The wife and I are going on our first trip to Vegas in May for five nights. Need to know where to stay.

I love staying at many different hotels depending on the agenda for the trip.

Based solely on this being your first trip to Vegas, I would recommend something mid strip. I enjoy staying at Bill's because of it's location, and the fact that you can be down on the strip in less than 5 minutes. However, Harrah's has screwed it up along with everything else they touch.

How old are you? What activities do you enjoy? Will you have a rental car? What room qualities are important to you?

[This message has been edited by texas_aggie_girl_93 (edited 2/4/2008 9:35a).]

there are about 20 threads on Vegas and where to stay

I'm 27 and wife is 25. I would like the room to be nice but it doesn't have to be the top of the line as I don't feel that we will be spending that much time in the room. I plan on playing lots of blackjack so I would like to have personable polite dealers...would like to stay away from the snobs. Would like to see some shows also.

First time there....I don't think it would be a bad idea to stay "off strip"...someplace like the Orleans or one of the "Coast" places. Then you can take their shuttle down to the Strip and check out the more expensive places and see what you like for the next trip.

I personally like the Wynn and suspect that I will probably always stay there from now on. Good relaxed gambling, esp. blackjack.

But, any of the MGM's will give you some pretty reasonable deals. Go to their web page for MGM Mirage and go to their "MGM Vactions" Or "Travel" page. Can't remember what they call it. But, they have some really good deals on all their properties with flight included.

Oh...downtown is the only place I have ever run into "not so nice" dealers.

if it's their first time why in the world would you recommend staying OFF the strip??

Because on the Strip is much more expensive and he said he wasn't going to stay in the room much. So, he was pretty much going to just do sight-seeing anyhow and play some Blackjack.

Why pay the extra just to look out your window, probably at the mountains on the backside of the hotel?

Find what you like, do most of your gambling there with your card...then you will get afordable offers from the really nice casino/hotels.

Actually staying on the Strip is way over rated unless you are staying really upscale. Otherwise, your just wasting money you could be using to gamble. Shuttles and cabs and just plan old walking the Strip is just fine and not expensive.

Ya, you can get some cheapo rooms at the Imperial Palace (if they haven't torn it down yet),Casino Royal or Bob's. Just fine if all you plan to do is play blackjack at $5. tables and have a place to stumble drunk into bed close by....but then your missing the full Vegas experince of 4Star Hotels. Going to Vegas to be cheap isn't worth the time.

Vegas is not a one trip destination if you want the full expereince. If your just going to go to get drunk and gamble at the cheapest places...hell, just stay at the Motel 6.

Several of my Aggie buddies and our wives go every year. We stay at The Mirage, which is a mid-priced hotel. Great location in the middle of the strip. I like the casino.

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Just fine if all you plan to do is play blackjack at $5. tables and have a place to stumble drunk into bed close by....

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EXACTLY what I'm looking for.

accidentally posted twice

[This message has been edited by rockportag03 (edited 2/4/2008 11:00a).]

We always stay at The Mirage.

rockport....Then I'll bet you'd like Casino Royal. The Casino down stairs is a bit shabby, by the games have low limits and VERY friendly staff. The rooms are clean and no frills and you simply cannot get any more in the middle of the strip.

Mirage is great, but as a first timer, if your not going through MGM Mirage Travel, you'll probably be hard pressed to get rooms much lower than $125 bucks a night. Maybe somebody like Priceline can get you pretty good deal down in the $65 buck range if you hit it at the right time.

But frankly, the air/casino deals that MGM gives for their hotels, which are roughly about half the Strip are pretty hard to beat.

mirage

Rock, I found a good deal a few months ago at the new Planet Hollywood. It was all new and the room was great, not that I spent much time there. Good location. I don't know if they still have deals, but since they are new, they might.

Have stayed nearly everwhere over the years. I like the Wynn, Caesars, and Bellagio. I surely miss the Desert Inn, but the Wynn is built on its old location.

