Las vegas

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D1on

Original Poster:

802 posts

186 months

Friday 1st May 2020
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Any regulars to Vegas here?
Looking at booking our first trip there for next year,
Any tips or suggestions? Looks like some people get hooked...

romeodelta

1,119 posts

161 months

Friday 1st May 2020
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Following.

I'm hoping to go in April next year for the first time.

Hopefully it will be viable by then.

Woody John

759 posts

73 months

Friday 1st May 2020
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MGM G is the place. Get it booked

dmahon

2,717 posts

64 months

Friday 1st May 2020
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Vegas is a bit cheesy but I still love it. Great restaurants, big shows, great shopping, wondering around the spectacular casinos, bars and clubs. Also get out of Vegas for a day for Hoover Dam, helicopter flight and/or blasting some Ferrari’s around a track to mix it up.

God I want the world to return to normal frown

Tyndall

949 posts

135 months

Friday 1st May 2020
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Woody John said:
MGM G is the place. Get it booked
I’ve been a few times and would actually say the opposite! I like to be central strip with the option of walking to some hotels rather than cabs, so Bellagio, Venetian, Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Caesars (I haven’t stayed at the newer ones like the Cosmopolitan or Aria) rather than MGM on that side or Wynn on the other.

Truckosaurus

11,310 posts

284 months

Friday 1st May 2020
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Normally in times of economic downturn the hotel rates in Vegas drop to rock bottom to get the punters in and spending money, so there might be plenty of deals once the place opens up again.

Most of the strip hotels have rooms at a variety of price points, and generally you get what you pay for (Caesar's Palace I always feel is slightly overpriced due it being the most well known casino).

As others have said, for a first time strip it is probably better to aim for a more Centre-Strip property (ie. not south of Tropicana Ave or north of The Wynn)

Fas1975

1,778 posts

164 months

Friday 1st May 2020
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Cosmopolitan is the best in my experience. Perfect location and in the heart of the action.

However, you really can't go wrong with the big names. MGM, Mandalay, Wynn. Uber / Lyft are plentiful and cheap. Pick one to suit budget and listen to the online reviews. Do not, absolutely do not, ever, ever, EVER go to Camelot!

RedAndy

1,230 posts

154 months

Friday 1st May 2020
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we thought staying in the big tower one would be good as it is half way between old town and strip, but TBH it made no difference really.

Stay just off strip (one or two streets back) cos they have some really good hotels (characterful and cheap) but many people won't walk the additional 100yds to use them.

do the free stuff on the strip to marvel at it all... but if you actually want to eat or go out for the night, go to the old town bit round Freemont St. The free booze actually has an ABV above 0% unlike the main ones on the strip, and even if you have to pay for a drink you get change for a fiver instead of having to mortgage your house each time.


D1on

Original Poster:

802 posts

186 months

Friday 1st May 2020
quotequote all
Is the MGM good? It seems one of the more reasonably priced places to stay...

Pothole

34,367 posts

282 months

Friday 1st May 2020
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RedAndy said:
The free booze actually has an ABV above 0% unlike the main ones on the strip,
WTJF?

illmonkey

18,207 posts

198 months

Friday 1st May 2020
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A list I compiled when we went, from other PH'ers:
Gun range
Tour of Shelby factory
Zion national park; get up early and do the hike to Observation Point or Hidden Canyon
Red Rock Canyon; hike up past the rockpools to the summit and see for miles over Vegas and beyond
Death Valley; countless places to drive or see that are like nothing else on earth, Dante's View at sunset is spectacular
Hoover Dam; park at Lake Mead and walk along the old historic railroad through bat-filled tunnels that featured in Clint Eastwood's movie Gauntlet
Grand Canyon; bit of a long drive though, but worth seeing once
Valley of Fire; an evening drive through it and the surrounding little towns as the sun goes down is pretty awesome
Shopping

I had a cold when we got there, took some American cold and flu types, drank, ended up high. Apparently what homeless people do a lot, it wasn't pleasant!

RedAndy

1,230 posts

154 months

Friday 1st May 2020
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Pothole said:
RedAndy said:
The free booze actually has an ABV above 0% unlike the main ones on the strip,
WTJF?
dunno what that means, but I suspect you are requesting clarification?

We found that if you are gambling at tables/machines, they bring you free drinks. The ones in the old town (golden nugget I think it was called) were extremely potent, but the ones in the flashy casinos on the strip were watery/weak.

