Top tips for Vegas

[slalomsuki]

DH is working in the US for a few days in march and he has got me a flight to join him in Las Vegas for a few days.....5 to be precise.

I have read some stuff on the Internet but now am more lost than ever about what to do and where to stay there.

We can do a decent hotel which I would like with a pool. Where would be a good place?
I don't want to spend all day everyday gambling
Shopping is a must but where?
Is there any day trip type thing that we should while we are there. I saw one about a helicopter ride over the canyon

Any advice would be gratefully received.

Bump

I've stayed at Planet Hollywood, New York New York and Caesar's Palace. All were good and in good locations. Most strip hotels have pools. Look on Trip Advisor or Expedia for reviews and pictures etc.

There is a big mall on the strip called Fashion Show Mall which has all the shops you'd expect in a US mall, one in Caesar's Palace called the Forum Shops and one in Planet Hollywood which has recently been expanded. THere are various shops in other hotels too and a few outlets nearby.

There are loads of day trips available to the Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam by helicopter, small plane or even bus.

I would defintely recommend going to see the Dualling Pianos show ( it's free or something stupid like $5 to reserve a table) at Times Square bar in New York New York. I've recommended it to loads of people and they have all loved it.

There's plenty to see and do on the strip, so many hotels are worth just wandering around as they all have something bonkers going on. Eg the Venetian has a canal running through it on which you can take a gondola ride.

Have fun!

There are also two outlet malls a short taxi ride from the strip - one is the Premium outlet mall and has all the designer outlet shops. The other is more of a standard range of shops. The Premium one is North, the other is South.

I have stayed at the Bellagio and the Venetian - both fantastic but we prefered the Venetian.

Taxis are easy to find and pretty cheap - every hotel has a taxi rank outside.

Fremont Street is worth a trip - it's where the old casinos are and there is an amazing light show to watch.

There is a lot to see if you just wander through the hotels. We have been twice and whilst we occasionlly gamble, mostly we find other things to do. The helicopter trip to the Grand Canyon is amazing and I think you can also fly over Vegas at night, which is meant to be brilliant.

Don't forget the shows - lots of musicals, comedy, Cirque shows going on in all the hotels.

How about going to a spa? - most hotels have them as well.

The restuarants are fab too - highly recommend Fix at the Bellagio.

Fountains at Belagio are fab

We stayed at signature at MGM. Fab place.

I've stayed at the Mirage and would defo. recommend it.

Loads to do wthout gambling (I know this as we had DS1 with us who was 2 and a half at the time and I was just pregnant - it was my brother's wedding). I would recommend

Walking around the hotels is amazing. The architecture and planning that has gone into them is astounding. Wear comfortable shoes as you will walk miles.

Helicopter trip landing in the Grand Canyon - amazing. One of the best things I have ever done in my life.

Trip to Freemont Strip - Old style Las Vegas and the lights show is brilliant.

Dolphins show and tigers at the Mirage - nice to do something different.

Circus at Circus Circus. They had shows every hour or so which were very good although I appreciate that that we did this because we had DS with us.

There is usually a cirque show on. We watched the Beatles Love show at the Mirage it was fab.

Have a great time. I have promised myself a return trip with DH for our wedding anniversary in a few years so that I can drink and gamble. I swear I am the only person who has been to Vegas and stayed sober for the entire trip.

We loved Vegas, sayed slightly off strip in a resort but they put on a shuttle bus every 10 mins up to one of the main hotels.

Fountains at the Bellagio are a must. We saw a Cirque de Soleil show which was fabulous, we also saw one of DS1's fave bands at the Mandalay Bay.

We also saw The Hoover Dam and The Grand Canyon.

We stayed at the Wynn which was amazing - especially the pool. It's not for a theme and is a bit less full on than some others (which I loved visiting but some were well full on). The panoramic rooms were particularly good. We just walked up and down the strip, went to some bars and shopped.

Not got a theme

Also meant to add that new hotels are built there all the time - so find out what the latest one is. When we went the Wynn had just been built - 5 years ago.

I stayed at the tropicana last December and it was lovely. Aria was stunning too.
We saw a Cirque de Soleil show at the belaggio: here and some of our friends saw Viva Elvis (also by Cirque) at Aria.
There is lots to do without gambling. Just walking around the hotels and the strips takes up lots of time as everything is so huge!
I wasn't too excited about going but I loved it.

Thanks everyone. Some really good ideas here.
Was thinking about either the Trump hotel of the Wynn to stay in.
Now trying to find out about decent show with tickets. Are they easy to book in the resort or do they have to be pre booked? Same with the helicopter ride over the canyon?

We've stayed at the MGM Signature. Brilliant for the price - HUGE room (in fact all the rooms are 'junior suites' so they have sitting areas etc) and importantly, a kitchenette, so we could make toast and cereal for breakfast - not to save money, so much, but just because the portions are so lavish you can only eat out so much! Lovely secluded, quiet pools, too, like a real oasis, but you have access to the mega-pools of the MGM Grand as well.

I would book the helicopter trip before you go - we tried to get the one where you fly back over the strip at sunset but we were too late.
I too was pregnant when we went but didn't miss the drinking as it was such an amazing place. I loved the gambling and hotels after being dubious about the whole thing.
I want to go again!

When you book a hotel the concierges are great for show tickets etc, and there are tonnes of coupons in the books you get everywhere there so don't pay full price for anything.

And the good thing about signature at MGM is you can go to MGM for buffet breakfast. We sampled a few during out time in Vegas but this was by far the best. Ask for a room in tower 1 if you opt for this but I agree with the poster above re the rooms here

I also love and highly recommend the MGM Signature - have stayed there twice and once at the regular MGM, which is also nice but not quite as good! I felt like a real VIP there. The Signature have a deal on where you can get 5 nights for the price of 4 I think, they emailed me the other day.

You mentioned shopping - the Fashion Show mall is great but if you are looking for bargains you might enjoy a trip out to the outlet mall at Primm. www.fashionoutletlasvegas.com/index.htm There is a bus that goes out there that leaves from StudioWalk at the MGM, which is down the stairs near the monorail station.

I don't really gamble but places will bring you free drinks if you are - this includes the penny slots so is sometimes an amusing way to spend 20 minutes cooling off.

We've stayed at the regular MGM Grand as well, and it's not as nice - what I loved about the Signature was that it was a real escape from the hustle and bustle of the Strip. Quiet bar, secluded pool, nice gym (we went for 8 days so I needed to burn off all that food and free drink!) and really helpful friendly staff. I want to go back!