LAS VEGAS!
 

Okay, so my stepdad said he'd pay for an all-out Vegas trip for my 21st birthday next year.

What are some things I *have* to do when there? Which clubs are the best? What hotel would you recommend?

I'm so excited.. and it's still almost a year away. Haha.

It depends what you're looking for. If you want to feel pampered, and feel like a princess.. stay at the Bellagio (but it's also one of the most pricey.)

Other pricey and luxurious hotels I like are Caesers .. (be sure to check out the shopping arcade. There's everything from Louis Vuitton and Burberry's to FAO Schwartz) and The Mirage.

Mandalay is very pricey, but "the beach" is just amazing. Wynn Las Vegas is beautiful as well.

Luxor isn't as expensive, but is quite nice. There are five big pools and shopping arcade. I've been to the spa there too.

You might want to stay away from Circus Circus and Excalibur as they tend to attract a lot of children.

If you're looking for "partying," head to Hard Rock Cafe (quite the pool pick-up scene there!) or "The Palms." Be sure to check out "The Ghost Bar" and "Rain"..

I would avoid anything in the old part of town such as The Golden Nugget, as that draws a lot of senior citizens. The only thing on that side of town (it's kind of seedy) is the Freedmont Street Experience.. but even that, I thought, was a little over rated.

You can get around easily by foot, trolly or monorail.

Fun freebies to do: World of Coca Cola, the Mirage Volcano, The Bellagio dancing waters, Treasure Island's Pirate Ship show, and Freedmont Street Experience.

If you like amusement park rides (I love em!) be sure to go to the Stratosphere. There is the "Big Shot" at the top, which shoots you up in the air, and a roller coaster that rides at the top on the OUTSIDE of the Stratosphere. I found it rather tame (as roller coasters go) but well worth it for the view.

NY NY has a very good roller Coaster.

There are also lots of virtual reality rides (Luxor has one, as does Caeser's Palace.)

Fantastic shows I recommend: "O" (this is Cirque du Soleil's water show), Mystere, The Blue Man Group. (Be sure to book these well ahead of your trip)

Just for fun: Tony and Tina's Wedding (where the audience "attends" the tackiest Italian wedding you've ever seen. Great fun!) There's a Star Trek show which was excellent. They "beam" you on board the Enterprise, and you're among live actors.

There's really so much to do. You'll have a fantastic time.

I would stay at either the MGM or Mandalay Bay. Both have massive pool complexes and lazy rivers. Mandalay also has the beach. :D Assuming a group of friends are going with you, try to make sure someone stays at the Hard Rock because their pool would be great to hit too. MGM has more clubs in it than the others so you could easily end up never leaving the place. I prefer that end of the strip in general because I usually end of gambling at MGM, Mandalay Bay, and Luxor the most.

Don't feel compelled to do every little thing during that trip. The advantage of living in SD is you can always "scratch" your Vegas itch within a few short hours! You can go as often as you want later. :)

I LOVE LAS VEGAS!!!!!!!!!! I've been twice - which I know is not a lot! But I'd go back all the time if I could.

Blue Angel nailed it on the head - stay away from Circus Circus and Excalibur. It's not that they are bad - it's just it does attract children and I found this past summer that Circus Circus waitresses and casino's are meaner. ie- You get dirty looks from old grandma's with 6 kids behind the carpet lines when YOUR being too loud. That kinda thing.

Hotels I would suggest would be something in the middle of the strip. First time I went I stayed at Treasure Island * a complete dream, amazing *. This past time I stayed at Luxor - it was nice, but the walk was annoying sometimes. If you have questions about either one please ask!!

