First time to Sin City approaching

I was there the end of October with a bunch of friends (my first time there). We stayed at the Paris...rate was $179/night for Thursday-Sat stay. Rooms were nice and clean. Had dinner at Spago in Caesar's....very expensive and small portions...the kind of place where you end up getting pizza later. I can't remember the other places, but one was a burger joint in Paris and the other was in the Rio. Again, I was with a group of 30 people....both of those places were just okay, nothing special.

I flew Southwest, nonstop from Pittsburgh to Las Vegas. I think airfare was about $250.

My big lesson: Don't go to the Playboy Club at the Palms.

 

Go see a show. I highly recommend Mama Mia and there's a place, probably a couple of them, where you can get same-day tickets for half price. $50 or $60 for two . . . you can't go wrong. I know there's a place mid-Strip, maybe a couple of blocks (I think) north of the Flamingo.

There are places on the strip where you can play blackjack for $2. Not that there will be more than one or two tables at this level, but they do exist.

Definitely no need for a rental car unless you want to go to Hoover Dam or something outside the city.

 

Imperial Palace vs. The Strip.
It actually depends on what kind of stay you're looking for. They are two way different experiences.

And, here's the what I don't understand. I don't understand the $25-$30 buffet.
Why would you go to a buffet when you could go to the China Grill or Emeril's or Chinois for a comparable price and eat from some of the best chefs in the world?

 

Just spend a day drinking Ass Juice and chronicle what happens.

 

If you're going to do the Deuce (the bus, that is), you can get a 24-hour pass for $5. A great value. And that pass also lets you ride all the other CAT buses in the valley. They even have a bus that goes to the airport.

Last time there, I saw George Wallace at the Flamingo. Solid show.

There is also a really tacky Elvis cocktail lounge show at Bill's (formerly Barbary Coast) that's right on the corner of the Strip and Flamingo.

 

The LV Advisor is an excellent publication. Lotsa good info, the latest openings/closings, restaurant and gambling reviews, etc. And as playthrough notes, the coupon book can pay for the subscription.

I'll suggest the Bellagio buffet for lunch. Wonderful food, virtually the same selection as the dinner buffet and it's significantly cheaper. (although still in the $14-20 range).

I've gone to Vegas at least once a year for the past 15-16 years, so the Strip has become more of a PITA (crowds, bad gambling, etc.) than anything. On my last trip, I found I enjoyed going to the "locals" casinos more (any of the Stations, Green Valley, Arizona Charlie's, Sam's Town, etc.). Cheaper gambling, good food and smaller crowds.

The only negative is you need a car to get to those places.

 

Good point. I was thinking more in hitting 2-3 of them in one fell swoop, or going places where there is no shuttle (most of the Stations, for example).

And as far as I'm concerned, you can't pimp the LV Advisor enough.

 

I could go on and on because I have spent more than my share of time (and money) in Vegas. But if you want to do any sports gambling, any at all, go to the Bellagio Sports Book. Get there early, grab a nice leather chair and enjoy all the free drinks you can handle while watching up to six sporting events on the massive screens.

Other sports books are less crowded and just as comfortable, but none give you free drinks without handing out "drink tickets" based on what you bet.

 

Mandalay Bay, too. But, you're right.

 

if you get tired of the strip, this place rules for a day.

http://www.insidervlv.com/casino_TexasStation.html