Las Vegas

[Kristibell]

I'm guessing Vegas doesn't really have an "off-season", but If DH and I want to take a budget vacation, is there a best time to go? I know during the week is generally cheaper than weekends, but are their any months that are less expensive than others?

[Brandles]

We went in April--on the 20th. It was warm there--but not hot. It was a dry 80 degrees. I'd hate to go in the summer when it's so hot.

Definitely go during the week! I meandered the strip while DH was in conferences and the only day we had together was Saturday and it was SO PACKED!! The sidewalks were crowded! The M&M World and Everything Coke had people packed in like sardines! I liked Wednesday, Thursday and Friday better.

Have fun! :)

[richgal]

Not really. It seems to have a lot more to do with specific events that are going on in Vegas. There are soooo many HUGE conferences that take place in Vegas, that you need to plan your trip around those (and I'm not particularly informed about when they all are, except that I know there's huge one the 3rd week of November which always prevents me from celebrating my b-day in Vegas...) Hubby went during March Madness for a bachelor party and said it was a zoo (he also had to pay through the roof for a standard room at Paris, even though he booked months in advance).

We're actually going to Vegas next weekend, so we'll see how it is. We got a decent rate at the Venetian and only booked a week and a half in advance. I think there are quite a few weeks in the summer when you can find reasonable hotel rates, because I think the heat turns off a lot of people. My coworker has gone 3 times for Christmas (arriving the 25th, leaving the 28th before the new year's crowd) and got exceptional hotel rates. Prices also vary WIDELY depending on where you stay. (One of the cheapest big hotels on the strip is Excalibur which can be 1/2 the price of the next cheapest hotel, but I've heard it's getting pretty old and run-down.)

A lot of hotels have online calendars where you can see the various nightly prices. You can scroll through the months until you find a "cheap" week, then check out other hotels for the same dates to compare. (Try www.mandalaybay.com and pick an arbitrary date for reservations, and their price calendar pops up.)

Hope that helps!

[gayle]

You can find all kinds of great Vegas deals on
www.cheapovegas.com

another great resource is
www.travel2vegas.com


I am Vegas crazy!

[jeneca128]

I live in Vegas....we really do not have an off season when things are cheaper...but what everyone else says is correct....go during the week. Fri&Sat night hotel rates are usually almost double the weekday rate.

Also...consider staying at a hotel that is not ON the strip. I'd recommend the Orleans. It's close to the strip and has shuttles that'll take you to the Barbary Coast (which is on the strip) and you can walk from there.

[Brandles]

We stayed at the Hilton (got a good deal with DH's conference) and we used the monorail A LOT! We each bought 3 day passes and got good use out of both of them.

[Tandis]

The year before I was married - so 2002 - my parents and I did a two week tour of the West, which included a three day stop in LV. It was June, probably during the week, and we paid $34 a night at the Luxor, staying in the pyramid itself. LV might not have an off season, but I don't think many people want to visit in the summer, and therefore it might be slightly cheaper than in the cooler months.

We also didn't have any problems getting into the shows, or the restaurants.

HTH! :)

[udsweetpea]

My friend and I just went to Vegas in April. We booked a package through Orbitz for our plane tickets and hotel. We flew Continental and stayed at Caesars Palace for $671/person. I think we got an excellent deal. I'd check out Orbitz and see what kind of deals you can find!

[amew]

I am in charge of making a restaurant reservation in Vegas for a group of 11. I need some place that would be fun for a group, somewhat hip and trendy, and not too ridiculously expensive. Everyone going is in their late 20s/early 30s -- there will be three women and eight men. We will be staying on the strip, so I assume it would be best to stick around there for dinner.

Does anyone have suggestions?

[gayle]

Samba Brazilian Steakhouse at Mirage is a fun place, and quite unique.
http://www.mirage.com/pages/frameset_noflash.asp

A similar place would be Rumjungle at Mandalay bay.

Mon Ami Gabi at Paris is really neat, and if you sit outside you have the best view of Bellagio Fountains.

9 fine Irismen at New York New York is neat, as is Rainforest Cafe at MGM.

Cheeseburger at the Oasis in Desert Passage is a fun place, and not too pricey.

Cheesecake Factory in the Forum Shops at Caesras is dependably good, and reasonable.

Can you tell I REALLY like Vegas?

[lml41981]

I have no idea how much it is because dinner for 2 was included in our wedding package, but Shanghai Lily at Mandalay Bay was awesome. The Mongolian beef was out of this world.

[Alicia]

Also at Mandaly: Border Grill (mexican)

[bookworm]

I'll second Mon Ami Gabi at Paris. We had such a nice experience there. The food was good (not the best ever but very tasty), there were fun drinks and champagne by the glass, the service was lovely, and the atmosphere was fun.

It was too hot for us to sit outside, but Gayle's right about the fountains being just over the road :).

[amew]

Thanks for the suggestions! Mon Ami Gabi was on my list -- I've been to the Chicago location before. I am adding Samba Brazilian Steakhouse, Rumjungle, and Shanghai Lilly as well. I am trying to avoid some of the larger chains since we can get that here. Mexican is always a favorite, but everyone is from Texas, and Texans can be strangely particular about their Mexican food. :)

Has anyone been to Royal Star in the Venetian, Hyakumi in Caesars, or Fix in the Bellagio?

[jenn0911]

My in-law's live in Vegas so I have been to a few restarants. My favorites are:
Samba Steakhouse, Cheesecake Factory and Rumjungle.

[SarahKatG]

Two places I'd recommend checking out are Pink Taco in the Hard Rock Hotel (very hip and trendy, but it is Mexican food so that may not be what you want) and the Mix which is at the top of The Hotel at Mandalay Bay (The Hotel is a new extension of Mandalay). It's at the very top and has amazing strip views. I haven't eaten there, just been there for drinks, but some friends have had dinner there and they had a good time. It's got a club/lounge vibe that might be fun.

[udsweetpea]

My pick would be Margaritaville right across from Caesars.

[amew]

Thanks for all the suggestions. We went to Mon Ami Gabi and had a very good time. SarahKatG, we tried to get into Fix, but they are booked solid. We had a drink there, though -- it is very fun. We also went to Cafe BaBaReeba for lunch. It's good tapas place (imported from Chicago) and worth trying if anyone else is on the lookout for Vegas restaurants.

[littlebear]

Fix is just OK, IMO.

Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill just opened last year at Caesar's. We also love Shintaro in the Bellagio. It's kinda pricey, but it's really fun with a group because you can get one of the big tepanyaki tables and watch the chef cook your meal right at the table.

[allison]

If you're Club Corp members, and depending on what typ of membership you have, there's the Foundation Room at the top of Mandalay Bay. DH and I love it there, the food is great and the bar is wonderful with an amazing view of the strip!

[euphorhea]

Thanks for all the suggestions. We went to Mon Ami Gabi and had a very good time. SarahKatG, we tried to get into Fix, but they are booked solid. We had a drink there, though -- it is very fun. We also went to Cafe BaBaReeba for lunch. It's good tapas place (imported from Chicago) and worth trying if anyone else is on the lookout for Vegas restaurants.

I second Mon Ami Gabi as well. :)

[Blondeinabmw]

Another vote for Mon Ami Gabi.

I also liked Canale at the Venetian. Sit upstairs if you can. It's much quieter.

[justHB]

We just booked a weekend in Vegas at the Paris Hotel. Airfare for 2 and the room for the weekend totaled $673 through Southwest Airlines.

[wendalah]

Consider staying downtown; it's not that far from the strip (you can cab for pretty cheap), it's lots of fun in and of itself, and it's MUCH cheaper.

[DelSol]

I would have to say summer time is the cheapest time because it is so hot there, I also just read this. I stayed in Las Vegas in March at the Excalibur and paid roughly $70/night and weekend was more, now the same room is $50/night.

[laura]

I don't like staying off the strip, but I think that's a personal preference. If I were you, and you are truly flexible, I would just keep scouring deals until you find one that works for you. I would say summer is sometimes cheaper, but it is really, really hot, and you may be able to get a comparable deal another time if you watch diligently.

We stayed in September (2003) at the Mandalay Bay for $199/night and I haven't seen a cheaper rate since. This was a bonus b/c we got randomly upgraded to the Club Level, so that was nice. (We were there for a wedding that my husband was in that was at the Mandalay Bay, so we didn't get a choice of hotel.)

