Finally going back after 3 1/2 years!

For our 5 year anniversary, my wife and I have finally been able to book a trip back to Las Vegas after more than 3 1/2 years away! And we're staying at our favorite hotel, The Mirage!

We got married at Red Rock Canyon overlook and had our reception at Mon Ami Gabi in 2012. We stayed an extra week at Caesars for our honeymoon after friends and family left and it was amazing. Then in 2013, we took a short trip for our one year anniversary. Since then, we haven't been able to make the timing or budget work, especially since we bought our first house last year.

It didn't look like it was happening this year, either, when multiple family members planned weddings we have to travel to around our anniversary in September. So when comp nights and good flights deals came up at the same time for May, we decided to make it an early anniversary trip!

We'll be at Mirage from May 11th to May 15th. We really want to get out to Red Rock Canyon (and Casino for some 10/6 DDB) but we're trying to decide if a rental car is worth the extra money on a shorter trip where we'll already be spending a lot of time at the pool and wandering up and down the Strip. We're not hard partiers but we like to do a lot of walking - which takes a lot of energy - and I don't mind a good buzz throughout the day if I'm playing and casino hopping.

Anyways, I'm excited! I've been to Las Vegas maybe seven times since I started going a decade ago but this has been the longest stretch without a trip. Looks like there have been a bunch of new projects going on the past few years, so there's going to be a lot to see. The biggest change will probably be seeing that skyline with the Linq observation wheel, which wasn't there last time. I can't wait to see that skyline again.

 

Congrats on all fronts!

 

Enjoy the trip. May is one of my favorite times to visit.

Mark

 

Have a great time!

 

Congrats - our 8 year anniversary is May 15th - got married in LV also (little church of the west / stayed at MB)

Considering going for our anniversary this year, but I'm on the fence between LV and an all inclusive resort in Cancun again

 

If you only need a car for the day you head to Red Rock, just rent one for the day. There are numerous locations on the strip to do so. While you have the car do some exploring after your RR visit. Check out the Boulder hiway casinos or better yet downtown Henderson for the old joints. While you're down that way drive out to Lake Las Vegas. It's not far and the village has some good restaurtants.

Good Luck!
Ric at Joes

 

I agree with this - in fact there is an Avis car rental right at The Mirage (here is the phone number: (702) 791-7425)

If you search online for Avis coupons you can find discount codes that will make the reservation even cheaper. If you monitor the rates and they drop after you book, you can always have them adjust it.

 

NIce! Enjoy your trip.

 

Thanks, everyone, and thanks for the info.

A one day rental would be cheaper overall but I've done short rentals before (at Mirage, if I recall correctly) and it was a hassle picking it up and then returning it mid-trip. Also, the rates never compared well and ended up being something like 2/3 of the cost for a 1 day rental picking up on the Strip as a 4 day rental picking up at the airport when you add in the $26 shuttle from the airport if you don't rent.

All that said, it's not out of the question, I just haven't been able to check rates yet, so it's a possibility! I love Red Rock Casino for their 10/6 DDB and also would love to get a 5-year anniversary shot of us at the canyon overlook to go with our wedding pictures. We just have to decide if it's a long enough trip to warrant spending extra time and money that could be spent gambling and wandering.

 

You could uber from the airport for $10- $12 and not have to wait on the shuttle

 

Congrats on your milestone anniversary and on your return to Vegas!

RICHARD

 

You have to pay for parking when you're staying at the hotel now?! WHAT?!

 

I would use Uber as it's so incredibly economical and you can day drink with no worries. No trying to find parking either. Congratulations on your anniversary! Have a great trip!

 

Wow. Well, that pretty much decides that. I'm already fed up with the damn resort fees we've been paying forever for a bunch of "amenities" I'll never use; there's no way I'm paying them another $40-$50 to park my car when I'm STAYING at their hotel plus gambling there and spending money at their restaurants.

That really sucks. We love to drive all over the area and check out off-Strip stuff when we're there, but now I feel like they're just trying to make me not want to go and spend my money in Las Vegas, especially on the Strip.

 

Now that I think about it, I believe I read this about the parking and commented previously but had forgotten about it until you reminded me. Thanks! That would have been a very unpleasant surprise considering we're on a limited budget. It probably would have ruined that arrival night because it's always the little annoyances that get me the most worked up. I'm working on it...

 

Thank you for the info. I should have specified that the comp nights are from my wife playing MyVegas. She's been playing it for years hoping to get us free stuff if we could ever afford another trip and it's finally paying off in a big way - the more low roller you are, the more those things make a difference when you're trying to figure out if you can afford a trip haha.

But I also see that the MLife Mastercard gets you automatic Pearl status, so it might be worth getting that now since I've thought about it in the past anyways. I believe there is not an annual fee with this card, correct?