Vegas - How long and where to stay?

[theplayingmantis]

mikef said:

If you're arriving in the evening, I'd suggest Mandalay Bay, right opposite the airport so you're not stuck on the strip or doing detours getting to your hotel. Maybe 2 nights there, to take advantage of the artificial beach and acclimatize / get into timezone.

I'd say you don't need a car once you're back in LV, Get a hotel served by the monorail, whichever is doing a decent deal for your dates

Realistically it's not going to save much time mandalay compare with anything up to mid stirp despite the cluster fk of LV boulevard.

Also the Ramsey restaurants are nothing special at all. Far far better dining available there imho

Edited by theplayingmantis on Friday 3rd November 18:28

[Dblue]

Stay on the strip - you need to be amongst it all but absolutely get to Fremont Street when you're there.
No need for a car in Vegas - its a liability tbh - Pick up and drop off at the airport car hire centre

Personally found restaurants to be rather disappointing - eye wateringly expensive and "fine" but nothing we found was memorable


Current exchange rate is challenging and none of the prices are what they seem as everything attracts tax and of course the obilgatory 20% tip

[anonymous-user]

Dblue said:

Personally found restaurants to be rather disappointing - eye wateringly expensive and "fine" but nothing we found was memorable

Current exchange rate is challenging and none of the prices are what they seem as everything attracts tax and of course the obilgatory 20% tip

I have been to Vegas twice and my partner suggested me went again this year to celebrate my 50th birthday. It annoyed me with how expensive it was back in 2015, as you say the eye wateringly expensive prices for food plus service charge just put me off.

Plus the last time we were there it seemed like every taxi driver was out to scam us which also left a bad taste.

Just strikes me as a place where people pretend to be nice to you as they extract as much money from you as possible.

I doubt I will ever be going back.

Oh go to Battlefield Vegas it you are into firing guns, it is epic.

[numtumfutunch]

I found the Vdara on this board earlier this year and have no hesitation recommending it

You dont need a car in Vegas

Holsteins served us the best burger we have ever had. Another PH rec and next door to the Vdara

Cheers

[omniflow]

As expected, a large volume of good quality responses. Vegas seems to be a popular destination on here.

In my opinion the first night doesn't really count, as we'll have just arrived and I think it will be at least 10pm local time before we get to any hotel. I'm sticking to my initial thoughts on that one, and going for the Tru by Hilton. It looks to be very convenient for the car hire places. The plan would be for me to head off on my own in the morning, collect the hire car and then drive it back to the hotel to collect my Wife and the luggage. We'll then head off for an 8 day roadtrip, before returning to Las Vegas. From google maps it looks like it would be possible to walk from the hotel to the car hire centre, but I suspect it won't be.

I think 3 nights is the sweet spot - it will be Sunday -> Wednesday, so Hotel prices should be lower
The Vdara looks excellent - that's my 1st choice of where to stay
We'll ditch the hire car once we've checked in to the Vdara
A good burger is my idea of heaven, so we'll definitely check out Holsteins. If the burger is that good then that might be the only place we eat.

Thanks all for the input

[Truckosaurus]

omniflow said:

....From google maps it looks like it would be possible to walk from the hotel to the car hire centre, but I suspect it won't be....

Streetview shows there is at least a 'sidewalk' on the bridge over the Freeway which puts it ahead of most other seemingly easy walks in the western USA where they don't really consider pedestrians.

From my experience of motoring around the Vegas suburbs, it is walking under bridges you want to avoid as that's where the people down on their luck congregate.

[goingonholiday]

I've walked from the rental car centre to the strip, its longer than it looks and thats just to get to town square (south of mandalay bay). My advice is don't! I didn't feel unsafe but its eerily quiet so if you were to come across someone that thought a tourist might be an easy target you would be on your own. Spend $20 on an uber!

