Please fill in the blanks (pre-trip)

My wife and I were scheduled to go to Vegas and San Francisco last fall for a twenty-fifth anniversary trip. Unfortunately, we were supposed to leave September 12, so, obviously, the trip was canceled. What started out as a getaway for my wife and me has evolved into a family trip that now includes our three kids (ages 14 to 22). The five of us will fly into Vegas at noontime on Sunday, July 28 and will leave for San Francisco at 3:00 PM on Tuesday, July 30, so we’ll have a little over 48 hours for our first visit to the desert. We are renting a car and staying at Mandalay Bay, and I need help to complete our trip planning. Here’s what I have so far:

Sunday afternoon: get settled in the hotel, then the family hits the pool while I make some donations in the casino area.
Sunday dinner: open
Sunday night: open
Monday morning: since we’ll still be on east coast time, we’ll get up early and drive to the Hoover Dam. I hope to eat breakfast on the way out and lunch on the way back, and would appreciate some suggestions. I’d like to get back to Vegas by early afternoon.
Monday late afternoon: open (possibly, more pool time)
Monday dinner: open
Monday night: open
Tuesday morning: open

We would like to keep the dining costs down, if possible. I am interested in the Gold Coast or Orleans buffets, and since we’re next door to the Hard Rock, we may try the steak special at Mr. Lucky’s. We may try the Border Grill at the Mandalay for our “splurge†meal. I would also like to see the Fremont Street light show and one of the cheaper stage shows, like one of the celebrity impersonator shows.

I’ve gotten a lot of great input from these boards, but now it’s time to start planning in detail. Please fill in the open dates in my schedule as if you were doing your first visit to Vegas all over again. Thanks in advance for your help.

 

Border Grill was great, and not too terribly expensive. The outdoor seating area is nice if you go after dark.

Consider a comedy club; the Improv at Harrah's is good, and they always seem to have 2 for 1 coupons. There's also one at the Tropicana; never been to that one but it also has a lot of 2 for 1 coupons.

 

Mandalay Bay is NOT next door to the Hard Rock. The hard rock is aways away. I think Mystere is a show that all ages would enjoy, but x5 it will be costly. Since you have a short time, maybe the dinner show at the Excaliber ? It would allow you to combine a show with dinner, and is a family affair. Maybe the IP's Legends show?
Good Luck.

 

If you're looking for a cheap show for the whole family, try the Mac King comedy magician show. I've heard that even adults will greatly enjoy it, and it's listed as one of the best values in LV. There are many discount coupons around for it.

 

There are 2 for 1 Tickets at the Tropicana to see Rick Thomas. I paid $20 or so to take my daughter. she was awestruck and I enjoyed it more this time than last. He is an illusionist but his show is so much more. He does 2 shows in the afternoon.

When going to see the Fremont Experience, dine at the Bay City Diner at the Golden Gate. they have daily specials but feature Prime Rib dinners for 6.95 24 hours a day as they do their 16 oz. Porterhouse steak dinner (my favorite). there is an afternoon show at Lady Luck.....Stars of the Strip. entry is price of a drink 5.95....they had out coupons in front of the hotel and are in the free magazines. Viva las vegas is fun too at The STRAT . ...afternoon shows. Might enjoy Roxy's Diner where the waiters, waitresses, busboys and cooks all sing and dance. It's a hoot! Prices for meals run around $7.00.

Have fun.

Jim

 

If you want to keep costs down on shows the best way to go is the afternoon ones. Extremely good is the mentioned Mac King at Harrahs; another must see is Ronn Lucas at the Rio. Coupons (2-4-1's or "free"[1 drink min])are usually in the free publications or the walkway past Carnival Court (Harrahs). For a good Vegas style show ("free" with 1 $6.95 drink with the coupons that are all over the place)see Viva Las Vegas at the Stratosphere . A fairly good evening one if you like "popular" country is Honky-Tonk Angels at the Gold Coast. Tickets are $14.95 (includes 2 drinks-one at the show and 1 outside) or you can combine your show with the great buffet (or one at the other 2 restaurants) for $19.95. While you are Downtown for a great frugal prime rib try the California-$5.95 for salad bar, rib, potato, vegatable and cherries jubilee. At the Fitz while Downtown a good 5pm show for 1 drink minimum ($3.00) is the Larry Jones show. Poor theatre but great show for the money. Realize you can't possibly do all of this in the short time you have but if you leave early for the Dam you should be able to make it back in plenty of time for an afternoon show. Also might want to go swimming at a pool near home or on Tuesday morning and use Sunday afternoon for more "Las Vegas" type exclusives. Don't worry about gaming-that's what you do when you would normally be sleeping at home.

 

Thanks to everyone for the great suggestions. Seeing an afternoon show and having dinner close by (or at the show) is a great idea. I'll check out the coupon books and try to find the shows you recommended. Only six weeks to go!