Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2012

glenbois

If you want to drink and don't really want to gamble to earn your drink, where are the best places to go? We got 6 nights in Vegas and will just explore the strip but one or two bars named by yourselves as a good place to get a drink would be handy if we happened to walk past them. Strip and Fremont St recommendations please. Not fussy on what we drink as we won't be getting our favorite tipple of really dry cider in the states anyway. Exclude beers from the drinks menu as we don't like it. Thanks

ferf1223

VALUE FOR MONEY

costingbunny wrote: »

What I didn't realise until I got to LV was that the waitresses don't literally come up to you (my experience anyway) and ask if you want a drink - you need to kind of catch their eye but not in an impolite manner.

Most will walk through their section saying 'cocktails?' most places, at least that we've experienced...they won't necessarily come right up to you and ask you directly, unless they are checking if you are ready for another round.

Things to remember are that they only deal with a certain area (someone else mentioned this) so the waitress you see one or two rows over might not serve your area...and they normally, not always but normally, take a bunch of orders - deliver them, then take more orders...so sometimes you will have a waitress delivering drinks around you who may not start on the next 'cocktails?' round until she's done with tha tdelivery.

Agree that trying to catch her eye is an idea, just that she may not be serving your area, or may be on a deliver round.

Pretty sure cocktaildoll says somewhere on her site by no means should anyone ever snap at her to get her attention.

glenbois - drinks are pretty expensive most places on the strip...at most of the casino bars at least...one of our recent favorites was the frozen Bailey's at O'sheas (think Luci mentined it originally), but since it's closed now that does you no good. we don't usually buy drinks unless we're somewhere like Casino Royale where they are cheap. Downtown we like the frozen drinks outside of Binon's (I think it's Binions)...not too expensive and you get the cup to keep.

bubble113

CASINOS

Hurricane is the cocktail of choice for my OH and it literally makes his teeth fizz!

I like long island, amaretto sour, brandy alexander, bay breeze,sea breeze, chocolate martini....and the list goes on!

Finally managed to visit the Grand Canyon on Sunday. Wanted to visit the South Rim and after much searching couldn't find a tour via plane that had consistent good reviews so went with Grand adventure.com on a bus tour. It was $155pp. They sell it on being a small tour and fully guided 3 hours at the Canyon.

It was a very looong day which I knew it would be. The canyon was a spectacular view. As far as tour goes the guide was very informative. Did feel I was back at school some of the time as he would talk,talk,talk then ask questions.
As it was a small van a snoring guy that sleeps most of the way there and all the way back does not help! and the fact that he wandered off from the group and we had to wait 30 mins for him when we should have left for the strip didn't help matters. I was sat at the back and as the driver was trying to make up time he was going at a fair speed and I felt all the bumps,it wasnt a comfortable ride back. My bum left the seat everytime we went over the small bridges and there were quite a few!

I maybe sound a bit negative but the canyon is somewhere I have felt I should visit but never really wanted to. I am sure if it is somewhere you want go (as Im sure most of you do, im just weird!) you would enjoy the tour. If anybody wants anymore info just ask.

Tried TDB for the first time too, very nice! Have eaten similar at home, La Fazenda. In comparison the salad bar at TDB was much nicer, awesome lobster bisque. The meats were also great but I struggle to keep eating so can be an expensive meal but my OH makes up for me. Total cost inc 4 soft drinks and 1 dessert for 3 adults and 1 child with a 10% off coupon $182 + tip.

Nothing to report on the gambling side. Im mainly a slot player do play pai gow and NL hold em but not started with cards yet.
Only had $120 bonus on more chillis and $180 on big sky ( do you know those Ferf?) Only played big sky as saw a youtube win on it....

sew109

costingbunny wrote: »

My first LV visit was in March and the cocktail service was an unknown to me too. Didn't do much gambling at all really but first night in the Bellagio spent about $10 and the waitress wandered past so I asked for a red wine - couldn't think of anything else! Five mins later was mooching aruond with a lovely big glass (real) of tasty vino.

What I didn't realise until I got to LV was that the waitresses don't literally come up to you (my experience anyway) and ask if you want a drink - you need to kind of catch their eye but not in an impolite manner. Was fun to get freebies but then we discovered $1 frozen margatrias and Michelob in Bills bar :beer:

Almost everything I know about getting free drinks in Vegas is listed here

http://vegasuncovered.wordpress.com/2008/05/07/free-drinks-in-vegas-casinos-etiquette/

Cheers
Simon

livesforholidays

Sorry, I know that it looks bad that my first post is selling something on but have lurked on this site for years and have found it an invaluable source of information.

mat5664

CASINOS

glenbois wrote: »

If you want to drink and don't really want to gamble to earn your drink, where are the best places to go? We got 6 nights in Vegas and will just explore the strip but one or two bars named by yourselves as a good place to get a drink would be handy if we happened to walk past them. Strip and Fremont St recommendations please. Not fussy on what we drink as we won't be getting our favorite tipple of really dry cider in the states anyway. Exclude beers from the drinks menu as we don't like it. Thanks

Well, you don't have to gamble to get free drinks. Just sitting by a machine will be enough.

My favourite place for a drink is outside at Parasol down at Wynn. You may have to wait a few minutes for a table, but the seats are comfy and you get to see the weird show on the Lake of Dreams every 30 minutes.

ferf1223

VALUE FOR MONEY

bubble113 wrote: »

Nothing to report on the gambling side. Im mainly a slot player do play pai gow and NL hold em but not started with cards yet.
Only had $120 bonus on more chillis and $180 on big sky ( do you know those Ferf?) Only played big sky as saw a youtube win on it....

I was thinking Night Sky (lady, telescopes as feature triggers, hates me) but just googled and no I have not seen Big Sky! It looks like my sort of machine though - where did you play it? Will put it on the list for October.

And on the GC...I have to be honest...it was kind of like that for me too - I felt I should go, but was somewhat indifferent about it - which is probably why it took us so many years to finally go and only then when we brought the in-laws to Vegas (had to make it more of a legitimate trip by throwing in something like that, you know)...I am glad I went, it was a sight to behold...the stars at night were my favorite part though so staying overnight was actually what made it really special for me...I guess we're both weird.

ferf1223

VALUE FOR MONEY

mat5664 wrote: »

Well, you don't have to gamble to get free drinks. Just sitting by a machine will be enough.

though it would be customary to at least put some money in the machine ...we have seen people playing 1 line 1 cent, slowly...clearly there for the drinks only...have also seen cocktail waitresses refuse to serve the people sitting next to them at another slot machine not even bothering to slow play...so at least giving the perception that you are playing may be a better plan.

pebblesmax

VALUE FOR MONEY

We did GC on our 7th trip. Drove out in the morning, watched the IMAX video, drove around the main viewpoints. Went to the hotel just outside the state park. ( I think it was a Holiday Inn) Slept for Britain ( I did all the driving.) got up next morning, breakfast at the hotel, another trip around the viewpoints, back toVegas via Laughlin. The contrast between the sunset and sunrise was worth seeing, but there is no way that I would make the same trip again because I. Hate. Driving. And no one else would do it.

secretmachines

VALUE FOR MONEY

i know it's not everyone's favourite show, but with it ending its run in a few weeks, you can pick up tickets from 2-for-$75 (+service charge i think) ... so you should be able to get a couple of tickets for about $100 ... worth a gamble i'd have thought?

last show is on 31 August.

https://reservations.mgmmirage.com/bookingengine.aspx?pid=930&host=ticketing&code=ELSocialMedia2012