upcoming Vegas trip in mid April 2012

danger boy

ok... believe it or not.. i've NEVER been to Las Vegas! there I've said it.. i'm out of the closet as a never before Vegas visitor. :cheesygrin:

so with that said... what should I do and see while there? an NO the bunny ranch is not on the list.. :eek:

Any of you regulars going to be there in mid April too? let me know so we can hang out and have a drink together. I'm a good bar buddy.. just ask Lightman1 :cheesygrin:

exalted512

I really enjoyed the Cirque de Soleil shows we went to, although I think the water one in the Bellagio was the best.

I've stayed at the Luxor and Bellagio...wasn't impressed with the latter. I would have much preferred the Luxor if it wasn't for being at the end of the strip...thats A LOT of walking.

Hope you have at least 4-5 days, it takes a while to see everything!
-Cody

chumlie

Couple of things not to miss. Go to top of the Stratosphere for a couple of beers. At night is best. amazeing view. Cost about $20 for the elevater ride and $4 for a beer. They have a really nice lounge and restaraent that slowly spins or you can go to the roof. Don't miss the Fremont experiance. Its in downtown Vegas, doesn't cost anythind. All of Fremont St is covered with a Hi-Def lite display. Shown are differant video's with music about every hour between around 7pm to 11pm. All kinds of strett venders plus its legal to drink on the street. Ya gotta see it to beleive it. Also check out the buffet at the Rio if you like prime rib. lobster, crabs and such. About $40 for what IMO is the best buffet in Vegas. They also have Penn & Teller show there not to be missed. Where ya stayin.

nooshinjohn

danger boy wrote: »

ok... believe it or not.. i've NEVER been to Las Vegas! there I've said it.. i'm out of the closet as a never before Vegas visitor. :cheesygrin:

so with that said... what should I do and see while there? an NO the bunny ranch is not on the list.. :eek:

Any of you regulars going to be there in mid April too? let me know so we can hang out and have a drink together. I'm a good bar buddy.. just ask Lightman1 :cheesygrin:

The Bunny Ranch is a MUST SEE! Remember what happens in Vegas stays there.

If you are a Beatles fan, seeing LOVE! is a must. Also drop by the Pawn Stars.:loneranger:

Glowrdr

Gotta check out a bar called Mix - It's on the 64th floor of Mandalay Bay. Awesome bar (relaxed bar, not nightclub). They have an outdoor patio that's all glass. Great view when you are 30 floors above the neighboring casino Luxor.

http://www.mandalaybay.com/nightlife/mix-lounge.aspx

steveinaz

Definitely book your shows ahead of time on Vegas.com. You'll thank me later...REALLY pleased take this advice.

See:
Beatles Love (even--like me---if you don't like the Beatles)
Any cirque de solais show...take your pick (I know I can't spell)

Do an internet search of free things to see, you'd be amazed at how cool some of the free stuff is. Vegas is EASY, because everything is top-notch.

Where are you staying?

For excellent value: Monte Carlo (get a suite, ya bastad it's Vegas)
For excellent service/awe factor: The Mirage (see my videos on youtube, username thedesertroseranch)

Book now (don't take promotions unless you are SURE...they are not refundable) it's better to book a "standard" rate, then keep checking back for a cheaper rate.

Strong Bad

I'm heading to Vegas, for my first time, on Feb 2 - 6 with about 10 people from work. Fly in Thursday evening, Friday night we're seeing Motley Crue at the Hardrock Cafe, Saturday night is the UFC Fights At Mandalay Bay and Sunday is our Superbowl Party at the Wynn Resort. Roll out Monday morning.

I'm staying the Planet Hollywood Resort.

I'm flippin pumped!

vcwatkins

My annual cheap **** group usually stays at Flamingo or Bally's - inexpensive rooms on strip close to where we usually gamble. Which means nickel craps at Casino Royale as I'm not comfy with more than $200 or so on the table at any one time. The dealers are not always courteous, and they'll even intimidate folks when a table really heats up. I treat it as part of the fun. One other cheap strip craps place is O'Sheas. More of a college vibe, often loud live rock bands and cheap beer. They have a huge beer pong area in back which is a hoot to watch if you need a break from the table. On a warm day in April, they'll open the big front glass on the front for a unique boardwalk feel.

A few restaurants I like:

Flay's Mesa Grill at Caesar's. Good beef & seafood dishes, very creative. Good bar too. Killer Hendricks martinis. Brunch is my favorite time to eat there. http://www.mesagrill.com/las-vegas-restaurant/

Dos Caminos at Palazzo. Upscale Mex. Incredible guac - used to make it table - may have stopped this though. Excellent menu. Good tequilas flights and drinks http://www.palazzo.com/Templates/Venetian/ProductDetails.aspx?pageid=2147485323 . Very cool atmosphere with good music. I bet the lounge is a blast in evenings.

The French bistro in Palazzo, I think it's Bouchon, is excellent too. Wine is a little too pricey there though IMO.

Shows:
I've really only done Cirque and a few concerts. Love is such good music. You will not believe the sound system in that place - almost worth the price just to hear the thing. Good remixing of tunes. Excellent staging and production, but probably the least of the Cirques wrt circus performances. They're all good and, even though costly, worth the price IMO (for a treat or to keep wife happy).

