1. Welcome to VegasMessageBoard
    It appears you are visiting our community as a guest.
    In order to view full-size images, participate in discussions, vote in polls, etc, you will need to Log in or Register.

Vegas Planning, How do you flow?

Discussion in 'Misc. Vegas Chat' started by Epeebes, Mar 23, 2013.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. mike_m235

    mike_m235 Tourist

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2012
    Messages:
    2,420
    Location:
    Colorado Springs
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    12
    I book shows well in advance. We get very little vacation time with just my wife and I, so those are the centerpieces of the trip (at least for her, and I'm smart enough not to argue.) Once I book the shows, I build dinner reservations around the shows -- usually at the same property, or nearby, for convenience. We like to eat nice dinners, so the reservations are kind of a must.

    From there, we fit our flexible things (my gambling, her shopping) around those events. We usually negotiate a brunch or lunch time that works for both of us (that's the polite way of saying I meet her for brunch or lunch when she tells me to.)

    That's about it. It works for us because I mostly go to gamble and spend time with my wife. I plan out the events with my wife, then gamble around them.

    And it's not all me giving in -- I have my things too. Like I have to gamble when we first arrive, pretty much right after checking in. She's good with that. She'll hit the spa or take a nap.
     
  2. S'AllGoodMan

    S'AllGoodMan High-Roller

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2010
    Messages:
    667
    Location:
    CT
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    50
    JAPH, all of those things would be an issue if we traveled with other people to Vegas, but we don't. We've been btwn 30-40 times so we've seen it. Now we wake up decide where to eat, gamble, drink and repeat.

    Now if we travel to other places, I'm a huge planner and we have things planned out to do and see, but Vegas isn't one of those places anymore.

    B
     
  3. ken2v

    ken2v This Space For Rent

    Joined:
    Sep 18, 2003
    Messages:
    29,784
    Location:
    A nice place
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    110
    Daydreaming and planning are not the same thing. I daydream about trips almost nonstop. But planning? No thanks. I advance book what is essential -- a way there and back, a place to stay if a high-demand market, any reservations that are absolutely critical. No hourly punchcard, no Excel spreadsheet, no longing for national chain eats. Life is way too short to be so orchestrated on vacation, which to me is about discovery even if I've been to the locale before.
     
  4. Buckeye Bob

    Buckeye Bob Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Apr 30, 2002
    Messages:
    466
    Location:
    Chicago
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    27
    My trips are usually guys trips and I am the planner. I find the hotel and book dinners for each evening. The rest is up to them. Whatever they want to do, they can do. For our couples trips, I have added shows to the preplanning. I have found that any detailed itinerary gets blown out of the water and just causes stress for everyone. JMHO
     
  5. sybgal

    sybgal VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2004
    Messages:
    6,261
    Location:
    Indiana
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    36
    Planning? Very little for us...like when to leave for the airport... lol. We've been enough that we know what we might plan may not be convenient for us at that time because we go to LV to gamble, gamble, gamble. We know our fav places and go to them when the mood strikes us. We will plan our shows when we get there to see what free ones CET is offering and what a random interaction with a host provides... We leave in the morning and the only things we have set is our free rooms and a limo pick up. We always start our 1st day's dinner with a Buffet of Buffets and going to Caesars new buffy. After that...who knows - whatever, whenever something interesting pops up.

    For me, planning and lists are something I do at work....Vegas is not work. :):)
     
  6. xman30

    xman30 High-Roller

    Joined:
    Jul 29, 2012
    Messages:
    710
    Location:
    Houston, Texas
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    28
    I usually plan pretty well. I have a little note book that I use as a planner. I'll write down what attractions I go to each day, it what order. I write down where I'm going to eat breakfast & dinner each day. If I'm seeing a show on a particular day, I'll write that down as well. I'll buy my show tickets at least two months in advance. I tend to book my room & airfare a few months in advance. I tend to do better when I plan things.

    xman30
     
  7. wizzeewigg

    wizzeewigg Tourist

    Joined:
    Apr 2, 2013
    Messages:
    18
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    0
    hubby and i are going for the first time in early may. i am reading about everything there is to do...and planning one thing a day. One day I want to do the Fremont Street experience, one night the Bellagio fountains...etc. I am seeing a lot of people saying they make dinner reservations months/weeks before their trip. Do most/all restaurants and/or buffets require reservations...or just the top dollar places?
     
