rootbeer

can you tell me where the casino is that makes their own rootbeer and beer? Also, I am staying at Bally%26#39;s so would it be a long walk?

Thanks

rootbeer

Ellis Island has a good rootbeer... as well as micro brews. EI is behind Ballys.

rootbeer

Ellis Island, 1 block directly behind Bally%26#39;s.

Thanks!! Is it safe to walk to at night, alone?

Ellis island does - not a long walk, at least to us. although we don%26#39;t like EI so wouldn%26#39;t go. many love the place - all comes down to personal choice.

casinos don%26#39;t make beer or any other food - restaurants do, some of which are located adjacent to casinos.

The Gordon Bierch brewery restaurant in Las Vegas has ';homemade root beer'; on their menu, but I don%26#39;t know if that means made on site or at a central place , since it is a chain. It is off Strip , and I%26#39;m sorry that I really can%26#39;t visualize where it is in relation the Bally%26#39;s- maybe someone else knows. I am certain a bus would pass by it. I think it is on Paradise Rd which runs parallel to the Strip- can%26#39;t recall how far down.

Never tried the root beer there personally.

Another For Ellis Island behind Balleys/Paris.

%26amp; Restaurants dont make food they prepare and cook it!!!

Another vote for Ellis Island- the drinks are very good.

I almost always walk there and back- once in the dark. I never had any problems- female/alone.

skin care

Trip Report 7/14-7/21 - The Consolidated Version

For your convenience, posted as numerous and sundry replies...

Trip Report 7/14-7/21 - The Consolidated Version

I was very happy to make my fifth trip to Vegas – the fourth in the past three years – and while at least half the time was spent with the annual social convention I’ve attended since 2006, I made the most of the “free time” that I had. But first, a little background on the characters in this play:

Me: An elder statesman of Generation X, I enjoy seeing both the natural and manufactured sights that the Las Vegas Valley has to offer. I enjoy indulging in cheesy entertainment and semi-trendy establishments that require little wait time and I have an appreciation for the old-school history. Shockingly, I don’t come to Vegas expecting to do much gambling but I actually have more interesting gaming stories to tell this year… including real live blackjack!

My significant other – let’s call her “Kat” –is a bit further along in the Baby Boomer years. I was happy to bring her back to Vegas after she missed last year due to a serious illness. A Vegas veteran pre-Steve Wynn, she was more than content to stay at our convention venue most of the time to bond with her gal pals. Nonetheless, I was able to convince her to accompany me for a night out on the Strip. Together, we consider ourselves to be a forty-something couple with thirty-something tastes.

My old buddy “Ben” is somewhere between us in age. While I consider myself to be frugal, he makes me look like MC Hammer in the 90’s. Give him a low-limit blackjack table and a late night dinner special and he’s a happy man. He was more than willing to be my road buddy on offsite excursions, so much so that occasionally I had to remind him that we had a convention to attend… and a lady that I had to go home with.

Since a chronological retelling of events would even bore me to tears, I will instead group things together by subject. Sometimes the groupings may not make sense at first but you’ll probably understand the logic/humor of it as things go on.

Trip Report 7/14-7/21 - The Consolidated Version

PART ONE – THE HOTEL

Our convention was held at the Tuscany on East Flamingo Road between the Platinum condos and Terrible’s Casino. I’ll save the details for the full hotel review. For now, I’ll say that if you can appreciate the value of a spacious studio suite less than a mile from the Strip, a laid-back vibe in the casino, and an apartment complex layout that may benefit families as well as others concerned about constant casino smoke, then the Tuscany may be for you. It pretty much worked for us.

Having used E Flamingo multiple times for my stay at the namesake hotel and Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall next door, my first impression was that while walking as far as Terrible’s was reasonable on a mild day, traversing it at night may not necessarily be the same case. Well, while I still wouldn’t recommend a lady who has had a few drinks to stumble along that stretch of road alone, a group of more or less alert people walking with a purpose would do just fine. In fact, the most intimidating thing to me would be the big electric plants that are on the north side of the street. I could just see someone having had a few too many crashing through the gate and subsequently become the latest neon addition to the area. Fortunately I was driving so I did not have to deal with that possibility. By the way, there are never any cabs waiting around at the Tuscany like they would be on the Strip or maybe even Rio and the Palms, so you’ll have to have the bell desk call ahead. Or you can catch a Deuce bus that runs across Flamingo Road past the Strip.

PART TWO – NATURAL BEAUTY(?)

Having experienced Red Rock Canyon with Kat back in 2006, I had thought we might see the Valley of Fire this time. But realizing that between the three of us that there wasn’t the time/desire for the three-hour round trip out to VOF, Ben and I settled on taking the 40-minute trip out to Red Rock since he had not seen it before. It was just as beautiful as the first time for me. Ben was in so much awe that not only did he want to go through again to take pictures of a section he liked a lot – thereby sacrificing a blackjack tournament at the Rampart Casino/JW Marriott that he wanted to participate in – but he went back a *third* time later in the week with a couple lady friends.

Earlier in the week, Ben and I experienced a different kind of beauty. We decided to patronize the Olympic Gardens (after an aborted visit to Talk of the Town) to experience some, um, classic Vegas entertainment. We initially balked at having to pay the $30 cover charge on an early Tuesday morning. But the security/management outside stopped us and said that we could enter for free after all and apparently communicated such through their earpiece to the cashier.

Since this is a family forum, I can’t really get into the events that happened inside. Suffice it to say, that for 1:00am on a Tuesday, the options were appealing if a little aggressive. Paying $7.50 for a ginger ale was no fun but I realized it was the cost of doing business; Ben was less amused. When an entertainer requested $20 for a dance, Ben told me later that in Cocoa Beach, Florida they were offered for only $5. My response to him was, “Welcome to Las Vegas”. Nonetheless, we both left later with smiles on our faces thinking about the naughty albeit legal fun. I consider myself lucky that my lady was secure enough to allow me to experience such a performance. It did help start our day off better the next morning.

PART THREE – HIGH ROLLIN’!

For all you gambling connoisseurs out there, I thought I write about my experience fairly early. I’m really not much of a gambler at all. As far as comps go, I’d be happy to be offered a “casino rate” at my favorite hotel… but I don’t even come close to investing what I’d need to acheive even that status. I did manage to acquire players cards last year from Harrah’s Total Rewards, stepsister Bill’s and Club Coast (via the Orleans) since I liked hanging out at their various properties. The latter two have sent me e-mail specials that I would take advantage of if I lived in the same time zone.

Ben and I spent one early evening on Fremont Street, mostly for him to see the canopy show as well as get a bit more favorable gaming action. While he was signing up for his Binion’s card, I sat down at a quarter slot machine called Top Dollar and invested my top dollar into it. The first few quarters went down with no results. But the last quarter came through for me, resulting in a gigantic win of $8.75! Not wanting to press my good fortune, I decided to cash out.

I would later use my mountain of cash to invest another dollar each in penny slots at Mermaids and La Bayou. I did not do well at either establishment. Ben made a few bucks at the former only to promptly give it back to the latter, keeping it all in the family. He seemed to have a particular affinity for the Monopoly games on this trip. Too bad he never made it out of “Baltic Avenue” status on this go-round. At least he thought the light show was cool. It was the same gambling theme featuring “hot mom” Jenny McCarthy that I saw last year. The BMX show in the cage looked like fun but unfortunately we were pressed for time to get back to a convention function.

Later, Ben and I would find a more nostalgic way to throw away our money. We made the pilgrimage to the Pinball Hall of Fame on E Tropicana Avenue off Pecos. You’ll need to get directions as it’s tucked in a strip mall set back from the road. You won’t find plaques and stories singing the virtues of the games. Instead you will see the actual machines themselves, refurbished and ready to play. Lots of good stuff from the 50’s through the 80’s, including a few favorites of mine as well as a few missteps. (You’ll get dizzy just reading the directions of “Dr. Dude”.) They also had a number of classic video games as well as an air hockey board. We could have easily spent a few hours in there but as we had to get ready for dinner later, an hour was enough to relive our youth for now.

PART FOUR – FINE DINING

We ate the majority of our meals at the Tuscany, particularly in Marilyn’s Café. While the service was generally slow – perhaps they were understaffed/overwhelmed by our convention – it was always friendly. The food was good with reasonable prices and portions. I believe that Ben had the $3.99 Steak %26amp; Eggs special one late night with other friends. He remarked to me later about his surprise at the small size of the steak. I wasn’t sure if he was serious or joking.

Our Big Meal Out turned out to be the Big Meal In. The logistics for eating in Margaritaville @ Flamingo before going to our show @ Venetian turned out to be too complicated so we chose instead to make a reservation for Tuscany Gardens at our home base. Ben and four other friends chose to join us at the Italian restaurant. It was a bit of an oasis from the noisy lobby and you could still view the pool area if you wanted to. Like the other restaurants here, the selections were reasonable and appetizing, at least for my bland and unsophisticated palate. As a bonus, we were able to use an entree discount coupon that we received with our check-in materials, making the meal practically a steal. While some of my fellow diners had a more healthy appetite than others, the overall bill for the seven of us came out to around $200, including a required 19% group gratuity. Without the discount, I imagine the total would have been around $275.

