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Vegas Itinerary Confirmed...How Did I do?

LesClaypool

LesClaypool

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Jan 12, 2004
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The only thing I haven't decided for sure yet is whether I want to stay at one of the really cheap hotels (Circus Circus or Excalibur) or keep my reservation at the Renaissance that I booked using Marriott points. I dropped a lot of money on show tickets so the free 5 nights at the Renaissance sounds especially good. (I switched it from JW Marriott after I considered how much time I was going to have to drive 25-30 minutes each way to the JW.) The Renaissance is near the convention center, so a LOT closer to everything, and it looks pretty nice and it should be quiet...Plus there's always the chance I'll get upgraded for being platinum w/Marriott, and did I mention it's free?

So here's what I booked. Thanks to everyone that made suggestions! I really tried to listen to as many as I could:

MONDAY 8/3
Land in Las Vegas @ 3:15
Pickup rental car
Check into hotel
Cirque du Soleil - Michael Jackson One @ 9:30 @ Mandalay Bay

TUESDAY 8/4
Grand Canyon Day Trip (I know Tribe disapproves, but my daughter said this is the #1 thing she wants to do)
Then a free night in Vegas. I'm not sure what time we'll be back from Grand Canyon so I didn't want to book a show. We'll probably just eat a good meal somewhere and go to bed early, or maybe go Paris and do the Eiffel Tower or take a gondola ride at the Venetian, or something like that.

WEDNESDAY 8/5
Back-to-School shopping in the morning and early afternoon
Mentalist Frederic Da Silva @ 4:00 @ Bally's
Cirque du Soleil - Mystere @ Treasure Island @ 7:00

THURSDAY 8/6
CSI The Experience @ MGM Grand in the late AM
Mandalay Bay Aquarium in the early afternoon
Magician Matt Franco (America's Got Talent winner from last year) @ Linq @ 7:00

FRIDAY 8/7
Mac King, clean comedian @ 1:00 @ Harrahs
La Reve @ Wynn Casino @ 7:00

SATURDAY 8/8
Fly home

Considering I'm traveling with a 14-year old, how do you think I did?
 
Looks great. When traveling with an under-21 you have to stay busy (which you definitely are) as most of the typical Vegas time killers aren't available to her.
 
You're a good dad.

Probably a good idea not to plan anything on Tuesday night. You'll be up late Monday and probably get a late start to the GC, plus you'll be exhausted.
 
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About Tuesday...I'm a big proponent of the Grand Canyon as the east side (North rim, South rim, "East rim"/Desert View) is the best view I've seen anywhere on the globe. The West Rim is nice just not on par with that. You should Google Grand Canyon "Desert View" and GC "West Rim" and you'll see what I mean. The East side has blue water and multicoloured rocks in ordinary daylight, the west side has brown water and boring mostly monotone brown rocks. Same huge and impressive canyon just not dressed up as nice. So by no means is it bad.

But having said that, you do NOT need a full day for the West Rim unless you're hiking/riding down into the canyon in which case one day isn't really even enough. A half day is more than sufficient to view it from the rim and grab your shots AND to fit in the Hoover Dam as well.

Here is what you should do. The only time the West Rim looks impressive in pics is at sunrise or sunset. IF (and this is a big IF as I think the Hulawhatever tribe now bars most visitors from visiting near sunset as they want to charge $400 for a sunset package) you can see it for a sunset that is when you should go. You'll never get up early enough for sunrise and it doesn't open until 7 anyways. Regardless of when you can stay until, the later it is, the better your pics will be. At midday there's no interesting shadows in the formation and the rocks are a washed out light brown. If you go later in the day, the rocks will start to redden (but won't be "red" except at sunset) and darken and the shadows will make interesting figures out of the formations. You only need 2-2.5 hours at the site and that's being VERY generous. So assuming you're barred at 7, let's say 4:30 is when you should be at the West Rim (oh and it will take longer to drive than google expects because unless they've finished it in the last year there are big stretches of unpaved roads in the reservation). At the Hoover Dam, it's really a waste of time to do the behind the scenes tours, just park and walk around the dam, read the plaques and that's all you need. Best shots of the Hoover dam is at both ends. So 3:30 to do Dam plus GC West Rim not counting driving. Las Vegas to the Hoover Dam is 45 minutes. Hoover Dam to West Rim is allegedly 2 hours but I'd give it 2.5 to be safe. So as long as you're on your way to the Grand Canyon/Hoover Dam by 12:15 you'll be golden.

