A bit of FRC mixed in with other "stuff". I told our friends I would ask the smartes group I have

C

cynupstateny

Well-known member
access to! We decided tonight, on the spur of the moment, to go out to Las Vegas for a long weekend. None of us have been there before but have been told you should go at least once. Have no clue where to stay. On or off strip. We're not gamblers but plan to play some slots, eat, see some shows, eat, ride into the dessert, and maybe get something to eat.

Any suggestions on any of the above will be appreciated!

 
I was there early 90's with a sewing guild convention...we stayed at

Circus Circus the first year. We were sorry we ever stayed there. We could hear machines dingding-dingdinging all the way home back to Fla!

We stayed at Bally's the next year, across from Caesar's...it was a lot nicer on that end of town. At that time they were building the Egyptian hotel a little further down the road.

The year we stayed at Circus Circus our convention was at Bally's, we walked and were followed. We were scared to death and thank God we lost them in the midst of a bunch of people in the lobby and scurried away up the elevator to our room.

In the meantime at check-in, one of the girls had her purse emptied while standing in line by a professional pick pocket. Even with cameras all over, she did not recover her loss.

We were limited in time and only got to walk through Caesars to see their shopping walk way with a painted sky overhead and moving, talking statues.

Things are always changing there so that may be gone by now.

Have fun, I know you will.....it's true, you have to see it at least once.

 
I have a few suggestions for you ....

I actually spend quite a bit of time there. My son lives there and does an FM radio show at night. First, you need to decide if you want to go all out and stay on the Strip or not. Whether you stay on the Strip or not, you will need to start looking at room rates. I always use Expedia which I think works well. If you really want to shoot in the dark you may want to use one of the sites that let you bid for a hotel (priceline, etc). It will cost you more if you stay on the Strip likely, expecially if you want to stay in a newer hotel. You might like the New York, New York ... My fav!

Room rates change constantly and are different for different nights of the week, so keep that in mind. If you stay on the Strip I would recommend the South end because you can get to more stuff from there. I would say roughly from Ceasar's or Wynn's South to Mandalay Bay. Anywhere in there will work. Each property is huge and the distance between them is great, to say nothing of the distance to things within them.

I usually stay off Strip on Paradise Road, near Flamingo Road. There a lot of nice restaurants right within walking distance of the LaQuinta and Homewood Suites. There are other hotels as well.

Food wise there are tons of great places to eat. We can do more on that subject if you really go and have questions.

I hope you are escaping the snow. When I lived in Oswego I shovelled my car by standing on top of it and shovelling down many times.

I hope you go to Vegas ... it really is a great place to visit and partake! Good luck.

 
Cyn, we have been to Vegas a few times and here are my suggestions

My suggestions are on personal safety. Travel in pairs or a pack. Don't get on an elevator with drunks. Avoid heavy alcohol consumption, and keep your wits about you. It takes a few times to learn the ropes in Vegas. Shopping in the stores associated with the big casinos was out of the question for us. High prices, no deals, not great quality, either. Have you ever noticed how those 300.00 to 400.00 dollar shoes have no arches, no support anywhere and are flimsy?

Just be smart, we walk part of the strip each time, visit the grand, showy places, see shows, but eat off the strip in local places, and go where the locals suggest. Then we can hardly wait to get out of there.

 
You're right - New York, New York is a good place to stay.

The off-strip ones Brian mentioned are good choices, too, and would cost less than the strip. If you are all going together on the cost and can afford it, look at the Venetian, Bellagio, Paris... all very pretty. Sometimes you can get cheaper prices by calling them directly and asking if there are any specials - especially if you are booking 2 rooms.

Are you renting a car? If so, you can stay just about anywhere. I ALWAYS ask the locals where to eat and have never been disappointed.

It is a LONG way between some casinos on the strip, so wear good walking shoes. I love to walk around early morning before it gets crazy, and at night when all the lights are on.

 
I used to live there. Stay ON strip, on the southern end, where the biggest, newest casinos are.

If money is an object, stay in one of the older, less expensive hotels on the north end of the strip, but one that's on the east side of the road that's connected to the Monorail, which you can then just hop on for the trip to the south end.

There are very nice off-strip casinos but most of what you'll want to see--at least on your first trip to Vegas--will be on the strip and then you'll either have to rent a car (and deal with parking), walk, or take taxis.

 
Riding into the dessert sounds kind of kinky, but "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas"

Really do try the desert however. See Hoover Dam, it's way cool!

 
Unfortunately, they now charge a horrendous price for the monorail...

it used to be free, and you'd think with as much $$ as we contribute, they would at LEAST let us have that!

BTW, just don't stay at the Tropicana -- that place has gotten SO sad. I expect it'll be torn down soon.

 
Tons of great restaurants!! I go a least 3x a year for work

For a major splurge, The Mansion at MGM, the Joel Robouchon restaurant, the food is so gorgeous you want to cry looking at it!! Atelier, his more casual place next door is also good. Delmonico's at the Venetian, awesome steaks, Bartolotta at the Wynn, Craftsteak at MGM, Chinois and Spago at The Forums Shops at Caesars, are all sure winners. The Wynn buffet for breakfast is the best kept secret on the strip. For 15.95 (weekdays)they have incredibly good food, great variety and high quality. (And I'm not a buffet person at all)

 
Here's a link to monorail info - we stayed in LV last summer for a night

passing through on a vacation driving trip. We hadn't been there since '92, and things have sure changed! There are tons of high-end restaurants - and we ended up paying about $30 for two dogs, a chili fry and lemonade from Nathan's Famous in the food court at MGM.

I agree with the advice to stay at the south end of The Strip.

I think safety-wise it is similar to any big city that caters to tourists - common sense rules the day.

http://www.lvmonorail.com/ride/parking/

 
Not a gambler - so when I went last fall I spent more money at the Canyon Ranch Spa in the Venezian

I've been to other Canyon Ranch spas including one on the Queen Mary 2. I like their offerings and level of service. I'd much rather pay for a massage or facial than to loose that money gambling.

Tess

 
I enjoyed the spa at the Luxor. Some hotels close their pools until late Mar/Apr

check that out if you want to swim.

 
Mo stuff smileys/smile.gif Some fun outside of town, the Las Vegas speedway

for about 85.00 per person, you can do a ride along in a race car around the track. Serious fun and something different! For spa, the Green Valley Ranch spa is spectacular. It's actually a nice place to stay, payouts on gambling much better than the strip hotels. They have a shuttle to the strip. 10 mins from airport.
The new beatles show is very good, "O" and Mystere are good. Zumanity, bad.
Will post back if I think of more. Feel free to emai me if you have any questions. smileys/smile.gif Have fun!!

 
MoNJ, can you point me to the race car ride info, please? How do I find out about it?

I saw "O" and thought it FABULOUS. Glad to know "Zoomanity" is not worth seeing. Will probably see the new Beatles show.

Great info- thank you. I really think my DH would love to ride in a race car- would love to find out about it.

 
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