Ask the Pack: Las Vegas

[DogStuckAtUM.sixpack]

My wife and I are traveling to Las Vegas in mid-March for about 5 days. Neither of us have been before so was hoping for some suggestions.

A few notes:
We'll likely stay on the Strip, but we haven't booked hotel yet. Was planning on bidding on a room closer to our trip.
Going back-and-forth on renting a car. Is it worth it to drive outside the Strip to go to Grand Canyon/hike Red Rock?
We'll be there the first weekend of NCAA tournament. Any sportsbooks we should check out, things to know? I plan to put $50 on Fitz winning the Heisman.**

Would appreciate any advice on food, getting tickets to shows, etc. Thanks in advance.

 

[WrapItDog]

We'll likely stay on the Strip, but we haven't booked hotel yet. Was planning on bidding on a room closer to our trip. We'll be there the first weekend of NCAA tournament.

Good luck. You will need it.

The Vegas Strip Hotels Were Almost Sold Out In 2016
It was estimated that 98% of hotel rooms on the Vegas Strip were booked for the first weekend of March Madness this year. Room occupancy on the Vegas Strip can’t really get higher so it wouldn’t be out of line to expect a migration to hotels in downtown Las Vegas and off the Strip.

http://www.covers.com/Articles/458146

 

[Drebin]

If you're staying on the strip, you don't need a car. Very quick cab ride from the airport.

If you are going to sightsee - hitting Fremont, or going to hoover dam, or the canyon, yes, you will need a car. I recommend checking out Fremont because it's downtown Vegas - where the older casinos are. It's like a throwback.

As far as places to stay, just about anywhere on the strip is going to be nice. Check out Mandalay Bay if you like the younger, trendy scene. The older, more responsible degenerates will be at Caesars or MGM. Not sure about the shows in Vegas anymore. Penn and Teller used to have a show at the Rio that was excellent.

 

[stateu1]

Drebin is right about transportation and Freemont St. There's a Jack Binions there that is good to eat at. 5 days is a lot of time to spend on the strip. I'd plan on a day or two of sightseeing elsewhere.
MGM has an awesome sportsbook.
As far as dining, get out your pocketbook. This ain't your Cousin Eddie's Vegas. Every celebrity chef has high end restaurants in the casinos. Just about anywhere is good to eat as long as you don't mind paying for it.

 

[aTotal360]

My advice if you are going to stay on the Strip...

Stay in the middle of the Strip if you can (Venetian/Palazzo, Mirage, or TI) that way you can walk to 90% of casinos and restaurants. I wouldn't get a rental. I used Uber on my last couple trips there and it's the way to go. It's nice getting picked up in a nice clean car for cheap. You're going to get hammered on parking/valet fees (at the hotel and your destination) and quite frankly driving there is a PITA. And now most of the hotels have moved taxi pickup to the back or bottom of the hotels and only let Uber and limos services up front. I think it's for aesthetics.

I go exclusively for work, so I haven't gotten the opportunity to venture too far out of town.

To me, the Cosmopolitan and the Wynn have the best restaurants. The "celebrity chef" craze is jacking up prices, but some of it is worth it. There are lots of great restaurants off the Strip as well. Use Yelp and just search what you are in the mood for.

And Nobu is severely overrated.

 

[ronpolk]

Hoover dam is worth the trip if you've never been before. I thought it was pretty cool. I had never really been out west before, so it was my first time seeing the desert and those type of canyons. I thought it was beautiful.

When I went to vegas we stayed in Mandalay Bay, which is a beautiful hotel and very comfortable. However, it was (in 2012) one of the last resorts of the strip, which made for a lot of walking. When I go back, I'll stay at ceasers palace or belagio.

 

[civildawg88]

Me and my wife will be there the same as you. We are staying at TI 2 nights and then the Venetian 2 nights.

 

[WrapItDog]

Wear comfortable walking shoes. That MGM Casino that looks only a couple blocks down the street. Is really 8.2 miles away.

 

[DawgatAuburn]

Fair warning: it seems like everyone who has been to Vegas once considers himself an expert. I'll couch my comments by saying I have been 6-8 times, but not in the last three years. I've also done the first weekend of the NCAAs three times, but it's been a while for that. Probably 15 years or so.

Hotel: I'd start looking now. That's a huge weekend for Vegas so I doubt you are going to stumble on some deal. In fact, I'd lock something down ASAP.

