Las Vegas

[sunshinecat]

I may have the opportunity to visit Las Vegas for a couple of days in May. I've never been there before so I have no idea where I should stay.

Do any of you have any hotel recommendations? Also, I'm not much of a gambler so I'm wondering what other types of activities are available?

Thanks for your advice!
sunshinecat

[kitalyn414]

as far as hotels - depends on how much you want to spend. bellagio is, of course, amazing!!! i like the mandalay bay and have stayed many times at the paris. the venitian is also a great hotel.

there is SO much to do in sin city if you aren't a gambler. the shows are great (if you can afford them) but there is also amazing shopping (try ceasar's forum shops). plus you could spend entire days just touring each casino. the bellagio has an amazing flower atrium and the fountains are a MUST SEE at night (i cry every time i watch them because they are so beautiful) check out the treasure island pirate show, the mirage volcano eruption, hmmm what else. there are some GREAT arcades... i like the one at the luxor. circus circus is a pretty crappy hotel, but has carnival games and a theme park.

also, make sure to get downtown to see the show on fremont st. if you aren't a serious gambler, that is also the best place to play. they have $1 craps (how i learned to play) and you will be able to find the $5 or less black jack tables that they don't have on the strip.

HAVE SO MUCH FUN. pm me if you have more question. i go to vegas quite often.

[sunshine79]

I was there last weekend for Valentine's Day and stayed at Paris. It was WONDERFUL! I would highly recommend it. It's right in the middle of the strip so you are in walking distance of everything. The service was great - when we checked in we got complimentary upgraded to a corner room on the 21st floor - AWESOME VIEW OF THE BELLAGIO FOUNTAINS - the concierge was always extremely helpful as well. You can book tours, make restaurant reservations right in the lobby. WHen we asked about clubs to go to, the concierge was great in recommending places outside of Paris. There is a nightclub there called Risque, but we didn't end up going there. There's also a great Pan-Asian restaurant right in Paris. It was pretty inexpensive too - less than 200/night - for a very nice hotel. PM if you have more questions.

Definitely see a Cirque du Soleil show! Don't go to Ghostbar at the Palms, it's expensive and overrated!

[kitalyn414]

also... there is a creperie (sp?) in the paris that is AMAZING... good for a casual lunch/snack. good seafood & desert crepes.

oooooh... although you said that you don't like to gamble, a lot of the casinos are adding penny slots!!!! they are SO FUN. you could sit at one for hours on $20 getting free drinks. they are great because the bonus games come up a lot. paris has some penny slots that i know of.

[pluie76]

Don't forget to take some time out from the city to see the surrounding area! Go see the Hoover Dam (I'm a dork in engineering, so I thought it was pretty neat) but if anything its a gorgeous drive and then you can hop over and say you went to AZ too! I didn't make it to Red Rock Canyon but I hear its pretty amazing too!

[sunshinecat]

Thanks for the hotel ideas so far. Actually, the 2 days in Las Vegas is actually a stop en route to the canyon country area of Arizona and Utah. I'm getting a hiking trip in before the summer rush starts!

Thanks,
sunshinecat