Any one gone on a Lake Mead cruise?

I found a coupon for 10% Lake Mead Cruises, but want to hear if anyone has gone on one before I book. It looks like midday cruises are $20 per person. Is it worth the money?

http://www.lakemeadcruises.com/

Any one gone on a Lake Mead cruise?

Lake Mead is Beautiful.....

We did the afternoon cruise %26amp; thoroughly enjoyed every bit of it...

Sat outside on the upper deck with the breeze blowing it was just fantastic..Very nice scenery...The only negitive is I%26#39;m a little deaf %26amp; couldnt hear the commentary where we were sitting outside..They even have a bar...Good strawberry daqueries....

Any one gone on a Lake Mead cruise?

We went and watched the sunset. Beautiful, a chance for some peace and quiet. Nice change of pace.

does this sound good??upgrade possibility?

Me and hubby are going april 11th and celebrating our belated honeymoon, without the kids etc...Wondering if i should just be like Its our honeymoon is it possible for an upgrade?

is that subtle enough, i dont wanna come off too strong...stayin at the excal...

ty

bella

does this sound good??upgrade possibility?

April is very busy. Upgrades are possible but don%26#39;t count on a free one. If you want a suite, just pay for it.

does this sound good??upgrade possibility?

last april got an upgrade without even asking, but if we have to pay for it how much do u think it will be for an upgrade at the excalibur per night...anyone??

Anything is possible, but I agree, if you want a room with a view or a suite, just reserve it, you are rolling the dice on a freebe. If you are leaving the kids, why did you pick Excalibur? Rates?

Beats me, call and ask. I would assume 30 or 50 extra per night.

I liked the excalibur, saw some of it last year...

I am not a picky chick, dont need all that extra crap to make me happy, easy to please, i was impressed with it, thats why i picked it..

thanks have a good day..

bella

Can%26#39;t help with the price difference, sorry never stayed there. Have a wonderful time and good luck.

TB - Just note that those on honeymoon usually set reservations months if ot a year out and identify themselves as such at time of booking. To walk in and say ';Hey, we are on our honeymoon - can we get an upgrade'; We would look at you a little funny/ It%26#39;s much easier (and more believeable) if you walk in and say ';It%26#39;s our 20th wedding anniversary: or something along those lines - don%26#39;t make your story too far fetched to be questioned by the front desk clerk......

TesasBellJb

We%26#39;re going that same week and I picked it specifically because there are no big conventions or other activities to draw large crowds. As a result, there are a lot of hotels offering good prices. Take a look at Mirage, TI, and some of the others. There are some great deals that week. The low prices would seem to indicate that there will be a lot of empty rooms, so an upgrade shouldn%26#39;t be a problem. Flashing a $20 wouldn%26#39;t hurt.

No reason to flash or bride the clerk with a $20 bill. Just ask politely, and if they have them you will get one. If not they will tell you how much extra per night you can stay in one if available.

TB, I agree, tell the clerk it is your xth annavesary and ask if there are any upgrades available. Worse they can say is no and counter offer.

yeah seeing as how we been together already 14 yrs...lol

thanks yall

Do club cards expire?

It has been about 5 years since we have been to Las Vegas and I didn%26#39;t keep any of our club cards. Do we just sign up for a new one again or do they keep records of them?

Do club cards expire?

I think that after a couple of years without use they expire - from what I remember reading on the back of the card the last time I looked

Do club cards expire?

18 months is what I have been told.

I%26#39;ve had my Ballys club card for 4 years and hadn%26#39;t used it in 3, and it was still active when I made my reservations recently. I%26#39;d ask the hotel to be sure.

Sorry, we don%26#39;t keep records...for your protection. That way your name can%26#39;t come up if our records are subjected to a subpoena. Your privacy is important to us. You%26#39;ll have to buy a new card.

Or at least that%26#39;s what they%26#39;ll tell you at the door so they can get your dollars.

Oops, my bad.

When you said ';club';, I thought strip/dance clubs. If it%26#39;s casino player cards, then it should still be in the computer system.

Nice.

Records are kept. They will check to see if you%26#39;re in the computer first. If they can%26#39;t find you, they will sign you up for a new card. Any comps you may have earned most likely have expired.

Thanks you, Sorry I used the wrong term I did mean players club cards.

I don%26#39;t think they expire, but they do update. If you go to the casino%26#39;s website you might even be able to pull up your information. When Casino%26#39;s are bought or sold they will often add other properties to your card. I try to get cards at all of the places I play it usually just takes a few minutes and you never know when you might have the luck O%26#39; the Irish with you. and be able to move from Circus Circus to a Bellagio Suite....

My last trip to Vegas I went to the desk to signup for the casino card and they had my old information on record. They turned to my wife and said ';You must be Beatriz';. Whoops! That was my first wife! My second (current) wife, Teri, was amused! :-) This meant they had kept the information active for around 8 years.

-Michael

MGM and Mandalay Bay Merger

When is this going to happen? And will our player cards from both clubs be merged? Does anyone know? We usually play at MGM Detriot and stay at TI. In August we are staying at Monte Carlo and want to use our comps there will this happen?

MGM and Mandalay Bay Merger

In time you might be able to cross over with your points. But right now they are still 2 separate entities.

clubs,lounges....over 40 crowd

Hey everyone,

Need your help, I will be traveling at the end of April with some co-workers. Any ideas on some clubs or lounges for the over 40 crowd?

clubs,lounges....over 40 crowd

I posted a similar question. There is a place called Tommy Rockers off strip that sounds like fun. Someone else said that the Bally%26#39;s lounges had a 40 something crowd. Click on my post name and you can then click on that post to see the reply. When you going to be there and where ya%26#39;ll staying?

clubs,lounges....over 40 crowd

Thanks for the info. We are going 4/21-4/26 and staying at the Venetian

I%26#39;ll be out at the end of march so if I make it to Tommy Rockers or find some other place I%26#39;ll let you know.

Right at the Venetian, by the casino, they have an excellent lounge, with great live band music. You can just listen to music, or dance to the music. Not exactly a club, but a great place to spend an evening.

Enjoy!!

back from vegas

Okay so I am a little late getting on here and reporting.

Went down the first week of March. Sorry Cindy for not making the Meet %26amp; Greet. I was up $100 at the craps table. I had bought in for $700. First time I had bought in for so much. You do get noticed by the dealers and Pit boss. Besides the comps are better if you do. My first few bets were $10 on the $5 tables. (did this each night I played craps.)

I stayed at Bally%26#39;s and was happy. A great location for the strip. I was able to walk all the way up to the Venetian and see Harrah%26#39;s, the Mirage, Flamingo, TI and CP in one day. The next I was able to see Bellagio,

Boardwalk, MC, NYNY, and MGM . I could have gone on down to Luxor and Mandalay if I wanted too. Next time I will....And there will be a next time.

Yes I checked in at the airport. Asked for an upgrade to north tower and view of Bellagio ...and yes $20 a night. Did not even get a chance to barter. Right out of her mouth at the mention of an upgrade.$20 per night.. However it was on the 22nd floor facing the fountains. However, the south tower was in the way ... I did not join the 22nd club. even though it was right at the elevators.. decided to spend the money elseware.

Great pizza and brauts downstairs at the end of the shops by the race and sports book.

Did not use the monorail..thought it was to spendy. Each time you step on you have to pay. Besides I do enjoy walking and watching all the people. Sat in front of the Paris and watched for about an hour. Then again outside the Venetian.Lots oof views.. The sun had come out after all the rain and so too did the shorts and sundresses...:)

Not a lot of older people at Bally%26#39;s..however, there were some . I think any casino would have a mixed crowd. ..maybe not Mandaly or Luxor..however,they are at the south end.. and older people do not want to walk as much. Actually there were some very attractive mid 20-mid 30 ladies..at Bally%26#39;s then again..any casino would have to some extent..and no I am not talking about the escorts. Albeit I did see one come out of the elevator at Bally%26#39;s wearing pretty near nothing..with a cell phone to her ear finding out where she was going next..lol could not have been more then 19 y/o...

Next time I might like to stay at CP. Just to stay at a different place. But mid strip is great for ease of seeing a lot of places.

The slots card earned comps for CP as well as Bally%26#39;s,Paris and Flamingo. Venetian seems spendy as is the Bellagio.

The Aladdin last year did not charge any extra for my upgrade. For it I had a great view of the Bellagio fountians. Better then Bally%26#39;s.

When I walked down the strip I joined as many slot clubs as possible. Lots are connected, so only need one card.

Was in the hole $30 at the Boardwalk when I hit a $250, Then after dropping $40 at NYNY went over to MGM and after $50 I hit a $100. (so made $ten for those of you counting at MGM/NYNY..Still up $260) I maimly wanted to use the cards and get my name on the email lists from teh different casinos. Never know when a good deal will come through to ya.

I broke even on the slots at Bally%26#39;s. Lost on the craps tables..however, for close to 15 hours total of playing craps over the 4 days, I did entertain myself and have a great time. I like to get to know the dealers the first night. Tipped well and bet the pass line for them. I even bet a C%26amp;E with a nickel chip and I shot a yo..they were very happy with that. They made sure I was covered on all my bets and odds.. My last night I did tip them $50 for the boys and girls.. Then again I had gotten to know them and they knew me. Even the cocktail waitress%26#39;s knew me. I tipped a $ on every water and ice tea I ordered.

