Yeah, walking thru a smokey casino at midnight with your kid is great parenting.
Las Vegas in the Fall....
- Thread starter cowgirl836
- Start date
Yeah, walking thru a smokey casino at midnight with your kid is great parenting.
I was there over turkey day a few years ago. Seems like a lot of the shows were "dark". Take comfortable shoes.
I'm not a huge gambler and I've probably been there 10 times. I may spend 2-3 hours day gambling (small change). The drinking is good, the shows are good, the dining is good, the shopping is decent, the pools are nice, you can walk down the sidewalk drinking a beer,people watch, the weather is better this time of year, etc. I try to do something different every time. Last time it was visiting Valley of Fire and shooting machine guns.
Yes, there are more things to do in a place like NY but I have a lot more to do in Vegas than I do in a place like Chicago, Minneapolis, KC, etc. and the I spend about the same amount. A lot of times I can't get hotel rooms comped or for $29 that would cost me $250 in Chicago and $400 in NYC.
Even after all of these times, I still feel a little rush getting off the plane in Vegas.
Yes, there are more things to do in a place like NY but I have a lot more to do in Vegas than I do in a place like Chicago, Minneapolis, KC, etc. and the I spend about the same amount. A lot of times I can't get hotel rooms comped or for $29 that would cost me $250 in Chicago and $400 in NYC.
Even after all of these times, I still feel a little rush getting off the plane in Vegas.
My thoughts also.If you want to gamble you could just go to Prairie Meadows. Or if you don't want to stay at home, go to Council Bluffs
I don't know but I do. I assume it's because it's a slow time of the week/year. Most of mine come from M Life. I don't have a lot of points compared to most people so I assume everyone that joins gets the deals.
Well it isn't for everybody. Maybe I'm just a country rube, but I like seeing all the big building and lights.
And the dining is amazing (can be). Not that it is inherently better than any other large city, I guess. We've been to a few Cirque shows which can be pretty cool.
The Mirage is nice. Frankly, you're hardly ever in the room.
The Beatles Love show at the Mirage is excellent.
If you gamble at all, sign up for a players card. A few earned points would help with the drink or free meal.
Walk the strip and people watch. It's the best part of Vegas.
Get free drinks at the bar by playing the Blackjack or Poker machines. They'll buy you a drink and you can stretch a 20 for a long time.
Rates are the best on Monday through Thursday, smaller crowds, easier to get into places.
The Cyclones are in Vegas for Thanksgiving. See a basketball game with a small wager in place. Could be fun.
The Beatles Love show at the Mirage is excellent.
If you gamble at all, sign up for a players card. A few earned points would help with the drink or free meal.
Walk the strip and people watch. It's the best part of Vegas.
Get free drinks at the bar by playing the Blackjack or Poker machines. They'll buy you a drink and you can stretch a 20 for a long time.
Rates are the best on Monday through Thursday, smaller crowds, easier to get into places.
The Cyclones are in Vegas for Thanksgiving. See a basketball game with a small wager in place. Could be fun.
I just got back from Vegas last night...my 2 cents:
Stay at Aria/Vdara if being in a really nice hotel is important with you. Or you can spend about the same money and get a suite at a "lower" hotel like NYNY or Monte Carlo. If you are using it as a place to put your stuff and sleep, save the money, and stay in a basic room and spend the money you saved elsewhere.
I've been to Vegas a dozen times and, personally, I don't think you can go wrong with any of the hotels you listed. The restaurants are endless...use tripadvisor and yelp for reviews to meet your expectations.
Stay at Aria/Vdara if being in a really nice hotel is important with you. Or you can spend about the same money and get a suite at a "lower" hotel like NYNY or Monte Carlo. If you are using it as a place to put your stuff and sleep, save the money, and stay in a basic room and spend the money you saved elsewhere.
I've been to Vegas a dozen times and, personally, I don't think you can go wrong with any of the hotels you listed. The restaurants are endless...use tripadvisor and yelp for reviews to meet your expectations.
Is that the m life thing I've seen mentioned a few times? We definitely want to try a little bit of gambling, and I like free drinks! I should mention we are likely going on a Wed-Sun, so we'll have two cheap nights and then the weekend.
Stay at Aria/Vdara if being in a really nice hotel is important with you. Or you can spend about the same money and get a suite at a "lower" hotel like NYNY or Monte Carlo. If you are using it as a place to put your stuff and sleep, save the money, and stay in a basic room and spend the money you saved elsewhere.
@cycloneworld, where did you stay this last time? We'll probably end up spending some time in the room (we definitely just do basic rooms when we're on the go all the time) and I really like having a great bathtub to relax in! Other than that, if it's clean, close to most everything, and we can get a nice view - we won't be going for the penthouse suites! With some of the deals we've found, NYNY is actually slightly more expensive than the Aria. Trump is also super cheap but it sounds like they are a little further from the action than we'd like to be.
