quick trip to Vegas, tips please

February 7, 2006 5:38 PM

Vegas advice? Coming from East Coast, spending this coming Sun-Wed, would like some romance (we'll be there on Valentines Day) and relaxation and some Vegas excitement

Our travel dates are firm, but we can go anywhere Southwest flies.

We are seriously looking at Vegas - does anyone have any good tips for me? We'll be hitting the tables a bit, I'm sure (as low limit as possible), and we're thinking of a helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon, and I want to ride the coaster on top of the Stratosphere Hotel. Looking at staying at maybe Paris, or (a little pricey) Venetian - we just want somewhere fairly nice that won't break the bank too much, and those two sound "safe" to me.

Tips on places not to miss, local favorites, your good and bad experiences - I've searched the threads but I'm not finding what I need.

I'd love to make this trip memorable but still relaxing, and with just basically two days, I thought I should seek some wisdom.

posted by KAS to travel & transportation (18 comments total)

I *lurve* cheapovegas.com. It's the "low roller's guide," but don't let it turn you off--they've got info on all the casinos, not just the older/cheaper ones. The advice is especially good if you end up staying at a swanky place but want to gamble somewhere with cheaper and/or more friendly tables.

Have fun!
posted by bardic at 5:43 PM on February 7, 2006

we were there on our honeymoon. we loved the tables but the expense got to us, so we left the strip and found some cheap tables (Klondike). it was great, we met good people and did it on the cheap.

we had our best breakfast's on and off the strip. and our best meal was in a crab claw restaurant in Caesar's Palace which was pricey but worthy.

when you are there, if you need any reccomendations ask anyone who isn't a tourist.
posted by Frasermoo at 5:44 PM on February 7, 2006

Have a meal or two at The Peppermill, it's a guaranteed winner. The Bellagio Fountains are well worth a visit.
posted by oldmanyoung at 5:55 PM on February 7, 2006

oldmanyoung is on it about the Peppermill. The food is not anything special, but the real treat--and the romantic and cheesy-in-a-good-way part--is the lounge which features a sunken circular banquet surrounding a flaming fountain. This is absolutely not to be missed and is on the same end of the strip as the Stratosphere.

The Bellagio Fountains are great. Here's a tip: grab a seat at the outdoor bar at the Paris, which is directly across the street from the Bellagio and you can sip a cocktail al fresco and watch the fountains without being the crowd.

In terms of places to stay, both Paris and Venetian are nice, but I'd also recommend checking out Mandalay Bay--I stayed there a couple of weeks ago and got a good rate and it's nice and comfy. They also have a beach as well as a big arcade area with many restaurants and a club which are more concentrated (due to the convention center) than you'll find at most of the big casinos. If you can get a deal at The Mirage, that's a fine place as well (though smaller than the previously mentioned which is good or bad depending on your POV). If you want less nice but cheaper and still be on the strip then look at the Imperial Palace. I would strongly suggest staying near or on the strip as opposed to the very cheap rooms you can get downtown--you won't have as much fun and you'll be spending coin in cabs trying to get to where you want to get.

If you're feeling like a partying hipster, you can make your way to The Palms. The Ghostbar at the top of the hotel is pretty cool and features one of the best nighttime views of Las Vegas. If you want to go the other direction, a good time with zero pretension can be found at the Double Down. (Though stay away from the bacon martini).

The Wynn is the lastest greatest hotel casino and is worth a look. If you're at all thinking about taking in a show, I've had several friends rave about Avenue Q which is playing at The Wynn. There are more cirque du solei shows playing that you can shake a stick at; the Zumanity show at the Excalibur is supposed to be a bit racy/sexy so might be a good Valentines Day date.

Re: hitting the tables. I don't much gamble but you'll be hard to find many low limit tables on the strip. If you want you could head up to Fremont Street which is old school, cheap Vegas. The cheese factor without the delusions of grandeur you'll find on the strip and the home of cheap ass meals and low limit tables.

Hoep this helps. As someone who has to go to Vegas at least four times a year on business I'm glad to find some application for my knowledge of the place.
posted by donovan at 6:22 PM on February 7, 2006

If Zumanity is still there, I'd see it. Cirque du Soleil, but racey (I hear nudity). Some of their seating is love seats.
posted by 6:1 at 6:36 PM on February 7, 2006

I have a soft spot for the buffet (yes, the buffet!) at Paris. If you go, have some crepes, mashed potatoes and red table wine for me. It's got a relatively high kitsch factor, (the staff all use faux french accents), but the food is tasty.

Alternately, I can't recommend Imperial Palace. While it's on the strip and rather inexpensive, it feels more like downtown, and that's not a good thing.

