Rio Pool

Does anyone know if the pool will be open at the Rio during the week of October 15th? I assumed it would be open, but now I%26#39;m concerned it may not.

Rio Pool

oct can be iffy - call the hotel directly and ask - specifically for the pool manager

Rio Pool

I just called the hotel and that was an interesting phone call. I got bounced around to three different people. The first person couldn%26#39;t help me so they transferred me to the pool people, but alas I ended up with the bakery. I didn%26#39;t hear the woman say, ';hello, bakery department'; and I started rattling on %26lt;LOL%26gt;. Thankfully the woman was very nice and helpful. She really wasn%26#39;t sure, but said it depended upon the weather. She then transferred me to the front desk - the woman rattled off that the pool will be open from 9-5, but quite honestly, I don%26#39;t think she really paid attention to what I was asking. Damn.

I hope the weather is nice then...I figured it would be a lot like April and I wanted to sit by the pool and veg all afternoon.

Just in case anyone is wondering, I found this on Harrah%26#39;s FAQ page:

Question

Is the pool at the Rio Las Vegas open in the winter?

Answer

Our pool area ceases full operation during the late fall and winter. However, one of our 4 pools remains open year-round, weather permitting, and it is heated. Our Jacuzzis also remain open, weather permitting. Off-season hours are 9-5 daily.

The fish shaped pool in the middle is almost always open and heated. If the weather is good, at least 1 other pool should be open

You can lounge and dip at the fish pool any time,

but if it is cold, don%26#39;t forget a warm dry robe for your wet exit from the area

I%26#39;m guessing if it%26#39;s cold I%26#39;m not gonna want to sit by the pool anyway %26lt;LOL%26gt;. I guess I%26#39;m just concerned that the weather will be nice and the pool area will be closed.

Oh please oh please let the weather be nice!!!!!!!!!

xp

Where to stay

I wanna stay in a great Hotel on the strip,

Ive got to book for 16 people all together and I wanna make sure they are all having a blast.

We are all in our 40%26#39;s

don%26#39;t want millions of kids running around.

Where to stay

Millions of Kids? I don%26#39;t know if the city could handle Millions of Kids. That%26#39;s a lot of kids. Millions of them.

The best hotel on the strip is the Montecito.

Where to stay

Hey Silly Traveller,

I think you need to stop watching so much TV

and get a real life.

great-moderate...TI, Ballys, MonteCarlo, Paris,

Great-pricey Bellagio, Mirage, Venetian,Wynn, MGM Signature

Great location for having a blast, Holiday Inn quality, possibly cheap...Harrahs

These are fairly non-kid overrun

Mid or South strip are both good locations for a blast. (MC is south)Mid strip better for shopping malls, south better for more big themed casinos

Harrahs may not be themed, but i don%26#39;t think I%26#39;ve ever seen a kid in there. They are ideally located, but pool isn%26#39;t much. Rooms are of good quality. They will go expensive if there is a big convention in town

dont think tou would go to far wrong with ceasars.loads of nightlife ,great pool area and smack in the middle of everything.good luck

Shopping Outlet, Primm

Does anyone know how much it would cost to take a cab to this outlet?

Shopping Outlet, Primm

About $90 each way--but you just saved a bunch of money on you car insurance.

Shopping Outlet, Primm

Car hire is cheaper. But,don%26#39;t bother-the Primm mall is not that great, just go to the outlet mall in North LV

ok, thanks both of you - I had heard the Primm mall was the best - have been to the other two last year so may just go bak to one of those!

Been to Primm a few times now thought it was very good and got some great bargains there.There is a casino there as well so if you get through shopping and missing your fix of gambling for a few hours you can go there,and they have a roller coaster

Try going to MGM they do a daily shuttle bus that takes you there directly for approx $15 each

can anyone tell me if its a straight forward drive to get to Primm.

First time to Vegas but Hubby used to driving when we go to Orlando every year and he actually loves driving there

thankyou

Sharon

shazzer the drive to Primm is very easy, a straight shot down the motorway and you can%26#39;t miss the casinos when you arrive.

Ride the roller coaster at Buffalo Bill%26#39;s, it%26#39;s much better than the NYNY

thanks lilbunny

DH and my dad can hit casinos , me and my best friend [ daughter ]can hit shops and my son can do the coasters .Something for everyone now thats perfect

Sharon

im fairly sure there are free coach trips to primm from vegas.same sort of deal as the free ones to laughlin.think that most of the tour operaters offer this service.

shop.vegas.com/tours/tour.jsp…

Weekday specials and info besides room rates

Hi,

I%26#39;ll be in vegas in Oct. . I know that there are great hotel deals on weekdays, but I was wondering if there were any other deals to be had on weekdays? Restaurants, clubs, etc. And are there things that are only running on weekends that i%26#39;d miss by staying during the week?

I was also wondering if it was considerably less crowded from tuesday- thursday or just minorly so. Am I gonna actually get a lounger by the pool! :)

I%26#39;m staying at the flamingo. If you have any info I%26#39;d appreciate it! thanks.

Weekday specials and info besides room rates

Hi Jenn:

I haven%26#39;t gone to Vegas on the weekends in years when I discovered the benefits of weekdays. Here they are.

1. Less traffic

2. Less people

3. Better chance of an upgrade at hotel

4. No lines waiting for my favorite machines

5. Commaders Palace $18.88 lunch with $.25 martinis

6. Casinos offereing double points on Players cards

7. No waiting at restaurants

8. Some coupons Sun. thru Thurs.

9. Spas sometimes have weekday specials

10. No long lines for valet parking

11. 1/2 price tickets at Tix4Tonight have more tickets available

12. Pools are not as crowded

And last but not least minimal wait for the top 3 buffets. Wynn, Bellagio %26amp; Paris

Hope this helps

Weekday specials and info besides room rates

wow, thanks! that was fantastic.

Ourlady did a great job! I only have a few additions:

Big Elvis performs free at Barbary Coast weekday afternoons

Purple Reign is free at the brew pub at Monte Carlo on Wednesday nights

Most poker tournaments are during the week

Many restaurant.com certificates are only good on weekdays

Not only is valet parking is easier on weekdays, sometimes valets are limited to guests only on the weekends

Lower limit games are available

It%26#39;s easier to find a spot at the lower limit table games

I don%26#39;t think you%26#39;re likely to miss specials on weekends but you will miss out on a few things. Nightclubs seem to be hotter on weekends, Fremont Street can be slow some weekdays, the Bellagio fountain show starts at noon on weekends and at 3 on weekdays (lunch reservations won%26#39;t get you a great fountain view on a weekday) and the place is generally hopping more on a weekend (more people, including more celebrities.) I don%26#39;t miss that stuff much and am happy to be there on more weekdays instead of fewer weekend days.

Oh- I have to strongly second the recommendation for the Commander%26#39;s Palace lunch special. The martinis are delicious and the food is simply spectacular!

Have a great time!

Oops! I meant to say that lunch reservations at Mon Ami Gabi won%26#39;t get you a fountain view on a weekday. Silly me.

If you can, try to get a nice weekend in a Vegas trip. There%26#39;s just a nice buzz and excitement that is there on the weekends My first trip there, I went on Columbus Day and that buzz was still there. Then after that, there was a little something missing. So if you havent, try to go for a weekend. If it%26#39;s just too much, then just go and try next time.

Thanks again guys. I really appreciate it. I was planning on going to Commander%26#39;s for lunch!! I%26#39;m excited! and a great note on Mon Ami Gabi%26#39;s thanks again. I%26#39;ll make that reservation for dinner.

The weekend buzz is...

Engines of cars looking around endlessly for a parking place.

People in line to eat murmuring about how hungry they are...

The sighs of people finding their favorite slot machines occupied (AGAIN)

The moans of those getting sore feet in their 3rd hour waiting to get into a club

The shuffle of many, many feet as you try to make your way to another crowded place

I forgot one other thing.

I%26#39;m going 9/4 to 9/8. In all the years I have been going I have never been in the Sahara.

On Tuesdays at 3pm they have a slot tournemant for $25,00 with a purse of $1,000. This also gives you a free buffet.

Now before all of you tear me a new one, I know the reviews of the buffet have been somewhat bad. My take is we%26#39;ll go %26amp; if I only have some fruit, dessert %26amp; a coffee it%26#39;s free. And just maybe we just might a few other items worth trying.

A free buffet at the Sahara is worth exactly what you paid for it. I went once - never again.

I have stayed at the Sahara a couple of times and have been happy with the rooms %26amp; rates.

I miss their dollar blackjack. It%26#39;s the only thing that kept me in their casino.

At most buffets you can find an edible dessert and some coffee.

If you are lucky, some well prepared fish or chicken, add a potato side dish, roll and butter, some juice or coke, and you can come up with a good meal.

Scottsdale to Las Vegas

Hi - we are 1st timers to the USA from the UK %26amp; looking to sneak Las Vegas into our already crowded itinerary - (so much to do and so little time) - we have heard that a good 6hr drive from Scottsdale %26amp; then the problem of trying to find where to park/stay etc. someone suggested would be easier to fly and not too expensive? - if so can I have some feedback %26amp; suggestions pls - also we will be getting a wee bit strapped for cash so could you suggest a reasonably priced place to stay overnight %26amp; good meals etc - see that the $4.95 stay at Ellis Island mentioned a fair bit - where is this place? %26amp; how easy to get there - looking to visit end of our time in USA which is end of October beginning of November - Look forward to all your help %26amp; suggestions.

