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

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.
 
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.
 
Mount Charleston Lodge

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.
 
nvestysly said:
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.
Click to expand...

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.
 
Orchidflower said:
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.
Click to expand...

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.
 
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.

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.
Click to expand...
 
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.
 
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 !!
 
Orchidflower said:
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?
Click to expand...

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.
 
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
 
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.
 
Bestwifeever said:
Sounds like a fun trip, Orchid--we will need the full report by the end of May :)
Click to expand...


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.....!:( :LOL:

I'm sure loving these suggestions! And taking notes on them, too...gosh, thanks!
 
Orchidflower said:
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
Click to expand...
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
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.
Click to expand...
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
 
I just happened to catch a Rachel Ray Travel Channel show this early morning, and she said the best buffet by far is where the locals eat:
Sam's Town Firelight Buffet. $6 or some cheap price. And six miles off the strip, which is ok for me as I have a car with me. I see, however, that the reviews are totally varied...hmmmmm...interesting.

Sam's Town Firelight Buffet, Las Vegas - Restaurant Reviews - TripAdvisor

Since I'm new in Phoenix, I do alot of yelp.com reviews. Those 20 and 30 year olds tell it like it is--and some are really funny--so I try and catch them before wasting money on waste-of-time places. Anyway, this fellow has several different review "types" on Thai food for those Thai food lovers here (look at the bottom of his webpage for the headings):

http://www.yelp.com/list/best-thai-in-vegas-las-vegas

Hope this helps someone here.
 
Orchidflower said:
I just happened to catch a Rachel Ray Travel Channel show this early morning, and she said the best buffet by far is where the locals eat:
Sam's Town Firelight Buffet. $6 or some cheap price. And six miles off the strip, which is ok for me as I have a car with me.

Sam's Town Firelight Buffet, Las Vegas - Restaurant Reviews - TripAdvisor

Since I'm new in Phoenix, I do alot of yelp.com reviews. Those 20 and 30 year olds tell it like it is--and some are really funny--so I try and catch them before wasting money on waste-of-time places. Anyway, this fellow has several different review "types" on Thai food for those Thai food lovers here (look at the bottom of his webpage for the headings):

Best Thai in Vegas - Las Vegas

Hope this helps someone here.
Click to expand...

Orchidflower,

Here's a Trip Advisor link of reviews for Sam's Town Firelight Buffet. Sam's Town Firelight Buffet, Las Vegas - Restaurant Reviews - TripAdvisor

omni
 
Thanks, omni, for the suggestion of taking a helicopter ride. I had forgotten they have those there, and I am interested in that. For some reason, I don't feel afraid in planes...go figure?

And look at the bad reviews on yelp.com of Sam's Town Firelight Buffet...wow...bad with a cap B:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/firelight-buffet-las-vegas

Like I said, those 20-30 year olds know their stuff often.
 
Driving the strip is not scary/dangerous/difficult....I recommend to drive it after 10pm to sight see.(I do it in my 43ft motor home so I'm sure your car is fine.)

I also like to park beside the LV airport at night to watch planes land/take off with the significant other & a bottle of zinfandel (St Francis Old Vine $19 at Lee's Discount Liquor)

Red Rock is cool for cycling/jogging/hiking. (Picnic is mandatory...tables are available there)

If you play poker stay at the Venetian...incredible place for last 10 years or so...poker rate is $129/nite for rooms retailing to $399/nite....need to play 6 hours/day (I usually play at least that...free drinks are fun) sign up for their poker card & get $1/hr comps...it adds up.I use my comps at the Lux there $10-$15 or Noodles Asia $10-$20 depending how hungry you are.

If weather is nice eat a bowl of mushroom soup at Mon Ami Gabi at the Paris on their patio. Comes with fresh baked bread...$5.99 suitable for lunch or dinner....I like to linger & people watch the fascinating herd of humans roaming the sidewalks.

Shopping is expensive at Ceasar shops but dont miss seeing it. We buy our soveniers etc at the Outlet Mall... take the bus or your motor home South on LV Boulevard about 4 miles past the MGM.

There are infinite places to eat for under $12 on the strip...roam around & find them.(there's also infinite places to eat for over $100 )

Downtown Vegas is worthwhile to miss imo since there's no free parking and even though great effort has been put forth to clean it up it is still home turf to every addict/drifter/homeless. If you do go see the Golden Nugget...cool place to swim /shark tank etc that is free.

Dont phone the girls on the card the Mexicans give you on the sidewalks...if you must, consider a limo to Pahrump ... about $200 for the ride.

