Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Flip

Original poster

Las Vegas anyone?

24 replies

jasper · 09/10/2004 10:11

Has anyone been? What's it ike?

Where did you stay?
I am thinking of going in the spring with dh (no kids)

OP posts:

Yorkiegirl · 09/10/2004 10:13

Message withdrawn

stickynote · 09/10/2004 11:31

I went about 8 years ago ( - really that long?) and really enjoyed it. We stayed in New York, New York which was fairly new at the time and completely fab. I don't think I'd want to go there for more than a couple of nights though - looked a bit sad to me in daylight IYSWIM. We didn't make it to the Grand Canyon but did go to Death Valley (v interesting) en route to San Francisco (now THERE'S a place worth staying in!).

golds · 09/10/2004 11:39

My aunty lives there, I will ask my dad to e-mail her and ask for info, will let you know if/when I find out

Original poster

jasper · 09/10/2004 11:58

thanks gals
Golds, that is very glam to have an auntie living in Vegas!

Sticknote what do you DO in las vegas if you don't gamble?

Yorkiegirl you are very welcome to join us

OP posts:

KangaMummy · 09/10/2004 12:41

We went for 3 nights to MGM GRAND 2 years ago a completly mad place. we went to RED ROCK CANYON which is a short drive outside LV.

DS then age 7 did a nature trail there very good, we did it in late afternoon as it was too hot in day time, we looked at other hotels like EXHALIBUR which was over road from us we went shopping in outlet malls a short drive away. We visited with friend who was there for a convention, she lives only up the road in UK but was fun to see her so far away.

Which hotel have you decided on?

Uhu · 09/10/2004 17:50

I went a few years ago with DH (no children then) and stayed in the Hilton which is off the strip. We went late August and the temperatures exceeded 90 degrees Fahrenheit. There are slot machines in the arrival foyer so they get you in the mood for gambling as soon as you arrive. We gambled a total of $30 for the whole vacation.

Check out Fremont Street in the evening for the dazzling lights. It's seedier than the main strip but we experienced no problems. All the hotels have their own unique features. For example, Circus Circus puts on a free show throughout the day, Treasure Island has ship battles, Roy and Siegfried did a show with their tigers but I'm not sure if they are still there and Caesar's Palace had Roman gods doling out chocolate gold coins! The shopping mall beneath Caesar's Palace is quite spectacular also.
You can also book trips to visit the Hoover Dam and the Great Canyon.

All in all, we had a great time and are planning to go again in a few years time. A lot of people say Vegas is tacky, which it is, but you have to take it for what it is. A fantasy place where you can let your hair down and have a good time. Go with the right attitude, don't take it seriously and you will have a fabulous time .

iota · 09/10/2004 17:56

dh went on business (!!) a few months ago and had a great time. He echoes what Uhu said. His top tip - go on the helicoper trip to the Grand Canyon - expensive but a once in a lifetime experience

deegward · 09/10/2004 18:13

I thought this was an invitation for a meet up and was going to say Yes please.

stickynote · 09/10/2004 18:35

We just wandered around, gambled and ate A LOT (still can't get over the size of American portions). There are shows as well at some of the hotels if that's your bag. It's definitely worth a visit, there's nowhere else like it that I've found!

nutcracker · 09/10/2004 18:47

Ooooh my cousin got married in Las vegas yesterday.
Watched it over the internet it was great.

Sorry other than that i no nowt about Las vegas.

maretta · 09/10/2004 19:05

Went a couple of years ago. You'll love it,

You can spend a couple of days just wondering around looking at the decor in the hotels. It's fantastic fun.

Are you combining it with anywhere else.

I stayed in an older hotel just behind the strip. It was OK.

SofiaAmes · 10/10/2004 00:02

dh and I went in the spring without the kids and had great fun. I'd been several times before and always enjoyed it. We stayed at the hardrock but it was way too noisy (they played really loud music everywhere...even by the pool) and it was a drag not being on the strip. I would highly recommend being on the strip. I can't remember the hotel that looked really nice, but I'll look it up and let you know. I highly recommend making the time to go to Hoover dam. It's totally amazing.

SofiaAmes · 10/10/2004 00:02

Oh and we had a really great time in las vegas even though neither of us are really gamblers.

80sMum · 10/10/2004 00:21

Does it have to be Las Vegas? I've passed through there a few times and I have to admit I never felt like staying. It's fun to look at after dark for a while - totally over the top, a complete festival of tat and tackiness. But why not just drive through it and then go to see all the other far better places that the USA has to offer?

