16 replies to this topic

[ChaosLex]

Any recommendations for hotels/resorts? My wife and I are going to spend 3 nights there next April (for our 1st anniversary), and I was just wondering if y'all had some input.

Thanks in advance!

[ChaosLex]

The Mirage looks interesting. Reasonably priced too. Between $500 to $600 for a 3-night stay, depending on what kinda view you want. A friend of mine also said that a) it's classic Vegas and b) classy.

Thoughts!?

[JeremyStrain]

The Mirage looks interesting. Reasonably priced too. Between $500 to $600 for a 3-night stay, depending on what kinda view you want. A friend of mine also said that a) it's classic Vegas and b) classy.

Thoughts!?

Got lotsa stuff for you, gimme a sec to finish this email...

[SportsGuy]

Get a package deal. You can stay in good hotels for cheap rates with airfare.

Most of the Vegas hotels are good.

Monte Carlo is a good mid range one.

[SBTarheel]

Betbetbetbetbetbetbetbetbetbetbetbetbet

Mirage is great, Bally's is also a "classic" Vegas casino, not too pricey either.

[JeremyStrain]

We have a timeshare, so we usually stay there, but as well as considering price, consider location. You're going to wanna walk and see everything, and the strip is way bigger than it seems. A Vegas block is like 4 city blocks. Mirage is next to Treasure Island and across from The Venetian (where we got married), not a bad location. You'll have Senor Frogs right next door which is a pretty happening spot.

The Flamingo is pretty much dead center of the strip and is on the monorail side, so you can take that and save your legs if you want to go north and see MGM, NYNY, Mandalay Bay, Luxor or any of those at the far end. Depends on the time of year you go, but you can get some really good rates if you shop around. All the Harrah's properties have a site where you can compare the price in all 7 or so against each other. (Caesars, IP, Harrah's, Flamingo, Bally's) pretty much the middle of the strip.

There is an amazing Mexican chain in the center of the Flamingo next to the Sports Book- something with Charlie in it I think. Chorizo and Chicken Tacos I STILL dream about to this day. Your chain places like Cheesecake Factory is in Caesars, and PF Changs is in Planet Hollywood. Speaking of, that's a good place for a combo of shopping, nightlife and a cool casino, but usually more expensive as result, it's down near MGM and the Movie Theater. There are little exclusive restaurants all over Vegas, CraftSteak in MGM (Tom Collichio), the original Wolfgang Puck in MGM, and others in pretty much every hotel, but the Chains are a good way to eat decent without spending $150-200 a meal. There are more and more food courts popping up in the Casinos which are good for a cheap quick lunch, since food can wind up costing you $600 over 4 days if you aren't careful. Margaritaville at the Flamingo is a must go for us every trip, get the Volcano Nachos...amazing. And the BEST burger joint in Vegas is in the Mirage, called BLT I think. We saw LOVE the Beatles Cirque show after and all I could think about was that burger.

The shows are cool but DO NOT buy tix in advance, get there and go to the box office of whichever show you want to see, you will save 50-75% off the online price. Try to resist the urge to see the Grand Canyon, you'll get a better view from the plane, and it'll cost you an entire day off your trip.

Anything else, feel free to ask. I've been once or twice...

[mweb08]

The Grand Canyon along with the Utah parks would be great as an addition to this trip or to do another time. I strongly disagree with saying you'll get a better view from the plane, which to me is basically saying it's not worth going. It is very worth making a trip to at some point as long you have the slightest appreciation for nature/landscape.

As far as Vegas, what do you want to do?

I'd say $500-600 for 3 nights is quite steep unless you're getting a fancy room with a view.

I stayed at Imperial a few summers ago for like $25, and that's not a bad hotel, nor is it in a bad location. You should be able to get something nice in a good spot for $350 or less. Unless that is, you want something special.

[JeremyStrain]

Imperial is closed for renovations right now, tore out Osheas and the parking garage behind it to build an updated new hotel/casino.

[Mackus]

My girlfriend has to go out to Vegas in late November for a conference or course or something like that, so I'm gonna fly out and join her midweek for a couple nights in Vegas, then we're gonna rent a car and drive to the Grand Canyon and camp a night there, then a night in Sedona, and then fly back home out of Phoenix. Should be a pretty hectic few days, but hopefully a lot of fun. Never been to Vegas and very excited.

[Oriole85]

My girlfriend has to go out to Vegas in late November for a conference or course or something like that, so I'm gonna fly out and join her midweek for a couple nights in Vegas, then we're gonna rent a car and drive to the Grand Canyon and camp a night there, then a night in Sedona, and then fly back home out of Phoenix. Should be a pretty hectic few days, but hopefully a lot of fun. Never been to Vegas and very excited.

Was in Sedona like 15 years ago, very cool place. You know where you are staying?

