Vegas for a stag do

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richatnort

Original Poster:

3,018 posts

130 months

Thursday 26th October 2017
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So i'm getting married in 2019 and have always liked the idea of going to Vegas for the stag do.

My mates seem pretty on board but we are all talking about how much are we realistically going to spend. I'm wondering if there are any season travellers to Vegas who can give a break down on costs of stuff while out there.

Obviously we will want to go to pool parties, clubs to see a big act, i'd like to do some shooting and then obviously we have food every night and drinks. We're all keeping an eye on flights and accommodation but are there any times in the year where flights are cheaper then other (out of the school holidays as none of my friends are teachers luckily).

Hope people can help.

bakerstreet

4,755 posts

164 months

Friday 27th October 2017
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Flight bookings become available at around 11/12 months before and that will at least get you choice and give people plenty of time to pay for it. It won't guarantee you the best price though.

I think Virgin do direct, but will also get loads of options flying into LAX and then a separate connecting flight to McCaren.

I would budget £5-600 per flight and for the experience, I would want everyone flying together. You can save a little usinjg connecting flights.

The Las Vegas Convention Centre is one of the largest exhibition centres in America and when large conventions are on, expect to pay a premium on flights and accommodation. The only I know anything about is NAB (National Association Of Broadcasters) show and that is in earl April every year, so I would avoid that period.

The world is your oyster as far as hotels go. I have only been to Vegas three times and I'm struggling to name the hotels I stayed in (I went for the NAB Show). However, I know I liked to New York Hotel and Casino, especially the steak house at the back.

I also remember visiting the Wynn, Ceasers and Centre Point. All were amazing. Think there is a nigh club at Centre Point that is badged as the best in the world. Went to party there and it has 7 swimming pools! Was amazing. Sadly I can't remember the name!

Friends have been to the Hoover Dam and recommend it along with the Grand Canyon and any firing range you can find, but I wonder if that will still be available following recent events.

My gut feel is you should budget £2k per person.

Vegas is amazing place though. Sadly I have only ever been there for work, but I'd like to go for my 40th with my wife.

Now for the grumpy old man section...

I'm 36 now and thankfully I am coming to end of the weddings/stag dos. The demand for each stag do to better than the last became draining and incredibly expensive, especially when people have weddings miles away from home and you have to manage childcare to cover stags/hens. Out of interest, are you still expecting everyone to pay for your flight/hotel/activities? but if I was the stage, I would state that you will pay for your self. This is just my opinion.


olimain

949 posts

134 months

Friday 27th October 2017
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I've been a few times and I did this for my stag in 2012. Stay somewhere central on the strip - Planet Hollywood is an ideal location and a good party hotel so perfect for stags. We went for 4 nights and did the whole connecting flight thing to save about £150 per person. This was a big mistake as it really took it out of us with different people awake / peaking at all different times. Unless going for a week+ I wouldn't consider anything but a direct flight.

Club/pool party-wise the only way to go with a group of lads is book a table and buy bottles. Will guarantee you entry / no queuing and a nice spot in the club. 2k for 4 nights is probably about right.

Go here http://www.heartattackgrill.com/

Fluffsri

3,161 posts

195 months

Friday 27th October 2017
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One tip for a short stay in Vegas is go direct! I saved cash by going through Chicago and just as we landed there was A bolt of lightening and they cancelled all flights. The next 24hrs was complete ballache, never again!

bakerstreet

4,755 posts

164 months

Friday 27th October 2017
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Yes, connecting flights can be a nightmare. On my three trips, I changed at Chicago with a ridiculously short transfer time and the second trip was the other extreme. Stuck in a domestic terminal at LAX for 5 hours frown

louiebaby

10,651 posts

190 months

Friday 27th October 2017
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It's a few years since I went on a Stag to Vegas, but there were only 3 of us, so it was more of a lads holiday than a traditional Stag. We went for a week, flying out on a Sat and landing back on the Sun.

We flew to San Fran, did some shopping and Alcatraz, then picked up a hire care, and drove through Yosemite (in March, beautiful) then through the desert to Vegas. In Vegas we wandered around and saw the sites, and went sky diving and to an Ice Hockey game. Then out to the Grand Canyon, on the Skywalk, then to the Grand Canyon Village and did a chopper flight from there. We flew back from Vegas.

It was a full on week, not a traditional Stag, but the Stag loved it, and we still talk about it now.

The direct flight from Vegas to Gatwick (then, might have changed) was known as the Vomit Comet, and was on one of the oldest 747s I've ever been on. The stewardesses were the least friendly I've ever come across too, probably because of the nature of the clients on the flight. (Us excepted, always polite to them.)

Hotel wise, you want to be centre strip if you can. Never stayed in Planet Hollywood, but can't fault the location or the gambling tables with lasses in lingerie. (Might have changed,)

fat80b

2,242 posts

220 months

Friday 27th October 2017
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olimain said:
2k for 4 nights is probably about right.
I think this is tight.

Flights plus hotel will take more than half that - airport transport / meals drinks etc on the way(everyone goes off strong) and you’ll be down to sub £200 per day.

