Las Vegas Vacation 2020

[doubledenim]

https://i.imgur.com/SWE17LV.png

It's never too early to plan, right? I will have a BIG birthday in 2020 and will be celebrating in Las Vegas. Sounds great. I have never been and I am starting to try and piece together the in's and outs, do's and don'ts.

If you have anything to share about hotels, locations, shows, unexpected (good or bad) experiences, please put them here.

[Mr Minio]

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.

[Kaplan]

I live in Vegas, so I can try to answer any questions.

[CiCi]

I really wanna go there for my 21st! :love:

[Dani8]

Happy planning, DD!

[doubledenim]

I live in Vegas, so I can try to answer any questions.

There is a lot to wrap my head around.

First thing are the hotels. Circus Circus is ridiculously cheap. Like, place to murder a hooker cheap.

I'm trying to figure what is what, short of the top shelf. No Bellagio or Aria. My thought is to stay in the middle, so that we can walk everywhere. Then again, maybe the middle isn't where you want to stay.

I always wanted to stay at Luxor, but a lot of reviews seem like it sucks.

[I. Rex]

Circus Circus is too far down and yeah its kinda sleazy. Its fine if you are 21 and theres no children or women to worry about. But if you really want to be in the heart of the action but you dont want to pay Bellagio/Venetian/Cosmo prices maybe look into places like MGM or NYNY or The Monte Carlo or similar. The Hard Rock is a couple blocks off The Strip and much cheaper because of that but still nice in my opinion plus its across the street from the Hofbrauhaus which is one of my favorite drinking spots in Vegas. Personally I avoid The Strip like the plague but then I have to go there every year for work so Ive gotten jaded.

As far as restaurants, depends on what kind of food you like and how much you are willing to spend. Lots of great places to eat in Vegas. Nobu and Mesa Grill are both good. And Bouchon is one of my favorite places. But theres plenty of good places off The Strip to eat as well. And much cheaper.

[Kaplan]

There is a lot to wrap my head around.

First thing are the hotels. Circus Circus is ridiculously cheap. Like, place to murder a hooker cheap.

I'm trying to figure what is what, short of the top shelf. No Bellagio or Aria. My thought is to stay in the middle, so that we can walk everywhere. Then again, maybe the middle isn't where you want to stay.

I always wanted to stay at Luxor, but a lot of reviews seem like it sucks.



I wouldn't stay at Circus Circus, and it's pretty far north. The only thing farther north on the strip is the Stratosphere, which is also cheap. I'd try places like Flamingo, Harrah's, Paris, New York New York, Bally's... There's always lots of deals going on, and it's impossible to predict what deals will be happening two years from now. Another possible place is Treasure Island. Luxor is really far south, but there's a lot to see around it, but it would be a bit of a haul to make your way up to Bellagio and Ceasar's, if you wanted to do that. Also I'll plug Mirage, because I work there, but to be honest I'm not sure if our hotel offers the best deals. Still, it's a good place.

But I'd give it some thought of staying downtown (old Vegas) in what is now called the Fremont Street Experience. A lot of people prefer downtown. Lots to see and do, cheaper rooms, and lower limits on the table games. It's not like you can't take a uber (or the bus) to the Strip.

[doubledenim]

I want to get a nice room in a decent hotel, versus a decent room in a nice hotel...if that makes sense. The MGM and Mirage keep popping up as good choices.

In a nutshell, I have romanticized Vegas for so long and was hardcore into the poker boom (playing, player culture, watching). I don't really want to grind a cash game or spend 3-4 or more hours playing a sit-n-go or more in a tournament for "this" trip. I just wanna experience everything I've always seen and get the lay of the land. I'm pretty easily entertained. If I catch a glimpse of Phil Ivey or the likes, I'd be happy.

The only definite is some sort of car experience. Rent an exotic, track time somewhere, racing school etc.

[rauldc14]

I am willing to bet I may be the member that has visited Vegas the most (other than those within driving distance). That being said, I'd recommend staying at Flamingos or Harrah's for both good location and price. I really like Flamingo. It's a great complex with good food, good views, good pool, good casino etc etc

[Dani8]

I am willing to bet I may be the member that has visited Vegas the most

Do you gamble, Raul? I dont bet so it really holds no appeal for me. I always think of pachinko parlors and it being nothing but a building for noise, noise and tonnes of smoke.

Ofcourse I know that's not true and they have restaurants, shows etc. I have been to sydney casino a few times. Just not my cuppa tea, really. I have sensitive ears.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2a/Electric_City_Akihabara_Pachinko.jpg/1200px-Electric_City_Akihabara_Pachinko.jpg

[cricket]

I don't know what day your Birthday will fall on, but avoid the weekends if possible. I used to fly there Sunday morning and leave Friday afternoon. It's much cheaper for airfare and hotels, and you avoid the most crowded nights.

When gambling, it's easier to win at the smaller casinos. I used to gamble at places like Imperial Palace, Barbary Coast, Casino Royale, and places off the strip and downtown.

Don't bother with the nudie bars and research ways to get the most comps.

[cricket]

I am willing to bet I may be the member that has visited Vegas the most (other than those within driving distance). That being said, I'd recommend staying at Flamingos or Harrah's for both good location and price. I really like Flamingo. It's a great complex with good food, good views, good pool, good casino etc etc

Yes, I would second Flamingos and Harrah's.