Hope this helps. All I know is I cannot wait till next time. I think I am going to go 2 times a year now. I did not cash in my comps and have 13 months to use them.. and that my friends is way to long to wait.

And for the gentleman who posted about going alone and worring about it...... This was my third time and second time by myself......and what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.

Have fun,

Erik

back from vegas

Hey Erik,

Thanks for the update.

Planing on staying at ballys in June.

For all your playing, what kind of comps did you get.

back from vegas

I have $98 in comps that I can use between CP, Bally%26#39;s, Flamingo and Paris. (Plus Atlantic city and Mississippi).

I will book my room directly through the casino next time, (Used AOL tarvel this time), so that I can use them on the room.

Anything you charge to your room pays you back 3%,(you can charge to your room from any onf the 4 listed above.) So if your staying at Bally%26#39;s and eat at the Cheesecake factory at CP you can charge that to your room and get 3% back in comps..

Erik

Eric, before leaving, did you check with the casino host to see if you were able to get anything you charged to your room, including the cost of your room, comped for this visit? (You mentioned using your comps the next time.) If you earned nearly $100 in comps, you probably could have had a lot (or all of your charges) comped - without touching that portion of your players club card return. I%26#39;m not sure how they work it, but when I have had my room comped at Caesars, it did not reduce the value of the comps I had earned. Now, if they said I had not played enough to get anything comped, I could still cash in those comp points to pay toward what I had charged. Additionally, some people may not know that your card not only earns comp points, but also earns cash back. Before leaving any of the casinos for the last time on our stay there, I always check to see what cash value I have earned and cash it in on the chance that we will not return before it expires (usually in about 13-18 months).

erikrg,

So did the 19 year old say where she was going after she left your room. LOL. Seriously, thanks for the story. I love Vegas and I think Vegas loves me.

LVescape-- I did and was asked if I wantd to. I told them I would wait till next time. You are right I earned both cash and comps. I just figured it is a good way of getting me back sooner...

BIGTEX---I too LOL as I read your post... Thanks for the grins. I was waiting for someone to say that.lol

Really though... it was just one of those ya had to be there. Your waiting for the door to open ..it does and off walks this skirt to the hips, midrift showing to the shoulders......and you hear ';room 1845 Aladdin'; into the cell....

erik

natural makeup

Help picking hotel for 5/30-6/1 stay

My wife and I are staying 2 nights in Vegas starting the 30th of May and we can%26#39;t decide on a hotel. We%26#39;d like to stay in the $100 or less a night area and we%26#39;ve narrowed it down to these casinos:

Monte Carlo, Flamingo, Bally%26#39;s, Treasure Island, Tropicana, NYNY, and the Boardwalk (seems good for how cheap it is).

The dream list for our hotel would be (if you have any info/opinions on these things it would help us decide): Clean, decent rooms. Nice pool. Lower-stakes-than-average gambling ($5 blackjack maybe). Good, reasonable $$ bar that%26#39;s not too upscale (we%26#39;re a bit more Double Down than Ghostbar). A cool place to dance for us cool 30-somethings rather than frat boys. Generally easy-going atmosphere. Decent, reasonable $$ food.

We probably can%26#39;t find all of that in 1 hotel, but we can%26#39;t seem to figure out which might have the most or might have the most plus be close to the rest.

Oh yeah, another thing we%26#39;d like is the chance to get a room upgrade, preferably to a spa suite. I think that%26#39;s just the Trop, NYNY, Monte Carlo. This is our belated honeymoon and if we could afford it we%26#39;d get one anyway, but this is the last 2 days of a 13 day vacation and we want to spend most of our money drinking, gambling, etc.

Now, this is a CHANCE to get an upgrade. We%26#39;re not expecting one, but we don%26#39;t think there%26#39;s anything wrong with asking. The question is would it be worth picking a hotel with that in mind? Like say the Flamingo has got everything we want except the chance for a better room, would it be worth it to book at Monte Carlo just in case we could get a cool spa suite? Worth it meaning ';good chance';.

I guess what I%26#39;m asking is would the dates we%26#39;re staying and the ';honeymoon'; and ';gonna spend plenty in your casino'; factors add up to a good chance for an upgrade?

Any help on any of the above would be appreciated.

Help picking hotel for 5/30-6/1 stay

i like ballys from your list, you will have to go some where outside ballys for low cost food,gambling etc.

some pools will be over run with kids like ti and flamingo

honeymoon, spend plenty in your casino = upgrade on dates listed i.m.o. , no.

nothing wrong with asking

Help picking hotel for 5/30-6/1 stay

Hi Timjay,

Of the ones you suggested I would go with Monte Carlo, Treasure Island, or Mirage. I think all would meet your needs and you are likely to get an upgrade.

I went to Bellagio last xmas and i just asked for a Lakeview room and I got one. I think your attitude and situation helps the most of all.

zbethg

Thanks for the help.

Another thing- Which hotel might have the fewest kids at the pool? Are some of those hotels more kid friendly, less kid friendly. We%26#39;re looking to get away from the screaming kids in our apartment building so, you know, fewer kids at the pool the better.

I booked the Orleans for $23 a night from May 31st to June 3rd. Off strip but there is a free shuttle and the taxi is only about $5.00 US..... look at Orleans, a fabulous value for your $$$!

Unless there%26#39;s a big event going on during your stay, you should have no trouble getting into a nice hotel for under $100.

Go to the trip advisor hotel and punch up quick rates( or something like that) to see the rates.

Then look directly at the hotel web site to see if they have a better rate. Most likely, you should get something real nice at a greate rate.

Yeah, we already narrowed it down to the ones mentioned, and it looks like out of those we%26#39;re leaning toward Flamingo or Monte Carlo. We really like the look of their pools.

If anyone has any opinions on Flamingo vs. Monte Carlo I%26#39;d like to hear %26#39;em.

Especially which might be more kid friendly.

When we stayed at the Flamingo, the pools were packed. There wasn%26#39;t even room to walk around the concrete area.

Enjoy your trip.

What time of year was that?

Flamingo and MC will have the nicest pools, but there will be a LOT of kiddies around. I prefer Flamingo for the better location and I personally experienced very thin walls and loud plumbing when I stayed at MC in January.

At your age, with the attitude that you want to party and drink a bunch, I would opt for TI personally. They are catering to a younger crowd so you should see fewer kids, which on your honeymoon is a good thing.

Best of luck.

timjay,

there is adult only topless pools at some casinos no kids.

m.b. and ceasars have them ,maybe mgm and few others

Chariots of Fire tour

Hi

I%26#39;ve booked the Chariots of Fire tour to the Grand Canyon, has anyone been on this trip %26amp; how was it?

Thanks

Karen

P.S. Thx for the responses on Celin Dion query - very helpful!

Chariots of Fire tour

Any response would be appreciated?

FYI: 2 Great Travel Booking Sites!

I have come across TRAVELAXE.COM. After you register for free, you are able to access rates that are imported from a host of websites and booking databases across the internet. A nice feature to this is that the engine pinpoints the lowest price so you don%26#39;t have to search individual websites. Very cool!

Also, BOOKINGBUDDY.COM. The airline section is great here. Just type in your travel information, origin, destination, travel dates, etc. -then click on the airline or travel website of your choice and the system takes you there automatically, without having to visit each site and entering all your info over and over again.

Good Luck!

FYI: 2 Great Travel Booking Sites!

Paul,

Just to say thanks for letting us know about Travelaxe - its a fantastic site !!

Has really helped us to get an idea of price and the difference in rates between say expedia and hotels .com, some of which are quite frightening !!

Definitely reccomend it to anyone looking to book any hotels !!

Thanks again

FYI: 2 Great Travel Booking Sites!

Try Sidestep.com

And the old favourite, priceline.com. Fantastic for hotels deals.

Need Help with Hotels - getting confused!

Hi everyone

I just found this forum a few days ago and it is FABULOUS. Thank you already for all the amazing information.

I am taking my partner (boyfriend) to LV for his birthday. we are booked at the MGM Grand from March 24 to March 28. I am now rethinking my strategy because we don%26#39;t arrive in LV until after 11pm and (since it will be 2am for us) will probably just check in and crash. Does it make sense to drop $170 for that night at the Grand. Maybe we should stay somewhere else that first night and move over to the grand in the morning. My thoughts are (1) stay at a nearby cheaper hotel like the Tropicana (about $95) or stay at an Airport hotel for really cheap to give ourselves some more spending money.

What are your thoughts. Is it worth it or should I just go with my original plans.

Also, if the Airport hotel route makes sense, what are my options.

Also, are there any coupon codes out there for any of these hotels that might help defray the costs. Someone already provided a code for my last night at the Grand and saved me $110! woo hoo!

Sorry for all the questions. I am eagerly awaiting the sage and insightful advice I expect to be forthcoming.

Need Help with Hotels - getting confused!

Since the Airport is practically on the Strip now, I dont think there are any real good deals there.... Depending on your age, length of flight and ability to stay awake; I would consider cancelling your first night and asking for an early check - in the next day???