Scottsdale to Las Vegas

we live in the phoenix area, we had always driven to vegas in the past until last weekend. It is usually a 5-6 hour drive, although have occasionally hit a bad accident at the hoover dam area which shuts the road down. Last weekend we flew to vegas since I found a package deal on southwestvacations.com This may work for you if you need round trip airfare and a hotel in vegas. If you are looking for one-way air, I reccomend looking at southwest.com.

After last weekend though, we do not intend to fly to vegas again, I would rather drive. By the time you go through all the airport hassels, you are really only saving about an hour of time over drivng. That is if things go smoothly (which our flight did not, there was a bad storm which prevented us from landing)

Scottsdale to Las Vegas

Thanks Ifelix - I believe we will drive - I have heard elsewhere that not much quicker flying by the time you have gone thru security etc. we have arranged it at the end of our time in the USA as we are travelling back from Monument Valley %26amp; stopping off overnight in Jerome so decided good idea to go from there as save an hour or so %26amp; we have gone by the good reviews on trip adviser and have booked to stay at The Orleans just off the strip for a couple of nights %26amp; also a reasonable price - (in fact to be honest cheaper than we would pay in the UK %26amp; our hotels nowhere near as grand) - which unfortunately was all we could squeeze into our schedule

becca

Casinos with actual coin slots on Strip

Good evening!

Leaving for Vegas in 3 days. Can%26#39;t wait. Could you please let me know which casino slot machines use actual coins? Our daughter is going for the first time and I would like for her to be able to hear that ';old time noise'; of coins falling into the tray..... :-)

We%26#39;ll be going to EI for the famous steak dinner; does that casino still have them?

Thanks!

Casinos with actual coin slots on Strip

On the far end of the strip, I know that the Excalibur and Monte Carlo have some.

Casinos with actual coin slots on Strip

I was there in May and the Tropicana has only coin spewing slots. They also had good pay outs. :)

lol Pook.

Yes, the Tropicana has coin ';spewing'; slots.

Slots-Of-Fun still has many

Thank you very much! We will go to all of them.... and hope we hear the sound quite often. :-)

Riveria, lots

Venetian has some nickel and quarter coinies. My husband won%26#39;t play anthing else--loves looking at the cup of change and scooping up the coins.

Venetian has a lot of dollar machines. Love those buckets full. Back by the LaScenna Lounge, change booth, Top Dollar, Pinball.

up front by the escalator if you have the nerve to play 9 dollar lines on a Money To Burn, and some other oldies.

New Frontier has tons of coin machines. But its closing soon.

and yes, slots of fun, tropicana.

wavy hair

Hotel for couple in late 20s/early 30s?

Hi! I%26#39;m planning on traveling to Vegas for the first time in April 2007 and would like to be in the middle of the action! I%26#39;m leaning more toward a themed hotel vs. the standard Holiday Inn. What%26#39;s a great hotel for people our age who are looking for a more modern decor with a great pool scene and trendy restaurants nearby? Also, what are your thoughts on the following: Aladdin, Treasure Island, Paris, New York NY. Do any of them fit this description? Thanks!

Hotel for couple in late 20s/early 30s?

Kellianne, I have a 25 year old son and 30 year old daughter who go regularly with their friends. As far as a hotel with alot of contemporaries and a great pool scene, Hard Rock and Palms. They are both off strip so if %26#39;middle of the action'; means center strip, try TI. Hard Rock can be less expensive too...sometimes. None of the above, or any of the ones you mentioned, will in any way be confused with a Holiday Inn. Believe me. My kids both do not care much for Paris or NY NY...Mirage is good if you can afford it. But HRH and Palms are much hipper.

Hotel for couple in late 20s/early 30s?

Treasure Island if you%26#39;re on budget, the Wynn if you want to spend a bit more. It seems like half of the people I see in L.A. clubs are always there for the weekend. One other noteworthy place is THEHotel (at Mandalay) although it%26#39;s pretty far up the strip. Trendy restaurants are everywhere, venture out of whatever hotel you end up staying at. For a pool scene, the Hard Rock is where it%26#39;s at --just lovely to watch...

Kellianne try www.vegashotelspecials.com I was able to get a rate of $129 per night ! You might find a great bargin. GOOD LUCK!!!

If this is your 1st trip I would stay on the strip. Treasue Island has good rates and is geared towards a younger crowd, the pool is nice but nothing great.

MGM West Wing (recently remodeled)rooms.

Great pool area, great location near other mega-resorts, and newly remodeled rooms. Better yet, MGM Signature if affordable

Aladdin and Paris are nice, nice rooms, but pools are basic,nice plazas, no special features. They do the job well for the lounge-dip cycle

NYNY rooms and pool nothing special, visit the casino though

TI is central strip, nice rooms, more shopping areas midstrip, but south strip (MGM)has the most large themed properties

If on a budget, check out Luxor- sometimes goes cheap, and is nice and fun

Pool scene and rates may not be favorable in April. Cool and windy days a distinct possibility

If you can switch to mid/late-June, rates are lower, and pool weather is guaranteed and ideal. The afternoon heat is bearable (also avoidable)in the desert, and the early mornings are ideal for walking/running. I have had some bummer weather in LV April, but always love to go there June

my children and spouses are your age. They all like

hard rock, venetian (not as lively a pool area but great retsaurants and nice small casino), bellagio, THEHotel.

they do not like palms (too young, like 21-23) or any of the others you mentioned.

this is all personal taste - nothing wrong with any of those places if YOU like them. the females usually want a nice spa/pool/fitness room and the guys want sportsbook. we all want craps.

when we have a large group we usually wind up at Venetian for room sizes and ability to gather easily. hard rock, even at my age, i LOVE - intimate and the pool on sunday is a riot - i love watching these kids. the blackjack rules not the best - craps you can play just about anywhere. they do have a few decent VP machines.

Your 4 choices are all good. Do stay on the strip your first visit. there is just something lacking at places like Hard Rock, Palms, Rio, and cab charges witll add up to a major annoyance.

When your on the strip, if you do not like one, just walk next door.

Ellis island menu (outside of the steak)

Hello,

I see that Ellis island is one block from the Flamingo. How far is that block? Also, it looks like they have a nice low priced selection. Can anyone speak to how all the rest of the food is? How about the atmosphere?

Ellis island menu (outside of the steak)

Dr. Ellis, calling Dr. Ellis. OOPs, I mean Dr. Steve, Dr.Staunchsteve.

Ellis island menu (outside of the steak)

yes, i%26#39;m the EI dissenter here - not alone, but in the minority, which is fine.

the food is low priced, yes, but that is the only positive about the place. it is dirty, inconvenient for me, just OK food.

so say i spend 5 on a just OK steak dinner. i have to take 2 hr of my time to leave wherever iam, get to EI, wait, eat, get back.

i can eat for 10 at the grand lux at the venetian where i stay. it is clean (at least to the naked eye) pretty to look at and convenient. worst case is the food court - still convenient, cheap and pretty.

the 5 savings going to EI not worth it to me - for many it is

i think terribles cafe (NOT the buffet) is a better 5 deal. 1/2 chciken, rice, beans, corn, salad, tortills. good breakfast specials. if you have the transpo to EI I%26#39;d consider going 5 more min to terribles

Its not far, 10 mins. We go there very time we are in Vegas. I do the BJ matchplay and play a few slots. I%26#39;ve always come out ahead by a few bucks and the steak has always been good. I%26#39;ve had the steak and scampy too as well as brekkie there. You can stop at the Weston on the way and gamble a bit too.

Here is the link to EI menu:

http://www.ellisislandcasino.com/EImenu.pdf

Bridgefan:

I love the Grand Lux.

What are you getting for $10?

A piece of cheesecake with tax %26amp; tip would be that.

I truly am interested.

Hi mattbau43,

We eat at EI every trip. We have for years after finding a wonderful king crab leg buffet. That was many years ago and long gone. Now we go for the coffee shop food. We usually are not in a hurry so we don%26#39;t mind a drive to EI for breakfast, lunch or a meal at an odd time of the day or night. It is not our choice for dinner since that is our ';event'; meal. I will have to say that the steak special is a great deal and We have had it for breakfast, lunch and late, late, dinner at some point in our travels.

Rarely have I had anything that I didn%26#39;t like. We like the prime rib special which includes a beer or rootbeer. I love the baked pasta with chicken or shrimp. Breakfast is great too. The ham steak is giant, the breakfast steak is good but not excellent,the corned beef hash is good, there are a lot of breakfast choices and portions are large for low $$$.

We have had many of the lunch items. The only thing I would not order again is the fish and chips. It is one of their featured offerings but for my taste was over battered and too greasy.

Service is not consistantly good and often there is a wait for a table. The food has been consistantly good from our experience. If you are concerned about the cleanliness or safety of the food you can always check the health inspectors ratings or violations. It is public information. You would be surprised at the violations at the newer and upscale places. EI does a scheduled scrub down like clock work.