I did enjoy Margaritaville on my previous trips in 2006 and hope to make it back there someday in order to re-introduce onetime South Florida transplant Kat to the joys of their Cuban sandwich. Then again, I noticed a sign for a place called the Florida Café on the north Strip that might be worth sacrificing the ambiance of Jimmy Buffet tunes and young ladies sliding into faux volcanoes.

On the other end of the dining spectrum, Kat, Ben and I went to discover the joys of In-And-Out Burger one afternoon, choosing the location on Maryland Parkway just off UNLV. Taking a rare chance with my finicky taste buds, I decided to order my burger “animal style” without knowing exactly what was going to be on it, besides onions. Overall, the three of us thought the food was okay but didn’t quite match the hype. The staff certainly reflected the friendly (and better compensated) reputation that I had heard about. I appreciated that the fries tasted fresh and non-greasy. But the burger itself was disappointing. In the future, I’d probably stop in if I were traveling off-Strip and looking for something different than the typical fast-food operations I could find back East. But there are surely bigger gambles to make in Vegas; your mileage may certainly vary.

PART FIVE – DIGGING FOR BONES… AND A “DRIVE-BY” ON EAST FREMONT!

Ben and I made reservations for a Thursday morning tour of the Neon Boneyard. I got a little confused on the directions, thinking that it was 8XX Las Vegas Boulevard South instead of 8XX Las Vegas Boulevard *North*. We learned this lesson the hard way, fumbling our way around the “neon motel” area above the Stratosphere before realizing that we actually needed to be north of Fremont Street in the actual city limits of Vegas. We also learned there was no big blazing sign that said where the accompanying Neon Museum office was; a gas station attendant would later remind me that it was actually located in the Reed Whipple Center. We finally arrived at the center fifteen minutes late but an administrator was kind enough to admit and walk us across the street.

We joined a group of about a dozen tourists being led by a spry senior Las Vegas resident. She gave us a lot of background on the various famous and obscure signs. Old signs from Binion’s, the Golden Nugget and the recently departed Stardust were well-represented. It was darn hot outside even at 10:00am and the complimentary bottled water we were given was much appreciated. There is absolutely no reason to hang out in the area immediately to the right of the Boneyard as it appears to be one of the more challenged areas of Las Vegas. After about an hour and a half of education in the sweltering sun, Ben and I sat in the car and reveled in the A/C before heading down to the “other side” of Fremont.

We had originally planned to spend some quality time in such establishments as the El Cortez, Atomic Liquors and the Western. However, we were pressed for time. And I was also feeling like a “mark” with my typical tourist flower shirt on and a digital camera I had used to take pictures at the Boneyard. Also Ben had woken up just in time to make the trip and was starting to get hungry. So instead Ben let me off at the corner of E Fremont across from the El Cortez hotel and I started walking with a purpose, snapping pictures of the unlit neon signs along the road as well as the Griffin/Beauty Bar, El Cortez and the (in)famous Western. I did not see Atomic Liquors by the time I got to the other bookend street sign. In retrospect, it would appear to have been even further east.

I still aspire to visit the El Cortez and even the Western someday. I’m sure that mixing in with the hipster locals at the Griffin and Beauty Bar would be interesting as well.

PART SIX – IT’S SHOWTIME… BUT WHO TURNED OUT THE LIGHTS?

The second half of our Big Night Out following dinner at the Tuscany Gardens was to see Wayne Brady at the Venetian. Many of you may know his reputation as a multi-talented comedian, singer and dancer. Although I didn’t watch “Whose Line Is It Anyway”, the improv comedy TV show where Wayne got his big break, I enjoyed his daytime show on occasion as well as his guest star appearances on other programs. While we were being seated for the show, some of the music being played appeared to belong to him. When I realized this, I was excited because I thought we might get to hear him perform them live and perhaps even have the opportunity to purchase a CD after the show.

As it turns out, the show was 100% comedy improvisation, with a co-comedian, singers and backup band to support him. The show was definitely put together well and Wayne even made the best of an awkward situation when a volunteer (whom Wayne picked out directly in front of us) suddenly turned reluctant. But then, something started to hit me. I don’t know if it was the fulfilling meal that I had just eaten, the fact that I don’t always do well with watching evening shows or my disappointment that Wayne didn’t “play it straight” sometimes and sing some of his own songs. But about a half hour into the show, I found myself getting sleepy and never quite recovered. Kat was nervous that the spotlight would be put on me and Wayne would get some mileage out of it. I would have actually welcomed that as it would have kept me engaged, if only out of embarrassment. In the end, I got about $35 or $40 worth of the $105 second-tier ticket that I purchased… but I don’t blame Wayne for it as he did work hard during the show. Or at least that’s what Kat said.

When I exited the theater, I was surprised to find out that there were no CDs being sold but plenty of shirts. I passed on that and we made our way through the casino. We stopped briefly at La Scena Lounge to look at a rock cover band. I almost wish I had come here instead as the familiar tunes got my toes tapping quickly. But I wasn’t quite in the mood for rock and Kat wasn’t feeling so good. So we went back to the Tuscany and called it a night.

PART SEVEN – AROUND THE STRIP IN 180 MINUTES (OR SO)

I decided on our last Monday that I wanted to tour some Strip sights at my own brisk pace. There were some properties that I had either not seen for a long time or had relied on reviews on Trip Advisor to form my third-hand opinions which I then continued to circulate around the forum. I was determined to seek my own truth about these places.

I started out at the MGM Grand where I stayed for my first trip in 1996 and saw the construction of the Bellagio. I felt “cool” at the time that I was staying at what was then the largest hotel in the world. Obviously a lot had changed in those twelve years. For one, the big dollar slot machine was gone from the lobby. The atmosphere was also a lot more upscale yet not so inaccessible. I could see myself enjoying the restaurants here as well as the arcade section downstairs. The Centrifuge Bar looked to be a good place to hang out and people-watch if it were open. Overall, this would be a place I’d like to go for a nice evening out. However, I already know from previous experience that it would now be too huge for me to stay there.

Next stop was Planet Hollywood. The last time I visited here, going through the entrance next to Trader Vic’s, I was verbally “assaulted” by timeshare salespeople hawking PH’s imminent condo dwellings. So I entered from the Miracle Mile Stores side and nary a salesperson was to be found. I stopped off at the ABC store and was pleasantly surprised to find a set of Sin City Sucker lollipops that a local had told Kat had been phased out of the market. I also picked up a “Hello Kitty” Vegas charm for a friend who likes that stuff. Eventually I made my way to the casino which had a very modern theme that I enjoyed. I wouldn’t mind going to the Yolos Mexican restaurant, Earl of Sandwich or chilling in the Extra Lounge. I’m still not sure if I’d stay here until I knew that the old Aladdin rooms were fully renovated.

Paris was next. I liked the feel of this place from my visit last September. If I hadn’t already eaten, I would have sprung for another meal at Le Village Buffet. I was mostly curious about the Boulevard Shops between Paris and Bally’s. As it turns out, they were nothing special for me but it did give me the chance to invest a few bucks in the big dollar slot machine on the Bally’s side of the Boulevard. I appreciated the workout that I got from pulling the huge one-arm bandit down. Otherwise, it wasn’t a very rewarding experience. I didn’t have a particular attraction to Bally’s except that it would make for a more affordable option from which I could take advantage the amenities next door at Paris.

I rolled into Bill’s for a minute. I was still amazed that from the Flamingo Road entrance, I could get to the elevators, front desk and coffee shop in less than a minute. Having stayed here in September, I was more than happy with my room (see my review) and would have no hesitation to stay here again. I even believe that Kat, for whom convenience is key, would be happier here than many of the other properties set up for romance or opulence.

My next destination after the “Flamingo South Tower” was indeed the Flamingo itself. I had heard they had renovated many of the rooms since I had been here last August (see my review) but I saw that they had done a lot to the casino as well. At the risk of sounding like the lady on the “cheapo” site, I noticed that the pink theme had returned in a less garish way while the floor was an understated brown with a beige flowery flourish. I stopped at the Big Six roulette wheel at the edge of the casino near the pool entrance and placed a $20 bet on the $20 bill. Kat and I had planned to take a road trip to visit family later in the summer that she figured would cost $400 for gas. So I had hoped that Lady Luck would smile upon me to finance that part of the trip. Unfortunately, it seems that Lady Luck was admiring someone else as my number did not come up. Oh well, no harm no foul. I took a walk out to the wildlife habitat leading to the pool and admired the flamingoes and koi fish once again before moving on. I have to say that I feel more comfortable in this place than any other casino. The only thing it may be missing is a “hot” lounge or club. But does every casino need a “hot” place?

I decided to take a chance and visit Imperial Palace. I read a lot of bad press here on the forum and decided to see what all the negative hype was about. Well, it didn’t help that the entrance to IP was practically hidden. But once I finally made my way in, I was pleasantly surprised. It’s definitely dark in there and I could see how someone could become a bit claustrophobic. I was glad to see the Dealertainers – it looked like Little Richard, Little Orphan Annie and Tina Turner were gracing us with their presence - although I didn’t stick around enough to see an actual performance. I went upstairs to see the food choices. I decided that I wasn’t quite hungry enough to get something at the Burger Palace. The other restaurant choices looked like they would be good places to impress someone on a budget, especially Embers Steakhouse. Except for the chance to experience the cheesy Luv Tub rooms, I don’t think I would stay here.

At this point my feet were starting to get tired and I was losing time in my self-imposed three-hour limit. So I ran to catch up with a Deuce bus to take it up to my next stop. I probably could have walked faster than the bus took to get to my destination but at least I got to relax in some much needed air conditioning for my 25-minute ride between the Venetian and the Sahara.