[Mackus]

Heading out on my trip Wednesday evening. I'll have late Wednesday night, all day Thursday, and Friday morning in Vegas. Thursday morning/afternoon I may be on my own since my girlfriend will be at some conference. I've heard that Emeril's Sportsbook in the Palazzo is awesome, so I think I'm gonna head there. I'm worried that there won't be any sports to bet on during the afternoon on a Thursday, though (I know nothing about soccer, if there is any on).

I'd like to do a buffet one night and a nicer dinner another night. I may save the really fancy dinner until we get to Sedona. I really wanna try out Craftsteak, though, but it's really expensive. The room in Vegas and my flight were free, though, so I can afford to splurge a bit.

[JeremyStrain]

Heading out on my trip Wednesday evening. I'll have late Wednesday night, all day Thursday, and Friday morning in Vegas. Thursday morning/afternoon I may be on my own since my girlfriend will be at some conference. I've heard that Emeril's Sportsbook in the Palazzo is awesome, so I think I'm gonna head there. I'm worried that there won't be any sports to bet on during the afternoon on a Thursday, though (I know nothing about soccer, if there is any on).

I'd like to do a buffet one night and a nicer dinner another night. I may save the really fancy dinner until we get to Sedona. I really wanna try out Craftsteak, though, but it's really expensive. The room in Vegas and my flight were free, though, so I can afford to splurge a bit.

CraftSteak is the bomb.

[Adam Wolff]

Bump.

 

Seeing a couple shows at The Joint at the Hard Rock in Vegas at the end of May. Would make sense to stay there, given the shows being there, but it's off the strip. Any thoughts from any Vegas veterans? It's my first time, so I'd like to see some stuff, wasn't sure if it would be easier to stay on the Strip and just travel for the concerts or vice versa. Any insights are appreciated!

[Mike in STL]

Bump.
 
Seeing a couple shows at The Joint at the Hard Rock in Vegas at the end of May. Would make sense to stay there, given the shows being there, but it's off the strip. Any thoughts from any Vegas veterans? It's my first time, so I'd like to see some stuff, wasn't sure if it would be easier to stay on the Strip and just travel for the concerts or vice versa. Any insights are appreciated!

First time, do yourself a favor and stay on the strip. It's fairly easy to get a cab when you need one. Each hotel has a bunch waiting out front for customers. You'll have more fun walking around the strip on your down time rather than getting a cab every time you want to leave the hotel to go to the strip where the action is.

Not sure what you're into, I've been a few times. Best buffet is at the Wynn Hotel. Sportsbook at MGM is Impressive. Check out the fountain show every 15 minutes at the Bellagio. Seen the Blue Man Group which was awesome, can't remember the hotel though. Also saw Penn and Teller. Very cool. They play at the Rio which is somewhat off the strip. We took a cab. Games are games, but there's a section of Ceaser's that has girls wearing next to nothing dealing and pole dancers near the tables. Makes blowing a couple hundred bucks in 10 minutes hurt a little less.

Have fun. I love it there.

[mweb08]

Bump.

 

Seeing a couple shows at The Joint at the Hard Rock in Vegas at the end of May. Would make sense to stay there, given the shows being there, but it's off the strip. Any thoughts from any Vegas veterans? It's my first time, so I'd like to see some stuff, wasn't sure if it would be easier to stay on the Strip and just travel for the concerts or vice versa. Any insights are appreciated!

 

The pool scene at the Hard Rock is supposed to be incredible. 

 

But otherwise, staying on the strip is a big plus IMO.

[Pedro Cerrano]

God I love Las Vegas.

[tennOsfan]

There's a chain fast food place called El Pollo Loco that my wife and I absolutely love.  It's Mexican-style grilled chicken.  Go find one.  You'll thank me later.

 

If you don't mind being off the strip, I recommend Orleans.  You can get comps there easily and the place is fine and affordable.  Really, it's hard to go wrong anywhere.  During the week, you might be able to get the Trump Hotel for a bit over $100/night.  We did that once and opted to pay a little extra for a high-up view, and we wound up about three levels from the top looking down on the southern strip.  That was something else.  I've stayed at the Venetian and Bellagio as well.  Both are nice but too expensive.  I have stayed at South Point and liked it (El Pollo Loco nearby!) but it's miles from the strip.  Their prime rib restaurant was nice and reasonably priced.

 

If you want to stay downtown, Main Street Station is looked on favorably and you can get comps there.  I could go on and on.

 

I don't believe the air/hotel package prices are the best if you're willing to check on specials from the hotels.  You can find better deals by doing your homework and splitting those purchases.

 

Do yourself a favor and rent a car.  If you check on it frequently and use discount codes from rentalcarmomma as I've done, you can get a car for a cheap price.  Take a day and drive around, either west to Death Valley and the ghost town nearby, or east to Valley of Fire.  It's a lot of fun to just get out in the desert.