My husband wants us to go to Las Vegas is it all its cracked out to? never been a place I've fancied?

Show all answers

Jay C

Been to Vegas twice in the last five year and I rarely gamble. I might have thrown 100.00 total into the slots over a total period of 9 days. I believe you have to be 18 to gamble.

Some things to do:

1. Check out every casino. Seriously. They are simply amazing on the inside. They also have some great places to eat in them. New York, New York has an awesome "fake" old downtown area inside where they have shops and diners. They also have the Manhattan Express which is a roller coaster that flies around their cityscape outside the casino. Most of the casonos have a different theme. New York, New York just happens to be my favorite. You need to check them all out. This in itself can take you a day or two if you take your time.
2. Check out the free mini-shows. The fountains outside the Bellagio, the volcano outside the Mirage, the Pirate Ship show at TI (Treasure Island). There are more as well. They are all worth a watch at least once. If you are on the strip, make sure you take Harrah's free shuttle to The Rio and chatch their Mardi Gras parade in the sky. The "show" is free, but you can pay a small fee and actually ride on one of the floats and throw beads. I haven't tried it but it looks fun.
3. Like to shop? Not big on the pricey shops inside the casinos? There is a very large mall right on the strip.
4. Check out the many cool restaurants inside and outside of the casinos. There are some great places to eat and drink along the strip. Never enough time to try them all out but there should be something for all tastes and all pocketbooks. There are many origianl restaurants as when as chain ones that are kind of cool (rainforest cafe, Margaritaville, ESPN ZONE,etc...). Some of the buffets, while getting to be expensive, are quite amazing.
5. Like to drink? Lots of places to do this as well. Everything from very upscale clubs to sports bars. My favorite may very well be the only outside bar on the strip. That is Carival Court outside of Harrahs. It not real easy to find as it is kind of tucked between Harrahs and another casino. You can't really see it from the street. It's a great place to hang out and one of my favorite places in Vegas. Even if you don't drink, they have live band from noon to 2 or 3 in the morning. The bartenders are amazing to watch as well as they work with a lot of flare (think Tom Cruise in Cocktail). Lots of fun and games going on here. Nice thing about Vegas is it is Like Bourbon Street in that you can buy a drink and walk with it wherever you want to go.
6. People watch. Not a big people watcher myslef but you really do get all kinds in Vegas. Very interesting to see the wide variety of people from around the world the converge on Vegas.
7. At some point of time in your stay, asspecially if you walk into casinos, you will be accosted by workers trying to get you to see a presentation on condos. If you have a lot of time to spare, you want to go through with it. They will tell you it takes about 45 minutes. It actually takes in excess of 2 hours. However, we ended up getting two free passes to the Rio buffet (one of the best), two free tickets to s comedy show (was quite good actually) and a few other perks as well. If you have the time, it might be worth your while. You do have to realize that they are there to get you to buy a condo though and are quite pushy about it. Keep your eye on the prize and just keep telling them "NO". Get your stuff and leave.
8. Take a cab (don't walk off the strip) to old downtown Vegas. Some of the old casinos are down there. It is on Freemont street and they have a pretty cool light show there every night. A lot of people who go to Vegas don't make it out here. It's worth a cab ride. Below is a review to give you an idea of whats it's like:

We have stayed two times in downtown and once on the strip. We are headed back to Vegas in April - only 3 more weeks!! And this time we are taking the kids with us. I will feel more secure downtown than on the strip with my kids. At least there are no guys handing out porno fliers in the downtown area. And there are lots of police officers around on foot and on bicycles in the downtown area. Our children are 16 and 9 and I can't wait to take them there to see the light show. And I feel there is a much bigger chance of becoming seperated from the kids on the strip. The downtown area is just smaller and everything is closer together, so not so easy to lose the party you are with. We love the dancing in the street, the light show and overall atmosphere, along with the vendors. It's our favorite place to go in Vegas. Stay at the Goldne Nugget - it's great!

Go to Vegas and enjoy. There is so much more to do that gamble. However, I also know people who went and really didn't like it. It's not for everyone. It can be seedy. There are people (slappers as they call them) handing out call girl "cards" on the corners. I can't tell you how many times I was approached by prositutes while at bars in the casinos (most recently at the Luxor). It's Vegas though. You just need to take the good with the bad.

ENJOY!

