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Pre Trip Report/Suggestions?

Discussion in 'Vegas Trip Reports' started by kristin, May 4, 2003.

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  1. So...getting all excited to go to Vegas!! 10 days, so here's my pre-trip report I am looking for some suggestions.

    May 14th- I am flying USAirways using my frequent flier miles. Hubby is taking United (It was soo much cheaper to have him fly on a different flight).

    Checking in to Monte Carlo for 6 nights. (Got a good deal in my e-mail)

    Renting a car for 3 days. (Through Thrifty for $42.22 including taxes- a compact) Would like to go to a few neat places: Ideas are: Death Valley, Zion, Grand Canyon...Lake Mead. (SUGGESTIONS ON THESE WOULD BE GREAT!)

    Have tickets on our anniversary (May 18th) to Mystere with great seats!

    Also plan to go to a couple buffets and eating some Sushi.

    [​IMG] Not HUGE gamblers (if we were really rich we might be...but for now it's nickel's and quarters baby!!)

    [​IMG] Thanks everyone...I have gotten lots of good ideas of this board!

    Kristin
     
  2. cowgirl

    cowgirl Tourist

    Joined:
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    Kristin - I know you'll have a great time. There is no better place than Vegas to celebrate - an anniversary, birthday or whatever! My husband and I will be there on the 22nd to celebrate our anniversary - 27 years -who'd a thunk? Anyway have fun.
     
  3. HurricaneMikey

    HurricaneMikey A-List Buffoon

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    Kristin...

    Try Sushi King at the Stardust...Hoyaheel and Hoyahub recommend it highly!

    I wouldn't suggest going to the Grand Canyon unless you just REALLY want to cross it off of your life's list of things to do. It's about a 5 hour drive from Vegas, and honestly, unless you're staying overnight or doing a tour, it's really not worth the drive. When we went, we only stayed for about a half hour, then everyone was ready to go. Yeah, it was nice to see, but, I wouldn't take time out of a Vegas Vacation to do it. That's 10 hours in the car for about 20 minutes of looking over the side and saying "yep, that sure is a big hole in the ground..."

    Anyhow, I look forward to your report on the Monte Carlo...I've never stayed there before, and I'm booked there at the end of July.

    Mikey
     
  4. jack_retired

    jack_retired Tourist

    Joined:
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    Messages:
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    Trips to Las Vegas:
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    I agree with all of the other post.

    I have marked some good places for trips away from the strip.

    Here are some good links:
    Las Vegas 101

    Here are some general links that can answer most of your Las Vegas fact questions.
    http://www.unlv.edu/Tourism/vegas.html
    http://www.vegas.com/
    http://www.cheapovegas.com/
    http://www.a2zlasvegas.com/
    http://www.lvrj.com/bestoflv/

    Here are some links that are more specialized.
    http://www.skister.com/bj/
    http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Shores/3591/taxifare.html
    http://www.lasvegastaxi.com/taxitips.html
    http://www.a2zlasvegas.com/games/progressive/jackpots.html
    http://www.travel2vegas.com/buffetreviews.html
    http://www.tasteofvegas.com/index.html
    http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/locate?select=city&city=las+vegas&state=nv&x=17&y=7

    Here is a link to a very good search engine.
    http://www.google.com/

    Looking for the web site of a particular casino/resort/hotel, click on the cheapovegas link and that will lead you to most of them.

    Want to know what/who is happening/appearing when, click on the unlv and the Vegas.com links.

    Play around with these links. You will find a ton of information.

    Some more:
    Shopping=window shopping.

    Fountains & shopping at http://www.bellagiolasvegas.com/

    Shopping at http://www.caesars.com/palace/default.html

    Cactus Garden at http://www.ethelm.com/Store/default.asp? [​IMG]

    http://www.lasvegas360.com/red_rock.html [​IMG]

    http://www.intermind.net/im/things.html

    Pirates at http://www.treasureisland.com/

    Watch the circus at http://www.circuscircus-lasvegas.com/

    http://www.lasvegasbiz.com/kids.htm

    http://www.bestreadguide.com/lasvegas/stories/19981125/att_museum.shtml

    World of coke

    M & M's World

    NY NY

    Paris

    http://www.sallys-place.com/travel/n_america/wus_las_vegas.htm

    http://www.travel.websites2000.com/las_vegas/attractions/vegas.html

    http://www.bigempire.com/vegas/oldlady.html

    Mt. Charleston [​IMG]

    Red Rock Canyon [​IMG]

    Valley of Fire State Park [​IMG]

    Pretend you are kids

    http://www.golasvegas.cc/

    http://www.krispykreme.com/

    http://www.goingtovegas.com/kpv-ttd.htm

    Volcano at http://www.themirage.com/

    http://www.vegasexperience.com/

    http://www.insidervlv.com/freeevents.html

    do not do big buffet at circus circus.