EI is old and well worn. The coffee shop is just that a coffee shop. Busy and loud most of the day, late night you hear the really bad kareoke from the bar next door. It%26#39;s all good fun for us and just part of our routine. Just a few blocks away we can step back into the fantasy of the strip. If EI was a person I would say he/she was a crusty old guy/gal with heart. Aging, but I will feel really sad and miss them when their time passes. Why? Because there is no pretense, they never even try to be something they are not, it%26#39;s all real. Crusty or not.

Zaggy:

Besides being informative that was a very touching statement.

Zaggy, you had me at hello.

Great reply, superb observations, and outstanding anology.

Although I visited it for the first time this year, I now consider it a ';must do'; event. I was extremely pleased with the steak and sides.

i really believe the EI Steak $4.95 special should be treated like a historical landmark.

I am just happy to be a part of the forum and help out where I can. I have gained so much here myself. There are so many good folks who share here.

matt, are you planning to do anything else in Vegas besides look for cheap eats?

Maps, distances, what's where etc? Just Google Earth

This may have been suggested before but I will toss it out anyway...

So many people here ask the distance from Point A to Point B on the strip or from the strip to ????

Or if they have never been to LV the difference/distance between downtown and the strip...

One of the best ways to get a feel for the strip and allo f Las Vegas and answer questions like what%26#39;s there, what%26#39;s next to your hotel, even what the pool area look like is to use Google Earth.

Load the free version and zoom in on LV and the strip...

http://earth.google.com/download-earth.html

Maps, distances, what's where etc? Just Google Earth

24. I doubt Jr. fans will be that savy.

Maps, distances, what's where etc? Just Google Earth

Nah, this is somehting even THEY could do... :-)

It%26#39;s even more easy to use MSN.com and use the map....copy and paste the address of point A and point B and it will tell you the distance between the two points.

You think people who ask these ';easily answered by a little research'; are interested in finding things out themselves? God forbid they actually use Google for ANYTHING when they have TA Vegas people to do the work for them.

hi there

i do enjoy search and also really enjoy asking the questions too........i like to see what everyone has to say..........

sometimes searching is so boring..........

as we r from the uk .............it will be our first trip to vegas we r there for 10 nights and ill be wearing my pink flashing cowboy hat..........

so watch out the brits are out ha ha ha

%26#39;ill be wearing my pink flashing cowboy hat..........%26#39;

what a great ambassador for the UK you%26#39;ll be!

I%26#39;ll also be in las Vegas next month wearing a rather dashing Armani 2pc suit and Jaeger Linen shirt. The outfit will be set of by a fine pair of Italian made brown leather shoes

On my head i shall be wearing a either a head of beautifully cut, slightly graying hair or a hat of modest proportions.

I will be a fine example of a English gentlemen abroad.

I can be found enjoying afternoon tea %26amp; biscuits at the Bellagio.

Micheal Halliday esq%26#39;

lol i like this thread..........

well ..............we are fine ambassordors for the uk...............

im british and very very proud..............we are law abiding uk citizins and also very prud of that..........

we wear good clothes depending on where the place will be to wear the right clothes...........

we eat and dine in some of the most wonderfull places...........

i chill out accordingly.........and ENJOY MY LIFE...........i%26#39;m now 50 and are svaing very hard for this 10 night trip to vegas and will enjoy it so much...........

so im gonna wear my %26#39;%26#39; PINK FLASHING COWBOY HAT %26#39;%26#39; pride n%26#39; fun !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

as u wil see in my previous thread people have replyd with such light-heartedness................and i appreciate that..........

as for Gooogle earth i love that too and thinks its fab !!!!!!!!!

thanks for the info..................

p.s we also come form uk..................up north !!!!!!!!!!!!! where its best !!!!!!!!!!!!!have a great day everyone.....................

Choc, I was only having a bit of fun, I meant no offence.

I%26#39;m in Hull (not known for it fashionable clothing!!)

have a great time In Vegas

Mike

Ps keep your eyes open fort nicely dressed American men they are gay!! and probably staying at the Blue moon

driving LV to Grand Canyon anything on the way to stop......

I know Hoover dam is one thing, but is there anything else that is a must stop and see. Also is there a unique or rather just a good restaurant on the drive so we can stop by and have lunch/diner.

Thanks a bunch.

driving LV to Grand Canyon anything on the way to stop......

There%26#39;s a whole lot of nothing between Vegas and the Canyon.

That%26#39;s not necessarily a bad thing (I find open desert to be beautiful) but it%26#39;s sparsely populated.

I can%26#39;t recall any unique places to eat on the way. The dining room at the Best Western just outside the park%26#39;s gate at the South Rim is surprisingly good for dinner. Service at all the places surrounding the park gate will be slow. It%26#39;s the culture of the area. Noone is in a hurry.

driving LV to Grand Canyon anything on the way to stop......

Eat before entering Arizona, and enjoy the changing scenery on the way to the canyon. You will find chain restaurants just outside the entrance at south rim, but nothing much before that..maybe just those greasy spoons full of scarey locals, like you see in the movies

We are also going to drive LV 2 GC.Making a small detour in Kingman just to drive on Route 66. Do%26#39;nt know if this is of intrest.

Have a good trip

There are quite a few places to eat in Williams, AZ. Williams actually has its own section here on TA, so you can check out the restaurant reviews there.

tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g31407-Williams_Ariz…

Old Smoky%26#39;s is one place that gets generally good reviews, especially for breakfast. Williams is a small town, so don%26#39;t expect gourmet fare, but (with the exception of one frequent poster who had a bad experiencein Williams and so has very critical things to say about the entire town) reports are generally quite postive about the town. There are a couple of restaurants there that get bad reviews (Max %26amp; Thelma%26#39;s is one), but many are OK.

When is Spring Break

I%26#39;ve heard that spring break can be a time to be avoided if you aren%26#39;t into wild parties. Is that right?

When exactly is Spring break?

Thanks

When is Spring Break

I would also like to know the answer to this question. We are looking at going at the end of May next year, will it be busy.

Cheers

When is Spring Break

Spring break is spread all across the month of March as the first week of April. To add to the misery is March Madness, conventions, and spring fever.

Yeah Spring break is in March. I cannot wait!

Feb-26-March 4th is when most colleges have spring break, there is some effect on room rates, but if wild parties go on, you won%26#39;t see them

Usually the entire month of March is spring break in LV.

';Feb-26-March 4th is when most colleges have spring break';

Nope, sorry, wrong.

I live in Spring Break central. We know these numbers because they deeply affect our lives.

Students on spring break in US and Canada

February 20-24, 2006: 66,356 students

February 27-March 3, 2006: 173,974 students

March 6-10, 2006: 1,338,628 students

March 13-17, 2006: 2,282,556 students

March 20-March 24, 2006: 994,013 students

March 27-31, 2006: 698,764 students

April 3-7, 2006 : 27,152 students

April 10 -14, 2006: 201,535

April 17-20 2006: 30,568 students

Thanks for all the replies guys. Will look at May dates now I think.

Memorial Day weekend in the US is the last weekend of May. This weekend will be crowded due to it is a '; 3 day weekend'; here. Now if you are arriving on the last Monday in May crowds will be going down. We went this past May arrived on a Monday and that week was not crowded at all. The week we go in December, right before Christmas was actually more crowded than the week we went last of May/early June. So no spring breakers and not many vacationers yet for summer. Great time to go!

becca

car purchasing advice

Limo from Airport

It is our honeymoon ...Should I reserve a limo ahead of time or just pick one up at the airport when I get there? How much does is cost and should I get a roundtrip so its east to get back to the airport.?..by the way we are there from Sep 3 - Sep 6...So lookinf forward to the trip my 4th time there my wifes 2nd.

Limo from Airport

It%26#39;s your honeymoom. You want to start it off wandering through the airport dragging your bags with you looking for a limo?

Reserve one in advance. Do a search here on the forum for prices, companies, etc. Or just call your hotel and ask the concierge to arrange it for you.

Limo from Airport

Congrats...We are arriving on the 3rd also for our 3rd anniversary from getting married in Vegas. We always just grab a limo at the airport when we get there...costs has always been about $40 plus tip. As far as getting a limo back to the airport....haven%26#39;t done that so don%26#39;t know if the cost is the same or not.

I always use presidential limo. The ride runs $50 and the driver waits for you at baggage claim in a tux. He schleps the bags while you pop the bottle of champagne and the ladies enjoy roses. A+++ all the way.

Presedential limos is wonderful. They are always where they say they will be and are so helpful. Worth every penny. If you book on the website you can save 10%.

room upgrades when booked through hotwire

has anybody ever got free room upgrades at check in where the rooms were originally booked through hotwire/priceline/expedia? or do they only give out free room upgrades when you book with the hotel directly? thank you

room upgrades when booked through hotwire

I%26#39;m not sure I%26#39;ve ever got an upgrade to a much better room but I have found that if I ask nicely at check-in then (if available), I get the type of room that I ask for (eg in a certain tower or with a specific view or on a lower/higher floor or whatever) when I%26#39;ve booked through a third party.

room upgrades when booked through hotwire

I booked a trip through priceline at Bellagio and got a free upgrade to a fountain view room at check in. This was March 2005.