TINKERTOY ..... the 1 & only

Yes you should goto Vegas at least once. Its a24/7 town with something for everyone to do. It has some of THE best hotels and restaurants, and shows in the world. And if you are not into gambling you can spend your time doing all of the other things that are there for you. Here's a sample.

When you go to Las Vegas these usual things you will want to see for FREE:

1. Number one on my list is to watch the fountains displays in front of the Bellagio hotel. It usually runs every 15 minutes in summers starting at 3:00 PM; runs continuously until about midnight. Each show is different (there are more than 20 different tunes choreographed) so stay and watch at least 2 or 3. ALSO, go inside the Bellagio hotel to its lobby and view the beautiful glass sculptured ceiling AND the seasonal floral arrangements in the Atrium.

2. The â€œSirens of TIâ€ show (spectacular) in from of the Treasure Island Hotel; it runs every 90 minutes starting at about 4:30 PM. Simply stand on the sidewalk in front of the TI Hotel.

3. The volcano erupt in from of the Mirage Hotel; starting at dark until midnight. Again, just stand on the sidewalk in front of the hotel.

4. Go down to Fremont Street and see the light shows. There are usually 3 or 4 different shows, starting after dark (about 8:30PM) and lasting about 5 or 10 minutes each.

5. Go to the RIO hotel to see the Masquerade in the Sky show. It is like Mardi Gras parade, only suspended from the ceiling over the gambling floor. It runs every 60 minutes starting about 3:00 PM; the last show starts at 9:30 PM..

6. Go to the MGM Grand hotel to see the Lion habitat. This is better then the tiger habitat at the Mirage Hotel because there are usually trainers in with lions to keep them active.

7. Go to the Mirage hotel to see the white tigers that Siegfried and Roy show used. This is kinda passe because the tigers rarely do anything but sit and stare.

8. Go in Caesars Palace and walk through the Forum shops to the first fountain (its spectacular) then take the first fork to the left to go see the aquarium. Then continue on through the shops to the second fountain and wait for the show to start.

9. Go into the Flamingo hotel to see their animal habitat with flamingos and penguins.

10 The Excalibur hotel also has a free show starting at 10:00 AM until 10:00 PM.

If you are a Star Trek Fan, go to the Hilton (off the strip) for "Star Trek The Experience"; it cost about $25.

People go to Vegas to sightsee as well as gamble. You can see most of the stuff on the Strip by walking, so you don't need a rental car. There is a free monorail between Bellagio and the Monte Carlo Hotel and also another free one between Excalibur, Luxor, and Mandalay Bay. The one on the opposite side of the street which runs from the MGM to the Hilton you have to pay to ride. There is a free bus between Harrahs Hotel to the RIO Hotel that runs every half hour. There is also a free bus that you can get outside the Barbary Coast Casino that will take you to the Orleans and some other off strip casinos.

Plan which hotels/casinos you want to visit each day so you can make the most of your walking and the free monorails and scuttles. When you get to Vegas you will probably have in your hotel room a free guide to the city called either "What's ON" , â€œShowbizâ€or "Las Vegas Today". These are helpful guises as they have a map of the Strip and city with the hotels marked, current hotel shows and prices, plus useful coupons. Some coupons will give you a free souvenir from certain hotels; you just have to take the coupon to the hotel. They also list hotel restaurants and buffets time sand prices

There's shopping at Fashion show mall right next to Treasure Island Hotel (across from the Wynn Hotel), or you can drive or take a taxi or the bus south on the Strip (just past the airport) to the outlet mall. For more shopping, drive south on I-15 to Primm, NV (at the Calif border ... about 45 miles) and there is a big outlet mall and some casinos.

DINING: The hotel coffee shops and buffets are now much more expensive than they were years ago. So, if you want to eat for less go to the food courts located in many hotels and also try one of the several Denny's restaurants on the Strip (one in the Casino Royal hotel/casino). There are also a number of McDonald, Burger King, and other fast food places on the Stip. You can get breakfast and dinner buffets a few dollars less at the Imperial Palace hotel/casino and at the Gold Coast hotel/casino. Buffets also cost less at the Circus Circus hotel/casino and in Fremont St hotel/casinos. There is an Outback Steak House in the Casino Royale Hotel and another across from the RIO. There is a Cheesecake Factory and a Planet Hollywood in Caesars Forum shops. There is a Margerittaville in the Flamingo hotel. I recommend Tony Romaâ€™s, a ribs and chicken restaurant; one in the Stardust hotel/casino, one on Fremont St and another on Sahara Ave near Paradise Rd.

