Vegas

[PabloDiablo]

I recently found out that my wife is going to a conference in Vegas May 14th and 15th that her company will be paying for (her plane ticket and hotel will be paid for as well as a rent a car). When I found this out I obviously volunteered to tag along for the long weekend.

With this being my first trip to Sin City, I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for places to stay and/or sights/shows to see while we are there.

 

[Knownothing]

Well since you are going I guess I have to cancel my trip. Tell your wife I am sorry. On the other hand MGM Grand is fun. So is New York New York. You cant go wrong with about any of the new places on the strip. I would not book Circus Circus though. Not that good.

 

[capitalcityguy]

Isn't your wife planning on staying at that the hotel/casino that is holding the conference? I don't think you're going to want to get stuck shuttling her around to make it to her 8:30 session in the morning. Much better, if she can just leave the room and head down the elevator.

Car rental - I would never recommend renting a car in Vegas. IMO, there is simply is no need to hassle with traffic and parking. Whether you're staying downtown or on The Strip, you're going to be walking everywhere. Shuttles (or a taxi) are readily available from the airport. Even if you want to see Hoover Dam, you can take a tour bus there and again, not have to worry about the hassle.

 

[3TrueFans]

I'd say staying in the hotel at or near the conference would be the best bet. But we did rent a car and it was nice, took it to the Hoover Dam (which was awesome), and to some shopping malls and whatnot.

 

[CYdTracked]

The Seven Eleven is your friend for beer! Unless you are gambling you'll pay on average about $6 or more a bottle for Bud Light anywhere you go and the beer prices at the 7-11 on the strip aren't inflated so you can get a 20 pack of bottles for about the same price as you'd pay for it here.

You can't really go wrong with making a stop anywhere on the strip. Also make a point to go to the "old vegas" area which is where the Stratosphere is and the famous Vegas wedding chapels. Next time I go am I going to make a point to visit the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop just so I can see it for myself after I've becomed hooked watching Pawn Stars on the History channel.

Check out what shows are going on when you are there. We saw David Copperfield last time and he was pretty entertaining.

 

[capitalcityguy]

The Seven Eleven is your friend for beer! Unless you are gambling you'll pay on average about $6 or more a bottle for Bud Light anywhere you go and the beer prices at the 7-11 on the strip aren't inflated so you can get a 20 pack of bottles for about the same price as you'd pay for it here.

You can't really go wrong with making a stop anywhere on the strip. Also make a point to go to the "old vegas" area which is where the Stratosphere is and the famous Vegas wedding chapels. Next time I go am I going to make a point to visit the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop just so I can see it for myself after I've becomed hooked watching Pawn Stars on the History channel.

Check out what shows are going on when you are there. We saw David Copperfield last time and he was pretty entertaining.

So as not to confuse the OP as he is researching options, when most people talk about "old Vegas" they are normally referring to downtown Vegas. The Stratosphere is still on The Strip (albeit way on the one end), but I don't think most consider this area "old Vegas". I'll stand corrected if others chime in otherwise.

BTW...I like watching Pawn Stars too.

 

[3TrueFans]

So as not to confuse the OP as he is researching options, when most people talk about "old Vegas" they are normally referring to downtown Vegas. The Stratosphere is still on The Strip (albeit way on the one end), but I don't think most consider this area "old Vegas". I'll stand corrected if others chime in otherwise.

BTW...I like watching Pawn Stars too.

Yeah I think the Stratosphere is technically the northern most part of the strip if I remember correctly. "Old Vegas" would be Fremont Street, which is cool but a completely different atmosphere.

We went to the pawn shop when we were there but the guys weren't working, still cool to see it in person compared to how it looks on the show.

 

[cyclone13]

If you don't mind waking up early, take a trip to Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon. The tour usually picks you up from the hotel around 6 AM and it's a full day trip.

I agree with other comment of not having to rent a car in Vegas. You can take monorail or walk. I do enjoy walking down the strip in the dusk or in the evening.

 

[3TrueFans]

I'd kill myself or possibly others before being stuck in a tour bus with a bunch of tourists for an entire day, that does not sound like a vacation to me. Rent the car in the morning, drive out, drive anywhere off the strip you were wanting to go and return it that night. Don't drive to places on the strip, that's where the bus and monorail system are best.

 

[CykoAGR]

I went on my first trip to Vegas last year about this time. Group of friends, we spent most days just walking around, gambling a little here and there but mostly sight seeing. We walked from Bally's to the Pawn Shop, if I can make one suggestion dont do this, it is a friken long ways and just like others have said the main guys werent there. If you wan to go take a cab and be prepared to stand outside for a little while waiting in line.

We had a great time at the piano bar inside NY NY. I wouldnt get/take a car if it were me either. If you are staying on the strip most of what you want to see is withing walking distance.

We didnt go to any shows, spent most of our nights drinking and gambling. There were enough of us that we could stand around and watch someone we knew if we were losing badly. We hit up some bars/clubs which were ok, they had some drink ''specials'' if you want to call them that.