  8. Bossplayer21

    Bossplayer21 Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2009
    Messages:
    443
    Location:
    Michigan
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    9
    I'm with Ken, I daydream about the trip all day while at work. I read this message board as a means to day dream. But other than a flight to and from Vegas, and a room to sleep in, I don't plan a thing. I like waking up getting dressed and just wonder down the strip looking for coffee or a place to eat breakfest, or hell I may not eat breakfest. Then either continue walking the strip if we feel like it, start to gamble, go shopping, whatever we fell like doing at that moment. Lunch and dinner plans, maybe..we have to eat but at what time who knows, who cares. My wife and I have only been on 1 cruise together and we both hated it. Im on vacation so I don't want anyone telling me I have to be back on the ship by x time. So the whole time you are looking at your watch nervious that you'll miss the time. (obv missing a boat is more serious than missing a planned activity in vegas, but the clock watching is still valid)

    I have been to vegas 5 times and have never been to a pool, had dinner rservations or seen a show. I don't care if I ever get to those things, vacation for me is void of any plan, void of clock watching and void of running the rat race. My favorite part about vegas is the amount of options you have at all hours of the night. No last call, I can eat any time of the night, sleep when you find time,gamble all night, etc....
     
  9. tldbucs

    tldbucs Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2010
    Messages:
    147
    Location:
    Tampa Fl.
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    40
    The misses and I are always reading the Vegas message board to get ideas for our next trip. We put them in our phone and then when in Vegas we have a list of possible things to do. We do book some shows and my golf outings in advance.
     
  10. Molder66

    Molder66 Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Jan 20, 2013
    Messages:
    135
    Location:
    Phoenix Area
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    12
    Planned a four day trip, all laid out on a yellow legal pad in green ink.

    Day 1: All goes according to plan.:)

    Day 2: Morning sticking with plan, Afternoon, start changing plan. Evening, screw it we will get back to the plan in the morning.

    Day 3: At breakfast, wad up stupid yellow piece of paper and toss it in trash on way to bar.:beer::drunk:

    Day 4: Late morning, what happened yesterday? :vomit:
    Start looking for stupid yellow piece of paper to find flight info.:cuss:
     
  11. DonnyC

    DonnyC VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2012
    Messages:
    2,739
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    8
    ALL SUBJECT TO CHANGE!!

    Wednesday Night
    4:50 Land in VEGAS

    Arrive at 6:00 – check-in, Walk to Walgreens for essentials – head ‘right’ out of GN
    and supper (food court style)

    7:30pm Watch Freemont Street Experience from Gold Diggers night club at the Golden
    Nugget (on balcony) – show starts at 8:00
    8:30pm The D long bar – for a drink and see the re-do of Fitzgeralds. GET $1 CHIP!

    9:00pm Gold Spike black-jack $3 open from 6opm-1:00am

    11:00pm Infinity pool @ GN– open until 2:00 am.


    Thursday Morning
    8:00am – wake up, check out.

    9:00am Cheap gaming – craps on Freemont

    10:00am - Walk to Gold and Silver Pawn (Pawn Stars as seen on TV)

    Thursday Afternoon
    11:30am head to Bally’s. Check in or leave bags at bell desk.

    12:00 Stage Door – for lunch and dive bar (exit out by Bally’s Conference room)
    1. $2 Buds, Bud lights, and Coors Lights
    2. $1 Mich Ultras, Michelobs, and Mich Lights
    3. $3 Alaskan Amber and Johnsonville brat deals
    4. $2 PBR and Barton Reserve deals
    5. Let's get the party started $2 Jaegers, $3 Crowns, and $4 Patrons (you can even bump that Jaeger shot to bomb form for free.
    6 Extensive $3 bar food menu.

