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

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Boblobla

What is the likelyhood I get a deal booking closer to the dates we travel? Is it is risk I should take?

EDIT: I have the flights booked already.

If your flight is already booked and you're just looking to book your hotel, book something now to lock in the price (as long as it's not pre-paid and doesn't have any cancellation penalties), then keep checking for a lower rate and cancel your booking if you find something better (do the same thing for rental cars, if you're getting one).

If you haven't already, sign up for the Players' Club for whichever hotel you want to stay at, and they might send you discount codes that you can use.

[Boblobla]

Any hotels to stay away from?

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Originally Posted by Boblobla

Any hotels to stay away from?

Stratosphere. For all that's good and holy don't stay there, especially with the wife.

I've never stayed at a place with walls that thin before. I shouldn't hear the people in the next room texting or brushing their teeth. It's also in a sketchy part of town. I felt like I was in an episode of Cops.


I'd also recommend booking straight through the hotel, but sign up for their loyalty card first. Then immediately check your reservation. Flamingo did a weird thing that said we booked a suite and not the standard room. I printed off the confirmation so when I checked in I gave them the confirmation as the system corrected itself by the time we got there. Free upgrade. Bam.

[Swarly]

Originally Posted by Boblobla

Any hotels to stay away from?

agree with M Q-S about strat.

Also never stay at Circus Circus, I walked thru there one day and it was the most depressing thing I have every done. That hotel needs a serious update, or better yet blow it down and start fresh.

Excalibur is another hotel to avoid. Its great if you are looking to go on the cheap, great location, average pools, but the rooms are starting to show their age (not a place to take the Mrs. but fine for brief passing out during party weekends). Also kids everywhere! so not a place you want to spend much time in.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by Boblobla

I am planning on having a limo pick us up at the airport, anyone have any recommendations for a limo service?

Last time we went we used Presidential.

https://www.presidentiallimolv.com/

Easy to book, worked out well. No complaints here. I think I got the suggestion myself from earlier in this thread, a couple of years ago.

[Antithesis]

I'll second the Vdara recommendation, but keep in mind that while Fashion Show Mall is within walking distance (as mentioned earlier), it is a mile and a half door-to-door; Google Maps calls it a 33 minute walk.

My wife is the shopping expert, as such I don't know about the Miracle Mile Shops (at Planet Hollywood) but there is also shopping at the Forum shops in Caesars Palace, and also in the Ventian/Palazzo complex. The Vdara/Aria/Cosmopolitan has the Crystals mall but it is very upscale (at least according to my wife).

You're definitely going to be spending a bit more on the hotel with your wife. My wife and I enjoy Wynn but since you are going over a weekend you will be dealing with a contingent of dudebros and some club noise. Vdara would certainly be more quiet if that is something to take into consideration.

I'd suggest looking into the individual hotel websites and signing up for their membership lists. I know Wynn has a thing where you get 15% off their posted prices if you join their list. I would imagine it is the same with the other hotel groups. From what I understand, you're no better off booking through a place like Expedia vs. booking directly through the hotel.

Are there other priorities in addition to pool (Wynn is quite nice, Vdara nice as well) and shopping? Things like walking distance, casino, aversion to theming, access to clubs?

[Calgary14]

I did the sky jump at the Stratosphere and it was fun but the hotel itself looked pretty sketchy and I wouldn't stay there. I'd also avoid Excalibur. The only thing it's good for is cheap drinks. Vdara and Aria are much nicer and in a central location on the strip.

If Vegas gets an NHL team I can't wait to start booking weekend trips down there.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Originally Posted by Calgary14

I did the sky jump at the Stratosphere and it was fun but the hotel itself looked pretty sketchy and I wouldn't stay there. I'd also avoid Excalibur. The only thing it's good for is cheap drinks. Vdara and Aria are much nicer and in a central location on the strip.

If Vegas gets an NHL team I can't wait to start booking weekend trips down there.

It is sketchy. I can't stress that enough. My wife and I walked to the monorail which is nearby. As we were walking there, she commented "we're taking a taxi back". There wasn't a question in my mind.

On one cab ride to/from the hotel there was police tape across one of the housing units next to the hotel.

From Google Street view: https://www.google.ca/maps/@36.14747...8i6656!6m1!1e1

The internet at work sucks and it takes forever for Facebook to load pictures, if I think of it when I get home I'll post pictures from the cab rides that I took.

Stay on the strip of just off the strip, Stratosphere is considered one of the hotels on the strip but it really isn't. In my opinion Wynn is the furthest up the strip and Mandalay Bay furthest down the strip, however closer to the middle is best, especially if travelling with the misses.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Swarly

agree with M Q-S about strat.

