Caesar's Palace or Mirage
Mar 21st, 2008, 05:46 PM
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Caesar's Palace or Mirage
Hi, we plan to visit Las Vegas the last week of April. Two retired school teachers off to celebrate!
We have narrowed the hotel choices down to Caesar's or the Mirage. We will be seeing Love at the Mirage. Should we stay there, even though there is construction going on or stay at Caesars? I don't know if we will be able to go the the pool due to the temperature. Are they heated, how do they compare? If we pick Caesar's, is walking over to the Mirage at night and back safe and doable? Should we just stay at the Mirage to be on the safe side. They seem too close to take a cab.
Also we will spluge a couple of times to eat. Are Bobby Flay's and Mario B.'s places worth the splurge. I have eaten at Emeril's in N.O. so I am comparing the food network chefs!Thanks for any tips.
We have narrowed the hotel choices down to Caesar's or the Mirage. We will be seeing Love at the Mirage. Should we stay there, even though there is construction going on or stay at Caesars? I don't know if we will be able to go the the pool due to the temperature. Are they heated, how do they compare? If we pick Caesar's, is walking over to the Mirage at night and back safe and doable? Should we just stay at the Mirage to be on the safe side. They seem too close to take a cab.
Also we will spluge a couple of times to eat. Are Bobby Flay's and Mario B.'s places worth the splurge. I have eaten at Emeril's in N.O. so I am comparing the food network chefs!Thanks for any tips.
Mar 22nd, 2008, 01:35 PM
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Both Mirage and Caesars are excellent resorts. I believe the pool at Mirage is heated and is open year round and is supposed to be one of the best in Vegas. I don't know about the pool at Caesars. The two hotels are next to one another. Walking is doable and is safe because there are 100s if not 1000s of people out walking at all times.
If this trip is your first to Vegas, I highly recommend having at least one meal at a buffet. No Vegas trip is complete without one. I think the best buffet is the one at Bellagio.
You will find lots of information about the two hotels, their casinos, restaurants, entertainment, etc. at cheapovegas.com. Also, you will find useful information on transportation, the location of banks, drug stores, etc. at vegas.com
Enjoy your trip.
If this trip is your first to Vegas, I highly recommend having at least one meal at a buffet. No Vegas trip is complete without one. I think the best buffet is the one at Bellagio.
You will find lots of information about the two hotels, their casinos, restaurants, entertainment, etc. at cheapovegas.com. Also, you will find useful information on transportation, the location of banks, drug stores, etc. at vegas.com
Enjoy your trip.
Mar 22nd, 2008, 02:53 PM
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I've stayed at (and enjoyed) the Mirage several times, but not Caesar's. I do not like the layout of Caesar's at all. They keep adding on to it, so not only is it huge, there is no "flow" to it.
The Mirage is much easier to negotiate, and the pool area is lush and tropical. It should definitely be open the last week of April.
The Mirage is much easier to negotiate, and the pool area is lush and tropical. It should definitely be open the last week of April.
Mar 22nd, 2008, 05:27 PM
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We have stayed at Caesars several times and love it! It is a great hotel with everything. I love the Forum shops and the pool. I do not know of the pool being heated though. The Mirage is next door and seems to be a great hotel. We have played slots there and just walked through looking...seems nice. I love the vibe at Caesars but it depends on what you like. Ceasars has more action that the Mirage. I would stay at either but would choose Caesars, but my favorite is The Venitian. They are all in the same area, which is the best in Vegas!
Mar 22nd, 2008, 07:29 PM
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Thanks for the info on the hotels. Any other tips are greatly appreciated. Do you know about the Fremont light show? Is a certain time better at night than others? We will do a buffet, I have also read that the one at Paris is a good sampling of the regional foods. We also read about the Red Canyon area outside of town. We wouldn't rent a car, but are considering a bus tour one morning to see the rocks, take pictures. Anyone know if it is worth one of the tours? I also admit,growing up in the 60's,we are Trekies, so plan to see the Trek show at the Hilton. Anyone done that one? Live long and prosper everyone! Decb
Mar 22nd, 2008, 08:09 PM
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We've stayed at both Mirage and Caesar's. Although Caesar's casino is darker, I prefer it because of the Forum and general atmosphere of the place - more old time Vegas. The pool is very nice, too.
I'm also a Trekkie. Yes, it's terrific. Take your time as you go through the line and red the timeline stuff - it's really good. The ride is nothing to get excited about, however. Quark's restaurant is fun.
Red Rocks are very pretty and worth seeing, if you haven't visited similar red rocks in Arizona or Utah.