The Sahara had a really interesting old-school vibe. It reminded me of a cross between the cavernous Imperial Palace and the neon Peppermill Lounge… in other words, the Stardust (RIP). I had heard the Casbar Lounge was pretty good. Unfortunately it was too early in the day for any entertainment but it looked like the type of place I would enjoy before or after a dinner at the House of Lords Steakhouse. I didn’t quite have the stamina to try to reach the Stratosphere so I made my final stop at Circus Circus.

As many of you know well, CC is (in)famous for its popularity with families. Indeed, I saw more kids within two minutes of walking in the entrance than I had seen during an entire week in Vegas. But I managed not to mow or be mowed down by them until I reached the logical destination of the Adventuredome. If I had kids in tow that were under 13, this would be the place I would keep them occupied as it was obviously made for them. I was even tempted to hop in for a go-kart ride myself. I walked the circumference of the Adventuredome before deciding to indulge in a cab ride back to the Tuscany. Having kids surround me to begin and end my day in Vegas would drive me nuttier than a clown. But I would definitely do the famous steakhouse. After telling the driver in a friendly way that it was not only my last day but I had also been out here last year, I then asked him to tell me some funny cab ride stories and he happily obliged. I rounded the $12something fare to $15 and went back to my room to help Kat with packing our stuff.

If you’re keeping score, that’s nine casinos visited in about three and a half hours. And yes, my dogs were barking (i.e. my feet were tired, for our European friends).

REFLECTIONS AND OBSERVATIONS

Given the relatively limited time I had away from the Tuscany, I feel like I accomplished a lot of what I set out to see. Of course, it’s almost impossible to see “everything” in one Vegas trip, even for our British and Irish friends who stay here for two weeks at a time. I guess that’s one of the things that make people want to come back to Vegas. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with checking out old favorites and I managed to do a little of that as well.

I think the main thing I learned is that I need to plan a trip separate from the convention that I could enjoy with Kat, my male buddies, myself or some combination thereof. While I still won’t see “everything”, it would be nice to have less people and obligations to answer to. Of course, current events could make coming back to Vegas from the East Coast more of a challenge in the foreseeable future. Until then, I’ll continue to live vicariously through the trip reports of others… and provide a little more informed point of view of my own.

WOW, what a great TR, enjoyed reading very much. Glad you got to see many casinos first hand. thanks for sharing

Best player's club downtown

I will be visiting downtown in August and was wondering which casino has the best comps for play especially for new members. I do have a card at Binions and Nugget but none of the other casinos. I play 25cent video poker and if not winning not above playing slots (1-5 cents). Also, I do have the American Casino Guide I will be using and trying to figure out where all of these unheard of casinos are located. Any comments on these ';D list'; casinos appreciated.

Best player's club downtown

I seem to get the best offers from Fitzgerald%26#39;s. It%26#39;s a fun casino and I did really well with the slots there. Four Queens actually has some full play VP .25 machines but I have never gotten much mail from them. I played at Plaza and El Cortez for the first time this last trip, so I really can%26#39;t tell about them. Use your ACG coupons to eat at Golden Gate%26#39;s deli, Binion%26#39;s deli and Magnolia%26#39;s at 4 Queens, all great meals.

Best player's club downtown

We%26#39;ve got cards for most of the downtown casinos. Comp wise we feel that Fitz is probably best and the Plaza has been pretty generous to us as well comp wise.

Also note that Plaza and Vegas Club cards are linked. As well the following 3 are also linked with one another: Main Street Station, California, Fremont.

El Cortez is great to me. Rooms and food and I am not even a ';Diamond'; member. They also have some good VP machines if you search.

Gonna be there in less than 2 months.

Thanks, I will be increasing my player%26#39;s card collection to include casinos mentioned and definitely will be playing video poker at El Cortez.

If you go to the strip, make sure you get a HET card from the Harrah%26#39;s property, it%26#39;s good at all of their properties %26amp; you can accumulate points easily %26amp; can get comp rooms %26amp; meals %26amp; shows.

Welcome to DT, ';D list'; comps chaser ;-)

Plaza is very generous, and you may get free room comps.

HET is downtown?

I have gone to LV 3 to 5 times/year for the last 4 or 5 years and spend most of the time gambling Downtown. I like Boyd%26#39;s (Fremont, Main St. Station, California), Plaza, Fitzgerald%26#39;s, and the El Cortez ---in that order. For comps, I didn%26#39;t care for the Four Queen%26#39;s , Binion%26#39;s, and especially not the Golden Nugget.

The last few trips, my bff and I played at the Fremont, and they had a random selection with who ever had their players card in the machine.... if they called your name and came to your machine you got to choose a Jack in the Box and when it popped open you won some cash. They did it every hour, starting in the afternoon... we never were called but it sure looked fun.... Just a random bonus for playing.

remove brontok

Single woman - 4 days

I%26#39;m running away to Vegas to escape a broken hear.

I%26#39;ll be there from Monday nite till Fri morning.

I love Vegas but haven%26#39;t been there in 10 years. Staying at Harrahas as I can get a comp for the whole stay. Looking for a list of ';must-do%26#39;s'; for an outgoing 40 year old single woman. I%26#39;ll spent a little time at the pool and a good amount of time

gambling but what else? Spa recommendation?

Single woman - 4 days

Treat yourself to a show. Sounds like you could use a good laugh, there%26#39;s a lot of good comedians there next week.

Single woman - 4 days

I almost died when I read your post. I am going to be there the same time for the same reason. :)

I planned on just relaxing by the pool all day and gambling at night. Then a friend of mine found out I was going and he booked a flight to be with me two of the four days.

We are heading to Fremont on Wednesday night if you would like to join us.

The Canyon Ranch spa at the Venetian is simply heaven on earth to me - treat yourself to a massage and just spend the rest of the day in bliss.

Have a great trip, and drink a couple of cocktails for me!

If you haven%26#39;t been there in 10 years you will have a whole new city to explore! Go to a show (I would suggest either Mystere or Love if you haven%26#39;t seen a Cirque show before); eat at some great restaurants; go to the lounges ( or clubs, if that is your thing) at night to hear some great music(Carnaval Court and the Duelling Pianos at Harrah%26#39;s are always lively); spend one night downtown; go shopping at some of the malls- both outlet and regular; rent a car and see some areas outside of Vegas- Red Rock Canyon, Valley of Fire, Hoover Dam,etc. Just popping in and out of the hotels is going to take a big chunk of your time. The possibilities are endless.

http://www.vegas.com/attractions

The nice part about your trip- you can do whatever you want , wherever your want, however you want, when you want without consulting anyone- you will be on your own schedule. People are very friendly in Vegas so it is easy to make new temporary friends. Just do what everyone else does while in Vegas- don%26#39;t let the fact that your are alone stop you from doing anything you want to do. You will not be lonely or bored.

Have a great trip!

There was a great review for the day pass at Qua Spa at Ceasar%26#39;s, do a search and check it out. It is about $45 and gets you all day access to the mineral baths, saunas and arctic room, etc. Also I believe this rate is deducted from any services you might order. Might be just the thing to make you feel beautiful before a night out and a great meal somewhere!

Here is the review:

…tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g45963-i10-k20616…

Bacbam,

I would love to join you guys if you are up for company. Are you staying at Harrah%26#39;s as well?

I arrive Monday nite around 10:30PM.

Grandpa-

OP is from New Jersey. Ever heard of a place called Atlantic City?

that%26#39;s exactly right, I am a frequent visitor to Atlantic City as it is only a two hour drive from

my house. Please don%26#39;t question my integrity.

What's a 19 year old to do?

My 19 year old son is going to Vegas on Sunday for a business meeting. He has never been there before, and because of age can%26#39;t gamble or drink. What are the sights he should see on his 1st trip to Vegas?

What's a 19 year old to do?

Where is he staying?

LV is more then just drinking and gambling, its a huge city with many things to do to keep a 19 year old busy.

What's a 19 year old to do?

Unfortunately, due to his age, he won%26#39;t even be able to sit in a bar and have a soft drink, or wander through the casino floor to watch others gambling. But that doesn%26#39;t mean he can%26#39;t have fun still.

There are huge malls with loads of good shopping available.

He can go to all the different hotels to look around.

He can walk the strip and soak in the atmosphere

He can lounge about the pool

He can watch the free shows (Bellagio fountains, vocano, sirens of TI)

He can go on the rides on top of the Stratosphere

He can climb the Eiffel tower

there are also loads of good places to eat

I%26#39;m not sure if shows will let people under 21 in or if he has to be with an adult, so will let someone else give you that info.

There are countless attractions in Vegas that he can see. If he is interested in cars- the Imperial Palace has a great exhibit-free with coupons found in any magazine. Everyone should see the Bellagio fountain(at night) and conservatory. There are rides at the Stratosphere, NY/NY and Sahara.The Titanic Exhibit is interesting (check 1/2 price kiosks to see if he could get them for that day only). I am not sure of the age limits but Mystere or Love would be great shows to see. You can get Mystere tickets at 35% off at http://www.ticketmaster.com/promo/5itfaj. When I saw Love I sat in the very last row and it was fine- I could see everything. Just popping in and out of the various casinos (he is going to have to keep moving and not stop in the casino itself) will take up a big chunk of time if he has never been there before.