[Dblue]

goingonholiday said:

I've walked from the rental car centre to the strip, its longer than it looks and thats just to get to town square (south of mandalay bay). My advice is don't! I didn't feel unsafe but its eerily quiet so if you were to come across someone that thought a tourist might be an easy target you would be on your own. Spend $20 on an uber!

Exactly this - just Uber it for a few dollars

[fourstardan]

omniflow said:

As expected, a large volume of good quality responses. Vegas seems to be a popular destination on here.

In my opinion the first night doesn't really count, as we'll have just arrived and I think it will be at least 10pm local time before we get to any hotel. I'm sticking to my initial thoughts on that one, and going for the Tru by Hilton. It looks to be very convenient for the car hire places. The plan would be for me to head off on my own in the morning, collect the hire car and then drive it back to the hotel to collect my Wife and the luggage. We'll then head off for an 8 day roadtrip, before returning to Las Vegas. From google maps it looks like it would be possible to walk from the hotel to the car hire centre, but I suspect it won't be.

I think 3 nights is the sweet spot - it will be Sunday -> Wednesday, so Hotel prices should be lower
The Vdara looks excellent - that's my 1st choice of where to stay
We'll ditch the hire car once we've checked in to the Vdara
A good burger is my idea of heaven, so we'll definitely check out Holsteins. If the burger is that good then that might be the only place we eat.

Thanks all for the input

19 dollars for a burger, is it that good?

[numtumfutunch]

fourstardan said:

19 dollars for a burger, is it that good?

Yes in my opinion

A cheeseburger is £12 in Five Guys these days....

[toughmat88]

We went to Vegas for 7 nights and that was to long. The 8 hour time difference is a killer and the 7 night holiday feels like 2 weeks.

We stayed at the Mirage and hired a car for 3 days. We did Grand Canyon , Red rock , Extraterrestrial Highway ( put our sticker on the sign ) and also visit the small town Rachael and visited the back gates of area 51.

Everything is expensive over there, but most favourite moment was the back gates of Area 51.

[HotJambalaya]

omniflow said:

A good burger is my idea of heaven, so we'll definitely check out Holsteins. If the burger is that good then that might be the only place we eat.

Thanks all for the input

Peter luger steak house just opened at Caesars palace, for lunch they do the burger. I had it in NYC and it was unbelievable. Absolute must try.

Secondly Bavettes steakhouse at Monte carlo is famous for its burger, the company owns Au Cheval in Chicago and the burger is rumoured to basically be the same, that place has a wait for hours for the burger. Bavettes even if the restaurant is full you can ask if there's space at the bar, and order the burger there.

Wouldnt stay at the virgin hotel. Stay somewhere on the strip so you can walk to places

Edited by HotJambalaya on Monday 20th November 16:52

[Abc321]

To hijack/bump a thread. I have booked Vegas today for August next year, me and the Mrs.

I have been before a couple of years ago with my mates, she has never been. We didn't do much touristy stuff at all last time so am hoping to compensate for that this time!

There for a week - any recommendations please! Want to do Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon (is it worth hiring a car for a day and smashing these 2 out in a day?)

Open to restaurant recs and show recs - definitely want to try the Sphere.

Thanks!

[The jiffle king]

Abc321 said:

To hijack/bump a thread. I have booked Vegas today for August next year, me and the Mrs.

I have been before a couple of years ago with my mates, she has never been. We didn't do much touristy stuff at all last time so am hoping to compensate for that this time!

There for a week - any recommendations please! Want to do Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon (is it worth hiring a car for a day and smashing these 2 out in a day?)

Open to restaurant recs and show recs - definitely want to try the Sphere.

Thanks!

I would do a couple of days at the Grand canyon.. Sunset and sunrise are spectacular. I would also look at Zion National park which is a drive but amazing. Horseshoe bend is quite a sight as well

[Truckosaurus]

Abc321 said:

...I have booked Vegas today for August...!

I made the same mistake this August. It was far too hot to do anything outside. Back to winter trips for me.

