and military.
As for driving, we started and finished a Harley tour in Vegas and as part of that it took nearly an hour to ride from The Luxor to Caesar's Palace on a Friday evening.
Getting out of Vegas by road is pretty easy. Getting around Vegas by road is a nightmare.
Death Valley is easily doable in a day from Vegas and is quiet enough.

Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 18th May 05:33

[David Beer]

Done vegas many many times, there 4/5 July. Driving isn't that bad, of course if you only drive the strip it is slow, but you will just the once!! 10 mins you will on the open road. Done GC with maverick , but not from Vegas, was camping in GC anyway.

[Truckosaurus]

Silgo said:

I'm planning on a helicopter flight over the Grand Canyon

Check which 'Grand Canyon' you'll be flying to...

Silgo said:

I've found Papillon and Maverick for the helicopter flight - anyone used either of these?

They're the 2 big operators, so you should have no issues with either.

Silgo said:

...but I've been told that traffic is too busy in LV to even consider it. How long does it take to get to quiet roads?

Even the traffic on the Strip is fairly free flowing other than the traffic lights every 100yds. You'll not need the car to get between the Strip casinos (just walk or take a cab) so you'll just be driving to interesting places. Either head to the west of the city to Red Rock Canyon (30mins-1hr fron the strip) or north to the Valley of Fire and then loop back via Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam (half a day plus whatever stops you make).

Then there's longer trips out to the (proper) Grand Canyon or Death Valley.

Silgo said:

Anything else that people would recommend?

Drinking and gambling.

[anonymous-user]

Truckosaurus said:

Even the traffic on the Strip is fairly free flowing other than the traffic lights every 100yds.

Must be seasonal then. The times we've been there it's gridlocked from around 6pm til gone midnight.

[Truckosaurus]

Crossflow Kid said:

Must be seasonal then. The times we've been there it's gridlocked from around 6pm til gone midnight.

More likely that I'm drunk by 6pm and not paying attention.

[chris7676]

I found driving in Vegas the easiest and quickest of any big city (based on May 2014).
The motorway goes very near the strip and has a junction ever 1 mile or so. Use that to your advantage.
Free parking at the major hotels.
This place is a car heaven.

[JulianHJ]

Valley of Fire State Park is quite a good location for a nice drive, and it's comparatively near.

[Beati Dogu]

There's a video of Battlefield Las Vegas here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVuoBwZxcJ4&li...

[Bullett]

I went out to the Las Vegas Speedway and drove a Nascar. That was fun.

[Silgo]

Thanks, that seems to help.

I didn't want to start the which 'Grand Canyon' argument - I'm still undecided on West or South... Anyway, Maverick seems to be well regarded, on many threads.

It's going to be a bit tight squeezing everything in, the other threads have given me quite a few ideas - Fremont (just up the road from the MGM - 5 miles each way ), the Stratosphere Tower, Bellagio Fountains, the Auto Collection (RS200 Evo and an XJ220, not far from the hotel )...

[David Beer]

Silgo said:

Thanks, that seems to help.

I didn't want to start the which 'Grand Canyon' argument - I'm still undecided on West or South... Anyway, Maverick seems to be well regarded, on many threads.

It's going to be a bit tight squeezing everything in, the other threads have given me quite a few ideas - Fremont (just up the road from the MGM - 5 miles each way ), the Stratosphere Tower, Bellagio Fountains, the Auto Collection (RS200 Evo and an XJ220, not far from the hotel )...

Um Fremont! Found it not good, attitude abound. Where are you staying?

[Silgo]

David Beer said:

Um Fremont! Found it not good, attitude abound. Where are you staying?

MGM Grand.

I was planning on a cab to Fremont, then wander back down the strip, hotel to hotel, but that's probably most of a day gone? I guess I can miss Fremont out, if it's not worth it?

Rough plan is - Thursday afternoon, shooting, visit Bellagio fountains (in evening) and maybe the car museum; Friday, helicopter; Saturday, Fremont, Stratosphere Tower, Venetian, etc.

One other thing, some posters in old threads said don't book anything until you're there, as the concierge will get the best deals - is worth waiting, or should I just get things booked now?

[Truckosaurus]

David Beer said:

Um Fremont! Found it not good, attitude abound. Where are you staying?

I much prefer Fremont Street to The Strip. Whilst there are a few Down-and-Outs they are much less intrusive than the panhandlers on the walkways around the Strip.

Also, Jalapeño beer at Banger Brewing.

[W99KSY]

Can definitely recommend a hire car - we rented from Hertz at Caesars Palace and was fairly simple to get onto the motorway and out of town.
We did a full day round trip to Valley of Fire, Hoover dam and then stopped off at a gun range on the way back. If you want to shoot the big stuff (Barratt 50 cal) I can recommend these guys http://progunclub.com/go-shooting/create-your-own-...

[cervezaman]

Or if you need to get a 'quick' driving fix, why not head over to Dream Racing at Las Vegas Speedway. Great way to spend a couple of hours. Really well organised.

Just don't have a big night before (which is pretty difficult in Vegas TBH....!) I went for the 991 GT3

https://youtu.be/q56eGKfqwa0

http://www.dreamracing.com/

[Grumfutock]

Crossflow Kid said:

Truckosaurus said:

Even the traffic on the Strip is fairly free flowing other than the traffic lights every 100yds.

Must be seasonal then. The times we've been there it's gridlocked from around 6pm til gone midnight.

This.

Every time we have been it isn't that free flowing. Border line grid lock at times.

[malks222]

Silgo said:

David Beer said:

Um Fremont! Found it not good, attitude abound. Where are you staying?

MGM Grand.

I was planning on a cab to Fremont, then wander back down the strip, hotel to hotel, but that's probably most of a day gone? I guess I can miss Fremont out, if it's not worth it?

also wasnt a fan of freemont street. we were there for the light show, think it was the last one of the night, then once it finished the place seemed to clear out, was kinda dark, lots of groups (not tourists) just hanging around, felt like all the side streets just went to darkness, really didnt have a good feel about it at night (and i was there with a group of 10 mates!)

also wouldnt be overly keen on walking back to the strip from downtown, its gonna be a fair old trek (mid strip to stratosphere was about 1.5hrs and we didnt stop at any casinos on the way)!! also some of the areas not far from the strip are not the nicest and certainly wouldnt be walking a lot of these after dark.

[BertB]

Silgo said:

MGM Grand.

I was planning on a cab to Fremont, then wander back down the strip, hotel to hotel, but that's probably most of a day gone? I guess I can miss Fremont out, if it's not worth it?

There's a whole lot of nothing walking back from Fremont to the strip. Certainly wouldn't do it after dusk.

The bus service from Fremont to the strip (and vice versa) is very good (seriously)

We had a great time in Fremont, live music under the massive screen, good cheap food at the 4 queens, and some gambling at Binions.

[surveyor]

Leaving for tomorrow.... Getting married out there.... so excited

We've had our plans curtailed by the kid sitters dropping out due to price of the holiday insurance (oldies). We're now re-evaluating more child friendly as even the odd drink looks like it might be a challenge with a little one in tow.

Have now decided to hire a car as a result.

Watching for tips...