The Rio's pretty good too, but last time I was there the rooftop club was rampant with aggressive frat boys who couldn't hold their liquor. YMMV. Have fun!
posted by Space Kitty at 7:00 PM on February 7, 2006

The OG baby!
posted by rschroed at 7:23 PM on February 7, 2006

oh, and party on the strip but gamble downtown.
posted by rschroed at 7:24 PM on February 7, 2006

Haven't they started dismantling the coaster at the top of the Strat already? (I live here, but I'm not tall enough to check. However, it's no longer mentioned on this page, and I know they were planning to remove it early this year.)

The Paris breakfast buffet is wonderful. Ride the Deuce bus if you want to go downtown. Go to the Half-Price Tickets place in the Fashion Show Mall (out front) or across from the Stardust or inside M&M World if you feel spontaneous about shows. (You can't get half-price on the big stuff, but it's not unusual to save $10-$30 on Blue Man Group, Celine, Rita Rudner, etc. if you're willing to wait until a few hours before the show.)

Speaking of M&M World, next door to it is the Coke place that has about 14 "international" Coca-Cola products, including my fave - Smart Watermelon from China. (pleasure shiver) Not free (unlike a similar set-up at Disney World), but pretty cheap. (Beware the Beverly from Italy.)

The gardens at the Flamingo are pretty (and free). Big Elvis at Barbary Coast is a great show and is absolutely free (but you will have to crowd around a small but friendly lounge).

It can be a lot of good, hand-holding, low-key fun just to go from casino to casino, signing up for slot cards (don't play without one!) and collecting all the loot - free t-shirts, free slot play, free spins, etc.

Be prepared to see brides everywhere on the 14th, completely kitted out in trailing white lace, sitting at slots and food courts and just meandering up and down the Strip. If you're into photography at all, it's a good day for snaps. :)
posted by Liffey at 10:26 PM on February 7, 2006

Oh, and Le Pamplemousse is constantly getting voted as the romantic restaurant in Vegas. A few Valentine's Day seatings are still available.

I haven't been, but old schoolers are reverent about the place. The neighbourhood (just east of the Strip on Sahara) is somewhat dilapidated, and every day I give the pink shack a skeptical glance as I drive by, but the buzz has been going strong for about thirty years. Frommer's concurs.
posted by Liffey at 10:37 PM on February 7, 2006

donovan seems to know his stuff, but IMHO Mandalay Bay is a little too far down the strip for me -- I just stayed at the Luxor last month, which is next to MB, and it's a hike to get anywhere and you often find yourself wishing you just took a cab.

One place to consider is the Monte Carlo -- I haven't stayed there so I don't know what the rooms are like, but each time I go I tell myself that next time I'm going to give it a shot since it seems to be classy and has a great location.
posted by mattwatson at 10:38 PM on February 7, 2006

Shoot a machine gun!

I also recommend just wandering through the casinos to see what free entertainment is available in the lounges. Elvis impersonators are always worth checking out, as are magicians. Comedians can be very iffy, and live music is usually wretched. There's a Hawaiian act up by the Imperial Palace that's worth checking out as well. Free fun!
posted by Astro Zombie at 11:41 PM on February 7, 2006

I've lived in Vegas off and on my entire life. When I go on "vacation" (when I'm not currently living there) I always stay at the Suncoast. The rooms are large and comfortable and on weeknights you can usually book it for under $100.

You can do pretty much everything in the Suncoast - cheap food, movies, even bowling - and all the gambling is cheap. It's definitely a low-roller place but it's clean and nice and modern (built in late 90s or 2000 I think).

Suncoast is a few miles from the Strip, so you'll need to rent a car or get a cab (about $10 each way). I've always found the Strip and Strip hotels to be way too crowded to stay in comfortably. It's on the far west end of town and has nice views of mountains and stuff. Ask for a golf course view room and don't stay on the 3rd floor unless you wanna look at the huge AC units on the roof of the casino.

There's some really nice restaurants and intersting shopping right across the street too. I always stay there because it's nice and comfortable and like you say, won't break the bank. When I'm living there and friends come to town, I usually take them to the Suncoast or Orleans (it's twin closer to the Strip) to hang out. I stayed at the Orleans recently and its rooms are smaller and less comfortable. Suncoast has really nice bathrooms BTW.

As for things to do on the town, I usually like to eat at Makino, an all-you-can eat sushi buffet on Flamingo/Decatur. Shopping at Caesar's Forum Shops is always fun, even for guys, as it is at the new (remodeled) Fashion Show Mall. There are also malls inside Venetian, Alladin and Wynn, but none of them are to my liking. A new outlet mall has sprung up downtown. I can't remember the name of it, but it's OK. The Rio has a really nice buffet (and a seperate seafood buffet) that are great, but pricey and lines are long. You'll notice that with the buffets, the better they are, the more expensive and longer lines.

Grand Canyon is fun. I took one of those air tours a long time ago but don't remember much. All the other times I went we drove (it's like 5 hrs each way). I wouldn't recommend an air tour unless you actually touch down because the experience of being there is amazing.

