Las Vegas - 1st time

Best place to stay is on the strip. Cheapest is off the strip. How much money is down to you! Eating can be done very cheap if you use the all you can eat buffets (especially breakfast!) but if you ask me it's worth splashing out on a nice hotel. I've stayed in The Luxor, Caesars Palace, MGM and Paris and they're all fantastic. Serisouly, if it's your first time you'll be too busy stopping your jaw hitting the floor and having a fabulous time to worry about money!!! LOL! Enjoy..it's awesome!

Ive been three times and would go back tomorrow if i could!

Best place to stay is a difficult question ... all the hotels are pretty good.

We have stayed in the Venetian, Stardust and Circus Circus and to be perfectly honest the rooms didnt seem to be that different. It all depends on how much your wanting to spend. Circus Circus and Stardust are a little bit of a further walk to the main strip but with all the transport links it isnt that bad.

I would suggest doing a lot of research before you go and trying to plan out any shows etc you want to see but leave ticket purchases till you get there. There are a million and one deals to be had. There are a couple of outlets along the strip where you can buy half price show tickets on the same day as show.

Sometime during your trip you should go to freemont street, this is the street where vegas began and all the hotels that you see in the movies are here (golden nugget, plaza, binions etc). however i would try to avoid staying here as it is a long way from the main strip. It is worth seeing though, there is a fantastic display in the canopy above the street every hour at night, using about 5 million lightbulbs or summit like that.

eating out is very easy an very cheap. restaurants everywhere (circus circus buffet if your really hungry!) and dennys for breakfast!

Money is a difficult question, how much gambling do you want to do? dont get carried away. Some shows can be expensive upto $120pp but definately worth it.

Most if not all casinos have tables where they will teach you how to play games like roulette, craps, blackjack, etc etc i would definately suggest this (most through in some free chips to play with) stay away from expensive tables with $5/$10 minimums unless you can afford it ... you'll have just as much fun if not more playing 25c/50c a time.

Where to book your holiday? I cannot offer any real advice on this. I booked through expedia once cos i got a good deal but have not found any other great deals since. Someone else would be better to help with this.

By the way as this holiday is to celebrate a 21st try and make sure OH is 21 before you go it will be a lot easier. You WILL have to carry your passport with you in most casinos to prove age. They are very strict!

I'll leave you to read this ive probably left you even more confused than when you started! I just love talking about vegas and better stop before i book another holiday myself.

get ready for the holiday of a life time my friend. went for 1st time in may and we had the best damm holiday since me and my wife became a couple

i,m counting down to next easter when i hope to go back.

if you think are going to like Vegas prepare to have your expections well and truly topped. the place should come with a health warning about how much you will enjoy yourself and how much you will want to come back.

Hotels:::: ....remember this little saying " eveywhere else you have ever been the hotels are close to the attractions, in Las Vegas the hotels ARE the attractions."

your wish list should help your choice...... like for instance if a pool is very high on your list of wants then Mandalay Bay should be your best choice or if luxury everything is what you want then consisder the Bellagio. but here is the rough pecking order that few who have actually been to all of them will disagree with.

$$$$$EXPENSIVE
1. Wynn
2. Bellagio
3 Tie of the the Venitian and THE HOTEL at mandalay bay

~~~~Excellent

4 3 way tie of New York New York, Mandalay Bay and Mirage
5. Ceasers palace
6. MGM grand
7 Treasure Island

***** lower end

8. Rio ( off strip)
9. Stardust

!!!! AVOID !!

Luxor
Excalliber
Alladin
Stratosphere

where to eat ??? how long is a bit of string ??? Buffets are great lunch options IMO my fav was Mandalay bay Coastal Buffet but Mirage and MGM and Rio Buffet were excellent as well. as for resturants there is so much choice you need a Rough Guide travel book to narrow the field for you.

Attractions

Grand Canyon Helicopter tour is a TOTAL MUST !!!!!!

also Mirage secret garden.. Mandalay bay shark reef , . Rides at Stratosphere and the Gondola rides at the Venitian are good days out.

Shows

DO NOT BUY ANY TICKETS BEFORE YOU GO !!!!!!! wait till you get there then check out the two half price ticket outlets!!!! we saw Mamma mia ,Amazing Johnaton, Rita Rudner, and Avenue Q all for half price. only draw back is you can only buy tickets for that night. these are two outlets check them out

http://www.tickets2nite.com/

http://www.tix4tonight.com/


best way of getting up and down the strip is the Deuce bus service or a taxi.

best things to take with you a pair of very comfy shoes (trust me on this ) and loads of money

this old thread about vegas should be of help about the flight over

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=291092


have a great time

I went when I was 21 and we stayed at the Mgm Grand and liked it so much we have stayed there on our second trip. It is centrally located and they do some good value rooms with a few deals thrown in (such as free use of the gym, voucher for the buffet.

My best piece of advice is for your girlfriend to take i.d (passport) with her wherever she goes as the Casino's and bars are very strict on checking this

My best piece of advice is for your girlfriend to take i.d (passport) with her wherever she goes as the Casino's and bars are very strict on checking this

very much 2nd this advice. get yourself a new Photo driving license to save taking your passport everywhere . they ask for ID a lot even to me and i,m mid 30's !!!!!!!!!

as for the Luxor debate i was definatly not impressed compared to New york New York where i stayed. feels a bit too cheesy and a bit too stale inside for me the building for sure has WOW factor but inside is a bit local cinema ish IMO

. you get both WOWS!! with New York New York. the attention to detail is staggering like steam coming out of manhole covers inside or the central park theme of the gaming tables , not to mention the the new york taxi roller coaster that goes round the outside ( does not disturb you in the room though). plus the BEDS are very very comfortable ( did not miss my bed back home once !!!!!). it,s pool is it,s only real flaw cause it quite small and not well positioned ( that and no poker room when i was there)

Luxor is only marginally cheaper than say New York New York MGM or Ceasers palace. New York New york was truly excellent and people we spoke to who were staying at the Luxor said they wished they had choosen it after going inside

for someone your age i definatly think Mandalay bay would be a very good choice. like i mentioned it has the undisputed best pool on the strip ( Strictly for GUESTS only) and the very cool "House of Blues" club with Live bands pretty much every night i think. here is the upcoming schedule for a flavour of what to expect

http://hob.com/tickets/searchresults.asp?venid=146

the hotel in definatly aimed at the 20-30 age range ( unlike say Monte carlo which is aimed at older people or Circus Circus which is aimed at Familys with children ( which is a four letter word at any other hotel on the strip ).and is VERY VERY nice !! only slight downside is it is at the bottom of the strip but that is a minor quibble really


it will be high on my list of places to stay next vist for sure. if the price is right