has any one been to Las Vegas recently

It is my 40th birthday on wednesday,and my mother and father in law have bought me and the wife a trip to Vegas, my wife new about this and all her family.

At dinner last night they presented me with all the travel documents.And $1000 to have fun with. Im still in shock

Anyway we are staying at the Bellagio with a fountain view,any one stayed here.
I have never been to a casino in my life,any tips would be good.

My wife also bought us tickets to a new show that starts on wednesday, its Cee Loo Green,in Looberachi, will report back on sunday when i get back to tell you all how it was,in case any one is going to Vegas and wants to see a show.

It was a life ambition to go to Vegas and now its coming true.

 

***** it all on red

 

My tip for the casinos - don't bother with them. Go to the bars, the restaurants, the clubs, the shows and have a good wander about. You don't want to waste your time and money in Las Vegas in the casinos. There's so many better things to do. Have a brilliant time.

 

Before gambling anywhere sign up for the players club (booths in each casino) and use the card they give you to earn comps (probably free play and tshirts, mugs, etc).

Craps is one of the better gambles if you stick to pass and come bets and take odds ( this will probably mean nothing to you but they have lessons on a morning in most places).

Downtown (Fremont St experience) has better odds, lower minimums in general, especially on weekends.

If you play slots or video poker, always bet max coins for full jackpot odds (ie playing 5 coins on a 5c machine is better than one coin on a 25c machine.

For discounted show tickets, queue at the tix4tonight booths which open a 10am each morning and are first come first served. Recommend Love at the Mirage as long as you like the Beatles.

Grand Canyon helicopter tour is awesome (recommend Maverick) but will cost c$400 each.

PM me for anything more specific.

 

I went about 10 years ago with the kids and it was awesome.

Stayed in the Excalibur and Luxor hotels - both fabulous but Luxor something else!

Gambling doesn't interest me (had the kids anyway), but there was enough to do and see for over a week. Virtually each large hotel on the Strip has a huge shopping mall a massive multi-storey car park and fabulous pools. The size of those places is phenomenal. And many of them have "shows" outside, for example the "Fountains of Bellagio" are fantastic.

I went just before The Venetian was finished, and Mandalay Bay.

Also hired a car and drove to see the Grand Canyon, staying overnight near there.

I'm sure you'll really enjoy it.

 

cheers sheriff,apparently the wifes already signed us up to players club on line at a few different venues, were not going to spend vast amounts of time/money in the casinos but when in Vegas you have to have a go but thats just my opinion.

wont be doing the grand canyon tour so thats not a problem.But we may take a trip to redrock about 1 hour away.
as were only there 3 nights i think 1 show is good for us. and CEE LOO GREEN is very funny too, like a litte munchkin LOL.Definatley want to see freemont street all lit up at night.

great info thanks

 

Am flying out to Vegas on Wednesday morning too - staying next door in the Cosmopolitan. I stayed at the Bellagio last time. Real nice casino in the centre of everything. We tried the $20 trick last time and got an upgrade - (http://thetwentydollartrick.com/) - depends how nice a room your family have booked you. It's a quiet time of the year - so this should work. Will get the best room available and if the worst comes to the worst the receptionist will give you your $20 back.

 

thanks Gally.
that is a comprehensive list. Do you work for tripadvisor.Lol.
our room has fountain views so im sure we will get to see the dancing fountains quite alot.

we like our food so we said we are going to go to one of the buffet style restaurants,and get our fill LOL.
Just looked at the weather its going to be about 23 degress c on friday. so ill take mi shorts and reds shirt and get a few pics of a tarn fan in Vegas.

 

will meet you there Watford red lets have a beer. What time do you arrive,we arrive at 10 20am vegas time. Didnt realise from where we live here in DC Its a 5 hour flight.thought it was only 3 hours

 

I'll look out for this!

