Hello from London

Hello,

My name is Kathy and I will be in Vegas for the first time on the 19th Feb for 5 nights, staying at the Venetian. This is a special trip to celebrate my Mums 80th Birthday (it was in december).

I am incredibly excited, I have long wanted to visit Vegas and I imagine I will fall in love with the place. My Mum is the gambler, I will be spending a fair bit of time watching her play poker.

I just want to soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the experience. I hope we will take in a few shows and a trip to the Grand Canyon but I will have to see how my Mum feels after a 10 hour flight from London before I book any trips.

I am looking forward to cocktails and a complete Las Vegas experience (whatever that might be!)

If anyone has any hints or tips on anything new visitors should not miss, or what we should look out for, I would very much like to hear your comments.

Have fun everyone!

Kathy

 

A friend asked me this same question recently, and while the answer is geared towards a single 30 year old male you might get something out of it...

1) get a beer - just go to a walgreens, CVS or casino gift shop and buy one and wander round with it. You can drink anywhere you want and from anything you want - expect to see people drinking from plastic guitars regularly.
2) Walk the strip - you need trainers and the hotels are big. If you're short for time the ones you really want to check out are: New york new york, MGM Grand, Bellagio, Venetian (don't miss this one whatever you do - biggest hotel in the world, the scale is beserk on every level - walk over the rialto bridge to get in, you get the best views). As for the other hotels, go in if you fancy it but don't miss the former
3) Watch the bellagio fountains - do it after dark - shows are every 15 mins from 8pm to midnight
4) Get a picture at the welcome sign - a cab there and back will run you about 30 bucks from mid strip.
5) Go up the Stratosphere tower
6) Go to fremont street (which is downtown) - get the Duece bus for a couple of dollars from anywhere on the strip or a cab will be about 20 each way
7) Check out the chandelier bar at Cosmopolitan
8) Check out circle bar at Planet Hollywood
9) Sit in a giant shoe in Cosmopolitan
10) Try a buffet - Ceasars palace is about the best one currently - about $40 for the dinner buffet, you'll understand why when you see it
11) get a cocktail from Fat Tuesdays - ask for a 190 octane with an extra shot - costs $10, loads of them around the place
12) Get some custom m&m's from the m&m shop by MGM grand
13) Eat at sugar factory in the miracle mile shops at Planet Hollywood
14) Eat at America in NYNY
15) Check out the fashion show mall
16) check out the ceasars palace shops
17) check out the miracle mile shops at Planet Ho
18) don't wander about off strip apart from fremont street, can be a bit shady
19) Watch big elvis - think he is at the quad now
20) the beatles LOVE show is amazing at the mirage (probably about $80 for a seat), you can also watch their volcano go off outside.
21) watch the duelling pianos at times square in NYNY - free entry, great music, reasonably priced beer for a casino bar - about $6 a beer and $10 for a well drink (house vodka etc) with mixer.
22) Go to mix bar at the top of Mandalay Bay

There are loads more things that I can't think of right now.

 

Hi Kathy & welcome to the board!! 1st trip....so excited for you!!! One thing to keep in mind is that 5 nites will go by quickly and don't try to plan too much.... it's only going to put pressure on you to get stuff done. Pick out a show or two and soak up the atmosphere while going around - taking in all the sites. You will be in awe - it is different than anyplace on earth. A trip to the GC will take a full day out of your trip so don't be surprised if you decide to wait till next time for that. Please let us know all about it when you return home with a TR. Good luck & have a great time!!!

 

Thanks!

Thank you both for taking the time to reply. We have plenty to think about!

I will definitely post a review when we are back.

Kathy

 

Welcome to the board!

 

First trip...that is exciting! I hope it is everything you are hoping for and that your mom enjoys her birthday trip. Welcome to the board.

 

Welcome to the board Kathy!

 

Hi Kathy

welcome - this really is a great place to ask questions and get information. It's friendly as well which may be one of its best selling points.

Pre trip I would sit down with a drink each evening and just work through the different forum types and read old threads. There is a ton of info in them. And then don't be shy about asking questions - it will probably have been asked before, but people here are generally pretty happy to answer.

I am very much of the don't plan too much school - it puts you under pressure, when sometimes you just want to sit at a bar/coffee shop, or at a machine and watch the world go by, or drink or gamble or eat.

As someone else said I would pick 2 or 3 things and do them, and leave the rest fluid. This might be especially true with your Mum who wants to do a lot of gambling, and may also want to not get too energetic bearing in mind the change in climate etc etc.

I fly in for 14 hours or so from the other direction - normally I can hit the ground running, but it may pay to leave the first day free and stay relatively close to your home casino in case a nap is needed.

Have a ball

Cheers

Col

(South London born and bred)

 

Hi Kathy,
Welcome to the board. I'm sure you'll love Vegas and Venetian is a great hotel.

Couple of tips from me..
I am guessing you will arrive late afternoon in Vegas (if direct flight). Try to stay up that evening and go to bed at your ordinary time. It will help the next day.
The Outlet malls are well worth a visit, the prices compared to the UK are excellent.
Take comfortable shoes, you will do a lot more walking than you imagine.

I agree with Wigwam-Salesman - LOVE is an amazing show, whether your a fan of the beatles or not.

Most of all.. ENJOY

 

Welcome to the board, you will find a lot of helpful stuff on here, the deuce bus is a good way to get around, everything looks fairly close together but it isn't. For $8 you can get a 24 hr pass and you can hop on and off as much as you want, it runs all along the Strip from Mandalay Bay all the way to Fremont Street, Downtown.
I also echo the Fremont Street suggestion, it is a great experience at night and the light show under the canopy is something else. Even after a 10 hr flight you will be so excited when you land, you won't feel tired at all, have fun and enjoy the experience.