David Beer

3,982 posts

267 months

Friday 1st May 2020
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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!!!

arfur

3,871 posts

214 months

Friday 1st May 2020
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D1on said:
Is the MGM good? It seems one of the more reasonably priced places to stay...
You need to be in the Signature part, preferably tower 2 with a strip view high up

You get allocated at checkin as to tower/room so it can be pot luck

The MGM G is quite cheap for a reason (hotel anyhow), it's not particularly up to date

I was in Signature tower 2 floor 36 watching NYE fireworks from the balcony last year, was brilliant !

I have tower 2 floor 38 corner suite privately booked for this NYE (fingers crossed).

You can book specific rooms on homeaway.com but you have to get in early

hth

arfur

3,871 posts

214 months

Friday 1st May 2020
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D1on said:
Any regulars to Vegas here?
Looking at booking our first trip there for next year,
Any tips or suggestions? Looks like some people get hooked...
We have been a few times, use it as a base for parts of vacations.

Depends what you want to see, but you can rent a car cheaply and the following are day trips no problem

  • Valley of Fire (I did a BBQ at seven sisters on new years day 2020)
  • Antelope Canyon (Lower) - (book in advance a long way)
  • Hoover Dam (free and easy drive - 40 mins from strip)
  • North Rim Grand Canyon (the glass skywalk - book in advance or get ripped off)
  • Death Valley (bits of of it anyhow)
In the past we've rented an RV, both privately and from Cruise America and stayed at Oasis RV park ... it's excellent ! You can then spend time for a week or so visiting

  • South Rim Grand Canyon (Stay in Williams and get the train)
  • Monument Valley
  • Zion
  • Moab (Arches and Dead Horse)
Those are just a few suggestions anyhow ..

We've also just stayed in hotels, for the view you need to be strip view at the top of one of the MGM Signature towers as you get a balcony and a kitchen in all rooms. Note that most hotels that have balconies have them blocked off since the shooting. The Nobu Hotel in Caesars is nice (hotel in a hotel) as is the Cosmo and Aria ... These last two have good views but the rooms can be pot luck

If you think about doing a RV trip, PM me and I'll send you my last itinerary

arf



Edited by arfur on Friday 1st May 17:03

Type R Tom

3,871 posts

149 months

Friday 1st May 2020
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Don't know your budget but we stayed in the Flamingo. Had parking, access to the monorail, very central, nice refurbished room, and very reasonably priced.

If you like your grub, do a buffet.


PurpleTurtle

6,999 posts

144 months

Friday 1st May 2020
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Type R Tom said:
Don't know your budget but we stayed in the Flamingo. Had parking, access to the monorail, very central, nice refurbished room, and very reasonably priced.

If you like your grub, do a buffet.
We stayed there on honeymoon, great room but abysmal pools - I like to chill out by the pool during the day, hit the casinos at night.

The Flamingo was supposed to have multiple pools open, but only one was. No maintenance going on so clearly doing it to save on staffing. The one that was open was absolutely rammed full of spring break style jocks listening to abysmal rap music and the only beers on offer poolside were the dreadful Bud Lite or Miller Lite. All round unpleasant experience.

Caesars and The Mandalay Bay where we had stayed previously both good for pools.

Pothole

34,367 posts

282 months

Friday 1st May 2020
quotequote all
RedAndy said:
Pothole said:
RedAndy said:
The free booze actually has an ABV above 0% unlike the main ones on the strip,
WTJF?
dunno what that means, but I suspect you are requesting clarification?

We found that if you are gambling at tables/machines, they bring you free drinks. The ones in the old town (golden nugget I think it was called) were extremely potent, but the ones in the flashy casinos on the strip were watery/weak.
I noticed no difference.

Type R Tom

3,871 posts

149 months

Friday 1st May 2020
quotequote all
PurpleTurtle said:
Type R Tom said:
Don't know your budget but we stayed in the Flamingo. Had parking, access to the monorail, very central, nice refurbished room, and very reasonably priced.

If you like your grub, do a buffet.
We stayed there on honeymoon, great room but abysmal pools - I like to chill out by the pool during the day, hit the casinos at night.

The Flamingo was supposed to have multiple pools open, but only one was. No maintenance going on so clearly doing it to save on staffing. The one that was open was absolutely rammed full of spring break style jocks listening to abysmal rap music and the only beers on offer poolside were the dreadful Bud Lite or Miller Lite. All round unpleasant experience.

Caesars and The Mandalay Bay where we had stayed previously both good for pools.
Fair enough, we didn't really use the pools as we had a car (we were on a big tour) so drove out to the national parks etc. during the day. Didn't spend much time in there during the night. My point being, for a base it worked.

Milkbuttons

1,298 posts

162 months

Friday 1st May 2020
quotequote all
I've been twice and would love to go again, I've stayed in the Belagio and Marriot both lovely.

Gun range, Grand canyon, stratosphere sky jump there's lots of great things to do.

I wish I could go back right now.