Las Vegas thread and MSE guide 2009

TangoBunny

The Secret Garden

I didn't think you were hun....I just thought I'd better explain why I didn't include it in my reccomendation

Ingela

It's my OH's 30th next Feb (2010) and he's been wanting to go to Vegas for it for as long as i've known him! I'm trying to scout out where the best place to stay would be, but there's so much info and so many different opinions that i'm just totally confused! I really want to stay somewhere nice because he's wanted it for so long, and it's gonna be the first decent holiday we've been on together. (4 years of no money!)

I'm thinking that i probably want somewhere on the strip and preferably somewhere modern and definitely not child friendly!

Also, i was wondering about how long we should go for? I was just thinking a week but i'm wondering if 10days would be better for going that kind of distance?

Thank you so much, i already know this is the best place to go for advice!

Froggitt

The Fremont street experience

Welc Ingela. IMHO, spend the next ten months thinking about which hotel to stay at from a list you can put together now.....you cant book yet as the deals arent there yet.....also dont only have just one in mind because inevitably the deals will be elsewhere. Sounds like you want something like Mirage, Caesars, PH, Venetian......very nice but not top dollar. If you can spare 10 days, youll use it all up!!! Maybe do 5 days in one hotel and five in another.

You will be able to book flights in a month or so.....wait until the deal you want on flights is available.

Ingela

Thanks for that, yeah i wasn't really thinking about booking yet just want to have an idea of what i want so that when the deals do appear, i can book without hesitation!

ferf1223

The Bellagio Fountains

Ingela wrote: »

It's my OH's 30th next Feb (2010) and he's been wanting to go to Vegas for it for as long as i've known him! I'm trying to scout out where the best place to stay would be, but there's so much info and so many different opinions that i'm just totally confused! I really want to stay somewhere nice because he's wanted it for so long, and it's gonna be the first decent holiday we've been on together. (4 years of no money!)

I'm thinking that i probably want somewhere on the strip and preferably somewhere modern and definitely not child friendly!

Also, i was wondering about how long we should go for? I was just thinking a week but i'm wondering if 10days would be better for going that kind of distance?

Thank you so much, i already know this is the best place to go for advice!

It's very nice of you to start planning this for his big birthday...very sweet.

It's going to be almost impossible to judge what sort of prices will be around by then - seeing a lot of relatively cheap deals at the moment due to the economy, plus the £/$ exchange rate is really low - so costs us more than it has for awhile...so a bit difficult to give you an idea where you might like to stay (as in many cases there is a budget to be considered).

As you have a lot of time, maybe something like The Unofficial Guide to Las Vegas would help you narrow it down? I'm a big fan of internet research (obsessive, some will tell you), but sometimes when I feel overwhelmed I go back to an old fashioned book, narrow things down, then go from there with my internet research.

You have loads of time obviously...so plenty of time to poke around.

I've not been 30 for quite some time now...but if I had to guess I would say for a mid-priced option somewhere like Planet Hollywood may be good...or Mandalay Bay for a bit more expensive option...if you can stretch to 5* for your age group I would personally think that Bellagio might be better overall than Wynn/Encore...and on the more budget conscious side, perhaps somewhere like Flamingo...or I suppose even Harrahs perhaps.

It also depends a bit on what sort of things you like and dislike (few hotels in Vegas are overly child friendly so that works OK for you )

As for timing, I could go to Vegas for 10 days, no problem...most here could (that pebbles and her month+ trips make me so jealous!)...some think it's too long...but there's loads to do in terms of side trips (Grand Canyon, LA, etc.) that you could go longer and explore a bit.

One thing to consider is weather - it won't be scorching hot in February (likely far from it)...many pools will be closed so that may impact your hotel choice - no point in basing decision on a pool if it's closed and all.

Here are averages for Feb to give you an idea:

http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/daily/89109?climoMonth=2

Good luck!

ferf1223

The Bellagio Fountains

Ingela wrote: »

Thanks for that, yeah i wasn't really thinking about booking yet just want to have an idea of what i want so that when the deals do appear, i can book without hesitation!

Just to add one thing to what Froggit said...before you book your flights double check the conventions in town...I'm not familiar with whether or not there are regular, big conventions in Feb...there is one this year though - you'd want to avoid booking flights for a period that covered a 120,000 person convention as prices for hotels will be higher than normal and it will be very crowded...or you could plan to be away from Vegas during the convention on side trips, etc.

http://www.lasvegastourism.com/conventions_feb.htm

Steff

The Bellagio Fountains

Trust wrote: »

Thanks to your advice, I have booked a couple of days in Ballys, and just wondering has anyone stayed in the 'Rio', yes it is off-strip, but what is it like? they have the link bus if I remember to the paris hotel?

Hi Trust,
Just reading through this years posts and I have stayed at The Rio in June 2007. Wrote rather a long report on Trip Advisor - I have attached a link below if you are interested.

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g45963-d91673-r8220559-Rio_Suite_Hotel_and_Casino-Las_Vegas_Nevada.html.

Its entitled 14 days at the Rio - should come up if you copy and paste the above into address bar.

I enjoyed the Rio. Have stayed in Wynn, Rio and The Orleans. Really like all three though all are very different. I didnt find the location of The Rio a problem at all. You have the Gold coast over the road (busy though it is) and shuttles to about three/four different hotels.

Happy hunting.
Steff

urbancookie1

I agree it is a bit to far out, Have you tried Flamingo Hotel their prices when we were there were really good and its in a great location overlooking Ceaser's Palace you can also watch the fountains from your room if your high enough. You could also try Barbary Coast next door to the Flamingo its a bit of an older type hotel but again good prices and fantastic location.

photome

The Bellagio Fountains

TangoBunny wrote: »

I couldn't in all honesty recommend the Mandalay bay even if it is better I didn't mention it because
1.I've not been there so have no experience
2.I thought it would be to expensive for someone travelling with children
I assumed they would be on a budget

The MB beats all Vegas pools hands down, 2nd best IMo is the Flamingo.

As for the budget there are rooms available at the moment from $80 at MB and they dont charge for kids under 14 whereas a lot of the Centre strip hotels are carging an extra $30 per person over 2 any age so that would add $60 on to any bragain price...makes the MB a steal at $80

Steff

The Bellagio Fountains

mookybargirl wrote: »

I've spent 26 days in Vegas to date and managed to get to a pool once (for about 2.5 hours .... :rotfl:

Hi Mooky,
lol - I had to laugh - I have spent 35 days in Vegas and I have spent a whopping 10 hours by the pool.... it may be because I tend to go in June/July and its literally scorching out there. It's such a shame though cos the pools are gorgeous - The Rio, The Wynn & The Orleans were all really nice and enjoyed by lots of others but never seemed that crowded strangely enough!

I always find that there are loads of other ways to spend my valuable time out there - I have said at the start of each trip that I want to spend at least one day by the pool, but it NEVER happens. Not sure I get to go this year - but I will keep reading this thread anyway (and offering assistance where I can) to get my fix of the wonderful world of Vegas!!!
Steff