Another suggestion is to not plan to much. Book a show or two if you see something that you like but leave some unscheduled time as well. You are bound to find something that you think is a good time and will want to do that vs following a schedule.

Edit: Spearmint Rhino

 

[capitalcityguy]

I'd kill myself or possibly others before being stuck in a tour bus with a bunch of tourists for an entire day, that does not sound like a vacation to me. Rent the car in the morning, drive out, drive anywhere off the strip you were wanting to go and return it that night. Don't drive to places on the strip, that's where the bus and monorail system are best.

To each is own and I can't speak to the Grand Canyon, but the round trip bus trip from Vegas to Hoover Dam takes just a few hours and it is far from a full day trip…not even sure if it is half day. Your driver will provide interesting information on the trip over and again, you can leave the driving to someone that knows where they are going. A lot less stressful in my book. We've done it and I can tell you it is a nice comfortable, enjoyable ride. That said, if this is your first time in Vegas and you're only staying two days, in most cases you'll find more than enough to do and see within walking distance from where you are staying (especially if you're on the Strip and many off-strip hotels offer shuttle service to the Strip). The Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon are wonderful sites to see, but on a first-time, two-day only trip to Vegas I'd tend to leave those for the next visit.

 

[shildreth]

no car.

Vegas happens on its own. You dont need a schedule or itinerary. Start walking and the rest will take care of itself.

 

[zwclones51]

I would go to Treasure Island for sure. I went on SB this year to Vegas and it was a blast. There's a free Treasure Island kind of pirate show outside that runs every hour or so that was pretty cool to see. Its hard to miss the big pirate ship on the strip lol. But then I would recommend going to Kahunaville inside of Treasure Island. They do free shots at like 630 830 and like 1030 where they have some of the best bartenders in the US. They do some pretty crazy stuff and put on 1 hell of a show.

 

[3TrueFans]

To each is own and I can't speak to the Grand Canyon, but the round trip bus trip from Vegas to Hoover Dam takes just a few hours and it is far from a full day trip…not even sure if it is half day. Your driver will provide interesting information on the trip over and again, you can leave the driving to someone that knows where they are going. A lot less stressful in my book. We've done it and I can tell you it is a nice comfortable, enjoyable ride. That said, if this is your first time in Vegas and you're only staying two days, in most cases you'll find more than enough to do and see within walking distance from where you are staying (especially if you're on the Strip and many off-strip hotels offer shuttle service to the Strip). The Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon are wonderful sites to see, but on a first-time, two-day only trip to Vegas I'd tend to leave those for the next visit.

That's true, we were there for a week, which is a little different. With 2 days we probably wouldn't have left the strip. Driving in and around Vegas was no big deal though.

 

[PabloDiablo]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. The conference is actually at the University Medical Center in Las Vegas so we will have our pick of hotels.

We were thinking of maybe doing one show but leaving the schedule pretty open. I would definitely like to do the Dam tour and maybe get some Dam pictures or some Dam souvenirs. I will definitely be bringing my Dam bait!

 

[MNCyGuy]

Don't stay at the Luxor. My wife and I did when we went and it's not like it ruined the trip or anything, but it did seem kind of depressingly run-down compared to some of the other hotels on the strip. That's assuming of course that you're staying on the strip and not saving your money and shuttling in from a different hotel.

 

[clones11]

You have to go to Battistas hole in the wall, it is a little Italian restaurant behind Bills and adjacent to Bally's awesome food and all you can drink wine, your choice of red or white.

Aria is the best hotel/casino on the strip IMO, great atmosphere, new, and smells amazing! If you are into "cheap" gambling Casino Royale has $3 Craps around 2 am it's way fun.

Like someone else said Vegas happens, and you should let it. Walk around see the sites, eat at the nice buffets. if you want cheap buffets you have to go to Freemont St.(old Vegas) which is a fun place, the "Freemont experience" is pretty neat. it is a giant TV which basically tunnels the blocks of Freemont and each hour they play a show.

Planet Hollywood has great table games(the pleasure pit, girls in skimpy outfits dealing cards) It is all great but don't get caught up in the glamor you forget your head and end up having to give hand jobs for a ham sandwich because you lost all your money.

 

[fsanford]

If you got your choice of hotels, I mean any hotel?

The Wynn, it is a 5 star of Casino Hotel

 

[brianhos]

I recently found out that my wife is going to a conference in Vegas May 14th and 15th that her company will be paying for (her plane ticket and hotel will be paid for as well as a rent a car). When I found this out I obviously volunteered to tag along for the long weekend.

With this being my first trip to Sin City, I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for places to stay and/or sights/shows to see while we are there.

Same situation for me, just a week early. I have to go to a conf, and have a free hotel room. My wife is going to come the next day on allegiant. I don't have any advice, I have never been there either.

 

[MNCyGuy]

If you got your choice of hotels, I mean any hotel?

The Wynn, it is a 5 star of Casino Hotel

Yea, that was by far the nicest looking of any of the ones we walked through. We went out there for a Cirque de Solei show we got cheap tickets too and ate at their steakhouse. It was amazing and the whole place was beautiful.