I find it very easy to stay up for long periods of time in Vegas. I%26#39;m usually in bed by 9:00 at home and have been known to stay up for all nighters when in vegas taking only occasional naps during the day. This City truly NEVER sleeps. I think you could find plenty to do til your check in the next day. Just ask the Bell desk to hold your bags for check-in it shouldn%26#39;t be a problem. If you cant get an early check-in you might be able to get a pool key and take a nap by the pool depending on the weather. Of course you could just check in to the room take a couple of hours nap and get started with your vacation, 11:00pm in Vegas is very early.....

Need Help with Hotels - getting confused!

Airport hotel? Trop and MGM are airport hotels right accross the street. You can certainly switch, but you are going to kill a good part of a day just switching. You would need to be checked out of what ever hotel you choose by 11:00, find a place to stow your luggage untill 3 or 4 untill you can re-check in at MGM. You can use the bell at either place to stow your luggage, but it is just a hassle and takes time out of your schedule. Up to you!

Nikki,

Your idea of finding a place like the Trop is not a bad idea. It is just a hassle. The airport from the strip is very close. I know about the time change, but if I were you I would take a nap on the plane. Once you land I think you will be too excited to go to the hotel and sleep. I mean you are in Vegas. My advice check in to the hotel whichever you decide (no airport hotel) freshen up and go!! Have a great time..rest when you get home..

Cancel the room for the night, stow your things at the bell desk when you get there until you check in the next day (if they%26#39;ll accept your luggage in advance they should be willing to do this, would they not VHM?), and stay up all night. It is his birthday after all. Think of the nice gift you can get him for $170, or if the trip is your gift how many ways you could pass the time with the extra money you saved by not sleeping yet. Just my opinion as an occasional Vegas traveller, others may be able to offer more insight. Have a great trip.

nikki, just stay at the grande. the inconvenience is worth

the $70-$90, plus u cant check in till after 3:00 next day.

good thinking, but relax have a good time ur in vegas baby...

Hi

Thanks for your responses.

I have not been to LV in about 15 years and was only there for two days back then, so I am completely clueless about how things work. Sorry if my ignorance is showing through in my questions.

The reason I asked about ';Airport'; hotels is because they are usually very cheap. Based on the search I ran, I could probably get a $40 or $50 room instead of paying $170, which is the cost for that night at MGM Grand.

The Tropicana was a more expensive alternative to the airport hotel idea, but still less than the MGM Grand. I was hoping that it would be fairly easy to check out of the Trop, walk over to the Grand and check in there (maybe with an early check-in). But, based on these responses, I am probably being too optimistic.

If I were younger, I might do the all-night thing and skip the first night%26#39;s hotel room altogether, but I don%26#39;t think I%26#39;ll be up for it. I know for sure my boyfriend will nix that idea. He%26#39;s even older and fogier than I am :)

Thanks again. You posts have already given me a lot to think about.

To clarify, yes, I%26#39;m paying for the whole trip as my birthday present, so I would feel too chintsy to make him stay up all night rather than paying for a room. if it weren%26#39;t a gift, I wouldn%26#39;t mind so much.

Now I%26#39;m leaning towards leaving things status quo and keeping the room at the Grand. Saving the $70-130 probably isn%26#39;t worth the hassle.

Thanks again for the advice

You can sleep at the airport terminal or jump in a cab and ask them to take you to a motel right across Mandalay Bay.

Girl I%26#39;m guessing here, but if 1966 is the year you were born you are only what 38-39? Come on now. I am a year older and I can still party all night..Now the husband, he is 5 years older and well I have to nudge him once in awhile to see if he is still awake!! So take your boyfriend and have some fun and sleep in late.....Now, if I am wrong about 1966 and say you are 66 ...Well my mom is 67 and if I take her to a casino she can hang with the rest of us till wee hours of the morning......so no excuses from you, but if your boyfriend is say older than 66 then I can%26#39;t help you there... you best go to whichever hotel you decide on and tuck him in.....LOL!!

Ha ha ha

luvbichons - your post made me lol!

Your powers of deduction are excellent. I am 38. The boyfriend is 45.

I will run the idea by him, but I%26#39;m not too optimistic about his response :)

Thanks for the laughs, though.

My mom is 70 and she could probably party all night and tuck ME in.

Wynn's new Encore

I read an article that Wynn is already beginning another new hotel called Encore.

Does anyone know where this hotel/resort will be located?

Wynn's new Encore

Think of it like the Treasure Island at the Mirage except it will be a part of the original Wynn property.

Entitled ';Encore at Wynn Las Vegas';, the new 61 story hotel tower will feature at least 1,500 suites and full-resort amenities such as a casino area, restaurants, a spa, swimming pools, retail and conventional space.

';Encore at Wynn Las Vegas'; is expected to open in 2007.

-andy

Wynn's new Encore

Knooter,

I believe old Desert Inn site. The story claims he was walking around the Wynn Hotel because they were going to build another tower then it just hit him. Vegas is at boom right now that it would be better to have two hotels. Also Trump is building condo%26#39;s on the North in as well. Before you know it the North end will become the High end.

best rooms to stay in at Hard Rock?

Staying at the Hard Rock next week for a few days. Anyone have an idea which rooms are considered better (pool view, etc)? I think some have been upgraded (plasma TVs, Bose system, etc) recently as well. Any other input/advice about the hotel would be appreciated as well!

best rooms to stay in at Hard Rock?

Pool view if possible, if for no other reason than the east-facing rooms are occasionally a little noisy. MOST but not all rooms have been remodeled, don%26#39;t be afraid to request one of the new ones if possible.

natural makeup

'Spring Break' atmosphere 3/25/ - 3/29??

We%26#39;ll be in Vegas the 25th through the 29th. Will it still be a %26#39;Spring Break%26#39; party atmosphere during that time???

'Spring Break' atmosphere 3/25/ - 3/29??

That will depend on where you go, I guess. If you go to the clubs, there is always kinda a Spring Break atmosphere! :-)

Search the forum for ';over 30'; or ';over 40'; (I assume you are over 30, like me, or you might like the SB atmosphere!) You will find many posts about which lounges and bars are a good time but not a half naked meat market! :-)

Weather

Is this typical weather for Tahoe.

We%26#39;re coming out there next week and I believe it%26#39;s going to be in the 40%26#39;s and rain/snow. Very unhappy about that.

We%26#39;re going skiing so I won%26#39;t mind, unless of course it%26#39;s raining.

Is this what%26#39;s it%26#39;s usually like. And, is this 40 degrees, but with the wind chill feels like -10 degrees (like here in NEw Jersey)

Weather

ok...he can listen to YOU, someone who supposely lives in Texas...or ME, a 20 year local.

seems you hate the South Shore? or are you just marketing the cal-neva resorts.

and by the way....when people go on vacation, they like options. women like to shop and kids like to have fun....ice skating ...bowling...eating ice cream...what ever.

and night life....who%26#39;s at the cal-neva tonight? there are several shows going on at Stateline, in the South shore....comedy clubs, bands, night clubs....etc.

FACT IS... South Shore has more to offer....thats why it gets more visitors.

as far as Heavenly...it takes a gondola ride, then a high speed 6 person chair to get to the top of the Nevada side....just shows how much YOU know....

and I own my ski%26#39;s....never stood in line to rent....but you are saying that there are no lines at the North Shore rental shops?.....who ya kidding?

Advantages of staying at the south shore Casinos are....you can WALK 1/2 block from 20 differnt hotels TO THE GONDOLA AND BE SKIING WITHIN MINUTES OF LEAVING YOUR HOTEL ROOM.

Disadvantages of staying at the Cal-Neva is your at least 25 minutes driving to the ski area and if it snows don%26#39;t forget to buy tirechains and be ready to crawl around in the snow....on a highway...to put your $70 chains on you had to buy. If your skiing Northstar...be prepared for the 25 minute gondola ride AFTER YOUR 1/2 MILE WALK FROM THE PARKING LOT.....Then once at the top of the gondola you have several OLD, SLOW chairs to get you to the top.

Heavenly? The resort is now owned by VAIL SKI REORTS and they have been dumping money into the place.

One other suggestion....when riding the gondola....BRING YOUR OWN BEER!

Weather

AHHHH LAKE TAHOE-----POVERTY WITH A VIEW!!!!

I couldn%26#39;t resist...STEVE thinks you are a slacker/loser if you do not own a car? OR Have a job????

Well, just to ease his simple mind....I own my own business on the south shore....own 3 - four wheel drive vehicles AND a couple of motorcycles ...2 boats...3 quads....3 snow mobiles...3 kayaks...5 windsurfers...and a quiver of skis, snowboards, ( I am currently having some storage issues :)

and by the way....its against the law to hitchhike in Nevada...and also, against the law to PICK UP A HITCH HIKER....so when your here Steve...don%26#39;t do either!

Please Steve.... don%26#39;t be such a TROLL.

7 days in LV

Hi everyone

Its our 10th anniversary in June %26amp; I always wanted to shop on Rodea Drive and fly over the Grand Canyon. We%26#39;ve saved really hard and booked a week in LA and a week in LV begining of June %26amp; have loads fo questions.

Any tips on how to spend our 7 days would be really appreaciated as we we don%26#39;t want to waste a minute of our time, we%26#39;ve booked a day trip to the Grand Canyon, a helicopter ride down the strip and want to see a few shows. For the night of our anniversary I%26#39;d like to watch a show while having a nice meal, any suggestions? We%26#39;re in out early 40%26#39;s and enjoy going out on the town for a few drinks (we like a wee swally as we would say in Scotland). All suggestions %26amp; advise would be appreciated.

