First trip to Las Vegas

[ehyouwhat]

Hi all,

I'm thinking of taking my first ever trip to Las Vegas to celebrate my 30th Birthday this autumn. At the moment the trip will be just myself and my girlfriend, but there is a possibility a few other couples will attend with us (this is by no means a certainty).

Basically I'm asking for advice, recommendations and any other tips that people with experience of Las Vegas can offer.

I'd like to stay in a 'decent' hotel and, whilst I'm not setting out to spend a fortune, I'm happy to pay the going rate.

A friend stayed in the Bellagio and said it was fantastic, but that was back in 2003 and the place could have gone down the pan since then. The same friend claims to have first had experience of the Stratosphere and Luxor and claims them to be "clean but basic" and "a dump" respectively.

Good places to eat? Good things to do? Things to avoid? Any comments or help most welcome. Thanks in advance.

Regards,

EYW

[shakotan]

Planet Hollywood is a good bet, as it's mid-range in price (less than £100 a night), and was completely refirnished only about 3 or 4 years ago, so still pretty 'fresh' inside. Mid strip too, and right opposite the Bellagio.

[Robatr0n]

The MGM grand is by no means the best hotel/casino on the strip but the rooms arean't terrible and I think they cost us about £40-£50 a night. I'll have to double check that though.

We also stayed at the MGM signature and that was superb. Fantastic sized rooms, the tower blocks were secluded and the greeter & valet parkers knew us by our first name after a couple of days which was a nice touch (also meant they rushed off to get the car before we even gave them the ticket).

The Bellagio is still pretty lush and they've been updating the inside of the hotel a fair amount recently. Friends of ours stayed there so we went and checked out the room and it looked great. When you go to the Bellagio, take a trip to the Fontana Bar and ask to be seated outside, this way you get to hear the live music being piped out from inside the bar and you get to enjoy the fountain display.

Oh, visit the gun store!

[nick s]

if you're looking for something at the nicer end of the scale, the bellagio, the venetian, ceasars palace, the wynn etc are all really nice hotels. The buffet at the bellagio is amazing!
Places like the MGM grand, planet hollywood, new york new york are much more lively hotels however with a better atmosphere if you like.
I staye din The Venetian in November and it's an absolutely amazing hotel.

Edited by nick s on Thursday 18th March 13:13

[mike325112]

Four seasons - its no way near as much as you think if you can get a discounted rate its got its own lush pool area and you get use of all of the Mandalay bay amenities as well.

[Nidjit]

You're going to love it. I've been 7 times, and always see something new every time I go. I usually recommend the following:

1. Stay as close to the centre of the strip as you can. Bally's is really good value for money - opposite the Bellagio and relatively cheap. Just not particularly swanky.
2. I've never found the Stratosphere a particularly nice place to be, inside. But you MUST go on at least one of the rides at the top.
3. The Voodoo Lounge at the top of the Rio is spectacular. If you can get there early evening while it's still light, you can have a few drinks and watch the sun go down and the lights come up.
4. The aquarium at Mandalay Bay is worth a look. It's fking massive.
5. If you're into poker in any way, you need to play at the Bellagio - they've been running $1/2 NL for a while now. How times have changed, and all that.
6. They do very cool NASCAR-based packages at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway
7. You have to go and see the light show at Fremont Street. You just do.
8. If you're getting a cab to a hotel on the strip, ask to go via Koval Lane - the Las Vegas Blvd route is a rip-off (but that might just be the novelty experience having worn off!)
9. There are loads of good helicopter trips to the Grand Canyon. Do one.

Hope some of that helps.
Nidj

[louiebaby]

If you go out to the Indian Skywalk, the skywalk is a lot of money, and not really worth it. The rest of the scenery, which is amazing, is well worth the basic entry fee...

Go to the top of the car park at the Bellagio, it's not really high, but the view is pretty good.

Try "Fat Burger" late at night, down towards the New York New York end of the strip, the locals are amusing, and very welcoming.