I went for a girls weekend in April of this year and we got a pretty good deal at the Monte Carlo; nothing special about the hotel, but it was centrally located, so that was nice. I think we paid ~$165/night (on the weekend), but I don't recall exactly. I do remember that the rest of the hotels were outlandish for that weekend, and pretty much every other weekend in April and May. I will note that prices were cheaper but we putzed around about booking and everything got expensive in a hurry.

Excalibur and Circus Circus are usually pretty cheap, but be aware - LOTS of kids! I've found Luxor to be pretty good with deals, too, but I personally prefer a more central strip location.

Since you're in my area, I will say I got a pretty cheap flight on America West out of SF. There are also good deals on Southwest out of Oakland or San Jose, and American has "reduced mileage" frequent flyer deals to Vegas from here if you have any miles.

[lcarlson90]

My DH and I are going on our first trip since our DS (7 months) was born. We will be in LV for 2 nights. We already know we will be going to the Paris hotel buffet for brunch. I need recommendations for great places for dinner. I would also like some recommendations for nice bars to go to.
TIA

[wendalah]

I was just in Vegas for Labor Day weekend...we had a really nice dinner at Shibuya in the MGM Grand...if you like sushi, it's really good.

I also had good sushi at Little Buddha at the Palms.

[lml41981]

Shanghai Lily in Mandalay Bay is great.

[kd 9.21.02]

Basically anything at Bellagio is good. I've been to most of the places there and loved all of them.

[BethIrish]

If you are heading down to the Fremont St. area at all, Hugo's Cellar at the 4 Queens Hotel is an amazing experience. DH and I had a wonderful (and very romantic) dinner there last year :D

[craftyT]

Drai's is very nice... & romantic ;)

They serve dinner in the evening then it turns into a great after hours club (is that an oxymoron for Vegas?) around 2am. Drai's is in the Barbary Coast.

edited for spelling :o

[bookworm]

I liked Mon Ami Gabi very much. Not best-meal-ever material, but very good value (price v. food/ambiance/service).

For a fun cocktail place, try the lower ground floor of the Venetian. I can't remember the name, but it has walls with water running over them. And the lights change color. Anyway, it was different, and they made excellent cocktails.

[KaliLily]

Basically anything at Bellagio is good. I've been to most of the places there and loved all of them.

Especially the buffet! It's amazing!

[ambam]

We just got back from Vegas. We ate dinner at Gallagher's in the New York New York. It was very expensive but excellent. DH and I have never spent that much on a dinner before. It was worth it. If you go, make sure to make reservations.

I also heard that the Rio has an excellent Seafood buffet.

eta-Gallagher's specialty is steak.

[scubasam]

DH & I love the Samba Grill at the Mirage. So yummy! Rum Jungle at Mandalay is also good. For dessert, the ice cream/espresso place at the Bellagio has the *best* ice cream I've ever had. The buffet at Bellagio is also very good. There is also a Greek place that is on Paradise Road (not in one of the hotels...Paradise Road parallels the Strip) that is fabulous but I can't remember the name of it.

[justHB]

We just got back from Vegas and went to the seafood buffet at the Rio. While it was fun, it was not what I'd describe as being very nice.

Bellagio and Wynn have a lot of really nice restaurants.

[Jazz]

I liked Mon Ami Gabi very much. Not best-meal-ever material, but very good value (price v. food/ambiance/service).

Totally agree -- if you go for dinner and sit outside, you're right across from the Bellagio and get to see lots of the water shows. Fun!

For a splurge, the Eiffel Tower restaurant is supposed to be fabulous (especially the dessert souffles).

[janders6]

I'll second the recommendations for Hugo's Cellar and Drai's. Also, Onda in the Mirage is excellent, as are Circo and Olives in the Bellagio.

[maple]

Emeril's Fish House in the MGM

[lcarlson90]

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I probably should have stated in the original post that we don't eat seafood and my DH is not a fan of Asian cuisine. Has anyone been to Bouchon in the Venetian?

[Maggie8202]

I copied this from my journal from our last visit to Vegas in August:

Delmonico Steak House located in the Venetian.

This was our third time eating here, and it was fantastic.
We ordered:
a couple of bottles of wine,
an antipasta for an appetizer
an order of fried mozzarella for an appetizer
The girls ordered the filet's and the guys got the Bone in Rib Steak
We also ot an order of creamed spinach, potato chips and mashed potatoes for the table.
Service was perfect.
It was all fabulous, except for the bill of close to $500


Lawry's

We really enjoyed our prime rib dinners. This was our second time here, and we will be going back each time we go to Las Vegas. I can not say enough good things about this place. I love the ambiance, and the wait staff. The creamed corn, spinned salad and yorkshire pudding that come with the meals are out of this world. The bill wasn't that bad at $250 for 4.

Il Milino New York at Caesars Palace Forum Shops.
It looks like there are no pictures yet, because it is so new. We were told there is one in NYC. I just will say "oh MY" this was some of the best Italian food I have ever eaten. When you walk in you get some fried zuccini, parm, bread, and sausages. The you get home made brucetta before you even place your order. I ordered the mushroom stuffed raviolli in a truffle sauce. Okay, I had no CLUE they were $50 because they were a special!! They were amazing though!! I have no clue how much dinner was but it was amazing and they had to roll us out of our seat!!

IMHO: I have stayed at the Bellagio many of the times that I have gone to Vegas. We have eaten at every place and were not impressed at all. The prices are really high, and I never was satisfied with the food we got. If I am going to spend $500 on a meal for 4 people I want to be very happy when I leave. The only place I have eaten at multiple times there was the cafe which is like a diner but for diner food with a $100 bill for 4 at least!

[B&BAddict]

One of my favorite Non hotel restaurants when we were in Vegas is Batistas A Hole in the Wall, nothing fancy , just good italian food and very reasonable. When we stayed at the Venetian we ate at the Bouchon every day for Breakfast, and it was faboulous, but pricey. It ran about 50-70 dollars for 2 depending on what we were having.

[bookworm]

I forgot to mention, on the bar front, Red Square at Mandalay Bay. The bar space isn't great (cramped, it's more like a little bar for the restaurant), but if you like flavored vodkas, the strawberry infusion is incredible. It's possible I licked the glass. I definitely wanted to. And it's an ice bar, which is one of those amusing things to see.

We had a whole little Mandalay Bay evening one night--drink or two at Red Square, dinner at the Wolfgang Puck place (fine, but don't bother), then Rumjungle (fine, entertaining in a "wow, I used to go to places like this all the time, and now it's a major novelty" kind of way). Anyway, of the three, Red Square is the place I'd go back to.

[wendalah]

Batistas A Hole in the Wall, nothing fancy , just good italian food and very reasonable.

I LOVE that place! Wine comes included with your dinner :D... not that great of wine, but you gotta love the concept. If you are hungry it certainly fills you up. I could barely walk after eating there.

[Ashes]

I am a huge fan of Emiril's Fish House. He's fun to watch if you can catch him there.

[WestieMomma]

Has anyone eaten at Bobby Flay's Mesa Grille at Caesar's yet? I want to go there when we go to LV in Jan.

[jimmysgirl424]

DH and I spent 10 days there for our honeymoon back in April. :D One of our favorite places for Mexican food was Gonzalez & Gonzalez at the New York New York. We also adored Margaritaville next to the Flamingo Hilton.

[wine_o_girlie]

Has anyone been to Sensi at the Bellagio, Rumjungle (for dinner) at Mandalay Bay, or AJ's Steakhouse at the Hard Rock? We are headed there soon and I want somewhere with great food and a younger, hip atmosphere. We've been to FIX at the Bellagio and loved the food and the crowd - looking for something similar.

[lawyergirl25]

Stupid question from the Vegas newbie: Do most of these places take walk-ins, or are we going to need to coordinate reservations? We're being pretty casual about the trip (we're going in November) and the fewer plans that have to be made, the better.

[jimmysgirl424]

Stupid question from the Vegas newbie: Do most of these places take walk-ins, or are we going to need to coordinate reservations? We're being pretty casual about the trip (we're going in November) and the fewer plans that have to be made, the better.

Go here:

http://www.vegas.com/restaurant/?f=subguide&t=mdiningt

You can make reservations online for many different Vegas restaurants, plus explore lots of dining options as well. Vegas.com is one of my favorite websites to go to!

