Leaving For Vegas on Monday 4/27

[bobbledude25]

Wish me luck ha ha I never win anything but we are staying at the Wynn so it should be fun. This will be my 3rd time down. This time we'll be more in the downtown area and exploring around Fremont street which I havent been two the first couple of times. Also going to see Mystere at TI on Tuesday. Staying Mon-Fri anyone have any other cool ideas that they done while down there? (Keep it clean lol)

[davego]

The piano bar @ NY-NY is ok. If you like to bet on sports, a trip the the book @ Caesars is needed. I really like Rio and Hard Rock. Interesting populations there.

[Weirdos19]

We usually stay at the NYNY when we go to Vegas. The girlfriend is a slot fiend, so we get comped pretty much anywhere we stay.

 

We are gonna stay at the Hard Rock when we go next year. Teri's stepson is gonna be 21 and taking him with us is his birthday gift. The Hard Rock has unbelievable scenery, indoors and out.

 

Also, check out the Carousel Bar at Harrah's. Expensive ($6 16 oz BudLights), but they have the best bartenders in the world there. You can search on youtube for "flair bartenders" and will be amazed at what they do there. A ton of fun.

 

Both the piano bars at NYNY and Harrah's are alot of fun too. Have fun.

[InsomniacInkRoss]

I will honestly advise you from even stepping foot in downtown Las Vegas. Unless you want to do one of the following: Get offered drugs on the street in plain view, use slot machines that still spit out coins, have bums open your cab's door when you pull up and ask for a tip, or see a canopy light show that is laughably bad by today's special effects standard and it really just a commercial for something. I did not get to downtown untill my 5th trip, and I could have gone another 5 without missing a thing. If you DO go downtown, DO NOT go anywhere thats not under the Fremont canopy area, nothing good happens.

 

Mystere is fantastic, I can't speak highly enough about it. You will never feel more fat and out of shape then after watching this show.

 

The piano bar at the Imperial Palace is better than the New York, NY one, and the Carnival Court is right there too. The Carousel bar is in the Carnival Court, between Harrah's and the Imperial Palace.

 

Music Fan? The hard rock is a very cool place, any music fan should go.

Gear Head? you should see the Car Museum/show room at Imperial Palace

Sandwich Connoisseur?: Wichcraft at the MGM Grand, can't say enough about how awesome the meatloaf sandwhich was

Sports Gambler?: Treasure Isaland has my favorite sports book

 

Check out www.CheapoVegas.com too, just about the best and most honest Vegas site.

[davego]

TI does have a nice book. I like Rio's and MGM's too.

 

A well secured trip downtown for the experience (time permitting) can be fun. It's a different scene, no question.

[chuckiehacks]

I just got back this week. It was pretty dead in Vegas, you can tell the economy is impacting their tourism business. Every casino I went into had replaced many of their table-gaming areas with slots. We stayed at the Palazzo, their sports book is insane. All of the sports books are pretty quiet right now, other than some action during NBA playoff games.

[Vgmastr]

I actually liked downtown more than the Strip, it just felt like old school Vegas. One of the most fun things we did was go to Madame Tussaud's at the Venetian. It's $25, but IMO, well worth it. We must have taken over 100 pictures there just hamming it up and posing with all of the different statues.

[mtrebs]

I actually liked downtown more than the Strip, it just felt like old school Vegas. ...

I agree with this statement...except for the hotel rooms. I've been to Vegas six times. The first two times I stayed downtown (dirty rooms)...the last four I've stayed on the strip (more resort-style rooms). I really enjoy the smaller feel of downtown, but it feels dirtier and scuzzier so when I went with my wife we of course stayed on the strip.

 

I guess where to go all depends on your goals while you are in Vegas. If you are there to try to hook-up or go clubbing downtown isn't the place to be. I'm a happily married man and intend to stay that way so my goals when I go to Vegas are to just get drunk and have a good time while not spending too much money so I tend to frequent the smaller/older casinos. The tables have lower minimums (at least they did when I was there last 2 years ago) and the drinks are cheaper when you have to buy them. I also don't really like how big and spread out the resort casinos are. When I do head to the strip I usually hang out at Casino Royale for their $1 Michelobs...and I don't even like Michelobs but it gets the job done.

[chuckiehacks]

I found lower minimum tables on this trip than I have in a while. Most every casino except the Wynn/Venitian/Ballagio had $5 blackjack. I played at Mirage for a long time, and the cocktail waitresses were bringing the drinks faster than I could drink them. Somehow I survived.

[Invader3K]

I've only been to Vegas once, and enjoyed it. Here are my two biggest tips:

 

- If you feel just like drinking, sit at one of the bars with video poker, and just place small bets occasionally. They'll keep giving you free drinks as long as you're sitting there and apparently spending money, even if it's just a few quarters.

 

- People are constantly going to be harassing you with offers of free tickets or whatever, in exchange for going to a presentation, or some other such waste of time. Don't be afraid to be rude and keep walking. I didn't bother with any of them, but such people tend to wear on my patience pretty quickly.

[Weirdos19]

Downtown Vegas will always have a higher ratio of locals. Everything is cheaper there.

 

I do like going downtown. Downtown is alot more like the downtown of any big city, except it's more well lit. If you stay on Fremont Street, you won't have many bums or beggers. Get off the main drag, and anything can happen, just like anywhere else.

 

The downtown is alot more cozy and relaxed though. Doesn't feel like 100 cameras are staring at you, even though they are. And you have to see the light show once.

 

My record is three and a half plastic footballs of Captain and Coke. Was feelin no pain.