Last couple of times I've been to Vegas we've stayed at Treasure Island. I enjoy it. Not ultra packed, rooms are nice, beds really comfortable.. easy access to the Mirage via tram if you get bored at TI... also some great restaurants... Social House for sushi is amazing, the coffee shop is really tasty for breakfast and reasonably priced high quality food. I hear the Mexican restaurant there and the steakhouse are also top notch. Even a little club for those of you who don't mind paying $12 for a drink

I have stayed at a number of different places, strip, off strip and downtown. I usually stay at the Flamingo. The location is great, the casino fine and the room price can't be beat (almost always free unless a huge convention is there). Get a player's card first thing and use it every time. All casinos are nice to their frequent flyers. I personally don't like the Mirage (though many people do) because I get irritated at a casino that's so big I have trouble finding my blackjack table after a restroom break. I have a reservation for June at the Rio, but that's another story.

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The location is great, the casino fine and the room price can't be beat (almost always free unless a huge convention is there).

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como?

how do you score a free room exactly?

[This message has been edited by Hincemm (edited 2/6/2008 10:28a).]

I get irritated at a casino that's so big I have trouble finding my blackjack table
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probably because your drunk. The two restrooms are pretty easy to locate. The one over by Cravings and the one by the poker room.

There are also restrooms in the Sports Book and next to the Reception Desk (across from Jet).

If you want to talk about huge and confusing casinos - take a stroll through the Venetian or MGM. IMO those are a lot more difficult to navigate than the Mirage.

totally agree with the Venetian. We literally could not find our way out. We had to go out some side doors that looked like an alleyway.

I am leaving tomorrow for my 1st trip to Vegas!!! We are staying at NY/NY. I'll let you know how it goes.

Aggiegumbo...go for the upgrade to the Jacuzzi room....

Approx. how much more are the jacuzzi rooms? (If I can't sweet talk myself into an upgrade)

$10 or $20 bucks a night I think. If you gamble a lot there you'll get it comped...GET AND USE YOUR MGM CARD!

But, while it may be my cup of tea to sit with a glass of bubbly, looking out over the strip, (ask for it, the strip view that is) while the bathsalts zip around you and lots of mirrors for...well...you know...it may not be your cup of tea and not worth the expense.

The main thing to remember is TO ASK for things. All they can do is say NO and if you strike their fancy, they may say yes.

Tip generously, but not madly.
I generally tip the check in people also. Do it even before I or they say a word...Just hand them a $20 and say, "Here you go my friend, I tip everybody else in Vegas, so why not you...my name is _______, I think you have a reservation for me.

Some people say it doesn't work, others say it does...has never failed to at least get me a friendly smile and anything that is within their power to do.

It sort of changes from Casino to Casino (NYNY it works, upgrade that is, NOT for Free...you'll take that up with your Host later) The power the Tip has at the check-in desk is limited, but usefull, but GAMBLING still is the way to their heart.

You get that card and play at least 6 hours a day (3 in the morning and 3 late) at an average bet of 3 dollars. In between go to all the places you want to see, but DO YOUR GAMBLING WHERE YOU STAY!!!! (this is generally what you would average on dollar slots if you play the BONUS and you are nuts NOT to play the BONUS, cause it's the only way you will win big if you HIT) I don't care what machine or where you play it...play the Bonus cause you might get lucky and it's difference between winning $30 bucks and $3000.

You gamble like that and it won't matter if you paid $20 bucks extra a night for an upgrade...everything will be Comped.

Oh, oh, and don't do your Comps at the Check out desk...GO to the Casino Host office and get them to go over your Bill and your gambling...then THEY tell them at checkout what your paying.

Set a limit of $600 a day, and try to play about $1200 to $2000 a day (it's easy cause the machines are pretty much set for a return of between 95% and some even 99% (look for the payouts on the machines. Play the low payout machines, $900 and less to make your money back.....play some "Progressives" to try to win big money, then when you get down, re-bank roll yourself on the lower payout machines.

They hit pretty constantly because there is no IRS reporting they have to do on anything less than...humm...I think it's $1500 and....well, the Casino's don't want you to wip out...they want you to win and keep playing and lose it and some more...so know when to quit...win or lose.

If your a Blackjack player....well, you can lose it all in a day, and you casn also have some fine days, but unless your playing Highlimits, your not going to win that much....but you can flat out pay for your trip on the slots...just think small wins, not Jackpots.

P.S....sorry about the above....I get carried away when talking about "How to do Vegas for Free".
That's my game...you should just go an enjoy.

Mirage

an average bet of $3? Dude, there is no way you'll get anything. At the Mirage you have to bet a minimum of $10 at BJ and $25 at the slower games. Where in the hell are you going to get rated.

Hince and Piag...I have stayed at the Flamingo and what are now other Harrah's properties several times a year for a while now. They treat me well if they can. I like their bj and craps rules. However, there are far better poker rooms and sports book areas. I haven't been downtown for a while but the most fun (though not the nicest, by far) sports book area was at Binion's.

And, Piag, I don't drink until after I am through playing. Those cute young women will bring me black coffee and diet Cokes all day long. Those free adult beverages can cost a whole lot.

piag94....talking about dollar slots and playing the Max of $3...not Blackjack.

If you're trying to get "rated" for future freebees and comps, Slots are the way to go. Blackjack is a bit$ch to get properly rated on. You can spend a fortune at a $25 table and never get noticed by the Pit boss.

That Card in a Slot machine is the only way you will get truely rated on the amount of money you are playing.

You can go back to playing Blackjack later, but it's about establishing a relationship with the Casino.

I have friends who constantly play $25 and up to Higlimits BJ and the Pitt Boss at almost any Casino we've ever been always "under-rates" their level of play.

I get free rooms and everyting comped, they get "Casino Rates", which is not bad, but if you're looking to stay totally free at someplace like the Wynn for 4 or 5 days and are not a Millionaire....your best bet is to play Dollar Slots.

I usually stay at Bally's, Paris or Caesar's. All fun and in the middle of the Strip. Bally's is inexpensive compared to others. Paris and Caesar's a little more romantic. The Hilton Flamingo is a great deal and nice. The Wynn is the latest attraction and a little pricey. Just remember stay somewhere nice and cheap and go to different hotels for gambling, restaurants, clubs and shows.

If it's your first time, definitely stay on the strip, preferably in the Caesars/Mirage/Bellagio area. Take a day and walk the strip, try and see each hotel and gamble (get free drinks) at every place you stop. I've done that and set a 30-minute table limit at each stop, and had a great time because I didn't feel like I was stuck in the same hotel at the same table all day.

If you and your wife like sports (and there's a game you want to watch), you HAVE TO watch the game at the Sports Book at the Bellagio.

For hawt cocktail waitresses, definitely hit the Venetian.

For a great show, check out Danny Ganz (think he's at the Mirage now, used to be at The Rio).

If you stay at Caesars and like to work out, pay to use their spa, it's worth it. Buy your wife a spa treatment one morning and it'll pay back major dividends.

You have to eat dinner "outside" (it's actually inside but made to look like an outside street) at the Forums in Caesars.

Walk around the Bellagio, the art is something to see especially the glasswork.

There's a gazebo-like bar outside (I think next to Harrah's), where the bartenders professionally compete in pouring drinks like the movie "Cocktail". I'm not kidding in that these guys & gals will do the most amazing things when pouring drinks, it's like Cirque de Soleil for drinking.

Okay, I'm done for now, have a great trip.

My, my, Muy...it's been awhile since you've been to Vegas...Ganns has been the headliner at the Mirage for about 10 years.

I stayed in a lovely suite at the Renaissance. It wasn't directly on the strip, but there was a free trolly across the street that took us right to the Wynn everyday. The only thing I suggest is...BUY TICKETS TO SEE "O" at the Bellagio (you can get $99 tickets through Bellagio). Best investment I made in Vegas! Jaw dropping!