Here is a list of attractions:

http://www.vegas.com/attractions

A lot of the comedy clubs are 18+ so he could go to one of those. Don%26#39;t tell him (lol) but nude shows like Crazy Horse are also 18+. We%26#39;re taking our kids to Vegas in a few weeks; our son is 19 and loves Vegas even though he can%26#39;t gamble/drink. The other suggestions you%26#39;ve received are good--he should be fine.

...and oh yeah, our son will NOT be going to the Crazy Horse show when we%26#39;re there!

Does he like rides? There are the rides at the Stratosphere and the roller coaster at NY NY (some at Circus Circus too but lots of younger kids). Where is he staying? Some hotels have great pools to go to. There is also the auto show at Imperial Palace I think and also at the Wynn. He can also go to Hoover Dam, kayaking, helicopter tours. There is info on these things in magazines found in the hotel rooms.

If he is going there for a business meeting at that young age, he should probably avoid the ';kiddie'; activities.

The Hard Rock Hotel has some nice displays.

The Sahara has a NASCAR thingy.

The Stratosphere has a nice adventurous ride.

There is a fashion mall with great eateries near the Wynn.

Everything I mentioned is not too expensive and he may enjoy walking from Mandalay to the Stratosphere. There%26#39;s lots of things to see from the south end to the north end of the Strip.

What amazes me is that 19 year olds don%26#39;t do their own research. Instead they seem to rely on daddy or mommy to make these fundemental queries.

What does he want to see and do? If he%26#39;s military or a veteran he should be able to do his boozing in a Legion%26#39;s mess or visit at Nellis AFB. I know that was possible in the Canadian military when I was legally underage.

We just returned on a trip with my 18 yr old son

He enjoyed :

walking the strip and seeing the lights, people ( at night especially)

Penn and Teller (Rio)

LOVE Cirque show (Mirage , if he can afford it and can get tickets, if not Mystere is also excellent)

Check out if a group is playing the House of Blues (Mandalay Bay)

people watch (everywhere)

maybe he can invite a friend since the room is paid for and they can hang around together once work is done - I know that made everything more fun for my son

Rowdyreno, why do you assume just because Mom or Dad are asking these questions that the 19th year old isn%26#39;t also doing his own research or that your comment is even helpful? I certainly doubt he is a veteran at 19 and from their post it doesn%26#39;t sound like he is in the military.

Mrn1, lots of good advice by other posters, though I will add that at 19 unless he looks young for his age he can wander around looking at things briefly in the casino and it%26#39;s doubtful they will question him and ask for ID unless he tries to play or get a drink (and I include soft drink) on the casino floor.

It would have helped to know what his budget is and which end of the strip he will be on or even if he is staying on the strip. If he likes animals there%26#39;s the Lions at MGM to look at for free, or the secret garden at the Mirage with the tigers and dolphins though you have to pay for that. Mandalay Bay has Shark Reef which is interesting if one likes aquariums, however there%26#39;s a charge for that ($16.95).

Penn and Teller has a good show for that age and there%26#39;s a 25 percent off coupon you can print off from the website for the Rio Hotel.

wedding lake tahoe

hi

I am travelling from ireland with my man, and family and friends to get married in march. the event will be held at the lakefront wedding chapel, we need to go somewhere after for a meal- is there anywhere that we can get some fine dining in a private seting for 10 people? I have never been to south lake tahoe and am a bit worried, any info woud be most welcome!!!

Heather

wedding lake tahoe

Heather, Did you have your wedding at Lake Tahoe at the Lakefront? I am interested in getting married there also and wondered if you would recommend it? Also, do you have any other tips for wedding in Lake Tahoe/Reception?

Meridian Suites Temporary Closure

We have booked the Meridian Suites for November 4th to 8th through Expedia. If anyone has an update on the closure I would really appreciate hearing about it

Meridian Suites Temporary Closure

wy0c0wb0y has mentioned this in his reply (pg4) to wyo miss in a post called I%26#39;m at the Mirage....bit disappointed.

Perhaps you should check it out and see if it helps.

Good luck.

Yara

Meridian Suites Temporary Closure

why not contact meridian suites directly? anything posted here is second-hand at best - is that what you want to rely on? They have a website and contact info.

Thanks for the info. i guess we%26#39;ll have to hope for the best

Why would you want to%26#39;just hope for the best%26#39; when you can call and ask? Makes no sense...

I had a reservation for September. As soon as I read on the hotel%26#39;s review the latest report about it%26#39;s closure, I called the hotel directly.

1) They won%26#39;t likely get their licence back until January 2009.

2) They are calling all their reservations (those for 2008 at least) to inform them that they won%26#39;t be honoring their reservations - but they make the calls in calendar order. So I wasn%26#39;t getting the call yet since I was a few weeks away. I guess if you%26#39;re in November, you would%26#39;ve waited a couple of weeks to get the call.

3)It seems, as some reviewers stated, that they were offered a stay elsewhere at the same rate, but that was a temporary measure for those cancelled on very short notice (it%26#39;s a nice thing for them to care). But for those warned ahead, they won%26#39;t get you a booking elsewhere.

4) The person on the phone processed the refund of my deposit right away and it was, in fact, credited few days later - so no they are not out of funds. In your case, since you booked thru Expedia, you have to contact Expedia for a refund - since you%26#39;ve paid your stay in full with them, the hotel didn%26#39;t get your money yet.

From what I understand, the way Expedia works is that they have a block of rooms in the hotels they book and they manage the guests listings - not the hotel. The hotels receive the name of the guests only some short time before arrival due (I was told 24-48 hrs), until then, the reservation are under ';Expedia'; name.

In your case, calling the hotel would get you the latest as to if they can honor reservations for November, but for cancellation and refund, only Expedia can handle that.

skin care

Phantom Las Vegas: VIP Experience

Has anyone done this? How does it work?

The reason I ask is that I bought tickets for this when I go on my honeymoon and I want it to be a surprise for my (future) wife - she%26#39;s a huge fan!

Does anything happen before the show to give it away that we are doing the VIP experience and how do you get backstage at the end etc?

A full breakdown of how the whole thing works would be appreciated!

Phantom Las Vegas: VIP Experience

I don%26#39;t know if this will help but I found the website last night and was looking up the show online.

http://www.phantomlasvegas.com/

Phantom Las Vegas: VIP Experience

Firstly, congrats on the upcoming wedding!

Secondly, I can help with the VIP Experience as I%26#39;ve done it twice.

The ushers will take your ticket and if they notice it says VIP, they may say something. Usually not though.

However, you will later be greeted at your seat before the show by one of the Phantom company managers or whomever else will be your guide. They will greet you by name and welcome you and inform you where you are to meet them after the show. You will also be given a souvenir program for each person in your party.

After the show you will meet and the right hand side of the theatre. Then your tour will start. How the tour goes depends a bit on whom is your guide. If it%26#39;s Mark, one of the company managers(he also worked on the Broadway version for around a decade), your group will head onstage ahead of the others (there were lots of people doing the VIP last time I was there. They keep people divided into groups of two of three though to keep it personal. I think if you call the Venetian Conciere to explain it%26#39;s your honeymoon they would arrange to have you paired alone.)

If you%26#39;re in Mark%26#39;s group you will be onstage to see some of the charges set for the next show (it%26#39;s safe. Don%26#39;t worry). He%26#39;ll also have you stand centre stage as the curtain goes up so you can have the perspective of the performers. You%26#39;ll also get to have a close up view as the largest set-piece is readied for the next show.

Then he%26#39;ll rush you downstairs to meet Tony while he%26#39;s still in make-up as the Phantom. It%26#39;s a real treat if you%26#39;re a fan/phan of the show. He%26#39;s a great Phantom (best I%26#39;ve seen out of London, Toronto and NY) and is very nice to talk with. Get him talking about the character and you%26#39;ll learn a great depth about his portrayal. He%26#39;ll autograph your program and after the makeup is off, you can have pictures with him. They seem to be guarded about photos while he%26#39;s still in make-up. It%26#39;s a bit different looking than in other productions.

Mark%26#39;s group also gets to head down to the wardrobe room. There are over a million dollars of costumes in there along with original costume sketches so he%26#39;s the only guide with the key.

Regardless of who is your guide...You will have a complete tour of the stage. It%26#39;s amazing all the technical aspects. Some of the work I do is for a theatre and I%26#39;m amazed at the Phantom theatre.

You will tour the Wig Room and learn about the goings on there. You%26#39;ll also tour below the stage to see the mechanical aspects of the tour.

You are also likely to run into different cast members in the hallways. Say hello and don%26#39;t be shy. They are a very gracious cast.

I don%26#39;t know how familiar you are with the show but you will get to check out the Masquerade Staircase and stand on it if you want.

All the guides are VERY knowledgeable and will take the time to answer all your questions. If your guides are ushers, you also get the bonus of hearing all sorts of antidotes of things that go on during the show. Lots of fun.

If you%26#39;re in a group with someone else as a guide, it%26#39;s still a great time. I think I actually had more fun with them and the tour was well over an hour with the two ushers I had as a guide on my second time on tour. The only differene is you probably will only see Tony once his makeup is off and not seeing the Wardrobe room(unless you%26#39;re lucky and someone%26#39;s still working in there while you go by the door).

If you have any more questions, go ahead and ask.

