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

[2ArmBands]

On my way back from Vegas. First timer and it was awesome! Stayed at Mandalay Bay and I couldn't believe they had a couple of pools open with bar service! Had great weather. Just a fantastic trip... The hotel was a bit south for my liking but the Tram made things real easy with free rides to Excalibur. If youre a pool person I would think Mandalay Bay is likely the best pool setup once it's in season. Looks very impressive, a lazy river and sand beach with wave pool. Definitely going back!

[browna]

Originally Posted by 2ArmBands

If youre a pool person I would think Mandalay Bay is likely the best pool setup once it's in season. Looks very impressive, a lazy river and sand beach with wave pool. Definitely going back!

You'll likely have a different perception if you go on a spring/summer/early fall weekend.

It goes from a nice looking setup when quiet, to an overcrowded situation with a spring break type, borderline obnoxious atmosphere, when busy.

The beach at that time has chairs every 3 feet, all full, so you barely notice that its a man made beach. Most people are drinking, many heavily. Needless to say enter the lazy river and smaller pools (that you were likely in) at your own risk, since the bathrooms are a bit of a pain to get to when things are that jammed.

We stayed at the attached FS, which had its own pool...we walked across to the MB facilities which we also had access to, and did a 15 minute walk around and walked back to our pool.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

The Chive has an article today: A few tips to make your next trip to Vegas a real winner

http://thechive.com/2015/01/11/a-few...ner-10-photos/

[calgarywinning]

Stayed at Four Seasons next to Mandalay once. Love the pool service, as they address you by your last name. Definitely a more crowded, party scenario at Mandalay. Hard to get seats, jam packed with people. If that's your thing, great, but I don't like feeling like a sardine.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

The Chive has an article today: A few tips to make your next trip to Vegas a real winner

http://thechive.com/2015/01/11/a-few...ner-10-photos/

From that article:

Take Advantage of the Free Stuff
Vegas is an easy place to lose more money than you could imagine, but there are some pretty awesome things to do for free. There’s the Bellagio Fountains, Mirage Volcano, Sirens of Treasure Island, the Vegas sign, and much more. Even taking a drunk stumble through all of the hotels is enough to keep you occupied for hours. Most of the hotels are connected by bridges and tunnels, so it’s tough to get lost.
Read more at http://thechive.com/2015/01/11/a-few...Mvmll6sctsm.99

The Sirens of TI shutdown a little over a year ago. October of 2013, I believe.

But thanks to that article, I learned about Secret Pizza. I had never heard about it before, mostly because I have hardly explored Cosmo. I'll have to check it out when I'm in town this September (and hopefully April too!).

[2ArmBands]

Originally Posted by browna

You'll likely have a different perception if you go on a spring/summer/early fall weekend.

It goes from a nice looking setup when quiet, to an overcrowded situation with a spring break type, borderline obnoxious atmosphere, when busy.

The beach at that time has chairs every 3 feet, all full, so you barely notice that its a man made beach. Most people are drinking, many heavily. Needless to say enter the lazy river and smaller pools (that you were likely in) at your own risk, since the bathrooms are a bit of a pain to get to when things are that jammed.

We stayed at the attached FS, which had its own pool...we walked across to the MB facilities which we also had access to, and did a 15 minute walk around and walked back to our pool.

Good to know. Now that you mention it I could definitely see how this could be the case. As a first timer it's hard for me to grasp how busy some off these facilities could be during peak season. Such a shame really the facility looks outstanding...

That being said, what are some hotels that offer good pool facilities and a more relaxed atmosphere?

[DOOM]

Originally Posted by Buff

From that article:


The Sirens of TI shutdown a little over a year ago. October of 2013, I believe.

But thanks to that article, I learned about Secret Pizza. I had never heard about it before, mostly because I have hardly explored Cosmo. I'll have to check it out when I'm in town this September (and hopefully April too!).

The Secret Pizza place in the Cosmo is awesome!

