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Big group trip in December, 25+ people... need advice!!!

Discussion in 'Misc. Vegas Chat' started by Odelay77, Oct 17, 2012.

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  1. Odelay77

    Odelay77 Low-Roller

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    Hi all. I'm planning a pretty huge week-long Vegas trip this December to celebrate my bachelor/bachelorette party with my fiancee. 25 people in all have booked and are flying out there with us. We'll occasionally split up and do "guys" stuff and "girls" stuff, as well as some stuff as a big group (these are all mutual friends of ours, so we work best as a group!). We'll be staying on the south or mid strip (MGM/Luxor/PH, with MGM as our base of operations). Our set plans so far:

    arriving Sunday - betting/watching football all day with the guys while the girls gamble/drink/eat/shop/relax
    Monday night - party bus downtown, MNF and steaks at Golden Nugget with the guys while the girls barhop on East Fremont, then video games and cocktails at Insert Coin(s), then party bus back to MGM
    Wednesday night - Dinner and show with the whole group (no dinner reservations yet, show is Absinthe... tickets already bought)

    Other than that, we're pretty content to let everyone do whatever they want. I feel that 25 people is enough that someone else in the group will likely be up for what you're wanting to do. We're not necessarily a 'wild' group, but most of us are up for pretty much anything... except that I'm bored by strippers, and none of us are into the club scene. Ages range from 30-60, and Vegas experience ranges from Newbies to Veterans (this is my fifth trip). We like to drink, gamble, eat, see good shows, people-watch and sightsee. Since people are on varying budgets, I don't want to overplan and make everyone be in specific places and times the whole trip, and I want to avoid too many situations when they have to spend a bunch of money.

    That all being said... this message board has been a wonderful resource for info and fun stories. Have any of you ever put together a Vegas trip with this many people? Do you have any tips? Specifically, I could use some pointers on:

    - efficient ways of keeping everyone informed about what is going on once we get there and are split between three hotels
    - inexpensive ways to introduce Vegas newbies to the strip so that they're not overwhelmed or bored
    - the value of reserving lounges or private dining rooms for a 25-person group (for dinner and/or cocktails), and what places on the south- or mid-strip can accommodate this relatively inexpensively
    - fun, alternative, quirky things for bachelor-party groups to do that don't involve strip clubs or the club scene (naked people and other 'adult' stuff is all good... we just want something a little more interesting than girls simply undressing for money) ... the same for bachelorette party groups (naked people fine as long as there's something more going on, but she's kinda grossed out by male strippers)
    - party buses. I think we'll get one from the airport (15 people landing on the same plane), and one for the ride downtown. I've run the numbers and it'll cost about the same per-person as a taxi, and this way everyone sticks together :)
    - recommendations for any airport park-and-fly hotels near Chicago Midway. 15 of us are on a really early flight and want to get a hotel the night before we fly out.
    - anything else! stories of group trips, bachelor/ette parties, fun stuff. I can't wait to go... so the more reading material you give me, the more fun I'll have. These are 23 great friends who are taking a week off and paying money to come with us, so I want to make sure they all have a great time! Plus, I swear that planning a Vegas trip is (almost) as fun as going on one! (not really...)
     
  2. mike_m235

    mike_m235 Tourist

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    First thing, not to be negative, but plan on at least a few people backing out. It happens with every group trip anywhere. Something comes up, or money is an issue. So don't be fixated around any specific people.

    Dinners will be very tough for 25 in one space. You can certainly all get seated in the same restaurant, especially during the week with reservations, but one big space or table is going to be very difficult and very limiting as far as the number of places that will handle it. So think about 4 reservations of 6, maybe, and vary the groups from day to day.

    Third, a week is a LONG time in Vegas if you're partying pretty hard. Especially if you're over 40. But there are things to do that let you detox. Consider the Hoover damn for some part of your group. It's about a 4 or 5 hour total trip, and busses leave right from your hotel.

    Arriving Sunday and expecting to get a big group in somewhere for football...that's challenging. To get seats in a book, you need to show up by 8:30 on the strip, at the latest. And even then you'd be split up if you want seats. Again, sorry to be negative, but better to understand that now.
     
  3. 44inarow

    44inarow VIP Whale

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    Whisky Attic, on South Maryland by UNLV (it's upstairs at a place called the Freakin' Frog). I don't even like whisky and I had a phenomenal time at a bachelor party event here.
     
  4. 44inarow

    44inarow VIP Whale

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    I might give Lily a call and see if they can handle a group that size for football. For dinners, off the top of my head, I once did a dinner at Lupo for 15 and we had room to spare; I'm also fairly sure that many places will have private rooms that you could reserve, but I can't think of any specific places at the moment.
     
  5. Odelay77

    Odelay77 Low-Roller

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    Thanks for the tips! For the record, 25 people are booked so far and have purchased tickets and reserved rooms... That's down from about 35 who originally said they'd go!

    There are some folks who are planning on doing the Hoover Dam tour... Thanks for the recommendation!
     