[littlebear]

For most of the nicer restaurants, reservations are going to be a must unless you don't mind eating after 9 pm.

We just went to Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill in August. I really liked it. My DH thought it was just OK. The atmosphere was very cool, service was great (especially considering we had our 8 month old son with us), and the food was really good. I think DH's problem was that he thought the portion sizes were too small for the price. I was really pleased with my meal. I got the filet mignon. Everything has a Southwestern flair.

My favorites at Bellagio are Olives, Shintaro, and Prime.

[lawyergirl25]

Go here:

http://www.vegas.com/restaurant/?f=subguide&t=mdiningt
Awesome website, thank you!

[jimmysgirl424]

You are welcome! :D

Another good place to try is Rickshaw at the Riveria. Awesome Chinese food!!

[gayle]

Pamplemousse on Sahara is outstanding. Very french, and a lovely quaint environment.

Peppermill across from Stardust. Basically an upscale coffee shop, but the food is excellent, and reasonable.

Top of the World at Stratosphere. This place is pricey, but the food is great and the view is the absolute best in Vegas.

Mon Ami Gabi at Paris.

Hugos Cellar Downtown

Lotus of Siam, excellent Thai food. And reasonable.

VooDoo lounge at Rio. Also the seafood buffet at Rio is fantastic.

Carnegie Deli at Mirage.

[wendalah]

Peppermill across from Stardust. Basically an upscale coffee shop, but the food is excellent, and reasonable.

Ooh, have to second this too.

[Amira]

My husband and I are planning a trip to Vegas in the new year. We've been shopping around for flight and hotel deals (we are in Toronto) and it seems that the best deals we can get are off of the websites vegas.com and lasvegas.com.

Has anyone ever booked their hotel and air though these sites? I'd be interested in hearing about your experience in dealing with them.

thanks

[kcjules]

We booked our hotel room off Vegas.com and had a positive experience. No problems.

[kanga1622]

We just booked air and hotel for our March Vegas trip. We found it cheaper to book air and hotel seperately through the individual sites (airline site and hotel site). In fact, so far we've had the hotel reduce their rates for us twice since we booked because we found the rooms cheaper on another website. We saved over $100 by booking seperately and are still keeping our eyes out for further reduced hotel rates on all the travel sites.

We've found some decent deals on hotels from www.i4vegas.com and www.priceline.com (under the shop & compare section so you don't have to bid for hotels).

If you haven't found it already, we like www.lvol.com for finding out about shows, sporting events, hotels, etc. that we need to know about Vegas (this is our first trip).

[Secret_Squirrel]

If you are Costco members (I think there is one in Toronto), they have Vegas vacations you can book direct on their website. DH and I went to Vegas last year and they were about 10-15% less than Vegas.com.

[Maggie8202]

We fly from NYC, and I always book the flight and hotel seperate. I have always used a promotion code and get a way better rate for a hotel then what the packages are. I am not sure when you are going on where you want to stay. We have only stayed at Bellagio or THE hotel at Mandalay, I have never paid more than $159 to stay at either. I had gotten a rate of $169 for the Wynn, back in August, but we went with THE hotel because we are obssessed with the suites there!

Usually when I am looking to book I do a search for promotional codes and the hotel I want to stay at and it will come right up.
Here is a promotion code for either Mandalay Bay or THE hotel at Mandalay for a suite and $35 food credit, for $129 a night. It says to call VIP Services at 1 877 632 7502 and ask for code: CWINK05 I think it is only valid till January.

[Michelle]

I just got an email from the Bellagio with a promo code. I don't know if you've considered the Bellagio, but I thought I'd pass it on if anybody was interested.

It's valid from Nov 30, 2005 - January 30, 2006 (Sunday - Thursday). $149 per night rooms. If you stay on January 1, 2, 3, 11, 12, 29, or 30, rooms are $129 with a complimentary lakeview upgrade.

Promo Code D149EM

[WestieMomma]

Check out www.americawest.com They recently have merged with US Airways and I am finding them to have the best prices for flight/hotel packages...like over $100 cheaper than most other sites. I have even tried checking various sites to book my flight and hotel separately and still can't beat the prices that America West has.

[KarenS]

I go to Vegas every year for our annual convention and I have made arrangements before thru LasVegas.com without any problems. However, in the last few years I've found that I can get better deals by spending some time online and searching for bargains. I usually book my hotel thru hotwire.com or priceline.com and find my airfare on Airtran. I'd say if you have some time to look around various internet travel sites, you can find better deals.

Karen

[Amira]

Thanks ladies! I will definately check out these sites as well as look into Costco (we have a membership)

[houseblend]

Vegas is one of those places where you can usually find a cheaper deal booking straight through the hotel. I also like that they let you cancel up to 48 hours in advance, which is handy if you find a better deal (I actually ended up doing that on my recent trip.)

I think Orbitz and Vegas.com are great for getting general ideas of what hotels are in what price range, though. Once you have narrowed down a few hotels that interest you, you can sign up on their email list and find out about some great promotions that the other sites may not get.

[katmg]

I'm going to Las Vegas in 2 weeks and I'd like to plan a nice dinner out for DH and me. I believe that Emeril has a restaurant out there?

Any recommendations for nice/fancy dinners out in Las Vegas?

[Blondeinabmw]

There is an Emeril's at MGM Grand and I think there may be another one of his places somewhere else.

I particularly like Mon Ami Gabi at Paris and Canale in the Venetian. Picasso at Bellagio is also supposed to be great.

[Blondeinabmw]

I booked our trip through deltavacations.com. It was so easy and the prices were better than going directly to the hotel for the dates we traveled. If you're flexible on dates, the hotels may announce 2006 promotional rates after the new year.

[justHB]

I booked our September trip through Southwest Airlines and couldn't have been happier with the experience.

[katmg]

Thanks! I'll have to check those out. I was trying to find reviews on-line and all I could come up with was City-Search. Most of the reviews on there from actual people are so negative - I couldn't find a postive thing about any of the restaurants!

Any other suggestions??

[GoCougs]

If you guys are steak eaters, I would highly recommend The Palm Steakhouse (not to be confused with The Palms Hotel & Casino). The Palm Steakhouse is located in the Forum Shops inside Caesar's Palace. VERY good!

[mel7dog]

We're going there next week (:D) and have reservations at "Bouchon". It is a Thomas Keller restaurant and is supposed to be really good. Has anyone been? Here's the description from LasVegas.com

Bouchon
French Bistro
3355 S. Las Vegas Blvd.
Inside the Venezia Tower at the Venetian
$25 to $35
Thomas Keller's Bouchon is the first Las Vegas restaurant to win four Epicurean Awards in one year and rightly so. Keller knows how to bring the best out of top-quality ingredients in his wonderful French bistro cuisine and the service is top notch. Enjoy Bouchon's culinary delights while dining in a restaurant with a Belle Epoque design by Adam Tihany.
Attire: Business casual.



Mmm I'm hungry!

[katmg]

Oooh...more ideas! Great!

[houseblend]

Tripadvisor.com is a great place to get tips on places to eat (and general travel advice). They have message boards as well as reviews on restaurants.

Emeril's is in the MGM Grand. It didn't look particularly fancy, although the food is probably good.

Canale in the Venetian

I was going to recommend this place as well! It is a very romantic atmosphere as well as great food.

[clammyinsf]

BIG thumbs up for Emeril's steakhouse in Venetian, Delmonico. DH and all of his friends went there to kick off his bachelor party and they're still talking about the amazing food a year and a half later.

Also, I've been to Lawry's for prime rib which I thought was pretty good. It's not right on the strip, though.

Have fun!

[Shapsgrl]

I would say the best steakhouse I've been to in Vegas is Prime in the Bellagio. It's right next to Picasso downstairs behind the fountains. I belive it's the highest Zagat rated steakhouse in Vegas. It's incredible.

Other honorable mentions are:

Delmonico's in the Venetian
N9ne at the Palms if you want a fun atmosphere
AJ's at the Hard Rock.

I go to Vegas several times a year, and these are my favorites :)

[genndan100502]

have you tried chowhound (http://www.chowhound.com/southwest/boards/southwest/southwest.html) it's a message board on restaurants/good eats.

[katmg]

I just checked out Chowhound and got a bunch more ideas...can't wait to run this by DH!