Wow! I%26#39;ve seen it 3 times in Las Vegas and never realized this VIP thing was available. I%26#39;ll have to see it again as a VIP. I love both Phantoms.

Thanks for the details fiddler! I am planning to bring my daughter to Vegas and Phantom for her 21st birthday and wondered about the VIP Experience.

Thanks Fiddler, that was exactly what I was after. A very informative post - I%26#39;m really looking forward to it now. Thanks again!!

service pin for my computer

Las Vegas Strip Hotels with Free Wireless Internet??

I need to access the Internet for a couple of hours while in Vegas. Do any of the Strip Blvd hotel have free wireless Internet for guests?

Las Vegas Strip Hotels with Free Wireless Internet??

Nope. As far as I know, they all charge around $12.99 a day.

Las Vegas Strip Hotels with Free Wireless Internet??

I have yet to find any hotel on the strip with internet access cheaper then 12.99. And make sure you check your bill, some places charge you every time you connect.

What about ';free internet'; at hotels you are staying at? Do any places offer it or do they all charge extra?

sure, it%26#39;s around - usually not in the rooms - in common areas like the food court at V. check www.lasvegasadvisor.com for a list.

If we need access we like to use a secure connection in the room - we don%26#39;t want to use wireless for some transactions.

The only free wireless you%26#39;ll find on the Strip is if you have a broadband card.

And even then, I wouldn%26#39;t expect the best connection if you%26#39;re inside a hotel.

Not much in the line of truly free anything in LV BUT...if your close to PH there are coffee shops near the casino in the miracle mile outlets that offer free internet. The nearest one I believe is out the middle entrance to the mall from the casino and to the left on the right hand side.

Theres also one in Caesar%26#39;s Palace but I have a better chance of hitting a mega millions jackpot than actually remembering the name of the place.

Flamingo has a place as well as Paris %26amp; Caesars. Did you check it out on their website, which is

www.harrahs.com

click on LV then hotel %26amp; internet wireless.

Apropos of very little Just checked in at Planet Hollywood and it is an outrageous 13.99

';it is an outrageous 13.99';

Lots of people complain about charges for things such as this and fitness center use at Vegas hotels without taking into account the totally different parameters that exist in Vegas when compared to hotels elsewhere. Vegas hotels want you in one place and one place only - the casino. That%26#39;s why they%26#39;re happy to give you as many ';free'; drinks as you like whilst you%26#39;re gambling.

They don%26#39;t particularly want you working out or surfing the net in your room so you%26#39;ll pay for the privilege of doing so.

Attire at Capital Grille?

Hi: I know capital grille is upscale and that would normally mandate certain attire, BUT...

I live near Palm Springs and when it is hot there even the upscale places relax the dress expectations. Since Vegas is similarly hot I was wondering how to dress when we are there next weekend (August 4th). Perhaps slacks with a button-up ';camp shirt';?

Thanks for the help!

Mike

Attire at Capital Grille?

No tank tops on men and you%26#39;ll be fine.

Attire at Capital Grille?

What you suggested will be fine to wear. Unless the place specifies jacket and tie, your idea of slacks and camp type shirt will be fine. You%26#39;ll most likely see people dressed better than you and those dressed worse than you. That will be the case every place you go in Vegas. The days of jackets for men and gloves for women are long since gone. Too bad.

We were there on Friday. Most were wearing jeans or slacks with button down shirts. I saw a few with shorts. It was 106 or so that day. Very nice place. We liked it a lot.

You can wear dress shorts with a nice top, I even get away with dress sandals. You will love the place. Go over to Wynn just about across the street and have a few drinks at the Parasol down lounge after dinner.

helicopter ride to grand canyon from Las Vegas

Hello, i have read all the reviews and am now confused.....anyone any thoughts please??

Good experiences??

Bad experiences??

helicopter ride to grand canyon from Las Vegas

Hi we did the grand canyon ranch adventure with heli usa, this takes you to the west rim of the canyon ~ not really the true grand canyon but still amazing ~I could not fault them the service was excellent, we were picked up from hotel at 5.30am taken to airport we then flew to the west rim to a ranch, had breakfast, went horse riding had some time to relax then flew back, then got dropped back at hotel about 1pm. we booked this through a travel agent in the uk but you can book online

I would definately recommend

helicopter ride to grand canyon from Las Vegas

We went with Maverick, landed by the river had a champagne lunch and flew back whilst the sun was going down. It was an unforgettable experience, also had the bonus of flying over the strip at night on the way back.

Most have said to go and stay overnight watch the sun set and rise in the morning which we would certainly do.

It really is breathtaking.

Hi we went on the Heli Usa trip for 3 hours altogether, that is with being picked up at our hotel and dropped back. It was great to see although it was in July and so hot, we were all falling asleep half way through. I think a shorter trip would be brill. Once you have seen the canyon, it can get a bit boring going over it again. Fling back over the strip was great. Recommended !

hello- it has been a while since you posted. Did you go? With what company and how did you like it? Was it worth the cost? Did you always feel safe? Anyone else out there have any comments? Surely others have done this since February. Thanks

Bricecreek - I am planning on going to vegas in november to see Madonna!!

Hello, yes we went the end of May.

The tour operator was Sundance, it felt very safe as the pilot was very proficient, even though there was a wind of 40 miles an hour.

Worth the money, except the champagne lunch was rushed, only half an hour on the ground, and then quickly back to the helicopter.

Our biggest criticism was Mike the pilot, although he was good at flying....very important...he hardly spoke, just played a tape and music all the time..even when we asked questions, he was very brief with his answers and not very friendly.For that reason, I couldn%26#39;t recommend them, although the other pilots seemed friendly.

Hope this helps

wish us luck!

Hi everyone,

Wish us luck our time has come!! We are about to put all your knowledge and advise to the test!!

Excited and yet apprehensive......hope we wont be disappointed!

Best wishes and thanks for all your help

Family Trippers

wish us luck!

Safe journey and happy travels to you all FT7. Have a blast and enjoyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

wish us luck!

You won%26#39;t be disappointed, have a great time!

Thank you.x

Hope you have a FANTASTIC time. Wish we were there!

Have fun and good luck. Let us know how it goes when you you get back!

Have a great time, a safe flight, win big and then write a TR to tell us how you won all that money!

I hope you have a nice trip! Tell us all about it when you get back.

Have a great time!!! Save some money for me beacuase I will be there Wed.

Hi

Safe journey and have fun!!!!!!!!!!

Clive

Vegas alone July 28-31

Hey all! Heading to Vegas tomorrow for work for a couple days.

Just seeing if anyone is around and would want to meet up for drinks sometime! During the day I%26#39;m working, but the nights I should have free, figured I%26#39;d ask here, as sitting in the hotel room all night is rather boring!

Vegas alone July 28-31

No need to sit in your hotel room, LV is filled with single travelers, go and have a drink at the bar and soon you will be talking to people around you.

skin care

software

temperature in July

We are thinking of visiting this exciting city next July with 3 children under 17. what is the temperature in mid July? is it easier to drive from LA or San Fran, what is the difference in distance. What is a great but cheap family hotel - our oldest is 17 next 14 and baby is 12

look forward to hearing!

temperature in July

In the low 100%26#39;s

Cheap family Hotel, Excalibur or Circus Circus

Step up some and look into MGM.

temperature in July

Sorry, San Fran is about 550 miles from LV and LA is about 230 miles from LV

Personally I would never vist Vegas in July it is just too HOT can be over 40º C and it will be especially challenging with children that will be limited in where they can go because they are not 21.

M

I often go to Las Vegas in July. As a matter of fact, I went to Las Vegas, exactly one week ago today and stayed for 2 nights.

Sunday and Monday, it was warm... like in the upper 80%26#39;s. It even rained on Monday. It was rather overcast on both days.

When I checked out at 4am Tuesday morning, it was already H-O-T!! The temperature was expected to climb up to 105F!! Las Vegas is in the desert, so that is the type of heat, one can expect especially in July.

If you have children, you should avoid cheap hotels. They will want to get out and have some fun, but you will need to make sure they are in a large cool resort like MGM Grand, Cesaers, or New York New York. I highly recommend NYNY! It has that Cony(sp) Island atmosphere

I just returned on Wed from a week in Vegas. One day it reached 107!! It was very HOT, but tolerable for me (and I do not like heat, but have figured out it%26#39;s the heat and humidity combo that is hard on me) That day we actually walked from the PH area down to the Luxor and hit everything in between. I do not think that kids that age would tolerate that heat willingly. I saw lots of unhappy children. I would steer clear of Circus Circus as it was an absolute zoo in there. Better for younger children (IMHO). I would think you would be better at Excalibur or NY NY, in that area. MGM has the lion habitat, Excalibur has it%26#39;s show, NYNY has a HUGE arcade and roller coaster and it is all in the same area.

Chances are it is going to be extremely hot. The average high temp- 104 but it has gone up to 116. The nights are somewhat cooler but not by much. It is a dry heat but it will still feel like an oven. I have gone to Vegas during the summer and it is doable. You have to make sure you drink plenty of water and then drink some more-it is easy to get dehydrated without realizing it. Bring sunglasses and a hat and use plenty of suntan lotion. If you find yourself getting too hot while walking on the strip- pop into the nearest casino for a cool drink and a rest. Since you will have kids with you you will not be able to stay in any of the casino areas but most places do have places where you can buy soda or water.