Partying wise I had a blast at the Palms - the night we went they just had a pajama party in the casino - everybody dressed up!!! Not mandatory - just fun! They had psychics (sp?) and of course the famous Hart and Huntington - which my friend got a tattoo at. lol I liked this a lot - the only prob is that it is off the strip - but they have really good transportation. As for the Hard Rock - honestly I would have had fun picking up people here. But in my opinion I would have had to work too hard. And trust me other spots in Vegas you just stand there and a hot guy comes up and talks to you automatically! At the Hard Rock - be prepared to dress like a your going to a practically no clothes club/bar. This would be the Hard Rock. I found it to be a lil' dramatic too. But my friends and I ate at the Pink Taco restaurant. And now in all the US weekly's it talks about the Pink Taco b/c that's Lindsey Lohan's bf's place.

So on that note - go somewhere that when you come home you'll be able to say "hey i was there". I know it's being a total tourist and being dorky. But it's fun later on to laugh with your friends.

Other rec's - if you like shopping go to the Fashion Show Mall!! BEST MALL EVER!!!! The Sephora's in Vegas are awesome! If you like outlet shopping there's a good one and a bad one. The bad one is the one most advertised - its at the end of the strip - don't go there. The good one has Coach, Off Saks, etc....it's up in front of the strip before you hit the Stratosphere.

Keep us updated on where you go and such! I know it's a bit away - but it is super exciting!

Another Vegas ho here! (waving wildly). Palms and Hard Rock are great places to party.

Shopping: the Forum shops at Caesars is the place to be...

I've only stayed at the Bellagio, but i liked it.

I've been to Vegas 4 times in the last 8 months. I love Vegas!! I've also stayed at a different hotel/casino each time... so here's what I'd say:

* I think you should definitely try to stay at a hotel in the middle of the strip. You won't regret it! In the center of the strip, I've stayed at TI & Caesar's.. both nice. On the south side of the strip, I've stayed at MGM & Luxor. Both nice, but the walk can get annoying.

* For shopping, the Forum shops at Caesar's wins, no contest!!

* Clubbing, I like Rain (Palms), Pure (Caesar's), and Light (Bellagio). Light is smaller than the previous 2, but still fun nonetheless. If you're going to go to a place like Rain or Pure, get there early. You won't regret it. Those places usually open at 11... when we went, we 'got in line' at about 9.30 (we would take turns - 1 of us would wait in line, the others would get the 1 drinks and stay close by gambling) and when the place opened up, we didn't have to wait at all :)

* Bars / Lounges, I like Ghost bar (Palms-get on the list before the place opens), Rouge (cool place in MGM) and Cleopatra's Barge is pretty alright too (Caesar's). Jet is fun, but I think that could fall in the club category?

* If you can, SEE A CIRQUE DE SOULE show!! They are amazing. I've seen KA (MGM) & O (Bellagio). Both were spectacular. Get your tix in advance for the best seats

* If you want to see the "laser show" downtown, take a cab - lest you risk being mugged or shot at.

* At the end of a long night of partying, take a cab home. During my last trip, we were leaving the Bellagio and my friend was like "Do you want to get a cab, or walk?" The Luxor didn't *LOOK* that far, so I decided we should walk. 1.5 miles later, we were finally home. They look closer because they are big buildings.. at least that is my theory.

* Meet new people everyday. Most people in Vegas are there to have a good time

* Have at least 1 really really nice dinner. The Bellagio has a fantastic steakhouse with a great selection of wine. Galleger's (sp?) in New York New York is another great steakhouse.

My last piece of advice:

* If you're walking around the MGM, don't waste your time on the TV screening thing. Trust me on this one.

T*P's right... technically, the Strip is defined with its northern border at the Sahara hotel and its southern border as the Mandalay Bay. The Stratosphere (formerly Bob Stupak's Vagrant's -ahem, Vegas - World is on Las Vegas Boulevard, but in an area locals call 'Naked City'. Walk a block or two away from the lights and it gets pretty nasty out there.

With the exception of the area immediately surrounding Glitter Gulch - aka, the Fremont Street Experience - it is not recommended for tourists (or locals) to wander off the brightly lit neon.

Technically, the Strip from Flamingo Road to Tropicana Ave is one mile's walk. Take a cab or the Strip Shuttle.