The hotels sell the worst rooms to outfits like hotwire etc. because they are low priced sales. An upgrade depends on a check in clerk in a very good mood that day.

We received an upgrade when booking through a third party @ CP. Just kindly ask and I mentioned that we were there for our 25th wedding anniversary(which was true). It was a great upgrade at no extra charge...PLUS....later in the day there was a knock on the door and CP gave us a nice gift bag with a small bottle of wine, wine glasses, and a cooler bag. COMPLIMENTARY! Always remember it doesn%26#39;t hurt to ask for anything. I say go for it.

Shows/General Vegas Information

I am planning a 3-4 day Vegas trip in late September or early October. What are some shows that are definitely worth seeing? I%26#39;m interested in ';O,'; and will hopefully be staying at the Bellagio. It%26#39;s my first time in Vegas and am a bit overwhelmed. Any help/information/suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Shows/General Vegas Information

Lucky Girl, My wife really enjoted ';O';. ( I went because it%26#39;s one of those things that a husband has to endure to please the better half.) We were able to get the tickets on the lower level for $93 but they were listed as ';obstructed view. They were good tickets and the ones right across the aisle cost $150. If you are interested in these seats, they are in section 101 row j but you probably have to call the theater box office directly.

For other shows at a fraction of the cost, try ebay and search under ';Las Vegas Shows';

Shows/General Vegas Information

see Vegas.com for show description. Blue Man $$$ is fun

Phantom of the Opera $$$$ is getting great reviews

Bellagio is definitely a great choice of hotel. Once you book your room, you can contact the concierge and they will be helpful in booking show tickets, etc.

I saw ';O'; in March and thought it was ok. The acrobats and swimming routines are fabulous but to be honest I did not get the story line. I came back and asked others on the forum and really only one out of ten knew what it was about. Yeah you get that a guy is chasing a girl. I told everyone this, while I can appreciate the uniqeness of the show at $150 a ticket I was a little underwhelmed. I have personally never senn it but I have heard nothing but good things about the Blue Man Group. I am going in October and tickets to Elton John and Love. If Love doesnt add up it will be my last Cirque show. I saw Celine last time I was there and she was fabulous. Also check the MGM Garden Arena. I have seen some exellent concerts there while in town.

dinner before Celine

Off for a girls wkend with my sisters and mother who has been dying to see Celine. We are staying at TI and are looking for a recommendation for a nice restaurant btw TI and Caesars (or around either) that will cost us each about $20-35 (drinks not included). Any recs?

dinner before Celine

We went to 808 for dinner at CP after Celine. I would say try some where else. I was disappointed in the food and the service was below par. There are some great places in the forum shoppes. The Wolfgang Puck place is very good. Mesa Grill is also very good at CP/ ( Bobby Flay owns it so if you don%26#39;t like the way he cooks on the food network you probably won%26#39;t like Mesa Grill.) All of these should be in your budget without drinks. Have fun :)

Downtown accommodation

Many thanks to you all for all your replies to our earlier query. We have now booked 2 nights at the Golden Nugget direct with the hotel on line as part of our April visit to Vegas next year.

This forum is brilliant! Thanks to you all for your input.

Roll on next April!

UK Visitors.

Downtown accommodation

good choice...you will not be dissapointed. if you are into poker, there are some real good games downtown. the gambling is FAR superior downtown also in my opinion. better odds and cheaper limits for us ';common folk';.

and the light show is neat. not amazing but really pretty cool. i enjoyed winning while playing poker at binions and walking out to the lightshow. it was fun.

while downtown, go to the buffet for breakfast at mss, nuggets buffet is good if it is up and running by then. (should be). for a cheap surf and turf, go to binions coffee shop downstairs. it is like, 10.99 or 9.99 for lobester and steak. granted, it is not the best you will ever have, but mine was pretty good. you get soup, baked potatoe, and a salad with it i think. avoid all food at fitzgeralds. brew pub at four queens is cool. also brew pub at mss looked fun. .99 shrimp cocktail is not that great in my opinion. just shrimp packed into a Tulip glass COVERED in horseradish sauce. but most everyone else raves about it. my parents where pretty dissapointed with it too.

lots more to do downtown, but i forget alot as i stayed pretty drunk the whole time, lol.

kids hair

also, what about panevino rest. off strip?

anyone been here? thinking about going here in sept? yes or no?

also, what about panevino rest. off strip?

bumpage

becca

what is bump ?

what is bump ? and where is it or what does it do

what is bump ?

this is a bump...

usually responding to your own or someones elses post to get it back up to the top so that it gets more responses. Commonly - people will just type ';bump'; to bump it up

what is bump ?

Bump!

Ok, I%26#39;ll call your ';bump'; and raise you one.

Bump

I%26#39;ll see your ';bump';

I%26#39;m ALL-In.

Bumpety, bump

Darn - I got nothin%26#39; I fold.

Dump the bump

I guess I ';read'; you right, even though you had sunglasses and the Groucho Marx nose set.

Trip Report - Venetian - 8/18-8/22 Final (very long)

Ok - here goes - last part!

Woke up Sunday morning pretty early...by now we were a bit more rested and I have a hard time sleeping in since I%26#39;m used to getting up at 5:30 am. Decided to try out the Venezia pool garden. It wasn%26#39;t crowded at all, but there wasn%26#39;t much sun yet. The lounge chairs are very comfy, towels are ample and the main pool is a decent size. There are also several jacuzis that surround the main pool. Lots of trees and fountains as well. A bonus that we did not get to take advantage of was the fact that this pool area is open until 10:30 pm. Swam a bit and then headed out for the day.

Went to Mandalay Bay with the intention of seeing the Shark Reef. However there was a really long line and I didn%26#39;t feel that strongly about seeing it due to mixed reviews here. Instead we went downstairs and looked around. Of course I had to make a stop at the $10 blackjack table. I played one on one with Jose. Very stoic and not at all pleasant. However - winning $150 made up for his lack of personality. I took my winnings and we departed. From there we went over to Hooters. Mostly I think because DH wanted to take a look. If you havent seen it - Hooters Casino looks just like a giant Hooters restaurant. And talk about smokey! My eyes were burning! I sat down at the $5 blackjack table - DH made his way towards the nickel Wheel of Fortune slots. I was in for $100 and doing quite well when DH came over and showed me his $269 voucher just 10 minutes after leaving me... I made some remark about him being a jerk ;-) and he went off. Another 10 minutes pass, he returns and shows me a $251 voucher... again a nasty remark. But I was up as well to the tune of $300. We decided to stop while we were ahead - just over $800! We dont bring much to gamble with so thats a lot. FYI - Hooters has a few tables where actual calendar girls do the dealing. These tables seemed quite popular.

From there we went to meet our friends at the Fontana Bar at Bellagio. This is a very nice lounge with live bands and it has an outside patio that overlooks the fountains. We sat outside where we could listen to the band through outdoor speakers. DH and friend bought a cigar from the menu I had a Primo Margarita...must say it was one of the best I ever had. And at the bargain price of $14 it had better be! I had 2! Good service there and the view of the show is excellent. We were there at sunset and caught a couple shows just as the lights were coming up. After that we ate at The Buffet there. I dont recall what its called, but it was awesome. The crab legs are cold, but grabbing a dish of the hot drawn butter pretty much fixes that! They had all the usual items including sashimi, sushi, prime rib... and since it was Sunday it was a bit cheaper - in the area of $26. Left there and headed to the Stardust to see Hypnolarious XXX. Lets just say it was amusing overall, very funny at times and probably not quite worth the $42 price tag. It was my first hypnosis show and I think I would have been better off with one of the bigger names - maybe Anthony Cools.

Monday morning we again had a light breakfast in the concierge lounge and walked across the street to the Mirage. I wanted to go to the Secret Garden / Dolphin Habitat since I hadn%26#39;t been in a while. On the way there stopped off at a casino war table, threw down $50 and doubled it. Grabbed my $100 chip and left. The Secret Garden is now up to $15 for admission. Some people may think its pricey, but I love dolphins so I gladly paid. I like the fact that they don%26#39;t do ';shows';, but rather have training sessions where you can see natural dolphin behavior. One of the dolphins tossed me a ball while I sat there watching...it was a definite ';awww'; moment. Obviously since its daytime, most of the cats were dozing - a couple looked up as this wierd guy kept making very loud elephant noises. I can only imagine what the animals thought...something like shut the hel! up. Left there and stopped at that same casino war table. Gave back my $100 rather quickly!

Monday evening ...last night here. How fast it goes. We had tickets to see LaReve at the Wynn. I wont go into too much detail as I have posted a review in the show section. Anyway - since it was our friends%26#39; anniversary I thought it would be nice to get a limo. I inquired with the concierge about getting one. Susie was able to get us a nice stretch for an hour at $65. Coming from Chicago - thats an absolute steal! She also told us we could take a bottle of champagne from the bar. Turns out she was wrong, but they let us take it anyway. They just dont like whole bottles leaving the floor. Our limo arrived promptly at 8pm. We went and picked up our friends at the Stardust and they surprised us with some fresh sushi! So we headed off down the strip with Rich from Ambassador Limo. He was great. Tells some great stories and his timing was amazing. Not only did he catch the Sirens at TI and some awesome explosions, but we were at the Bellagio just in time for the fountains. He got us to the Wynn in an hour exactly.

