Vegas baby!

jenn1381

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Joined
Apr 4, 2005
Location
Canada
I need help! lol.. so I'm planning my first trip to Las Vegas this October for my 30th birthday... I am super excited. I have to book quick as there's a deal for a free night but you have to book before July 29th.

I need advice on hotels. We are thinking of staying at Bally's or Rio. My travelling partners have stayed at Flamingo (and will not go back) and Paris (said it was ok but pricey for what you get). We want something on the strip and somewhat decent but doesn't need to be crazy nice. We also have heard some hotels have resort fee's of upwards of $30 a day (really?!) and want to avoid that as we are already pushing it finacially as it is. Any advice anyone has is greatly appreciated!!!

Woo hooo, Vegas here I come! lol
 
Hi Jenn,

I actually went to Vegas for the first time for my 30th birthday last year, and went back again this year for my 31st. I think it's gonna be an annual thing from now on :lolup:

I'd advise against the Rio because it's REALLY far away from the action on the main strip. If you plan to walk up and down the strip and see the sights then it's waaaaay too far. If you plan to hire a car and drive a lot then it would be ok. Good buffet though, and a decent pool.

Bally's is definitely more central but I think it lacks character and doesn't seem to have any special attractions as such. If you're on a bit of a budget then all things considered my recommendation would be the Imperial Palace. It's super central, INCREDIBLY friendly staff, always busy (in a good way) and it just has a fun kind of vibe to it. Avoid the buffet though (lovely staff but so-so food, I'm afraid). The only other downside is that the pool is pretty basic and doesn't get the sun past about 5-6pm. If you're on a budget though, that's the one I'd recommend. The "Dealertainers" are also a HOOT - and they're free. It's a fun, cheap and cheerful kind of place.

If you have a little more to spend then I'd totally recommend Caesar's. GREAT pool, cool place, well kept and a top notch buffet. Definitely more pricey though. The best bit of advice I can give you would be to avoid anywhere too far up or down the strip - Excalibur, the Stratosphere, the Luxor etc. The walking is just too much in the heat.

Wherever you stay, have a GREAT time, and try and scoop the MEGABUCK$!!!

Best of luck :thumbsup:
 
Goggle casinos in Las Vegas, and start clicking on the different casino web sites. They all usually advertise specials in advance. These specials change often and no one unless they were just there could possibly know what's up. The web-sites even show maps of where their located on the strip and elsewhere.

Since this is your first visit, comps are most likely not available, unless you were willing to send money to the cage in advance.

It really doesn't matter where you stay, since most don't spend that much time in the room anyhow. Be certain to read up and take advantage of some world class buffets, restaurants, entertainment, and endless action. If your being careful start spending time searching online. Money goes quick there, and a tough place to be careful.

I go often but always stay in the same hotel, so not really up on costs elsewhere.

Have a great time and good luck.
 
Hey!

I'm going next month there (and I have to confess that I haven't looked anything up yet... I'm just a disaster for organizing stuff. At least I have the plane booked...) From what I have heard is way cheaper if you go on weekdays instead of weekends. I'm afraid that is all my knowledge: Google will have to be your/my friend.

Have a nice trip!
 
Coupons for Vegas

Gather up all the coupon books and free tourist info at the airport. They used to be out at the baggage claim area so check it out even if you just have a carry on. Lots of freebies, cheap eats, discounts to some of the minor shows, etc. We used to collect them and then go through all of them the first afternoon out at the pool. And do get the players club cards wherever you play so next time you will get plenty of offers for free and discounted rooms, etc.
 
I need help! lol.. so I'm planning my first trip to Las Vegas this October for my 30th birthday... I am super excited. I have to book quick as there's a deal for a free night but you have to book before July 29th.

I need advice on hotels. We are thinking of staying at Bally's or Rio. My travelling partners have stayed at Flamingo (and will not go back) and Paris (said it was ok but pricey for what you get). We want something on the strip and somewhat decent but doesn't need to be crazy nice. We also have heard some hotels have resort fee's of upwards of $30 a day (really?!) and want to avoid that as we are already pushing it finacially as it is. Any advice anyone has is greatly appreciated!!!

Woo hooo, Vegas here I come! lol

If the choice is between ballys or rio then stay at ballys as it is on the strip and there are no resort fees. Actually no harrahs properties have resort fees anymore. Rio is off the strip, so cant really walk around outside. Would be about a 12-15 cab ride to the strip. If you can afford a little more for the night stay at Aria or Cosmo.
 
