Hi guys, My family and others are going to Las Vegas for the first time! The trouble is that none of us has ever been there! Does anyone have some suggestions for us? We are a group of 12 ( 4 adults and 8 kids, from 5yrs to 16 ) and none of us are really gamblers. We would like to spend the night ( at a cheap hotel ), get some good food ( at a cheap eatery ) and see some sights in the Las Vegas area. I want go to Hoover Dam and take a lot of dam(n) pictures, take a tour and ask a lot of dam(n) questions. ( Sorry, I couldn't resist. ) What do you guys like?? Thanks in advance, Jon H. Saugus, CA
Food is exceptionally good and cheap (or even free at the casinos). Excellent shows and all-night entertainment. Las Vegas is not designed for kid's entertainment, and you might feel restricted from some of the fun. Use little cash--take traveler's checks and credit cards. I drove across Hoover Dam--didn't stop but it's a sight to see. A trip to Disney sounds better (than Vegas) for your particular group to enjoy.
for cheap hotels and more ideas and the cheap food places. This is one time I like to splurge on a hotel. I prefer the MGM, getting a room overlooking the strip is really nice. Usually the cheapest rooms are at Excalibur, Stardust, Westward Ho, Stratosphere, Circus Circus and the Frontier. I don't know about downtown, wouldn't want to stay there anyway.
For the kids, take them to the indoor theme park at Circus Circus and let them do kid things while you do adult things. I recommend you see at least one show. Showgirls at the Rio is nice and only about $22 a ticket with a coupon. For the whole family, see American Superstars at the Stratosphere. While you're there take the kids to the top and ride the Bigshot.
Don't miss the light show on Fremont street downtown. It is free and runs about every hour.
Stop by the Tropicana. They have a giant slot outside that you can pull once a day for free and worse case, you'll win a deck of cards. You can get a free margarita at the Casino Royale across from the MGM and while there, watch the volcano erupt and scoot on down the street to Treasure Island for the free pirate show. Then go to the Bellagio and watch the fountain show, all free. The Casino Royal has cheap craps, sometimes $1 min, others $2 min.
If you don't live where a In and Out Burger is, eat at the one in Vegas. I is up Tropicana near the freeway.
Since 9/11, the tour doesn't go inside the dam anymore.
I will be there in early January to attend the CES show. The best thing in to hit the strip and tour all the hotels, the big ones are individual and contain different themes and entertainment ranging from zoos, "street" entertainment, shopping, shark tanks, a must see is the Eifel tower at the Paris, the shopping forum at Ceasars, etc. They are installing a Disney type of monorail circling the center of the city. There are many great shows. LV is not as cheap as it used to be, but there is much that can be done on a budget.
I was there in the Spring and the you are correct about it not being cheap anymore. It used to be that the hotels and food was cheap because they wanted your money in the casinos. It is a very expensive place to visit now. The shows are all $100 or more. I would not go to the older LV part. It was pretty run down and not worth the cab fare. Everyone should go to LV at least once in their life but I have no desire to return.
Thanks, I'm killin' myself. I live in Texas and there isn't one for over
1000 miles. I was so pleased that I looked into a franchise, only to find out they are family owned and not for franchise. I've also thought of stealing the idea here in Texas.
If you are flying in, the best view is on the right side of the plane. Taking off, they often circle right and you get a good view of the Strip.
Hoover Dam is a must. Take the tour, then take a boat ride on Lake Mead. It is relaxing, and very educational.
If you are careful in choosing a location, the hotels on the Strip can be cheap. The prices are highest on Friday and Saturday. The brand new places are very expensive, but The Flamingo can be very reasonable and the rooms are equal to any mid priced motel. All the casinos have good buffets. Most are $10 to $12 for dinner. Good value, really.
Take in the shopping at Caesars and the Aladdin (Desert Passage). There is a virtual ride at Caesar's that he kids will enjoy, I think it is $8. The fountain shows every hour are fun to watch. Away from the glitz, Ethel M Chocolate factory is fun also. Factory tour, free tasting, walk the gardens. There is an M & M place also. You can also take a ride out to Red Rock canyon.
In all honestly, the casinos are not good places for the kids. Saturday night on the Strip is a good place for people watching, but not for pre-teens. Most of the shows are adult oriented and a bit pricey for a group. They run $65 to $125. Blue Man Group at the Luxor and the Scintas Family at Rio are OK for kids.
There are Outlet stores in three locations, but they are no different than Outlet stores in any other city.
My daughter lives is Vegas, but I'd just as well she got the hell out of there. The more I visit, the less I like it. Yeah it is a place that everyone should see once in their lives, but not a place to raise a family. I've been there twice in the past five weeks. Too many times in the past 20 years. Ed snipped-for-privacy@snet.net
Wife and I go often. First and foremost, take some VERY COMFORTABLE SHOES, or your feet will complain forever. No joke, you're going to do lots of walking.
Cheaper hotels by far are downtown (Fremont St.) and the overhead light show is outstanding - Fremont St experience. Plaza, Horseshoe, Golden Gate etc. Food is cheaper downtown too. The strip isn't far away and bus service is easily available, cheap and frequent. The section of the strip between Excaliber and Ceasars Palace basically will keep you entertained for quite awhile. If you have a few extra bucks, take the kids by the Excaliber or stay there if you can afford it. The kids will love it for sure and they always have free magic shows etc in there.
Its real clean, and safe as there are security people all over. If a problem occurs they are on it in a heartbeat. Wife and I feel quite safe down there - Fremont Street. The hourly free light show is AMAZING!
I didn't mean to diss it, we do visit everytime we go but I guess I'm more of a tourist than a gambler. And the casinos down there just have too much smoke in them for me, though the rules are often more favorable.
On Mon, 22 Dec 2003 00:02:10 GMT, "JonH" brought forth from the murky depths:
Make sure you go _through_ the dam. I talked some friends into driving me out there once (I was without a car on that trip) but they wouldn't let me go on the tour, the main reason I took the 40 mile trip there, the richardcraniums.
Be sure to go on all 3 rides at the Luxor pyramid. 1 is romantic (boat trip) and 2 are wild rides which aren't to be missed!
There's a Thai restaurant where I ALWAYS get green chicken curry there. It's Komol Thai.
If it hasn't changed in the past year or so, you can't go inside the dam anymore, since 9/11.
Oh God, I bought all 3 tickets but was too green after the first one to do anymore. The tickets are good for a year and my sons used them about 9 months later.
I've got an In & Out Burger about 4 blocks from me! That should qualify as my first gloat! :) We used to drive over 25-30 miles to one; then about 18-20 miles to a newer one. Then the fast food Gods answered our prayers.
If you are in Texas you should have a What-A-Burger.
Yep, 2 within 3 miles of my house and 1 within 3 miles of my office :) But, they aren't as fast. The whole concept of #1,2 or 3 is what I like. I hate morons that can't make up their mind or ordering special holding up everything. In-N_Out was made for me :)
We rarely gamble either but when we saw Chubby Checker there free (and another very well known group of that era I can't recall the name of now) 2 years ago I was impressed. Foods a lot cheaper downtown by far.
Well I must say "thanks to all". I now have a lot of things to do and places to see and stay. I think that we are going to have to stay about a week to do all the things that you guys listed.
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