After the show we walked back to the Venetian. I think my luck had finally run out because I had not won the last few tables I sat at. Lost about $200 and decided to go to bed. Tuesday morning we got up, packed and checked out. Met our friends at the Paris. Last year we ate at the buffet on a sunday and had an awesome brunch. This year, we missed the breakfast cutoff and had to settle for lunch. Not impressed at all. I would not go back unless it was for sunday breakfast and included the champagne.

Stopped back in at Hooters and as I said, luck was no longer with me. Dropped another $150 at the blackjack table and DH couldn%26#39;t get anything from the Wheel of Fortune machines. Drove down to the Callaway Golf Center and picked up some goodies for my son and returned our car. FYI - DO NOT forget to fill your tanks... I have never forgotten until this time and will NEVER forget again. 10 gallons at $6.45/gallon is very painful.

Security was fair. However - the couple items they let pass in Chicago - they didn%26#39;t let pass at McCarran. My fault, but I lost a sample size mascara, lip gloss and nail polish. The nail polish had been from my manicure at the Canyon Ranch Spa..totally forgot it was in there. The painful loss was an estee lauder concealer. Ladies - you%26#39;ll understand why that was painful if you%26#39;ve ever purchased it! I tried to argue that one because you couldn%26#39;t actually open the tube - it was sealed. Of course I lost, but I was very angry with the agnet who stared me in the eye, winked and then dumped the stuff in the trash without ever taking her eyes off mine. I just think that was uncalled for. I told her as much as DH dragged me away.

All in all - a great trip. Came home with a little bit of money and a lot of great memories. Thanks to some of you here for suggestions, reviews, other TRs...all very helpful. SS - I really tried to get to EI, but we never had the time. Next time I am making it my mission to head over there.

Trip Report - Venetian - 8/18-8/22 Final (very long)

Power without responsibilty really suc ..well you know!

Since there%26#39;s been nothing on the news, I%26#39;m assuming you didn%26#39;t blow up the airport with your Ester Lauder sealed concealer.

Great read.

Glad you came home with a few bucks and kudos for being at the top of the gene pool.

I do not suffer fools and I don%26#39;t say it nearly as well as you do.

Trip Report - Venetian - 8/18-8/22 Final (very long)

Wanted to read your review of La Reve but couldn%26#39;t find it in ';Attractions'; section (I will be going in October). Am I not looking in the right place? Great trip report!

Hi Huny,

Nice report, I read all parts.

If you dont mind me asking, how long did it take to get to the Callaway Centre. I may do the 9hole par3 there on my next trip. Got to have a couple of hours of the beer somewhere!

I ran into that same TSA agent yesterday and her skin looked fabulous!

Great trip report...one of the best that I have read on this forum. Thanks for sharing.

JCLFC - The Callaway place is not far down at all. Once you%26#39;re past Mandalay Bay its maybe another mile or so down the road. Very easy to get there. They have a really nice pro shop and the course looks decent. Folks there were very helpful.

Brian - I couldnt find it either, but it was there...got the email conf. and everything. Anyway - below is text of what I thought about La Reve from another posting. It pretty mcuh mirrirs what I said in the review, but more summarized...

For all practical purposes - LaReve most certainly is CDS. Created by the same man, Franco Dragone, who created ';O';. Not sure why they split, but its all the same. LaReve is a rambling, 90 minute romp through the apparent crack induced dreams of a hot babe in a red dress. Lots of diving and jumping into the water. For some reason 4 men dressed in 50%26#39;s style garb run around the audience looking for bald men to place red swimming caps on and then later the entire cast will chastise the unlucky man who dares to remove it. There are numerous arial stunts as well as the diving...the theatre in the round setting makes all seats excellent, but I wasnt sure what I was looking at. Stay away from the first 5 rows - you will get wet. about 1/2 way up is best.

I was more impressed at the diving skills. I even managed to fall asleep for a moment and awoke to a bare breasted woman running around on stage. When I asked why she was nude - hubby said ';dont know, dont care...she just is.'; I guess thats Vegas for you. Our limo driver to the show that night said Ka was better.

SftbllHuny, I really, really enjoyed your TR. I am planning (since yesterday, LOL) for a solo trip in 3 weeks. Your report reminded me of some things that I can do myself that DH wouldn%26#39;t care for. I will definitely go to the Secret Gardent and the Titanic exhibit. Thanks again for taking the time and for putting up with all the grief. Sheesh!!

SH-Great trip report! Don%26#39;t let anyone here get you down. When people have problems with your success it is only because of what is lacking in their own lives. I unfortunately think people will now think twice before writing a trip report. Kind of sad because we all love trip reports.

Sweetsherry-We tried the tea at the Four Seasons a few years ago.

It was very good. The service was great. And it was a nice break from the hustle and bustle of the strip.

40th birthday

I am planning a surprise 40th birthday party for my wife in november. Neither of us have ever been to vegas. 8 of our friends are going to meet us there. I am looking for suggestions where to eat, drink, and have fun. We are only there for 3 days (thursday - Sunday) so I really need some help knowing where to go for drinks, dinner and fun things besides the casion. Looking forward to your tips - I really want this to be a special b-day for her.

Thank you

Riven

40th birthday

For a excellent dining experience I would suggest Prime at Bellago. I think the food here is to die for and the ambience is fantastic. Request a fountian view and she will be amazed. The food is excellent. I had a strip steak last time I was there that just melted in my mouth. The drinks are some of the best I have ever had. Try the cable car the signature drink it is outstanding. For two of us with drinks salads sides and entree was $150. Well worth it.

40th birthday

Can you give us some more information? Will you be staying on the strip? Will you have cars? Will help to know these details in order to make better suggestions.

Restaurant.com favorites in LV area

The 60% sale ends in a few days so I%26#39;ll be grateful for your quick replies to this.

Those of you that have been to LV and used Restaurant.com certificates. What are your favorites ?? And...where would you never go back to even with a $25 certificate you got for $10, or even $5 ???

A party of four of us going Sept 3-7. Like to enjoy eating out but the budget limits where we go. Using certificates might help us enjoy the stay more.

Thanks in advance for your input.

Restaurant.com favorites in LV area

Rosemary%26#39;s and Commander%26#39;s Palace for sure. Other favorites are Kahunaville and Ben and Jerry%26#39;s. I would stay away from Oyster Bay and Tremezzo%26#39;s.

Restaurant.com favorites in LV area

Commander%26#39;s Palace (lunch), Ben %26amp; Jerry%26#39;s, and Kahunaville.

Bonito Michoacan also offers certificates, it%26#39;s the sister restaurant of Lindo%26#39;s and supposedly very good though I have never been.

Only thought Georgio Caffe was so so.

We will be there just after you, and will be trying Bonito Michoacan, with certificate. The menu looks good.

I know a lot of people like Cafe Ba Ba Reba

Cafe Ba Ba Reeba most definitely. Commanders Palace has (or had) both $25 for dinner or , even better, $10 for lunch. Have a lunch cert for our upcoming trip. Have used Kahunaville%26#39;s and Tilted Kilt%26#39;s...both good.

How do I get these certs for 60% off?

vegaholic, tell me about tilted kilt. i am thinking about doing rest.com for it. let me know if i should.

First you need to join Restaurant.com for free. Then they will send you frequent promo codes for the sales. I%26#39;m sure someone here knows what the current one is. I haven%26#39;t checked mine for a while.

42698 is the 60% off code, but only good through today!

how to straighten hair with a flat iron

Aladdin questions???

Hi, I have not been to the aladdin in a very long time, can someone tell if the shopping mall is fully open, since I know they are remodeling. Also is the same theme still going on, or is it a new planet hwood theme. I remember that they also had a show, like rain inside.

Thanks so much in advance for your info!

LV

Aladdin questions???

.

Aladdin questions???

I stayed there in April. At that time the casino and front entry/facade were in the process of being remodeled and changed over to the Planet Hollywood theme. The desert passage mall was untouched and still is to the best of my knowledge. I don%26#39;t know if there are plans to alter the mall. I hope not, I think it is cool. The rainstorm was still there in April.

Use the search feature and type in Aladdin or Planet Hollywood.

In May it was fully open and had not been converted yet, still had the rainstorm and all.

I stayed at the Aladdin last month. The Desert Passage was about the same, the only difference I saw was they opened a second ABC store. The thunderstorm was still going strong.

I just got back Friday. The inside is still open and it has the same theme. The outside is not much to see...you have to walk thru and over a lot of temp. wooden sidewalks and in thru the large wooden entrance way cluttered with overly aggressive time share salesman. The casino is still going but has so much construction that it feels unbelievably cramped and closed off, and I felt very claustrophobic in it.

Glasgow to Vegas via Chicago ....

Have just read all the posts re. Chicago airport and am slightly worried to say the least!

We%26#39;re flying from Glasgow to Vegas via Chicago on Monday 4th September and have a 1hr 50min change time.

Can anyone tell me what terminal we will be arriving into and which terminal we will be departing to Vegas from?

Also, will our baggage be checked directly from Glasgow to Vegas or will we have to collect it from the carousel in Chicago and transfer it? (We had to do this at Newark last year and it was a pain).