We went sky diving as well, but they get quite busy, and it is weather dependent, so it might be worth booking in advance. If it also gives you the opportunity to come into the city on a warm, windless afternoon, you'll see the smog you're breathing in sitting on the city, which was a bit worrying!

[mike13]

We stayed at the Bellagio and the Palazzo in Sept 09,exceptional service at both,found the Stratosphere end of the strip a bit rough and ready,was disappointed with Fremont St,apart from this thought Vegas was outstanding.
Not sure if it's any interest to you,but the Gunstore was a great place for me,shooting with live ammo,Hoover dam worth a visit if you hire a car.Jersey boys if you want to see a show.

[F i F]

Not been for some years now, is the Strip still infested with the Hispanic "pimps" handing out :cough: client :cough: advertising.

[sirtyro]

I stayed at circus circus which is opposite paris and a good position on the strip. If you have the money do the Grand Canyon tours! Def worth it!!!!!

[LilCat]

Robatr0n said:

The MGM grand is by no means the best hotel/casino on the strip but the rooms arean't terrible and I think they cost us about £40-£50 a night. I'll have to double check that though.

Change the £ to $

[Turbodiesel1690]

Been twice, stayed at the Bellagio and Mandalay Bay, Bellagio by far the better hotel and planning to go back there this year. If you go, Vegas in general will blow your mind - it really is Disneyland for adults. The 2 things that we found most memorable were the helicopter trip into the grand canyon with the return at dusk straight down the strip, and the show 'O' in the Bellagio, never experienced anything it. The buffet in the Monte Carlo is one of the best by the way

Have fun!

[flyingjase]

I've stayed at:-

Ceasears
Mirage
Wynn
Bellagio

Personally I would go back to all of them (well maybe not Mirage) but Wynn is the winner (pardon the punn) and you can get deals too so it's not expensive. Stay in the suites and you get remote control curtains - a gadegt that we all need!

Go to the Ghost Bar at the Palms, great outdoor area to drink which is quite rare in Vegas and great views. Also agree with another poster on Voodoo loungue, the Rio too have a good buffet breakfast.

Have fun, and remember what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. (Shame you're there with the Mrs!)

[V8TVR1978]

Any of the bigger name hotels are IMO all the same for quality but do check their websites to find each hotel's deals. They all want your business and for you to be happy as that creates repeat and new business for them.

Stay as far away from North Vegas (Airforce base/racetrack) as possible unless you are over 6 feet tall / 240 pounds and know how to take care of yourself as it is not a nice area.

Edited by V8TVR1978 on Friday 19th March 05:15

Edited by V8TVR1978 on Friday 19th March 05:16

[Not Ideal]

All about the Wynn.

[paul0843]

fly into vegas...get taxi to wynn...spend all your time
here then get taxi back to airport...
job done

[shakotan]

sirtyro said:

I stayed at circus circus which is opposite paris and a good position on the strip. If you have the money do the Grand Canyon tours! Def worth it!!!!!

Circus Circus is nowhere near Paris, and it's a sthole!

[shakotan]

F i F said:

Not been for some years now, is the Strip still infested with the Hispanic "pimps" handing out :cough: client :cough: advertising.

Still very much so, even roped in rough Latino wimmen into it too.

[casbar]

Stayed in the Mand bay, beach was good to relax on. Only down side, its at the bottom of the strip, so a long walk wherever you go

[Benzman]

We've stayed at the Venitian, awesome hotel, about five years ago. Went back last May at stayed at Trump Tower, got an up-grade to a full-on executive suite on the 63rd floor out of 64 floors available, view down to Strip was amazing.

The choice is just unreal, in fact the whole place is just unreal. You've just got to go and see it for yourself.

There is some guy named Terry Fator who won America's Got Talent and he's one of the biggest names in the States now, if you get a chance to go and see him go, he is one amazing talent (check him out on YouTube)

Other excellent places to stay are the Bellagio or the Wynn. Avoid the Stratosphere and Circus Circus (both dumps)