First time to Sin City approaching

[Inky_Wretch]

Great timing for this gthread -- I'm doing a freelance story on some great off-the-strip vegas highlights...

nice!

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

 

[HackyMcHack]

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.

 

[Lyman_Bostock]

First advice: go to www.lasvegasadvisor.com and buy a membership. For $37 you can get the monthly online newsletter that will keep you up-to-date on things until June, but more importantly there is a HUGE coupon book that will more than pay for the membership in 2-for-1 food deals, free stuff, gambling offers, etc. You can see a complete list of coupons on the website. Can't recommend this enough. For a first-time visitor it can be fun to spend a day on a "coupon run" just collecting the free stuff, eating, drinking and playing the gambling coupons.

I'll always advocate a day/night downtown (and the aforementioned coupon book is great there), the gambling is cheaper and the dealers to me have always seemed a little friendlier than most on the Strip. The Strip wants to suck money out of your pockets with an industrial-powered vacuum, downtown will do it with a dustbuster.

I have stayed at Flamingo and Harrah's on mid-strip and both aren't bad. For June you should be able to get good rates. Two doors up from the Flamingo is Casino Royale, which is an oasis of cheap gambling in the middle of the Strip. Sign up for the players' card and you'll get some deals.

All the other advice here on sightseeing is great...I'll second the Mandalay Bay Shark Reef.

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.

 

[playthrough]

Not necessarily. Sam's Town has a free shuttle to downtown and Strip destinations and Rio also runs a free bus to the Strip, just to name two. Don't rule those out as a free way to see more of the area and other casinos and even as places to stay. I stayed at the Rio once but spent almost the entire time on the Strip thanks to the shuttle.

I believe info on shuttles is on the free parts of the LV Advisor. (Sorry, I can't stop pimping that site!)

 

[Lyman_Bostock]

Not necessarily. Sam's Town has a free shuttle to downtown and Strip destinations and Rio also runs a free bus to the Strip, just to name two. Don't rule those out as a free way to see more of the area and other casinos and even as places to stay. I stayed at the Rio once but spent almost the entire time on the Strip thanks to the shuttle.

I believe info on shuttles is on the free parts of the LV Advisor. (Sorry, I can't stop pimping that site!)

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.

 

[FootballScribe]

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.

 

[fishwrapper]

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.

 

[Tom Petty]

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

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

 

[Jones]

Dear God, do I love Vegas.

Not much to add, except that Miranda is worth the money.

 

[Tom Petty]

where does miranda work?

 

[Jones]

On your ****.

 

[Tom Petty]

On your ****.

solid. god damned solid.

 

[fishwrapper]

On your ****.

solid. god damned solid.

A beautiful exchange.

 

[Idaho]

For quality 'off strip' lodging try staying in Primm.

You'll never forget it.

 

[fishwrapper]

Off Strip? That's Off Vegas.

 

[Lyman_Bostock]

Off Strip? That's Off Vegas.

Off Vegas, but on Baker. Or Searchlight. Or someplace in the middle of nowhere.

And I'll second TP's Texas Station plug. Won $300 playing BJ there last time I was in town.

 

[Ben_Hecht]

Great timing for this gthread -- I'm doing a freelance story on some great off-the-strip vegas highlights...

nice!

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

Ahhhh . . . the Double Down.

Local color . . . at its dirtiest.

 

[Pilot]

OK, I've read through most of the Vegas advice threads on this board, but I am now looking for a little more direct input.

Pretty standard story: four-night bachelor party with about six first timers. Trying to pick out a hotel. We want to stay on the strip.

The list, I think, is narrowed down to:

MGM (Grand Tower room for a little less than average, looks larger than avg.)

Caesers Palace (A Classic room that looks very basic for just about average)

Mandalay Bay (the 550DR room for about average)

Bellagio (Deluxe room for above average. Pretty basic room)

Mirage (Either the deluxe room for a little below average or the 2 bed room suite for above average)
--------------

The quality of the pool is a factor. Cost is a little less of a factor (divided among six guys, the most we'll pay on this list is about $350. The least about $250). I'm not sure how much of a factor location is. I've been told it would be a pain to get down to Caesers and Bellagio or to the kind of night clubs we will want to be going to if we stay as far as Mandalay Bay. At the same time, its pool looks amazing. Mirage seems to be right in the middle of things. Both it and the MGM seem to have good pools, good deals and good location. Caesers too, really.

Is it tough or expensive to get around the strip? Is there enough going on around Mandalay Bay, or will we be making a lot of trips back and forth from the more center strip area?

Literally everyone I talk to tells me different things. Looking for some fresh advice. I suspect there's not really all that much difference among those I've narrowed it down to.

Thanks.

 

[SoCalDude]

I don't think you'll go wrong with any of your possibilities.
Mandalay Bay and its awesome pool is the southernmost and a bit of a hike to the Bellagio-Mirage-Caesars area. Cabs are plentiful and probably $10-$15 to get to the heart of the Strip.
There is a free tram from Mandalay Bay to the Excalibur, which is kitty-corner across the street from MGM (as well as being across the street from NYNY and Tropicana. Don't bother with the Trop). It also stops at the Luxor on the way. So it's easy to get to and from.

 

[Buck]

Must go the the Double Down.
Near the Hard Rock.