Many thanks

Young at heart scottish lass

7 days in LV

I%26#39;ve been a couple of times with my wife for a week in June - and am there again this year (we%26#39;re from England). Here%26#39;s my tips . .

1) Remember is that it it%26#39;s always very hot at that time of year - it gets pretty uncomfortable outside by the afternoon. So if you%26#39;re there for a week - I think a hotel with a good pool is a must - our favourite is the Mirage.

2) You must see some of the top notch shows.

I%26#39;d recommend Lance Burton at the Monte Carlo - and one of the Cirque du Soliel shows. Also, Blue Man Group at the Luxor is very good.

Some of the shows can be pretty pricey - but they are %26#39;Only in Vegas%26#39; type shows and are worth it.

3) I think you need to get a day out in a hire car halfway through the week - Vegas is a pretty intense type of place - and we like to get to normality for a few hours! We%26#39;ve been to Red Rock Canyon and the Hoover dam in recent years.

4) Nights out are the easiest thing to sort out. We enjoy just going from Hotel to Hotel - seeing the sights, taking in the atmosphere, having some beers and spending a few quid in the slots. All the hotels have lounge bars with live music.

5) You must do some gambling on a table game - if you aren%26#39;t up on card games or dise - then give roulette a go. The stakes are lower in Downtown and the older strip properties.

6) There%26#39;s lots of great places to eat. Loads of people rave about the buffets - but I%26#39;m not convinced. You can eat better food for not much more in all the hotels. Good to try is %26#39;Cheesecake Factory%26#39; in the Forum Shops, Wolfgang Puck Cafe at MGM and Kahunaville at Treasure Island

7) Finally here are a few of the sights that are good to see:- Bellagio Fountains

- Mirage Volcano

- Grand Canal in the Ventian

- Fremont Street Experience (Downtown)

- Wynn Hotel - Opens April.

- Stratosphere Tower.

- Rollercoasters at New York New York and Sahara

- Forum Shops at Caesars Palace.

- Carnival in the Sky at Rio%26#39;s

If you want any more info - drop me a line - robrob2002@hotmail.com

anyone booked trips with looktours?

Thinking of booking a canyon trip with look tours.

Has anyone used them before? were they ok or did you have any problems?

thanks

anyone booked trips with looktours?

Hammers, I am booked with them for the airplaine to the GC on 4/25....don%26#39;t know when you are going but if it is after that, I%26#39;ll let you know. I do know that they take your cc # but do not charge it until the day of the tour. Also, you must confirm 24 hours b4.

anyone booked trips with looktours?

I booked two tours with them in June, ATV and South Rim, they were so nice that I am going to book to more!

thanks guys,

I was wondering about the credit card thing-that was probably going to be my next question.

Hey newbie which plane tour are you going on? we are thinking of doing the 3.5hr air sight seeing tour.

Will be in vegas the same week as you- april 21-april 28

I also booked a bus tour with them. Very nice people answered all my email questions right away.

We booked a tour of the strip at night on 4/9/05. Heard nothing but good comments about this company. That meant alot considering I have never been in a helicopter before. Looking forward to it!!

Hammers, we are there 4/24 to 4/30....maybe we%26#39;ll run into one another on the flight! Have fun.

Hammers

Have been to Vegas 3 times and have booked with Looktours to the Canyon, the Hoover dam and the Helicopter Flight over the strip which was awesome, Would really recommend them everytime.

Also, when you go to Vegas go up the Eiffel tower around sunset, views of bellagio fountains are amazing, also up the Stratosphere tower about an hour before dusk, get some good pics of the strip and then watch as the lights come on.

California Wineries

I am going to Vegas in June, for my Anniversary. My wife and I wanted to get away for the afternoon one day. Someone suggested to go to one of the California Wineries. Has anyone done this, or have any suggestions on one that is relatively close. Thanks

California Wineries

Closest CA winery to Las Vegas is 400 miles away. These are the wineries in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties. There is a winery in Pahrump, NV that offers tours. It%26#39;s only 60 miles away. www.pahrumpwinery.com is their website.

California Wineries

thanks for the info, that is definately something to consider.

thanks for the info, that is definately something to consider.

Bally's airport check-in -- where?

Hello --

Flying in via American Airlines. Gonna try to check into hotel while at airport. Can anyone tell me where the Bally%26#39;s airport check--in is located? Thanks in advance.

dp

Bally's airport check-in -- where?

It%26#39;s located in the baggage claim area. Can%26#39;t miss em. Remember, they are part of Caesars, so the sign has all the Caesars properties logos (Bally%26#39;s,Paris,Flamingo,Caesars).

Bally's airport check-in -- where?

Have read lines at hotel itself can be long. Should I do airport check-in versus waiting to get to hotel (arriving on Friday afternoon at 4:30 -- primetime) and will they be able to arrange upgrades if available?

Airport check-in right beside baggage claim, I checked in before my luggage arrived and received a very nice upgrade just by politely asking. Airport check-in is wonderful!

natural makeup

Smokey?

Do they allow smoking in the casinos and buffets? Or is it just one big cloud of smoke?

Smokey?

smoking is allowed in casinos and is allowed in buffets in non smoking areas but the aircon systems are that good it is not smokey

Smokey?

I thought it was very different to see smoking in the walkways of the forum shops. You cannot smoke in the stores but you can smoke right outside the stores. I%26#39;ve never seen that before in the mall, but I watched about 5 different people do it.

It is my least favorite thing about Vegas ... smoke everywhere. BUT ... it%26#39;s part of the experience of being in Sin City.

Actual quote from a friend on her first visit to Paris, Las Vegas:

';Wow! They think of everything! They even pump smoke INTO the casino, so you actually think you%26#39;re in EUROPE!!';

Las Vegas is definitely cigar/cigarette-friendly.

I am a non-smoker and not ever around smokers but found no problem with smoke in casinos. Don%26#39;t know if I was just lucky or what.......I am a slot player.....maybe if you play tables the smoke is heavy.

Beerdude & anarchu

Beerdude you said 10 Wed at the bellagio. What kind of bar is the one you mentioned. Let me know how you want to meet. See you guys then.

Beerdude %26amp; anarchu

did you lose the other topic?

Which tower to request at Mirage

We ate going to Vegas oin March 27th for 5 days as a 25th anniversary trip. Which tower should we be requesting. Our reservation is for a standard room. I have heard that some of the rooms are not as pictured on the web site (burgandy and gold). Any other info about Mirage is appreciated.

Which tower to request at Mirage

I have always enjoyed the Mirage every time I have stayed there. Honestly, I don%26#39;t remember what tower I was in. The whole place is great...stop worrying and enjoy yourself!

Which tower to request at Mirage

There%26#39;s only one tower at the Mirage.

In addition to the standard rooms there are premium view rooms (self explanatory) and Tower Room Deluxe - (high floor, bigger bathrooms) - both these upgrades are usually chargeable.

There are obviously larger suites and penthouses etc - but are pretty big money.

Last time I stayed at the mirage (June 2003) - I had a standard room - and it was very good.

After reading past posts I%26#39;m confused about Mirage suites%26#39; views: which would you recommend, given recent construction in that area of strip?

Mirage suites' views

After reading past posts I%26#39;m confused about Mirage suites%26#39; views: which would you recommend, given recent construction in that area of strip?

Mirage suites' views

I too am confused about this, andam guessing that a pool view is not all it used to be??? A volcano view is my preference i think as it gives a birds eye view of strip action which is what I%26#39;m after!

I remember staying in hotel in Times Sq. NYC, and I hardly slept, even when I was in my room I was sat looking out of the window in awe at all the goings on!

How much is too much?

I have been getting great feedback on another thread, so I am back to ask another question.

My boyfriend and I will be in LV from late Thursday night 3/24 to Monday afternoon 3/28.

We are renting a car on Saturday to do a road trip (probably red rock canyon) - then we planned to take advantage of the car and go to the Freemont area that night.

As far as the other days are concerned. Is it possible to visit all the strip hotels/casinos in that time? If not, which ones are the ';not to be missed'; casinos?

Right now, our plan is to visit the casinos in the mid-strip area on Friday - we figured these are the most interesting and woud take the longest time. We were going to visit the ones on the South strip and the North strip on Sunday.

Does this make sense? are there any we should leave out, considering our time frame?

Thanks in advance.

How much is too much?

it is best to not over plan,

yes you can pass on klondike ; )

when you have car check out some of the great off strip casinos, sams town,sunset,texas,santa fe, station,suncoast,g.v.r., casino montelago, cannery etc.

f.w.i.w. there is also the real bonnie and clyde car at primm.

and what you miss there is always next trip

How much is too much?

I don%26#39;t think that it is much fun to try to visit every casino. Just visit the places that you%26#39;ve read about and are most interesting to you.

I really love the Chahuli chandelier in the Bellagio and think that it%26#39;s not to be missed.

The Grand Canal at the Venetian is interesting, in a tacky new-Vegas sort of way.

Other places, I find to be nauseating. I hate touring acres and acres of noisy slot machines, and don���t spend much time on a casino floor unless I intend on playing (i.e. flushing my money away).

What sights are of interest to you? Hit the highlights and enjoy them. Don���t rush around trying to see every square inch of the place.

good post by truman,

if your having good time at harrahs carnival court stay there ,

you can see gold coast on your next trip.

