Las Vegas: Where to stay, what to do, where to eat?

[nvestysly]

it's GGGGGRRREAT! If you like cars, and history related to cars, this is the place. We got in for free. We found the car museum listed in several off the beaten path guides. But the Imperial Palace is right on the strip. It's similar to Bill's - older, not too flashy. But if you like cars the museum is a trip you'll remember for a lifetime.

The regular entrance price is not too high but mention your military service, AAA membership, or any number of other affiliations and you might find yourself getting in for free. I just checked out the web site and found you can print your own ticket for free.

I am still amazed at the collection they've amassed (sp?). Several one-offs, very rare and unusual cars from celebrities. It's not fancy, but it's one of a kind!

[nphx]

imperial palace car collection is a good stroll - especially if its free: One FREE Ticket - Redeem at The Auto Collections

if you stay at harahs its adjacent and has a walkway to imperial palce. Also staying at harahs... the street BEHIND the hotel under the tram where the parking is is great for paralleling the strip w/o traffic if you are driving. A car is handy to visit old town - i recommend Hugo's Cellar at the Four Queens Hotel rental cars are inexpensive in vegas - use southwest.com to book a car and check their specials pages.

[Orchidflower]

Well, I surely like old cars and even go to the antique auto shows by myself, cause none of my girlfriends have any interest at all. I'll go to the car show for sure..thanks.

[nphx]

Also - i like a cocktail at the rio... and if you visit the strotosphere, take an elevator up to the lounge, you are fee to visit the deck from there for free but sort of ethically obligated to have a drink - either way its a good deal over paying for an elevator ride.

[Orchidflower]

I won't be taking that roller coaster that goes around the top of some hotel or taking the Stratosphere elevator to the top. Scared of heights here.
But there will be many other board members willing and wanting to do this I'll bet, so thanks for the information.


(P.S. Just about fell out of a ferris wheel from the top at 5, and can still see my mother on the ground screaming. I think I'm scarred for life...)

[valsdad]

Places to stay: Gold Coast next to Rio. Stayed there many times. Decent buffet particularly for breakfast. Also has a top rated Chinese place called Ping Pang Pong. Southpoint. Newer place with large rooms. Fine to stay if you have a car. Very reasonable. Hooters. Stayed once a couple of years ago. Decent if small rooms. Can walk to strip. Tropicana has recently renovated rooms and public areas. Decent rates to get folks to try it. Have a good trip.

[Orchidflower]

Good information coming in...thank you all.

There is supposedly the best Thai restaurant there in the country called Lotus of Siam. Has anyone eaten there? It's a locals place to eat, and I saw some documentary that had a segment on it. Good as they say?

Anyone know of any really special eating places to go to in Las Vegas that haven't been already mentioned? My girlfriend who lives there keeps telling me about these $50 and up buffets, but that's not really my thing (she's a $30,000 millionaire..if you get my drift). I love good food, and I can get it surely even in Vegas for less than $50+ I would hope.

[nvestysly]

My wife and I stumbled on to Mount Charleston Lodge. The food was unique. I had an elk burger. The atmosphere certainly something we did not expect to find near Las Vegas (a mountain lodge? really?). It's a relatively simple, but very interesting place about 40 - 60 minutes NW of downtown Las Vegas. We really enjoyed the drive out and back. Driving back after dark was a great night view of Las Vegas.

[Lisa99]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nvestysly My wife and I stumbled on to Mount Charleston Lodge. The food was unique. I had an elk burger. The atmosphere certainly something we did not expect to find near Las Vegas (a mountain lodge? really?). It's a relatively simple, but very interesting place about 40 - 60 minutes NW of downtown Las Vegas. We really enjoyed the drive out and back. Driving back after dark was a great night view of Las Vegas.

Mt Charleston is definitely great but this time of year the weather can be iffy. It has snowed A LOT up there this year and if it's snowing tire chains or a 4-wheel drive is required.

[Lisa99]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orchidflower Good information coming in...thank you all. I love good food, and I can get it surely even in Vegas for less than $50+ I would hope.

You can find good food <$50 in Vegas but it won't be on the strip. Even mediocre food can be very expensive. DH and I spent almost $250 at Sensi in the Bellagio a couple of weekends ago and the food was just edible.

If you like tapas, Firefly is great. And if you go during happy hour there are 1/2 price specials.

[braumeister]

The last time I attended a convention in Vegas was 2006, and it was held at the Sahara. Even back then, I noticed that it was starting to look a bit shabby. In the news today, the Sahara has announced its closure in May.

Quote:

The Sahara Hotel & Casino, among a few Las Vegas Strip resorts left from the Rat Pack era, is closing nearly six decades after dealing its first hand. Several other casinos from the earliest days of gambling in Sin City were remade into new megaresorts, but the Sahara's owners don't yet have a plan for the property. "The continued operation of the aging Sahara was no longer economically viable," CEO Sam Nazarian of owner SBE Entertainment Group said. The property will close May 16, officials said. The Sahara, which opened in 1952, was featured in 1960's "Ocean's Eleven" as one of five casinos robbed by a group of World War II veterans. Today, it touts around-the-clock $1 blackjack and a six-pound burrito-eating challenge at its NASCAR Cafe. Nazarian said his company is considering options including a complete renovation and repositioning.