Red Rock Canyon is 20 minutes from town and has a great 13 mile scenic loop. Lots of great hiking there too, though these days it's sometimes crowded and they charge $5 or so just to get into the park. Driving the loop and parking a couple places is well worth it. If you hike you'll be able to see some interesting wildlife (mostly reptiles but sometimes goats and rams) as well as fossils and stuff. This is a decent replacement for the Grand Canyon if you don't have the time/money to go there, but GC is 1000x better. Hoover Dam is interesting to look at, but don't take the tour (boring).

Some shows (Mystere, O and the Cirque Solei shows) are great and worth the high ticket price. The cheaper ones usually suck and waste time.

I'll close with a random tip: check and see what conventions are in town. If any of them are mildly interesting, go check it out. Lots of freebies (booze, especially depending on the convention).
posted by b_thinky at 12:29 AM on February 8, 2006

My wife and I were there just after New Years.
In 3 days we didn't get out of the Paris/Bally's/Ceasers/Bellagio street corner area very much. There is just so much to see and do.
I did a writeup with some pics on my ad-free webpage as part of documenting our road-trip if you're are interested. Don't worry, it's a work safe webpage.
posted by whoda at 3:40 AM on February 8, 2006

I go to Las Vegas to splurge (and win enough at blackjack or poker that I can afford to do so), but there are definite bargains to be had. I do agree with the cheapovegas recommendation.

Make your reservations now -- restaurants and hotels are going to get crowded. If you're willing to splurge a bit, you can get some gorgeous hotel rooms with in-room hot-tubs, or just plain luxury: the Venetian, the Wynn, the Bellagio all have gorgeous rooms standard, and I second the recommendation for the Mandalay Bay or its sub-hotel theHotel. Sounds like you want a cheap room, though, but many of the top hotels have good mid-week rates: check EasyClickTravel prices (the earlier the better) -- Las Vegas hotels are sufficiently distinctive that one can figure out easily what hotel the anonymizing description is discussing.

I had a very romantic date on top of the Eiffel Tower at night. If you're young and hip, I second the recommendation for Ghostbar at the Palms. The helicopter rides are a lot of fun, as are the rollercoasters if you're into that sort of thing. NYNY has a good rollercoaster, too.

Plenty of spectacular restaurants if price is no object, but check cheapovegas for your budgetary needs.

"Zumanity" is neither erotic nor romantic. Stay away from it, but the other Cirque shows are worthwhile.
posted by commander_cool at 4:29 AM on February 8, 2006

The buffet at the Bellagio was INSANE. I had 4 different kinds of mashed potatoes - all delicious. My friends and I still talk about it.

O (also at the Bellagio) is so incredibly spectacular - you won't regret spending the money for the tickets.

We stayed in Paris, and it was nice. Nothing to write home about. However, I got the most amazing hot stone massage. That would be a romantic gift for sure!
posted by MsVader at 8:11 AM on February 8, 2006

I like the Monte Carlo. Very nice rooms for not alot of $$.
Third (or fourth?) on the Paris buffet. I never noticed any fake accents, though.
Definitely see the fountains at the Bellagio. Walk the Forum Shops at Ceasar's. See a big show - O, Mama Mia, Mystere. Take a gondola ride at the Venetian.
I love the casino at New York New York, great NYC ambiance.
posted by clh at 1:41 PM on February 8, 2006

It's too late for you, I guess, but I know before going to Vegas last fall I checked out the old answers:

Food...
While you're near Paris!, check out the Lenôtre patisserie in the faux Parisian streets - It's delicious, beyond anything you'll have had in the US and almost as good as the Lenôtre in Paris. Mon Ami Gabi also has a nice Croque Monsieur, if you really want the "Paris" experience.

I didn't hit a single buffet, but did follow up on another AskMe recommendation of Lotus of Siam, which some foodie magazine was calling the best Thai in the US, apparently. I don't know as I'd go that far, but it was yummy. The Garlic Black Pepper Chicken is something I'd go back there again for (and we walked there from the strip). They're also in Frommers.

Another place we really liked up that end of town was Capriotti's a sub shop that roasts its own beef and smokes its own turkey. Though it was really good, I never was able to finish the 20" sub...

Shows...
The event for this fall's trip was a four-night four-Cirque show spectacular. Zumanity was *fantastic* and very different from any other Cirque show I've ever seen. O was beautiful, and the gimmick of being in the water does give them some new opportunities and was surprisingly not as limiting as I thought it would be. Mystère was pretty conventional, as far as Cirque goes, but very beautiful. Great music. Ka had amazing scenery and sets, but the story and physical feats were not as flooring as in the other Vegas resident shows.
posted by whatzit at 3:54 PM on February 13, 2006