MOVIES: There are movie theaters in the Palms (multiplex) and also another on the Strip across the street from the Monte Carlo hotel, near the MGM hotel.

BOWLING: If you like to bowl, there are alley's in The Gold Coast Hotel/Casino (beside the RIO) and in the Orleans Hotel Casino. .

OTHER THINGS:

RED ROCK CANYON: Its about 20 miles west of Las Vegas out Charleston Blvd (you can
pick up that street at the north end of the Strip) Itâ€™s a scenic drive-through park. Go early, not in the heat of the day; there's no shade.

HOOVER DAM: Drive about 30 miles southeast of Vegas and go to Hoover Dam; the
National Park Service offers tours there (@ $15.) and its interesting stuff. Go on past Hoover dam to Boulder City and then to Lake Meade for a swim and/or to visit the new casino there. Also, there are tour companies that will take you on a cruise of the river below Hoover Dam. Check the Vegas web sites.

VALLEY OF FIRE STATE PARK: Drive about 35 miles north of Vegas on I-15 and go to
Valley of Fire State Park, another scenic park area.

ZION NATION PARK: Itâ€™s a long drive (about 2-3 hours), but you can drive North on
I-15 to Zion National Park and back in one day.

DEATH VALLEY: If you like to visit National Parks, drive about an hour and a half south of Vegas on I-15 and take RT-127 to Death Valley National Park (total drive may be 3 hrs each way).

GRAND CANYON: The drive to the Grand Canyon is 5 long hard hours on mostly two lane
roads with trucks and campers (only a short way on I-40). You can drive there and back in one day if you leave early morning, like 6:00-7:00 AM. That will put you there about noon and you will have 4 or 5 hrs before starting back and getting back to Vegas about 11:00PM. I recommend staying overnight at the Canyon (there are plenty of motels near there, like Best Western, Ramada, Quality inns) and drive back the next day.

Lorraine A

GO!!! Its such an eye opener!! Ive been twice, first for a week then second time for 2 weeks! Id admit 2 weeks is too long as there is only so many slot machines you can play but its a fantastic place! I had an excellent time! I never imagined it would be as big as it is but you will have loads of fun! Just dont go in June as its too hot! Reached 111 degrees when I was there and I wanted to cry it was so hot! You wont regret it (and do the grand canyon)!! ps you will need lots of money x

billybags

Las Vegas is a grown ups playground. You do not have to gamble if you do not want too. There is so much to see, fantastic hotels that will takes hours to look around, you can take a gondola ride through the hotel Venice, words cannot describe Vegas you have to be there and see it your self. Every thing is larger than life. Go for it .

Voice of Reason

The Strip is like an Adult Disneyland, you don't need to gamble to enjoy the sights and is quite lively. Not a place I would choose as a fixed destination though. Death Valley, Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon are worth visiting.

Neil C

Go. Just Go!!! You will never regret it. It is the Adult Disneyland. It is more than just gambling. The Hotels are beautiful. The restaurants and the shows are great. I went their last October and had a blast. I did very little gambling but did a lot of relaxing and people watching. If and when you go I suggest that you see the dancing water fountains at night in front of the Beillggieo Hotel.

Eva D

There's a lot of things to do there if you're not into gambling. Great restaurants, shows, shopping, clubs, etc..

I don't like to stay longer than a weekend, because it gets a little repetitive and I overspend. I know a lot of people feel the same way, but I guess you need to try it out for your self.

â™£Hey judeâ™£

It's a pretty exciting place for gambling, entertainment & nightlife.
If that's your thing, go for it.

The Fred

It's definately different than any other place I've been. Lots of dazzle and live entertainment, plus if you're from Britain (Americans don't tend to use the word "fancied"), it'll be a relative bargain.

It can be swelteringly hot in the summer or windy and cold in the winter (but I'm from San Diego and am a real wuss when it comes to bad weather). Late spring or fall are my favorites.