Rent a car ... stay anywhere.

Hi jenn1381:

Ask ten people a good hotel to stay at ... get ten different answers. You really just want a clean room ... because you will just be sleeping there, and perhaps using the pool. From any hotel on the strip, you can go to another hotel. There is a monorail system that can get you from property to property up and down the strip.

The RIO is really nice ... but also off the strip ... there is a shuttle, but it kinda limits you.

You can book through HOTWIRE, but you will not know where you are staying until you pay for the hotel ... however, if you state 4-star, you will get a nice place. I got the Golden Nugget (Freemont Street) for $40 a night not long ago.

My advice, rent a car ... they are cheap. Should be less than $30 a day (if you really look, you should be able to find less than $20 a day - unlimited mileage), and parking is free everywhere ... and you can just use valet parking at all the resorts. Then, you can visit Fremont Street, Red Rock Canyon (and the Casino), and all the worthwhile casinos off the strip.

My best advice ... bring RUNNING SHOES. You can`t imagine the amount of walking between resorts. It looks so close in pictures. :)

Have fun.
 
The fact that you're hawking that useless monorail marks the rest of your advice as "highly suspect" at best.
 
The fact that you're hawking that useless monorail marks the rest of your advice as "highly suspect" at best.

It's a shame you have managed to put a damper on an otherwise really helpful and interesting thread. Shame on you.

Hey Jenn, I am sure you will do exactly the right thing for you to do. No probs and great fun!!!
 
Ok so I grew up in Vegas, and I know pretty much everything about it. Downtown is probably best to stay if you are looking for a cheap room. They have rennovated most of the downtown area, and while there are many reasons people stay away from there, it's really not that bad. If you rent a car, you will save a ton of money on hotel stays. There are quite a few places that have rooms under 50 a night, especially on weekdays. I am just saying maybe you should check some of those places out before booking anything.

Gold Spike

Golden Gate

Four Queens

Fitzgeralds

The Plaza

Start there and Good Luck.
 
Thank you everyone for your advice! It's looking like we are going with Bally's. We get a night free, $50 each off another night, and two free tickets to a show between the airline's deals and deals we've received from other places. It also means we get to spend 5 nights instead of our agreed 4, which means I don't have to travel on my birthday, we travel the next day.

We are going to rent a car and drive to the Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam, and do the touristy thing too. 5 days of gambling is just too much for my budget lol. Please someone tell me it won't be 110 in the shade in October? We are going through one hell of a heat wave in Ontario right now (and we are not used to extreme heat) and I keep thinking omg what if it's still this hot in Vegas in October.. I'll melt.. lol
 
It's a shame you have managed to put a damper on an otherwise really helpful and interesting thread. Shame on you.

Hey Jenn, I am sure you will do exactly the right thing for you to do. No probs and great fun!!!

Yup I agree - but I guess with this many people on the forum I was bound to get one bad apple take the time to post, lol. I doubt anything could damper my excitement anyways. Not only is this my first time to Vegas, it's my first real vacation EVER. My parents idea of a vacation growing up was driving 4 days to grandma and grandpa's and sitting in their house for 2 weeks - then driving home. Fun times.. lol. I could never afford a real vacation before getting the job I have now. They say your 30's are better than your 20's.. thinking that might be right!
 
I can relate to the vacations growing up. It was NOT fun to try to get along with a ton of cousins that were bigger and older than me!! Painfully not fun!!! And then the grown up vacations to see Gramma and Grampa with the kids, NOT fun either! :p

I am finally at a point where I could take a real vacation and I am too worn out and have lost the thrill of going somewhere. Sucks!!! :rolleyes:

Have tons of fun, Jenn!!! :thumbsup:
 
Yup I agree - but I guess with this many people on the forum I was bound to get one bad apple take the time to post, lol. I doubt anything could damper my excitement anyways. Not only is this my first time to Vegas, it's my first real vacation EVER. My parents idea of a vacation growing up was driving 4 days to grandma and grandpa's and sitting in their house for 2 weeks - then driving home. Fun times.. lol. I could never afford a real vacation before getting the job I have now. They say your 30's are better than your 20's.. thinking that might be right!

Your going to have a great time.... But have to disagree with your last sentence. Only half way thru my 30's but have to say the 20's were much better
 
Your going to have a great time.... But have to disagree with your last sentence. Only half way thru my 30's but have to say the 20's were much better

lol I guess it depends on what your 20's were like. I made a lot of progress but didn't have a whole lot of fun. Time to start making up for that ;)
 

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