Other:
There's good hiking right outside of town at Red Rock Canyon. The Red Rock Resort is pretty cool too for an apres hike respite, which is to say craps. If you've got time, rent a car and head to the Zion NP (especially The Narrows). Outstanding park and worth the drive.

Car Museum at Imperial Palace is pretty cool and inexpensive thing for guys. Get a coupon in the casino for discount admission. Worth the 5 bucks or so to see.

Have fun!!

txcoastal1

Beatles love
Blue Man Group if they are in town is a very musical interactive fun show

vcwatkins

I like having a beer and watching the Tar Heels win at the Venetian sports book.

Rio is worth checking out one night. You can get a shuttle (across highway) from strip - I think at Barbary Coast/Bill's (another good cheap craps spot LOL).
- Excellent views from the rooftop bar and Voodoo restaurant
- Fun casino and my vote for best cocktail waitresses/outfits
- Amazing wine cellar
- Night club there was very hot for a while. Dunno now - I don't do clubs.

City Ctr Aria and Cosmopolitan are worth checking out for their unique design and hipster vibe.

Big Shot and other rides on top of Stratosphere (pretty intense actually), New York coaster, are good daytime break from tables.

Serendipity

I would highly recommend going to Vegas during CES in January. They have high-end audio demos at the Alexis Park / Venetian demo rooms, which are comprised of hotel rooms and meeting rooms used for strictly 2 channel listening. Lots of turntables, tubes, and speakers if you are into that stuff.

That being said, I've stayed at the Luxor before and it was well worth it. The sideways elevators aka "inclinators" are the first elevator I have been in which goes sideways and up. As a result, I personally like the Luxor / Mandalay Bay atmosphere, but there are many choices based on your taste and interests.

Like exalted512 said, the "O" show at Bellagio by Cirque du Soleil was the best. Very well done and well worth the wait. I also saw Storm at Mandalay Bay (IIRC there is an age limit, so don't bring kids), and the magic show at The Mirage (also well worth the price of admission). Lots of choices and good shows here.

But seriously, my favorite part about Vegas has got to be CES. More equipment than you can get your hand on in 4 days, trust me when I say it'll take a good 2-3 days just to walk around, and the main halls of Las Vegas Convention Center are packed during Day 1. If anything, CES is the best show in Vegas and I would recommend everyone to go at least once in their lifetime!!

Enjoy and have a safe and wonderful trip!

steveinaz

We used to love the Luxor, but when they changed the theme from Egyptian to yuppieville---we moved on.

We're Vegas veterans, so here's Stevie's quickie hotel reviews of places I have stayed:

Luxor: Nice, mid-grade hotel, good price. On the McCarren end of the strip though.
Monte Carlo: Very good value, a tad boring but easy to navigate. very cool Microbrewry (suites are cheap)
Harrah's: a gamblers casino. Boring theme, boring pool. Good service in the casino however. If you like "themed" hotels--pass on Harrah's.
Flamingo: Great historical value. Pretty cool if you can tolerate alot of pink and brass. Decent pricing.
Venetian: The "suite deal" is outstanding ($149 I think). Excellent service/rooms (all suites), BUT...everything in venetian is EXPENSIVE, and the Casino is tight.
Treasure Island: Pretty good deal, though a little over-priced when compared to Luxor or Monte Carlo.
Mirage: This has become our favorite. It's a little over-priced too, but the service/rooms are outstanding, the Casino is relatively loose, and it's the kind of hotel you can spend the whole day in, if you want.

TOP Picks:

Budget: Monte Carlo
Not concerned too much with price: Mirage

steveinaz

The $20 sandwich.....

When checking in, when you hand the gal your ID and Credit card, have $20 in-between them. See, here's the thing: Practically everybody gets "tipped" in Vegas, except the check-in folks. If you want a "minor" upgrade, such as a better view, tip her a $20.....If you want to upgrade to a suite, slip her a $50. Think about it, who would you work harder for? The guy who gives you no tip and asks for a free upgrade, or the guy who just gave you $50 bucks for your trouble? If they can't hook you up, they'll graciously return the tip (at least in my experience)...I still give them $20 for trying, and it paid off big for me one time, as the gal was later able to not only upgrade our suite, she gave us a volcano/strip view as well. (see my youtube video).

Also, while waiting in line to check-in, scope out the desk folks and see who appears to be the friendliest, and get in that line...ya catchin my drift?

Karma baby.

timalan

Cirque du Soleil's "O" (the "water one") at the Bellagio -- easily the most amazing stage performance I've ever seen. Mind blowing compared to other Cirque--though I haven't been to LOVE.

And for what it's worth, IMHO the best part of Vegas is that it is a launching point for so many amazing national parks. Cheap flight to Vegas, then rent a car and head to Moab, for instance. Nothing in Vegas can touch the majesty and splendor of the nature that is just a short drive away.

steveinaz

The "O" show is fantastic, as is "The Phantom of the Opera" at Venetian. I tell you what a REAL surprise was....Carrot Top at Luxor. I thought that show was gonna suck (Bev wanted to go)---he was hilarious.

nooshinjohn

timalan wrote: »

Cheap flight to Vegas, then rent a car and head to MOAB, for instance.

I think I can skip that one...:twisted:


Actually that place is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. Definately worth the drive.

kab

If you have a car, there is an extremely good Italian restaurant in Henderson about 15 minutes below the airport. It's Gaetano's Ristorante on 10271 S. Eastern Av. Memorable food, great service, fine wine list and moderate prices. A real gem.

Al