Goin to Vegas

blue 07

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So me and the wife are heading to Las Vegas for a 4 day trip ( 5 days really, traveling one day) no kids just us. Never been before so looking for some suggestions. Definitely going to do the Shelby Tour and the Grand Canyon. Thinking of staying on the strip, goods and bads ?? Would like to hear from you who have been as to what to and not to do. THANKS !!
 

7upstang

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I've gone to Vegas a couple times the strip can be fun buy pricy. However, I am a huge fan of the Grand Canyon. I would highly recommend a helicopter tour in the Canyon, one of the best experiences I've had.
 

BlckBox04

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What's your budget for rooms? Everything is super expensive so prepare yourself.
 

DSG2003Mach1

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we really like staying at Aria, even their "basic" rooms are very nice.

The grand canyon from vegas is a long full day, we havent done it yet. I wanna say its like a 3 hour drive each way + however long you spend there.

We rented a car and did the hoover dam which was pretty cool
 

black4vcobra

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Go checkout Red Rock Canyon also, great hiking and awesome views.

Of course checkout Fremont St. Go to the top of the Stratosphere or go on the High Roller.

Also, don't get fleeced on drinks, some places have drink specials so I would grab one at those places each time we'd walk by. The Best Western Casino Royale has $1 bottles of Michelob but the bartender gets a little pissy when you order 20 of them.
 

BlckBox04

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Cosmopolitan and Caesars are really nice also.
 

08mojo

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The hotels and rooms on the strip are nice and worth the experience. The strip itself is not my favorite, but it sounds like you are getting out to see more of Vegas. There's plenty of nature to see that is much closer than 'the official grand canyon' which is hours away. As someone mentioned above, definitely take the time to go to old vegas (fremont street).
 

jpro

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If you will be renting a car, be prepared that it now costs money to park your car at the hotels/casinos on the strip, upwards of $15-$20 per day. So...my advice would be that if you rent a car, sign up for the M Life players club card for MGM Properties (MGM, Bellagio, Luxor, Mandalay, Mirage, NYNY are all MGM Properties). You will get free self-parking at all of these properties if you have the M Life card. At 5 days, that's an extra $75 you will save in parking alone. It does not comp valet parking, only self-parking, but the garages are super close and attached to the hotels.

Drinks are $10+ in the bars and restaurants in the casinos, and they are just as expensive on the casino floor unless you are gambling, then they are free. So if you plan to gamble, your costs for drinks will be minimal, but you'll lose your money gambling so they are gonna get your cash anyway! LOL

See a show. Do some homework and choose one. KA at MGM is the only Cirque show in town that has an actual story with it, so if you are into Cirque but want more than just acrobats and stuff like that, go to KA. Absinthe (Caesars) is supposed to be great and the Michael Jackson show at Mandalay has received fantastic reviews too. Can't go wrong with a Cirque show and I believe O is the most expensive one. Try going to Vegas.com for special rates and even try Groupon (I'm serious).

If you are going as a couple, Bellagio is upscale and more for couples. If you are going to party, anywhere is great center strip. Caesars, Cosmo, Mirage, Venetian, etc. Once you get south of the MGM and NYNY there isn't much there other than Mandalay. Good deals can be had at Mandalay right now; business is not so good due to 1 October.

Shelby museum is fun. Make sure to do a guided tour. Hoover Dam is worth it and so is Red Rock. Never did Grand Canyon tour. Hate Fremont...trashy (even by Vegas standards). LOL But Golden Nugget is still fancy.

Good luck. Everything is super expensive. Choose a place with a nice pool...and don't forget, every hotel on the strip will charge you a resort fee for your stay.
 

T56LS102

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@jpro very nice write up! I go there about 6 times a year and was dissapointed to see cosmo and other Hotel / Casinos following MGM on charging for parking... It is what it is, not to go off subject but we also looked at homes in Vegas area (Green valley / Henderson), home values have gone up in vegas! still way cheaper than so cal as to one of the reasons why we're considering making the move.
 

DSG2003Mach1

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the M life thing definitely pays for itself. We got pretty good prices to see O with it too.

We usually fly in and use Lyft/Uber everywhere anyway
 

jpro

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@jpro very nice write up! I go there about 6 times a year and was dissapointed to see cosmo and other Hotel / Casinos following MGM on charging for parking... It is what it is, not to go off subject but we also looked at homes in Vegas area (Green valley / Henderson), home values have gone up in vegas! still way cheaper than so cal as to one of the reasons why we're considering making the move.

Be patient...the market will dip/crash here again at some point. We live in Henderson/Green Valley and love it. When we go do something that is Vegas (strip, etc.) it is quite the shock for us because living away from the tourist areas is normal, American living. I have heard that prices in Henderson may spike due to the Raiders coming to town...they are building a $5 million practice facility in Henderson somewhere out by the M Resort. We don't own as we just moved to town recently and are locked into our lease until winter. Not sure we will buy either until the market dips. I have also heard that people are asking crazy prices, but selling for a lot less.

the M life thing definitely pays for itself. We got pretty good prices to see O with it too.