Thanks for all the responses! So helpful!

Does anyone know if staying at the hotel a club is at gets you in faster or cheaper? Because if it doesn't, I really don't care about staying at the Palms.

I wouldn't stay at the Palms as it is off strip. A cheap cab ride can get you there. Also, take some comfortable shoes. The walk up/down the strip is a LONG one. Last thing, don't split or double down on blackjack when you're betting $25+ per hand. I paid my hotels' light bill for the month.

Oh and one more thing, staying in Vegas longer than 3 days is overkill. There is such a thing as too much of a good thing.

The short answer is "it probably doesn't help too much" - the long answer is that unless you have a 'casino host' you probably aren't getting any more help getting in than any random off the street . . . this means at, say, Tao or Rain, you're getting the same deal as anyone else on busy nights - which can be all over the map.

Obviously it will be better/easier for girls, but still - unless you're rolling pretty heavy, you won't really get much help from the hotel staff.

Don't listen to this - if you can't afford to split or double down, don't play. The only way for most people to recoup any house edge is with proper splitting and doubling. Trust me, I've had the doomswitch pulled early and often - I drink too much - but I'm serious here.

Bellagio or the Wynn......hands down.

If you can't afford to play 25$ hands of blackjack.......then don't play. What is the point if you aren't going to split or double down when it is advised?

...on a side note.....blackjack is one of the worst odds games you can play at a casino. Shoot craps or play poker.

They do not call it lost wages for nothing!:eek:

Stayed at the MGM 3 months before it burned and now the Balley.

Agree, wear comfy shoes.

Hell, once you get into a casino you have no clue what is going on.:(

I lost at every gambling type possible, they dont build those places with the winner's money.

See shows there are a lot and just take in the sights, they are unreal.

People watch, it is a hoot!:cool:

The MGM fire was about 25 years ago. Its a completely different Vegas these days Tom.

Yeah, I was about to say.......I thought that thing burned down a loooong time ago.

Tom I think we need to get you back in Vegas. :p

Lost Wage$
 

I Vega$ almost EVERY New Years since 1996.

I've seen 3 hotels implode.

I've been around before Fremont Experience and Bellagio.

I use to know people that KNEW people... Like Mr. Wynn...

What I would say, first and foremost, the House always wins in Vega$.

They will get their money. Bottom line. The Baccarat Dealers told me that's how Vega$ gets decided... By how well the Baccarat tables do. I'm talking 'bout the $50,000 stakes tables that you need to know the Hotel President to get in. Like Chinese billionares decide to lose $6 million and just blinks...

Anyhow, if you know someone who knows someone, you need VIP tixs for everything...

You want to go when things are jumpin' in Vega$. After Celebrity Events-like the Grammy's or Academy Awards, Don King Fights, or New Year's Eve.

If you not open to immorality, Vega$ is not for you... 'Cuz it gets wild... And what happens in Vega$, stays in Vega$...

Personally, I no longer Strip it. I like the Station Casinos. They have better odds at winning. Texas Station way out in Henderson is nice. But So is Red Rock and Sunset Casinos in Summerlin.

As a 21 year old, the ICE club would be nice to have a party.

I would hire a limo driver from the airport to wherever, then I would have him or her drive you around.

As far as shows, like someone said before, Cirque Du Soliel shows are alright. "O" might be fine as well as Mystere.

Then, there's the Blue Man Group.

As far as a hotel, there are way too many timeshares there. I would secure one if I could hook it up...

And if you wanted to go to Vega$ for this New Years, it's too late. Those reservations should have been made at the beginning of this year...

When I went in June, my group of friends & I got in for free at the Palms AND we got free drinks for the first hour.. it was nice :)

We stayed at TI that particular trip.

