Las Vegas guide and MSE thread 2012

totallybored

CASINOS

ferf1223 wrote: »

something to add to the list of reasons to recommend, then?

I also really want to know what's wrong with MAG...why we should not be recommending it...it's a brilliant place to enjoy a meal in Vegas if you sit on the patio, not terribly expensive (maybe that's why we shouldn't recommend it) and good food (we think).

Without wanting to upset anyone, I hate MAG. I don't rate the food (what is it with those fries!) and I dislike sitting on the patio as you're too close to all those people on the sidewalk (I'm not keen on other people either).

I've had decent French food at the bistro in the Cosmo and the French place in the Palazzo both of which are very reasonably priced. Higher end French food and you can't beat L'Atelier at MGM.

I'd also prefer an In N Out any day. I dream of a double double as I've not had one for a year

nvh

MAG annoyed us cos smoking is allowed on the patio and last time we got stuck.right next to a guy (who moved away from their table, and closer to ours when he wanted to smoke!)

I was also ill when I went and didn't get to eat much, and when they collected my monies, they automatically kept my change (which really !!!!es me off)

That being said, I'm putting it down to one offs as no-one else.has mentioned it and would love to try the food properly!

ferf1223

VALUE FOR MONEY

totallybored wrote: »

Without wanting to upset anyone, I hate MAG. I don't rate the food (what is it with those fries!) and I dislike sitting on the patio as you're too close to all those people on the sidewalk (I'm not keen on other people either).

I've had decent French food at the bistro in the Cosmo and the French place in the Palazzo both of which are very reasonably priced. Higher end French food and you can't beat L'Atelier at MGM.

I'd also prefer an In N Out any day. I dream of a double double as I've not had one for a year

Doubt you'll upset anyone. I know some don't like the frites (I do not mind them) and have had really good food there (breakfast was great too, though pricey - but had voucher)...but I'm not necessarily a fan of proper French food...maybe I am, I don't really eat French food very often. And I love the people-watching from the patio...so just different strokes.

And a double double animal style...now properly fixated - we didn't go last trip...must sort that out soon!

ferf1223

VALUE FOR MONEY

nvh wrote: »

The key things in making a recomendations are:
a) trying to understand what they like
b) trying to understand their budget
c) working off personal experience

even then, we'll never get it right so just throw your own suggestion forward and at least you get to say "told you so" afterwards

Agree - it's not a one-size-fits-all place by any stretch of the imagination...just that when people seem to imply that others are doing it all wrong it can come off a bit...something.

totallybored

CASINOS

ferf1223 wrote: »

Doubt you'll upset anyone. I know some don't like the frites (I do not mind them) and have had really good food there (breakfast was great too, though pricey - but had voucher)...but I'm not necessarily a fan of proper French food...maybe I am, I don't really eat French food very often. And I love the people-watching from the patio...so just different strokes.

And a double double animal style...now properly fixated - we didn't go last trip...must sort that out soon!

That's probably why I don't like it, I love French food (but not the French themselves) and is probably one of the few cuisines I've learnt to cook a few dishes of incredibly well. I've also had breakfast at the expensive French place in the Venetian (I can't remember the name) and that was very good indeed.

I've not been to Vegas this year unfortunately:( I did go to Macau and managed to go to the Fatburger in the Venetian there but it just wasn't the same

ferf1223

VALUE FOR MONEY

I still have not tried Fatburger...keep thinking I should so I could compare, but just too big a fan of In N Out...

elantan

ferf1223 wrote: »

Thanks for the trip report, appreciate that you took time to give an alternate view.

I wasn't sure on this though if you guys went to the restaurant or the BBQ at Ellis Island - originally thought the BBQ since you were after ribs...if so surprised that you didn't enjoy it - it's one of our favorites and my in-laws still talk about it nearly 3 years on...my FIL loved EI overall, as he liked the feel of a small more locals-sort of a place. We have only had a meal in the EI restaurant once, the steak special, and we thought it was OK but nothing that exciting...many think it's the best deal in town though...and it is certainly inexpensive.

As for food in general, also surprised as the food in the US is one of the things we look most forward to...I'm American so I could blame that, but English hubby too - and many here...one of the reasons that a kitchen in our hotel room isn't really at all important to us as so many options to eat out. It's all a matter of personal taste of course, and understand that some won't agree.