Also, for people who like sunbathing at the hotel pools (and Vegas hotels have some of the most spectacular pools), many are closed for the winter months, and during the summer it can get blazingly hot outside. (And then just when it starts to cool in the summer evenings, most hotels shut down the pools to get people to come inside to gamble)

Aubrey

I just got back a week ago and i still cant stop talking about how much fun i had! Its the best freakin place ive ever been!! Just to see all of the hotels and the lights, plus the desert sky and mountains are absolutely beautiful! Yall will have a blast! You dont need to like to gamble...really whatever you like to do they will have it! Everything from shopping to skydiving you can do it it Vegas! The roller coaster at New York is awesome! They have lots of shows and concerts, clubs, restaurants, and even really great national parks if you are more of an outdoors person. If you dont want to go Ill go with your husband! LOL!!

weezyb

It's a wonderful place. full of good entertainment, good food, good hotels.

you don't have to gamble to go there especially if you have never been there before as there is so much to see. I would recommend you do as much as you are physically able to on your first trip, and stay in a nice hotel. I stayed in the venetian recentley and it was a beautiful hotel and the rooms were out of this world.

go on take the plunge, give it a go!

Bexs

My friends got married there and they thought it was amazing - me and my partner saw a programme about the history of Las Vegas the other night on Sky and by the end of it, I wanted to go. It has a lot of history - it looks very full on, larger than life, a bit cheesey and classy all at the same time!

vegasqueen1970

I just got back from my 7th trip on Friday night and as you can probably guess, I love the place! We got married there 7 years ago. There is so much to do, you don't have to gamble but if you want to flutter, you don't have to spend big bucks.

The hotels are fantastic, you can go into any of them to eat, gamble or just look around. There are amazing evening shows, we've seen a few of the Cirque du Soleil shows and last week we saw Bob Seger. This week Eric Clapton was on so we missed him by just a few days. We've also seen other top names like Tom Jones and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.

There are quite a few free things to do, Fremont Street is always worth a visit, you can get the bus downtown to this. The shopping is fantastic, especially at the moment with the pound against the dollar - we spent most of this trip shopping! We always hire a car so we can go out and visit other places - Hoover Dam, Primm (shopping outlet, very cheap clothes!) and older casinos. If you've got the time, a couple of days to visit the Grand Canyon is a must, its a long drive if you do it yourself. But otherwise, you can do it by helicoptor or plane in a day for a couple of hundred dollars.

There are also a couple of national parks quite close by - Valley of Fire and Red Rock Canyon.

Las Vegas is very loud, glitzy, tacky but everybody should go there at least once. I don't know how old you are but if you're into clubbing, Las Vegas apparently has some of the best clubs, can't say much more about them thought as its not something we do.

I've been back home for 2 days and already wish I was back there! Go, enjoy, have fun......you won't regret it.

â†Sheaâ†’

Vegas is unlike anything you have ever seen. It can be either the cheapest vacation or the most expensive trip you've ever taken. Its all about moderation.

Research hotels that will be to your liking.

oldoak

Yes - I took my wife last year it is was great for us! Shows, restaurants, shopping...best in US! Bring your wallet

Our Man In Bananas

never been there, but I reckon it's worth going at least once...

let's face it, you can go to the Grand Canyon on a side trip, and that's gotta be worth it!

Plus, it means next time you get to choose some you fancy perhaps!

Happy Holidays

Philip

Rex P

Where else can you go to visit, stay or eat at gorgeous hotels that elsewhere can be very expensive to fly to or stay. It's all in one place. If this is your first time...plan it out as there is too much to see and so very little time. Not sure how long you'll be there...but check out the nicer hotels during the day like Bellagio, Wynn, Mandalay Bay, Cesars Palace, etc. On one of the nights...spend the money to eat at a finer restaurant and then head over to see a show...For a first timer...I'd recommend a show like O at the Bellagio or Ka at MGM...but you need to reserve show tickets in advance....be warned...the better shows are expensive but most are well worth the experience...might as well reserve dinner in advance as well. The others nights...stroll through other casinos and gamble...if that's your thing. Most importantly...keep an open mind as there at a lot of things to do and see...probably very different than what you're use to....AND have a blast...that's why you're on vacation!

Paula W

I got married here 4 years ago and we both loved it! I was 3 months pregnant at the time so didn't take advantage of the drinks that are available whilst betting! I also didn't get to do trips to the Grand Canyon or anything like that and still enjoyed it immensly (though not as much as the husband!)

We are going again next year for my husbands 40th so I would recommend it highly, you can get some quite good deals and the exchange rate at the moment means you can shop till you drop and get some real bargains! You will see some fantastic hotels there and it really isn't all about casino's either - go for it, for the experience at least, I'm sure you would love it!

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: