1st Trip to Vegas, where to stay
 

My husband and I are planning our first trip to Vegas. We'll be celebrating our 10th anniversary and want to splurge a bit. Where should we stay? Any "must sees" or fantastic restaurants? We plan to gamble a little, sight-see a little and just relax a bit too. Also we're pretty flexible on when we go -- anywhere from May to Nov. of 2007, is there a best time to visit?

We were there this Labor Day and stayed at THEHotel at Mandalay Bay. It was a lovely room and well worth the money. We also saw the Cirque du Soleil show "Love," which was AMAZING. Have Fun!

There have been many discussion about this, but our favorite hotel is a lakeview room at Bellagio. We have tried other options from high-end like The Hotel at Mandalay Bay to medium range such as Monte Carlo, but Bellagio is still our favorite.

If you are flexible on your dates, your could go to the Bellagio website (or any other hotels for that matter) and enter their email list. Then wait until you get a special offer from them. If you are not locked into a weekend, you could get a better rate as well. Most of the hotels have a calendar on their websites with the prices on each day.

We recently received a snail mail from Bellagio offering rooms at $149/night (from Sunday to Thursday).

I would start with a spin through the Las Vegas info on fodors.com. Then I'd do a tour on this wonderful site:

www.cheapovegas.com

It's a funny, unvarnished look at everything Vegas has to offer.

For your first trip, I'd stay on the Strip, fairly close to the center. The Newest Thing is the Wynn, the Five-Diamond Experience is Bellagio, the Best Theme Park Experience is the Venetian, and the Venerable Class Act is Mirage. Any of these would be just fine.

The Vegas restaurant scene has remarkable turnover, and trendy eateries have shockingly short shelf lives. Bellagio has Picasso, which is pretty wonderful if you have the money. Other posters can suggest alternatives.

When to go? If you like heat and lots of it, anytime between May and early October. If you want it cooler, mid-October through November.

Do not underestimate how HOT it will be during the summer. When it is 110 Deg F is does not matter that it is a dry heat. It feels like your skin is on fire if you are outside for any length of time. The pools fill up by 10 am.

I prefer early May and late September to maximize the pool time with warm/hot temperatures but not unbearable.

Go mid week (Sun - Thurs) to get the best hotel rates. Weekends can be 2-3 times more expensive.

Check out the Wynn, Bellagio, Venetian, Ceasars, Mandalay Bay. Other good hotels that are a step below those would be Paris, Mirage, MGM, Luxor.

Somewhere near the middle of the Strip. Although I favor MB, I would never suggest a first-timer stay there, mainly due to location. I'm partial to Paris myself.

Stay center strip. May will be very hot, I'd recommend Nov. I just returned last night from my umteenth time in Vegas and I normally stay at the Mirage or Treasure Island. This visit was the Mirage, two weeks ago T.I. THEHotel may be lovely, but it is just too far location wise. Check dates/rates for Mirage, Paris, Bellagio, T.I., Venetian - all are good choices.

If you're in Vegas for an adult weekend, I highly recommend Caesar's Palace. Their Palace and Augustus Towers are very luxurious, and many rooms have jacuzzi tubs. This is not a hotel that caters to families, so it is perfect for an anniversary weekend! Be sure and tell the staff it is your anniversary and they will treat you even better! The pools are gorgeous, and one offers a topless area.

Do check out www.cheapovegas.com for reviews. That is one of my favorite Vegas sites!

There are SO many great restaurants that it really just depends on your budget and tastes. Shows also offer many choices and prices. We like to see the headliner comedians (Jay Leno was our very favorite) and many people like the Cirque de Soleil shows.

Don't go in July and August unless you can stand severe heat. To me, May is the perfect month in Vegas. :-)

Since you mentioned splurging a little bit, I would recommend Bellagio first and foremost. After that the Wynn, THEhotel, Venetian, maybe Caesars.

I would get tickets to O at the Bellagio (or maybe Mystere or LOVE) for a very special night out.

There are so many top restaurants that its hard to pick one, but search chowhound or other websites for tons of suggestions.

I would nominate the Mandalay Bay or the Bellagio....upon entering the Mandalay Bay you are greated with the most heavenly smell---sort of like a casino wide aromatherapy---you hardly ever smell cigarette smoke in the casinos at Mandalay Bay or The Bellagio---and the breakfast buffet and bellagio was absolutely heavenly

I say stay in the middle of everything, which, in Las Vegas, means mid-Strip.

Caesar's is mid-Strip as are nearby hotels; however, keep in mind that maps of Las Vegas are deceptive in that it is about half a mile from one hotel to the next.

Without a doubt, the Wynn is the best resort on the Strip.