Cover for a good chunk of the clubs is $30-$40 per person

Having played baccarat a few times (at my play level, I'm relegated to the 'mini-baccarat' tables, which have much lower minimum bets, though I have played a couple of times at the full tables (there used to be a cheap full baccarat table at the Horeshoe, dunno if it's even around anymore)) I've seen my share of players dropping serious cash. The REALLY high stakes games aren't even played on the casino floor.

The casino staff don't call 'em 'whales' for nothing... (My younger brother is a boxman/floorman on dayshift at the Palace Station. Sorry, guys, comps are very tightly controlled - even he doesn't have the 'power of the pen'!)

Sooo apparently my stepdad wants to stay at the Golden Nugget. I told him he's either going to have to pay my cab fare to the strip, or let me stay on it. Haha.

I really don't like gambling, and that's all he goes for. Thank you guys for all the suggestions!

Actually blackjack is NOT the worst odds game. Craps has the best odds. Roulette has some of the worst odds. The house has the best advantage on slot machines.

Heres the thing, as for clubs, they are closed like Monday through Thursday. Some random ones are open Thursday nights, otherwise they are pretty much open Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings. I think my friend and I saw some open on Wednesday's but we left Wednesday morning.

Let's see, I've stayed at Excalibur, Luxor, Tropicana, NY NY & Aladdin (soon to be Planet Hollywood). I definately liked staying at the Aladdin best because it was in the middle of the strip.

Also, get a bus pass. They (LV) now has a bus (can't think of the name) that runs strictly up and down the strip. The busses come like every 10-15 minutes. A 24 hour pass is 5 bucks, each individual ride (one-way) 2 bucks. Get the pass.

I've heard great things about Rain (but it was closed when I was last there). My friend and I went to Chippendales. Great fun for girls. I've heard Thunder Down Under is pretty good too.

Shows, well I saw Phantom when I was there last. Love it (seen it way to many times) but expensive. If you are a trekkie, the Star Trek Experience at the Hilton isn't bad, although I would just recommend The Klingon Encounter (it's like a star tours esque ride but you get to walk through the Enterprise D first). The Borg Experience is just okay. It's fun watching the actors.

There is a place on the strip where you can get half price tickets, I would totally recommend that.

Eating, go to Margaritaville, that is a fun place.

My brain can't think of anymore right now, but later.

Notice that I put..ONE OF THE WORST ODDS GAMES......thanks.

Actually, craps odds are only good playing pass line/come bet at full odds - and most casinos on the strip have killed odds (going to 3x/4x/5x). Very few, if any, still allow 100x odds bets. Past that, sometimes the field bet can be EV-neutral (if they pay 2x on 2,12), and the remaining bets on the board are attrociously pro-house.

Roulette odds are very bad. Blackjack is slightly better than things like 3-card poker, significantly better than 'Casino War', and behind the so-called 'banking games' (which can actually be slightly in favor of the player if the player has the ability to cover the table sufficiently to play banker) - typically Pai Gow (note many low-end games do not allow you to bank) and Baccarat.

The house edge in blackjack is slightly under 0.5% if you play 'perfect' strategy - the house edge at a slot machine is 3% or greater, all the time, no matter what.

Generally, I try to drink enough to offset the house edge - this is easy to do at the poker table (rake is typically 10% to $4 on low- to mid-limit games, plus a tip), and really pretty easy at the BJ table too. Vegas = life.

http://images.ibsys.com/2005/0515/4490722_200X150.jpg

I stayed at the Wynn in May...it's so awesome and so is the nightclub "TRYST".

We're staying at the Bellagio in April...boy do I love my employer sometimes! :D

If you stay at the Luxor, try to stay in the pyramid instead of one of the outer buildings. It's cooler. :p

Also, if you're not a smoker, DEFINITELY request a non-smoking room. I'm from an indoor clean-air state, and the biggest shock about Vegas my first time there was the cigarette stench that permeates the entire city. Everything I brought with me had to be washed or drycleaned when I brought it home - even the stuff I never wore! Now I'm careful not to bring things that can't just be thrown in the washer the second I get home.