 

Our room says a deluxe fountain view room european plan.

anyone stayed in these or can i check them out somwhere

 

Should have started my last email with don't gamble if you don't want to. There's loads to do there.

Plenty of shopping (probably window shopping on the whole, unless you want big names). Fashion show Mall is a bit further north on the Strip and the Premium Outlets are great for a bargain or ten.

First time we went, we tried to collect as many different $1 chips as we could, which was good for ensuring we explored all over the place.

Red Rock Canyon is spectacular (does that mean you have a car?) as it's probably 30mins drive out of town. Mount Charleston is a little further out and they're probably still skiing there, so you can have the bizarre experience of 90 degree heat to a snowy ski resort in less than 1 hour!

Loads of great places to eat for every budget. Top of The World at the Stratosphere (revolving restaurant at the top of the tower) was good, but needed pre-booking. You can also brave the rides up there if you like too!

Never done a trip as short as 3 days so not sure how jet lag will hit you on the way back. First day there is usually a case of reaching hotel around 4pm ish and failing to stay awake beyond 7ish. You'll then wake up about 4-5am. I tried to avoid this on the last trip by drinking heavily and staying up till 2am, and still woke up 4 hours later!

I usually try and stay up for most of the night before flying back and then crash on the plane (which should put you back on UK-ish hours) but 8hrs difference will knock you out to some extent.

(NB: Scratch that - just seen where you live! 3 days makes much more sense now!)

 

LOL sorry forgot to tell you ilive in the USA. But its still 5 hour flight and a 3 hour time difference for us eastcoasies.

with all the things to see and do i think we will have to make this an annual trip.

 

What do you lot do for a living, rob banks??

 

im guessing theres more money around than you thought MR C.

My trip has been bought through airmiles by my mother-in-law. So it didnt cost a thing really.apart from the general spending we do everyday.

It suprised me how everyone here uses credit cards all the time,then you realise why,collecting airmiles,collecting amex points and this is the reward.

 

Went in October for my 30th and got engaged there

Stayed at New York New York (the one with the rollercoaster) and then Bellagio.

Gally's summed most of the main things up.

The rollercoaster is a bit wild but worth doing as a one off - do it at night when the view (lit up strip) is better.

The Volcano at Mirage is fantastic, but the Bellagio fountains are even better. If you watch from your hotel room and put the TV on - there's a channel that plays the music the fountains dance to - it's amazing to see how they dance to the song.

I did the Grand Canyon (West) tour which was amazing. The helicopter flight over the strip only lasts 20 minutes but is fabulous. My first time in a helicopter and it was a surprise from my other half.

Generally yes avoid gambling much, especially the machines. Just have a couple of dollars on horse racing games or something just to feel like you're involved - the casinos are utterly mesmerising so I wouldn't avoid them completely.

I played a poker tournament at Planet Hollywood and managed to come joint first so won $800 from a $70 entry fee. Paid for all my spending for the week. If you like poker, maybe try that. Was hours of fun even if I hadn't won. You get free (pay $1 tip) drinks all the way through too so can get your money back from these anyway!

Eating wise, do the Bellagio for breakfast at least once - all you can eat buffet with great choice for only about $20.

 

Re: Went in October for my 30th and got engaged there

That's a bit of an understatement. I got thrown all over the place by it and lost count of the number of times I banged my head on the restraints!

 

Re: Went in October for my 30th and got engaged there

Just showed my wife the $20 trick. She is american and her father owned the franchise for Holiday inn in many states here from the early 60s.

She said if someone had done it to her she wouldnt have done anything.

But when in Vegas, we ahve agood room now but an upgrade to one higher up above the 28th floor would be good ,better views of the dancing fountains.

We will try it although shes already spoke to Bellagio to tell them its my 40th and also our honeymoon.We got married in september and never had one as my parents were here.
Lets see what we get
VEGAS BABY

 

Re: Went in October for my 30th and got engaged there

It was my 30th when we arrived... I got a box of Bellagio truffles!