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Help Me Plan 8+ Days!

Discussion in 'Misc. Vegas Chat' started by realjwstorm, Feb 4, 2013.

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  1. realjwstorm

    realjwstorm Tourist

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    Hello all .. I've been actively planning a semi-long trip to Vegas for the past couple of months. It's my 3rd trip in and my gf's 1st. We're from Maine, so whenever I go, I try to make it at least a week since I only can make the trip once every 2 or 3 years. Here's what I tentatively have planned thus far .. thoughts/ideas on additions/subtractions?

    Sat Feb 23 & Sun Feb 24

    Arrive Vegas 8:40 PM

    Don't have a hotel booked for the night, will be taking a taxi to our hotel and checking our luggage until Sunday checkin .. I'm assuming we can do this .. anyone have experience doing this?

    Probably show my gf parts of the strip including the volcano, fountains, etc for awhile, since again, it's her first time out ..

    Planning on hitting Ellis Island for the first time. Doing the 7.99 steak special and have some LVA coupons for gambling and drinks. From there, taking a taxi up to Terribles for some low limit gaming. Went there last trip and had a blast. Also a good place to stock up on low priced smokes etc at their gift shop. Thinking about staying there until their breakfast buffet opens. With a B1G1 coupon we can both eat for 4 bucks .. probably chancing food poisoning, but the price can't be beat! lol

    Then some free time until checkin. We're staying at the Quad (stayed there last time and didn't mind the room, had a strip view 10th floor room .. also, booked 8 nights for 180 bucks with their black friday sale so ...). I see checkin time is 4 PM, I'm hoping we can get an early checkin. What kind of luck will I have with that?

    6 PM - After a quick power nap, using $10 off coupons at Spice Market Buffet at PH.

    8 PM - Brad Garrett's Comedy Club (2 tix won on MyVegas)

    10 PM - Marc Savard's Comedy Hypnosis (2 free passes LVA coupon)


    Mon Feb 25

    Hash House A Go Go for breakfast ($10 coupon from ACG)

    2:30 Ceasar's Bacchanal Buffet

    7 PM - Jan Rouven's Illusions (Groupon)

    8:30 - Riviera Comedy Club (Free show ACG coupon)

    Tue Feb 26

    Noon - $20.13 special at ESTIATORIO MILOS Restaurant @ Cosmo

    3:30 - quick bite at Earl of Sandwich at Palms

    4 PM - Plan to use Palms 50% off LVA coupon at Tonic Bar

    7 PM - picture opp at the Welcome to Vegas sign (I've never been yet)

    8 PM - MORE Buffet @ Luxor (MyVegas reward)

    9 PM - Rollercoaster @ NY NY (B1G1)

    10 PM - Zumanity @ NY NY (MyVegas reward)

    ... am I cutting the times too close on this night??


    Wed Feb 28

    Grand Canyon .. which online deal is the best for a bus tour?

    Thu Feb 29

    Entire day downtown (ususally just go for the evening/night but with all the renovations and such, want a whole day down there this time around)

    10 AM - Golden Nugget Buffet (B1G1)

    5:30 PM - MSS Buffet (B1G1)

    7 PM - Mike Hammer Comedy Magic (B1G1)

    Have tons of gaming and drinking coupons to use throughout the day


    Fri Mar 1

    3:30 PM - Bellagio Buffet (MyVegas Reward)

    11 PM - Show In The Sky @ Rio and probably Rio Buffet earlier

    Rest of this day probably reserving for just exploring the strip and the off-strip properties ie Rio, Gold Coast, Orleans


    Sat Mar 2

    pretty much open


    Sun Mar 3

    9:30 AM - Sterling Brunch (did this last trip out, expensive, but gonna treat my better half)

    6 PM - Cravings Buffet @ Mirage (B1G1)

    9:30 PM - Absinthe .. have heard nothing but positives on this one and HAVE to see it .. what's the best way to get a deal?


    Mon Mar 4

    11 AM - checkout time (maybe one last bfast at Hash House?)

    1:55 PM - depression sets in as my flight takes off Eastbound :cry:



    A few of the shows/etc may be scheduled too close to each other? Think everything is doable?

    This is a work in progress, and will be fine tuning over the next couple of weeks .. plan on trying the shakes at Holsteins, hitting up Cosmo's Secret Pizza at some point, thinking about trying out the Heart Attack Grill for the experience, but after some of the reviews I've read I'm re-thinking that one ..


    I'm open to any and all suggestions/ideas, so let me hear them!
     
  2. captainron62

    captainron62 VIP Whale

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    I cannot think of a worse way to begin a vacation than by arriving and not having a room for 12 to 16 hours. Since you are an Ellis Island fan, why dont you grab a room at the Super 8 or whatever that is there, it will likely be the best money you spend on the trip.