If you want to do the Grand Canyon in a day (especially if you are going to the 'proper' South rim) then you don't really want to be wasting time stopping at the dam. Perhaps just pulling off into the viewing point from the new bridge.

On the way to the canyon a good stop off point is Kingman (pretty the only town of any size on the trip) which has plenty of local and chain restaurants, plus a good little Route 66 museum.

[omniflow]

I need to book the outbound flights for this in a few weeks, and want to make sure I'm leaving enough time to see everything. I think I'm pretty happy with the plan I've got, but it's not yet cast in stone, so any suggestions happily considered. I have scoured as many threads on here as I could find, and think I've got all of the highlights.

Arrive Las Vegas 8:30pm on a Thursday - Taxi to Tru by Hilton for 1st night.
Friday AM - Collect hire car -> Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon South Rim. Stay 2 nights. Effectively this gives us 1 full day at the Canyon and we'll still be struggling with the timezone,
Sunday AM - Page - Stay 2 nights. Horseshoe bend, Antelope Canyon, Lake Powell and hopefully a rafting trip if they're running that time of year.
Tuesday Lunchtime - Monument Valley - Stay 1 night in a Valley View Cabin
Wednesday Lunchtime - Moab - Stay 2 nights - Arches and Canyonlands
Friday PM - Bryce Canyon City - via Highway 12 - Stay 2 nights - Bryce Canyon National Park
Sunday PM - Return to Las Vegas, Check in to VDara and return Hire Car
Sunday night, Monday & Tuesday - Eat Burgers, drink, go to a show (probably only one show)
Wednesday AM - 10am flight to New Orleans.

On each of the travel days, we have the option to leave early if we think we've seen everything, or late if there's more we still want to see - apart from Moab -> Bryce Canyon which will be pretty much a solid driving day with lots of stops at viewpoints.

What started out as a week is now 13 days. Are there any compelling reasons to add on another day or two?

Thanks

[Truckosaurus]

Having had several shoddy rental cars in Vegas (slow punctures, coolant leaks, etc) I'd be wary of charging out into the desert straight after picking up the car.

Perhaps have a day in Vegas at the start to shakedown the car - stock up on snacks/drinks etc from a suburban supermarket - and get some sleep before the drive to the GC.

[P1Fanatic]

Cosmo was the last hotel we tried and personally our least favourite. We were also lured in by a balcony view of the bellagio fountains which was nice but. Layout is rather strange and we found a younger vibe there (we were early mid forties for reference). Also had issues with a dirty room on arrival which can happen anywhere but didnt help. The secret pizzeria was nice though lol. I preferred the Mirage.

[mikef]

omniflow said:

Moab - Stay 2 nights - Arches and Canyonlands
Friday

I love Moab, especially the hike up to Delicate Arch. Plenty of motels; I recommend the Gonzo Inn for somewhere a bit different - and it’s right next to the bottle shop, which you may come to appreciate in Utah

[theplayingmantis]

P1Fanatic said:

Cosmo was the last hotel we tried and personally our least favourite. We were also lured in by a balcony view of the bellagio fountains which was nice but. Layout is rather strange and we found a younger vibe there (we were early mid forties for reference). Also had issues with a dirty room on arrival which can happen anywhere but didnt help. The secret pizzeria was nice though lol. I preferred the Mirage.

Really? Mirage nice than cosmo, im shocked by that. never stayed in Mirage but public areas have always been a touch tired and grimy. but cannot comment on the rooms. not been since covid mind.

Cosmo was always great IME. vibe is best of all when on it of a night, well maybe not Caesar's on a saturday night pre-omnia, but you are right there is that younger vibe at cosmo. the balconies are waste of time really unusable in the day time, occasionally come in handy at night.

More relaxed Mandalay for my return in easter, we are getting on a bit now for cosmo, and enjoy the chilled out of it vibe at mandalay and the pool which should be just about open at easter.