Going to Las Vegas for the first time - any tips and suggestions?

[JamesDouglas]

I'm going to Las Vegas in a few weeks, I'm staying for 5 nights, any tips and suggestions?

I'm staying at Mandalay Bay, the only bad part is that it's at the very end of the strip so I'll have to be doing a lot of walking back and forth. Where should I eat? Where should I gamble? Where should I drink? Where should I party? What activities should I do? Which strip clubs should I go to? What's there to see? Is 3 full days enough to see everything? I'm going to the Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam for 1 full day.

 

[Ceiling Cat]

What ever you do................

Don't gamble!!!!!!

 

[Jun]

Is 3 full days enough to see everything? I'm going to the Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam for 1 full day.

3 Days IS NOT enough!

 

[freestuff]

I've stayed at MB. Yeah, it sucks being at the end of the strip. Rooms were decent. They do have a large pool area. They're suppose to have a nice aquariam but when I ask the front desk for a discount he said no so forget about that. What type of gambling were you thinking of doing? I feel like it's basically the same whenever you go. I guess it depends on what "type" of crowd you want to hang out when you're gambling (e.g. college kids, high rollers, old foggies). Slightly different if you're thinking about playing poker. I would go to the big casinos since that's where I feel you'll find novice players. I've only been to 1 strip club in Vegas (Club Paradise - across the street from Hard Rock Hotel). It just has the BR feel with double their prices. Honestly, I would skip the SCs in Vegas and do other things. If this is your first time, then 3 days won't be enough to see everything but you'll see enough (especially if you need to do a lot of walking from the back of the strip). There use to be a free monorail connecting some of the hotels but I think now you have to pay to get on it. I've also gone to the Hoover Dam. It was cool experience and I kept thinking about National Lampoon's Vacation and all those "dam" jokes.

 

[smitherz]

If you're going to see a show make it KA by Cirque du soleil... amazing!

I liked the food in Paris and New York, Gallagher's for a good steak. Avoid the buffets if you're pressed for time there's always a long lineup, although I heard the one in Paris is pretty good.

Tip the cabbies or they get pissed off and quite rude

I would avoid the SC's and clubs as well. Lots of tourist trap tactics to leech your money.

Take a walk down the strip at night lots to see and do.

 

[james t kirk]

Was in Vegas for the first time recently. Meh.

Interesting to see, if I never go back, I won't lose any sleep about it.

The one and only thing I saw in Vegas that I thought was REALLY cool was Freemont Street - which is the old strip in Vegas. The put this huge metalic arch over the street which serves as a giant screen for a TV and they play some really neat graphics on it, and they've closed the street to all vehicular traffic. Seeing that set up was worth the price of admission.

It's obviously built around casinos. There are high end, middle end, and bottom end casinos. They are everywhere and if I had to speculate, I'd say the Vegas is over-built in terms of hotels and casinos. Business appeared Fair. Not good, not great, fair. Hotels were running at about 50% to 60% occupied. (In fact, there are 2 hotel complexes that were started and not completed because the financing got pulled and a couple of closed hotels.)

Shopping - never seen so much high end shopping stores in one place and at one time in my life. All the big names are there - multiple multiple locations. But the stores are empty, maybe 1 person in there. You feel intimidated walking in because the second you do, starving retail staff are on you like a buzzard on a gut-wagon.

Went for 3 days and it was more than plenty.

(Regret not having time to see the canyon and the dam - that would have been cool.)

But the strip?

Meh, whatever.

PS - I found it funny the American casinos building things like a fake mini eiffel tower, and a fake Venice with motorized gondolas and chlorinated water. I've been to the real Venice and I would highly recommend that as one of the most interesting places I've ever seen in my life. Ditto Paris. (And you can buy a ticket to Italy for less $$ than a ticket to Vegas.)

 

[DELETDrileydaniels]

Your room will have a book of what places to go for restaurants and also on the tv as well. Ramsey's new restaurant Steak is pretty nice

You can pretty gamble in your hotel and drink in there too.

have you checked out http://www.lasvegas.com/

 

[Yoga Face]

walk to the bottom of the canyon then camp outside then then walk back up then a day at hoover then a night at a show
while enjoying the light show from here

strip clubs are no better than toronto so why go and gambling is throwing away money with potential addiction so stay away


personally i have tried it and find it boring

 

[4everkasey]

Fremont Street is a definate must along with the lobby bar at the Cosmopolitan. The list of things to see is endless and everywhere to be found. Any of the Cirque shows should be on your to-do list also (my fav is "O"). Most of the strip joints have TONS of girls and if you are looking for entertainment in your room, you will have loads of people handing you flyers on the street for that. I hope you have an amazing time !!!!!

 

[Up North]

It depends on what type of crowd your into but MB isn't to bad. With only 3 days invest in a cab and take you to where you want to go and save time and effort in walking. It also depends what you want to do, gamble, drink, have fun, see shows or if you're on a budget.

For a fun time walk over to the Luxor and go to "dicks the name of the strip" it's a fun and entertaining bar, the bartenders provide a lot of fun. While you in the Luxor sign up for the loyalty program, its free and takes 5 minutes and go see the Fantasy show, its one of the better shows and is about 75$. In MB go to the burger bar, one of the best on the strip, avoid the minus 5 bar as you'd think it's fun drinking in there but it's small and the party isn't fun in there.

I would cab up to Freemont street for the sights and then go back to the core to have fun. The bar in the Cosmo is great and you're a few minute walk from Bellagio, CP, PH. Try the Bellagio buffet or the Wicked Spoon at the Cosmo.

If you want to go to strip clubs I recommend the Hustler, it's close to your hotel and if you get a card from the dozens of people on the strip you can get a ride to and from with bypass cover for only a tip. Extras and takeout are easy and prices are the same as TO. Avoid the card slippers on the strip, their claim of 40$ for the escort is a show up fee and you're a few hundred beyond that for any services.

 

[Up North]

What ever you do................

Don't gamble!!!!!!

Depends what you want to play. I payed for my entertainment after playing cards at a few casinos.

Even the dreaded slots great, you just need to know what you're getting yourself into. Sit down at a penny machine for a minute to rest and put in a couple of dollars. If your not brought a free drink in a couple of minutes then you are doing something wrong.

 

[Ceiling Cat]

What a weird thing to say. That is like telling a guy you are taking him to his favorite buffet but don't eat. I think what you may have been trying to say is if you do gamble be responsible about it.

Vegas is built on the money of billions of losers.

 

[harryass]

Don't waste your money on those flyer sp handouts you get on the strip. The sps here are so much more beter in service and value. Best to spend the money on the shows, food and drinks and a bit of gambling. you can get discounts on shows and resturants on the strip, I think the place is call tix 4 tonite. there are several locations on or near the strip.

 

[Butler1000]

I have been almost 20 times. A few tips.
If you want to try your hand a t table gambling(blackjack) take a cab to freemont street. Go to binions or the golden gate. They are ols school, slightly divey and have 5 doller blackjack tables during the day. At night they have scantily clad hot dealers. At the golden gate they double as go-go dancers. Fun atmosphere.

Don't get too hammered. There are a lot of desperate people there who will take advantage of you. You will also meet a lot of tourists partying. Use a bit of discrestion in choosing party pals.

Finally hobbying in vegas. Sigh. Before everyone screams NOOOOOOO! Iwant you and them to search on this site a vegas thread in the ottawa forum I wrote a few months ago. I have done it successfully at TORONTO prices AND service level. So did the OP of that thread who took my advice. Look at it and decide.

You will actually be near prime area for this around luxor.

Topless show luxor is fantastic and reasonably priced. Go for it. Part of the experience. Check who is playing in town. In 2002 I saw sheena easton at the hilton at the lounge for 35 bucks front row seats as an example. You may find a gem with a bit of looking.

Set your limits for gambling. Soooooo important.

Take a lot of 1 doller bills for tipping cab hailers and other persons. They rely on this so be kind.

 

[Butler1000]

Butler,

I dont doubt your experiences, i just wonder why anyone would take a chance on a negotiated price and a promise from a girl who knows she will never see you again(assuming she knows you are a vegas visitor)? TERB has taught us all to do our homework. Meeting a girl face to face in a casino is nice, to check out looks and get a sense of who she is, but what incentive does she have to deliver fully (full gfe or pse) on her promise after she has been paid? Maybe that is the thrill of it, but i know many stories from guys who have gotten less than what they"bargained for" after they got up to the room, paid, and got naked. Again, i dont doubt your experiences, but it seems to hit or miss/risky

Easy. Didn't pay up front. On any of the occasions. But I tend to endear trust in my demeanor. And also the key is to get the suit on, no tie. Its the semi-pros you are after.

 

[freestuff]

Worst case scenario is that you get busted for prostitution. Best case scenario is that you get good service at TO prices. So it the risk worth the reward? Not to me.

 

[Butler1000]

Worst case scenario is that you get busted for prostitution. Best case scenario is that you get good service at TO prices. So it the risk worth the reward? Not to me.

Read the thread. You won't get busted. Cops do Not go into casinos uninvited. They do Not set up sting operations. Read the thread. Then judge.

 

[Don Draper]

Don't hobby in Vegas.

Invite a girl from here that you like. Go down with her for 3 or 4 days.

Save your $$$, hang out with her and she'll be your FWB once you come back.

It worked for me and I'm sure many others.

 

[JamesDouglas]

I forgot to mention that I'll be going with my girlfriend, she's openminded and will go to strip clubs or adult themed shows, but seeing an SP while I'm there with her is completely out of the question.

Also, I've never gambled before but I'll be gambling a bit just to say that I've gambled in Vegas. I heard that the first slot machine right at the entrance of a casino in full view of everyone just entering has the best odds of winning, since the casino wants to give the impression that winning is easy and will psychologically trick everyone who enters into gambling more.

 

[cunning linguist]

The Gun Store, that's where I lost my full auto cherry.