    You have a pretty heavy agenda some days, more than I could manage. I am not a planner in LV, more of a seat of the pants, if it feels good do it kinda traveler.

    Good Luck, sounds like you have the beginnings of a great trip planned!
     
  3. zamboni

    zamboni VIP Whale

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    Wow, Luxor and Bellagio buffets in one trip. That is like renting a Chevy Aveo for half your trip and a Rolls the other half.
     
  4. numeno

    numeno VIP Whale

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    I would ditch the staying up idea right now. Even if you are normally night owls, you will hit a wall. I normally stay up to 2-3am CST(12-1am PST) and around 5-6am PST I am completely dead. I then still have 5+ hours to wait until early checkin.

    Now if you plan it perfectly and can actually alter your sleep that you flip it around for a day, maybe, but then you screw up your sleep for the entire trip. I just don't see it being worth it though. I just did a quick search and saw $70 night at the Quad for that Saturday. To me this is well worth it. You can still stay up as long as you want that first night, but waiting until 11am(you will get charged for early checkin btw, not sure how much) seems like a very bad idea.


    -----------------------------

    7 PM - picture opp at the Welcome to Vegas sign (I've never been yet)

    8 PM - MORE Buffet @ Luxor (MyVegas reward)

    9 PM - Rollercoaster @ NY NY (B1G1)

    10 PM - Zumanity @ NY NY (MyVegas reward)

    ... am I cutting the times too close on this night??



    I'd cut out the coaster and move that to another day. If you happen to have time, go for it. I think you will feel rushed though. Moving the sign to another day works as well. I assume you wanted to see it at night?



    -----------------------------


    Grand Canyon

    Be aware of the times this will leave. I think it is a solid 5 hours each way. The one I looked at left around 8am. Some might leave later, but I noticed you don't have a lot of early days on your trip. Not sure if this is an issue or not.
     
  5. atom

    atom High-Roller

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    Yeah, it's worth having a room when you arrive. The Quad will charge you for early check-in (if it's even available) right up until 4pm. The fee is $20. There's a lot of free entertainment downtown on the weekend, and room rates are usually cheaper. Why not start out with a room downtown on the first night?

    I would skip the breakfast buffer at the Golden Nugget. When I was last there lines were long and the food was pretty mediocre. The buffet at Main Street is far better. Maybe consider breakfast at the MSS buffet and dinner at the Flame steakhouse in the El Cortez. If you get an American Casino Guide there's a coupon for 50% off up to $25. This one coupon more than pays for the book.

    Enjoy your trip!
     
  6. Jameezy

    Jameezy RIP Riviera

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    I'm not a huge planner. I just kinda freestyle it when I get there

    I do think one of those days you need to go to "The D" and checkout Coney Island in there. Great Chilli Cheese Fries and Chilli dogs. Detroit style.
     
  7. realjwstorm

    realjwstorm Tourist

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    I have the ACG .. tons of downtown coupons in there .. and I plan on checking out the D for a large chunk of the downtown day ..
     
  8. kitson

    kitson VIP Whale

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    i would get a room for that first night. with it being her first trip, excitement will keep her, at least, from sleeping much the night before, and then much of the day travelling, and arrival, if on time, will mean getting your luggage somewhere after midnight on your east coast time body clock.

    you have eight days to show her the town, i think the whole trip will go better if you get some rest that first night, not sure that the ellis island steak at somewhere around 3 in the morning, at least on your body clock, will be appreciated that much...

    good luck, have fun!
     
  9. Nevyn

    Nevyn VIP Whale

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    No reason you cant take a cab somewhere and leave bags at bell desk. But a lot of places dont allow early check in so you are all in on staying up til 3-4 pm or paying an early fee.

    I used the grand canyon tour in Sonya's link to the left in September, and it was good value and a well run tour (I did South Rim). But be aware that you'll have to be up very early.

    Absinthe you might find at tix4tonite ... otherwise there are people handing out $20 off coupons near the tent where they hold it. Small venue so good seats don't matter. Dont go for front row unless you have a thick skin.
     
  10. realjwstorm

    realjwstorm Tourist

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    Definitely sounds like a room is a must for the first night ..
     
  11. Lady Fortuna

    Lady Fortuna Blessed with luck and ignorance...

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    I didn't finish reading yet, but quickly wanted to reply on this above.

    If you really don't want to book a room for the 1st night, why not rent a car? That way you will save the money for the taxis (from airport to hotel and to Terribles) and the early check-in of your luggage. And you will also have a place to crash for a couple of hours, in case really needed.