We usually fly in and use Lyft/Uber everywhere anyway

Yeah, forgot to mention that being an M Life member gets you some pretty good deals. We (wife and two kids) are doing a "stay-cation" at Mandalay Bay because their pool is amazing and family friendly. Two nights for a room rate of $39 per night in early June. Its mid-week but that is ok since we live here. Can't beat that! Although I don't think they start sending you deals until you actually start spending a little bit of money. I had a couple buddies here for March Madness and we stayed at the Mirage. After that weekend I started getting a lot of emails from M Life with deals. :)
 

DSG2003Mach1

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Be patient...the market will dip/crash here again at some point. We live in Henderson/Green Valley and love it. When we go do something that is Vegas (strip, etc.) it is quite the shock for us because living away from the tourist areas is normal, American living. I have heard that prices in Henderson may spike due to the Raiders coming to town...they are building a $5 million practice facility in Henderson somewhere out by the M Resort. We don't own as we just moved to town recently and are locked into our lease until winter. Not sure we will buy either until the market dips. I have also heard that people are asking crazy prices, but selling for a lot less.



Yeah, forgot to mention that being an M Life member gets you some pretty good deals. We (wife and two kids) are doing a "stay-cation" at Mandalay Bay because their pool is amazing and family friendly. Two nights for a room rate of $39 per night in early June. Its mid-week but that is ok since we live here. Can't beat that! Although I don't think they start sending you deals until you actually start spending a little bit of money. I had a couple buddies here for March Madness and we stayed at the Mirage. After that weekend I started getting a lot of emails from M Life with deals. :)

ya I stayed at Aria for a work conference out there and we get tons of stuff from them. Stay 1-2 nights, get 3 free (well, resort fee only), free buffets, free play credits etc...
 

R15393

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When are you going? I find it miserable in the summer. We go more in March or October. The pools are packed during hotter months. And walking around is worse, people smell and get to close for me. We've stayed on strip and old strip. Wynn was very nice and Hard Rock sucked. Still prefer the palms. A lil off strip but we always rent a car so it didn't matter. Fremont is way loud all night so expect to hear boom boom music the entire night. The Las Vegas D wasn't a bad hotel stay but that nonstop dance music was annoying. Really the hotel doesn't matter too much, you won't spend much time there anyways. If it's just the 2 of you, search Groupon for food and/or entertainment deals. And when you're on the strip, you can bring in your own drinks to any casino.
 

jpro

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When are you going? I find it miserable in the summer. We go more in March or October. The pools are packed during hotter months. And walking around is worse, people smell and get to close for me. We've stayed on strip and old strip. Wynn was very nice and Hard Rock sucked. Still prefer the palms. A lil off strip but we always rent a car so it didn't matter. Fremont is way loud all night so expect to hear boom boom music the entire night. The Las Vegas D wasn't a bad hotel stay but that nonstop dance music was annoying. Really the hotel doesn't matter too much, you won't spend much time there anyways. If it's just the 2 of you, search Groupon for food and/or entertainment deals. And when you're on the strip, you can bring in your own drinks to any casino.

Not to recommend that you be a total cheapskate, but there is a Total Wine & More store super close to the Shelby Museum on LV Blvd. You can go in and stock up on liquor/booze/beer, take it back to your room, and save a ton of money.
 

ford fanatic

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We go every year for my wife's birthday in September and stay at MGM because we love their pool area.

Stock up on booze for your room if you're drinking, you can go to CVS, and liquor stores just off the strip and save a ton.

Visit Fremont Street at night, plan for a whole evening there, it's good times.

See a show, we've seen almost all of them, you really can't go wrong with any that you pick. I like Carrot Top at the Luxor, it's cheap and he's a funny MF'er.

If you can swing it, do a helicopter tour.
 

DaleM

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Walk the strip before midnight and just check things out.
Find the shows you want to see immediately, sell out fast.
Walk through several of the hotels, they have a huge aquarium at one and other neat shit.
Drive to hoover dam. Still an amazing site.
 

DAVESVT2000

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Shelby museum
Counts customs
Vegas rat rods (aka welder up)
Imperial palace car collection

Cirque du soliel show - any one

Downtown freemont at night

Fountains of bellagio at night

Stratosphere observation deck at night

Hoover damn tour

Don’t get sucked into timeshare or vacation speeches. I always tell them sorry I’m catching the red eye tonight I’ve already been here a week. Even if I just got there.

Just watch your pockets and purse, pickpockets galore everywhere
 

AustinSN

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I prefer staying on the side with the MGM, Harrahs, Bally's, etc due to train access.

I've never rented a car out there but I always get the 3 day train pass at the start, you might think you'll just walk the whole time but the distances are significant.

There is an in n out on the other side of the highway that's a walk-able distance if you have never been. It's kind of an odd walk though because you have to go cross the street in so many different spots and walk under a bum bridge.

The roller coaster is fun at the NY NY, but it's so expensive it's more of a 1 time thing.

Unless I'm gambling, the only place I will buy booze on the strip is the ABC across the street from the Monte Carlo. It's like $2.99 for a big Coors and I like that you can have it open on the strip.

Don't forget to see the water show at the Bellagio.
 
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Machdup1

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I’ll be there in September to see Queen at the MGM. Wife got good tickets ($795/ticket).

Sedona is on the list then will probably catch the Grand Canyon railroad train up to the canyon then I’m thinking about heading to Hoover damn.
 

lOOKnGO

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We enjoyed the stay at the Cosmopolitan facing the fountains at Caesars and the Tower. The Hoover damn is a good tour and close. Also get the pass for the small transit bus and go to the older section of Vegas at night. The most fun I had there was the electric go carts indoor track. Each racer is monitored electronically and data sheets are given at the end of each race.

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