Car: I recommend it. Others won't. I like the freedom the car provides. Every hotel has free parking that's fairly accessible, or you can valet. And if you are going to Hoover Dam or the Grand Canyon, then you have the flexibility to leave and return when you want, not when the bus says be there. Same with going downtown to Fremont. Parking isn't great down there, but it's doable. The big thing for me is on the weekends the cab lines can be outrageous. I'd rather spend 15 minutes walking to my car and trying to park than 45 minutes waiting in a cab line. And God forbid you want to go multiple places in one night.... There's also some public transportation. I've ridden the monorail and the tram that runs between Luxor and Mandalay Bay but have not ridden the buses.

Sportsbook: When I used to go to the NCAAs, we would stay at Bally's. I'd get up about 5:30 or 6 am to go get a bad seat in the Sportsbook (good seats were reserved). Then I'd sit there and wait a few hours for games to start at 9 am local time, and stay until games ended that night. Lather rinse and repeat on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The energy during MM is amazing. People are betting on every game and the totals, so a 1-16 matchup that's 85-52 with 30 seconds left might have half the people in the book on the edge of their seats to see if it goes over or who covers. And just wait for the upsets to happen. The whole place goes crazy. Now, what I understand from others is this type of trip has done nothing but get more and more popular. I'm not even sure what kind of seat a regular Joe can get in and around many of the books. I'm sure there are places where you can get in, but you might have to be willing to get there early.

Tickets: Check out the Vegas forums on TripAdvisor for possible advice and discount codes. https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g45963-i10-Las_Vegas_Nevada.html
I've seen lots of good shows in Vegas, from comedians to magicians to productions like Jersey Boys and Phantom. The only time I left less than entertained was after Mystere, the Cirque show at Treasure Island. What those performers can do athletically is amazing, but the show itself is a little out there for me. Maybe other Cirque shows would be better.

Have fun!!

 

[DawgatAuburn]

We did this once too on a long trip. Stayed a few nights at the Flamingo, then a few nights at MGM. Made seeing both ends of the strip less daunting.

 

[irondawg007]

Mandalay Bay for sure. Amazing spot in summer with their own beach area on site.

 

[RingN2012]

I wouldn't rent a car if staying on the strip. Just be ready to walk.
If it sounds like a deal too good to be true, then it probably is
Hard not to miss it but make sure to catch the fountain show every 10 or 15 minutes at Bellagio. Very impressive and bigger than you would think. All kinds of weirdos there so make sure to keep your wallet guarded

ETA: if you are even a casual golfer, !2 sure to check out the TopGolf there. Best one in country and fun for even the worst hacks

 

[Spidey.sixpack]

I lived in Henderson for about a year. I recommend getting your own car as there are plenty of things to do outside of the strip.
Red Rock is a nice park that will take you about a half day.
The Grand Canyon I wouldn't recommend doing unless you just are dying to do it on this trip.
The dam is a good tour and is quite the sight.
Fremont St is a lot of fun.
If you and your lady like to golf there are plenty of courses. But very expensive for tourists. Maybe give the TaylorMade Experience a try. A really nice new outdoor mall out in Summerlin if you want to get away from the strip for some shopping (and it's on your way to Red Rock).

 

[kired]

And now most of the hotels have moved taxi pickup to the back or bottom of the hotels and only let Uber and limos services up front. I think it's for aesthetics.

It was just the opposite when I was there in late September. The taxis picked up at the main entrances and at the airport. The few Ubers I took would pick you up on the corner and dropped me off at back entrances. And don't even think of using Uber at the airport. You've got to go to the parking garage and up to the second floor or something like that.

Check out Billy Kraus & Tall Tom at Napoleon's piano bar (if you like that sort of thing). If you grew up in the 80s I would say the Rock of Ages show is cool but it was cancelled as of Jan 1 so don't waste your time looking into it. Penn & Teller is cool. There are plenty of magician & comedy shows that are cheaper and entertaining. The cirque de soleil shows are popular but expensive. Be sure to just walk the strip one night - watch the fountains and take in the weirdos. Just whatever you're interested, you can find a show there related to it or a restaurant that serves it.

Be prepared to spend lots of money... regardless of whether you gamble or not.

