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How to get around in Laughlin?

Discussion in 'Off-Strip Hotels' started by Lady Fortuna, Dec 5, 2012.

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  1. Lady Fortuna

    Lady Fortuna Blessed with luck and ignorance...

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    I'm thinking of renting a car with a friend on my next trip to Vegas, to go to Laughlin for a two days (1 night) stay, but I wonder if it would add any fun to the holiday over-all, or just makes things complicated?

    The reason we want to stay the night, is so we don't have to worry about drinking and having to drive back late in the evening. And we don't like those bus tours, cause it limits your freedom so much with the scheduled times etc. The downside is, that if we will drink during our stay there, we won't be able to take the car to get us around Laughlin.

    One of my favorite things to do in Vegas, is to walk around the Strip (or Downtown) and to be able to hop in- and out- the casinos, bars and restaurants on the way. How is that in Laughlin? Are the casinos and other things at walking distance from eachother? Or are there only huge casino-resorts, with nothing (like bars and restaurants etc) in between?

    And how is the ambience? Is it any fun? People walking about on the streets with huge slushies and having party time on their mind, like in Vegas? Or mainly serious gamblers who don't want to pay the higher prizes of Las Vegas and are not interested in the glitter and glamour that comes with it?

    Any experiences to share? Pros and cons please!
     
  2. SickCallMcGee

    SickCallMcGee Newbie

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    I'm thinking of renting a car with a friend on my next trip to Vegas, to go to Laughlin for a two days (1 night) stay, but I wonder if it would add any fun to the holiday over-all, or just makes things complicated?

    The reason we want to stay the night, is so we don't have to worry about drinking and having to drive back late in the evening. And we don't like those bus tours, cause it limits your freedom so much with the scheduled times etc. The downside is, that if we will drink during our stay there, we won't be able to take the car to get us around Laughlin.

    One of my favorite things to do in Vegas, is to walk around the Strip (or Downtown) and to be able to hop in- and out- the casinos, bars and restaurants on the way. How is that in Laughlin? Are the casinos and other things at walking distance from eachother? Or are there only huge casino-resorts, with nothing (like bars and restaurants etc) in between?

    And how is the ambience? Is it any fun? People walking about on the streets with huge slushies and having party time on their mind, like in Vegas? Or mainly serious gamblers who don't want to pay the higher prizes of Las Vegas and are not interested in the glitter and glamour that comes with it?

    Any experiences to share? Pros and cons please!




    All of the casinos in Laughlin are all on the same street. It stretches about two miles from Riverside casino on the north end to Harrah's on the south end. However, Laughlin has the nations easiest transportation system. A 24 hour bus service the goes into town and back to the casinos that runs every half hour. You do not need a car while you are in Laughlin. With that stated, you will only find a few party goers on the weekends with the nightclubs that are open until 4am, but overall it is a tame town geared towards the 50+ crowd.

    The mall here is lol. (There is an Easy Spirit in it - I thought that brand died with the 80s) The restaruants are all inside the casinos and are value minded affairs. There is a bar across from the Golden Nugget, called the Hideaway which is a fun and young scene.

    As far as transportation, you can't beat the $20 roundtrip Silver Rider deal that leaves Las Vegas each day.

    I hope this helps~
     
  3. elrohir44

    elrohir44 Low-Roller

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    There is also the riverboats that run between all the casinos. You won't be able to get to/from Harrahs by foot. The boats are the best way.
     
  4. Lady Fortuna

    Lady Fortuna Blessed with luck and ignorance...

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    Tnx a lot, McGee! That is a lot of good information!
    I will make sure to check out the Hideaway and avoid (lol at) the mall.

    :peace:
     
  5. Lady Fortuna

    Lady Fortuna Blessed with luck and ignorance...

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    And thank you too, elrohir!
    That riverboat trip seems fun already by itself, let alone for transportation.

    :cheers:
     
  6. Smo

    Smo Mr. Las Vegas

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    If you love to walk to the casinos in Vegas, then you'll surely like it more in Laughlin! The casinos there are even closer to each other. There are 7 casinos connected by a riverwalk that runs alongside the Colorado River. Harrah's casino is at the top of the hill and not easy to walk to, but it is doable by street.

