Ongoing Las Vegas 'pro-tips' thread - Advice on all things Vegas

[Northendzone]

Originally Posted by pylon

The best way to do Vegas is a duffel bag with 4 changes of underwear and one change of clothes, about a grand in cash, and no plan whatsoever. The last time I went down, I didn't even book a Hotel. I will however take a near empty suitcase so I can load one up with clothes from the ridiculously cheap outlet mall for the trip back.

There is seriously so much to do there, having a plan is dumb. If you pre-book anything, you are overpaying. Last minute anything in Vegas is cheaper. I have stayed at The Wynn for $99 a night with a good story, and a $20 handshake.

kudos to you for being able to fly by the seat of your pants, personally, I'd rather pay extra and know where i am staying, and if there is a show i really wanted to see, then i'd book in advance and pay more for the security of knowing i got the ticket i really wanted.

i don't think i'd go with a regimented schedule like boosterjuice has though - i'd like something in between - but some people are planners, and others are not.

BTW, I get the feeling from your post that you must feel that fanny packs are out of style. My response is that fine leather always stays in style......

[Buff]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

kudos to you for being able to fly by the seat of your pants, personally, I'd rather pay extra and know where i am staying, and if there is a show i really wanted to see, then i'd book in advance and pay more for the security of knowing i got the ticket i really wanted.

i don't think i'd go with a regimented schedule like boosterjuice has though - i'd like something in between - but some people are planners, and others are not.

BTW, I get the feeling from your post that you must feel that fanny packs are out of style. My response is that fine leather always stays in style......

If you are looking for Cirque Du Soleil shows, they don't sell out. I've only been to two (Mystere and Ka) and neither of them were full but from what I hear that is the same for all of those shows. If you're looking to see a concert or a comedian who isn't performing several times per week in Vegas, then yes, you should try to book ahead.

[East Coast Flame]

Originally Posted by Maccalus

The Flamingo is not under renovation right now, but the imperial palace, old O'sheas and surrounding areas are. Near the end of December the Imperial Palace will have its name changed to "The Quad" in some marketers attempt to appeal to the drunken college crowd that currently inhabits the place. It is having its casino and other public areas renovated right now, but the rooms are being left untouched at this time.

The rest of the area is being updated under the Linq project, which will also include one of the 2 giant ferris wheels being constructed on the strip when it is finally completed. I think the ferris wheel is supposed to be finished late next year.

Bloody hell, do you know how long the Imperial Palace is under renovations for? I'll be there next week and I'm already pissed enough at my friend for booking us at Imperial Palace. He got a real "smoking deal". Damn it.

I should have known better, last time he was on hotel duty we ended up at Hooters. Ugh.

[Maccalus]

^ I know the whole linq project is supposed to be done by Dec. 2013 and it runs the whole south side of the imperial palace. As for any reno's on the inside I do not know.

Here is some pictures from September of the construction.

http://www.projectlinqvegas.com/2012...tures-updates/

[blankall]

You can find a lot of discount shows online before you go down too. Vegas is still hurting pretty badly to sell out seats.

Cirque has some discounts themselves:

http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/des...ets-deals.aspx

Smarter Vegas is also a pretty good resources:

http://www.smartervegas.com/shows/ka...discounts.aspx

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by East Coast Flame

I'll be there next week and I'm already pissed enough at my friend for booking us at Imperial Palace. He got a real "smoking deal". Damn it.

I should have known better, last time he was on hotel duty we ended up at Hooters. Ugh.

Hahaha I enjoy gambling at imperial, no way I'd stay there. At least you're close to hash-house-a-go-go.

Although Hooters isn't that bad.

[Violator]

Originally Posted by East Coast Flame

Bloody hell, do you know how long the Imperial Palace is under renovations for? I'll be there next week and I'm already pissed enough at my friend for booking us at Imperial Palace. He got a real "smoking deal". Damn it.

I should have known better, last time he was on hotel duty we ended up at Hooters. Ugh.

That place is a classy hotel nothing like a 10 storey 1.50 budlight banner to show youve arrived in a nice place.

[CMPunk]

Bah, the hotel is just a place to sleep, unless you're picking up girls and trying to impress them. I'm just happy if I'm on the strip. I'm sure the Imperial will serve it's purpose to lay your drunken head

[Mccree]

http://www.segwaylv.com/Home_Page.html

We did a segway tour of the strip. So much fun.

[Derek Sutton]

Originally Posted by East Coast Flame

Bloody hell, do you know how long the Imperial Palace is under renovations for? I'll be there next week and I'm already pissed enough at my friend for booking us at Imperial Palace. He got a real "smoking deal". Damn it.

I should have known better, last time he was on hotel duty we ended up at Hooters. Ugh.

I hope by "smoking deal" he meant free. I have never paid to stay at IP (and I'm not a big gambler) and I don't think anyone ever does. Really it doesn't matter where you stay, you are only in your room to sleep. It just sounds nicer when you say Bellagio, Aria Venetian etc...but if you are going with your buddy it is not worth it to pay to stay at one of those places IMo. The IP is also in a good location.

[spetch]

Originally Posted by Derek Sutton

I hope by "smoking deal" he meant free. I have never paid to stay at IP (and I'm not a big gambler) and I don't think anyone ever does.