[SierraStar]

I'll also be in Vegas next week.
We have reservations at Delmonico's for Saturday.
Since I won't be able to get back to NOLA for awhile, I'll take the next best thing & go to Delmonico's.
(FYI, I meant NOLA the restaurant in New Orleans, not just the city.)
The menus of both restaurants are very similar.

Bradley Ogden at Caesars Palace is also a great choice, especially if you like that type of food.

Another place I really like, where the view is out of this world, is the Eiffel Tower Restaurant at the Paris.
The food is straight forward French, with some American influences.
You can see the Bellagio fountain show from the windows, well worth the price of the dinners.
This restaurant is "almost" like a hidden jewel because it's sooo good, has the amazing view, & it's often overlooked because there are so many restaurants on the strip.
But I still recommend a reservation. ;)

[HeatherFL]

We enjoyed:

Hamburger Mary's (for burgers and spinach dip! Good mai tais too lol)
Fiore' Steakhouse (in Rio's)
Al Dente (in Bally's)
Top of the World (Stratosphere, don't order the duck, though!) this is better for view and experience than for food
Batista's
Ponderosa (not the chain, next to the Riviera Hotel is Ponderosa...go to the bar in back, not the restaurant)

[kd 9.21.02]

Just joining in...

Anyone used the spa at Paris? We're staying at the hotel for New Year's.

[colz85]

If you make it downtown, Hugo's Cellar at the Four Queens is GREAT.

http://www.hugoscellar.com

[la_bride_2004]

We go to Vegas a few times a year. The last time we stayed at the Venetian and I think we ate every meal there.

Bouchon for breakfast was incredible, but I recommend going early. We went during the week, and it was still packed! (The sourdough waffles with macerated strawberries are to die for, as was the Valhrona chocolate latte).

We LOVED Delmonico's- it was an absolutely perfect meal in terms of food and service.

Valentino was also delicious, and they have a "Valentino Grill" which is in the restaurant (in the front) yet has a deliciously different less expensive menu than the regular Valentino.

We spent nearly a full day in the Canyon Ranch Spa, and it was one of the best spa experiences I've had. I love the work-out room, sauna, jacuzzi, etc. They also have a wonderful little cafe.

[kemaji]

Bobby Flay has a restaurant in Vegas as well (I forget where).

I just got back and had a fabulous sushi dinner at Little Buddha in the Palms Casino.

[HeatherFL]

A friend of mine also recommended Little Buddha and said it was awesome. We didn't have time to make it, though!

~H.

[Rose]

Bobby Flay has a restaurant in Vegas as well (I forget where).

If I remember from his FoodTv special it is Ceasar's.

[jimmysgirl424]

DH and I went on our honeymoon for 10 days last year and are going again for a week in May. (I also used to live there, but 6 years ago, which means alot has changed!) Anyway, we would really like to find the best buffets to eat at. By best, I mean best quality, not best/cheapest price. We have read reviews that give high marks to the buffets at Bellagio, Mandalay Bay and the Aladdin. Has anyone ever been to any of those or any others that you would give a thumbs-up to?

[caramello]

We go to Vegas about 4-6 times a year. Our current favorite buffet is at the Wynn - huge crab legs, prime rib (they will even throw it on the grill for you if it's too pink for your liking), sushi, seafood, salads, Asian food, creme brulee, gelato, crepes - mmmmm! We've also like Bellagio which also has the big crab legs, but no crepes! Aladdin and Paris are also good. We used to love Mandalay Bay, but now think its so-so. On Christmas Day, we tried Caesar's and just thought it was okay - not worth the price, but the line was pretty short (we waited over an hour on Christmas eve to get into the Wynn). I have never tried, but have heard that the Sterling Sunday Brunch at Bally's is supposed to be excellent, complete with caviar. Have heard mixed reviews on Rio's Seafood Buffet. Last year they had $10 off coupons on their website which was good for Mondays through Fridays!

Let me know if you have any questions! I love talking about Vegas buffets!

[justHB]

I went to the one at the Aladdin in 2000 and it was simply okay. I wasn't wowed by it at all. I was certainly full, but walked away not really remembering the food as being all that great.

We went to the seafood buffet at the Rio when we were there in September and while it's not necessarily the best looking buffet, it did the job for an all-you-can-eat Alaskan King Crab and lobster tail fest. We kept seeing people eating everything but those two things and I couldn't imagine who would pay $50 to eat anything but those.

I've heard great things about the one at the Wynn, too.

[KarenS]

Ooh. We're going to be in Vegas in April. Can anyone tell me how much the buffet at the Wynn is?

Karen

[WestieMomma]

And how much is the Bellagio buffet?
I have also heard that the Bellagio has an awesome champange brunch..anyone been and how was it?

[caramello]

Both Wynn and Bellagio have weekend brunches (i.e. both Saturday and Sunday). Wynn has two prices for brunch - maybe $21-24 (can't remember the exact price) for brunch only and $25-28 (again, can't remember the exact price) with mimosas/champagne. Bellagio just recently started this two price tier thingy and is about the same price as the Wynn, give or take a dollar or two (with Bellagio being a little higher).

We usually go about a half an hour or so before brunch ends, pay the brunch price, and stay for dinner. We get the best of both worlds - real crab omelettes and then crab legs and yummy desserts for the price of the brunch! The difference between brunch and dinner is about $10, which isn't bad for one, but when you're with a large party, it adds up and in my opinion, that's good money I could be gambling with :D Note: Holiday weekends usually have some special all day brunch/dinner thing going on so its the same price regardless of what time you go in.

[jimmysgirl424]

Thanks for the info caramello and everyone else! DH and I stayed on Fremont during our last trip; which we loved. If anyone is heading downtown, I can tell you that the buffets at Main Street Station, the Fremont Hotel and the Golden Nugget are really good. Main Street Station is probably the best of the three. Fremont Hotel has a good seafood buffet, can't remember which nights though.

KarenS, what are your travel dates to Vegas? Have you made your reservations yet? If not, I can probably help you find a great deal! Let me know!

[wander_woman]

Bellagio!

[Kates]

We stayed at Mandalay Bay in 2004 and the breakfast buffet was awesome!

[Jules]

I've been asking around about this too - a coworker of mine went last month and says the Spice Market at the Alladdin is awesome. About $30/person - but def worth it.

[wendalah]

If you are in the area--the Palms has a nice buffet.

And, these are not "fancy" by any means--but if you are driving into Vegas, stop in Primm at one of the casinos for one of their cheapy buffets. Super inexpensive and surprisingly really tasty, if you're in the mood for a coffee-shop sort of pig-out

[LILRTL]

Hubby is leaving Sunday for a business trip in Vegas. We are trying to get it to where he has cash for gambling only, and uses the debit card for food/cabs. He is staying at Mandalay Bay, and planning to eat as cheaply as possible. He only has to buy dinner. How much would you expect to spend? TIA!

[jimmysgirl424]

Okay, so are you asking how much total he could expect to spend combining food, cabs and gambling? (cash and debit card total) And for how long is he going to be staying?

DH and I used cabs quite a bit during our trip there last year and for the life of me, I don't remember the cabs taking debit cards. Then again, we didn't ask, so I guess its possible.

[{b}]

You can eat fairly cheaply in Vegas if you don't mind buffets and/or going off strip. Most smaller, off-strip hotels have really cheap food. Also, he can go off strip for In-and-out Burger and other joints like that if casino food gets boring.

[laura]

I don't understand the question. I think it depends wholly on how much he likes to gamble as well as where he is going where he would need a cab, outside of to/from the airport - and if he's traveling for business, I would think that would be reimbursable. I would estimate ~$20/day for food and incidentals.

[LILRTL]

No, no. Sorry I wasn't clear! lol We just want to know how much he can expect to spend on 1 meal a day. :o Sorry!!!

[wendalah]

I can't remember offhand what cheapy restaurants Mandalay Bay has, but he can take the bridge over to Excalibur or Luxor and have McDonalds or La Salsa. Under 10 bucks in other words.

[TazLuv]

Restaurants in Mandalay are rather expensive. Dinner at the chinese restaurant runs about $60/person with no alcohol. I wouldn't recommend eating there if he's trying for cheap. The House of Blues isn't quite as bad though. I would still plan on $40 regardless of the meal. The mexican restaurant by the convention area is good too.

