Going to VEGAS! Need advice. About This Page:

[minemoz1]

Hi all!

My Dh and I just booked a visit to wonderful Las Vegas in 19 days! (woo-hoo) I have been before, but not since the mid 90s, when the MGM Grand was the new hotel. DH has never been. Since the strip has grown so much since my last visit, I need your help. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

What are your favorite things to do and see? What are your favorite places to eat?

We are in our early 30s and enjoy just about anything. We will be there for 4 nights.

TIA! Michele

[Tara O'Hara]

Oh my gosh, Michelle! You are going to have a grand time!! Where are you staying?!? We have stayed at Treasure Island, The Mirage and The Monte Carlo. It is such a fun town! There are lots of free outdoor exhibits in front of the hotels on the strip and we have seen both Cirques out there [img]graemlins/love.gif[/img] . I highly recommend seeing Mystere at Treasure Island. Even if you have seen LaNouba, it is awesome! You can spend an entire day just touring the hotels. We have eaten at many of the hotel restaurants also. What kind of food do you like? What kind of shows do you like? We have seen FX, Sigfried and Roy and Lance Burton. Okay, my friend also made me go see Wayne Newton-yes, he is still alive but we were by far the youngest ones in the audience! That is all I will say about that! If you love DW, you will love vegas!

Tara
[img]graemlins/love.gif[/img]

P.S. For an awesome, romantic meal, try Emeril's Delmonico Steakhouse at the Venetian-it is the best food I have EVER eaten!

[ 06-04-2002, 05:41 PM: Message edited by: Tara McCusker ]

[Heidi]

If I can give you any kind of tip regarding slot machines - go to the old strip (Fremont, Golden Nugget, etc.) The slot machines are a lot more loose and I made almost $500 in 40 minutes! No lie. A lady beside got at a $9000 pot while I was making my money. All played on the Wheel of Fortune machines. The next time I go, I'm heading straight down there. We went to watch the (free) laser light show and ended up taking a limo back to our hotel - I was feeling so generous! That is my second favorite place after WDW. Have a blast!!!

[travlin gal]

I was in Las Vegas last year and it is just fun looking at the new hotels; Bellagio, they have a neat fountain show at the front of the hotel, Venetian is real pretty, the Paris also is O.K,, Caesars is good, especially the shopping arcade. If you can make it downtown the Freemont Experience light show is awsome and the prime rib at the Golden Nugget downtown is really great. There is plenty to do even if you don't gamble. I have also stayed at the Monte Carlo and enjoyed it. The inside of the Mirage makes you feel like you are in Hawaii with all the flowers and be sure to check to desk in the lobby with the fish tank back of it. You will have a good time I know, even though it will be hot. Go to Hoover Dam if you get a chance.

Travlin Gal

[iloverags2]

It's been almost five years since I went. We stayed at the Luxor, and I loved it! They have a great buffet also. Just all around cool atmosphere. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[suegodi]

You are going to have a great time!! I'm jealous (although I leave for WDW in 4 days [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] ) I've been going to Vegas with my 2 sisters twice a year- for the past 3 years. We always have a blast. Usually we stay at Excalibur- last time at Bally's. Bally's Steak House had one of the best staeks I've ever had. My aunt & uncle are usually there at the same time and they've been going to Vegas twice a year for 25 years- so they know it pretty well. They love Tony Roma's for ribs (so do I). I agree that the slots in downtown (old Vegas) tend to be looser. We love Westward Ho- one of us usually hits there. My aunt and uncle think that Danny Gans is the best performer in Vegas- I think he's at the Mirage now- haven't been able to get tickets for him yet. If there is anything you need to know- write back- if I can't help- I'm sure they can!! Have a wonderful trip!!!

[minemoz1]

Thanks for your replies!

We are staying at Treasure Island. I've stayed there twice before and really enjoyed it. Now that they've redone the rooms, it really looks lovely.

I've seen Sigfried and Roy and Mystere, when it was the new show in Vegas and only cost $30 or $40. We are thinking of seeing Blue Man Group. F/X sounds awesome though. My DH wants to do the Star Trek thing (Is this still there and at what casino?). I want to go downtown/Freemont street since I've never been there.

Is Danny Gans the guy who does all of the singing impersonations?

As for dining, DH doesn't like restaurants that serve "pretty" food. He needs to have more than a half-dollar sized portion. We eat any type of cuisine and will probably splurge on a few $$$ meals.

Travlin gal--I did do the Hoover Dam tour the last time I was there. It was incredible (and incrediby hot, 116).

You guys are the best!

[Colo Dizfanatic]

Good for you for going to Vegas. You WILL have a good time!!

I would agree with the posts about seeing the two "Cirque's" while you are there. Just outstanding shows. We didn't get a chance to see "O" while we were there, but we did see Mystere at Treasure Island and it was absolutely awesome! We have vowed to see "O" when we go back. (You can pre-order tix for Cirque shows on their web site so you don't have to wait in line in Vegas to get tix!!)

We also liked looking at all of the hotels Oh my, the Bellagio is just too awesome. Take some time to watch the fountains synced to music that are in front of the Bellagio.

Danny Gans? Yes, he is the impressionist that does his show at the Mirage. Sometimes we closed our eyes while we listened to him. He is VERY good and he does alot of impressions......ALOT!! Female and male. However, we felt that we could have enjoyed it much more if we had sat a little closer. The theatre is huge and we were somewhat in the back....and we could tell that Danny Gans is very physical during his show, but we couldn't see all of it, unfortunately. Just a thought for you.