Best food we've had is at the Bellagio, but's its pricey. If you like Chinese, their restaurant is tops! Also, try to get a seat so that you can see the fountains while you eat.
Sue
I'm also a Trekkie. Yes, it's terrific. Take your time as you go through the line and red the timeline stuff - it's really good. The ride is nothing to get excited about, however. Quark's restaurant is fun.
Red Rocks are very pretty and worth seeing, if you haven't visited similar red rocks in Arizona or Utah.
Best food we've had is at the Bellagio, but's its pricey. If you like Chinese, their restaurant is tops! Also, try to get a seat so that you can see the fountains while you eat.
Sue
Mar 23rd, 2008, 05:59 AM
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Decb
The Freemont light show goes on every half hour until Midnight or 1am. It does not really matter what time you go as long as it's at night. They change the show periodically so you never know what you will see. If you are planning a night downtown, the Golden Nugget has a very good buffet, as does Main Street Station and, there are some good restaraunts downtown also.
Red Rock canyon is great, and in April I am sure the weather will be perfect for it. (as in not too hot) I have been up there twice, but I have never taken one of the tours, we always rent a car. I can't say if they are worth the money. If you are a comfortable driver, ( I am not I always make others do the driving in new cities) I really do recommend renting the car for the day, instead of the tour. A lot of the hotels have rental car counters, although it is usually cheaper at the airport. Just a thought!! Have a great trip!!
The Freemont light show goes on every half hour until Midnight or 1am. It does not really matter what time you go as long as it's at night. They change the show periodically so you never know what you will see. If you are planning a night downtown, the Golden Nugget has a very good buffet, as does Main Street Station and, there are some good restaraunts downtown also.
Red Rock canyon is great, and in April I am sure the weather will be perfect for it. (as in not too hot) I have been up there twice, but I have never taken one of the tours, we always rent a car. I can't say if they are worth the money. If you are a comfortable driver, ( I am not I always make others do the driving in new cities) I really do recommend renting the car for the day, instead of the tour. A lot of the hotels have rental car counters, although it is usually cheaper at the airport. Just a thought!! Have a great trip!!
Mar 23rd, 2008, 07:21 AM
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two of us (retired) just came back from Vegas in late Feb.
be sure to check out Fremont St. Experience.
Take a bus to Sams Town - quaint!
stay at Mirage - pools and great rooms.
go to top of Rio at night - see all of Vegas! breathtaking.
wear good walking shoes!
eat: buffets.
be sure to check out Fremont St. Experience.
Take a bus to Sams Town - quaint!
stay at Mirage - pools and great rooms.
go to top of Rio at night - see all of Vegas! breathtaking.
wear good walking shoes!
eat: buffets.
Mar 23rd, 2008, 07:48 AM
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My husband and I just visited Vegas last week. I am not sure about what construction you are talking about at the Mirage. They are doing something with the volcano but that is all I saw. The pool area looked amazing! AS for temperature, it was in the high 70's when we were there so I think by the end of April, it will be warm enough to go swimming even without a heated pool.
We did the Star Trek Experience because my husband is a fan of the show. It was ok, but I thought it was expensive. There are coupons for $10 off in books given out on the Strip.
As for safety, like other posters said, there are tons of people out at night. I would not worry about being by yourself.
Have a great trip!
We did the Star Trek Experience because my husband is a fan of the show. It was ok, but I thought it was expensive. There are coupons for $10 off in books given out on the Strip.
As for safety, like other posters said, there are tons of people out at night. I would not worry about being by yourself.
Have a great trip!
Mar 23rd, 2008, 01:14 PM
#10
You can't go wrong with choosing Caesars Palace (Caesars, plural). In addition to what the others have said, the spa is pretty nice.
Absolutely no problem walking on the strip at night. Walking on the strip at night is the thing to do. The sidewalks will actually be crowded.
You certainly won't need a taxi to go from CP to see Love. You could taxi to the Hilton for the Star Trek show, but the taxi lines are pretty long. Your option is to walk across the street and thru the Flamingo to take the Monorail. The ST show is steps from the monorail entrance.
Going to the Rio is an interesting idea. You can see all of Vegas from the Voodoo lounge. Really a billion-dollar view. The Village Seafood Buffet at the Rio is open again. There is a free shuttle bus from Caesars to Rio.
Absolutely no problem walking on the strip at night. Walking on the strip at night is the thing to do. The sidewalks will actually be crowded.
You certainly won't need a taxi to go from CP to see Love. You could taxi to the Hilton for the Star Trek show, but the taxi lines are pretty long. Your option is to walk across the street and thru the Flamingo to take the Monorail. The ST show is steps from the monorail entrance.