That doesn’t go far in Vegas in my experience.

Yes you can walk up and down the strip all day for free drinking sh17 margaritas but if you want to play the tables, go shooting and all the other stuff then you’ll need a fair bit more that that to do it all.

How much is a table plus bottles at a club for a group now - 4 figures?

Food and booze is also v expensive unless you spend all of your time only going cheap which kind of misses the point. ( I think the 2 most expensive meals I’ve ever had were in Vegas (unfortunately))

p.s. go - I love Vegas, but do it properly - oh and learn how to play craps before you go.... until you’ve played craps at 7am with a 5 foot tall camp mexican and his entourage plus 2 airline pilots dropping $5k a roll, you’ve not lived (but that’s another (true) story)

olimain

949 posts

134 months

Friday 27th October 2017
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fat80b said:
olimain said:
2k for 4 nights is probably about right.
I think this is tight.
You're right, it would be tight, flights around £600 on Norwegian, probably £500 on hotel. Bottles/table will be $200-$250 per person if there's 10 of you. That's before you've even eaten (and there are some very good eateries) let alone gambled.

richatnort

Original Poster:

3,018 posts

130 months

Friday 27th October 2017
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wow great advice guys thanks so much.

I'm glad i'm on point with the price as i said about 2.5k each would be enough. I will most definitely be paying my part of the stag do i can't expect my mates to pay that's just daft but i'll be glad they're coming along.

There's going to be 8 of us i think so a nice enough number but will look out for conventions and i think direct flights are what we'd do, i know they cost more but in the long run it's going to be worth it.

ikarl

3,730 posts

198 months

Friday 27th October 2017
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Just back from Vegas and going again in January. Budget of 2k is fine for spending. Flights and accom will likely be over and above that though... As everyone has said above, fly direct. normally c.£600 return though if you're willing to get a cheap flight to Dublin and fly from there (normally flying back to London) you can get return flights for as little as £350 because you're not paying UK flight taxes...... have a look on the BA site and work it out... you'll spend more time away from home but can save £200 - I've done it a few times, but now just bite the bullet and pay the extra as I need to add another day to my holiday as I fly from Scotland.
Accommodation - I'll go into it a bit below, but again, probably c.£600/week

Food can be as cheap or as dear as you want it to be -
examples; Aria dinner buffet is $45, but is great for a group because there's so much choice and the quality is very good; Wahlburgers will do an amazing burger/fries/drink for $25; Mexican food isn't great but is cheap enough at $15 for a decent'ish meal from one of the many places; Chinese fastfood at a HappyPanda place is $10 and is actually quite good. Oh, and n NewYork NewYork there is a decent Steak place (Gallaghers) budget $70-$100/head but the steak's are excellent.

Drink if in a casino and playing is free, if doing this though be very specific about what you want. Don't ask for a vodka/soda - instead ask for a GreyGoose/soda! Drinks at the casino bars are expensive - beer/vodka will be between $8- $12.

Pre-going to a club - in NYNY there is a Coyote Ugly's - get there before 9pm and you get free entry and a 2-4-1 on drinks..... pretty decent laugh if in and get involved in dancing about a bit..... once they know you're there for a Stag (bachelor) party and from the UK you'll meet loads of different people and probably get free shots/drinks - we certainly did.

Clubbing, Marquee at Cosmopolitan is excellent!! $40 for guys to get in. $15 for a vodka/sprite (though the vodka is Belvedere and it makes up 60% (measures are LARGE) of the drink but is very moorish when in a club!
Chateau Nightclub at the Paris is also very good and sits as an open air club under the tower - mainly R&B music but quite a good vibe/laugh - again, prices at all clubs are similar for entry/drinks - the drinks are decent and the measures much stronger than you'll be used to - 3 vodka's and most people will be drunk, so for $45 (roughly £40) it's not actually too bad. I have a decent tolerance for drink and felt really tipsy after 3 drinks.
Hakkasan - we went to see Tiesto and I think we paid $45 - always pre-buy the tickets, it's slightly cheaper and you get in much quicker. drinks slightly more, vodka/mixer was $20 but quality and measure was as above.

Dress code for clubs is more relaxed than is advertised..... Hakkasan do insist on trousers/jeans etc.. but I went wearing white pumps which was fine. Look smart and not pissed and you'll get in no problem.

If you go, try and find one of the guys kicking about the strip trying to sell club passes queue jumps (guy that helped us out was wearing red tshirts and lanyards - quite a few of these guys kicking about) - we met a guy from Manchester who told us which clubs to go to before a certain time to get in for free - Chateau we were in at 10:55 and didn't cost us anything to get in - 5 minutes later and it would have been $40.
Obviously they do this so you 'tip' them - there was 5 of us so we bunged him $50 and he was happy to help us out for the rest of the week - some places gave us a free drink when he took us in...... bargain!!