I'm assuming you'll be coming from the East Coast so 8 AM PT will be no big deal to be out the door for something interesting. 4 hours isn't enough time to do the Valley of Fire but it is to do the Mob Museum (which is surpringly good) or Las Vegas Springs.

If you do the Mob Myseum it doesn't open until 10 anyways, so go to the O Face Donuts shop within walking distance (although long walking distance) and grab brekkie at my third favorite donut place anywhere on the planet after the Meche's in Breaux Bridge LA and the Mojo Donuts in Pembroke Pines FL. Go to any of the three I mentioned and you will find Krispy Kreme, Duncan and Tim Hortons disgusting. 2 hours is long enough for the Mafia Museum. The Las Vegas Springs Preserve also only opens at 10 but 2 hours is plenty to do it. If you walk out the back of the Springs Preserve you'll find the best daytime shot of Las Vegas, the strip and tall buildings from across the desert plus oil derricks in your frame (best sunset/nighttime shots are from the Eiffel Tower, go up about 45 minutes before sunset and you can watch the famed Bellagio fountains from on high and get the Strip during sunset when the neon is first coming on. Do both and you'll have impressive nube shots to put us on the Book of Faces). As far as brekkie if you go to the Springs preserve (no actual springs but great garden of desert succulents), I can't help you. Our brekkie out there sucked.

And yes, the itenary I gave you has AMPLE time, you won't feel rushed. You might have noticed I left our lunch. There's nothing worthwhile to eat at or in between Vegas and the West Grand Canyon so just grab fast food or plan ahead and buy some subs and a styrofoam cooler the day before.
 
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LesClaypool said:
The only thing I haven't decided for sure yet is whether I want to stay at one of the really cheap hotels (Circus Circus or Excalibur) or keep my reservation at the Renaissance that I booked using Marriott points. I dropped a lot of money on show tickets so the free 5 nights at the Renaissance sounds especially good. (I switched it from JW Marriott after I considered how much time I was going to have to drive 25-30 minutes each way to the JW.) The Renaissance is near the convention center, so a LOT closer to everything, and it looks pretty nice and it should be quiet...Plus there's always the chance I'll get upgraded for being platinum w/Marriott, and did I mention it's free?

So here's what I booked. Thanks to everyone that made suggestions! I really tried to listen to as many as I could:

MONDAY 8/3
Land in Las Vegas @ 3:15
Pickup rental car
Check into hotel
Cirque du Soleil - Michael Jackson One @ 9:30 @ Mandalay Bay

TUESDAY 8/4
Grand Canyon Day Trip (I know Tribe disapproves, but my daughter said this is the #1 thing she wants to do)
Then a free night in Vegas. I'm not sure what time we'll be back from Grand Canyon so I didn't want to book a show. We'll probably just eat a good meal somewhere and go to bed early, or maybe go Paris and do the Eiffel Tower or take a gondola ride at the Venetian, or something like that.

WEDNESDAY 8/5
Back-to-School shopping in the morning and early afternoon
Mentalist Frederic Da Silva @ 4:00 @ Bally's
Cirque du Soleil - Mystere @ Treasure Island @ 7:00

THURSDAY 8/6
CSI The Experience @ MGM Grand in the late AM
Mandalay Bay Aquarium in the early afternoon
Magician Matt Franco (America's Got Talent winner from last year) @ Linq @ 7:00

FRIDAY 8/7
Mac King, clean comedian @ 1:00 @ Harrahs
La Reve @ Wynn Casino @ 7:00

SATURDAY 8/8
Fly home

Considering I'm traveling with a 14-year old, how do you think I did?
Click to expand...

As far as the rest of it, I would add the Valley of Fire to your Wednesday Schedule. It's only an hour from Vegas and you'll want to be leaving before it hits peak heat in the middle of the day, so you could get up at 8-9 (or earlier if you can manage it) and do some of the short hikes around the Valley of Fire. It will be too hot for long hikes anyways (and may be even prohibited in August, I know they were in Early Sept) so an hour there, 2-3 hours on site and an hour back will be plenty. If you left at 8 you could be back around 12 -12:30 with plenty of time to shop before the first schedule activity.
 