It%26#39;s just not possible to visit every casino in Las Vegas in your alloted time, even if you were to try.

Again, Truman has good advice, although I%26#39;m not personally nauseated by casinos other than The Bellagio and The Venetian.

Q: What%26#39;s your favorite casino?

A: The place where you WIN!!

Here%26#39;s what my wife and I have developed over the years as a pretty good way to spend our time in Las Vegas.

1. Places we both want to see: We make a list and then visit them as early in the A.M. as possible. Few crowds and lower temperatures. You%26#39;ll frequently have the run of the place and can tell whether you%26#39;ll want to retrun, etc. You can also get the graveyard special for breakfast, depending on what time you actually get going.

2. Activities we don%26#39;t agree on: My wife likes to ';shop.'; I%26#39;d rather have a root canal than go into a store to even look at something that I don%26#39;t need. I like to gamble more than she does. So, after we visit one or two of the agreed upon places, she%26#39;ll drop me off at the casino of my choice and she takes the rental car wherever she likes. She shops %26#39;till she drops and I gamble as long as I like without any interruptions or impatience. I take a cab back to the hotel and we meet for dinner, show, etc.

3. Hotels we want to visit near where we are staying. We visit those in the evenings. Once again, we can split up and find our way back to the room if one of was wants to stay and play, or the other gets tired. Hotel is within walking distance and the sun is down, so you don%26#39;t die of exposure.

This works for us. Good luck to you both

Hi

Thanks for your insights.

Just to clarify, I didn%26#39;t actually mean visit all the casinos in las vegas, but the ones on the strip.

Specifically:

Caesars Palace, Mirage, Venetian, Harrahs, TI, Mandalay Bay, Luxor, Excalibur, Monte Carlo, Aladdin, NYNY, Paris, Ballys, Bellagio

I am not a gambler, although of course I will try it. So I am more interested in experiencing the over-the-top spectacle of Las Vegas - checking out the different themed hotels and the free shows.

Are Casino Royale, Flamingo, IP worth checking out?

We are also going to spend one evening at the downtown casinos when we go to Freemont street.

As for the Flamingo...go visit the pool/wildlife area. It is beautiful.

casino royal- no, flamingo is ok,

i.p my kind of place, karaoke at tequila joes,dealer enterainers,auto show, some good lounge shows,

and your right next to carnival court and dueling piano at harrahs.

b.t.w if any one is real nice asking how long you will be in town.going to see show ?

say GOING HOME TODAY or GET LOST,

I like looking over the hotels , their %26#39;attractions %26#39; , their shopping etc. There are free attractions and ones you pay for like the art museum at Venetian etc.

I do like to see the different casinos and play a bit at each but thats not for everybody.

Casino Royale would be interesting to you if you like cheap drinks, smoke, a crowd and cheap table games.

If you like playing slot machines without being crowded , clean chairs to sit on, floors that are not sticky, less smoke , a more upscale clientele and refined atmosphere try the Venetian or the better casinos.

If your not into gambling, then there are some casinos you can skip. Its impossible i thinbk to tell you where to go. Everyone has their likes and dislikes. The only way you can find out is by doing it. We like to go to the Flamingo for an evening usually, nothing special there, we just like the atmosphere at the main bar and also like to gamble there. We are not really into touring the newer glamorous resorts like the Venetian or Bellagio. Weve walked through and looked at the amazing resorts but thats about it. cYou have to decide what your going there to do. I hear so many people on here talk about their plans saying that they have an itenerary for every day and evening they are there. We go to relax and usually dont have a plan at all. We go to vegas to relax and not be on a time schedule. Thats also why we dont like to go with other couples or groups of people because most want to plan to much. Granted if you wanna have a nice dinner you gotta have a reservation or if yoiu wanna see a show you gotta get your tickets. So we will plan 1 or 2 things but after that anything goes. Its more fun for us to be spurt of the moment people. Some people cant handle that. They have to have they whole schedule planned and im sorry im just not that organized and hate to commit. If we are say at the Carnival Court drinking and having fun the last thing i wanna do is have to leave because we have plans for something else. JMHO.

Promotion Codes

Hey everyone,

Well I was just wondering if anyone knew how or where to find promotion codes for airlines or hotels. Or if anyone has any promo codes that they would be willing to share that would be great. I am a poor college student and I am trying anything I can to find some decent deals. Any kind of input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Promotion Codes

Have a look at priceline.com and biddingfortravel.com. I found them to be excellent for getting a great deal on hotels all round America.

natural makeup

Supercross May 7

Just wondering if there is anyone going to Vegas for Supercross on May 7. My hubby and I will be there! I you are, where are you planning on partying?

Supercross May 7

sbowen0823,

The Derby is that weekend too, so I guess there will be a whole lot of racing going on.

Supercross May 7

Could be a dumb question - what Derby?

the Kentucky one. So there will be more gamblers than normal in Vegas.

Ah...now I see! I just couldn%26#39;t figure out where there would be a horse race in Vegas!

BigTex,

When we MotoX /SuperX people think of racing on dirt, its not usually on horses and always has alot of jumps/ ruts and whoops. All kidding aside, sbowen I%26#39;ll be there late Sun to Weds. I%26#39;m in that business and have a meeting on Mon morning. But after that its all party for us!!! So let me know if your staying past and maybe we can get together and y%26#39;all can tell me all about RC winning.

Matt

Thanks for explaining that! We are kinda biased when it comes to racing huh! My husband says ';if it doesn%26#39;t have a motor, I am not riding it';! If you don%26#39;t mind me asking what do you do? And why won%26#39;t you be there for the race? Have you heard if everyone will be partying at the Hard Rock again this year? I have had one person say MGM and one say Hard Rock...We are acutally arriving early on that Saturday morning, we are hoping to have the hotel hold our stuff since it will be too early to check in, then heading off to the stadium to hang out in the pits.

You can%26#39;t be too sure about RC...after all he did get beat at Daytona! I just wanna see KDub win one more before the year is over, he%26#39;s my man!

HELP...Need Garden Wedding Site and Restaurant!

HELP...I am getting married on October 8th, 2005 in Las Vegas...and I%26#39;m from the East Coast and have never been to Vegas before. I am looking for a tropical garden wedding site with a dinner reception to follow at a fun but classy restaurant (with alcohol). Do any of the classier hotels have lush garden settings for weddings? We don%26#39;t want to do a Chapel or have Elvis standing by...we would like a very classy garden wedding. Any suggestions?

HELP...Need Garden Wedding Site and Restaurant!

Hello there,

I will be getting married in LV in Sept of this year. We were planning on the Flamingo, have you checked them out? It looks very tropical, here%26#39;s the site: www.caesars.com/Flamingo/LasVegas/Weddings/

There are also many restaurants in the hotel, it%26#39;s located in the middle of the strip where you%26#39;ll find many other restaurants near by. Hope I helped.

;-)

HELP...Need Garden Wedding Site and Restaurant!

As mentioned, try the the flamingo, very tropical outdoor setting/ by the pool. October is a good time of year to be outdoors here. The only other hotels that have troipical/ garden settings: Mandaly Bay and The Mirage. I don%26#39;t know what services they offer, so you will need to go to their websites. The Bellagio also has well maintained grounds, not tropical, but nice.

If those dont work out, you could always go to Hawaii. Your half way there once you get to Vegas!

Saw an episode of a travel channel show that had a couple getting married at the Tropicana. Beautiful pool area and chapel

just as you are discribing. Check out there website.

My daughter was married at the Flamigo last year. It does have the Gazebo in a garden environment (not tropical). Rented a limo for an hour and tour downtown and the strip. Reception for 11 at Gallagher%26#39;s Steak House, NYNY. They have plenty of alcohol and did provide a wedding cake. She stay at Bellagio%26#39;s for a few days and then flew to Cosumel, Mexico for five days (courtesy of dad). She said it was perfect!

I too am from the east coast and had never been to Vegas. I was married there last June and it was amazing! We were married outdoors at the Tropicana Hotel, we had a very small group so we opted for the ';bridge'; but they do have a gazebo for larger parties. I recommend having their photographer take pictures, he did a great job. The landscaping is very ';tropical'; people always ask if we were married in the Carribean when they see the pics. If you are looking for fresh flowers for your bouquet go to Bally%26#39;s, downstairs in the shops, there is a wonderful man at the flower shop who will let you pick out your flowers and he%26#39;ll arrange them for you and they are far less expensive than getting them at the chapel. I had stargazer lillies and roses for less than $40.00. As far as dinner, if you don%26#39;t mind going all the way to the other end of the strip, the revolving tower at the Stratosphere has wonderful food and breathtaking views. Most importantly but much to our surprise, absolutely EVERYONE was sooo- nice to us. We had other guests at the hotel come hug and shake hands with us offering congrats, we had black jack dealers applaud as we walked through the casino, it was so incredible how friendly everyone was! It really made our special day even more special! Congrats to you and good luck. I%26#39;d be glad to help you in anyway if you have other questions. And still being a new bride I%26#39;d be glad to show you the pictures! :)

Getting married at Monte Carlo

My friend is getting married at the Monte Carlo this October, none of us have ever stayed there. Just wondering if there were any insider tips on making their trip more enjoyable or any good advice for getting married in LV.

Thanks in advance!