Any other hints or tips to quicken our time would be greatly appreciated.

Glasgow to Vegas via Chicago ....

Hi lacey

sorry but yes you do have to get your luggage in Chicago cos thats your first point of entry into the country.and you have to go thru all the security checks of checking it etc etc and it is a real pain as you already know.BUT on your way home you dont which i suppose is a blessing

Sharon

Glasgow to Vegas via Chicago ....

P.S forgot to add it is a fair way from one terminal to the other for ongoing flights[although ther is a shuttle that takes you] but sorry cant remember the number just now cos we used it last year going to Orlando

Hi Lacey,

We did that trip last year - cant remember the terminal that we arrived into, but if you go to Chicago O%26#39;Hare website i%26#39;m sure it gives you details of what airline flies into and out of what terminal. We did have to pick our luggage up and like you we had a very short turn round time. We managed to find a sympathetic member of airport staff (I think we were lucky) and explained we were short of time - he took our luggage to a holding area and showed us where to get on the (I%26#39;m sure it was a bus) transport. As it went along to the next terminal, there was a recorded message for each stop telling you what airlines went from that stop. I%26#39;m fairly sure that%26#39;s what happened at Chicago - we went through Toronto on our first visit, but weren%26#39;t as pushed for time. We flew with American Airlines who were very good, but did have difficulty locating which gate to go to for our onward flight to Las Vegas as the boards gave you a gate number but when you got to that gate it had changed to somewhere else! Watch out for that, because it also happened on our way home too! Very busy airport. Coming home, our luggage went on at Las Vegas and we didn%26#39;t pick it up again until Glasgow.

Have a great trip - wish it was me!!

Morag.

Hi Lacey

Think we are on the same flight as you from Glasgow on the 4th also heading for Vegas. Also bit worried about missing the connection particularly after immigration took 2 hr 30mins when we we went to NYC earlier this year . However, am hoping for the best as we have gone to Vegas via Chicago for past few years and it has been fine each time. Only problem was coming home last year - we nearly missed the Glasgow flight as our flight sat on the ground at Vegas for over an hour.

As others have said, you do need to pick up your bags and transfer it. Sure last year that didn%26#39;t take that long and really only involved dumping our cases and moving on. Not sure if that will have changed with the increased security though.

becca

anyone been to the tilted kilt?

please provide details is you have been here. what is food like, atmosphere, price, etc.

anyone been to the tilted kilt?

Yeah I have been there a couple of times for burgers...

Food is OK...the two times I was there it was kinda quiet...

Service is good and the waitstaff is really nice to look at...

anyone been to the tilted kilt?

I have only been to the location in the Rio. It was good and was fairly typical for bar food. They have a website for the Tilted Kilt so you can see the menu. I think I found it through going to restaurants.com and finding Las Vegas and finding the TK certificate. The top of the page has a menu tab and a link to the TK website.

If you are in the Rio and hungry it%26#39;s fine. I would not go out of my way to eat there but there was nothing at all wrong with the food.

QUIET??? Are you kidding? Are we talking about the Tilted Kilt at the Rio? When we were there in June, there was rock music (recorded, not live) playing non-stop, not blaring, but definitely not quiet. And, it%26#39;s right off the Carnival in the Sky part of the casino, so about every hour or so there was a lot of lvery oud music from that competing with the music inside. Don%26#39;t get me wrong, I like a friendly, lively, party-type place, but after a bit it started to get on my nerves. Having said that, the food is really quite good. I had excellent fish and chips, and hubby had chicken, and said that was very good. We also had a couple appetizers. Prices are reasonable, too. We had a hard time spending the whole $35 the restaurant.com coupon requires (and that can%26#39;t include liquor).

thanks for the info. i was wondering how i would spen 35.00 after looking at the menu too.

Quiet...yes. It must depend on what time you go. We were there as the show in the sky ended, but it was dead. We passed on eating there because it was so quiet and the wait staff looked very bored! We walked in, went to a table, looked at a menu, and looked right at the waitress who was straightening an empty table next to us. She then proceeded to walk away without a word. Also, there was an unpleasant smell; stale beer, smoke, and grease is my guess.

I can see why the guys would enjoy the experience, though. The outfits on the servers are not so much kilts, as they are skimpy school girl outfits. (Think Britney in her first big video.) I know my husband wasn%26#39;t against eating there ;)

48 hours till lift off!!!!!

We are starting to get really excited now. We leave Tuesday morning and cant wait anylonger. Thanks to everyone here for the posts. Only trouble is it is very overwhelming.

We are staying at Bally%26#39;s so I know it is in perfect location and for the price!! I am hoping to go to a comedy show and also nice anniversary dinner. Also send the wife to the spa (While i go to sportsbook)

ANyone have any last minte advise????

48 hours till lift off!!!!!

It is overwhelming! 69 hours for us....and this will be first trip I have taken to Vegas that I have read this forum for an entire month before the trip. I want to do it ALL, but I know we will get there and get lost in the gambling fun and only do 1/4 of the other things I would like to do.

I guess I will have to start planning the next trip as soon as we get back! We stayed at Bally%26#39;s last year and had a wonderful time. Great location.

Have FUN, relax, enjoy yourself and WIN!!!!

Good Luck!!

48 hours till lift off!!!!!

Have a great time eveeryone. I am leaving tomorrow morning! Have fun and don%26#39;t over plan. The spa is a great idea. I love getting messages while I am there.

Actually I don%26#39;t like getting messages at the spa....I meant massages ! !

Trying to remember a casino name

A few trips back we found a casino by accident. We were looking for entrance from the strip into Harrahs. We found a left turn lane we thought was it but instead in was this casino %26amp; their free parking lot with spaces right by the door.

We parked %26amp; went in %26amp; really enjoyed. I played a Harlety Davidson slot (they had 4) %26amp; I won on all 4. I remember a free margarita.

When we left %26amp; went out door left we hit Harrahs.

Is this Casino Royale or something else?

Thanks in advance.

Trying to remember a casino name

I think you are correct. That sounds like Casino Royale.

Trying to remember a casino name

You may be correct. If so, the Harley Davidson machine is gone. I enjoyed them. Not too many around now.

hair straightener

Missing connection flight in Chicago - what happens?

i%26#39;m flying to vegas from the uk via Chicago and have 100mins to catch my connections. With the increased security, what happens if I miss my connecting flight to vegas cos it took a long time getting thru immigration.

My flight to chicago is with BMI and my connecting flight is with Us Airways/America West and I booked thru Expedia. I booked the flights together - they were an option that expedia gave me, so not really booked seperately.

Missing connection flight in Chicago - what happens?

I wrote a similar question yesterday as I am also on manchester

las vegas via Chicago flight pick up the thread by doing a search on BMI there seems to be a lot of us panicing due to the hightened security

Missing connection flight in Chicago - what happens?

As the airline allowed your flights to be booked deeming your connecting time to be acceptable, it%26#39;s their responsibilty to get you to your final destination should you not make the connection due to no fault of your own. They%26#39;ll put you on another flight (either one of their own or with a different airline) leaving later. Their responsibility is to get you there %26#39;in a reasonable amount of time%26#39; which admittedly isn%26#39;t that specific.

This has happened to me a few times and 9 times out of 10 the various airlines involved have been pretty good at fixing the problem without too much delay. The worse case scenario for you is maybe an extra 3-4 hours at Chicago.

Your lucky we arrive in chicago at 13:20 and don%26#39;t leave intill 16:55. what is there oto do in chicago airport for so long

I%26#39;ve missed a connection in Chicago from the UK, I was put on the next flight 2 hrs later.

just had some scran and pottered about, it soon passed.

Henry

';just had some scran and pottered about';

Huh?

blagger is correct. They are obligated to get you there by contract.

You may not have to worry too much though. The TSA is planning to relax the security very soon. Remember you heard it here first.

Sorry to be a spoil sport but from my experience pre the latest security alert 100mins is not nearly enough, cant see it being nearly enough now. Dont worry tho they will get you there one way or another.

Scran BTW is food and pottering about is just wandering around for those of you wondering lol

Best thing is not to worry you will be fine ok, and I hope you have a great time in Vegas.

I would contact expedia and they should change the flights for you, I had a similar problem with a change time also booked via expedia, i phoned them up ready to complain about them offering inapropriate flights and they apologised and changed them for us no problem, we now have 3 hours to change. They did say that had we not changed them they would have got us on the next available flight but if the next flight is full you could be in for a long wait, best to call them and be booked onto it

we have similar problem but changing at Philadelphia. Original flight returing to UK gave us 1hr 35mins which USAirways says is the legal requirement as your luggage goes straight thru from Vegas . Now with a flight times changing they are only allowing us 74mins to get from one terminal to another??? Called expedia who say that the airline says this is ample time but even if it is according to seatguru etc US Airways flights only arrive fromVegas on time 40% of the time HELPPPPP.

Have asked for extra days holiday from work just in case but am really more worried about having to try and hurry up my dad who is 73 and does get bother with one of his legs when walking.

Do you think expedia would listen if i mentioned seatguru etc [did say to call again couple days before we leave UK] Any advice on this one will be greatly appreciated

Sharon

shazzer - for your dad request whelchair assistance ahead of time. both arriving and departing chicago. that will help tremendously - do this in advance and confirm again when you leave your origination city.