Sorry that you did not enjoy Vegas...I can understand that certain parts of it would be a big downer (like the panhandlers, etc). As for those playing the slots, we probably look a bit mesmerized and not like we are having a lot of fun, but really we are - usually. Vegas is a man-made playground, so I can see if someone is really more interested in natural sorts of places that it would not really suit them.

when we arrived at Ellis island there were no ribs left so we ate in the restuarant we had the steak deal thing that they do i just didnt think much of it tbh and didnt understand what the fuss was about, we did have the ribs another night as i had heard alot of people talk about them, they were ok a bit too fatty for me though but nothing special.

tbh i think i am very spoiled when it comes to food. i grown my own fruit and veg organically and i happen to be married to an amazing cook, so we really are very fussy when it comes to food, we really enjoy our food and eat out often so again that would possibly make us more fussy than most people, dont get me wrong Eliis island is cheap enough, and it isnt the worst food i have ever tasted, it just wasnt anything i felt was worth shouting about, i do fully understand though that others will really enjoy the food and the experience at Ellis island i just felt it was important to give my honest opinion

Vegas was a means to an end for us, we got to rest a wee bit and after the hard times that we have had recently ( husband had to total mental breakdown i had a t.i.a plus much more) and we got into the time zone so that we could enjoy the rest of our time.

i do enjoy nature and spend alot of my time walking etc but i do also enjoy other man made things, London is my fave city to spend some time. i dare say the individuals playing the puggy's are having fun they must do or they wouldnt be doing it but i spose for us it was really strange to watch, no one was smiling, they were just sitting staring at the machine and feeding it, it honestly seemed to us like they were hypnotised. maybe if we had tried gambling or something maybe we would've "got it" but it didnt look like fun so we left it

elantan

BlueWorldOrder wrote: »

Sorry but I've just laughed my way through your entire review. I particularly loved the part about others being miserable :beer:

Each to their own I guess...

i'm glad you did, as i said it isnt intended to insult anyone or upset anyone it was just my opinion of my holiday

there may have been happy people there. in fact i would assume there would be no one i know goes on holiday to be miserable, maybe we just went out at the wrong time or maybe we went to the wrong places but we did find it fascinating ( in a watching jeremy kyle car crash kinda way) that no one seemed happy including the newly married couple which was in it's on way a bizzare thing to see

adrienne1945

HOTELS

elantan wrote: »

i'm glad you did, as i said it isnt intended to insult anyone or upset anyone it was just my opinion of my holiday

there may have been happy people there. in fact i would assume there would be no one i know goes on holiday to be miserable, maybe we just went out at the wrong time or maybe we went to the wrong places but we did find it fascinating ( in a watching jeremy kyle car crash kinda way) that no one seemed happy including the newly married couple which was in it's on way a bizzare thing to see

I too had a laugh at some of your comments. I remember the first time I persuaded my present OH to go there. On arrival in our room he threw his stuff on the bed stamped his foot like a naughty kid and said that if I thought he was spending more than 1 night in this dump of a town I was mistaken. I was immediately into panic mode as we were due to stay at grand canyon 4 nights later & there's nothing much to do in between. Anyway after me dragging him that night up and down the strip to site see he fell in love with the place. So we're still together 15 years on and still loving vegas

baza52

CASINOS

nvh wrote: »

finally got to 15000 points on myVegas - what a ball ache!!! It was getting harder and harder to collect points so i've cashed out and stopped playing (theres no point playing after you've cashed out as the 'earning rate' is so much harder, the more 'VIP' you are (you wouldn't catch a casino rating that way would you!?))

So got meself a pair of Mirage Secret Dolphin Garden thingy tickets.... I know they're included as part of the resort fee @ Mirage but not planning on staying there any time soon and it'll kill a bit of time - few years since we've been too

You should join the MyVegas friends group on Facebook. I cashed in (and the wife) 25,000 each and we are well on the way to another 50,000 LP's each before we go in October.
Ive been to the secret garden a few times and although its the same everytime where else can you you see dolphins in vegas.
Dont think id visit it again tho i would recommend it to others.

Ive heard the guy who started the group is a top bloke.