Getting married at Monte Carlo

Also looking for good suggestion for dinner after the wedding in or near Monte Carlo.

Thanks!

Dinner Reservations

My husband and I will be celebrating our anniversary while in Vegas this June.

We are staying at the MC.

We want to go out for one ';fancy dinner'; where shall we go and how far in advance can we make a reservation?

Thank You

Dinner Reservations

You need to be more specific as to what kind of food and budget.

Steak and Seafood: Steakhouse @ CC $25-to-$40 per person, Delmonico $50-to-$80 per person

American Cuising: Rosemary%26#39;s on west Sahara $30-to-$50 per person, Strat Top of the World $75-to-$200 per person

French: Andres Downtown, $40-to-$60 per person, Eifell Tower $100-to-$200 per person

Itallain, Ventano Itallian Corner Henderson $15-to-$30 per person.

Bidget can go from as little as $15 per person up to several $200 per person serving the same type of food. Expensive does not always mean better food.

I suggest you click on the link to the left called ';Las Vegas Resaurants'; and look around. The ratings IMO are fairly accurate. Just about any on the first page should be a hit.

Dinner Reservations

It%26#39;s not REAL fancy, but the food is WONDERFUL! Its the restruant @ Golden Nugget, Zax...love it! It has a very cool and modern atmosphere.

Nobu -- Hard Rock

I%26#39;ve heard that Nobu is expensive ... can anyone give me an idea of how expensive?

Is it worth it? Nice atmosphere? Fantastic food?

My girlfriend loves sushi and I%26#39;d love to treat her to a really wonderful experience.

Nobu -- Hard Rock

I had dinner at Nobu last September. Its a pretty cool place with a nice vibe. Kinda pricey, I ordered the same sushi I usually get that costs about 15-20 here... cost me about 30 at Nobu. With a martini, my meal cost about 45 (not including gratuity).

Nobu -- Hard Rock

We were also wanting to go to Nobu when we are out in Vegas. Do you have to make a reservation in advance? Or can we just do it once we get out there?

We made our reservations the day of. However, apparently it was the ';off season'; for Vegas so thats why we were able to get in. I would suggest making them in advance if you are going prime season. The place was packed and there we no open tables.

I would make reservations. Nobu is a very cool restaurant with great food. It is expensive, though. We had a great sushi dinner for two last summer and with a shared appetizer, drinks and tip (but no dessert), it ran a little over $100.

Great food. Can get pricey. Definitly get a reservation, the place isnt that large.

Spring Break 2005 well 21-25 Mar, extreme drinking

Hi, i%26#39;m going to vegas for March 21-25, I was going with some friends but they canceled on me, so now i%26#39;m doing my trip alone, so I was wondering if there is people in the same situation that want to hang out and do some heaviny drinking and partying. I%26#39;ve been to vegas quite a few times and I%26#39;m familiar with all the attractions/area.

This is my agenda:

1) Drinking

2) Walking around the strip (drinking)

3) Partying.

Spring Break 2005 well 21-25 Mar, extreme drinking

Hey man I will be up there around that time. It going to be kinda a family meeting...but there is only so much of family you can take. Hoping to get in some drinking and see some new sights.

Spring Break 2005 well 21-25 Mar, extreme drinking

Cool, I like to get pretty drunk before hitting the strip after the sun goes down (I have computer related job, so I HATE the sun), plus vegas to me if more fun, at night and under the influence, hehehe.

Beerdude,

My brother and I are coming in from Atlanta on Wed. 23. WE are playing golf that day(drinking) then will be looking for some fun. My older brother is coming in on the 24, we are there to the 26. we are in our late 20s and early 30s if that isn%26#39;t too old. Let me know

Portales huh? I used to live in Roswell....you going to school there? After the last post I feel old....do I actually have to say I%26#39;m 28 nowadays. It just dawned on me--I%26#39;m getting up there

What hotel you guys staying at?

I%26#39;m also 26, I%26#39;m staying at the Vlla Roma Hotel, Its at a great price and I usually dont spend that much time at the hotel anyways so I dont need/like to pay 100-300 dlls for a hotel room that I%26#39;m not even going to use. Where are you staying at?

Ups I forgot, yep I%26#39;m studying at ENMU I%26#39;m going for my third degree now (I have 2 Bachelor%26#39;s degrees, and going for my masters now).

staying at the flamingo, let me know if you guys want to get up for some drinks or whatever. Only brothers on this trip and I have a 3 year old and twins on the way so this might be the last stand

Sounds good, and it looks like its your last trip with out the kids, when/where do you want to meet up for some drinks?

I think I%26#39;ll be staying at MSS (downtown) the first few nights and then at MGM the last 2 days. As for where, or when, I don%26#39;t know... Do you know of any dive bars there?

natural makeup

T minus 2 hours....and counting

Just want to thank the trip advisor forum and everyone%26#39;s great posts. Even though we have been to Vegas many times, between trips, it%26#39;s nice to have a forum like this to find out what%26#39;s happening and read about changes and other people%26#39;s opinions on Vegas and get some helpful advice!

So, it%26#39;s now T minus 2 hours and we%26#39;ll be leaving for the airport to catch our flight(s) to Vegas......I%26#39;ll be back next week to catch up on all the posts!

Thanks again all!

Biloxigirl58

T minus 2 hours....and counting

Hope your trip is all you want it to be and more! Good luck at the gaming. Have a safe trip. Can hardly wait for your report when you get back home.

T minus 2 hours....and counting

Lucky you! Hope you have a great trip.

Night Club for 40 plus

I know it is asked over and over again, but we would like to know if there are any clubs that we could go to while in Vegas. We will be getting married in early June. I am 47 and the new wife is 43, We like to dance and drink but I don%26#39;t think we want to fight a 20 something crowd and definately do not want to wait hours in line just to enjoy a drink and dance. Do any of these places cater to a more mature taste?

Night Club for 40 plus

I am curious too.

I%26#39;m 24 and would love to know where the older women hang out. Wonder if 40 something year old women would mind having a young guy come talk to them.

Night Club for 40 plus

What in the world would a 24 year old have to say to interest a 40 year old.

Buy front of line pass to Studio 54 from vegas.com. We just did that and it worked great (we%26#39;re 41). Don%26#39;t recommend voodoo lounge (too small and crowded). Might want to try Mix also...lines aren%26#39;t too bad and it%26#39;s a mixed crowd.

Most people in their 40%26#39;s tend to enjoy the lounges a lot. Not to say that you will be turned away at any club. The lounges do not necessarily have a dance floor but is a great place to people watch and enjoy the atmosphere. Some of the more popular lounges are Ghost Bar, Foundation Room, or Mix.

';What in the world would a 24 year old have to say to interest a 40 year old.';

Not sure. Going for the desperate housewife angle.

You know, the whole %26#39;I%26#39;m divorced, old, no one wants me%26#39; type thing.

';What in the world would a 24 year old have to say to interest a 40 year old.';

I don%26#39;t think talking was the point? HA! Nah-if you are 24 and actually somewhat stable, then there certainly could be a lady that is maturing (in her 40%26#39;s) that makes her own money that wants some young person to keep them satisfied. I%26#39;ve heard it from several women who fit this mold here at work (I work at a place with 7,000 ppl). It could happen. I%26#39;m not saying they will spend hours talking about deep stuff, but you never know-I have met plenty of young people beyond their years in intellect, and several people in their 40%26#39;s that couldn%26#39;t think their way out of a box. It%26#39;s all relative, but don%26#39;t hit on a relative-even that is illegal in Vegas!

Things a 40 Something woman would say to a 24 year old boy:

Clean your room

You%26#39;re grounded

No, I won%26#39;t send you $400 to buy a new stereo for your car

It%26#39;s time you graduated and got a real job

As for clubs for a 40 something crowd. I say why bother, that%26#39;s what the lounges are for. Last thing I want to do, especially on my honeymoon is wait in line for 2 or more hours to get into a crowded club that is so loud I can%26#39;t hear myself think. Let alone carry on a conversation.

Go to Shadows or Cleopatra%26#39;s Barge at Caesar%26#39;s. Or go to the lounge at Paris, Mirage, Treasure Island, Luxor or any other classy hotel on the Strip. Drinks are cheaper than in a club, no line, and a lot less hassle.

This is funny. I am not in my 40%26#39;s, in fact, I have quite a ways to go, but I can tell you that as a 30 something, there is no way I%26#39;d date (or ';be with';) a 24 year old. I would be very aware of what they are up to. Not to mention more mature men know how to treat a lady. I would not try this angle, as any atractive, confident 40+ woman will not need your attention to feed her self esteem. What you should try is the Chippendales or Thunder Down Under lounge after the show. There is a post somewhere here, you can do a search for it. Apparently there is a 10 to 1 ratio: 10 intoicated revved up females to every dude on the make. Good luck! :-)

';What you should try is the Chippendales or Thunder Down Under lounge after the show.';

That%26#39;s actually one of my plans.

Going in with a whole ';Why the heck not? It%26#39;s Vegas'; attitude.

Chippendales is the best kept secret on where to meet women in Vegas. I happened to pass by with some buddies last night and ended up having a very ';positive'; experience.

Hundreds of excited women and only a couple of the actual guys.

The odds are in our favor. Never hurts.

Gladyis knight or Drifters etc

My husband enjoys Motown - will probably only have time for one show. Any recommendations whether to see Gladyis or Drifters, Coasters and Platter.