    2:00pm Mechanical Bull (Gilleys) Mechanical Bull Rides Available
    Every day from 11am to 2am / $10 Per Ride

    Between bull riding and changing for the evening. Possibly use gym – if we check in already

    3:00pm Back at Bally’s (check in if not done already – as check in is officially 4:00pm)

    4:00pm Change for evening

    Thursday Night
    5:00-6:30pm Supper – with food credit NY NY Sporting House

    7:00-9:00pm Tequila Bar at Bally’s (Happy Hour – excluding Fri & Sat)
    There are 30 different types of tequila. From what I hear it isn’t a full ounce shot for $2 but maybe a half ounce. We should each try different ones. If we each had 7 which would be 3 each shots in 2 hours, we would be half done.

    9:00-11:00 or 12:00pm
    Gaming – Margarita-ville casino & Bally’s casino

    Thursday Late night
    Late night food special – Or outdoor Karaoke at Hawaiian market Place
    (1st place we did karaoke in Vegas. Not sure if they still have it there…finding out)
    OR
    Have the other 3 shots each of tequila.
    (not sure what the price is after Happy Hour ie) if they are still $2 – sent e-mail)


    Friday Morning
    8:00-900am – Fitness center
    8:30am Pool (pool actually opens at 9:00am) or outlet mall
    (Lions share at MGM – Jackpot over 2 million if we go to outlet mall, we will stop at MGM on way back)


    Friday Afternoon
    12:00-2:00pm Check out Counts Customs – (As seen on TV’s ‘Counting Cars’)
    (custom cars, hot-rods and bikes)

    3:00pm Change for Supper

    Friday Evening
    4:00-5:30pm Super at Circus Circus Steak house – food credit
    Early dining specials from 4pm-6pm, featuring $5 Sterling Vintner's Collection wines and 1/2 price cocktails (excludes Saturdays and Holidays).

    6:00-7:00pm Peppermills – for a drink

    7:15 – Pick up champagne from store by Peppermill (take back to room & out on ice)

    8:00-11:00pm gaming at The Quad (used to be IP)
    If the atmosphere and place sucks head to Flamingo then to Gilly’s

    Late night- Gilley’s Casino in TI
    • 9pm – 5am Thursday and Friday
    • 1pm – 5am Saturday
    • 1pm – 9pm Sunday
    • Located near Gilley’s Trading Post
    • Blackjack, Casino War, and 3-Card Poker
    • Country music videos on flat screen TVs

    Saturday Morning
    8:30am Pool (pool actually opens at 9:00am) or outlet mall
    (Lions share at MGM – Jackpot over 2 million if we go to outlet mall, we will stop at MGM on way back)

    Saturday Afternoon
    12:30 Lunch at Chipotle if not had yet (or other food in that food court)

    1:30-3:30pm Ellis Island – never been to (dive bar and casino)
    OR
    Casino Royale has $5 craps tables on weekends

    4:00pm Change for evening

    Saturday Evening
    5:00 -6:30 Supper at Excalibur or Luxor buffet – food credit

    7:30-8:00pm Fountains & Champaign (watch 2 shows @ 7:30 & 8:00)
    8:30-9:30pm Cleopatra’s Barge – for a drink @ Caesars Palace (it’s the long shaped like a ship)

    10:00pm Gaming


    Saturday Late Night


    Sunday Morning
    8:30am Pool (pool actually opens at 9:00am) or outlet mall
    (Lions share at MGM – Jackpot over 2 million if we go to outlet mall, we will stop at MGM on way back)

    Sunday Afternoon
    12:30 Fountains of Bellagio (day show)

    Pool or outlet mall (whatever we didn’t do in the morning)
    OR
    Redo a favorite, go to the Stratosphere and check it out with some gaming & then to Peppermills for supper and drinks.
    4:30 – Fitness center

    Sunday Evening
    6:00pm Karaoke - @ Harrah’s Piano Bar (between 6pm & 9pm)

    7:30pm Fountains of Bellagio

    8:15 Tequila bar at Bally’s

    BIG Question – plane leaves at 7:00am Monday morning, have to be out of hotel by about 4:00am…stay up all night or get a few hours sleep?
    (Plane ride is 3 hours, so we can sleep on the plane. Lands at 11:15 our time. Back in Winkler by 3:00pm. Can take a nap till 5:00pm)
     
  12. Bossplayer21

    Bossplayer21 Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2009
    Messages:
    443
    Location:
    Michigan
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    9
    @DonnyC - No offense...but we couldn't go on vacation together:poke:
     
  13. Pattie

    Pattie Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2012
    Messages:
    149
    Location:
    Maryland
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    8
    I am exhausted just reading this, DonnyC! If it works for you then more power to you but know that it is possible that BlueSkadoo put the hurt on the Lion's Share a few days ago so your Saturday morning schedule could be quite wrecked.

