Las Vegas..

We have just booked our flights to Las vegas for next June, however we have not booked our hotel just yet and we are currently looking at various ones.

Has anyone on here ever been and could you recommend a hotel or two in which to stay in?

It's somewhere I have never been but always fancied. The Bellagio is supposed to be the Bee Knees.

I've been. Spent 2 days there about 4 years ago. 

In short, its fun for about 3 hours, then you realise its just a seedy, crime-ridden shithole.

Reebok_Rebel wrote:I've been. Spent 2 days there about 4 years ago. 

In short, its fun for about 3 hours, then you realise its just a seedy, crime-ridden shithole.

Exactly!

aaron avoid the Quad Resort and Casino and have a look at the reviews on Trip Advisor.

I was there for a week about 6 years ago, and loved every minute. Its becoming more family orientated, and each major hotel puts on free shows each day. The Bellagio has its dancing fountains, Miramar? has its fountain that changes colour, and is really impressive. Theres one that does a pirate show. MGM, and Disneys castle. All sorts of things. I stayed in the Monte Carlo, between New York, New York, and the Bellagio. The main drag with all the big hotels is excellent, and full of life. I drove into the suburbs one night, somethng I wouldn't recommend on a regular basis. For a holiday, its great. Had a long drive to Death valley one day. well worth it. Never did the grand Canyon though, (dont even know why not). You'll enjoy it, but be careful.

Forgot to mention, I won $30 on a one armed bandit in Caesars Palace, lost inside 10 minutes. brilliant place.

I've been a couple of times and it's been fantastic.

The last time I went was two years ago and a place called Bally's seemed to be the cheapest on the 'strip' at that time, don't know if it is now though?

Didn't stay their myself though, I was at the Cosmopolitan just across the road from it.  It was very nice but I think most of the Casino's are.  Bally's looked a bit less fashionable from the outside but I've no idea what its like on the inside.

The first time I went we stayed at a place off the strip which was much cheaper but it was a pain having to drive backwards and forwards all the time - wouldn't recommend doing that myself.

One thing that might help you pick a place to stay is that there is a mono rail system to the rear of several of the casinos on the strip, which depending on how long you are planning to stay, can save you an awful lot of walking whilst you are there - just a thought.

I think to get the most out of Vegas you need to spend a bit and I would certainly recommend that you see a 'show' or two whilst you are there.  Saw the magician David Copperfield and also The Lion King - both brilliant.  Expensive though.

If you like sightseeing you are within traveling distance of The Grand Canyon, Death Valley and The Hoover Dam (which is more or less on the doorstep).

I loved the first to, I think you need to love construction to appreciate the Dam - bored me personally - but it was free.

My daughter who is much closer in age to you than I am, found them all fairly dull, she much prefaired the wonderful Vegas shopping malls.  

Don't know if any of this as been of any use to you - hope so!

Sluffy wrote:

If you like sightseeing you are within traveling distance of The Grand Canyon, Death Valley and The Hoover Dam (which is more or less on the doorstep).

I loved the first to, I think you need to love construction to appreciate the Dam - bored me personally - but it was free.

My daughter who is much closer in age to you than I am, found them all fairly dull, she much prefaired the wonderful Vegas shopping malls.  

Yes do visit at least the Grand Canyon if you can - it's spectacular.

Sluffy, your daughter found it dull??  

Well maybe not dull but more like 'I've seen it, can we go now' type of thing.

We got there the night before and bought tickets to fly into the Canyon in a helicopter the following morning, which we did.  After that we drove to the Visitor Center and they have sort of like shuttle buses, were you can jump off at various spots, have a look around and jump back onto the next bus passing by.

After a while I suppose you simply have seen as much as it as you can take in and in a funny sort of a way it starts to get repetitive, in that its simply too big to do anything else other than to stand on the lip of the Canyon and the view is more or less the same wherever you view it from.

It's certainly a must do thing and flying over it is very expensive but you are hardly likely to be doing it again anytime soon - so do it or otherwise you might regret not taking the chance when you had it.

Thanks for the tips fellas and Sluffy we intend on doing the grand canyon defiently. What exactly is death valley?

I can't say the couple of posts regarding crime is really exciting me personally but we will be careful so it should be alright.

Death Valley is a desert.  

It's the hottest place on earth.

Wonderful scenery.

As for the crime in Vegas, simply stick to the tourist bits and you will be fine.

I did a week in 2010 stayed at the Bellagio fabulous place. it can take a week to see all the different themed hotels. The best probably would be the Bellagio, Ceasars Palace and Venetian all special, but the others MGM, New York all have merit.
regrets ? it tool a week to find out that we had a pool that was like something out of a bond film. also we booked twice for the Grand Canyon and was cancelled both times because of the weather conditions at the rim of the Canyon. Gutted but very rare.
Yes it as a seedy side but it's somewhere i am glad i have been, and i would like to go back.
My advice stay as near to the centre of the strip as affordable.

We went a few weeks after 9/11 for my daughters 21st, amazing place, we stayed at the Luxor Hotel but spent a lot of time visiting the other hotels, some that have been mentioned already, really impressed with the Mandalay Bay Hotel.

Never saw any trouble, would go back and do the Grand Canyon next time.

We have been looking at the Luxor, though a couple of videos I have seen on youtube make the rooms look rather dark, not sure if that was due to their camera or whatever. It looks nice from the outside though.

The Luxor is at the bottom of the strip.

I would suggest you probably would be better towards the center if you can.

We noticed that once we had a proper look on google maps, you are spot on really from some of the reviews we have read regarding hotel location.

Up to now my personal choices would be the mirage or the cosmopolitan hotel.

Bellagio or Venetian dont even think about any others. Its a fantastic over the top place that everyone should visit once.Went on a golfing trip with a few mates,awesome ! The crime thing is bollocks,if you go into dodgy ares anywhere you take a risk,stay in the places you are meant to be and no problem in the least. Manchester or London can be more dangerous.Have a great time !

Come to think of it, went for a stroll on my own one night and passed quite a few blokes drinking sat on a wall not far from our hotel but they weren't aggressive, they were really friendly when they found out I was British and not Australian, think it was because we stood by them at that time.

Anyway aaron like Sluffy says you might be better near the centre.

I've been twice and got married over there, so I suppose I'm biased but I love the place.

We stayed at the Gold Coast first time (off Strip but connected by free shuttle buses) and the Monte Carlo the second time.

As others have said, The Luxor is a bit away from "the action" and when you see The Strip on telly, it looks deceptively "walkable" but it probably takes a good forty minutes to walk from The Luxor to Caesar's Palace.

As for crime, stay away from the obviously dodgy places (back street joints Downtown off Freemont Street) and you'll be fine.

I'd recommend the Penn & Teller show if it's still on, it was fantastic.

The Grand Canyon helicopter trip was awesome, but be aware that you don't go to the South Rim that features on all the spectacular posters you see, you go to a different bit which is still worth seeing. I've tried uploading a pic but I don't think it's worked.

Anyway, enjoy Vegas.