  6. NandJfrmNJ

    NandJfrmNJ VIP Whale

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    Although we fly from PHL, we always use Stay123. Their prices are considerably cheaper than booking a hotel and parking separately and we've never had a problem with them.
     
  7. bubbamsu

    bubbamsu Low-Roller

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    If you want to eat together as a group, 20+, you will need to book a private room with most if not all resturants and they will give you a few options for a set menu. You will not be getting a regular menu where people are free to order whatever they choose. Of course there might be a few exceptions, but I have not experienced them.

    I have been there for weddings, etc... where there was a large group and will always have had a set menu with a private room.

    Next week, my wife has a conference and is taking about 25-30 clients to dinner at the Bellagio. The only place that could accomodate her needs was FIX, the others had there private rooms already booked. The price options were $125 or $225 a person without alcohol. The menu included starters, enough options for dinner(steak,fish,chicken,veggie) and dessert.

    This is usually the norm from what I have experienced over the years with large groups. Just make sure you book early and to call around.
     
  8. nostresshere

    nostresshere Mr. Anti Debit Card

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    Wow - Bellagio of course would be at the high end of budget. Betting there are some better price options down in the NYNY area. How about Dicks at Excal? They seem to be party place.
     
  9. bubbamsu

    bubbamsu Low-Roller

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    The clientele is best served at a high end place. Bellagio(where most are staying), Aria, Cosmo, Wynncore, who know the rest. Yes, it is expensive, but in the grand scheme of things this might be one of the cheaper events next week. This is just 1 dinner, not including spa/golf events.

    They are renting out ALL of the Cabanas at Surrender this year. I believe there are 15 cabanas and they get 17 wristbands per cabana. DO the math on the bill!!! OUCH.

    Vegas can be very expensive
     
  10. HoyaHeel

    HoyaHeel Grammar Police & Admin

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    Maybe something like Casa di Amore for a group meal? http://www.casadiamore.com/os/resources/media/partypackagesfinal.pdf

    (many many people recommend Maggianos in the Fashion Show mall for reasonable rates for group meals - I just can't get over that it's a chain and I can eat there at home, so.....)

    Buffets can also be good options for group meals - feed all the picky/different tastes of your group, and many could have side rooms where you could all sit together.

    I'm a big fan of spa days:peace: (sometimes there are Groupons, Travelzoo or Facebook specials for spas, too)
     
  11. shifter

    shifter Degenerate Gambler

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    Diego's at MGM is a good cheaper option for large dining. they have some huge private rooms in the back that can accommodate 25+ people.
     
  12. vegasbound

    vegasbound VIP Whale

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    I've done the group thing (from 4 to 80) in Vegas a couple times. First, plan on a lot of waiting! Even when we all were all in the same hotel we wasted much of our trip waiting on others.

    Getting 20+ people to all be hungry at the same time is tricky. Plan one or two meals as a group. Remember private rooms usually come with a minimum or a facility charge. More than 6 usually means 18% gratuity tacked onto the bill. I like Grand Lux for groups, they're accomodating and the menu has something for everyone. As suggested, buffets are also good for this.

    Hopefully, everyone can receive texts. Put someone in charge of texting plans to the group. Give a location and time. Those that make it great, others can do their own thing.

    Go with the flow, try not to organize too much. People will be happy when they win, bitter when they lose, happy drunk, mean drunk, crying drunk and you'll encounter various degrees of hangovers. People won't want to walk and others won't want to pay to cab.

    I had great success inviting everyone downtown. Fremont Street is small enough that people can wander and still run into each other; plus, everyone is free to do what they like - shop, gamble/casino hop, drink/bar hop, stripclub, etc.
     
  13. Big Tip

    Big Tip VIP Whale

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    I have organized a golf/gamble/guzzle trip for 14 years. We have had up to 24 people go. I have just about gotten it down now.

    Whoever is paying for the limos and all group outing things should find out what the total cost is now,and get people to pay for it now, before the trip. This does two things. It relieves the planner of the stress of trying to get paid after the fact, and it also makes people commit to whatever function that is.

    Whatever you decide to do as a group, make sure everyone knows what it is now, before you get to Vegas. Send an itinerary around to everyone. Also the planner should make a point to say, "Here is the itinerary. Print a copy now and take to Vegas. I will not be answering questions once we are there." If you are not adamant about this you will be answering the same question 30 times. "What time are we suppose to be at dinner?" "Where is the dinner tonight?" I can guaranty this will happen.

    It is lots better to have small groups worry about getting themselves places than groups going places all together. Even though the group transportation is fun, too many times it will be ruined, waiting for Joe and Sally to show up. It sucks sitting on a bus, wasting valuable Vegas time, waiting for someone. It also sucks having to leave a hot craps table just to make a bus so you don't hold up the group.

    Doing group things early is lots easier than trying to gather the group later in the day. Hey, it's Vegas.

    Good luck. It sounds like great fun.
     
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