Casino Royale is one of the only casinos where you can do 100x odds on craps (that I know of)

Hotels I have stayed in:
Rio
Luxor (4 times)
Orleans (twice)
Venetian
NY NY
Imperial Palace
Aladdin

We got married at the Excalibur and had my bridal portraits taken at the Bellagio

Last trip, I did well at Roulette and craps and got my ass kicked in blackjack

Casino Royale definitely does, IP used to (but may be 'cash-grabbing' before it gets torn down) . . . past that, yeah. It's a stretch anymore.

they are definitely not closed monday through thursday. in fact - those are probably some of the best nights to go out. on monday, theres at least 3 clubs open, tuesday you can go to pure, wednesday theres another 3 open and thursday is the start of our "weekend" out here.
so, pretty basically, you can go out any night of the week. :D living here, i hate going out on friday and saturday nights because its so damn busy.

as for staying places - the MGM usually has really good deals on rooms, and its in the middle sort of...
caesers has nice rooms too.. so does the wynn but i dont know how much youre looking to spend. nor what days youre coming and for how long.

as for staying in the hotel with the club you want to go to - it doesnt really matter. if youre a bunch of girls, chances are you'll get in anywhere right away. put yourself on a list somewhere that you want to go. if you need numbers or anything to clubs or whatever - PM me, i can get you names and numbers to VIP hosts and/or guestlists.

:D

a few weeks ago my roommates and i stayed at ti... we were also celebrating a 21st!

definitely see a cirque, mystere was really awesome. i wish we had enough time to see the beatles one.

ceasars definitely has the best shops and is in the middle of the strip, so that is convenient.

it sure is a long walk from ny ny to ti. and don't ask me about gambling, i had issues with putting my money in a box. my roommate did win $500 playing wheel of fortune, so that was exciting.

Ok, so I have a dumb question: Do all the casinos allow smoking inside of them?

I am considering Vegas for my spring vacation with the hubby. Cigarette smoke REALLY bothers my lungs; when we went on a cruise I couldn't spend any time in the casino, as that was one of the few places the ship allowed smoking. If Vegas hotels/casinos allow smoking everywhere, it will SERIOUSLY lower Vegas on my vacation list.

Nicole

I can't think of any casino that was non-smoking, but I hardly hit every casino in Vegas. Someone from around there might know.

Well, the last time I was there was 6 years ago (when I was 14... haha), but all the casinos I walked through allowed smoking. It's weird when you're from CA and you can't smoke ANYWHERE.

Here's something I found on a Las Vegas trivia site: "Emerald Island, in Henderson, is the only non-smoking casino in the Las Vegas valley."

I think some might have non-smoking areas, especially in the buffets, but I mean... smoke still drifts.

Last time I was there (August), I was surprised how many of the buffetts and restaurants are non smoking now. I'm so used to not having to be asked smoking/non that it took me a bit to realize that they were not asking the question! :)

the air filtration systems in the casino are insane. I am allergic to cigarette smoke and i have no problem in the casinos in vegas, you don't even smell it.

While I rarely smell it, I find that when I get back home ALL my clothes stink of smoke. Even if I never wore them. Plus, during the winter, either the filtration isn't as good or maybe I just don't leave the casino as much because I end up needing more throat lozenges and/or benadryl.

Cool, thanks for all of the replies. :)

When they passed a fairly tough no smoking law here in Colorado, they exempted the casinos.

I know I'm in a tiny minority here, but I just don't understand the Las Vegas thing -- unless you just like to live in the desert.

I've been there probably 30-40 times on business (conventions, etc.) and just dread going back.

If someone was going to give me a vacation, I'd ask if I could go somewhere else.

There were only two things I didn't like about Las Vegas:

1. The smoking. It REALLY bothers me, and it is EVERYWHERE in LV.
2. It's impossible to get around. They make hotels into mazes. All routes lead to the casino. You can't get out! Can you imagine if there was a fire at one of the casinos?