He will need cash for cabs, cabs in Vegas don't take credit cards. However if you take the Coach shuttle its $5 each way rather than $14 one way for the taxi, and the taxi line is always EXTREMELY long.

I was just there about a month ago and also stayed at the Mandalay, tell him to have fun! :)

[ejs]

Las Vegas is like other big, tourist cities: there are super-expensive restaurants and there are inexpensive fast-food places. So your husband can spend as much as (or as little as) he wants.

Questions like this always throw me.

[wendalah]

If he doesn't feel like having fast food (or a burrito at La Salsa--which would be my choice for a tasty, super-cheap dinner)...I am sure there is a deli/coffee shop-type restaurant in Mandalay where he can sit down and get a salad or sandwich for under 20 bucks. Every resort in Vegas has one of these places.

[jimmysgirl424]

The buffet at Mandalay Bay is quite expensive, so I would stay away from that. I would not recommend the buffet at Excalibur because it is of extremely poor quality and when I lived in Vegas, a whole bunch of people got sick with food poisoning after they ate there. :(

So, my recommendation if he wants a buffet at an okay price would be the Pharoah's Pheast at the Luxor.

http://www.luxor.com/dining/pheast_buffet.aspx

There is also alot of fast food places he can eat at for pretty cheaply. I highly recommend Fat Burger...awesome burgers at great prices. There are several located on the strip, one right near MGM.

[{b}]

Oh! Try checking out www.cheapovegas.com

[LILRTL]

Thanks so much, ladies! :)

[trestlegirl]

Bumping this...

I'm not a fan of Vegas, but a friend from London wants to go for a couple of days while he's out for a visit, so I'm humoring him.

Does anyone have suggestions for clubs? The last time I was there, Ghost Bar was still the big thing, but that was ages ago! What's new and fabulous these days?

TIA!

[wendalah]

I think Pure at Caesar's Palace is the happenin' spot now.

[littlebear]

Bobby Flay's is in Caesar's. It's called Mesa Grill. Everything has a Southwestern flair to it. It was really good when we went last year. Best steakhouse hands down is Prime at the Bellagio. If you like Asian/Japanese style, my favorite is Shintaro at the Bellagio.

[rachrich]

What's the club in Mandalay Bay?? I hear that one's one of the best.

[littlebear]

Rum Jungle is the one you are talking about, I think. ETA, 40 Deuce is at Mandalay Bay too.

[cynder]

So my DH is having some sort of mid life crisis and is arranging a guys trip with college roommates for Dec. He’s looking into rooms and found a good deal for a suite at hotel on the strip that has two double beds. His question is if they have 5 guys total, can they get away without reporting the fifth guy? They’re basically using the room to crash and I known I’ve done this in other hotels outside of Vegas. Not sure how strict hotels are with this policy so thought I would post here.

[ca_girl]

Nobody checks/cares in Vegas. We used to have up to 8 people in a room almost every time we went when we were in college.

I would, personally, let them know you need a cot though. I'm too old to sleep on the floor!

[dollface]

Some of the hotels don't care but the more upscale places - Mandalay, Hard Rock, The Palms, Bellagio, Wynn - will ask you for the name and/or ID's of everyone staying in the room.

[cynder]

Some of the hotels don't care but the more upscale places - Mandalay, Hard Rock, The Palms, Bellagio, Wynn - will ask you for the name and/or ID's of everyone staying in the room.

That's what I thought. The suite he's looking at is at the Venetian so I have a feeling that they won't check every night but will ask for names and IDs. So asking for a cot is probably not going to work.

[wendalah]

When I stayed at the Venetian this past May, the double-bed suite included a pull-out couch.

[Adaya]

I'm thinking you can ask for a cot without a bunch of hoopla possibly. There is a possibility where they can ask for the cot saying that one of the guys wants to sleep alone or doesn't feel comfortable sharing with another guy.

I did that before when I stayed over with a bunch of ladies and one was 8 months preggo and she wanted the bed to herself for comfort. She was feeling a bit swollen and uncomfy and really wanted to stretch out, so I asked for a cot to give her space. No problem on the behalf of the hotel.

I don't know....just a thought.

[christine12]

So I am taking my husband to Vegas in January for his 30th birthday as a surprise. I would love to hear about hotels that I should consider. Also good or bad experiences you have had.

Thanks! :)

[wendalah]

There are a lot to choose from, so you may want to try narrowing down a bit by letting us know your price range, what exactly you're looking for in the way of amenities, etc.

I have stayed at and can comment on:
--The Palms
--The Mirage
--The Venetian
--Luxor
--MGM Grand
--Golden Nugget

[laura]

I have stayed at Mandalay Bay and what's it called, next to the Bellagio? We also stayed off the strip once, for a "family trip". I am taking my dad next year for his 60th bday, and I am thinking about The Venetian, I think.

ETA: It was the Monte Carlo - could not think of the name for some reason!

[mgmhmj]

I stayed at Paris and loved it - it was in a great location b/c it wasn't a bad walk to any of the other places, plus tons of great shopping and food, and it's beautiful.

[Maggie8202]

We have stayed at The Bellagio 3 times, and The Hotel at Mandalay Bay (an all suites hotel attached) 2 times. They have different feels, but are both awesome in terms of amenities. When we go back, even though I love the suites at The Hotel, I think we will stay at The Bellagio because it is a tad "higher end" in terms of services and I love the location. You also can not beat watching the watershows from your room (very romantic).

[bookworm]

I stayed at Bally's. It's fine, nothing special, but usually a good price for the location (across from the Bellagio--we could see the fountains from our room).

[Adaya]

I have stayed at Bally's and the Luxor. I would stay at Bally's again for the location, but I stayed at the Luxor most recently and really enjoyed it.

[Lucy Van Pelt]

let's see...I've stayed at:

Bellagio
Hilton
Luxor
Mandalay Bay
Paris
Caesars

The Bellagio was my favorite and Mandalay Bay ranks a close second. It really depends on your budget for the hotel!

[jki]

I've stayed at:
Bellagio
Monte Carlo
Paris
Venetian
Luxor
Tropicana
The Palms
MGM
Caesar's Palace
(I used to travel there for work.)

Bellagio was my favorite. I'm staying at the MGM Sky Lofts next month but I am dying to stay at the Wynn. (http://www.wynnlasvegas.com/index.jsp)

[Rosebud]

You should definitely read reviews at tripadvisor.com before making a decision. That site is super helpful.

I've stayed at:

The Venetian
Bellagio
Mandalay Bay
The Luxor
MGM Grand
Paris
Treasure Island
Monte Carlo
Flamingo
Stratosphere
Caesar's Palace

The Venetian and Mandalay Bay were my favorites. The Venetian has really large rooms, a convenient location on the Strip, good shopping & dining in the hotel. The only negative for me is I don't care for the pool. I love Mandalay Bay and think it has the best pool on the Strip. However, it's way down at the south end of the Strip and not super convenient to everything else. Check out TheHotel here for cool, modern rooms.

I would recommend avoiding Treasure Island, Excalibur, Stratsophere, which are all a little worse for wear, in my opinion. I didn't care for the Luxor much either. MGM and Paris are solid mid-priced choices that I'd stay at again.

The Bellagio is pretty to walk through, but I personally don't think it's worth the extra $$ to actually stay there.

[KaliLily]

I stayed at the Luxor in 2003 and really liked it. The room was comfortable, I enjoyed its restaurants and the slots liked me there. ;)

[Byrd's Boogie]

I've stayed at the Mirage twice. Love it! Nice room, nice service and not as pricey as some of the surrounding hotels.:)

[Sazoo]

I've stayed at:
Riviera (but can't really speak to that because I stayed there 10 yrs. ago!)
Excalibur
The Luxor (with KaliLily in 2003, as she mentioned above! :) )
New York New York
The California (downtown, not on the Strip)

I agree with Rosebud about Excalibur - it's a bit dated & worn-out looking. Very family-oriented, IMO. I didn't have a BAD experience there & it's definitely affordable, but I probably won't stay there again.

I liked the Luxor. Not quite as luxurious as a lot of the newer hotels on the Strip (Mandalay Bay, Paris, Bellagio, Venetian, etc.) but it was nice & comfortable. It is down at the far end of the Strip though, so it's a long walk (or an expensive bus ride) to get up to where a lot of the "action" is.

