First time going to Vegas and I need the do's and don't
- Thread starter 12Nole
- Start date
I was in there a few weeks ago. That place is massive. You can walk in there and never leave the whole time you're in Vegas.
If you got a lot of cash, eat at Robuchon in the MGM. My buddy used to work for Ceasers in analytics, and took everybody that visited to Rose, Rabbit, Lie. Unbelievable food and drink, plus a really cool show. It is on second floor of Cosmo way in the back. Also, if you are not with kids, hit up Absinthe. Awesome show that incorporates the Cirque stuff but with really dirty humor.
Also, do the touristy stuff. Walk around the Venetian Canals, go to the bellagio, go on top of the stratosphere, ect. They are fun.
Also, do the touristy stuff. Walk around the Venetian Canals, go to the bellagio, go on top of the stratosphere, ect. They are fun.
Go full throttle from the time your flight leaves home until you're back on the tarmac in Vegas getting ready to head home. You can sleep when you're dead. If you absolutely must get a little shuteye while you're there, take a nap in the tub. When you wake up you're already clean - just have to dry off & get back to partying.
Parlays on college & NFL games pay off big. There's a reason for that - they are extremely difficult to win, so they don't pay off very often.
If you don't know how to play craps, go to one of the morning "lessons" that most casinos have & learn how to make the basic bets. It's by far the most fun form of gambling available in Vegas (well, other than gambling on whether or not he chick you're hitting on has an STD).
Parlays on college & NFL games pay off big. There's a reason for that - they are extremely difficult to win, so they don't pay off very often.
If you don't know how to play craps, go to one of the morning "lessons" that most casinos have & learn how to make the basic bets. It's by far the most fun form of gambling available in Vegas (well, other than gambling on whether or not he chick you're hitting on has an STD).
I am going to be there this weekend as well. Been a few times and have picked up some things here and there. Mostly what @SeaPA says. Just get after it. Craps is awesome and MGM has some good tables (not aircraft carriers, like Luxor where I will be staying at) and nice dealers.
A few musts:
-Pick a nice steakhouse and eat. Craftsteak is at MGM, Strip is at PHo, Tender is at Luxor, Prime is at Bellagio, and I can't remember the name of the one at Wynn
-Go to Pho at night and see the party pit
-If you want the Vegas strip view, pay for either the Eiffel Tower or Linq High Roller at night.
-Walk through Caesars, Bellagio, Wynn, and Venetian.
-See a show. Probably going to hit Absinthe this go around, and have seen all of the Cirques except O and Zarkana.
-If you are really gambling, make sure to get a player's card and use it everytime you buy in. Since you are staying at MGM, I would stick to gambling at those properties: Bellagio, Aria, MGM, Mirage, NYNY, Luxor, Mandalay, Excalibur. You will earn express comps right away that can be used to knock off a few buck on your hotel bill, plus it will build a base for future comps if you want to return to Sin City.
A few notes:
-If she asks if you want to party during the day, she is a cop. If its at night/3am she is a pro.
-You will see "porn slappers" if you walk the strip. Don't make eye contact and keep walking and they will leave you alone. Unless you are playing "Who can collect the most cards"
-If you tip up front, the cocktail waitress will definitely speed up delivery and return check-ins.
-The $20 trick may or may not work. Don't be upset if it doesn't. I tend to use it now to try and get Resort fees waived vs trying to get an upgraded room. Check out www.vegasmessageboard.com for more info on the success rate and tips for this.
-Don't expect to see it all. You will be disappointed.
How long are you going for?
A few musts:
-Pick a nice steakhouse and eat. Craftsteak is at MGM, Strip is at PHo, Tender is at Luxor, Prime is at Bellagio, and I can't remember the name of the one at Wynn
-Go to Pho at night and see the party pit
-If you want the Vegas strip view, pay for either the Eiffel Tower or Linq High Roller at night.
-Walk through Caesars, Bellagio, Wynn, and Venetian.
-See a show. Probably going to hit Absinthe this go around, and have seen all of the Cirques except O and Zarkana.
-If you are really gambling, make sure to get a player's card and use it everytime you buy in. Since you are staying at MGM, I would stick to gambling at those properties: Bellagio, Aria, MGM, Mirage, NYNY, Luxor, Mandalay, Excalibur. You will earn express comps right away that can be used to knock off a few buck on your hotel bill, plus it will build a base for future comps if you want to return to Sin City.
A few notes:
-If she asks if you want to party during the day, she is a cop. If its at night/3am she is a pro.
-You will see "porn slappers" if you walk the strip. Don't make eye contact and keep walking and they will leave you alone. Unless you are playing "Who can collect the most cards"
-If you tip up front, the cocktail waitress will definitely speed up delivery and return check-ins.
