[Archived] Las Vegas

[snatchymcsnatch]

We booked yesterday for our return to Vegas, going in Feb this time, staying at Desert Rose where we stopped last time, were going back mainly as we didn't go to the Grand Canyon last year, has anyone been on the Grand Canyon trips, any advice on what the best ones are cheers.

Also going back as wife wants to see the Legends show and I'm going to try and get her on at least one of the Stratosphere Tower rides.

Been a few times now and just come back from a trip this summer. For the helicopter tours, you will not go wrong with "Sundance Helicopter Tours". There are so many firms to choose from the mind boggles but this lot are by far the most popular and I can highly recommend them as do many others - really friendly staff/pilots and a limo pickup thrown in.

Depending on your budget, I would go all out for the tour which lands in the grand canyon (where you get a packed lunch) - it's only when you land in the bottom that you really appreciate the vastness. Generally speaking the more you spend on a tour the better value for money you get. You can get a small tour down the strip but it's over before you know it, Vegas is about going the whole hog so do this if you can.

Couple of other things to do:

- Fremont street (also known as "old town" - Go and see the lights display, it's a bit rough so you won't want to stay long but worth it to see the hourly (ish) show.

- Shows: Phantom of the Opera at the Bellagio - not my cup of tea but even I enjoyed it - if you can book a couple of tickets as a surprise you will score about 50,000 brownie points with the Mrs

- Shows: Love - A beatles tribute. Extraordinary show - no other words for it - don't miss it tickets sell out fast - book in advance before you go for shows, better deals.

Just as a warning, there is quite a lot of building work going on in Vegas at the moment so there's more of a scattering of cranes and scaffolding along the strip. This is because work has effectively slowed right down since the global downturn so when I first got there I was a little disappointed that the shine was taken off a bit - however I soon forgot about it so don't let it put you off.

Finally, did you have a look at some of the rates of the "strip" hotels, you can get rooms at Treasure Island, Mirage etc for about 20 quid a night if you pick the right dates.

[Gav]

15 of us going on a stag do over Easter, staying at Bellagio, should be fun

[Glenn]

Has Circus Circus closed?

Not that I know of, but why the hell would anyone stay there. A casino with it's own trailer parking and encourages kids. I love it because it keeps everyone that goes there off the rest of the strip

Gav, my advice is get on every hotel's email lists, they do some silly silly offers (Bally's and Rios often do $10 mid-week rooms).

Knowing what I know of you, I'd recommend TI. The Luxor was nice enough (as was The Manadlay Bay), but TI felt "younger" (it actually had bars where you were encouraged to drink, no just gamble).

Another tip, if you're looking at spending a couple of nights away from Vegas (i.e. Grand Canyon) then do it at the weekend. The strip is dead cheap mid week (especially if you leave it to the last minute), but the prices shoot up at the weekend.

All being well, I'll be back in Vegas next year Probably at TI again.

Oh, and on my first trip, I made extensive use of http://www.cheapovegas.com/index.php

Doh, missed you post Gav, ignore the stuff about choice of hotel. Still, I recommend drinking at TI rather than the Belagio

Stayed there in a simple backpackers hostel as part of a GAP year trip..Had some great excursions out in the hostel mini bus to Bryce Canyon,Zion and Death Valley..If a group like this just clicks its leaves you with some great memories.

I *loved* Death Valley and not quite as hot as I expected, Mind you, driving across it with a egged tyre added a whole new level of scary to it

We booked yesterday for our return to Vegas, going in Feb this time, staying at Desert Rose where we stopped last time, were going back mainly as we didn't go to the Grand Canyon last year, has anyone been on the Grand Canyon trips, any advice on what the best ones are cheers.

Also going back as wife wants to see the Legends show and I'm going to try and get her on at least one of the Stratosphere Tower rides.

I did the helicopter Grand Canyon trip, but whilst ace fun, it's only takes you into the very end of the canyon. Next time I'll do an overnighter to the "real" bit.

As for other stuff, sod Phantom and Cirque, make your Number one show Penn & Teller.

[Glenn]

... and a handy tip for better hammered on a budget.

Play the very low value slots, your first drink will take a while, but tip big and then waitress will be back every few minutes. She doesn't care if you're playing for pennies, all she cares is that every time she brings you another free double Jack Daniels, you give her another tip. You can't put enough money in the slots to cover the price of the drinks.

[percy]

As for other stuff, sod Phantom and Cirque, make your Number one show Penn & Teller.

just wanted to second this - brilliant show. great entertainment & well worth the ticket price!

[bellamy11]

just wanted to second this - brilliant show. great entertainment & well worth the ticket price!

Thirded. Wanted to go anyway but made certain to after Glenn's recommendation and wasn't disappointed at all.

[Gav]

A great tip if you're going out of season:

Book the cheapest room available in your selected hotel, when you check in and are asked to show a credit card and passport, slip a $20 bill in the passport so the receptionist can see it, and ask for a room upgrade if any are available, worked for us last year, got a suite with Jacuzzi, should have been $500 more for the stay. If they don’t have one they’ll refund the $20.

Not sure its going to work this time with 15 or us……

[Grabbi Graeme]

Thanks for the advice guys, we will probably do the helicopter ride over the Canyon, this is our second trip to Vegas so I know what to expect this time, when we went last year there was quite a bit of building work going on but didnt bother us too much.

Went to see Penn and Teller last time we went and it was a fantastic show, we even got cheap tickets for it from the Tix4tonite booths that are on the strip.

Where we are stopping is a great little palace just off the strip, it's a non gambling place that does a free continental breakfast which most hotels dont do.