[GormanHarvey]

For my money the Mirage has the best sportbook hands down

[DHonks]

Mirage has best sportsbook, and Planet Hollywood's has better odds than Caesars.

[homer]

Vegas Hilton has the biggest sportsbook I believe but it's off the strip.

 

I've probably been to Vegas like 20 times all told. The deli at the MGM sportsbook has killer pastrami and corned beef. The deli at the Hilton sportsbook has great subs. Downtown Vegas is fun if you aren't afraid of the seedy side of life. I don't think it's dangerous - just different. And the Fremont St. light show is pretty cool. You'll like the Wynn - the pool is awesome there. Every single big casino has great restuarants so I can't really recommend the ones I've been too (Nobu, Delmonico, Nine....all are excellent but I'm sure other top end restaurants are just as good). I wasn't all that impressed with China Grill at Mandalay Bay. My friends raved about Aureole.

 

I can't remember the name of the place but there's a 'dive' casino across from Caesers that has a beer pong 'court' in it. That looked like fun.

[DHonks]

Also, if you're low on $$, check out Ellis Island (1 block east of City Center). It's got a great $6 special where you get a pint of home made beer, steak, potato, and soup/salad

[InsomniacInkRoss]

I am surprised at how many people actually liked the light show on Freemont street. What I saw was a 5 min ad for LG and was incredibly cheesy. I didn't find anything stunning about the graphics either, it was just like being close to a scoreboard. I was sober when I saw it though, so, maybe that has a part in it.

[chuckiehacks]

I can't remember the name of the place but there's a 'dive' casino across from Caesers that has a beer pong 'court' in it. That looked like fun.

 

I'm pretty sure that's O'Shea's.

[hart attack 2006]

I actually liked downtown more than the Strip, it just felt like old school Vegas. ...

I agree with this statement...except for the hotel rooms.

I would suggest the Golden Nugget when downtown. It's usually more expensive than other downtown options, but compared to the strip not bad. I stayed there for $60 on a Friday night last month. The Nugget is easily the nicest downtown hotel, and recently made a neat renovation to the pool area. They are currently building a new hotel tower.

 

I second the reccommendations to at least check out downtown when in Vegas. It's neat to see all the old casinos, and, unlike the strip, you can walk from one to another in a matter of seconds. Also, slots are a little looser and table limits cheaper.

[DHonks]

downtown has an awful vibe--that is, it feels like everyone in the casinos is gambling away his/her social security check. The combo of smoke and oxygen tanks is pretty crazy

[bobbledude25]

thanks for advice guys! I'll be back on friday

[mtrebs]

I can't remember the name of the place but there's a 'dive' casino across from Caesers that has a beer pong 'court' in it. That looked like fun.

 

I'm pretty sure that's O'Shea's.

 

When I was in Vegas two years ago this was the same place that was advertising strip poker. I wondered how they played that game...did anyone do this there?

[hart attack 2006]

When I was in Vegas two years ago this was the same place that was advertising strip poker. I wondered how they played that game...did anyone do this there?

I was curious about that too. I looked it up and it is just a play on words...they are advertising the fact that you are on the strip and can play poker there.

[SenatorShriv]

I just got back from Vegas today. It was my first time. We stayed at the MGM and had a great time. I don't do a ton of gambling, but I do like drinking and people watching so I just focused on scamming as many free drinks as I possibly could. We saw KA, which I would highly recommend to anyone looking to take in a show while in town (Cirque du Soleil with martial arts and CRAZY stage.) I wasn't anticipating enjoying myself so much, but am already thinking about when we might be able to sneak back for another long weekend.

[bigredrobbo]

We did Vegas back in February for a DJ Convention. The event was at the Riviera, but we stayed at the MGM Grand, and I'm glad we did. The Riv is a hotel in Vegas, the MGM is a Vegas Hotel. Didn't do a lot of gambling in the hotel ($10 minimums will do that for you), but we sampled a few of the strip amenities. The Breakfast buffet in the Bellagio for $16 is just insanely good, and the steaks we had at Circus Circus are the best I've ever had.

 

Plus, the Beatles Cirque show, Love, at the Mirage, was quite simply worth every penny of the slightly discounted $120 we paid. Whether you are a huge fan or not, sonically it's the most gorgeous thing I've ever heard - courtesy of the 6500 speakers in the theatre. That, and the Chihuly glass ceiling in the Bellagio foyer will stay long after the memories of losing at the tables have long gone.

[bobbledude25]

Back from Vegas! Wow, what great time! Didn't gamble much so i think I only lost like $20. Seeing downtown for the first time was pretty cool but I have no desire to go back down there. Seeing 80 year old ladies pound a slot machine with a cigartette hanging out there mouth on oxygen just isn't for me. It does seem to be the best place for gambling though but man I felt like I was invading a retirement community walking around there.

 

Now, our hotel...yeah the Wynn is the bomb! Wow is all I have to say, I felt like royalty staying there. My friends I went with had the tower suite and that was ridiculous. Oh yeah somehow we ended up at the "European Pool" and I definately couldn't argue with the scenery! ha ha. Everytime we went to get our car from Valet not far away were 3 Rolls Royces'. Saw Steve Wynn's wife and some New York Rangers hockey player to (tipped the driver $100 like it was nothing). Andrei Kirilenko from the Utah Jazz was staying out the Wynn and I talked to him while playing craps. Also, Saw Ricky Hatton who is fighting at the MGM tomorrow

 

Mystere was a pretty cool show and I'm glad I saw it but I would like to see a different Cirque show now. I could keep writing but wow what a great vacation