    What happened to the champagne on ice from Friday night? ;-)
     
  14. DonnyC

    DonnyC VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2012
    Messages:
    2,739
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    8
    it probably get picked up Wednesday night and drank while watching the fountains one night (Saturday Evening I believe).

     
  15. LV_Bound

    LV_Bound VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Nov 17, 2010
    Messages:
    9,409
    Location:
    Florida
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    32
    Usually have a list of items we would like to do and places to eat, but no longer try to attach any times or requirements.

    Many times only one or two items get crossed off the list because we get carried away with all that is going on.

    Also good to have a list just in case you need a break or funds run out.
     
  16. Kickin

    Kickin Flea

    Joined:
    Aug 10, 2012
    Messages:
    3,414
    Holy crap Donny that is the most detailed agenda for "fun" I have ever seen. I think you may be a bit OCD. :poke:

    I only schedule/plan the things that need to be reserved or booked. Other than that its just a rough idea of things we'd like to do but mostly just play by ear.

    On our last trip since my gf never saw much of Vegas before other than the clubs I "planned out" a day where we'd walk the strip and hit most of the casinos. We did it and frankly it wasn't all that much fun, mostly tiring, and we gave up after Venetian so never made it to Wynn or Circus Circus which I know probably sucks but I want to see it before its inevitably imploded. We were supposed to go downtown after that as well and never went. Lesson learned - just live free and go with whatever you feel.

    That being said, planning is fun. It's like having a virtual trip before the real one.
     
  17. DonnyC

    DonnyC VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2012
    Messages:
    2,739
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    8
    Our first few trips were just 'whatever happens, happens'. We enjoyed that, but sometimes felt like we didn't get to do much, or ended up not doing something we thought would be cool.

    Moat of my other vacations are cruises with my wife, Unless you just want to sit on the ship then you need to plan. So I just sort of default there.

    I'm already working on a variation of the schedule as we think we will have a rental car.

    We have 3 food credits from MyVegas, which I am finding actually makes things a bit more structured. For the Sporting House, we want to show up early enough to get the recliners, for The Steakhouse we want to show up early enough for the early specials.

    Somethings are on the schedule that are just givens, like the pool time.

    Others are intentional things we want to see and do.
     
  18. ken2v

    ken2v This Space For Rent

    Joined:
    Sep 18, 2003
    Messages:
    29,784
    Location:
    A nice place
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    110
    Makes me think of our first trip to New Zealand. We had a flight in to Wellington, a flight out of Auckland a week-plus later and we booked our first three nights of accomm right before flying in from Melbourne. lol

    I about popped a semi-major artery planning our first Vegas trip. I immediately said no mas.

    Different strokes is what makes the world go round!!
     
  19. ButterflyMtn

    ButterflyMtn High-Roller

    Joined:
    Jun 25, 2012
    Messages:
    674
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    16

    Sooooooo...do you set a timer or stop watch for everything?
     
  20. sunsetgirl

    sunsetgirl Tourist

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2013
    Messages:
    37
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    15
    DonnyC, I have an itinerary like that too! I enjoy looking at my spreadsheets and getting jazzed for my trip in the months leading up to it and I revise this itinerary up until the day I leave. It's just daydreaming in Excel since I travel with between 4 to 9 people every trip and they would run for the hills if they saw it.
    What I let my friends see is a list of restaurants, bars, and activities listed in order from N strip to South. They used to make fun of me when I started doing this years ago, but now they ask me for the lists before we go. I hate "I don't know, what do you want to do?" and this keeps that to a minimum. 75% of what I plan doesn't get done, but it sure is fun to write it down!
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.