[Derek Sutton]

Originally Posted by Buff

From that article:


The Sirens of TI shutdown a little over a year ago. October of 2013, I believe.

But thanks to that article, I learned about Secret Pizza. I had never heard about it before, mostly because I have hardly explored Cosmo. I'll have to check it out when I'm in town this September (and hopefully April too!).

And it certainly was not "awesome" either as the article states.

[spetch]

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

Booked Flamingo,

Has anyone stayed in one? Would it be worth trying the $20 trick to see if I could get an upgrade on that suite?

Yes I've stayed in one when they first had them out and they are definately better than their original rooms. Just updated rooms basically with a tv in the bathroom mirror. I don't see the $20 trick getting you a better room than that as you are already in one of their "better" rooms.

Also 3-day monorail pass, worth it or no?
NO. Stay away from the monorail, unless you happen to be going from the Flamingo to a fight/concert @ MGM it's useless. The best bang for your buck is a 24 hour bus pass. I think it's like $8 and you can ride it for 24hrs. It will get you to Fremont and the north outlet just fine. Also serves as a good "i'm tired and walked all the way to Mandalay Bay and dont want to walk back."

[Buff]

Originally Posted by Derek Sutton

And it certainly was not "awesome" either as the article states.

It was worth checking out once because it was free. Actually saw it twice, five years apart. Only stopped the second time because we didn't feel like squeezing through the crowd, which was much less dense than 5 years prior. Not sure how it was so popular. Must have been a lot of first timers checking it out because it was free.

It was better than the show projected on the side of the building by the Venetian's gondolas. That was lame.

[rohara66]

What's everyone's thoughts a Monday-Friday trip? Rates and flights are dirt cheap and the last time I was there the strip was a gong-show on Friday night so might not be that bad to avoid the crowds.

Are more shows also performed during the week (wed/thurs)?

[Buff]

Originally Posted by rohara66

What's everyone's thoughts a Monday-Friday trip? Rates and flights are dirt cheap and the last time I was there the strip was a gong-show on Friday night so might not be that bad to avoid the crowds.

Are more shows also performed during the week (wed/thurs)?

I've done it a couple of times and have not had any issues. If you want to avoid crowds, then Monday to Friday will work well for you. You may have less options on when to see shows as weeknights are when shows will have their dark nights. You basically plan your trip around what show you want to see and hope you can get into that show. Be flexible in what you want to see and plan from there. Of course, some shows may only run on weekends, so you may have to adjust your trip if you wish to see that particular show, but the bulk of your trip can be during the week if you wish to avoid crowds in general.

Once I went to Vegas for a conference during the week and extended the trip into the weekend so my wife could join me. It happened to be during Halloween which landed on a Wednesday. Halloween was busier than any weekend I've ever been there. Those events are the exception though.

[Rjcsjc62]

Looks like I am heading to LV in March. I have only ever been one other time and it was more of a couples trip, this time it is more of a guys trip.

At poker rooms in LV do they have single table NL Sit & Go tournaments? I have preferred playing poker this way vs. a "ring game" like you see in poker rooms here.

[Jayems]

Anyone heard anything about Linq?

We're doing a hockey tourney in May (22-25) and looking for decent accommodations. Prices are jacked that weekend. Does it have a pool?

Think it's between Hard Rock, Luxor and a few others right now. Any suggestions would be helpful as to where a group of 11-13 guys might have the best time. I've been 3-4 times, but usually at Luxor, Excalibur, Motel 8 (lol). That weekend, MGM is $1,400 for 4 nights... fuuuuu

Hard rock seems a long walk to strip every night...

[Philly06Cup]

Originally Posted by Rjcsjc62

Looks like I am heading to LV in March. I have only ever been one other time and it was more of a couples trip, this time it is more of a guys trip.

At poker rooms in LV do they have single table NL Sit & Go tournaments? I have preferred playing poker this way vs. a "ring game" like you see in poker rooms here.