I'm telling you, the MJ1 and the Mystere shows are two of the best on the strip. I think you hit a home run. I will put in a plug again for red rock canyon national conservation area if you want to take in awesome scenery off the strip. Sounds like a great time. Have fun!
 
Or actually just save the shopping until when you do the Aquarium. It's not on par with Georgia, Baltimore, or Monterey Aquarium and not even something like the Boston or Florida Aquarium. It's nice, but an hour to 2 tops. And there are some great shops in the mall literally in between Luxor and Mandalay Bay. So I'd just add in Valley of Fire to Wednesday and add shopping to whatever day you had the aquarium in. Like I said, the aquarium is nice but really small. Think the old aquarium in the St Pete pier.
 
Oh and you should DEFINITELY call the West Rim Center and see if there's some way to see the Grand Canyon at sunset that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. I don't think so as they're purposefully screwing tourists to milk them for money (another reason I hate the West Rim compared to those run by the national government, the Tribe bilks you at every turn and purposefully makes it inconvenient so you have to rely on their buses, spend more time in the park so you eat their %*%y food, bar you from using your own camera from the skywalk, block off the best views except for those paying additional tickets etc...). BUT, if you can time it to be at the Grand Canyon an hour before sunset you'll be perfect. Instead you'll most likely just need to plan to be there around 4:30-5 and get rushed out at 7.
 
Add m&m world in front of mgm. My kids really liked that place. They do coke floats from around the world samplers on the top floor too.

Maybe roller coaster across the street. If u look around there r deals to stay at ny ny so u will be on strip

Stay away from circus circus......dirty....in all kinds of ways....
 
Sounds good to me.....One other thing I didn't add in my previous post is that Fremont Street experience can be cool for a quick look since you have a rental car....the neon lights are pretty amazing and they have a zipline down the street that your daughter may enjoy. If she likes coasters and things like that, NYNY has one as does Stratosphere.

You are a good dad.....have fun!!!
 
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UPDATE...

I decided to stay on the strip after all. We're spending 3 nights at Paris, (w/an Eiffel Tower View and I think a view of the Bellagio Fountains) and then 2 nights at the Cosmopolitan (where we'll definitely have a view of the Bellagio Fountains from outside our balcony).

Couldn't do all 5 nights in a row at Paris, as the rate jumped from $95/night to almost $300/night for the final 2 nights, so I burned 90,000 Marriott points for those 2 nights at the Cosmo.

Only spending ~$500 for the week on hotels when you factor in taxes and resort fees. Not bad at all.

Thanks again for the suggestions.
 
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Just got back from Vegas on Thursday. Went to that Michael Jackson show with about 15 other people. My opinion was that it was absolute crap. The other 14 ranged from garbage to meh.

I wouldn't give 10 cents to see that show again.
 
ggmike1992 said:
Sky Jump at the Stratosphere.
Click to expand...

That's a good rec I forgot about. My wife absolutely loved it two years ago. It's basically a controlled fall like parachuting after the chute opens (I assume, I'm not Free and have zero interest in the real deal) rather than a two second fall at full speed ala bungyjumping.
 
LesClaypool said:
The only thing I haven't decided for sure yet is whether I want to stay at one of the really cheap hotels (Circus Circus or Excalibur) or keep my reservation at the Renaissance that I booked using Marriott points.
Click to expand...
I'll add here that the Excalibur was the only hotel/casino I visited when I was there last year that I thought was really gross, and that I wouldn't consider staying at. It was like White Trash Spring Break in there - with ex-cons wearing wife-beaters and carrying around partial 12-packs of Keystone Light. The women folk dressed in clothes that were WAY too small/short for their expanding form, and they had far too many facial piercings and forearm tattoos. The only thing it was missing was pit bulls on chain-link leashes.

As an example, here are some of the "restaurants" that Excalibur has in its food court:
Auntie Anne's Pretzels
McDonalds
Popeyes
Schlotzkys
Orange Julius

Now, I like Orange Julius as much as the next person, but that's a mall foodcourt lineup. Even their higher-end restaurants include Johnny Rockets and Dicks Last Resort.