    I've been going to Laughlin for almost 30 years now. It is fun, mostly the older crowd as mentioned, laid back, and quite different from Vegas. Not so much night life or clubs as in Vegas, but you get a more 'cozy' feeling to the place while you are there.

    If you are staying in Vegas, I would only go to Laughlin to say 'Hey, I've been there!'

    There are many threads on here with the same questions about Laughlin on this board. Just do search and you will find even more info.

    HTH
     
  7. Nevada Kid

    Nevada Kid VIP Whale

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    The Riverboats are actually water taxis, just want to make sure that you aren't expecting a Mississippi style boat.

    Here's a link to a photo if you care. http://www.google.com/imgres?q=laughlin+water+taxi&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&tbo=d&rlz=1C1AFAB_enUS507US507&biw=1527&bih=871&tbm=isch&tbnid=NUDMu1ceSFznuM:&imgrefurl=http://www.dipity.com/tickr/Flickr_water_taxi/&docid=MPg_hIY0ZD3sdM&imgurl=http://static.flickr.com/2329/2142004128_4a38918bb9.jpg&w=500&h=333&ei=B9q_UK3KGcPW2gWpjID4BQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=594&vpy=130&dur=2861&hovh=183&hovw=276&tx=130&ty=123&sig=102285409772377236405&page=1&tbnh=134&tbnw=197&start=0&ndsp=37&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:0,i:95 The water taxis are fun though, but kinda pricey, and don't run all of the time.

    I am a fan of Laughlin, but it isn't a party vibe like Vegas and is definately geared toward an older crowd.
     
  8. Lady Fortuna

    Lady Fortuna Blessed with luck and ignorance...

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    Love the picture, looks fun indeed, thanks a lot!
    And I think it will also be fun to feel like the younger crowd again.

    :thumbsup:
     
  9. richardinbc

    richardinbc Low-Roller

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    check this out

    Hi Lady Fortuna:

    Check out the Laughlin Entertainer magazine to give you a better idea of what you will see in Laughlin.

    http://www.laughlinentertainer.com/
     
  10. Lady Fortuna

    Lady Fortuna Blessed with luck and ignorance...

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    Thanks a lot!

    :beer:
     
  11. Sam D

    Sam D Low-Roller

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    Personally, I only go to Laughlin when the weather is warm -- or scorching hot. That's because for me one of the main attractions is recreation on the river.

    There is a river walk that connects all the casinos that face the river except for Harrah's which is separated by a bluff. You can still get there on foot but you have to leave the river walk at the River Palms and walk out to the roadway frontage and then walk south about a quarter mile. As others have mentioned, all these casinos can be accessed by the water taxis that make stops at the dock in front of each casino.

    The only other casino that is not accessible to the river walk is the Tropicana Laughlin. That's because it is located on the opposite side of the road from the river. But it's an easy walk to get there.

    There are not nearly as many attractions and things to do or as much nightlife in Laughlin as in Vegas. Besides the gambling, there are a few showrooms and lounges, a couple of multi-screen theaters, a big bowling center, an antique and classic car museum, and plenty of bars and restaurants.

    If you're interested in the history of the area, the Colorado River Museum is definitely worth visiting. It's on the AZ side of the river just north of the Laughlin Bridge.

    If you rent a car, don't gas up in Laughlin. Go a short distance across the river to Bullhead City, AZ where the gas is far less expensive.
     
  12. Lady Fortuna

    Lady Fortuna Blessed with luck and ignorance...

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    Thank you Sam, great information!

    We will rent a car, so that's very useful to know. And also the river walk and Colorado River Museum are great tips!

    I know everybody their own taste, but which would be your favorite hotel, casino, restaurant and bar? And why?
    (lol, I might as well ask you to write a trip report, please don't feel pressured, I'm really happy with your tips already!)
     