Hi

I%26#39;m flying with BMI from Manchester to Vegas via Chicago with only a 1hr 25 min connection.

I got in touch with who I booked with - Expedia and they were not very sympethetic. After being put on hold for 5-10 mins, I was told that if I wanted to change my internal flight I would have to pay 拢70 pp.

I have now got their email address to complain, as why should I have to do all the worrying about going through US immigration and dash through the airport to get to another termainal which is on the other side.

Tell me about Voodoo Cafe!

Booked a January trip for husband and me. Got a great deal - $509 for us both from Houston on SW, staying at Gold Coast for 3 nights. Remodeling house in Nov. so had to save a bit.

Was wondering if someone could educate me about the Voodoo Cafe I hear about. I know it is at the Rio, which we can walk to from GC. What are their prices and what makes it such a talked about place? Thanks!

Mrs. G

Tell me about Voodoo Cafe!

mrsg - as you know, I%26#39;m a huge fan of the VooDoo!

It%26#39;s on the 51st floor of the Rio, beautiful restaurant without being too stuffy or formal. It%26#39;s decorated in dark purples with a Voodoo theme.

The service is fantastic, their drink menu is creative (everyone loves the Witch Doctor, but I prefer a drink smaller than my head %26amp; usually order Love Spell)

And of course the view can%26#39;t be beat. Go at sunset and watch the lights of Vegas come on below you.

You can download the menu here, with prices, it%26#39;s cajun-ish, not authentic but good.

harrahs.com/casinos/rio/restaurants-dining/v鈥?/a>

Here%26#39;s a picture I took of the inside once when we dined very early

http://www.themcginleys.org/vegas4/v435a.jpg

And two shots of the view

http://www.themcginleys.org/vegas/view01.jpg

http://www.themcginleys.org/vegas/view02.jpg

Tell me about Voodoo Cafe!

Haven%26#39;t eaten there,I like theTilted Kilt on the main floor at the Rio for their Ummmmm...burgers, yeah their burgers, that%26#39;s it ;-).

But I do go to the VooDoo lounge everytime I am in Las Vegas...

As lilbunny said...can%26#39;t beat the view!!!

We just returned from Vegas yesterday. (And can%26#39;t wait to go again, btw!) We went to the Voodoo Lounge at sunset (Thanx lil%26#39;bunny), and it was spectacular!!!!!!! We didn%26#39;t eat there, but it smelled wonderful, and those who came out to the patio after dinner were very happy.

I will definitely recommend this place from now on to any and everyone who asks!!!! We were lucky and went on a slow night so we had the place (almost) to ourselves. We sat and watched the sunset as the lights of the strip came on. There were 2 clouds, one to the north and one to the south, that were producing incredible lightning so we had a natural light show as well, while the stars shined above us. It was a night to remember!

And, we went at 6:30pm so there was no line to get in, and no cover. In fact, when we walked in there was only about 6 other people in the place. Nice bonus to the evening.

blazyn...

I have done the same thing...get there in time for the sunset...stick around for a drink or two...get out before the club crowd.

Spectacular view...

Hi lilbunny

was just wandering if my 19 yr old son would be allowed to dine here with us and if not can anyone let us know where we can go in the hotels that will allow him.

Where we live kids [under 18 ]can get into many pubs with their parents if they are having meal.

Sharon x

shazzer - yes, the VooDoo is a restaurant, not a bar or club. There is a longe upstairs where your son would not be allowed, but the restaurant itself is for all age and you can all enjoy the view and the outdoor deck, etc... from the restaurant.

I%26#39;ve read that you can have dinner in cafe and get into the lounge for free after. If this information is correct, what time would be good to have dinner and then head upstairs to the experience the lounge in full swing?

plev - you are correct, if you are a dinner guest you may go to the lounge for free after your meal. We had dinner at 8 pm on a friday night and the lounge was surprisingly busy when we finished around 9:30. Of course the WPT was at the Rio that weekend so everything was busier than normal.

What ever became of

the old westward Ho site. Last time I was there they were tearing it down. Have they built anything in there yet.. I really really missed the late nite hot dogs and food in the back.. just one of those memories like the popcorn they used to sell at slots of fun. not it is a sub shop. Anyway is there anything new in there???

Thanks

What ever became of

Harrahs has an option on the old %26#39;Ho. They want to use the 14 acres of the %26#39;Ho site to swap with Boyd for the Barbary Coast.

What ever became of

A big empty lot of nothing. But the sign is still there, kinda.

Man, do I miss the Westward Ho. I used to always conclude my nights on the strip @ the Ho. I%26#39;d play some VP %26amp; eat some strawberry shortcake. Hit my first 4oak there. Geez, do I miss it.

Yah! The Ho is Gone! The Boardwalk is Gone! The Stardust is soon to be gone!

The great Strip Dives are falling like dominano%26#39;s :(

Thankfully, there appears to still be life in O%26#39;Shae%26#39;s, Circus Circus, and my fav Slots-O-Fun :)

becca

Is all the gambling bad?

Reading comments on this site it sounds like all the slots in Lake Tahoe are tight. I was wondering if this also applies to video poker?

Is all the gambling bad?

Video poker is different than slots in as they cannot be programmed to pay a certain percentage. Per State law, video poker is dealt using a 52-card deck which must be shuffled by the computer. It is totally random and it would be the same as playing ';live';.

That being said, what can be altered are the payouts. For instance, in ';Deuces Wild'; video poker, one machine may pay 4-1 with a flush, while another one can be changed to pay 3-1. I%26#39;ve seen two machines in the same casino, same game, with different payouts. Check the machines and go for the ones with the best payouts.

Is all the gambling bad?

Thanks. I thought that%26#39;s how it works. So, I may just stick to video poker; however, I%26#39;ve learned that in a short time span it really doesn%26#39;t matter much because anything can happen. I have played on machines with a great payout with terrible results. And I have played in casinos with machines that are very tight and done well.

The Patriots are best bet for NFL Week One.

New England will trample on the Buffalo Bills by a lot more than 8.5 points. So if in need of making money in September then ...... go ALL IN with Mr Tom Brady.

Cleveland to beat the Saints by more than 2.5 is the next best bet.

Am I Right or Wrong ? Do you agree ?

J

The Patriots are best bet for NFL Week One.

the lines are already out for week one? I thought they all had another preseason game to play.

The Patriots are best bet for NFL Week One.

Check out Sportsbook.com

Looking forward to another Steeler - Stellar season.

Right on both counts.

I%26#39;ll have hi def Season ticket on directv this year. Brother lives in Vegas, so we%26#39;ll be following the games/lines each Sunday.

programming

ACG book coupons expire?

I was thinking of getting the ACG book but I see that it comes out every November. Does that mean that the coupons expire within the year? My trip is in Nov so if I bought the 2006 version would the coupons still be valid?

Also we will not have a car so I don%26#39;t know if it is worth getting because I have heard some on this forum mention that the deals are mostly off-strip.

Can anyone clear this all up for me?

ACG book coupons expire?

I don%26#39;t have my ACG 2006 book in front of me right now, but I do know that the coupons expires varies from one coupon to another and they range between Dec 16th to Dec 26th.

Here is a link where you can see the list of coupons in the ACG.

americancasinoguide.com/Store/Coupons-2006.s…

Most of the deals are off the strip.....you can use the free shuttle from Barbary Coast to Orleans, and/or Gold Coast. The 2 for 1 buffet coupons are the ones that most people want from the ACG.

IMO, if you don%26#39;t have a car...you are very limited to what coupons you can use.....therefore, I would advise you not to get one.

Cheers

ACG book coupons expire?

When the new book comes out, those coupons can be used immediately. If the 2007 is available before your trip, get that one so you can use it again or share them with others.

As for getting the value back, there are a lot of coupons that are for locals casinos but you can get your value back offstrip at places like the Orleans, Gold Coast, Ellis Island and Palms, some of which have shuttle service. There are a lot that can also be used downtown.

I found enough in free slotplay on the strip to get my back before even using food coupons.

Thanks for all your help.

Looking at the list of coupons- (hopefully the 2007 version is similar) I will be able to use more than enough to get the book value back!

shopping....any ideas where i might find....

ok, so i%26#39;m a movie freak and have a serious obsession when it comes to collecting memorabilia. anyone know of any cool stores where i might be happy to spend an hour or two?

most cities i%26#39;ve visited can usually offer me something, but in past visits to Vegas i%26#39;ve not spotted anything.

any pointers would be appreciated!

shopping....any ideas where i might find....

forum shops ceasars palace

there is a shop in there dedicated to film and famous people memorabilia

hope this helps

shopping....any ideas where i might find....

I agree with the Forum, it%26#39;s a really cool shop out by the spiral escalator. I think it%26#39;s called Antiquities. There%26#39;s also a nice shop in the desert passage at Aladdin. We were there last week and they had some pieces I%26#39;d never found anywhere else before! They even had a bargain room, with older pieces that hadn%26#39;t sold yet. I was so excited! Not sure where in the mall it is, I kept getting turned around in that place.