 

[aTotal360]

I was just there in January and Uber ran to the front. At least they did to the Wynn, TI, and Palazzo. Taxi lines are half of what they once were because of the ride sharing service.

 

[sportzfan]

was there in december

Rental car for sure. To the west of Vegas is Red Rock Canyon, northeast visit Mount Charleston and Lee's Canyon skiing. Hoover dam is about a 45 minute drive. Grand Canyon south rim is about a 4.5 hour drive but worth it once you get there to see it. About half way there driving through the desert you will start to question yourself but keep on driving. Leave early and spend several hours there. Freemont Street with the zip line is fun. The strip is a lot longer than you think so wear comfortable shoes. The Venician interior gondola area is cool. Bellagio fountains, Cirque Mystere is a good show at TI.

My wife and I are traveling to Las Vegas in mid-March for about 5 days. Neither of us have been before so was hoping for some suggestions.

A few notes:
We'll likely stay on the Strip, but we haven't booked hotel yet. Was planning on bidding on a room closer to our trip.
Going back-and-forth on renting a car. Is it worth it to drive outside the Strip to go to Grand Canyon/hike Red Rock?
We'll be there the first weekend of NCAA tournament. Any sportsbooks we should check out, things to know? I plan to put $50 on Fitz winning the Heisman.**

Would appreciate any advice on food, getting tickets to shows, etc. Thanks in advance.

 

[Lawdawg.sixpack]

When you do Fremont, have dinner at Binion's Steakhouse. Old school, very cool.

When you're casino-hopping, eat at Japonais in the Mirage. Tapas style, so it doesn't have to be a sit-down meal. But they have good sushi and something called "the rock", which is slivers of uncooked filet served with a hot stone. Cook them Yourself on the stone, using your chopsticks. It's phenomenal.

 

[stateu1]

Totally agree. Japonais is our favorite. That beef melts in your mouth.

When you do Fremont, have dinner at Binion's Steakhouse. Old school, very cool.

When you're casino-hopping, eat at Japonais in the Mirage. Tapas style, so it doesn't have to be a sit-down meal. But they have good sushi and something called "the rock", which is slivers of uncooked filet served with a hot stone. Cook them Yourself on the stone, using your chopsticks. It's phenomenal.

 

[randystewart]

As others have mentioned, it may be a little late to book a room. I go a few times a year and have gotten to where I prefer to stay at Aria or Palazzo.

 

[Junction John]

Here are my thoughts:
- Uber is the best answer for daily travel. Cheaper, cleaner, and quicker than cabs. If you don't want to wait, you can always pick up a cab, but I try to avoid them. On the strip, you can walk between one or 2 casinos to shop or sightsee, but you won't want to walk much farther than that. As someone else said, those damn things are farther apart than they look, and you'll waste a lot of time that way.

- Restaurants: you can't really go wrong. Every nice casino/hotel has fantastic restaurants. Since this is your first trip, these are touristy spots, but stuff you don't see around here and the views are worth it.
1. Olive's at Bellagio for breakfast, sit outside overlooking the fountain. (If you want to see the fountain at night, go across the street and eat at the Eiffel Tower restaurant in Paris. Cool view.)
2. SW Steakhouse, or the seafood place next to it at the Wynn. Again, sit outside on the water. There's a show every 15 minutes or so that's kinda weird but fun.
3. Pro tip: the Golden Steer may be the best restaurant out there. It's a classic that's been there 60+ years and where the Rat Pack used to hang out. It's not with any hotels or casinos, so you have to take a car or whatever. This may be a place you go when you've been to Vegas several times and have done all the flashy stuff, but just in case...

- At night, get to a rooftop bar. Old ones I guess would be less crowded: Voodoo Lounge at Rio, Ghost or Moon at Palms, or Foundation Room at Mandalay. Newer ones are incredible scenes: Drai's at the Cromwell, Marquee at Cosmopolitan.

- I'd go to Topgolf at MGM for fun one day. Just opened last year, and it's awesome.

- If you want to take a getaway trip one day (or night) you can take a helicopter ride through the Grand Canyon pretty cheaply, or we rented Harleys one year and rode out to Red Rock. We rode right past the Chicken Ranch. That was pretty cool.

Have fun - I wish I could go for the first time again.

 

[colodawg]

vegas

My wife and I are traveling to Las Vegas in mid-March for about 5 days. Neither of us have been before so was hoping for some suggestions.