Many of the hotels have cheaper rates during the summer. You will want a hotel that has a nice pool for your children. MGM does have several nice pools. It is a big hotel but many people like it.

I usually go in July (doing August this year though.) In 2006 it got up to 115 when I was visiting!

June

Average high temperature: 100

Average low temperature: 72

Record High: 122

Record Low: 50

Average precipitation: .12

July

Average high temperature: 105

Average low temperature: 80

Record High: 121

Record Low: 61

Average precipitation: .35

August

Average high temperature: 103

Average low temperature: 79

Record High: 116

Record Low: 60

Average precipitation:.49

September

Average high temperature: 99

Average low temperature: 72

Record High: 118

Record Low: 47

Average precipitation: .28

TheDiceMan - some interesting stats Thanks

You know the saying ';If you can%26#39;t take the heat stay out of the kitchen'; that also applies to Vegas and that%26#39;s one of the reasons I%26#39;m going first week of Nov

M

We always visit in July or August (we%26#39;re leaving a week from today!!)

Love the desert heat... but only when by the pool during the day. We spend hours at the pool... shade, lots of sunblock, water - all a necessity. The evenings are warm but beautiful (for us at least). We love the heat/no humidity combo. :)

Where can I buy an airbed in Las Vegas

A bizarre question I know, but where could I buy a camping style air bed in Las Vegas.

Where can I buy an airbed in Las Vegas

If you have a car, any Walmart.

Where can I buy an airbed in Las Vegas

Target and Walmart are both fairly close to the strip. Either one should fit your needs nicely.

Try Bass Pro at the Silverton.

New York -New York VIP Lounge

I frequently stay at New York-New York using a 3 free night room comp based on slot play, but don%26#39;t have a casino host. I always check in at the front counter, but in the ';Invited Casino Guest'; line at the left side. I have always noticed a VIP lounge for ';Invited Casino Guests'; behind the check-in counter on the way to the parking garage and wondered if I could enter. Who qualifies to enter their lounge, and what exactly is inside of the lounge? Thanks!

New York -New York VIP Lounge

If you get an offer it will say includes VIP check in. There really isn%26#39;t much in the lounge not like Bellagios. They have coffee, tea, soda, water, nuts, cookies. No alcohol. They will print out your boarding passes etc. Just a private area for check in or to meet with your host.

If you get free offers you should call up and ask if a host can be assigned to you. My host is fantastic and I%26#39;ve heard that about alot of them. My comps at NY/NY out weigh any where, that is why I am so loyal.

New York -New York VIP Lounge

Hi Beaker.....I have never been to NYNY before, however, I booked my honeymoon there, for this January. We booked it back in February!!! Anyway, when we made the reservation, we booked the PENTHOUSE Suite. In the room description for the Suite, it states ';VIP Lounge-Check In';. To make a LONG story short, apparently, that is where we are supposed to check in.

driving to Grand Canyon from strip??

Hello! I was wondering if anyone has rented a car and driven from the strip to the Grand Canyon...if so, can you please tell me:

a) Where did you rent the car from/how much did you pay for the day?

b) How long is the drive?

c) What is the drive like...scenic, boring?

d) Are there places to stop along the way...restaurants and such?

e) Was it worth it??

driving to Grand Canyon from strip??

It is recommended that a trip to the GC be an overnight trip. It is 4 1/2 to 5 hour drive one way that will depend on traffic (Hoover Dam later in the day can get backed up). Rental car rates are all over the map so best to check a site like Dollar.

Personally we rented a car from Hertz at the Wynn left around 9:30 went to the Hoover Dam did a mini tour and then continued on stopped for lunch and got to the GC around 5:00, stayed overnight at the Best Western.

Is it worth it? If you only are in Vegas a couple of days I would say no, if you have the time there is something about being able to say you saw the GC.

M

driving to Grand Canyon from strip??

LAst time I took 7 in a minvan left Vegas at 7am stopped at Hoover Dam then stopped fro brunch about 10ish. Got to canyon noon spent a few hours in various places got snack lunch and drinks and headed back. Had dinner at the Hacienda near hoover dam fanatatsic $3.49 fir the dinner buffet and it was on a par with MGM even had carving station. Its a long tiring but lovely day.

Only two towns of any size on the way.

Kingman and Williams, at the turnoff to the GC.

Pretty boring desert after you leave the dam area.

It is a VERY long day trip, you want to do this as an overnight. And it is tough to get a room in the GC itself. Most of the time you end up in Tusayan (gateway town) or back at Williams.

A couple little rt.66 towns on I40, but not much else.

Oh, and Grand Canyon Caverns are a dry cave about 25 miles off the freeway. Good for kids

THANK YOU so much to everyone for replying to my post! You have all given me very useful information!!! Thank you!

Whether it is worth it depends on what you like. If natural wonders appeal to you, then definitely it is worth your time. Pictures show how beautiful it is, but can%26#39;t convey the sense of awe one feels when at the canyon.

Along the way is the Route 66 town of Seligman which is a fun stop. The Snow Cap Drive In is a funky blast from the past. www.theroadwanderer.net/RT66seligman.htm

A visit to the South Rim is best done as an overnight trip. Try to stay in the park http://www.grandcanyonlodges.com/ or at nearby Tusayan.

Be sure you go to Grand Canyon National Park. An area know as Grand Canyon West is heavily advertised in Las Vegas. It is not in the national park, doesn%26#39;t have the awesome scenery of the park and is expensive to visit. Many TA reviews of it are negative.

We left in the morning drove to Kingman (went shopping for Harley mother road t shirts) and then took the Route 66 (just had to say we had been on it).

We had lunch at the Roadside Kill cafe at Seligman and then ice cream at the Snowcap (both famous route 66 places). This is the longer route and we did not hurry, stopped anywhere we fancied.

We arrived at the canyon in the afternoon, we had booked a hotel on the canyon rim through xanterra website (this is the official GC lodging site) a long time in advance as we wanted to stay in the national park.

It was incredible to see the sunrise and sunset and if you have enough time in your holiday it is worth it. They had to drag me away.

We did not do Route 66 on the return and we were back in Vegas in about 4 and half hours. Only stopped once for a burger.

Couldn%26#39;t tell you the cost of the car because we rent from UK for the entire.

Did I think I think it was worth it? Hell yes!!

Would I do it again? Yes (although if I could afford it maybe take a plane lol.)

Have a lovely holiday.

Yara

I read this forum a lot but rarely post, but wanted to tell my Grand Canyon story.

In summer 2006, my sis %26amp; I went to Vegas (both late-20s at the time). We had planned 3 nights, but I convinced her to stay an extra night in Vegas, with the perk being that we could go to the GC for one night. I put her in charge of the GC portion of the trip.

She wanted to do the mule ride, so we booked the 1/2 day mule ride at the North Rim. She didn%26#39;t book us at the GC Lodge b/c they don%26#39;t have AC. The people at the mule tour told her the best place to stay was Kanab, UT.

So we left Treasure Island one morning (picked up rental car there--PITA but I will leave out those details). We got stuck with a gold PT Cruiser. After going to the outlet mall, we finally got on the highway, heading towards UT. Stopped in the last town before we left NV for a little gambling. It was a boring drive for the most part, till we got to Bryce Canyon National Park. Had to pay $20 just to drive through. No real other choice, so we did it. It was very pretty. I saw some busses and I would have been SCARED had I been on one of them.

Got to Kanab to check into the hotel (Hampton, Holiday Inn Express, or something of that nature). Realized that we were 80 miles from the GC! Our room was in the basement, and there were no others available. Was a little worried (safety). Freaked out about the 80 mile drive but decided to stay put and get up super early to make it to the mule tour. Had to be there by 7 am I believe.

Ate dinner at the world%26#39;s slowest (and probably worst) Wendy%26#39;s. This was after we tried one local place (can%26#39;t remember the problem) and a Pizza Hut, at which we walked in and no one was in there. No one. No workers, no customers. Weird.

So we get up at the crack of dawn (4:30 or so) to leave by 5 and be at GC by 6:30 and not miss the tour. After being followed to our car by some FREAK at the hotel, and being scared out of our minds, we got on the road. A few minutes into the drive, we realize that we don%26#39;t really know what time it is. We were in Utah, but AZ (where we were going) doesn%26#39;t use daylight savings time. So does that make them one hour ahead or one hour behind? We were confused and called the GC Lodge. Instead of it being 5:30 AM, it was 4:30. Nothing really else to do, so we kept going. This was a really boring drive. It was dark. I hit a rabbit. :( And I was ticked off because I could have had another hour of sleep!

We finally make it to the North Rim, expecting the gate to be closed. Instead, it%26#39;s open, with no one working it. Woo-hoo--we saved the $20 national park entrance fee.

After all of that, we got to the GC in time for sunrise. It was so beautiful that it made all of the other stuff worth it. We were there before the restaurant even opened. We sat out on the deck just taking it all in. Then we got a great table (view) at the restaurant, went on our mule ride, and overall had a great time. (It was 50 degrees when we got there, explaining why there is no AC at the GC lodge).

Would I do it again? YES. I encourage everybody to do it. I was scared on the mule, but once I got used to it, I loved it. It helped that our guide was from NC and a cute young cowboy. (we are from NC also--nice to meet somebody from home). If I go again, I will plan a couple of days, stay at the GC Lodge, and maybe even do the whole day mule ride.