Original poster

jasper · 10/10/2004 00:37

Thanks again everyone.
Kanga I have not decided on a hotel.

There is a dentistry convention on with several big wig American speakers including the one that the woman who wrote the book "the Rules" (Ellen Feines?)is suing for making her teeth too big and ruining her marriage!

Sofia please do let me know the name of the hotel if you find it.

How long is the strip?

Do you need to hire a car to get around or is everything within walking distance?

OP posts:

KateandtheGirls · 10/10/2004 02:12

A lot of poeple love Vegas. But I have to say it's way down on my list of places to visit in the US. It's incredibly tacky and casinos don't hold any attraction for me. It depends what you're looking for in your holiday.

How long will you be away for? If it's more than a couple of days I agree with 80's mum. You could do Vegas for a couple of days and then go further afield - the Grand Canyon for example.

SecondhandRose · 10/10/2004 10:18

Jasper, my brother is flying there today. He likes Treasure Island as it is very central.

soapbox · 10/10/2004 10:21

I've been but many years ago before children!

I loved it - but wouldn't have wanted to stay for any longer than 2 or 3 days. I agree that it is incredibly tacky, but in a rather awe inspiring way.

I would definately say that it is one place that everyone should see once in a lifetime, but perhaps only the serious gamblers should bother returning!

I think Bellagio's is hte best place in town to stay!

Have you tried www.tripadvisor.com? Excellent site for jo publics reviews of hotels!

tallulah · 10/10/2004 11:02

Jasper, we went with DS3 9 years ago (can't believe it was that long!) when he was 3.5. We stayed at the Luxor for a week & have always said we'd love to go back. We had a hire car & went on trips out to the Hoover Dam & Lake Mead. We tried walking down the Strip, thinking the next hotel didn't look too far.... several hours later, still walking in boiling sun...! Not to be recommended. Apparently there is a bus.

SofiaAmes · 10/10/2004 22:53

There are shuttle buses and taxis. A lot of the hotels charge for parking, so it's probably more trouble than it's worth having a car unless you need it to drive to hoover dam...though even then I think there are bus trips there (it's not very far).

melsy · 11/10/2004 10:31

Totally agee about tacky overload. We made a big mistake of staying for 5 DAYS last time we went, adn we felt sick by it all on the 3rd day!!! What was nicer was flying straight into LV the 1st night of our Arizona trip and staying at the Mandalay Bay for 1 night , which was quite nice , with a great restaurant selection and ajoined to the new Four Seasons, which also had a lovely choice of restaurants , but be warned you kinda have to like steak in every way as thats the main food type there!!!. We then went on to arizona for 10 days (various places)& as we were flying out of LV,we stayed at the New York for the remaining 5 nights. As much as the pool was nice the roller coaster flying above every few minutes had to blocked out by my walkman , as it got on my nerves a bit!!!. If you dont gamble you can do a hotel walk from there right up to the fashion mall (great shopping centre), just beyond Treasure island. Dont miss Bellagio , quite a site to the eyes and dont miss The Venetian , quite scarily mocked up venice!!!!. I agree witn the others stay in LV for 2 -3 nights max and then go top grand canyon for 2 nights. We stayed at the El Tovar ,which is an old fashioned grand hotel on the edge of thecanyon, but the more cutesy hotel is th Bright Angel Lodge just behind. Theres a nice restaurant there(the only nice one , as the El Tovars is nice for brekki , but the food in the eveing is typical southern foods and unusual on the palette), is The Arizona room, which I suggest you pre book before leaving.

golds · 15/10/2004 09:21

Just had info back from my Aunty -

If you go to Expedia.uk.com that will give you a list of all the hotels and prices.

My Aunty recommends -

Bellagio, Paris, Aladdin, Mirage, New York New York (which are all on the strip)

Downtown only the Golden Nugget
Off the strip, the Rio and New Orleans

Hope this makes sense and helps - she has lived out there for 10 years, so she seems to know her stuff

DillyDally · 15/10/2004 09:57

I took my 4 month old daughter last year to see my brother get married. I agree re not staying too long if you don't like gambling..things to do, see the free things at all the hotels such as the animatronics display at Ceasars Palace, fountain s at the belaggio that "dance", the rainfall at Aladdin, the gondola rides at the venician - this will only take a day though. The large hotels have pools for sunbathing etc and there are some small museums dotted around. Best hotels are belaggio for luxury - no kids, luxor is nice as is paris with fake eiffel tower. Hope this helps, and have lots of fun and tell us all when you get back.

pamina3 · 15/10/2004 10:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Flip