Accommodation - check out the Polo Towers - I've been to Vegas loads and without a doubt it's the most suitable for a group. We had 2x 2bedroom suites and a 1 bedroom suite. Each had a living area, completely separate rooms, fully fitted kitchen (ideal for breakfast or getting a drink before heading out) and very importantly everyone had their own bathroom - I don't want to share a bathroom with another guy whilst on holiday.
Location wise it's pretty central to NYNY, MGM, Aria, Bellagio and Planet Holywood.... there is no casino or bar in the hotel which means it's a bit more relaxing - also has a roof pool and hot tub... open till midnight. Surprising how good that can work out!!
Between the 5 of us it worked out to just a tad over £3000. So £600/head.
We went to Walmart on the first day and stocked up on booze and breakfast and snacks.... booze was cheap but normal groceries are surprisingly expensive - which I can understand as pretty much EVERYTHING is imported to Vegas.... constant stream of big rigs coming/going into Vegas.

if you want to know anything else, post a reply and I'll try and answer best I can

anonymous-user

53 months

Friday 27th October 2017
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it must be an age thing as I went to Vegas and hated every moment of it


unless you want to see strippers and gamble there's no point (so I guess its perfect for a stag do)

ReallyReallyGood

1,620 posts

129 months

Friday 27th October 2017
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IMO of course, but £2k to go on a stag do is an unacceptable burden. Just go there treating it as a lads holiday rather than dressing it up as a stag-do.

bakerstreet

4,755 posts

164 months

Friday 27th October 2017
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ikarl said:
Accommodation - check out the Polo Towers - I've been to Vegas loads and without a doubt it's the most suitable for a group. We had 2x 2bedroom suites and a 1 bedroom suite. Each had a living area, completely separate rooms, fully fitted kitchen (ideal for breakfast or getting a drink before heading out) and very importantly everyone had their own bathroom - I don't want to share a bathroom with another guy whilst on holiday.
Location wise it's pretty central to NYNY, MGM, Aria, Bellagio and Planet Holywood.... there is no casino or bar in the hotel which means it's a bit more relaxing - also has a roof pool and hot tub... open till midnight. Surprising how good that can work out!!
Between the 5 of us it worked out to just a tad over £3000. So £600/head.
We went to Walmart on the first day and stocked up on booze and breakfast and snacks.... booze was cheap but normal groceries are surprisingly expensive - which I can understand as pretty much EVERYTHING is imported to Vegas.... constant stream of big rigs coming/going into Vegas.

if you want to know anything else, post a reply and I'll try and answer best I can
This has jogged my memory. We stayed in Polo Towers. Think that was the place that had a roof top pool. Its round the corner from the coke shop and the MGM Grand which is massive hotel. I got lost in that place for nearly an hour.

ikarl

3,730 posts

198 months

Friday 27th October 2017
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keirik said:
it must be an age thing as I went to Vegas and hated every moment of it


unless you want to see strippers and gamble there's no point (so I guess its perfect for a stag do)
I think that's a bit unfair, there is plenty to do in Vegas other than gamble and strippers (though granted that can be a part of it if you want).

Loads of shows to see (some excellent for the cost), plenty of world class restaurants, bars everywhere you turn where you can meet a variety of weird and wonderful people and some absolutely excellent clubs. Loads of activities to do throughout the day as well other than visit the hotels and look about - shoot guns, visit the Shelby museum, pinball museum, mob museum, rides at the Stratosphere, out door go-karting, shopping at the outlets etc..

One of the best days we had was a day out on Lake Mead in a hired speedboat doing watersports. Vegas can be as fun or as boring as you make it!

mandos_01

628 posts

100 months

Friday 27th October 2017
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I spend 3 -3.5k in 5 nights (pre Brexit though)

Flew direct, stayed at the MGM/Encore, bottle service every night at a number of clubs, pool parties have been to are Encore Beach Club (EBC) and Wet Republic at the MGM (I'd pick EBC every time)

Also gambled and lost a chunk of that money but I didn't go with the mentality of bringing much back

Agree on treating it as a lads holiday rather than a stag

I've been twice, both in the first two weeks of June and it seems to be a really good time to be there if that is of any use - looking to go again in June next year!

richatnort

Original Poster:

3,018 posts

130 months

Friday 27th October 2017
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Is there really much of a difference between a stag do and a lads holiday these days anyway?

covmutley

3,012 posts

189 months

Friday 27th October 2017
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Perhaps you and your mates are all earning 6 figure salaries, but I would be a bit pissed off if a good mate decided on L.V and I expect many of my old uni mates (i.e all in professional jobs) would not go.

I was glad to have all my mates around me on mine.


surveyor

17,768 posts

183 months

Friday 27th October 2017
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Also watch out for US bank holiday. Memorial day particularly in May, when the city is rammed.

richatnort

Original Poster:

3,018 posts

130 months

Friday 27th October 2017
quotequote all
covmutley said:
Perhaps you and your mates are all earning 6 figure salaries, but I would be a bit pissed off if a good mate decided on L.V and I expect many of my old uni mates (i.e all in professional jobs) would not go.

I was glad to have all my mates around me on mine.
i only have a small group of friends anyway who aren't on the poverty line and who would tell me if they can't afford it but none have

cbmotorsport

3,065 posts

117 months

Friday 27th October 2017
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Whatever you do factor in a few hours in the old town. It's more real, more interesting, and you'll meet some interesting people.