Add Bally's and Harrah's to that list. Heck I just grab a free room every time I go down there just to save the $40 cab fare back to our holiday home in the SW. Ceasers Ent. have some very "easy to attain" comps when u gamble with them and they also have some of the best locations on the strip, just have to deal with a bit of outdated rooms.

[Derek Sutton]

Yes Bally's only comps me rooms in the South tower but once asked for and got switched to the North Tower for free and another time paid an extra $10/ night at check inn for the nnicer tower. Nothing with the South Tower jus that the rooms are dated.

[psicodude]

Anyone ever try the $20 trick with a convention room rate? I am staying at the Venetian next week and am wondering if it's even worth it.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by psicodude

Anyone ever try the $20 trick with a convention room rate? I am staying at the Venetian next week and am wondering if it's even worth it.

My colleague got a free upgrade at Bellagio a few weeks ago when we went for a conference. The conference rate was $199/night and we were in the Spa Tower, he was upgraded to the LakeFront View room for the conference rate for 5 nights. He says they just offered it to him, but I'm sure he did the $20 trick, or complained his way into a free upgrade because that's just his style. He is a cheap type and doesn't go to Vegas very often so he couldn't have had comps from a players card or anything like that.

So, try the $20 trick. You never know, at the least they'll tell you no. I tried for a free upgrade at MGM with the $20 trick a few years back and was told they didn't have anything available.

[boosterjuice]

Hey guys,

Thanks for all who provided great tips in this thread. We just got back last night after having an amazing trip. Here's a review of my trip.

Arrival:

Water costs a fortune. One tip that I wish we would have listened to is to take a cab to Vonn’s and get water/booze prior to arrival. They are selling 1 litre of water for $9.50 at the Aria!!! Definitely stop and get snacks/water prior to arrival.

Hotel: Aria

Very nice hotel. I absolutely loved the room electronics. I'm trying to figure out how to wire my bedroom like this now. I tried the $20 trick and it did not work as the hotel was completely booked full for thanksgiving weekend.

Dueling Piano Bar: Paris

I highly recommend checking out the dueling piano bar at Paris. Both Piano players were amazing and knew every single song that was requested of them. We had a fun time.

Gordie Brown: the Golden Nugget

If you haven't checked out Gordie Brown yet, you need to! Amazing show for the price (only $40/ticket). Gordie brought an amazing comedy/impressionist/musical show that everyone enjoyed.

Dinner: Hugo's Cellar

Upscale old-style Vegas restaurant in the 4-Queens hotel off Fremont St. Amazing food. $400 for 4 of us eat and drink, so definitely on the pricier side but so worth it.

Fremont St.

We nicknamed this "Freakmont" St. (due to the freakier crowd) but absolutely had a blast. Cheap drinks. There was an amazing 80s Hair band playing a free concert in the street. They were really good band. I highly recommend Fremont St.

Cirque de Solei "O"

By far the highlight of the trip for me was "O". It was so unbelievable and amazing that my mind had difficulty processing everything. The theatre was jammed packed. A friend that we went with saw "KA" on an earlier vegas trip and enjoyed that show more due to a more refined storyline.

Bellagio Fountains

The fountains were absolutely amazing. We watched the show a few different times as they had different musical arrangements playing on different days.

Bellagio Buffet:

We had the breakfast buffet at the Bellagio Monday morning prior to our departure. The food was plentiful and delicious. I tried the buffet at the Excaliber a few mornings prior and it was disgusting compared to the Bellagio buffet.

[polak]

Vegas for old people sounds like a lot less fun...

[Derek Sutton]

Originally Posted by boosterjuice

Hey guys,

Thanks for all who provided great tips in this thread. We just got back last night after having an amazing trip. Here's a review of my trip.

Arrival:

Water costs a fortune. One tip that I wish we would have listened to is to take a cab to Vonn’s and get water/booze prior to arrival. They are selling 1 litre of water for $9.50 at the Aria!!! Definitely stop and get snacks/water prior to arrival.

Whoops we missed that one but yes, buy your stuff at Walgreens, also take your own coffee pot, if you have a small travel one that fits in your suitcase. I could offer many more $$$ saving tips but would get mocked by the CP 1% (eventhough I'm on the brink myself). I take it this was your first time going, it sure looks like you had a great trip.
My wife said the same about KA vs O regarding the story etc... but they both are great. Next trip we are going to Le Reve which I've heard good things about.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by Derek Sutton

also take your own coffee pot, if you have a small travel one that fits in your suitcase. I could offer many more $$$ saving tips but would get mocked by the CP 1% (

Would you ever.

[East Coast Flame]

Headed down on Saturday! Should be an awesome trip. Doing the marathon on Sunday and then destroying my body until Wednesday. Reached a compromise with my group, as we are staying in the ghetto Imperial Palace Saturday and Sunday, then moving to The Cosmopolitan for Monday/Tuesday.

Took Polaks advice and for our big club night we are doing the ticketed DJ thing and checking out Steve Aoki at the Wynn Monday night.

Looking for a solid Italian place to load up on some carbs Saturday night and then an awesome steak house to go crazy on Sunday night, any recommendations?

I will not be bringing my own coffee pot.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by East Coast Flame

Looking for a solid Italian place to load up on some carbs Saturday night and then an awesome steak house to go crazy on Sunday night, any recommendations?

I enjoyed the Italian place in the promenade between Paris/Bally's (much closer to the Paris side). Don't remember the name though. It's pretty close to the Paris buffet, opposite side of the hall.