Going to the Rio is an interesting idea. You can see all of Vegas from the Voodoo lounge. Really a billion-dollar view. The Village Seafood Buffet at the Rio is open again. There is a free shuttle bus from Caesars to Rio.
Mar 23rd, 2008, 01:50 PM
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Decb, I had the breakfast buffet at Paris last month - scrumptious! Really good food; the pears poached in red wine were to die for! Yes, it's set up with different stations serving regional specialties. Outstanding, and a bargain at $15.00
Mar 23rd, 2008, 01:57 PM
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Hello Decb,
Frankly, I think the Fremont experience is overrated. You will need to take a cab from the strip to downtown. It is too far to walk, and the bus (which I took once) was dirty, smelly, and very slooooow. Once downtown, be sure to walk through Binions Horseshoe to get a taste of old Vegas. If you like big hunks of red meat, the steakhouse at Binions is excellent.
My wife and I went to Red Rock Canyon National Park (and to Valley of Fire State Park) in December. Both are fantastic. We rented a car, so I don't know anything about bus tours. Both are less than 1 hour by car from the strip.
The Star Trek museum is great! The suggestion about taking the monorail from the Flamingo is excellent. I went to the museum two years ago and spent the entire day there.
The buffet at Paris is very good, but not as good in my opinion as the buffet at Bellagio or Wynn.
Here are some other suggestions.
Best free things to do/see: fountains at Bellagio; the Dale Chuily glass sculpture at Bellagio; the botanical gardens at Bellagio;the skyline at New York, New York.
Both the Bellagio and Venetian have art galleries and both charge admission. The last time I was in Vegas by myself, I saw an exhibit of Ansel Adams' photography at the Bellagio gallery for about $15.00. Well worth it.
There is a free museum of Las Vegas history at Tropicana. I enjoyed it, and spent two hours looking at old photos of gangsters and the rat pack. There is a small marker for Bugsy Siegel in the pool/gardens area at Flamingo.
Best low stakes table games/gambling is at the Orleans off strip. Take the free shuttle from Bills between 9:30 and midnight.
Enjoy your trip.
Frankly, I think the Fremont experience is overrated. You will need to take a cab from the strip to downtown. It is too far to walk, and the bus (which I took once) was dirty, smelly, and very slooooow. Once downtown, be sure to walk through Binions Horseshoe to get a taste of old Vegas. If you like big hunks of red meat, the steakhouse at Binions is excellent.
My wife and I went to Red Rock Canyon National Park (and to Valley of Fire State Park) in December. Both are fantastic. We rented a car, so I don't know anything about bus tours. Both are less than 1 hour by car from the strip.
The Star Trek museum is great! The suggestion about taking the monorail from the Flamingo is excellent. I went to the museum two years ago and spent the entire day there.
The buffet at Paris is very good, but not as good in my opinion as the buffet at Bellagio or Wynn.
Here are some other suggestions.
Best free things to do/see: fountains at Bellagio; the Dale Chuily glass sculpture at Bellagio; the botanical gardens at Bellagio;the skyline at New York, New York.
Both the Bellagio and Venetian have art galleries and both charge admission. The last time I was in Vegas by myself, I saw an exhibit of Ansel Adams' photography at the Bellagio gallery for about $15.00. Well worth it.
There is a free museum of Las Vegas history at Tropicana. I enjoyed it, and spent two hours looking at old photos of gangsters and the rat pack. There is a small marker for Bugsy Siegel in the pool/gardens area at Flamingo.
Best low stakes table games/gambling is at the Orleans off strip. Take the free shuttle from Bills between 9:30 and midnight.
Enjoy your trip.