  13. Sam D

    Sam D Low-Roller

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    Last time I was in Laughlin I stayed at the Pioneer because I got a river front room at a giveaway rate. One advantage is that you can park your car close to your room. Also the restaurant there is not bad. But overall I wouldn’t seriously recommend that hotel.

    I used to stay at Harrah’s but their rules became so restrictive that they seriously interfered with my enjoyment. They have a private beach but you can’t bring your own drinks, food or coolers there. They even have a rule that you can’t bring any alcoholic beverages into your own hotel room. The ice machines time out with a 3 minute delay after dispensing a minimum amount of ice. That’s intended to prevent guests from filling ice chests. And the parking restrictions for cars towing boats or jet skis are absurdly prohibitive.

    I'd have to say that the hotel I’ve enjoyed the most in Laughlin is the Riverside. I always ask for a room in their North Tower on the side that faces north and my requests have always been fulfilled. The rooms there are pretty nice and spacious. They also have balconies. And from that location you get a good view of the river all the way up to Davis Dam. The Riverside has convenient parking. It has good restaurants, 4 of which have views overlooking the river, a decent buffet, a movie theater, a large bowling center, car museum, and a casino that includes a non smoking section.
     
  14. Lady Fortuna

    Lady Fortuna Blessed with luck and ignorance...

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    Sam, thank you very much again!
    Nice to get this kind of insight information.
    I will sure avoid the Harrah's and the Riverside is on top of the list.

    :beer:
     
  15. Nevada Kid

    Nevada Kid VIP Whale

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    Here's my list of Laughlin favorites:

    Hotel(s)- Harrah's Laughlin (Feels most like a resort, nice pools, big casino, rooms vary so try and get an upgraded one)
    Tropicana Express (good remodeled rooms, nice pool, but away from the River Walk and definitely caters to the oldest crowd)
    Golden Nugget (small hotel with a decent pool, I love the Miragesque atrium area)
    Aquarius (Never stayed there but from what I have seen it looks great except for the sub standard pool on the roof of the casino)

    Casino(s)- Aquaruis (big, open, clean, good VP)
    Harrah's (nice, a big non-smoking area, but more expensive than anywhere else in town)
    Pioneer (I like the old west feel, cheap tables, and 9/6 JoB at the bar)
    Riverside (big with some fun coin droppers, more than enough games to keep you entertained)

    Restaurant- Baja Blue at Harrah's (good casino based Mexican, i like their Chile Verde)
    In n' Out (alwas good and right next door to the Trop)
    Harrah's Buffet (The best I have found in town)
    Paddlewheel at The Colorado Belle- Used to love this place, but wasn't as good on my last visit, rumor has it that dining at the Belle has gone downhill)

    Bar- ????

    Sportsbook- Aquarius followed by Harrahs (neither are that impressive)

    Golf- Laughlin Ranch (a tough course but beautiful)
    Mojave Resort ( another great course that I always seem to play better than average at. Maybe that's why I like it.)
    Riverview (a super cheap, 9 hole, par 3 course that is fun and you can play in just over an hour)
     
  16. petunia

    petunia Low-Roller

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    I just returned from a 15 day trip to Vegas and Laughlin. We always stop in Laughlin both at the beginning of our trip and the end. We drive, so Laughlin is closest, then go to Vegas and back to Laughlin before returning home. We also have some property nearby, so we go and check on it. My favorite places to stay are at Harrah's, Golden Nugget, and River Palms (though it is my hubby's choice, and I sadly don't recommend it) But Harrah's and Golden Nugget both have lovely rooms, clean, comfortable. The dining choices are good at both as well. I have never had the ice machine "time-out" on me at Harrah's, so not sure about that. I've played at all, but I seem to have the best luck at these two casinos and their comps are very generous. Cocktail service is great and I'd recommend both enthusiastically. The River Palms is on a slow downward spiral, I'm afraid....not much action there, but we are sentimental about it. We first stayed there 22 years ago when it was Sam's Town LOL
     
  17. laughlin1814

    laughlin1814 Newbie

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    pictures from Laughlin
     

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