Go to Venetian for quick tourneys. very well organized.

[Philly06Cup]

Originally Posted by Jayems

Anyone heard anything about Linq?

We're doing a hockey tourney in May (22-25) and looking for decent accommodations. Prices are jacked that weekend. Does it have a pool?

Think it's between Hard Rock, Luxor and a few others right now. Any suggestions would be helpful as to where a group of 11-13 guys might have the best time. I've been 3-4 times, but usually at Luxor, Excalibur, Motel 8 (lol). That weekend, MGM is $1,400 for 4 nights... fuuuuu

Hard rock seems a long walk to strip every night...

Best hotel promo websites I use:
smartervegas.com
www.travelzoo.com/hotels/las-vegas/

Have to sign up for both, but they are worthwhile.

If you stay at the hardrock, you should be saving enough to take a cab to the strip. Non-fancy just-off-strip hotels are a great way to save.

[Philly06Cup]

Originally Posted by rohara66

What's everyone's thoughts a Monday-Friday trip? Rates and flights are dirt cheap and the last time I was there the strip was a gong-show on Friday night so might not be that bad to avoid the crowds.

Are more shows also performed during the week (wed/thurs)?

Most shows are 5 or 6 times a week, with 1 or 2 'dark' days.

Agree that M-F is a good way to do Vegas cheap, if you can take those days off. Even Thursday-Tuesday will be cheaper for flights.

[spetch]

Originally Posted by Jayems

Anyone heard anything about Linq?

We're doing a hockey tourney in May (22-25) and looking for decent accommodations. Prices are jacked that weekend. Does it have a pool?

Think it's between Hard Rock, Luxor and a few others right now. Any suggestions would be helpful as to where a group of 11-13 guys might have the best time. I've been 3-4 times, but usually at Luxor, Excalibur, Motel 8 (lol). That weekend, MGM is $1,400 for 4 nights... fuuuuu

Hard rock seems a long walk to strip every night...

Casino is nice an updated just the rooms are old and grungy. For as much as I was ever in a room on the strip in vegas you might as well save the dough and stay there. Plus its a guys trip so honestly who cares what the rooms are like, you won't be spending any time there.

[CroFlames]

I go to Vegas quite often, and my personal preference is to stay in non-casino hotels. Vdara & MGM Signature are favorites.

You don't have to walk thru a casino during check in, and if you do want to hit the tables, they are a 2 minute walk away.

[Derek Sutton]

Originally Posted by Jayems

Anyone heard anything about Linq?

We're doing a hockey tourney in May (22-25) and looking for decent accommodations. Prices are jacked that weekend. Does it have a pool?

Think it's between Hard Rock, Luxor and a few others right now. Any suggestions would be helpful as to where a group of 11-13 guys might have the best time. I've been 3-4 times, but usually at Luxor, Excalibur, Motel 8 (lol). That weekend, MGM is $1,400 for 4 nights... fuuuuu

Hard rock seems a long walk to strip every night...

A lot of people like to dump on the Linq, but it is perfect for a guys trip. I have'nt stayed there since it was the IP but it will be just fine. Sure it isn't fancy but in three days you will proably only spend about 12-15 hours total in your room, and the location is great. Theres also a Tilted Kilt at right there to, the guys will love that place.

I would not stay at the Hard Rock due to location, it is a long walk to the strip, and then that much further to get to Ceasers (where you will want to watch the NHL play off game)/ Bellagio/ PH. Hooters is closer to the strip and they usually have good prices to. Ballys might be worth a look to, the North Tower use to cheaper as the South tower has been rennovated, they also have a fun pool for the guys where the DJ really encourages the slots to slot it up.

Make sure you get your driver to stop at a CVS or grocery store on the way to your hotel so you can pick up a few cases of cold beer to pound before you guys hit the strip. That way you will not just come down stairs and grab a double at the first bar you see.