Don't even consider anywhere else, particularly for a 10th anniversary (with no children, presumably).

www.wynnlasvegas.com

Thank you all so much for the great info. I've already gotten onto some mailing lists to keep up with specials and such. We'll probably end up visiting in November since we have 3 kids, and that's kind of a quiet time with all their activities and I'm really not into excessive heat. Yes, this is definitely a kid-free vacation -- the first we've taken so I'm really enjoying the planning. Thanks again.

gekko, tell me about the Wynn rooms! I have a reservation there for an anniversary, but like I said in the Ritz Lake Las Vegas post, I can't get over that the rooms look really strange in the pics...am I the only one who thinks that? Do they look better in person?

The rooms at the Wynn are very large, plush, elegant, user-friendly and extremely "new" (obviously).

The bathroom -- huge, with separate room for the toilet, double vanity of course, jacuzzi tub with separate all-glass shower stall, etc.

My favorite feature -- the blinds, both the solid and sheer, operate remotely, so you can let the sun shine in from your bed.

In addition to the rooms, the Wynn itself is far and away the best property on the Strip, in my opinion. The grounds, restaurants, casino, pool, club, lounge ....

Finally, I presume its "newness" means few discounts, and that fact is reflected in the clientele.

thanks for your reply, gekko.

You have some great suggestions. As someone who likes to relax a bit, I find the pool to be important. Although I love hot weather to be out by the pool, Las Vegas is extremely hot in the summer (albeit great for poolside activities). Also, this tends to be low season for hotel rates.

I recommend the summer for the best rates (if the heat isn't a real problem for you) and to arrive on Sunday and stay 3-4 nights, cheaper than the weekend. Probably easiest to get a awesome upgrade to a suite etc. at some of the nicer hotels.

The one must see item in Las Vegas is a Cirque de Soleil show. I have been to O at the the Bellagio, and it is terrific.

I tell this because you should book a Cirque de Soleil show when booking your hotel room because they sell out quickly.

Also, if you stay at the Bellagio, they give you preferential seating for O.

I have also heard great things about the Cirque de Soleil's Ka at the MGM.

Le Reve, at the Wynn, is incredible. It is not Cirque, but it is just as good as "O" if not better.

Enjoy!

Did you read about Steve Wynn poking a hole in his La Reve Picasso? Poor guy, but I'm sure it was insured...


http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061018/...kxBHNlYwN0bQ--

Not to contradict Gekko about the Wynn, I'm sure it's a lovely place to stay, but IMO it's too far from the center of the strip and all that has to offer. It's not within easy walking distance, anyway. Our first visit to Las Vegas many years ago I was surprised at how long it took to get from one hotel to the next on foot. They look so close on the map...:-)

"Best" can be subjective when there are several high class options. What are you looking for? Romantic? (Bellagio) modern sleek? (Wynns) Vegas Luxury Kitsch par excellance (Caesars) Wynn's is the newest, and delux, but some of the hotel decor seem almost generic to me. Parts are beautiful, and their buffet is the best value for really high quality food. Bellagio is also delux, and I like the hotel and casino decor better, but that's subjective. Bellagio's conservatory and the fountains are the best free entertainment in Vegas. Some people have posted messages saying they preferred the Venetian rooms or Wynn rooms over Bellagio, for different reasons. For my money, Bellagio has the better location, with Caesars, Paris, Ballys, Flamingo, Mirage all within walking distance. Some people really like the Venetian, for its reproductions of Venetian architecture, shops and rooms. I find its casino stuffy. I was there twice when they had leaks in the ceiling from the grand canal above, and were pumping huge quantities of freshener into the air because of mold or mildew. Nobody else has ever posted a comment on this. We like walking around from one casino to another, which is why we like the Bellagio - Caesars Palace - Flamingo - Ballys - Paris corner. We've also walked all the way to the Venetian, however. You can take the new double decker buses up and down the strip if you don't feel like walking. $5 for a 24 hour pass - a great deal. If you are interested in a spa treatment, check out the web sites for what each hotel offers. October has been the most consistent for good weather for us. We go 2-3 times a year, and have been in Vegas in January, February, May, June, July, August, September, October and November. I definitely do not recommend July and August, unless you like baking, but some people do if they're going for the pool experience. Late June and even September can also be hot hot. October is a popular month, however. Check out the Vegas visitors and convention bureau web site at www.visitlasvegas.com to find out who will be appearing and what will be going on (shows, conventions, even weddings and family reunions are listed through one of their links). Whenever you go, don't take Vegas seriously and you'll have a great time. Check out other threads for extensive comments on restaurants. Good luck!

there are along list of good hotels all along the strip it depends on which europe country you want to visit:) - they all have their deals and attractions- everyone will be fun. when i was there we stayed at circus circus which was fine and we did a whole round of visits to the other hotels to enjoy their attractions and shows. if you need ideas of what to do in Las Vegas or the surrounding areas you can try www.tripcart.com , it has a guide for the city ( i found it useful for nature places to see around the city)

Circus Circus is a dump in a horrible location. Having made the mistake once, I would NEVER stay there again. And first time visitors should not waste their money there.