New York New York was nice; definitely caters to a younger, hipper croud than the other places I've stayed. The bar scene looked to be pretty popular each night, but that's not really my or DH's thing, so we walked right on by & into the casino. ;)

I really want to stay at the Bellagio, Venetian or Paris next time...or maybe even the Mirage. They're more expensive, but they are so pretty & they're in a better location on the Strip than the other places I've stayed.

[DelSol]

I’ve stayed at:
Excalibur (twice and will be there in December)
Sahara (once)

I'm going in December and staying at Excalibur. This will be my 3rd time staying at Excalibur. Room are a tad outdated but price wise they are in my budget, $39/night. I've never had a bad room either and we are only there to sleep, the rest of the time we are out having fun. There are kids but not as many as Circus Circus, I stay away from that hotel because it was made for kids. My first time I stayed at the Sahara in 2001, another outdated hotel but price fit what we were looking for and it is at the far end of the strip. They now have a monorail that runs the length of the strip and stop at certain casinos.

[ca_girl]

If you stay at Mandalay Bay - don't use the spa. I've tried a couple times & every time, they screw up the reservations. I won't go back to the spa & they gave me free stuff.

If you stay at Luxor - make sure you are in the Tower & not in the pyramid. The pyramid rooms are small.

Liked my room at MGM last time I went. It was crazy, though because of the concert that was there that night, so waiting for a cab to get to our dinner sucked.

[Sha259]

I am looking to take my DH to Vegas for his birthday as well. We will be going in late April. I have heard both pros and cons about a lot of the Vegas Strip hotels, and though Bellagio, Venetian, Wynn, and Mandalay Bay seem really nice, they are out of my price range. I am looking to be able to stay for no more than $150/night. We would like to stay at a more middle of the road hotels like Paris, Bally's, Mirage, Luxor, and NYNY. Looking for a nice room, doesn't have to be spectacular, but nice enough to spend some time in. DH likes to spend time in the room to relax. We would also like to stay mid strip, since DH isn't much of a walker.

For those of you who have stayed at the Monte Carlo, what was your experience there? I have seem some good internet deals for my date and was wondering if the hotel was any good.

[jimmysgirl424]

I've stayed at the Stardust and also Fitzgeralds (downtown). DH and I have stayed at the "Fitz" (as they now call it) twice and to be honest, we won't consider anywhere else. They put us up in a suite for free for a week last year because of a room mix-up during our previous stay. We were treated very well, the staff is great and extremely friendly. We also apparently gambled enough to earn "comps" because we've gotten something like 4 offers since our last trip in May for a room there for 3-7 nights, free! We are loyal patrons now.

The Stardust was okay. No problems.

I lived in Vegas from 1997-1999 and seriously cannot believe how much has changed since I left!

[Rosebud]

bump for those looking for dining recs

[laura]

I stayed at the Monte Carlo and my experience was good. The rooms were nice enough, the hotel was nice enough, etc., and great prices. I liked the location being central strip, too (vs. Mandalay Bay for example). IIRC, it doesn't have an "over the top theme" like some of the other hotels and I think it's older which is why it's cheaper, but I didn't think it was bad at all. I went for a girls weekend and I don't think anyone had complaints about their rooms.

ETA: We were there in mid-April and it was about 50 degrees or so, so no input on the pool. I would assume there is one, but I don't even remember if we went to look at it?

[wendalah]

I think the MGM is a good choice for a mid-priced strip hotel, but it's down at the far end with Mandalay, Luxor, etc. It does have nice rooms, a great pool, and good restaurants. The Mirage is also a decent choice--it has a tropical fun feel with a good pool--but I found it to be a little more cramped than MGM.

Luxor gets mixed reviews all the time on all travel boards. Ditto the suggestion to stay in a tower room; I found them to be pretty nice, especially for the price.

[greenbunny]

I enjoyed the Mirage, it was very clean. Also the tiger show, but obviously that's no longer an option. We drove into NV with no concrete plans, so we chose a hotel by walking around and asking for a price for that night. Mirage was most friendly and helpful.

Anybody ever stayed at Hard Rock? I hear the pool is insane. We ate there one night and I felt like a serious frump. If you aren't 5'11" and 90 pounds and covered in couture, you look like a hillbilly.

[Maggie8202]

I just wanted to add that when ever we had stayed at The Hotel or Bellagio I have never spent more than $139 for weekdays and $199 for weekends. There are tons of deals, you just have to search for them.

Here is a promotion code for Bellagio: D149DM
Valid sunday-thursday nov 19-jan 18
$149 for a deluxe room, $249 for a suite upgrade to lakeview for $50/night.
$129 for jan2-4, 17 & 18 for a deluxe room

[Ericka_Jarett]

We are going to Vegas December 12-20th staying at Barbary Coast for the first night, going to Grand Canyon until the 15th and back to stay at the Orleans (Couldn't beat $25 a night plus free crib use and on the strip) for the rest of our time. (check Travelocity for prices and then check the hotel site, if the price is dramatic you can see if they price guarantee the room and get it for the travelocity price, we did this with Orleans, they wanted about $60 a night, but they booked us at $25 as a price match)

DH said to sign up on the sites for mailings and you will get a bunch of special offers by e-mail with some awesome deals on them.

[justHB]

I've stayed at the Mirage, Aladdin (now Planet Hollywood, I think), and Paris. Our room at Paris had a great view of the fountains at Bellagio, but I didn't love the room or the hotel. The next time we go, I want to stay at Mandalay Bay or Wynn.

[KK812]

We went a couple months ago and stayed half the time at the Bellagio and half the time at the JW Marriot. The marriot was really great and only 10 or 15 minutes from the strip. They run a shuttle every 30 minutes or so. Of course the Bellagio was great, but that's a given. :)

[KaliLily]

I liked the Luxor. Not quite as luxurious as a lot of the newer hotels on the Strip (Mandalay Bay, Paris, Bellagio, Venetian, etc.) but it was nice & comfortable. It is down at the far end of the Strip though, so it's a long walk (or an expensive bus ride) to get up to where a lot of the "action" is.

But it really helps burn off all those buffet calories! :p I lost 3 lbs that trip despite the serious eating we did!

No matter where you stay, you should try the buffet at the Bellagio. It was highly recommended to me before my trip, and it lived up to the hype!

[glensgirl]

I stayed at the Venetian a couple of times. I think we only paid around $100 a night each time (and they were weekend nights). Get on the different hotels' email lists for specials. We booked our stays through Priceline or Hotwire-just requested a 5 star on the strip. Only the Bellagio and Venetian were 5 stars at the time. Maybe Wynn is now too? I haven't been back since that opened.

[glensgirl]

I just reread and saw you want to go in January. You may want to check out when the CES (Consumer Electronics Show) is. It is sometime in January. The hotels will most likely all be booked at that time with no deals to be found. So I would work around those dates. We usually went right after New Years and never had a problem.

[wendalah]

If recommending buffets, I have to recommend the one at the Wynn! I went there for brunch on my birthday in May--and it was amazing, I am still thinking about it!

To give you an idea of how yummy it is...they have candied apples at the dessert bar.

[jimmysgirl424]

Seconding the recommendation for Bellagio's buffet. We went for Sunday champagne brunch and it was beyond belief. We tried to go back for dinner a few nights later and the line was making a circle around the casino so we gave up. :(

[Rosebud]

Going to Vegas next month for a girls' weekend. I haven't been in two years and am looking for some current restaurant recommendations. Nothing too expensive/romantic-- we're looking for something slightly more casual/fun, but still great food. No chain restaurants.

Last time I was with this group of girls, we went to VooDoo Cafe at Rio and Border Grill at Mandalay and enjoyed both. This time we're staying at The Venetian. Any favorite spots at that end of the Strip?

Also, any bar/lounge recommendations? We'll probably try and hit Pure one night, but would also love to check out some lower key places where we don't have to deal with horrible lines.

[Rosebud]

Would love feedback on these restaurants if anyone's been:

Little Buddha (Palms)
Fix (Bellagio)
Bradley Ogden's (Caesar's)

And more recs, please!

[wendalah]

I have been to Little Buddha, but in 2003!
I thought the sushi was DELICIOUS there, and the atmosphere pretty fun, if a bit crowded. I've had it on my list as a "return someday" restaurant, but haven't gotten over to the Palms in my past few Vegas trips. So, take that as an outdated rec :).

