If this holds true....thanks a million will check it out and try to get it!!!I know Venetian + Bellagio are the top dogs(99$ would be an unbeleivable steal)...Mom and Aunt are really average down to earth people....does this place act snobby or cater specifically to the "rich"(Venetian)....I know all hotels are about "the Money" ...just don't want them to feel uncomfortable if they're only spending normal amounts!!!!Thanks

In Vegas there is no 'attitude' at nicer hotels IMO, assuming you don't walk around in tattered, stained jeans shorts with smelly beer belly hanging out your shirt at Bellagio.
If you're just an average joe at Venetian you'll be treated just fine.
Vegas is not a classy place by any means. It's not Beverly Hills.
People worry about stuffiness at Venetian and Bellagio, etc, but I've never seen an 'attitude' there unless, like I said, people ask for it by being inappropriate.

Mike you are the "Man"...called the Venetian this morning and indeed they were running the special with the code you mentioned for these dates(aug 4-8)...exactly when they're going...asked about the perception of "90210crowd"or "the snobby"(no offense...mom+aunt+me just average working stiffs!!)...rep..said "their was no attitude,,,here!!"...guess money is money..wether it's a 1$ AT A TIME OR 10,000$! STANDARD SUITE WAS 99$(king size bed only)....Queen was (129$)...still dont mind the 129$ price...not often you get the best of the best for a mere 30$ upgrade from the other contenders(MGM,LUXOR,Aladdin)....thanks a million,,,Mike.....P.S....I know in Vegas you walk and walk to see all the sites...but in general is the part of the strip "happening" or will it matter staying in the "warm bubble" of the Venetian...Rep said Mirage and Treasure island are close by....or does it even matter!!!!!

Most everything worth seeing is south of Treasure Island.
Two pockets: one in the mid strip by Venetian/Bellagio/Mirage/TI/Aladdin, the second down by Mandalay Bay/Luxor/MGM/NYNY.
You should visit both areas.
Can walk it comfortably at night, but too warm during August days.

One nice feature that a lot of people don't know about is that once you get to Bellagio, you can go inside the hotel and walk through the shops, casino, and lobby (all of which are worth seeing -- especially the lobby with the glass flowers on the ceiling and the conservatory), then take a free monorail to Monte Carlo. From there you're right next door to NYNY. From NYNY you can walk across the bridge over the Strip to MGM, or across to Excalibur, where you can catch a monorail to Luxor and Mandalay Bay. Saves a lot of walking at that end of the Strip -- esp. the distance from Bellagio to Monte Carlo.

There is also a monorail that runs between MGM and Bally's, but IMHO it's usually not worth it because a) it runs infrequently and b) you have to walk about 100 miles through MGM to get to/from it.

Take your folks to the buffet at Mandalay Bay, which we think is the best in Vegas!!!

thanks for the monorail and buffet(mandalay bay)info!!!!!

Vence, Please let us know how all goes when you get back.Would like to hear how you like the Venetian.
Have a good time.

Will do!!!Thanks for all the helpful feedback!!!

Vence don't worry about snobbery in Vegas. Vegas is full of hicks like me and we have a great time there just like the high-rollers.

Hope your mom is a healthy walker. From the Venetian there is a walkway across the strip to the Treasure Island, and then you can tram to the Mirage (Great salads at the California Pizza Kitchen). From there exit south to Caesars Palace and don't miss the Forum Shoppes there.(Good dining at Bertolini's or The Cheesecake Factory). A little further down is Bellagio, and you can take their monorail down to Monte Carlo and NYNY.

You might have to splurge on a cab or two, because August in Vegas will be hotter than heck. Drink water religiously for days on end before going to Vegas so that you won't get dehydrated. In Vegas there's so much to see and do that you'll forget to take care of yourself with plenty of water - so hydrate well ahead of time!

At the Venetian, The Grand Luxe Cafe is excellent, share an appetizer, a salad and an entree and you'll have plenty. The Warner Brothers restaurant is a casual yet classy place for a birthday meal that won't break the bank.

Of the hotels you mentioned, I have only stayed at the Luxor and found it to be very disorienting! However, the rooms were quite large, stay in the Pyramid if you do choose it.

thanks Hector...sounds like you've been several times already and really know how to power pack your stay...hope i can put a flexible plan together that will allow us to get quite a bit done....did not understand the last posters comment about the Luxor being disorienting...all of the hotels seem to be super sized and immaculately laid out....I've seen on the "travel"channel where they(casino architects)purposefully attempt to design in a way that keeps you circulating in and around the casino floor!!!Thanks for the comments!!!!

I've stayed at MGM Grand several times and Mandalay Bay (actually the Four Seasons at the top) once. Mandalay is beautiful, but you're definitely at the end of things. MGM Grand is huge, but I love it there. The whole Studio Walk area is lots of fun--great restaurants and shops, plus a nice pool area. The Luxor did not seem as nice to me, but I haven't stayed there, and I haven't been in Aladdin.

I'd agree with the person who recommended the California Pizza Kitchen at Mirage...it's a chain so there may be one wherever you live, but I particularly like the one at the Mirage because it overlooks the casino and you can do some great people-watching. It's one of my favorite Vegas lunch spots (try the Garlic Chicken or Thai Chicken pizzas...also great salads).

My other fave place for lunch in Vegas is at Spago's in the Forum Shops at Caesar's. It's one of those famous Wolfgang Puck restaurants that everybody ought to go to once just so they can say they've been there, but I do think the food is great and the prices are very reasonable at lunch. My favorite thing about it, though, is its sidewalk cafe-style seating in the Forum Shops -- one of the best places in Vegas to enjoy a good meal and watch the world go by. (Plus it's the closest you want to come to outdoor dining in Vegas most of the year).

Finally!!!Closed the deal....Drum roll....Chose Aladdin(no big secret!)...thought Price,location,and age(less than 2 yrs old) of the hotel helped seal the deal....Hope that service and room meet expectations....Would have picked Venetian....(deal and room looked to be awesome!)but just feel that a central location would be better and I feel the south end of the strip is where the heart of Vegas really is(now)...with MGM,Luxor,NyNy,Mandalay,....although Aladdin is a block or 2 over from MGM it seems close...plus Bellagio and Paris are practically right next door...Anyway enough of the "anylitical" stuff...Hope to have a blast...and thanks for all of the info,opinions,and comments!!!!ViVa Las Vegas!!!!!!