A few notes:
We'll likely stay on the Strip, but we haven't booked hotel yet. Was planning on bidding on a room closer to our trip.
Going back-and-forth on renting a car. Is it worth it to drive outside the Strip to go to Grand Canyon/hike Red Rock?
We'll be there the first weekend of NCAA tournament. Any sportsbooks we should check out, things to know? I plan to put $50 on Fitz winning the Heisman.**

Would appreciate any advice on food, getting tickets to shows, etc. Thanks in advance.

Try to get a room at the Bellagio (try for a room on the front so you can watch the fountains from your bed). Take a helicopter to the Grand Canyon for breakfast down in the canyon. Eat at Prime. Unless you are driving outside of town don't rent a car. Eat at Palm. Watch the fountains. Watch your wallet. Eat at Olives. Don't put more in the slots than you can afford. Have fun.

 

[Dawgbite]

Me and Mrs bite go fairly regularly so here is my 2 cents. The hotels on the strip just started charging for parking. Rental cars are cheap but there is like a 45% tax on rental cars that you have to take into consideration. We have done both rental and cab and it just depends on what you like to do. Since its your first trip, there will be so much to see and do on the strip that I wouldn't recommend it unless you specifically want to go outside of town. There are monorails running most of the length of the strip and bus shuttles going downtown. I would plan one day on Freemont. Cosmopolitan is our current favorite hotel, it's centrally located. Mandalay Bay has the nicest pools and outdoor space but it is at one end of the strip. If having a casino in the hotel is not required, we stayed at Vdara once and I tipped the desk clerk a 100 for a room with a view of the fountains at Bellagio. We could lay in the bed and watch the fountains, it was a pretty memorable trip because of that.

 

[missouridawg]

I'm breaking a six year streak on the March Madness opening weekend trip in a few weeks.... a second child will shift your priorities.

Stay on the strip. I've stayed at the MGM, Aria, Venetian, and Bellagio. All are great.
Uber everywhere.
Watch any Cirque du Soleil show. They are all solid. I particularly liked Love, as its Beatles music themed. Saw Absynthe as well, pretty solid. One girl played her entire skit with a boobie tassle fallen off.... so I'm fond of that show.
Look for comedians. I've seen Tosh a few times that weekend. Missed Seinfeld one year.
Eat just about anywhere... the food in Vegas is great. Mesa Grill, Delmonicos, CarneVino, Cut, Lago.... they're all fantastic. If the food sucks at a restaurant in Vegas, it doesn't last long.
Palazzo sportsbook is neat. I like the Venetian and Caesars too (both are more open). MGM sportbook sucks, unless they've opened it up more since 2014.

If if you have any specific questions, let me know. I'll gladly help.

Spearmint Rhino and Sapphire are your gentlemens clubs if choice. Some will try to tell you about Crazy Horse 3, but the aforementioned Rhino and Sapphire are top shelf. The girls are ultra aggressive though, so be prepared for that.

 

[DogStuckAtUM.sixpack]

Greatly appreciate all the tips, fellas. Good stuff in here.

 

[TaleofTwoDogs]

Been to Vegas 12 - 15 times over the years. Most people think only about the casinos and maybe a side trip to Hoover Dam, but the city has a ton of things to do outside the casinos.
Plenty of museums (large and small) that offer a great experience: The Mob Museum, Pinball Hall of Fame, Kounts Customs Showroom (the TV show guy), Shelby American (yea, that Shelby), National Atomic Testing Museum, Titanic Museum (inside the Luxor) and even Wayne Newton's Casa. Many more to choose from. Try the dune buggy rental. Hundred acres of open desert dunes you can tear up, its a blast (weather permitting). I definitely believe you should drive the bridge over the Colorado River near the Dam, it is an engineering marvel. The Grand Canyon trip is an all day affair but do it and you can scratch it off your bucket list. Red Rock and Hoover are must do. I've stayed on the strip and downtown. I like both, with downtown probably the best bang for your dollar (the Golden Nugget is very good). I also rent a car to give me the freedom to go where ever we choose. To me, Vegas is all about spontaneity.

 

[Fogdog]

When you do Fremont, have dinner at Binion's Steakhouse. Old school, very cool.

Agree with this. Been to Binion's many, many times. Never fails. The steak is outstanding and they have a terrific and creative bar staff.