We did Tao at the Venetian this year for my "girls weekend" 35th birthday. Again, very crowded, but the food was good. Keep in mind we were very drunk, though.

[Rosebud]

Thanks Wendalah! We were planning to have drinks at Tao, but maybe we'll eat there, too. I hadn't even thought of that!

Good to hear that the sushi is great at Little Buddha. I just wonder if we'll motivate to go all the way over to Palms.

[wine_o_girlie]

Rosebud,

We have been to both Little Buddha and Fix and really liked both - foodwise and atmosphere wise. We've been to FIX 3 times and I highly, highly recommend it. Great people watching and they are open very late which we like. The food is mostly small plates so it's fun with a group because you can share. Little Buddha was very cool and the sushi was great but it wasn't quite as "happening" or energetic as FIX (but this could have just been the particular night we were there). I would do drinks at Little Buddha and dinner at FIX. Have fun! :)

[Rosebud]

I'm off to Vegas tomorrow! We have dinner reservations at Tao one night and are going to decide on the rest once we get there. I'll report back next week on where we dined, what we did, etc. :)

[jimmysgirl424]

I'm off to Vegas tomorrow! We have dinner reservations at Tao one night and are going to decide on the rest once we get there. I'll report back next week on where we dined, what we did, etc. :)

Hope you have a great time! I miss Vegas so much and its been less than a year since I last went. I swear..that place gets into your blood.

[Rosebud]

Okay, I'm back from my short Vegas trip. We stayed at The Venetian, which is really my favorite place to stay in Vegas. The rooms are enormous and nicely decorated. We booked a Terazzo suite, which had a nice, big patio and was located right near a small pool & garden area. We loved it. Thoughts on a couple of restaurants for those who may be headed out there soon:

Tao- We had dinner at Tao in The Venetian. We definitely enjoyed the food & the atmosphere is really fun. I had the seabass, which was absolutely delicious. My friends & I shared a dessert trio which was to die for-- it included a giant fortune cookie filled with white and dark chocolate mousse. The restaurant is always packed & a bit noisy. We had a 8:30pm reservation and didn't actually get a table until 9:00. If you have dinner at Tao it makes it easier to get into the club afterward. We got VIP entrance (although we still had to pay the $20 cover...) and were able to skip the (huge) line. The club is pretty great. Crowded & crazy, but great music, pretty people, awesome decor. We really enjoyed it.

Bouchon- I loved this French restaurant at The Venetian. I ate both breakfast and lunch there and could happily eat off their menu every single day. Their breakfast is divine. I ordered the Bouchon French Toast ("bread pudding style with warm layers of brioche, custard & apples. Served with maple syrup") and it was SO, SO good. Their coffee is also fantastic. For lunch I had the salad with goat cheese & herbes de Provence. Yum.

Fix- We loved this restaurant at Bellagio. We thought this was the best dinner we had during the whole trip. The restaurant was fairly crowded, but quiet enough that we could talk to each other. The food was presented beautifully-- each dish just looked lovely. I had the roasted chicken & smoked mashed potatoes, which were amazingly good. Two of my girlfriends had the scallops & loved them.

We also ate at Postrio in The Venetian, which was good, but not as exceptional as the places I mentioned above. The salmon was delicious, though. We also checked out the Canyon Ranch Spa Cafe, but I didn't love the menu. I was delighted to find that there are now like 5 Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf stands in The Venetian-- I love their coffee-- but ended up liking the coffee at Bouchon even more.

[mrs_pell]

I just booked a long weekend in Vegas with four of my girlfriends for March 22-25th. I've never been before, so for all you chicas who've been there...tell me what we MUST do/see while we're there. I went to trip adviser and I gotta say, I'm a bit overwhelmed by everything. There's SO much, and we're only really gonna have Thursday (we get there at 9am) through Saturday (we leave 6am Sun morning :eek: ). So...what are your recommendations for must do's?

I'M SO EXCITED!!! :D

[Rosebud]

mrs pell- I think the real must-do for first timers is just walking up and down the Strip and checking out all the casinos. Each casino has something interesting inside, and you can definitely see the highlights in a long weekend. I wouldn't worry about any off-the-beaten-path stuff or daytrips for your first time there.

Where are you staying? I could recommend a walking tour based on your starting point.

[mrs_pell]

We're staying at the Golden Nugget. We were going to stay on the strip, but with it being spring break and March Madness times, prices were a bit steep. I'm really just excited about going, period. One of the girls going wants to go to a ton of shows, but I'm all about hanging out in the casinos and just walking around/shopping! :) I wouldn't mind going to a show, though, just not spending tons of money going to a bunch of them. My only rule so far is no fast food! ;)

[Rosebud]

I'm not actually familiar with the Fremont Street area, where Golden Nugget is. I always hear people talk about how cool "downtown" Vegas is, but I've never gone. I'm sure someone else can give you tips on that area, though.

If you want to go check out the Strip, I'd recommend taking a cab to The Venetian and starting there. Make sure you're wearing really comfortable walking shoes. In The Venetian, check out the Canal Shops and the gondolas. Then, cross over to Mirage and see Siegfried & Roy's white tiger. From there, walk across to Caesar's Palace and do some window shopping at the Forum Shops. Continue down that side of the street to Bellagio and see the fountains, the rose garden, and the lobby ceiling. Head across the street to Paris, where you can take an elevator to the top of the Eiffel Tower for great views of the Strip. Continue on to Aladdin, which has good shopping in their Desert Passage area. Then, head to MGM Grand and see the lion habitat. Across the street is New York New York, where you can ride their roller coaster. If you have made it this far, it will have taken you the better part of a day, but you can keep on going to Exacalibur, Luxor and Mandalay Bay if you like.

If you don't want to walk ALL that way, I'd suggest at least seeing The Venetian, Caesar's Palace, Bellagio and Paris.

I'm sure I've forgotten some cool things... that's just off the top of my head.

[mrs_pell]

Thanks so much!! That's exactly what I was looking for! I'm getting really excited, and I still have 2 months to go!! :p

[snowzilla]

Thanks so much!! That's exactly what I was looking for! I'm getting really excited, and I still have 2 months to go!! :p

Pretty much everything Rosebud described above is how we spent our first weekend in Vegas - it was a great trip, and just made us want to go back to see more. :) (And we are - we'll be there February 2 through 5th!)

[gayle]

We're staying at the Golden Nugget. We were going to stay on the strip, but with it being spring break and March Madness times, prices were a bit steep. I'm really just excited about going, period. One of the girls going wants to go to a ton of shows, but I'm all about hanging out in the casinos and just walking around/shopping! :) I wouldn't mind going to a show, though, just not spending tons of money going to a bunch of them. My only rule so far is no fast food! ;)

You should definately spend one evening just groovin' on the Fremont St experience.

Since you are staying Downtown, I would be sure to eat at Binions steakhouse. It has a GREAT view and is known for some of the best steaks in Vegas. Be sure to get a 99 cent shrimp cocktail at the Golden Gate, and a gigantor frozen Margarita at the Bayou.

Do the breakfast buffet at Main St station, it rocks!

For a first trip, and since you are based downtown, I'd probably just hang out there, it's a great Vegas experience without the hassle of trying to drive the strip.

[kd 9.21.02]

If you are going to do a show I'd recommend "O" at Bellagio. Saw it twice and would see it 10 more times. The last time I saw it we had the "cheap seats" -- front row and all the way to the left. They were AWESOME! The performers were thisclose to us.

Re: walking the strip... I didn't do that until maybe my fourth time in Vegas and when I finally did, I thought to myself, "That's it?" Felt like I was walking through Times Square trying to dodge tourists (sharpen those elbows). If you do want to just peruse, a good place for that is the Venetian. I always enjoy taking that whole scene in. And they have some good shops there too.

Restaurants I've loved.... Pretty much anything at Bellagio and Wynn and Aureole at Mandalay Bay. But, honestly, all of the nice resorts have great restaurants. It's hard to go wrong (and hard to choose).

[gayle]

I so agree with seeing "O" I have seen it twice myself and it's my favorite show in Vegas. It's well worth the price of a ticket!

[JLRenheos]

ditto on what gayle said about seeing the show "O". It's a must-see!! It truly is fabulous! I saw it last year for the 1st time. We sat 9 rows from the front & it was worth every penny of the $150 pp.! BTW, check out the Circque Shop there, they have some really neat things!