Gladyis knight or Drifters etc

I haven%26#39;t seen Gladys Knight, but I did go see the oldies show (Drifters, etc) with my dad last year and thought it was fabulous. It%26#39;s a really small theater and it was fun! Worth the money.

Gladyis knight or Drifters etc

Can%26#39;t comment on the Drifters but did go to see Glady Knight last May. Now I love Glady Knight but I was a little disappointed with the show. She has a fabulous voice but she did an awful lot of talking and not a lot of singing... Would I go and see her show again? Only is she actually sang more..

Oooooooooooopppps sorry for the name spelt wrong. Sorry Gladys....

Which tower to stay in at Mirage?

My husband and I are going to be staying at the Mirage from 3/27--4/1 to celebrate our 25th anniversary. I have heard that not all of the rooms are the newly remodelled gold and burgandy rooms. Which tower should we request at chek in. Our reservations are for a standard room at this time. Any other info about Mirage would be appreciated. Have stayed at MGM, Monte Carlo and Stardust but not Mirage.

Which tower to stay in at Mirage?

Toandto

There are no separate towers in the Mirage. To my knowledge, all three of the corridors extending out from the center are considered equal. I believe that all of the rooms have been remodeled. They had begun the effort when we made our first trip there in 2001. I think they finished it all a couple of years ago. When you check in, you can ask for a specific view, but a ';tower.'; I%26#39;ve always had either a pool view or a volcano view. There has to be a third view that looks west towards the freeway and the mountains, but I%26#39;ve never stayed in those rooms. I would choose a pool view. That way you can see down the strip to the south towards Ceasar%26#39;s, Paris, etc.

You might ask for a Tower Deluxe room. These rooms are on two floors, 23 and 24 if my memory is correct, and they have their own elevator. They appear to be just a regular room with a much enlarged bathroom that has two sinks and a separate tub and shower. The regular rooms have a smaller bathroom with only one sink and a tub/shower combo.

Ask to be close to the elevators. The Mirage has three wings with very long corridors. It makes a very long walk back to your room if you%26#39;re at the end of one of those corridors. Get a slot club card and then go by the host desk before you leave to see if they%26#39;ll cover some of your meals or room charge. You can also get line passes from the host if you want to go to the buffet.

Gambling virgin

I have never gambled before, except for losing some quarters in a slot machine and playing poker once with gummy bears.

Is there any help for me?

Gambling virgin

yes there is help.

to me the best game is craps, easy to play and many casinos have free lessons just ask.

Gambling virgin

i agree, craps is the best. women always win there first time playing too. you can practice at gotogoldenpalace.com for free.

Nikki,

Whatever games sounds like fun to you, is the one you should try. If the casino you%26#39;re staying at doesn%26#39;t offer lesons come see the teachers at the Stardust M-F 10a-6p.

Joe

Nikki- WIZARDOFODDS.COM. is a good place to visit to play many casino games for free. This way you can determine which games you are interested in, then you can take Joes advice and visit the Stardust for some real tutoring and action on the games you have an interest in.

Thanks for all the info

I went to the Gotogoldenpalace.com and read the rules for craps. The betting seems really complicated to me - don%26#39;t think I%26#39;ll remember even half of it. but i did play a few games and was winning.

I also tried Keno, which I%26#39;ve never played before and that was abysmal.

I will try the other site tomorrow.

thanks again!

Nikki, If you don%26#39;t want to lose a lot of money on table games, and want to receive promotional discounts off of rooms at hotels you enjoy, try playing the penny video machines and joining the slots club players clubs. They give you a card you can use and your bank doesn%26#39;t have to be big. Realistically, unless you have a hundred for a $5 craps table--this would be 20 betting units--you probably might not weather the ups %26amp; downs fluctuations of chance. From what I hear, on the strip it%26#39;s at least $5 or even $10 on weekends to play at the majors. For $5 at a penny machine you get 500 betting units, you can play 5 lines at 1cent a spin and be good for 100 spins. At a $5 craps table/ blackjack table 500 betting units would be $2,500. If you%26#39;re still interested in table game action, go to Westward Ho, middle of the strip for a $1 craps game in the morning. At least you%26#39;ll get a chance to roll 10 times for $10. Bon Chance.

yo/ace/deuce:

Thanks for your advice.

I joined a couple of the player%26#39;s clubs on line - mgm and stratosphere.

Are there any others you can join on line?

I am a little confused as to how this works. I guess when you pick up the card, you can put it in the slot machines and it keeps track of your bets.

How do the comps work? Do they take $ off your hotel bill or do you have to ask for comps?

Also, I%26#39;ve read posts that mention ';charging to your room'; to get comps. How does this work?

Also, if you are playing a table game, how do your bets get added to your card?

Thanks again.

Nikki1966,

Sorry but I%26#39;m not going to answer your previous question but would like to offer some advice for a new player. Set a budget and stick to it. You would be amazed how many people start out with ';beginners luck'; and end up ruining their vacation by losing more than they would have like.

Thanks BigTex

Great advice

Nikki,

I%26#39;d recommend that you forget about comps. Definitely join the players clubs and use the card when you play slots in your hotel, you will accumulate slot club points and maybe cashback that can be used to reduce your bill at the end of trip. Depending on where you%26#39;re staying, your card may be linked to other casinos. It will say which ones on the card.

Charging items to your room does not earn comps. It allows the casino to choose to give you these items as a complimentary or reduce the cost to you based on your play in the casino. Most places won%26#39;t even rate you for comps unless you are playing $25/hand Blackjack for 4 hours. If your not willing to play at this level, charging items to you room just consolidates your credit card receipts. Not a bad thing, but not free.

If you want to play table games, I%26#39;d recommend Pai Gow Poker. It%26#39;s a very leisurely game where your mistakes only affect you. You won%26#39;t get barked at like you might playing Blackjack. The other benefit is that you can ask the dealer for help setting your hand. They will tell you how the house would set it, and you can then decide what you want to do.

What clubs are good for a Wednesday night?

I%26#39;ll be in Vegas next week with a bunch of friends...what clubs/bars are popular on a wednesday night? Thanks for any suggestions...

What clubs are good for a Wednesday night?

Tangerine at TI and RA are cool on Wednesdays.

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Leno or Seinfeld?

I%26#39;m going to VEGAS, BABY! in June. The headliners are Leno and Seinfeld....has anyone seen either and have an opinion to share?

Thanks much!

Leno or Seinfeld?

I saw Leno in Lake Tahoe and was very disappointed. I couldn%26#39;t wait for the show to end. I really like watching the Tonight Show and I think he is generally very funny, but the show we saw in Tahoe was not funny.

Leno or Seinfeld?

Leno is a suck arse idiot who isn%26#39;t funny. Seinfeld is funny.

I agree. I saw Leno a few years ago and it wasn%26#39;t what I expected. Go for Seinfeld.

My vote%26#39;s for Seinfeld!

-andy

Leno isn%26#39;t quite as funny when he doesn%26#39;t have someone else writing his jokes and an audience to test them on before he tapes the Tonight Show.

brian hit it exactly - Leno is not funny on his own when he does not have cue cards written by really funny people. Even the Tonight Show stinks. His interviews are weak and totally scripted. He could not be off-the-cuff if his life depended on it.

Seinfeld hands down!

Lyle

The saddest part is that he gets paid huge dollars for what he does.

I like Jay because he is a car guy, but the money he makes for his limited talent is a bit hard to take.

We saw Sienfeld nere in Minneapolis in January. He was HILARIOUS!! It was a bit short though. We are still going around quoting the show.

I have never seen Leno - but he comes to the Casino%26#39;s here once in a while, I think only old people go see him.

MajNelson,

I think Seinfeld may have Leno beat in cars as well. I believe the Porche count is above 20, with other cars as well.

dawnMN, did you see that he is going to Duluth in the next couple of months? I was thinking about a road trip!!

Lyle

1/2 price ticket booth...Have you used it? What shows are...

hi all, I know about the two 1/2 price ticket booths but am just wondering what kind of shows are available through them? Any examples of what you know has been available lately would be great.

Also what time to people start lining up? (ie what time to I have to be there to be first in line for best selection)

We have our Sat night and our Mon night unscheduled so thought we might try this. I know the Sat night there might not be much available, but Monday maybe....

thanks!

1/2 price ticket booth...Have you used it? What shows are...

Hi Can you give me any onfo on the 1/2 price ticket booths? Locations etc. Thanks

1/2 price ticket booth...Have you used it? What shows are...

Karen, I realized the answers were in another thread from a couple of weeks ago; I bumped it up for you.

Sorry for repeat-question posting. No need for it anymore with the fabulous new search feature. Bad me :)

Sherry

Thanks for the info on the tickets. We will certainly use this.

Karen

There are two different discount ticket companies in Vegas, each selling same-day tickets for half-price (plus a small service fee). The two are Tix 4 Tonight and Tickets 2Nite.

Tix 4 Tonight has three locations: the east side of the Strip just south of the Harley Davidson Caf�� at Harmon, on the west side of the Strip at the Fashion Show Mall, and on the east side of the Strip next door to the Peppermill Restaurant (across from the Stardust). Tickets 2Nite is located at the Coke Bottle, across from Monte Carlo and north of MGM. I seem to recall seeing one of the two in the Hawaiian Marketplace as well, but I don���t recall which one.