There is a reason why Circus Circus is cheap. It's a dump.

Do you have any idea what should be the hotel which is worth for many and most enjoyable?

tozzman,
you might want to rephrase your question...I didn't quite understand what you are asking...

Puzzled why Circus Circus is being brought up when the OP said they wanted to splurge. When I hear splurge, I think Bellagio, Wynn and the Venetian.

good point, trippin, lol!

And frankly I'd take any advice from that Noa26 poster with a boulder-sized grain of salt. He/she appears to be a shill for the tripcart.com site-- by the way, a laughably bad travel resource.

Cicrus Circus was brought up because tozzman is advertising his website.

He has a bunch of posts recently linking the site.

GenieMom,
We stayed at the Four Seasons located in Manadaly Bay. You have a separate entrance and calm atmosphere versus the craziness found in other lobbies. Also, you aren't trecking long distances to get to the pool or bar and restaurant. And the pool at the Four Seasons is very plush and not overwhelming as the others, imo.

After our first trip there in August, we will not stay anywhere else. Its a nice oasis among all the nonstop craziness.

Beachgirl makes a good point about atmosphere. If you want calm, you may want a more exclusive setting, for which I'm sure you'll pay. I actually go to Vegas for the craziness and the crowds, although I'm not fond of standing in long check in lines. You can get a separate entrance at almost any of the high class hotels by renting one of the high roller suites! Lower cost alternatives to avoiding lines would be to check in at the airport if it's available. Some of the hotels have check-in desks by baggage claim. If you arrive early in the morning it's much less likely you'll be able to check in there, in which case you go to the hotel, store your bags and wander around until you can check in. Mandalay Bay is a great facility, but Huuuge - it's a long walk from the casino/hotel section to Shark Reef, for example. It's also a long walk to other casinos. Try to imagine how you want to spend your time. Lounging about and exploring one or two casinos and all the assorted restaurants? Shopping? Walking around and visiting several places? Catching free entertainment? Taking the bus up and down the strip? Try to find a map that shows distances if you want to walk. Most of the strip maps make it look like every casino is a hop, skip and a short jump from the next. The ones that are the closest together are the center strip - the Bellagio, Caesars, Flamingo, Bally's, Paris corner. Almost forgot to mention. If you want to experience one of the high kitsch points of Vegas off the strip, take a shuttle bus or taxi to the Liberace museums (actually two buildings), located in a strip mall of all places. The collection of pianos and costumes is fascinating and the admission price goes to support the foundation he created to support performing artists. I resisted my wife's pleas to go there for years, until she threated to boycott Vegas unless we went (and she loves Vegas). I enjoyed it! There was a free shuttle bus that picked up at some of the hotels the last time I checked. I would not recommend this over a Cirque du Soliel show, of course, but it's fun.

hello, you can start looking in fodors http://www.fodors.com/reviews/lrevse...p;lpos=top_nav
they have ratings of the hotels, for ideas of what to do in Las Vegas or the area around i would try www.tripcart.com/usa-regions/Las-Vegas.aspx

Hi geniemom26,

I would go in November, especially if you want to get out and explore a bunch...

When we went this past May, it felt like 100 degrees at 9am in the morning! (I have to admit...it was great for sitting by the pool at the Mirage.)

We've been to Vegas a few times and stayed at the Luxor, Mirage, The Venetian, Imperial Palace (just say NO!) and NYNY. If I were suggesting a hotel for a first-time anniversary "splurge", I'd definitely go for the Venetian! Incredible rooms and service. We love the location.

Just a tip. Vegas is incredible ALL the time but even more so at night. Stay up late. Sleep in. And don't feel guilty about it. : )

I just curious now why many people complaints to Circus Circus, I have read the review from Yahoo Travel, they got many positive review and it is the great place for family. Or Las Vegas is not good place for Kids?

Circus Circus is a old hotel in a dump part of town. There is a reason it is cheap.

Tozz, why come on this post and talk (twice) about Circus Circus when the OP said she wanted to splurge.

I suggest you post a new thread and you'll get all the answers you want about Circus Circus.

No, Las Vegas is NOT a good place for kids.

Although Vegas went through a period of trying to appeal to families, I believe that time has come & gone. It is one of the very few places that I will not take my children.