Also never stay at Circus Circus, I walked thru there one day and it was the most depressing thing I have every done. That hotel needs a serious update, or better yet blow it down and start fresh.

Excalibur is another hotel to avoid. Its great if you are looking to go on the cheap, great location, average pools, but the rooms are starting to show their age (not a place to take the Mrs. but fine for brief passing out during party weekends). Also kids everywhere! so not a place you want to spend much time in.

My friend and I did a road trip in 1996 in a camper van. Circus Circus has an RV park, it was $10 a night with free laundry access and its own pool. As broke travelers, being able to camp on the strip was the awesomest deal ever. Stumbling through Circus Circus at 3am was a twisted experience.
Looks like it still exists:
https://goo.gl/maps/gdzJ6

[Weitz]

Now for an Unpopular opinion:

As greasy as Casino Royale is, I have stayed at the attached hotel which is essentially a Best Western. It was one of the nicest best westerns I have ever stayed in and it was super cheap.

It's a great hotel to stay in if you plan to do pool parties at different hotels since they don't haev a pool (I think).

Also the $1 Michelob's all day every day at the Casino Royale is nice.

[Boblobla]

Originally Posted by Antithesis

Are there other priorities in addition to pool (Wynn is quite nice, Vdara nice as well) and shopping? Things like walking distance, casino, aversion to theming, access to clubs?

Not really, if something is further away we will just take a cab. I am looking into shows we are thinking of going to see. Not looking at doing too much, shopping, drinking, gambling and lounging by the pool.

[getbak]

If there's a particular show you want to see and you aren't set on your hotel yet, look into staying at the hotel where the show is playing. Often, they'll offer package deals that include your room and tickets with discounts on both.


Also, for many of the shows (except for the biggest headline acts), you can get discount show tickets on the day of the show at a few different booths along the strip (there's one in the same mall as the Coke and M&M stores north of MGM, but a few others as well).

As with everything in Vegas, mid-week prices are much lower than on the weekend.

[skudr248]

Heading down to Vegas tomorrow after work with 8 buddies, can't wait! Going to be the first pool party season I am attending in Vegas.

[Zach]

So many 6:5 blackjack tables its gross.

[Maccalus]

Originally Posted by Zach

So many 6:5 blackjack tables its gross.

I agree, it is part of why I don't play much blackjack when I am there anymore.

[kootenayguy9]

With the Canadian dollar hovering at 1.32 buying the Cirque gift cards at par is a great deal.

http://www.costco.ca/Cirque-du-Solei...=10302&refine=

Saved over $100 buying O tickets this way. Very easy process to save a few dollars.

[Weitz]

New York, New York called me offering to comp 3 nights. Anyone stay there before? Is it any good?

Don't think I ever have stepped foot in it.

[Lanny's Stache]

Originally Posted by kootenayguy9

With the Canadian dollar hovering at 1.32 buying the Cirque gift cards at par is a great deal.

http://www.costco.ca/Cirque-du-Solei...=10302&refine=

Saved over $100 buying O tickets this way. Very easy process to save a few dollars.

That is a great deal given the terrible exhange rates. How was the redemption? Some of the Costco reviews say that you can't select seats?

Thanks.

[kootenayguy9]

Originally Posted by Lanny's Stache

That is a great deal given the terrible exhange rates. How was the redemption? Some of the Costco reviews say that you can't select seats?

Thanks.

You can request pricing areas......they send info to ticketing centre in Vegas......I had email tickets about an hour later.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by Weitz

New York, New York called me offering to comp 3 nights. Anyone stay there before? Is it any good?

Don't think I ever have stepped foot in it.

I love NYNY. I stayed there in 2009 and will be staying there again in September for 6 nights. It isn't 5-star and the rooms are a bit smaller but overall I like the place. One of my favorite things about it is the way to get to your rooms. Typically hotels have one long, straight, hallway. In NYNY it is still "one" long hallway but due to the design of the building there is plenty of twists and turns. It felt like an adventure to get to our room. "How many more corners do we have to go?" We stayed in the second or 3 last room at the end of the hallway on the north end of the hotel and we used the elevators closest to the registration desk.

I love how you can come in off the strip from MGM or Excal walkways and see the entire casino as you come down the escalators. I love the "Quick Eats" section. I stop at Sirrico's Pizza once or twice each stay. They have a pretty good deli and a burger bar.

I didn't get to use the pool on my stay there because the week we went it was colder and windier than it was in Lethbridge so they had the pool closed, but they did allow people to use the hot tubs. The pool dude even commented that we must be from Canada.

My only concern is that I stayed at a suite in Bellagio for my last trip so I may be disappointed in the smaller rooms at NYNY when I go next month.