At the end of the day, we went back to Vegas for one last night before we headed back to NC. So it was also worth it that I got another night in Vegas. :)

lol haley. Perhaps the mule ride people have a side business in Kanab so they try to steer people there. Not the place to stay for GC North as you learned. Glad the trip turned out well in the end.

LOL!! That story was too funny, thanks for sharing that with all of us! I too am glad it worked out in the end and you enjoyed yourself!

So it seems the consensus is the trip to the south rim is definitely the way to go and well worth it, but it should be an overnight thing as it is pretty far away. THanks for all your assistance Tripadvisor members!

You are welcome. Use www.kayak.com to search for cars. Post followup questions about Grand Canyon in the Arizona%26gt;Grand Canyon National Park forum.

Beauty Treatments??????

Can anyone suggest a place on the strip, preferrably reasonably priced, that offers treatments such as spray tans and waxes?? Many thanks :)

Beauty Treatments??????

Sunset Tan is now located within Palms Place. On same level with the Spa.

Not sure of the pricing. Since it%26#39;s all brand new I have to assume they will be priced accordingly.

change my eyebrow shape

Best way to get a picture of ';The Sign';

I want to get a picture taken of my wife and I in front of the sign south of Mandalay Bay. Would I have any luck talking a cab or limo driver from the Airport into stopping and taking it? I understand there technically isn%26#39;t any parking there, but I have heard stories and didn%26#39;t know if it was common or rare?

Thanks for any advice.

Best way to get a picture of ';The Sign';

There are always people there taking pictures. Just ask them. You can try having your driver take it, they most likely would.

Best way to get a picture of ';The Sign';

There is a little parking spot on the east side of the strip in a tour strip mall area. Have the driver take you there and wait while you take your pics. Of course the meter will continue to run. good luck

If you pay for them to take you there, then they%26#39;ll take you there! We had a car, so drove there ourselves and parked at the disused tour company parking lot, but while were there, a limo turned up with a group of people. The Limo driver took their photo, and seeing we had no way of taking a photo of the two of us, happily offered to take one of the two of us after taking the photo of the group he was driving. People seem to stop right in front of the sign on the median, especially limos. We even saw one limo actually park up on the grass right in front of the sign!

There is almost always someone there who will be more than happy to take your picture. After all- they are there for the same reason! The last time I passed by there there were at least 3 or 4 cars parked right on the meridian.

skin care

Helicopter trip to Grand Canyon

We are due to fly to Las Vegas in three weeks. The travel agent has just rung and said our helicopter trip and overnight stay at a ranch has been cancelled. As you can expect we are mortified as to what to do. Can any of you kind folks recommend a good trip to the Grand Canyon that we can book in advance?

Many Thanks

Helicopter trip to Grand Canyon

http://www.viator.com/Las-Vegas/d684-ttd

http://www.papillon.com/

Try both of these sites. I booked with Viator and did the All American Helicopter Tour and thought it was great. However we didn%26#39;t stay over night, we only took the helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon, stopped for some lunch and then back to Vegas. I%26#39;ve heard a lot of great reviews about Papillon so perhaps give them a try?

Helicopter trip to Grand Canyon

Thanks so much for your help. So disappointed with the travel agent only giving us three weeks notice to re-arrange the trip. Lets hope there is still availabilty for the dates we have.

check out this thread …tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g45963-i10-k21429…

Short trip report 7/20-7/24 Venetian

Here%26#39;s a short trip report on our second ever trip to LV. We decided to stay at the Venetian this time, last year we stayed at the Bellagio. We liked the Venetian better.

We arrived on a Sunday and the lines were huge. They sent us up to check in at the Venezia level since the line was so long. They offered us an upgrade to the concierge level of the Venezia for a price. I wasn%26#39;t going to do it but I could tell from the look on my wife%26#39;s face she wanted to so we did it. The concierge level includes continental breakfast, a drink hour, and snacks. It was nice and we took advantage of it. The room was great, no complaints.

We didn%26#39;t do much on this trip we met some family that was staying downtown and hung out alot. Some of the things we did this time that we didn%26#39;t do last time.

Wynn - $10 slot play. We both got cards and hit the slots for our free $10 play. I actually got a good Goldfish machine and won some money. Then I hit the 250 points and got to spin the wheel and got $15 in slot credit. Played Lobstermania and won $50!

Signed up for a Bill%26#39;s Gambling Hall card. They have a promotion twice a day where if you play the slots when they announce it everyone gets $10 in comps. We got our cards around 9:30 pm and they said they still had one announcement for that day. So we both got $10 in comps and used it for breakfast in their diner the next day. You also get a coupon for a $5 match in poker or 1 for 1 roullete play when you sign up for the card. Wife puts $5 on red and I put $5 on evens. She wins and immediately cashes out and is happy, as you can see we are not big gamblers.

We had a nice dinner at Pinot Brasserie in the Venetian. It was OK, kind of expensive for what we got. I would not recommend it and suggest somewhere else. It wasn%26#39;t bad, but for the money I think there is probably something better.

Checked out the Imperial Palace car display. I love looking at old cars and it was a great free time killer. We went up there with a two for one coupon but were told if we signed up for the players club downstairs we would both get free passes. So we head back down and sign up but don%26#39;t get passes. I ask and they give them to us, no problem.

When downtown I say a guy win $500 on the Wheel of Fortune $5 slot. He put in $10 won $20 then won a spin and $500. Lucky guy I was even thinking of trying it earlier but didn%26#39;t want to try the big spender $5 slot! Also saw a guy try to steal an old lady%26#39;s purse. He ran right past me and a few seconds later the lady came out of the bathroom yelling. If she was a little quicker I would have realized what happened and could have tried to check the guy and lay him out!

It was a fun trip and kind of relaxing because we had no schedule and just went with the flow. We did have Wayne Brady tickets but it was canceled because he was sick. We didn%26#39;t see any other shows in it%26#39;s place.

I like the Venetian and would recommend it. The staff was always helpful and nice and we had no problems with our room.

Short trip report 7/20-7/24 Venetian

We also stayed at Bellagio and Venetian the past 2 times we were there, my wife and I preferred the Bellagio but both were great.

How were the crowds during your stay?

Short trip report 7/20-7/24 Venetian

I stayed at the Venezia and the concierge was awesome!! I have to say that was some of the best service I had ever had in Las Vegas. Thanks for sharing.

We loved the concierge level and the service was outstanding. Sunday and Monday seemed really crowded around Vegas. We didn%26#39;t notice a drop in people from last year. Later in the week it was a little less crowded.

The Venetian had two big conferences going on Subway and Polaris dealers. We did see the Subway guy Jared walking around. The one place where we noticed it was slower was Pinot Brasserie the place was really empty. I think some of the expensive restaurants are probably feeling the pinch.

Bars in Restaurants - Drinking etiquette

Hi all, whats the etiquette with regard to having a drink, can anybody just go to a restaurant bar or should you be waiting for a table.

Just wondering as some places seemed to have a good bar scene going on but was unsure as wether these people were waiting for tables to eat

Bars in Restaurants - Drinking etiquette

Cheers, If we get stopped I%26#39;ll just say we are coming in for a drink and Tffany said it is OK

Bars in Restaurants - Drinking etiquette

bumped this question- does this apply to Mix @ Mandalay Bay, really want to go for the view but reading reviews on here the food is hit %26amp; miss considering its $$$$

The lounge at Mix is virtually a seperate enitity from the restaurant. Lots of people (myself included) go there for drinks with no intention of dining at the restaurant, which incidentally is very good in my opinion.

Mix is actually at THEhotel as opposed to Mandalay Bay itself.

Blagger is on the money. The bar portion of MIX is quite separate and there is no need to eat, though they do have a menu. I believe it is mostly appetizer-type offerings. The view is spectacular. If you are lucky, snag a seat out on the balcony. It was closed for a non-existent private party when we were there last.

u2tuf

Hi U2tuf, I believe tomorrow you leave for Las Vegas and I just wanted to say ';Have a safe and wonderful trip';. Maybe we will run into each other at the MGM.

Liz

I want to make a quilt

My 21st birthday in Vegas

Hi, I am turning 21 in October and plan to take a 4 day long weekend trip to celebrate. I%26#39;ve been to Vegas several times when I was younger, but I have never experienced any of the clubs, bars, or gambling because of my age. I%26#39;m going with my boyfriend who is 30 yrs old, and possibly a friend or two. I don%26#39;t like college frat type atmospheres. Where is the best place to stay? What are the best clubs? I love great music (club, rock, pop) and I love to dance. How can I avoid long lines to get into clubs- I definitley don%26#39;t want to spend my time doing that. Friends have said we should saty at Mandalay bay- I believe at the Hotel. Any advice and/or suggestions would be great.

My 21st birthday in Vegas

I can%26#39;t think of too many hotels in Vegas that would have a ';college frat'; atmosphere, except perhaps Hard Rock.

You don%26#39;t give us any idea of what you can afford as far as hotel rates, so it%26#39;s difficult to advise you. As far as clubs go, on a weekend you are likely to have to wait in line unless you a) go with only females, or b) are willing to pay extra to get in the door.

Seeing the Strip-Deuce or Monorail?

Hello TA

First trip to LA July 31...woo hoo!

My iteniary for the first day would be to see

Luxor, NYNY, MGM, PH, Paris, Bellagio, then later in the evening to the Wynn to see Le Reve.

Would you recommend using the Deuce or Monorail to get around? Or would you have any suggestions.