There are also a few smaller ones scattered around, I saw a small one in one of those touristy strip malls, probably near Aladdin, and there used to be one at Rio. Not sure if it is still is there, I didn%26#39;t look for that one this trip.

Happy hunting!

Looking at the Countdown: How do you pass time?

I have 7 weeks until I leave for Sin City...I%26#39;m sitting here thinking ';Good glory, what will I do with myself until then.'; Tell me what you do to pass time once you are all booked........

Do you now plan your daily activities?

Search for new things to do there?

tia!

Cathy

Looking at the Countdown: How do you pass time?

Hi, Cathy!

The time will get harder and harder for me to deal with as the time draws near. For now, I spend mega hours on this forum and the net in general. Fortunately for me, I just started a new job and so the time is passing quickly right now. I went into this with my bosses knowing I had a trip planned for Oct. 8th and so, there is no problem with me getting the time off. They may not pay me for it, but that%26#39;s okay. I was 2 1/2 years without a job and we don%26#39;t need the money for our everyday living...it does look good, tho, as a polk for our Vegas trip.

I have a countdown calendar. It isn%26#39;t on my computer, because I like to physically mark it off the calendar as each day passes.

I start planning wardrobes and deciding what I need to purchase to complete them.

I plan a loose itinerary...one or two shows, one special meal, etc.

And I dream!

Have fun planning!

Camille

Looking at the Countdown: How do you pass time?

Pooki, I have a plan for you.

1. Do daily dry run to the airport, just so you have have a feel for when the REAL day arrives. Have somebody drop you off there. From the airport, call a cab and tell him to take you to the hotel--any hotel. The important thing is this: once, you get on, yell at him, '; NO TUNNEL%26#39;.

3. Practice going to walgreens to purchase all the items you can take with you.

4. Practice pushing a button, like you would on a slot machine. remember, you must build up your stamina if you%26#39;re going to last all night.

5. Practice some pick pocket moves with whoever is going with you. It most be spontaneous.

6. Finally, develop a ';Strut'; or ';Victor Dance'; , just in case you hit a jackpot. Nothing is more frustating than seeing someone that is not prepared when the moment arrives.

I have more thing for you to do, all you have to do is ask.

go on with my life - doing whatever needs to be done. Tennis, golf, bridge.

I pack 1 hr before i walk out the door. this is so easy, just do your normal stuff. stop at bank on way to airport or day before depending on departure time.

Well, I am using my all-girls trip to Las Vegas (September 29th-October 7th) to pass the time until my husband and I go back to Secrets Excellence in Punta Cana (November 3rd-13th).

I %26#39;visit%26#39; TA at least twice each day...Las Vegas and Punta Cana forums...helps to pass the time. THE WAIT FOR BOTH OF THESE TRIPS IS DRIVING ME CRAZY!

Brenda :~)

Best rooms in 4 Queens? help please...

Staying 1 night at the beginning of our 5 day trip at the 4 Queens and then off to the strip. Have never stayed anywhere downtown but my aunt stays at 4 queens and likes it. Also she is a very LOW roller, but gets many offers(rodeo tickets and free stays). So, our plan is to stay a night, gamble and hope for some comps for quick inexpensive trips. Can you help with room choices? I have already booked through Hotels.com but planning on asking for an upgrade when we check in. Thanks, any help appreciated? Also when we sign up for their players card will we get any freebies then? Maybe dining credits etc? Plan on eating at Hugos that evening?

Best rooms in 4 Queens? help please...

I believe all the rooms are pretty much the same. They have a few suites but I have never seen them advertised. The only thing we asked for a room away from Fremont street because of the noise. If you print the players club sheet off their website and pre fill it in, you will get a very nice tote bag. After so many points they give you a T shirt. The ice machines are on certain floors and the soda machines are on other floors so if thats important ask to be on a floor that has one of them. I had to keep running down from the 19th floor to the 18th everyday for ice.

Best rooms in 4 Queens? help please...

Hi Caligurl,

We use to stay at the Queens and from time to time our son still does. We always stayed in the suites which have whirlpool tubs. There is nothing lavish at the four queens except the excellent Hugo%26#39;s Cellar. The rooms are o.k. and we have had good and bad experiences with service. The rooms in front, back, high, low are a matter of preference. We have had noisy neighbors even away from the FSE. One time we even asked for a suite under the canopy so we could watch from our room. It didn%26#39;t bother us much since we were out most of the evening anyway.

I can%26#39;t imagine you won%26#39;t be running the casinos downtown and find yourself having a really great time!

I stayed 2 nights in Feb. the room was small but clean. I would say about all the rooms are the same. I have heard that the south tower is newer and rooms a little better. Just remember it is more Motel 6 quality not the Bellagio. We received key rings for signing up for the players card. I read a review on this site I believe. That said, with a players club card you receive a 10% discount on food at Magnolia%26#39;s Veradna. I don%26#39;t know if this is so we never ate at the 4-Queens. We have received promos on a regular basis, some very good. We will be returning to Vegas next year and will probably stay again. Just remember it%26#39;s not posh just basic and you will have a great time!

If you want a good run down on all rooms:

www.cheapo.vegas.com

That%26#39;s www.cheapovegas.com. No dot between cheapo and vegas.

VHB: Are you hitting the bottle again? touche!!

becca

Sportsbook??? Silly question.

yes, this is a question that I have not wanted to ask but I have not been able to figure it out myself. Is this like an off track betting place, is it just horse racing or can you bet on all sports?

MJ

Sportsbook??? Silly question.

you%26#39;ve heard it before... there are no silly Q%26#39;s

you can bet all sports - so many youTV;s, sheets with odds and sports fans in once - nirvana.

for big events you need to arrive early and hope all the seats have not been reserved, unless your host does this for you. hilton, caesars, hard rock some perennial favs. lots of fun

Sportsbook??? Silly question.

Usually with every sports book, half of it is dedicated to horse racing while the other is dedicated to sports(dedicated as in the TVs are showing mainly horse racing). Of course with the big games and fights, there will always be a focus on that event. Also, you can do some future betting (i.e. bet on who wins the Superbowl). To me, that%26#39;s the most entertaining thing about the sports book.

mens hair

Clubs

My friend and I are 32 and looking for a great club. I was thinking Pure and the Pussycat Doll lounge. Would I be disappointed? I don%26#39;t want to hang out at a teeny booper club.

Clubs

where you staying?

what dance floor or ultralounge?

search this forum and you%26#39;ll find more answers than any one thread

Clubs

?

I am staying at Flamingo and CP. I think we will try Pure and the Voo Doo Lounge maybe Mixx if time allows. Just don%26#39; t want to be with a bunch of kids.

I am staying at Flamingo and CP. I think we will try Pure and the Voo Doo Lounge maybe Mixx if time allows. Just don%26#39; t want to be with a bunch of kids.

Warning about booking airline tickets (Southwest)

My son and I booked with Southwest to Vegas today. I did my reservations- no problem. I got the cheapest price. He went to book the same exact flight but the cheapest fair was unavailable. He ended up with same flight but it was $100 more! My son talked to someone who used to work for the airline and he said they realized the 2nd reservation came from the same computer and blocked out the cheapest price. So if your going on a trip with someone, book flights on separate computers to save lots of money. Hope this helps someone out.

Warning about booking airline tickets (Southwest)

Why not book both tickets at the same time?

Warning about booking airline tickets (Southwest)

I%26#39;m going for my 25th wedding anniversary with my husband. My son is grown and is taking his girlfriend. They are getting married while we%26#39;re all there. He is paying his own way with own credit card.

If you%26#39;re going to be on the same computer - book at the same time. If its a matter of needing to use separate cc, then clear the cookies first. Also - those people dont always know what they%26#39;re talking about on the phone. Its unlikely that you would be blocked form getting a lower fare just because you were using the same computer. A more likely explanation would be that you were lucky and got one of the last seats at the lower price. They only hold so many for the a price, b price etc...

Sorry you had a problem JC. I love Southwest and have never had a booking problem. Plus, you can count on Southwest to run on schedule if it is at all possible.

Every Tuesday moring they put out specials (Ding) that are good for a couple of days and just can%26#39;t be beat. You might want to take a look this Tuesday.

Good luck.

Southwest has a set number of tickets for each price. Your experience has NOTHING to do with using the same computer. That is some type of conspiracy theory or maybe came from a disgruntled former employee (';someone who used to work for the airline';). It has to do with the lower price seats being sold out. Maybe you got the last ticket in the cheaper category.

All airlines, not just Southwest continually readjust the prices of their seats according to supply and demand. Sometimes it works in the favor of the customer. My latest ticket to Vegas came up $50 cheaper than what was showing before I clicked the purchase button- apparently they had just changed the price. Earlier that day I watched the lowest price for one specific flight fluctuate continuously among three different prices- and all of that was on the Continental Airlines site.

Just when I thought I%26#39;d heard it all...

Thanks to everyone for the insight. We have never booked tickets before and were unaware of how it all works. I checked the ticket prices today from a different computer and you all were right. The cheapest fare is still unavailable. I just thank my lucky stars that one of the fares was cheap. The former employee is obviously not a reliable source. Now I don%26#39;t feel like I got screwed on the deal. :)

I think the explanation of attempting to book on the same computer was ridiculous. It once again proves that when you see it and the price is right, you had better grab it!