Something I'm afraid to ask....how much can we expect to pay for a "nice" dinner - say a night at a steakhouse, which I know we'll probably do one night.
I would highly recommending renting a car, by the time you pay to get to/from airport, go see attractions, and have the flexibility you will be way ahead. We go 2-3 times a year (twice your age) and love the downtown. We rarely step on the strip but if you haven't seen it all, you definitely need to do that. The strip is about 5 miles long so don't think you can just walk it, you wear out quickly in Vegas. Monte Carlo is kind of plain but it's in the middle and nice for the price. Go all out, do the Wynn.
Hotels: First timer, stay mid-strip: Cosmo, Bellagio, Aria, Vdara, Caesars, etc. I like Wynn, my wife loves Cosmo. Pools will be closing for the season if they have not already. The cool part of Cosmo is the balconies, but if its 60 degrees outside, probably not worth it.
Food: Eat well. There are a number of great places to eat in most hotels at all price ranges.
Shows: I've seen Ka, O, Zummanity, Love, Blue Man, etc. I'd suggest Love if you like or have any interest in Beatles music. Ka has an actual story line and is easier to follow than the others. If you like country, Garth Brooks is in the last few months of his show at Wynn. Its a unique show and a good time, but pricey. Cirque has an insiders club that you can join via their webpage. They often have 20% off tickets during the non-peak seasons. Zummanity is a bit raunchy, but pretty entertaining.
Clubs: XS, Tryst, Tao, etc. are all good. I like Tabu in the MGM. Its a smaller place and has a good vibe. There is an ISU alum that used to work for the XS/Tryst group. She's hooked me up a few times with tables.
My last trip we had a corner suite at Cosmo on the Bellagio side of the hotel. We could watch the fountains from our balcony all day and night. It was cool, but probably not worth the $. FYI - I don't gamble either, but I feel that I can get world class service, food, and shopping that is subsidized by other peoples gambling. Entertainment in that town is great. Just avoid the pirate show at TI, total waste of time.
Food: Eat well. There are a number of great places to eat in most hotels at all price ranges.
Shows: I've seen Ka, O, Zummanity, Love, Blue Man, etc. I'd suggest Love if you like or have any interest in Beatles music. Ka has an actual story line and is easier to follow than the others. If you like country, Garth Brooks is in the last few months of his show at Wynn. Its a unique show and a good time, but pricey. Cirque has an insiders club that you can join via their webpage. They often have 20% off tickets during the non-peak seasons. Zummanity is a bit raunchy, but pretty entertaining.
Clubs: XS, Tryst, Tao, etc. are all good. I like Tabu in the MGM. Its a smaller place and has a good vibe. There is an ISU alum that used to work for the XS/Tryst group. She's hooked me up a few times with tables.
My last trip we had a corner suite at Cosmo on the Bellagio side of the hotel. We could watch the fountains from our balcony all day and night. It was cool, but probably not worth the $. FYI - I don't gamble either, but I feel that I can get world class service, food, and shopping that is subsidized by other peoples gambling. Entertainment in that town is great. Just avoid the pirate show at TI, total waste of time.
thanks Jeff and Sammu, I was actually going back through emails with my aunt (lived in Vegas for many years) and she actually said don't come to go gambling! Come for the food, art, shopping, and entertainment. We'll still give the gambling a try but we hate losing money, so we'll be rocking the nickel slots or something like that. I'm actually a big country fan, but I don't like Garth Brooks. I'm sad that the Soul2Soul show with Tim McGraw and Faith Hill doesn't start up till next year! And we just missed the last show for Phantom of the Opera which we would have loved to see. Oh well!
Thanks for all the tips, this is really great!
Thanks for all the tips, this is really great!
Update: Didn't end up going in the fall do to work schedules, but booked last night to go in three weeks! Staying at the Aria and probably going to check out Hoover Dam. Now to decide between Ka and Mystere........
thanks again for all the info!
thanks again for all the info!
I would never rent a car in Vegas, but that's because we are always drinking in Vegas:spinny: My husband and I both hated KA, but many people love it. The Beatles' Love was one of the most awesome experiences of my life. Haven't seen Mystere. We went over Thanksgiving once, and loved it.
I have heard only bad things about Aria and the whole City Center complex.
Be careful walking and driving around. I was in Vegas last week and as of Wednesday they had already had 10 fatal car vs car or pedestrian accidents in the city.
Other than that have fun!
Be careful walking and driving around. I was in Vegas last week and as of Wednesday they had already had 10 fatal car vs car or pedestrian accidents in the city.
Other than that have fun!