We did stay at the Luxor and really loved this hotel. But since it was so far away from everything else, I wouldn't stay there again. Too bad they hadn't planned a little better and put it a little closer to the "action". And yes the buffet there was excellent.

Well, I know this was a rambling message, but just wanted to give you my .02!! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] Have a great time!! [img]graemlins/usa.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/usa.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/usa.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/usa.gif[/img]

[Tara O'Hara]

Michelle,

If you eat at Delmonico's, I guarantee your husband will be stuffed! [img]graemlins/yuma.gif[/img] I love Treasure Island, too! We've stayed there twice, once with friends and once with the kids. The Pirate Battle rocks and I love the buffet! Have you ever tried the buffet for breakfast next door at the mirage? It is awesome and there is an excellent seafood restaurant at Mandalay Bay- which is gorgeous. The Shark Reef there is definately worth going through! Oh gosh, can you tell I love Vegas?!?

Tara
[img]graemlins/love.gif[/img]

Oops! I almost forgot: The Blue Man Group is terrific. It is very offbeat!

[ 06-05-2002, 11:01 AM: Message edited by: Tara McCusker ]

[hminneman8]

We loved the M&M Museum/shop! And my husbands best meal ever was at Emeril's DelMonico. Our driver told us that the Pepper Mill was also really good for steaks. If you get a chance, have your picture taken with the lions at MGM.

Have fun, I"m so jealous.

Heather

[iloverags2]

Oh, one more thing...behind the MGM Grand there is some type of small amusement park. Towards the front of it (near MGM) is a toy shop, with a giant Raggedy Ann sitting on a swing...say "hello" to her for me if you pass by. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[PS - I LUV WDW]

Oh my! How did I miss recommending the M&M store and the Coca Cola bottle (store and museum)! Also don't forget about the shops at Caesar's Palace... I know the Gods come to life at different times of the day. Also if you like roller coasters, be sure to get to NY, NY.

[bobwerner]

Vegas Tips (yes, you do tip a lot in Vegas)
1) Free things - The Pirate battle outside Treasure Island. The "volcano" outside the Mirage. Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam. The Freemont Street Experience.

2) There is a tour (if it hasn't been discontinued due to 9/11) of Hoover Dam called the Hard Hat tour. Was $25 and well worth the money.

3) I'm not a travel agent, but check out this site, it has a TON of coupons that you can send away for. Bill Here's Vegas Coupon page

4) There are several websites dedicated to Vegas. My favs are: www.lvol.com and www.lasvegas24hours.com

There's more than gambling in Vegas. If you are going to gamble, go to your local bookstore and get a beginners gambling guide. My favorite game is craps, but it's a VERY fast paced game.

Most of all ENJOY!

[bobwerner]

Sorry, to post again in the same topic, but Yes ST: The Experience is still there. It's at the Las Vegas Hilton $24.95 for an all day pass. You get to go through the experience as much as you want. And, IT's AWESOME!!!

Checkout www.lv-hilton.com for more info...

Can anyone tell that I love Vegas??? It's second on my list after WDW.

[Sissy is here]

Do hope that you have a terrific time in Vegas. I
just moved 2 years ago from LV, after living there
for 38 years. All of the previous posts are pretty
much on the money except I have to disagree with where to play the slots and/or video machines i.e.
poker machines. The "strip" and "downtown" (Fre-
mont St.) are places where you will not see locals
playing because the odds are not as favorable to the player(s) as the casinos that were built with
the local trade in mind. Sam's Town, Palace Station, the Rio and the Reserve are all casinos that have great resturants, buffets and the best
"odds" on all gaiming that Nevada allows.
Entertainment is tops, I will list some of my fav-
orites and the reason(s) why I chose them: FX -
simply the best all around show on the strip,
Siegfried and Roy - very entertaining and it will
blow your mind away trying figure out how they did what they just did, Wayne Newton - very enter-
taining, alot for your money, don't sell him short
he has a very good show, Danny Gans - he started at the Rio (off the Strip) and now is at the Mirage and has been voted Entertainer of Year se-
veral times. There is alot of free entertainment
on the Strip, at Treasure Island you can watch
the pirates fight and the ship sink, there is the
volcano eruption at the Mirage, the white tigers,
and all the newer hotels have alot going on with-
in the hotel i.e talking statues, thunder storms,
singing and dancing, and on and on and on. On
Fremont Street (downtown) they have two (2) blocks
that are covered and right in front of the casinos
and every hour or so they put on a light show that
is seen above and it is fantastic and this is all
free and it is air conditioned.
There are also some sights around the Vegas area that are well worth seeing; Hoover Dam is really a sight to see, there is not another dam that is as large as this one and it is awesome. Red Rock is a recreation area that is 35 minutes from the Strip (west on Sahara) and it is beautiful, there are some springs there and it is a nice get away.
About 50-60 minutes from Vegas (heading north) is
Mt. Charleston, during the summer this was locals get away from the heat and it is beautiful and it
has a wonderful lodge to relax and have a meal and a cool drink. There is also Lake Mead where you can take a cruise and see some of the wildlife
(mountain sheep, deer, mountain lions, etc.), you can rent a boat, at Lake Mead Marina or Boulder Beach and go fishing or just cruise the Lake.
I really miss Vegas, it was a great place to grow up and even better when you grew up and were able to partake of all that Vegas has to offer.
I do hope that I have given you a few ideas of what to do when you get there and believe me there is no place like it anywhere else on this earth. Have a fantastic time!!!!!!!!!

Sissy