A collection of Vegas questions
 

1. I've read about not getting dragged around by a taxi driver running up the bill from the airport, but how to direct the driver to avoid this? We are staying at the Aria (City Center).

2. Has anyone seen the Cirque Elvis show? Our package includes tickets to a choice (excluding O) of cirque shows.

3. Thinking about going to the South Rim. I realize I can rent and drive, but there is a certain stress/family squabbling I hope to avoid with a tour. Any experiences with any of the tours, or tips on this?

Thanks!

first off, as far as seeing the south rim, you may be better off renting a car since you indicated a specific family squabbling incident that may arise, this way, at least youre on youre own clock and can avoid any unpleasant situations that may arise if you were in a public setting.'

ive been to vegas 3 times: 2004, 2007, and 2010..of these 2004 was my best trip there as vegas has become ever so heavy commercialized in recent years.

be prepared to open up your wallet, as merchants are geared to take just about any dollar they can from you, this holds true especially for just about any buffet meal found along the strip as just about any fodorite will advise you that dining for dinnertime is the highest price meal of the day.

getting a rental car will allow your family the option of much cheaper dining options as soon as you depart the vicinity of the strip...not only that, you wont be reliant on the heavily and overcrowded deuce bus system where they usually tend to pack riders into their buses tighter than sardines in an aluminum can.

entertainment is thrilling in vegas, but that entertainment comes with a glimmering price tag as bright as the lights of vegas itself.

never seen a cirque elvis show, but in vegas, elvis is around about every 1,000 square feet, so you may want to consider other elvis attractions if cirque gets pricey.

aria is nice, but with a nice price and its slots are nowhere near being generous. nor are its tables for that matter. looser slots and warmer tables can be found around fremont street area.

have fun in vegas, but doing plenty of research before heading out there will pay off in spades (no pun intended).

I can't help with 1 and 2 as we always rent a car and usually just stay in Vegas during the first and last nights.

3. Our first trip to Vegas in the 90s, we took a small plane trip to the south rim of GC. We met a bus near GC village and went to the great viewpoints along the way. It was an ok introduction to the GC and very interesting to see the canyon from Lake Meade to the National Park, but would have been cheaper to just go ourselves, which we have done 5 or 6 times since.

Getting a car will also let you go to Valley of Fire, Red Rock Canyon, Hoover Dam, etc. all an hour or so from Vegas. Parking is free in most of the hotels in town and if you search a little you can find rental cars at pretty good rates in town.

Thanks to you both. A few comments I didn't clarify: we don't squabble randomly- it's that directions based stuff- but I'll take the car comments to heart. Actually, I don't gamble at all- I could stay here, open the window and throw all my money out. I like guaranteed return- like buying stuff!

I just had a rental car flat tire experience (brand new car) so that was also part of my worry with a rental, but you make good points.

"we don't squabble randomly- it's that directions based stuff"

My husband and I have had some epic fights over "directions based stuff". My kids would cower in the back seat of the rental car waiting to see who came out alive. Get a GPS. If I had spent $1,000 on mine, I wouldn't feel cheated. Driving new places on vacation is now a civil activity once again.

I kinda DOUBT some cab driver is going to try to cheat you on the way to the Aria. Just so you KNOW..if the driver goes beyond the Bellagio then you're starting to pay extra so tell the driver to please do a U turn.

The Elvis Show....it has to be, IMO, one of the BEST Cirque shows we have ever seen and we have seen virtually all of them beginning with their street days in Montreal.

It is not a "traditional" Cirque thing with lots of crazy acrobats and so forth but the music is great (as always) AND THE VISUALS ARE SENSATIONAL.

ilana, for number 1; tell the driver to please take Paradise Road. I actually rent a car from the airport when I arrive. I rent from dollar rent a car and if you join their 'fast lane' club you can have your reservations done and jump to the front of the line to get your car. A free shuttle bus will take you to the car lot. To Aria from the airport should be a $10 to $12 cab ride.
2. I have not seen Elvis but we saw Love(beatles) and it was very entertaining. Don't sit to close to the stage as you will miss out on some of the action.
3. A trip to the south rim is a very long day. It was dark driving back to vegas and the lights of the strip were cool for my kids to admire. The Grand Canyon is a must see destination. There are plenty of sights to see making a rental car worth the money. I have a Tom Tom GPS navigator, they are pretty cheap and I half jokingly say they saved our marriage as my wife does not drive well or read a map at all. You did not say when you will visiting Las Vegas. The last time I was there in July the temp was 116 F so take a lot of water with you on any road trip.1 gallon per person is recommended. Excliber has a floor with tons of video games for kids. Enjoy your trip, ziggypop

I can only answer question 1. Just tell the driver that you do not want to go through the tunnel. Going the tunnel route adds about $5 to your bill and is usually not quicker.

The cabbie issues are greatly exaggerated imho. I've been to Vegas many times and not once has a cabbie taken anything other than the direct route, although sometimes they will ask "freeway or go through the city?" The answer is usually "city."

So I agree with tom42 - just tell the driver not to take the tunnel. Aria is a short drive, it shouldn't be much of an issue. I generally prefer to rent a car, but taking a cab isn't that big a deal.

Viva Elvis does not get the greatest reviews. I've seen O, LOVE and Mystere and would recommend all of the above. If you've never seen a Cirque show, go for Mystere. If you really like the Beatles, go with LOVE.

Thank you all. We are going at the end of February and I am going to also download the Fodors day trips from Las Vegas guide for some planning help.

<<<Actually, I don't gamble at all- I could stay here, open the window and throw all my money out.>>>

Are you my sister-in-law? :-)

sf, I thought I was the only one...but I'm excited about our side trips. 21yo is excited about being able to flash his ID, even though he looks 15.