-The $20 trick may or may not work. Don't be upset if it doesn't. I tend to use it now to try and get Resort fees waived vs trying to get an upgraded room. Check out www.vegasmessageboard.com for more info on the success rate and tips for this.
-Don't expect to see it all. You will be disappointed.
How long are you going for?
I am going for the first time in late February and this restaurant has showed up frequently in my research. Nice to see it mentioned a few times in this thread.
I ate there a couple of summers ago when I went with some foodies. One of the best meals I have ever had. It was pricey, at least for me, at ~$400 for the wife and I, but the food was delicious. We had a group of about 7 and did a family style set up. 4-5 cuts of meat, a handful of sides, and a couple of desserts. Personally I got a split of wine for me that paired really well.
I tend to eat at Tender in Luxor though as I get a $75 off $150 comp through an MGM/Facebook game everytime I go.
Nice. Its good that you have work to break it up. 4 night trips are usually my limit, and I tend to stick to 3 nighters. Only so much gambling and walking around that I can do before I hit my wall. Plus now with 2 kids at home its not as fun to get away for more than a few days.
Read through the Trip Reports portion of that forum. Some really good ideas in those. I can't remember if it was Tribe here or someone from that board that mentioned the wetlands area. I am hoping to go through there this trip if time permits.
Read through the Trip Reports portion of that forum. Some really good ideas in those. I can't remember if it was Tribe here or someone from that board that mentioned the wetlands area. I am hoping to go through there this trip if time permits.
You should be able to get a free limo ride to Sapphire or Spearmint Rhino. The rest of the night won't be cheap though.
Not everything that happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.....here is my little Vegas surprise...now I get to be the oldest parents at elementary school; instead of the youngest--like last time.
Also, do not attempt to walk from the MGM to Paris or the Bellagio. At night, they will look like that they are easily within walking distance. They are not. It's called the Strip Mirage
Also, do not attempt to walk from the MGM to Paris or the Bellagio. At night, they will look like that they are easily within walking distance. They are not. It's called the Strip Mirage
Yep, I think they are about 2 miles away, but it looks like they are "just right there." On a busy night, when cabs are hard to come by, you've had a few to drink, your party will say let's go...and your women will start to complain because of their heals.
Yeah, last time I was in Vegas about five months or so we did Fremont Street for the first time and the Mob Museum. I have to say that amongst the smaller, single subject museums I'd probably have it #3 in Mericuh after the Salvador Dali Museum in St. Petersburg and the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola. There are other large museums like the Met, MOMA and Natural History Museum in NYC, the Getty in LA, etc...that are nicer but amongst the half day or less museums it's fantastic. A great way to kill three or four hours during the day.
Let's not confuse women complaining (isn't this the usual?) with something that actually warrants a complaint. While the distance between MGM and the rest of the main strip isn't exactly close, there is not two miles in between. If you walk from MGM to Planet Hollywood and Paris there is a dead zone of crappy shops so it seems longer. If you cross the street from MGM and go to NYNY and walk from that side of the street you are passing Monte Carlo, the Cityscape complex (Aria, Mandarin, Cosmopolitan, etc), and the Bellagio. It seems like a better walk.
.7 miles to the Paris. With the size of the hotels, it looks like it is just right there.
I actually walked from the Westin (past Paris and down Flamingo) to the MGM and back a few weeks ago. I didn't mind, because I enjoy people watching. However, I just looked at a map and realized that the monorail runs basically that same route.
Walked from Bellagio to Stratosphere, worst mistake ever. We sat up there and had a few drinks before cabbing it back to Ceaser's.
Vegas is now one of the worst areas for crimes and scams. Inside the massive casino's you're protected with a million cameras and aggressive security that protects clients and the casino. Outside? The strip is OK, just seedy if you stop to talk. But areas off the strip is a "beware" zone..
Yeah, did the walk from Omnia (I think that's at Ceasar's) back to Monte Carlo at 3 am. It was so much further than it looked. Mistake, especially when smashed. CSB.
I assume you were staying at the Monte Carlo since you said you walked back to it at 3:00am. How was it? That's where I'm staying when I go in late February.
That is correct. I thought it was nice, but I haven't stayed at any of the other hotels so I can't compare them. But like I said, I liked it.
MGM was my first Vegas hotel as well. It's shockingly massive but make sure to walk down the strip and check out other hotels as well, there are much nicer ones, each with unique flare. I went to the Gold and Silver Pawn Shop last time I was there because I watch Pawn Stars sometimes, I'm glad I went, but it's surprisingly small and I found out they don't actually film there, they film in a replica studio that makes it look nicer than it actually is... lol