Just my own opinion, but I wouldn't want my family to stay there.
 
We just got back from Vegas a couple weeks ago. Stayed at Caesar's Palace. Our trip was slightly different. Went to TAO Thursday night, went to the pool at Caesars Friday and then saw Calvin Harris at Omnia that night. On Saturday we went to see Better than Ezra at the Mandalay beach and then went down to a locals casino called South Point where we had a blast... cheap tables and a great 80's band with very cheap drinks. Sunday we ate brunch at the Cosmo and then went to Drai's beach club. That evening we went to the Pawn Stars shop, downtown for a bit and finished the night at the Peppermill - a very cool bar/restaurant. The Cosmo is very nice, want to stay there next time we go. We had a blast.. love Vegas.
 
We stayed at the Cosmo for a while in February. It was a lot of fun. Really good restaurants everywhere. "Free" entry to their club if you stay there.

Liked the ny roller coaster. We mostly spent the time bar hopping and eating at restaurants. Hit two shows. Absinthe and penn and teller. Both entertaining. Also did a night (didn't stay there just took cab) at freemont. Completely different vibe. Seedier in a more gritty way. Cheaper. But pretty neat all in all. We had just as much fun there as on the strip.
 
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Banditking said:
We stayed at the Cosmo for a while in February. It was a lot of fun. Really good restaurants everywhere. "Free" entry to their club if you stay there.

Liked the ny roller coaster. We mostly spent the time bar hopping and eating at restaurants. Hit two shows. Absinthe and penn and teller. Both entertaining. Also did a night (didn't stay there just took cab) at freemont. Completely different vibe. Seedier in a more gritty way. Cheaper. But pretty neat all in all. We had just as much fun there as on the strip.
Click to expand...

Yeah, next time I think I'm going to stay at the Palace Station Casino near Fremont. It reminded me of Bourbon Street quite a bit and completely different than the "sophisticated" Strip.
 
Michael Jacksone ONE was decent but nothing to write home about. It might have even been better than that but we were so tired from traveling all day that we were each having trouble keeping our eyes open, so I can't be certain of my critique. There wasn't much gymnastics or circus act stuff though. Mainly dancing. Also a strange/silly storyline that wasn't too compelling about a group of kids that find MJ's glove.

I'm hoping Mystere and La Reve are better and I expect they will be based on the clips I've seen of both.

"Gordon Ramsey Steak," at Paris Las Vegas, where we're staying, was great though! My daughter tried gnocchi for the first time and loved it.

Today we're going shopping in the morning and then driving to the Grand Canyon in the afternoon, so we can see the sunset. Should be awesome!
 
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We ate at Mon Ami Gabi in Paris one evening, sat on the patio and had a great meal with view of the fountains for less than 100 bucks
 
Well we did the Grand Canyon yesterday, and as expected it was magnificent! Nearly as awesome was the gorgeous drive from Vegas to the West Rim. So much incredible scenery! Made me ashamed as a Floridian that all we have to export to the rest of the world are strip malls and swamps (and some of the worlds most beautiful beaches, of course).

I totally get how people love it out here though. It's been 108 the last couple of days, and while it IS genuinely extraordinarily hot, it is somehow easily preferable to 92 degrees w/90% humidity.

Today we're going to a breakfast joint in the AM that came highly recommended by a friend for their French toast, then seeing a mentalist show at 4:00 and the Mystere Cirque show at 7:00. Jam, I don't know if I agree about the Cirque shows. If this one isn't good then I might be swayed to your camp, but so far I've seen two in my life: the Beatles Love show - awesome, and MJ1 - lackluster.

I don't think I mentioned that our hotel view is incredible too. It's really adding to the trip. We're on the 24th floor of Paris, and we have a sweet view of both the Eiffel Tower and the Bellagio fountain shows at night.
 
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LesClaypool said:
Well we did the Grand Canyon yesterday, and as expected it was magnificent! Nearly as awesome was the gorgeous drive from Vegas to the West Rim. So much incredible scenery! Made me ashamed as a Floridian that all we have to export to the rest of the world are strip malls and swamps (and some of the worlds most beautiful beaches, of course).

I totally get how people love it out here though. It's been 108 the last couple of days, and while it IS genuinely extraordinarily hot, it is somehow easily preferable to 92 degrees w/90% humidity.