    For a small splurge, do the Sunday Champagne Brunch at http://www.goldennugget.com/

    Some one else posted these:
    You should see a show called The Blue Man group" it is a very unique and entertaining show..... The other enjoyable shows: Danny Ganz: (musical impressionist; Cirque @ Treasure Island; O @ The belogio; Lance Burton @ MonteCarlo

    I definitely suggest late night steak & eggs at The Las Vegas Club, Downtown.

    Red Square @ Mandalay Bay (great caviar & vodka)
    FAO Schwartz @ Caesar's Forum Shops (for the child in all of us) Nile Deli@Luxor (great matzo ball soup and deli sandwiches) Downtown Las Vegas (great neon, better gambling limits, less tourist traps) Wayne Newton@Stardust (he's a legend...you haven't done vegas unless you've done Wayne, well, you know what I mean..lol) Ethyl M @ Fashion Show Mall or airport (for some of the best chocolates you have ever tasted, try a raspberry filled. They give you a free one for just walking in the door) Krispy Kreme Doughnuts@Excelsior (pure ambrosia...) Venetian & Paris to people watch House of the Blues@ Mandalay Bay (hang out and listen to the house band, they are funky)

    The 7th floor of the MGM Grand parking garage at night. When I was there 2 weeks ago, it was closed off to traffic, I had to walk up a shut down escalator. The views from up there are really nice, and it's a unique experience to be up there all by yourself. Kind of a "magical moment" of peace & quiet, like hiking up a mountain to look at the stars.

    Once again, Binion's for that classic cut and an outstanding view at sunset. Palm in Caesar's. And the luncheon special is really reasonable, too.

    Prime at Bellagio; The Palm in the Forum Shops; Morton's on E Flamingo; Delmonico's at the Venetian; Smith & Wollensky's on the Strip; The Range at Harrah's; Gallagher's at New York, New York

    I don't know if it's just bad luck, but I just had my second straight mediocre meal at the Range. The onion soup was fantastic, but everything else was so-so. My steak was properly cooked but arrived at nearly room temperature (must have been parked somewhere while the rest of our order was being prepared). I expect more for nearly $50.

    I hope this helps.
     
  5. doctor_al

    doctor_al VIP Whale

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    Great post, Big Jack, kind of a shame it's going to be tucked away in a thread. I wonder if there's a place on this site to put this for future reference?
     
  6. jack_retired

    jack_retired Tourist

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    Thanks Doctor_Al, I sneak this post in every once in a while so the newbies can see it. That also allows me to high light parts of it.

    [​IMG]
     
  7. kristin

    kristin Guest

    OMG Big Jack!! That's a great report and highlighted a lot of the things that I wanted to try!! Thank you soooooo much!!!

    [​IMG] Thanks everyone for all your suggestions!! Keep em coming, you guys are great!!

    [​IMG] Kristin
     
  8. wam

    wam Low-Roller

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    Location:
    new york
    try the steakhoue in the circus and red square in the mandalay bay. great places to eat. and do not try to do too much. see big elvis for free in the barbary coast from 3-6pm, sit at the bar and play video poker and drink for free. i believe he is not there on sunday or monday afternoon.
     
  9. bigdogmom

    bigdogmom VIP Whale

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    I'll be there the same time as you, Kristin! I'm getting excited!

    If you want to do a day trip, Zion is probably the nicest of the places you listed. It's probably 2 1/2 hours each way? Doable, although it would be a long day. It's really beautiful, though, and worth the trip in my opinion.

    Whatever you decide to do, enjoy your trip! :cool:
     
  10. KVR

    KVR Newbie

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    Odessa, TX
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    If you really want to see the Grand Canyon do a helicopter trip. We did this last month and it was great. You fly over Lake Mead and Hoover Dam to the West Rim. They land, and provide a champagne picnic lunch. When flying back, they fly over Downtown and the Strip. We got some great pictures. Only took about 3 hours round trip. It was rather expensive, but it was worth it.
     
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