I'm super excited!! The 4 of us just bought our tickets for Vegas just this evening!!! eek! :D We got them for $178 round trip direct flight taxes & all! We were Just there in September for a week, now we're going back!
We're going to be there from 27th March - 3rd April.

Is anyone else going to be there during that time vacationing?

[DelSol]

If you like seafood a good buffet is the Village Seafood Buffet at the Rio, well worth the money because they have all you can eat petite rock lobsters.

Village Seafood Buffet
Fresh from the ocean, the seafood on this glorious extravaganza delivers flavor and exceptional taste. The Village Seafood Buffet features all-you-can-eat favorites including lobster, snow crab legs, shrimp, oysters and sushi.

For meat lovers, we offer prime rib, barbecue beef ribs and chicken dishes. Enjoy your fresh seafood with all the accompaniments, including salads, pastas, fresh-baked breads and a full dessert bar.

The desserts were to die for, you to ask for the ones in the refrigerated counters but those are the ones that are the best.


Have a great time, we just went in December.

[MsRo]

Yum!! Apparently I need to go back to Vegas and I need to eat THERE!!

[jimmysgirl424]

If you like seafood a good buffet is the Village Seafood Buffet at the Rio, well worth the money because they have all you can eat petite rock lobsters.



The Rio's breakfast buffet is also pretty outstanding as well! The buffet that DH and I were most impressed by was the Bellagio's champagne brunch that they offer on Sundays. Worth every penny and more!

[wendalah]

Oh, please make me happy and try the Wynn's buffet! I loved it so much...I know I noted this a thousand times in other posts but I could not believe they had red candied apples at their dessert bar. :D

[mindy2137]

My DH and I are planning a trip to vegas this summer. I know it will be VERY hot, but that is the only time we can do it. I'm hoping for June, but it may be July. I have never been before. My DH has - 3 times. But it was with his friends and they gambled like the whole time. He doesn't really know the in's and out's of the city. So, I'm doing the research! I refuse to be in a casino the whole time.

I have a few questions. This may sound ridiculous, but I'm serious. I have heard to wear comfortable shoes when walking the strip, but what? Please give me some ideas of what to wear, and I still want to look cute...I usually wear heels all day at work and I KNOW that is a NO for the strip.

Also, I love to lay in the sun and relax by a pool, I just love it. It is definiately my idea of vacation. Any recs of great pools.

Anything else I will greatly appreciate!

[vee05]

The Aladdin pool is fabulous. Reefs would be perfect to walk around in or some Puma's even :)

[DelSol]

mindy2137 ~ I would wear your most comfortable pair of sneakers. I've worn sneakers and walked so much I got blisters and ended up wearing a pair of comfortable sandals. We were just out in December and I wore sneakers the whole time, I didn't even take a pair of regular shoes with me. Enjoy your trip, you'll have a blast!

[Ericka_Jarett]

I agree with DelSol, we were there at the same time and I just wore sneakers, I had a pair of boots, but they were for our Grand Canyon part of the trip. I don't think I could have worn anything else, as we did a lot of walking on the strip and carrying a baby in a carrier, needed the comfort.

have fun

[MrsSmith]

I'm super excited!! The 4 of us just bought our tickets for Vegas just this evening!!! eek! :D We got them for $178 round trip direct flight taxes & all! We were Just there in September for a week, now we're going back!
We're going to be there from 27th March - 3rd April.

Is anyone else going to be there during that time vacationing?

We're just barely going to miss each other in Vegas. Hubby and I are leaving to go home the 26th of March. I wish our tickets were that cheap. You got a great deal!

I've been to Vegas once and haven't done any of the shows. I went with some girlfriends for a day and a half. So, it was mainly just something to do. I would certainly recommend comfy shoes. All I did was walk all day. I'm looking forward to seeing some of the shows. Any other recommendations?

[lawyergirl25]

My girlfriends and I are heading to Vegas November 3-6. I believe we have a group of 9 or 10 going. I hope you all don't mind if I use you as resources during this planning stage. :)

We've already kind of split on the hotel selection. Six of us are planning to stay together - 2 to a room - and we'd like to find a nice hotel that's reasonably priced. (The others are just finding the cheapest rooms on the Strip.) Our only real requirements are that the hotel have a nice pool - we plan to spend at least one afternoon lounging by it - and that there be a spa in the hotel or extremely close by. We don't want to spend tons of money for the utmost in luxury, but we'd like to stay away from low-end hotels. I know the Trop has a nice pool, but aren't they doing renovations this year? Any other suggestions?

I've been reading reviews on cheapovegas.com too, but I'd love to hear what my CC ladies have to say. TIA!


ETA: I see one recommendation for the pool at the Aladdin. Sorry I missed that. :)

[wendalah]

I'd do MGM--great pool, the hotel is nice, and the rates are usually reasonable.

Mirage has a great pool too, but the MGM has larger rooms and bathrooms.

[RobynScott]

I was looking into this as well - looking for some place with a great pool. One thing about MGM - I heard it's huge - so a lot of walking to get to your room.

Cheapovegas rates Mandalay Bay and The Flamingo as having the best pools. The Flamingo is in the middle of everything - so thinking about it - but it's an older hotel.

[Linz]

I think it's funny that I have lived in Las Vegas my entire life and have no real recommendations for anything. When you're a local, you never really go on the strip. :cool: The last time I was on the strip was probably a year ago when DH's family was here for the first time.

[wendalah]

I was looking into this as well - looking for some place with a great pool. One thing about MGM - I heard it's huge - so a lot of walking to get to your room.

Just a warning: Most of the hotels in Vegas are huge! The Mandalay Bay is even huger than MGM.

[Rosebud]

I was looking into this as well - looking for some place with a great pool. One thing about MGM - I heard it's huge - so a lot of walking to get to your room.

Cheapovegas rates Mandalay Bay and The Flamingo as having the best pools. The Flamingo is in the middle of everything - so thinking about it - but it's an older hotel.

I love the pools at both Mandalay and The Flamingo. The Flamingo is a lot cheaper, and more central on the Strip, though.

I second the previous recommendation for MGM. It's a very nice hotel and you can often find great prices there.

And yes, you will be walking a lot no matter where you stay. All the hotels are huge.

[mrs_pell]

As for the pool question, I haven't been yet, but we're staying at the Golden Nugget (even though it's not on the strip) and from what I hear their new pool is awesome! Complete with a shark tank! :)

http://goldennugget.com/home/amenities/pool/

Looks pretty fun!

[JLRenheos]

MrsSmith

to bad we won't cross paths. How long will you be vacationing in Vegas for? Have a great time with your husband & go see some great shows! I highly recommend seeing the show, "O" over at the Bellagio! You'll love it!!!

Take a trip to Hoover Dam(you could do a 1/2 day trip), go up the Stratosphere Tower, take a Gondola rideat The Venetian, visitthe new Wynn Hotel, go up in the Paris Tower, ride the rollercoaster over at NY/NY, visit Downtown for the 'Freemont Experience'. Go check out the indoor flyaway skydiving!

I remember that my gf said that they liked the pool at the Flamingo.

I've already seen "O" by Circque Du Soleil.

Question
What other shows would you recommend seeing? What shows did you like?! I was thinking along the lines of Zumantiy, KA', Mystere', Folies Bregere, and/or The Blue Man Group.
Any others that I haven't listed that you would recommend seeing? I'd like to see another Circque Du Soleil show. We'll be there from 3/26 - 4/03.

[snowzilla]

Many of the hotels you stay at are going to require some walking to get to your room from wherever you start. So those comfy shoes are a must no matter what. ;)

We just got back from another trip to Vegas - we stayed at the MGM Grand this time, but not in the main hotel - we stayed in their signature suites, which are the three towers on the same property. They are a non-smoking, non-gambling facility so it's a nice escape. We had a junior suite - massive jacuzzi tub and bathroom, small kitchenette with stainless steel appliances, flat screen tv, balcony with a view of the strip, and a small sitting area. We were very, very happy with it (last year we stayed at a suite in the Rio, and this blew it out of the water). But to get to our tower #2, we had to take a moving walkway from the MGM Grand to the towers - about a five minute walk factored into all of our excursions out and about.

[Rosebud]

Locking up this Las Vegas thread and starting a new one. Here's the link for continued discussion:

Las Vegas (Part II) (http://www.constantchatter.com/forum/showthread.php?t=30065)