[WhoDaresWins]

I haven't been to LV in ten years so I am hardly a reliable source. My husband was at a conference so I was on my own for breakfast and lunch, and I remember finding lots of casual well-priced options right on the Strip. I love the Creperie in the Paris casino. I also went to a deli in the New York, New York casino for a bagel and lox which was very good. Also good was a casual noodle place in the Bellagio just off the main lobby area. The Bellagio also has (or had) a very nice gelato parlor. I threw on my sweats to go for a walk most mornings and just picked up coffee and a roll or a yogurt at some takeout place for my breakfast. If I went back tomorrow, I would eat at the crepe place in the Paris every day I think.

[urn2bfree]

The funny magician named Mac is Mac King.

[tjon72]

Yeah, the Mac ? (can't remember)show is a great afternoon show kind of Corney but good clean fun. The hoover dam is VERY impressive,....enjoy ! We will be going to the southpoint casino in late April for a week of watching my monet go down a rat hole !!

[Bestwifeever]

If I wasn't going to stay on the strip at one of the foofoo hotels I'd probably stay at the Hampton Inn on Tropicana--free parking, free breakfast, looks like it's about $90/night with AAA or AARP. http://hamptoninn.hilton.com/en/hp/h...tyhocn=LASINHX

Sounds like a fun trip, Orchid--we will need the full report by the end of May

[zinger1457]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orchidflower There is supposedly the best Thai restaurant there in the country called Lotus of Siam. Has anyone eaten there? It's a locals place to eat, and I saw some documentary that had a segment on it. Good as they say?

My girlfriend from Thailand will be visiting and we'll be in Vegas for a couple of days in early April. May give it a try, the menu looked pretty good and prices weren't over the top. Will report back if we stop by.

[omni550]

It's been about 7-8 years since I was in Vegas.

One thing I noticed out there was that many casinos had cheap breakfasts until some very early hour (like 7am). So I'd just get up, throw on some clothes, comb my hair and go to breakfast, then come back to the room and showered and get ready for the day. The restaurants were pretty empty at that hour, so it's not like anyone noticed. LOL And it saved a ton of money.

I loved going out to Red Rock Canyon (about 20 miles west of LV). Red Rock Canyon Las Vegas Nevada - VEGAS.com

I really enjoyed going to Mount Charleston. It's amazing how much cooler it is than just a few miles south in LV.

Hoover Dam is worth a visit, as is Valley of Fire State Park Valley of Fire State Park

As you're probably driving right by here, seeing the Grand Canyon from the new overlook on the Hualapai Indian reservation might be worth a stop. Grand Canyon West | Hualapai Indian Reservation | SkyWalk (On the other hand, your fear of heights may not make this much fun)

I'm not much of a casino person, but really I enjoyed seeing the outdoorsy attractions out there.

As others have mentioned, there's a lot of free stuff to see (the Wildlife Habitat at the Flamingo, the Bellagio fountains, the Lion Habitat at the MGM, the Sirens show at Treasure Island, the car collection at Imperial Palace, the fountain shows at Caesar's Palace, Fremont St. light show, etc. ) More details here Las Vegas Attractions, Things to do in Las Vegas | VEGAS.com

I did enjoy the Cirque show "O". Most of the other shows out there struck me as pricey.

I did take a helicopter tour after dark. It's fun to see all of the casino lights from the air.

As other have mentioned, driving on the Strip is not advised. There are streets that parallel the Strip that will get you northbound or southbound without all of the hassles.

omni

[flyfishnevada]

If you are renting a car try the Orleans. It's maybe mile off the Strip, but great room prices and they have a lot to places to eat. You don't need to spend $40 on breakfast on the Strip. At the high end casinos, maybe, but you can find buffets for a lot less than that and the coffee shops usually have great food and for pretty good prices. if you do stay at the Orleans, don't miss McMullin's Irish pub next door (not the Irish pub in the casino). Awesome food and beer.

As for stuff to do, plenty to do for free, people watching on the strip, lounge shows, all the free attractions (volcano, pirate show, etc.). Vegas.com has tons of resources for visitors. If you wanna wait six months or so, you could just buy the Vegas book I'm writing.

PM me if you have specific questions. I don't live in Vegas, but I used to go there all the time for work and I travel there quite a bit.

[Orchidflower]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bestwifeever Sounds like a fun trip, Orchid--we will need the full report by the end of May

I would love to say that I wished I had SUCH a good time that I would be too embarrassed to report it. But, alas! My son and his girlfriend will be there--even tho I am leaving them alone I suspect for most of the time to do their own thing--and guess I have to act in my most upright/motherly fashion....shoot.....!

I'm sure loving these suggestions! And taking notes on them, too...gosh, thanks!

[megacorp-firee]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orchidflower Good information coming in...thank you all. There is supposedly the best Thai restaurant there in the country called Lotus of Siam. Has anyone eaten there? It's a locals place to eat, and I saw some documentary that had a segment on it. Good as they say

Yes it is, but don't expect the typical pad thai if you looking to be wowed. Had a good duck dish there and something like beef jerky (sounds weird, but it was good). Ask the owner to help you order and you will be ok IF you are a little bit adventurous. It helps to go with more people

Quote:

Anyone know of any really special eating places to go to in Las Vegas that haven't been already mentioned? My girlfriend who lives there keeps telling me about these $50 and up buffets, but that's not really my thing (she's a $30,000 millionaire..if you get my drift). I love good food, and I can get it surely even in Vegas for less than $50+ I would hope.

Go west of the strip on Spring Mountain Rd to the Chinatown mall for some interesting food. There is the dim sum place at the end of the mall (Harbor 'something'). There is also a noodle place, look for the ducks hanging in the window.
As mentioned previously, if you have a car, you can go to a lot of places. Check out some LV food websites, lottsa of them