I don���t know if either service is better or cheaper than the other, and I don���t know if either has a better selection of shows than the other. My suspicion is that they are probably pretty much the same. Neither one carries tickets to the top shows or to the top names; they both carry tickets to the long-running Vegas standards. At a recent visit, some of the shows that they carried were: The Fab Four at the Aladdin; Legends In Concert at Imperial Palace; The Platters, Drifters and Coasters at Sahara; American Superstars at Stratosphere; The Temptations and Four Seasons at StarDust; the Rat Pack at Greek Isles; Tribute to Neil Diamond at Riviera; the World���s Greatest Magic Show at Greek Isles; Show Girls of Magic; and I stopped writing them down after this.

They open at noon, with tickets for that day. Rumor has it that sometimes, late in the afternoon, they will get a few unsold tickets for the top shows, but I cannot confirm this.

Some of the tickets are for general admission, so there is no drawback to buying the discounted tickets. Other shows are maitre de seating, so you will need to bribe someone for the best seats, regardless of the price you paid.

Some of the shows are assigned seating, and the discount ticket places don���t get the best seats. I have been able to upgrade my cheap seats at the Box Office, and still saved money. For example, I got $50 front-row seats (which would have cost more like $55 after including the Live Entertainment Tax) at Imperial Palace for about $33 each. I paid $23 each, including tax and service charge, to the discount ticket place, and then paid $10 each for an upgrade at the Box Office. Great seats, a very good show, and one drink was included in the price. There were no other discounts available that I was aware of. Was it worth the time and hassle of going to the discount ticket place, standing in line there, then going to the Box Office and standing in line there? Not if I was pressed for time, or having to give up something else to make the time, or having to pay cab fare, or ��� But I had the time, I was strolling the Strip and enjoying it. So it was worth it to me, that trip.

I said in that last paragraph that there were no other discounts available that I knew of. You will find in your hotel room and around town a large number of visitor guides, filled with ads and reviews and recommendations and maps. I���d prefer the reviews on this Forum to the ones in these guides, because I would always suspect that the reviews in the guides are paid advertisements. But some of these guides also have a lot of coupons. So if there is a $10 off coupon for the Tribute To Neil Diamond, maybe it is not worth going to a discount ticket place. After all, half price plus a service charge might cost more than full price less the $10 coupon. I like to have in mind what discount coupons are available when I go to buy tickets, just to make sure I don���t pay too much.

Mike Thanks for your help.

Movie stars now in Vegas for SHO WEST convention

USA today newspaper today says many stars.....matt damon, mel gibson, drew barrymore,etc............are and will be in Vegas for

this convention which is convention of theater owners.

Is this something that is kept quiet . Haven%26#39;t seen anything on this forum about it. Where is it held, dates, etc?

Movie stars now in Vegas for SHO WEST convention

The convention was held at Ballys from 3/14 to 3/17....so it just ended yesterday.

Restaurants Near Fremont?

Been to LV a few times but never got to Freemont. What restaurants are decent there?

Restaurants Near Fremont?

We loved breakfast at Bay City Diner. It%26#39;s at the Golden Gate Hotel on Fremont

Restaurants Near Fremont?

I thought the Bay City Diner was at the Golden Gate? Correct me if I am wrong.

The best one one Freemont is Hugo%26#39;s Cellar in Four Queens, or Binnions Steakhouse. For buffets Main Street Station or Golden Nugget.

Near Freemont is the best French resaurant in town called Andres. For a great bar with food there is Main Street Station Brw Pub, and a place called The Ice House.

I%26#39;ve heard a lot of great things about Hugo%26#39;s here and elsewhere. Do you need reservations? I think we%26#39;ll definately give it a try.

Thanks!

Zax @ Golden Nugget...YUM!!!!

Deserts

We are leaving for Vegas this coming Saturday (16th) and will be there the whole week following. We are going to see the Hoover Dam and would like to tour a nice desert park too. We planned on visiting the Valley of Fire, but someone told us that Red Rock Canyon is more popular and nicer. Any suggestions for a desert to visit. We don%26#39;t want to travel too far from Vegas.

Deserts

I think that the Valley of Fire is great! I do not agree that Red Rock Canyon is nicer, but it is probably a more popular place for people to visit, as it is only about 20-30 minutes from the ';strip';. Red Rock Canyon can be very crowded on weekends. There are some hiking trails and some nice scenery at Red Rock, but Valley of Fire has more to offer. I can%26#39;t remember how long the drive was from Vegas, but we came in the %26#39;back%26#39; way to Valley of Fire and ended up at the front entrance and then drove to Hoover Dam. Red rocks, red sand and a lot less people than Red Rock. I see that you are from PA, I am from Central New York, and the scenery at Valley of Fire was a lot different from what we are used to! Take a camera, exta film, and food and drink as the Park does not have any food service. I would plan on spending almost a whole day here and then maybe an hour at Hoover Dam. I don%26#39;t think they have the tours anymore at Hoover because of security. Red Rock is O.K. for a few hours but thats it. I love Death Valley too, but I would make that an overnight trip with advance reservations at Stovepipe Wells or Furnace Creek. If you have never been to Vegas and love to hike, wait untill your plane taxi%26#39;s into the airport and you can see the mountains that surround the Vegas area. Beautifull! I thought that renting a car was cheaper than the tours, driving in Vegas is a pain, and I only used our rental to leave the city or to drive to the downtown Vegas casino%26#39;s. Unless you want to use valet parking, walk or use a shuttle on the strip. Have a great time!

Deserts

Thanks for your response. Maybe we will just stick with Valley of Fire. I am just excited to see a desert. I know what you mean about it being soooo different than what we are used to. We do have a rental car for the whole week, so the drive is no big deal. I am sure we will just pick one day during the week instead of the weekend. Do they have souvenior shops there? My daughter wants me to bring back some of the Cactus candy they advertise on their website.

caron-from upstate ny also. how long does it take to get to the valley of fire?love the photo opt.! is it best to leave real early 7amish to avoid the heat? we will be there the 2nd week in april.thanks.

Valley of Fire is AWESOME. The reason Red Rock is more ';popular'; is that it is a 10-15 minute drive from LV and Valley of Fire is about an hour drive. In other words, most folks either don%26#39;t know about VOF or are too lazy to make the effort to see it. It is a great place for some peace and quiet during the day away from the masses in town. There are more than enough hikes to take a couple days, but a half day to full day is probably enough to see most of it. You will probably encounter less than ten cars there during your visit, it is that quiet. (See link.) Take the Interstate up and then drive back along Lake Mead.

http://parks.nv.gov/vf.htm

Cancelled Reservation record

I am wondering if the hotel keeps record of the cancelled reservations. I booked through the casino website and after a week found a better rate with them and so I booked another room from their website and then cancelled the first reservation.

Next week I got a promo rate from the casino and so I did the same again... booked another room with promo and then cancelled the previous room.

So basically I had made 3 reservations for the same dates and I am keeping only the last one. Just wondering if the hotel looks for resrvation under my name can they also see the 2 cancelled reservation or they are gone for good.

THANKS!!

Cancelled Reservation record

Rather than cancelling the original booking just phone or email the hotel. I did this with the Excalibur(email) and they came back to me within 24Hrs saying they had adjusted my booking to the lower rates.

Cancelled Reservation record

I did the same with Bally%26#39;s. Original rate was 109, and I kept an eye on rates via internet. It went to 89.00, I called, they honored rate. It went to 79.00, I called, they honored the rate. I am guessing they honor the lower rate when you call and ask because they know you can just cancel and rebook, saves them a little time. I don%26#39;t think they can access previous bookings/cancellation record, but even if they could, I doubt the operator you are talking to really cares.

ccl - the direct answer to your question is yes - our systems does keep track of all cancellations. I am sure you received a cancellation number when you cancelled. This is a record number to the computer. You could call the hotel today and ask them to look up your cancellation number and they would be able to pull up your information - this information (in most hotels) is retained for a period of five years.

Many people change and cancel thier reservations as you have. And yes your history will come up when they pull up your reservation. Next point to consider if they see to much hisory like that and you want a free upgrade when you arrive - chance become reduced that you will receive the upgrade because you did change in order to get the lower rate not once but a number of times.

VHM,

You kind of hit it on the nose. I was able to reduce the price by almost $80 for 2 night by doing booking a new reservation online and then cancel the old one. My concern is that if they see when I am checking in that I have been doing this they may not even give me an upgrade even if then can as they can see the history.

I would think that calling the hotel changing the rate on the same booking will show the record but was not sure that it will pull all your other cancelled but separate bookings. That is a surprise to me.

btw,

when I cancelled I got an email letting me its cancelled and when I check on their system it says that booking is cancelled. I was told that the caancellation number is the same as booking number. does not make sense but that is what they told me

Yes - if the reservation, (even if submitted to us via third party) has made it to us - we will have a record. When we type in your last name - yes, it will list all of your reservations cancelled or not. I am not saying you will not get an upgrade, but you have reduced your chances.

VHM

Depending on the company - the cancel number is usually a little different - some change a letter to an ';X'; standing for cancelled. Some give you an entirely different number. But as for the exact same number as your confiramtion number - that is not common -

I booked at Ballys and then from out they take AAA. So I called and they cancelled my ressie and made a new one with the discount applied instead of just changing the price.

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