vacation unlimited golf
Hotel recommendation?
I’ve never been to Vegas, and my husband and I would like to take a mini vacation there. He wants to go see Penn & Teller, and I want to go to a spa and walk past all the other hotels and see the cool things they have outside. Money isn’t unlimited, but I’ll pay well for something clean and nice. Neither of us golf.
Any recommendations for a good place to stay? Also, any other recommendations for things to do while there?
OK, here’s my recommendations. First, when you look for a hotel in Vegas consider this. All of the big hotels on the Strip are great. The most important things to consider are location, price, and in the summer you want to consider the hotel’s pool area. So, stay on the strip in the center of all of the hotel locations so that you can walk to see all of the hotels and casinos, and all of the free attractions. The best place to stay to do that is in one of the hotels on or nearest to Flamingo Rd & the Strip. At that corner is Caesars Palace, Bellagio, the Flamingo, Ballys, and the Paris hotels. I am not saying you need to stay in one of these but stay close to them. I do recommend the Flamingo and Monte Carlo hotels if you are looking for a good price, location and pool.
The next thing to consider in picking the BEST place is price. Rates go down in the summer (and again after Thanksgiving, until about mid-January (except new years eve when prices double)). So pick a place that has the best price for you. Caesars, Wynn, The Venetian, and Bellagio will cost top dollar all of the time (like $150 and up) per night during the summer. The Flamingo, Ballys Monte Carlo, and some others you can get into for around $100 (but most times for less) during the low seasons. Its also more expensive in all Vegas hotels on Friday and Saturday nights by $40 to $60 more. So to get a lower rate plan to go to Vegas on Sunday and stay through Thursday night.
In the summer you probably want to spend some time at the pool areas, which in Vegas are fabulous. All of the big hotels have great pool areas. But the Mandalay Bay, and Monte Carlo hotels have a wave pool and a lazy river for tubing or body floating. The MGM hotel has a huge lazy river and a water fall. The Flamingo has a water slide (not big but nice and refreshing) and also a water fall. The pools at Caesars and Bellagio are good because they have multiple pools and plenty of places to sit. Caesars even has a topless pool areas called the VENUS POOL.
I have stayed at Mandalay Bay, Excalibur, Paris, MGM, Monte Carlo, Bellagio, Caesars, the Rio, the Flamingo, Ballys, and Harrahs. But the BEST place for me when I go is who has the best price. Again, all of the Strip hotels are great. So shop the web sites, look at the hotel rate calendars, and go when the price is the lowest. That’s the best place to stay on the Strip.
Now you can probably get lower priced rooms at the Circus Circus, Sahara and Rivera on the north end of the Strip, the Tropicana on the south end, and also at the hotels on Fremont Street. The Tropicana is one of the older hotels that has not been renovated like many others. The other locations will place you a long way from the center of the strip action and you’ll have to take a bus or taxi to Strip action. In addition, if you need to run to the room for a little R&R, it’s a long ways.
Since your funds are limited remember this. When you go to Las Vegas these usual things you will want to see for FREE:
1. Number one on my list is to watch the fountains displays in front of the Bellagio hotel. It usually runs every 15 minutes in summers starting at 3:00 PM; runs continuously until about midnight. Each show is different (there are more than 20 different tunes choreographed) so stay and watch at least 2 or 3. ALSO, go inside the Bellagio hotel to its lobby and view the beautiful glass sculptured ceiling AND the seasonal floral arrangements in the Atrium.
2. The “Sirens of TI” show (spectacular) in from of the Treasure Island Hotel; it runs every 90 minutes starting at about 4:30 PM. Simply stand on the sidewalk in front of the TI Hotel.
3. The volcano erupt in from of the Mirage Hotel; starting at dark until midnight. Again, just stand on the sidewalk in front of the hotel.
4. Go down to Fremont Street and see the light shows. There are usually 3 or 4 different shows, starting after dark (about 8:30PM) and lasting about 5 or 10 minutes each.
5. Go to the RIO hotel to see the Masquerade in the Sky show. It is like Mardi Gras parade, only suspended from the ceiling over the gambling floor. It runs every 60 minutes starting about 3:00 PM; the last show starts at 9:30 PM..
6. Go to the MGM Grand hotel to see the Lion habitat. This is better then the tiger habitat at the Mirage Hotel because there are usually trainers in with lions to keep them active.
7. Go to the Mirage hotel to see the white tigers that Siegfried and Roy show used. This is kinda passe because the tigers rarely do anything but sit and stare.
8. Go in Caesars Palace and walk through the Forum shops to the first fountain (its spectacular) then take the first fork to the left to go see the aquarium. Then continue on through the shops to the second fountain and wait for the show to start.
9. Go into the Flamingo hotel to see their animal habitat with flamingos and penguins.
10 The Excalibur hotel also has a free show starting at 10:00 AM until 10:00 PM.
If you are a Star Trek Fan, go to the Hilton (off the strip) for “Star Trek The Experience”; it cost about $25.
Finally, People go to Vegas to sightsee as well as gamble. You can see most of the stuff on the Strip by walking, so you don’t need a rental car. There is a free monorail between Bellagio and the Monte Carlo Hotel and also another free one between Excalibur, Luxor, and Mandalay Bay. The one on the opposite side of the street which runs from the MGM to the Hilton you have to pay to ride. There is a free bus between Harrahs Hotel to the RIO Hotel that runs every half hour. There is also a free bus that you can get outside the Barbary Coast Casino that will take you to the Orleans and some other off strip casinos.
Plan which hotels/casinos you want to visit each day so you can make the most of your walking and the free monorails and scuttles. When you get to Vegas you will probably have in your hotel room a free guide to the city called either “What’s ON” , “Showbiz”or “Las Vegas Today”. These are helpful guises as they have a map of the Strip and city with the hotels marked, current hotel shows and prices, plus useful coupons. Some coupons will give you a free souvenir from certain hotels; you just have to take the coupon to the hotel. They also list hotel restaurants and buffets time sand prices.
Do join ALL of the players clubs because they are your ticket to
lower priced return trips. The hotels will email you, or send by regular mail, specials on room rates and shows. The players clubs are free; all they want to see is your driver’s license. You can join some of these clubs online before you go.
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