    Then when you go to your hotel on Sunday morning, they will assume you have just arrived in Vegas, and usually will let you check-in early to your room (without extra charge), as long as they have a cleaned one available. I cannot imagine they won't have one available, if you come around 9-10am. Many people leave on Sunday morning and have to catch an early flight home. And also, I guess they won't be fully booked anyway?

    Will continue reading your agenda now... :thumbsup:
     
  12. Kiwicol

    Kiwicol Low-Roller

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    +1 on getting a room first night. I'd rather take $10 a day off the budget for the rest of the trip and spend it on the room.

    Looks like the makings of a fun trip. You have a different approach to me as usually I have only one show or event booked in for a 5 day trip, and just do what I feel like each day (ie drink and gamble for 16 hours and forget to eat)

    Hope it goes well for you
     
  13. realjwstorm

    realjwstorm Tourist

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    Thanks guys .. love the tips .. as for booking so many shows, etc .. we're from Northern Maine .. there's hardly any entertainment up here at all, and with the coupons and the freebies you can't go wrong .. plus the gf isn't much of a gambler .. ah well, she's pretty much perfect other than that flaw lol
     
  14. MikeOPensacola

    MikeOPensacola El Jefe

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    Definitely get a room for the first day after a long day's flight. I would also plan some of the things you want to do, but stay flexible. A vacation shouldn't be work. Have fun and let us know how it goes while you are out there.:peace:
     
    Annual CCA (Casino Collectibles Association) Show at South Point
    Long Overdue Stay At The Golden Nugget
  15. Lady Fortuna

    Lady Fortuna Blessed with luck and ignorance...

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    Many places you are planning to go to and eat at, I would very much recommend (i.e. Brad Garrett's Comedy Club, Riviera Comedy Club, Spice Market Buffet, Earl of Sandwich, Ellis Island steak special, etc). I also get why you want to plan a lot of things to do or see, as you are going with your girlfriend and it's her first time (as oposite to being on your own on your 3rd trip).

    Also a few things I'm not sure about. For example, going to more than one buffet on one day. I'm usually satisfied for a looong time after one buffet, mostly even for the rest of the day. Also, you plan to go to the Sterling Brunch Buffet at 9:30am. It is something like $85 p/p (really expensive indeed!), but for that price you get the best steak and meat (filet mignon, rack of lamb, beef tenderloin), fish (smoked salmon, caviar), seafood (oysters, clams, crab claws, lobster, shrimp) and champaign (Perrier "bladibla" Brut). Well, anyway... you know what you get there. But at 9am?! I could never eat and drink anything near worth 85 dollar! I know it's also the experience, but still, why not a couple of hours later? The last seating is around 1pm.

    About the times between shows: it looks a bit tight sometimes. But if you figure out beforehand the route and how much time you'll take going from one show to the other, you can see if it's doable.

    BTW: I love the way you take use out of coupons and other offers! I also like to plan my trips around those as sort of a guideline, it's fun and makes me feel less guilty about my gambling money.
     
  16. rooster42000

    rooster42000 Goat of all Goats , My Hero

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    trip

    Make sure you go to the Bachanal around 2.00 pm you pay the lunch price and at 2.30 is the dinner you will be able to do the best buffet for between lunch and dinner for the lunch price , the buffet is awesome. But at 2.30 they charge for dinner so be there by 2.00 there is a small to medium line , depends the day.
     
  17. realjwstorm

    realjwstorm Tourist

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    Ah, I had read it was 3 PM when they charge for dinner .. that was my goal, to pay the cheaper price, start out slow and wait for the good stuff .. lol .. thanks for the tip!
     
  18. realjwstorm

    realjwstorm Tourist

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    Plus probably the best chocolate covered strawberries I've ever tasted! lol

    I like to be "frugal" lol
     
  19. Sam D

    Sam D Low-Roller

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    I agree with the person who suggested that you rent a car but I would disagree with the recommendation for using it as sleeping quarters for your first night there. :rolleyes2:

    The cost of a car rental would more than pay for itself in savings on cab fares and other transportation costs, especially since you are planning a side trip to the Grand Canyon.

    I also have to admire you for acquiring all those coupons that you plan on using. :cheers:
     
  20. Epeebes

    Epeebes Tourist

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    Piggybacking on what everyone else said get a room for the first night! Trust me you'll want one.

    Skip the Heart Attack Grill, I was up for the novelty and experience but the food grossed me out after it was placed on the table. Way too much fat for no reason. And I love me a good burger! Go to In n Out Burger instead!

    For the Grand Canyon, I HIGHLY recommend Grand Adventures South Rim Sunset tour. It's about $170 but its a small tour 10 ppl max and seeing the sunset at the Grand Canyon was Epicly awesome. Worth every penny.
     
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