Las Vegas Questions...

[cfbfan23]

Thanks for all the help. I'm learning a lot in this thread. I appreciate all the responses...and Tribe, thanks, as always, for the detail.

So far I'm going to book La Reve, Ka, (good discounts for both) and the magician guy that won America's Got Talent last year (AGT is one of her favorite shows so that one's a definite). I really wanted to do Penn & Teller but they're gone, on tour, for July and August. (We're going August 3-8). I'm going to book one more show. Just not sure which yet.

That's good to know about the parking. It's definitely free to park at all of the hotels? I was just expecting to cab it everywhere since it's likely going to be 100+ degrees every day and thus to hot to walk, even if staying on the strip.

The rates aren't bad at the Luxor, I guess:

8/3 $45.00
8/4 $75.00
8/5 $75.00
8/6 $75.00
8/7 $129.00

Add $28/day for resort fees, + tax and it would run about $600 for the 5 nights. Still that's $600 I could put towards shows, excursions, or renting a car.

Tough to decide. If I was going with buddies, or a significant other, I'd stay on the strip for sure. With my daughter, I'm not so sure I wouldn't appreciate going back to a quiet resort each night though.

I would rather stay off the Strip than at the Luxor. That place is a dump. I stayed there about 10 years ago and it sucked. There's got to be some other places that offer low rates in August. I bet you can get a room at the MGM Grand for almost the same price. It's not top of the line, but much better than the Luxor.

 

[FSUTribe76]

I would rather stay off the Strip than at the Luxor. That place is a dump. I stayed there about 10 years ago and it sucked. There's got to be some other places that offer low rates in August. I bet you can get a room at the MGM Grand for almost the same price. It's not top of the line, but much better than the Luxor.

There was a complete refurb of the entire facility about three years ago. I stayed there just last year and it's more than fine. It's not what I would call a five star facility as the pool is a little lacking compared to next door Mandalay Bay and the rooms while nice and decently large are not amazing. It's a solid four star hotel like I said earlieR and about on par with maybe slightly below the offstrip Silverton.

 

[cfbfan23]

There was a complete refurb of the entire facility about three years ago. I stayed there just last year and it's more than fine. It's not what I would call a five star facility as the pool is a little lacking compared to next door Mandalay Bay and the rooms while nice and decently large are not amazing. It's a solid four star hotel like I said earlieR and about on par with maybe slightly below the offstrip Silverton.

It's been at least three years since I've stepped foot in there, so maybe it's better now.

 

[NoleandDawg]

The Marriott is a nice place. There are some new shops and restaurants up in that area which are nice. I would just rent a car, as they are pretty cheap. That way if you want to check out the Grand Canyon/Valley of Fire/Red Rock Canyon you can. Parking on the strip is always free and easy just leave yourself plenty of time.

As for Cirque they all pretty much seem the same to me. If I had to pick, I like Ka the best and then probably Love. The new one at City Center was good as are O and La Reve. I'd probably just go wherever I could get discount tickets. Check eBay and stub hub. Sometimes you get lucky and can pick some up at the last minute for a steal.

 

[skramer100]

Cosmo DOES take Marriott points and looks killer - but they only have king beds in their rooms (which is really weird to me.) They don't appear to have 2 queens or 2 doubles as an option, according to their website

I am sure they can bring up a cot. I just went to the website and the first room that comes up is a city view which has 2 queen beds. Also, one of the hidden treasures of Vegas is there. Book a meal around 8ish at Rose Rabbit Lie. Way in the back, great cocktails, awesome food, killer band.

 

[JLORYFSU!]

I went to Vegas a month ago. I stayed about 4 miles off the strip at a timeshare resort and it was fine. I rented a car and would suggest that. Car rentals are dirt cheap in LV and it is nice to have the freedom to go as you please. Personally, I would save your Marriott Rewards for a different trip as August in Vegas is dirt cheap as far as hotels, condos, etc. My go to website for ANY and EVERY trip I make is VRBO,COM (Vacation rentals by owner). I have stayed at some unbelievable places at rock bottom prices. Used it for Vegas and have for NYC, Costa Rica (over 10 times), Grand Cayman, Cancun as well as Gulf Coast in Florida

As far as shows go, see Le Reve. It is a Cirque type show but in my opinion, better than any of the Vegas Cirqu shows. "O" is similar in that they both involve divers, water, etc but Le Reve is simply stunning. You and your daughter will love it. Do it. You will thank me later. As someone mention, Absinthe at Caesar's is one of the best shows I've ever been to anywhere but it is for adults so no go for your daughter but if you go back with a date, check it out. Raunchy fun with some amazing talent. The aquarium at Mandalay Bay is great for kids as are the Bellagio Fountains, doing the Eiffel tower at night. For tix, Best of Vegas,com is a good site and they also have several places on the strip where you can get tix to the shows the day of the show at good discounts. Saw Rock of Ages in Orlando and enjoyed it. In Vegas, you can probably find better shows. Google and trip advisor should be your best friends so check out highest rated shows in Vegas for families. Another thing is just to take your daughter to see different hotels. The Wynn is amazing. If she likes to shop or window shop, the Venetian shops (and you can take her on a Gondola ride there too) and Caesar's forum shops are neat.

For the Grand Canyon, I couldn't handle a bus trip there. That would drive me insane. If you don't mind a pretty long drive, that works. Personally, I would do a helicopter ride to it that includes Hoover Dam, the Strip, etc. Several other things you can do by car that are nearby are Red Rocks Canyon.....you can simply drive through it, stop and take pictures or you can hike there. It will be pretty brutal heat wise in August so maybe just stick to the car. I hiked for about 2-3 hours late May/Early June and temps were already 100 and above. Hoover Dam and Lake Mead are cool trips and within 1 hour of the strip too.

Have a great time. Hope this helps you some. One last suggestion.....if you like Italian Food, there is an Italian restaurant called Nora's that is located off of Flamingo about 3 miles off the strip. Great food, decent prices, unreal service......Mom and pop type place that was amazing and reasonably priced too.

 

[Thebear612]

IM on a plane right now to vegas. Cosmo does take points but there is a marriott 100 yards from the strip that you can use points on, it is a timeshare but looks like any other simple Marriott. It is not fancy and of course there is no casino. We had our kids there a few years ago and had a two bedroom and would not hesitate to do it again. I would stay on strip if you can