Get $1 beers while roaming the strip by dropping into Casino Royale...(just South of the Venetian you're staying in). Also $1 margaritas.

Late night food on the strip....food courts in every casino are very good compared to shopping malls across the country...or there's a great Panda Express/Chipolte/ etc near Casino Royale while you are picking up your $1 beers.

Check out the pavilion/junk shops on South side of Imperial Palace? might be Harrahs...usually a band playing there or if you're lucky karaoke ... trust me Vegas has talent roaming those streets.

Go play poker at the M casino about 10 miles South of the MGM on the strip...ask for the "Beer Bible"...over 80 international beers on tap complimentary while you play...I suggest starting at #1

So far that's mostly free stuff I enjoy while in town... feel free to pm me any inquiries about non frugal activities.
 
You have my absolute word I won't be doing this one:

"Dont phone the girls on the card the Mexicans give you on the sidewalks...if you must, consider a limo to Pahrump ... about $200" :LOL::LOL::LOL:
 
Orchidflower said:
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?
Click to expand...
I don't know if it's the country's best but I think it's very good...been there a dozen times, hard to get northern thai food in the midwest. Sea Bass with drunken noodles, papaya salad, issan sauage with sticky rice and tofu salad are some of my favorites...love how they make everything spicy. For dinner, I think the portions are kind of small for the price. Best value is the week day lunch buffet.

I love In-N-Out, can't leave town without my double double.

If you had to spurge, I would pick Rosemary's or Hugo. For buffet splurge, I love the Bellagio. I can eat a $100 worth of crab and tenderloin so it's a bargain for me:)

I don't gamble, I spend my money on the Cirque shows.

Around vegas, I like the calico scramble in the red rocks, black mountain hike, hoover dam, liberty bell arch hike, valley of fire state park. Farther out is mt charleston, death valley, joshua trees and zion.
 
just got back from vegas. saw "O," my first cirque show. worth the slurge. + DW loved it. ate at lotus of siam. pretty good thai food, definitely worth the visit. another notable place we also ate at is hash house a gogo, which was pretty good. they make they're waffles with strips of bacon cooked in the middle....

we spent most of the time climbing...a few pictures...

locals.jpg

tyingIN.jpg

RappingCleaningPhysicalGraffitti.jpg

JTree.jpg
 
I haven't stayed at Bill's since it changed from the Barbary Coast, but it used to be one of my favorite places to stay. Totally a deal, great location, you can walk to a lot of places, but getting to your car is still easy. If you want some honest and funny hotel reviews, check out Cheapo Vegas - Your Guide to a Better Vegas Vacation
Lotus of Siam is very good, but it's gotten so popular I haven't been there in years. Make sure to call for a reservation. There's lots of good food around in lots of different price ranges.
Driving on the strip you have to be careful, cabs drive crazy, and tourists will totally stop in the middle of the road to take pictures. I seriously had someone stop in front of me to take a video of the Bellagio fountains. It also gets realllly crowded, so learn the back streets.
I'd be happy to help more if you have other questions!
 
A cautionary tale for the gamblers among you. The son of close friends of ours goes to Las Vegas several times a year on a group gambling junket - this trip they were at the Bellagio. He won about $4500 at blackjack, finished at about 2 am, cashed out, got some food to take to his room. He got on the elevator along with three other people. Two of them got off at a lower floor and the third rode up with him. When he got off the elevator, he had his food in one hand and was opening his door with the other - didn't pay any attention to the guy on the elevator with him, thought the guy went the other way down thehall. Suddenly, he felt something behind his ear. The guy from the elevator had a gun to his head, ordered him into the room, ducttaped him to a chair, took his money, and of course, threatened him with the gun the entire time. After the guy left, our friend's son finally got himself free, called the hotel security, security and cops came. They didn't believe his story at first; thank goodness, he had the duct tape as proof. They finally looked at videos from the cash out area, and saw someone watching him as he cashed out. No video in the elevator or hallways. Just a warning to be careful when you're approaching your room in the casino hotels, especially if you've been a pretty big winner.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Car-Guy
F1 Racing In Las Vegas Tonight/Tomorrow
Replies
23
Views
1K
Texas Proud
T
F
Where to travel alone but still be very safe?
2 3
Replies
61
Views
4K
brett
B
U
Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce Trip Recommendations
2
Replies
43
Views
2K
folivier
folivier
S
Chelsea Flower Show?
Replies
2
Views
286
tmitchell
T
M
Snowbird destinations
Replies
11
Views
788
MarcJoli
M

Latest posts

Back
Top Bottom