Thanks for your advice.

Seeing the Strip-Deuce or Monorail?

Difficult to answer. I have used and appreciated the Monorail since it first started. The reason I enjoy the Monorail is that I can purchase an all-day pass and ride from the Sahara all the way to MGM Grand. The Monorail%26#39;s route is on the east side of the Strip, behind the hotels. Its a smooth continuous ride in a well designed system. At each stop, there are several hotels, so its quite convenient.

During my last couple of visits, I have taken the Deuce buses. I use that to go from the Sahara to Palace Station or to a destination between the Monorail stops. Its nice for sight-seeing on the Strip.

For your itinerary, it seems as if the Monorail with an all-day pass may be best. There is also a free rail ';trolley'; that goes from Luxor to Mandalay.

Seeing the Strip-Deuce or Monorail?

The deuce is cheaper but it takes forever to get anywhere with all the stops and the traffic. I bought a all day pass for the monorail for 9 dollars and its good for 24 hours. the monorail is also very fast, I think i went from MGM to Sahara in 15 minutes or less. Id go for the monorail all the way.

I personally don%26#39;t like the monorail because the stations are all the way in back of the hotels. You have to walk forever and we%26#39;ve gotten lost in MGM tring to find it.

The bus has it%26#39;s drawbacks too, but I would rather be picked up at the front door.

We rent a car.

I personally don%26#39;t like the monorail because the stations are all the way in back of the hotels. You have to walk forever and we%26#39;ve gotten lost in MGM tring to find it.

The bus has it%26#39;s drawbacks too, but I would rather be picked up at the front door.

We rent a car.

We really like the monorail. It is fast, cool and efficient. You do have to walk from the back of the hotels to the strip, but has never seemed to ';take forever'; for us. The monorail is easily located at the MGM, if you just follow the signs. It%26#39;s a good value, too.

Sometimes though, it just makes more sense to take a cab, depending on where you are going. When you get to Vegas you will be able to decide which is the best mode of transportation for you.

Since your post is titled ';seeing the strip';, I would say the Deuce would be better for that. The monorail is in the back so you don%26#39;t see as much as from the strip itself.

I personally like to walk as much as I can and then take the Deuce when I need to go farther or get tired. But, since the Deuce can be slow like everyone says, take a cab when you REALLY need to be somewhere.

The Deuce can be be very slow and crowded. But it is cheap.

I am not a great fan of the monorail. The stations are far from the strip and getting to them and getting back to the strip can be a hike. I used it when it just connected Bally%26#39;s and MGM (for free) and I thought it was an utter waste of time. I walked back even though it was summer. To me it only makes sense to use the monorail if you are going from a hotel on the south part of the strip(MGM, Bally%26#39;s ) to convention center, Hilton or Sahara.

Depending on where you are staying, you can certainly walk to many of the hotels. Luxor/NYNY/MGM are within easy walking distances of each other as are PH/Paris/Bellagio. Getting from the Bellagio to MGM is about a 20 minute walk. I do it all the time.

The Wynn has a free shuttle that runs from somewhere near the convention center monorail station from 8AM to 8PM. It runs every 20/30 minutes depending on traffic.

If you really want to be somewhere at a specific time- show, restaurant with a reservation- I would just take a cab if you are staying on the strip.

Monorail every time ok you dont see the Strip as such but its quick and not as crowded

Since your post Says.. Seeing the strip

Monorail no

Deuce slow, hot, to many people.

Rent a Limo for one hour about $65 plus tip or take a strip sightseeing tour for $24

lasvegas-sightseeing.com/products.cfm/…1147

Monorail is useless for ';seeing the Strip'; as it is at least a block off it- unless you want to see the back sides of of the hotels. Deuce is a much better idea and the one criticism of the Deuce - that it is too slow- does make it a great way to see the Strip as it inches down- lots of time to look around. However, it is a much better idea if you can get a seat in the front rows of the upper deck of the Deuce. That is best accompished by catching it either at the Downtown Transportation Center , where it first loads ,or standing by Neonopolis on Fremont St. and letting a few filled Deuces pass by and catching the first empty one that stops there. The view from the upper deck front seats is worth the wait in my opinion.

skin care

Diff. between Flamingo Hilton and Vacation Club at Flamingo

I have been inside the Flamingo Hilton, but now there seems to be a Vacation Club (timeshare) at the same location. Is it the same place or do they have separate bookings? If they%26#39;re separate and you%26#39;ve stayed at them, how do they compare?

Diff. between Flamingo Hilton and Vacation Club at Flamingo

';Flamingo Hilton'; no longer exists under that name. The Flamingo is now owned by Harrah%26#39;s and has nothing to do with Hilton.

The HGVC property uses the Flamingo name to distinguish it from other Hilton locations in LV.

Diff. between Flamingo Hilton and Vacation Club at Flamingo

blagger is correct, The Flamingo timeshare is behind the Flamingo, but you can use the Flamingo pool %26amp; their hotel amenities, It is 2 separate things.

thanks...if anyone else has been to both to compare, please let me know your thoughts on each because as I understand it, even though one doesn%26#39;t have a timeshare, one can stay at the VC.

planning

Do most of you just plane your trip to vegas, or do you wait until you get there ang go with the flow. This is my second trip to vegas, but my first trip by myself. I am leaving Wed. and only have my room and flight planned out...So am I alone....

planning

first, it doesn%26#39;t matter what anyone else does. Make the trip yours.

Some plan every minute, some none, some in-between. Do whatever works for you.

we plan anything that needs a specific time, such as shows, tee times, meetings, dinner reservations (usually day of or a day ahead of time if for a restaurant at our hotel, let the host make them).

If you%26#39;re not seeing any shows or dining someplace that needs reservations there%26#39;s not much to plan - unless you want to.

planning

I try not to plan too much in advance so that I%26#39;m open to change plans at any time. Sometimes it can hurt you if you can%26#39;t get into a show or restaurant, but since you%26#39;re travelling alone it shouldn%26#39;t be a problem.

Have fun and just do whatever you want whenever you want!

I agree with Mail girl.

Enjoy your time on your own in Vegas!

At first, I set out to plan our trip like crazy. But then, about a week before, we decided to punt a bunch of our plans and just go with the flow.

I%26#39;m glad we did - we had a bunch of restaurant reservations that we ended up canceling or changing because we were having fun elsewhere (or luck at the tables), so it would have been better if we hadn%26#39;t made any ressies at all.

Plus, we decided last-minute to see a Cirque show (Mystere) and lucked into front-row seats. It was a total blast!

For our November trip, the only thing we have planned is hardcore gambling. That%26#39;s it. :)

I think a lot of people have a list of things they would like to do, only to visit town and end up with a bigger list of things than they had to begin with for the next trip! I suggest having a list, but not expecting to do everything on the list

I have a list of places to see, things to do, etc., but I plan each day as it comes depending on what we feel like doing. I will take under consideration the most effective use of our time and plan activities each day based the location and what%26#39;s in the area, but I make sure not to stress out with scheduling things too tight. My number one priority is to ';relax'; and de-stress from everyday life =D

I try to make an restaurant reservation(if needed) or buy show tickets in advance. I might have 1 or 2 things I definitely want to do but that is it. I play it by ear once I get to Vegas.

Slightly odd question

We%26#39;ll be staying st the Paris for 14 nights and when reading a review I came across something that had me slightly worried. We will be out most days but sometime we just like to come in early, get a little room service and watch some American T.V. In the review I read the woman mentioned that there is little to no TV reception and only 2 or 3 channels. Does anyone know if this is correct? Last time we were in Vegas was the 2006 NBA playoffs and DH (English) fell in love with the game and liked to watch it in the room as opposed to in the bar. So I was wondering if anyone knew anything about this.

Slightly odd question

Relax there are more then 2 or 3 channels, this is America not a third world country, People live year round in LV and have as many amenities if not more then most major American cities.

Slightly odd question

I see my original post made me sound like an idiot :) I know there are plenty of channels to choose from in the States my point was in her review she specifically stated that there was only Fox plus 2 other channels with the rest being Casino advertising channels her thinking was that they wanted you in the casino rather than in your room. I also just saw a view which said the reception was awful and they only got casino channels and Asian speaking channels. I don%26#39;t plan to live in the room but would like to have an early night occasionally and veg in front of the tube.

When are you going? NBA season doesn%26#39;t start until Halloween. That%26#39;s the only thing you need to be worried about. :)

There are plenty of channels to watch plus casino channels plus pay per view channels. You have a good variety to watch free and the reception has always been great, the person you talk about probably had a problem with the TV or something.

People worry about the strangest things. You%26#39;re coming to Las Vegas via Hawaii and you get your shorts in a knot about TV? Calm down, you%26#39;ll get the regular network programming.

The only time I turn the damn thing on is in the morning for local news and weather forecasts while I brush my teeth and try to focus my eyes.

I%26#39;m guessing that folks can%26#39;t figure out the remote control thing-a-ma-bob. Give it a good wack and it%26#39;ll work.

When reading reviews, it is helpful to recall that sometimes people have a tendency to exaggerate in order to emphasize their point. Many Americans are spoiled by extensive cable and satellite packages with hundreds of channels in their homes, so when their Vegas hotel only has the ';basic cable'; options - 4 main networks, weather, news - they tend to get cranky. The playoffs of major sporting events are usually televised on channels you%26#39;d be able to get in your room.

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