Today we're going to a breakfast joint in the AM that came highly recommended by a friend for their French toast, then seeing a mentalist show at 4:00 and the Mystere Cirque show at 7:00. Jam, I don't know if I agree about the Cirque shows. If this one isn't good then I might be swayed to your camp, but so far I've seen two in my life: the Beatles Love show - awesome, and MJ1 - lackluster.

I don't think I mentioned that our hotel view is incredible too. It's really adding to the trip. We're on the 24th floor of Paris, and we have a sweet view of both the Eiffel Tower and the Bellgio fountain shows at night.
Click to expand...


I am a HUGE Cirque fan and didn't care for Michael Jackson One show.....I like his music but it was all dancing and I like the stunts. Mystere is really good and Le Reve is awesome so I think you will be happy with both of those.....If you have a night free for dinner, try Nora's off of Flamingo about 1 mile off the strip. Family itialian place. Really great food and service and very reasonable! Have fun!
 
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Yesterday was great. We wandered around the shops @ Caesars Palace and the Bellagio after breakfast. Had lunch at the Bellagio, then went to see this mentalist named Frederic Da Silva, at Bally's. Guy was incredible. I was super skeptical that it might suck, but my daughter was excited for it so I went along for the ride. So glad we went.

Went straight from Mentalist to Mystere, at Treasure Island.

Mystere was friggin' awesome!

I can see why it's still playing despite being one of the older Cirques. I must've audibly gasped, "Wow!" 6 or 7 times.
 
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LesClaypool said:
Yesterday was great. We wandered around the shops @ Caesars Palace and the Bellagio after breakfast. Had lunch at the Bellagio, then went to see this mentalist named Frederic Da Silva, at Bally's. Guy was incredible. I was super skeptical that it might suck, but my daughter was excited for it so I went along for the ride. So glad we went.

Went straight from Mentalist to Mystere, at Treasure Island.

Mystere was friggin' awesome!

I can see why it's still playing despite being one of the older Cirques. I must've audibly gasped, "Wow!" 6 or 7 times.
Click to expand...


I miss Danny Gans at the Mirage. I went and saw him for the 1st time and loved it, the next day we went and ate lunch in a Red Lobster off the strip and Danny and his mother came in and sat at the table next to us. I wasn't going to bug the man so I just told him I saw his show last night and loved it. The 4 of us end up talking for about 30 minutes, what a great guy. He died less than a year later, it upset me to say the least
 
Moved over to the Cosmopolitan today from Paris.

Holy crap - what an upgrade. Paris was (allegedly) a 4-star hotel. If that's true the Cosmo is a 7-star hotel. This place is sick! I HIGHLY recommend it.

Best part it's free - they're a Marriott Autograph Collection property. All of those god-forsaken night in Courtyards and Fairfield Inn's are feeling like a great investment right about now.
 
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try the secret pizza place on the 3rd floor of the Cosmopolitan. Great slices. I lived in Las Vegas 9 years. it is called the secret pizza place, you may need directions.

Perhaps if time, if you would like to see the desert, check out Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. I love that place
 
Red Rock is good....you can hike or if you prefer just drive the loop and stop at the photo areas for pics. I hiked about 5 miles when I was there in June. I also drove out to Lake Mead and did that and the Hoover Dam in the same day. Did you see Le Reve yet? I think you are going to love it. I knew you'd like Mystere, Good show!
 
Loved Red Rock Canyon! Gorgeous scenery. Can't believe it was only 30 minutes from the strip. We just drove the loop and stopped for pics a couple of times. We actually saw two wild burros near the end of the loop too. That was really cool.

Just saw La Reve tonight. It was very good. My daughter loved it. She thought it was better than Mystere, but I enjoyed Mystere more. Thrilled to have seen them both though. I wanna come back and see Zarkana at Aria. That was the only thing I really wanted to do but didn't get to on this trip.

We fly out in the morning. This vacation was incredible!
 
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Hoover Dam is awesome (as someone else mentioned above). Also, consider a helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon if you ever go back. Very cool.
 
Have dinner at Rose rabbit Lie. Awesome food, and a great live show at the same time. Little kid that dances is just awesome.
 
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