Mar 23rd, 2008, 03:17 PM
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Wow, what great tips! I love this site! Yes we definately plan to see
Dale Chuily's glass sculpture. We are fans. Saw his exhibit at the Chicago conservatory with all the plantings. As an aside, if his PBS special ever shows in your area, watch it. His work and the Italians he showcases are amazing. From looking at some of the diagrams of hotels, can you walk from the Forum shops at Caesars right onto the property at Mirage? They almost look like they are connected on some maps. How late do those shops stay open on weeknights? Also, how safe is it to cross The Strip over to the Imperial Palace (monorail side) of the street? Are there stop lights there or nearby? Thanks to everyone giving great ideas and tips. Those buffets are going to be my downfall! Decb
Dale Chuily's glass sculpture. We are fans. Saw his exhibit at the Chicago conservatory with all the plantings. As an aside, if his PBS special ever shows in your area, watch it. His work and the Italians he showcases are amazing. From looking at some of the diagrams of hotels, can you walk from the Forum shops at Caesars right onto the property at Mirage? They almost look like they are connected on some maps. How late do those shops stay open on weeknights? Also, how safe is it to cross The Strip over to the Imperial Palace (monorail side) of the street? Are there stop lights there or nearby? Thanks to everyone giving great ideas and tips. Those buffets are going to be my downfall! Decb
Mar 23rd, 2008, 04:15 PM
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Hi! My husband and I just got back from Vegas a couple weeks ago. We did eat at Bobby Flay's, and it was fabulous. Great service and great food. We also spent quite a bit of time at Caeser's and Bellagio, and we ate at the Bellagio's brunch buffet (an indulgence well worth it!). I keep a travel blog, and I listed a bunch of other things we did in Vegas, if you're interested: http://bartravels.blogspot.com
Mar 23rd, 2008, 06:25 PM
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I have enjoyed my stays at the Mirage and Caesars. There are next door to each other, so getting from one to the other will not be a problem. If you walk through the Forum Shops, most of your walking will be indoors.
My gut says that Caesars will be a better choice for you. It offers so many things under one roof - great shopping, shows, restaurants, clubs, gaming, etc. I have not stayed in a regular room at Caesars, but their Palace Tower and Augustus Tower rooms are extremely nice.
I am not aware of any construction at the Mirage. They are redesigning the Volcano, but that shouldn't be a bother (except that they volcano is not erupting while they work on remodeling it). I highly suggest visiting 'Cravings', the buffet at the Mirage. Stack is another great dining option at the Mirage. It is 'American' fare with very good steaks, great service and some nice specialty martinis. Their Cucumber Martini is one of the most refreshing drinks around.
Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill was surprisingly good. I thought it had overhyped before actually eating there. The specialty martinis are good and both of our entrees were great.
The pools should be open and the temperature should be fine during the day. Construction next to the pool at Caesars may infringe upon your sunbathing experience.
Have Fun.
My gut says that Caesars will be a better choice for you. It offers so many things under one roof - great shopping, shows, restaurants, clubs, gaming, etc. I have not stayed in a regular room at Caesars, but their Palace Tower and Augustus Tower rooms are extremely nice.
I am not aware of any construction at the Mirage. They are redesigning the Volcano, but that shouldn't be a bother (except that they volcano is not erupting while they work on remodeling it). I highly suggest visiting 'Cravings', the buffet at the Mirage. Stack is another great dining option at the Mirage. It is 'American' fare with very good steaks, great service and some nice specialty martinis. Their Cucumber Martini is one of the most refreshing drinks around.
Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill was surprisingly good. I thought it had overhyped before actually eating there. The specialty martinis are good and both of our entrees were great.
The pools should be open and the temperature should be fine during the day. Construction next to the pool at Caesars may infringe upon your sunbathing experience.
Have Fun.
Mar 23rd, 2008, 10:49 PM
#16
Caesars and the Forum Shops are not connected to the Mirage. You have to go outside and walk on the sidewalk. It is only a few feet from the Forum Shops to the Mirage.
There is a crosswalk near the Forum Shops across LV Blvd to the IP. It is very busy and quite safe. There is a pedestrian bridge at the other end of Caesars that goes across to the NE corner of LV Blvd and Flamingo Road. I'd use that to go across the road to the Flamingo to catch the monorail there for the Hilton.
There is a crosswalk near the Forum Shops across LV Blvd to the IP. It is very busy and quite safe. There is a pedestrian bridge at the other end of Caesars that goes across to the NE corner of LV Blvd and Flamingo Road. I'd use that to go across the road to the Flamingo to catch the monorail there for the Hilton.
Mar 25th, 2008, 03:26 PM
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Thanks to everyone for all these neat tips! Has anyone eaten at Olives? A friend said it was good.
Also, is it worthwhile going to the discount ticket booth? Are any of the name shows sold there like Cirque? Decb
Also, is it worthwhile going to the discount ticket booth? Are any of the name shows sold there like Cirque? Decb
Mar 25th, 2008, 06:01 PM
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One thing that I just loved in Vegas was the Liberace Museum--costumes. pianos, cars, and a very knowledgeable docent who led the tour. There is a shuttle from the Strip. Details here: http://www.liberace.org/
Mar 25th, 2008, 06:05 PM
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The tix4tonight booths are worth a look. Some shows are half price, but the more popular ones, if available, are discounted also, just not by 50%. The list of shows available is released at 10:30 am.