[doubledenim]

Thanks raul and cricket, Flamingo looks right on time. The nicer rooms, view of the Strip, less than $200 a night. Plus, they are the only one I could actually book now.

Checked out the MGM and they must run a lot of events. The prices are all over the place, even weekdays.

The 4th is gonna be a Wed, so I would fly out Tues and leave TR or Fri. I've heard stories of the strip clubs.

[cricket]

Thanks raul and cricket, Flamingo looks right on time. The nicer rooms, view of the Strip, less than $200 a night. Plus, they are the only one I could actually book now.

Checked out the MGM and they must run a lot of events. The prices are all over the place, even weekdays.

The 4th is gonna be a Wed, so I would fly out Tues and leave TR or Fri. I've heard stories of the strip clubs.

I stayed at MGM, nice but no big deal. You're going to walk through all of them anyway.

[Chypmunk]

Flamingo is great location wise if you plan on exploring the Strip (we based ourselves 'next door' in Ballys on our first stay) as it's pretty central - if you're only gonna be there for a cpl of days there's only so much you're gonna be able to take in though ... there's tons to see and do and sadly even in Vegas still only 24 hours in each day. Generally even the more modest rooms in decent hotels are pretty nice from our experience ... not that we stay in them long lol.

[doubledenim]

I stayed at MGM, nice but no big deal. You're going to walk through all of them anyway.

Exactly.

I don't really wanna game that much. My days of online showed me how much the highs and lows can affect your mood. Not drastic in any one way, but more than I care to have for leisure. I would rather burn the money up renting a Lambhooorgini (Michael Caine) and having a memory.

My sister and brother-in-law are going to come in and hopefully I can persuade my parents. Ideally, we would all stay in different hotels. We could meet up to do stuff and meals, but not be under each other's noses.

[rauldc14]

I would suggest staying longer though. Idk if thats enough time, unless you plan to come back shortly after.

[Dani8]

Is the food in Vegas overpriced?

[doubledenim]

Is the food in Vegas overpriced?

Apparently it's not as cheap as it use to be. The early 2000's were a good time for value. It was literally cheaper to fly and stay in Vegas than it was to drive to Myrtle Beach and stay.

[doubledenim]

I would suggest staying longer though. Idk if thats enough time, unless you plan to come back shortly after.

Tell me more! What am I missing? :D Can I really reenact FnL in Las Vegas!?!

I am changing my sensibilities. Vacation was never really something I would rationalize, because I would rather spend the same money and have something to show for.

I'm getting to a point where I am trying to get rid of stuff and value experiences and memories more. That said. Short of gambling away money, all the stuff I want to do is going to cost a bit. I couldn't see myself staying longer than 3 nights, where each day is going to consist of me emptying my wallet.

I can burn money with the best of em', but I think there is a fine line that crossing will hamper a bit of my enjoyment. I'm sure there is plenty to do, but 3 nights seems like a good time.

[Dani8]

Apparently it's not as cheap as it use to be. The early 2000's were a good time for value. It was literally cheaper to fly and stay in Vegas than it was to drive to Myrtle Beach and stay.

I'm a bit far from Myrtle Beach, DD. I dont even know where it is and have never heard of it until now.

[Dani8]

This? Oh my lord. Go to Vegan, DD. Looks horrendous. That's a beach? Far out.

http://static-31.sinclairstoryline.com/resources/media/1b205aed-4072-437e-89e0-1607a1b39dec-beach20tourism20Myrtle20Beach20Grand20Strand.jpg?1439425145096

Stick with your first choice!

LOL. Vegan. Ha! Freudian slip. Must be trendy.

[doubledenim]

Myrtle is a unique animal. It is a high school graduate's dream. A young people's hedonistic paradise. And then some people bring small children there. It's nowhere close to as nice as the beaches in North Carolina, tho :king: .

[rauldc14]

I'd still like to go to Myrtle someday.

[I. Rex]

I prefer Virginia Beach myself as far as non-Florida east coast beach options. But they are both tourist hell holes. But I will say with Myrtle you are in striking distance of Charleston which, along with Savannah, has some of the best food options in the south.

[seanc]

Myrtle is a hole.

[doubledenim]

I'd still like to go to Myrtle someday.

Myrtle is great for party time.

Wrightsville and Carolina are great for chill. If you go to Wrightsville, Myrtle is an hour away down 18.

[Gangland]

It's pricey, but I definitely had a good time at the Mob Museum (https://themobmuseum.org/) on Fremont St., which is old, dirty Vegas, but it's impossible not to have a good time on that street.

As far as the modern strip, when I went I stayed at The Flamingo (just because it was Bugsy Siegel's place), but if you got the coin, Caesar's Palace is opulent, and the Luxor is trippy and hedonistic as ****. I could literally just sit in the middle of the Luxor and look at it for hours.

[rauldc14]

I loved the Mob Museum as well and would definitely recommend that. Would also recommend Blue Man Group and Terry Fator.

[doubledenim]

To anyone who has booked airline tickets recently, what sites / apps have you used for the best results?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5i11n434fQ