First trip to Vegas booked - Opinions needed
 

Just booked Vegas for 4 nights in mid July for my birthday. We booked the Bellagio thru AmEx Plat travel, a lakeview room, with a free upgrade to lakefront (I think that's what the upgrade is - i forgot). I reserved tickets for O and got 9th row center, which concierge told me was the best seats. For birthday dinner, we have Picasso......

So far that's it

It's our first time and don't know what else to do. I know it's going to be scorching hot, so I thought a spa treatment here and there and some pool time...

Is it too hot for the Hoover Damn? How far away is it, and how long does it take? I thought that would be fun, as we do have 4 nights in Vegas...

Any help is much appreciated,

thanks:)

Annabel- There is a heading called VEGAS that was posted a few days ago, just type that in at the top in the search bar and read the comments I wrote to Cap22 about things to do in Las Vegas.Yes, July will be hot but Bellagio has a great, relaxing pool. I've never been to Hoover Dam so I can't help you there. Have fun.

Annabel, I also wanted to add that if you will be in Vegas over a Sunday I highly recommend Bally's Sterling Brunch. Lobster,crab,oysters,sushi,all the champagne you can drink and of course all the regular breakfast food. It's $55 a person and worth every cent.
You won't soon forget this meal! Reservations are essential, 9:30am-2:30pm.

Sounds good to me! We have been to Vegas in August, hot but we still walked from casino to casino along the Strip, drove out to Red Rock Canyon too.
Bellagio has several, I think 5, pools, and the misting things that keep you cool as you sit in your lounge chair, and guys to bring you drinks so as not to exhaust yourself :)
Picasso is a great choice for (your?) birthday celebrations..do go to Olives for lunch and I would recommend Circo for dinner another night.
Your seats for O will be just out of range of getting splashed, I think.
Bellagios spa is very good, an excellent way to be pampered. Go online to their site and see what is at their Museum, we always see whatever is there, it is a fun way to spend some time.
We went to Hoover Dam a few years ago and thought it not worth the long drive, maybe an hour or so but a long boring drive. We were more impressed with Lake Mead and Red Rock Canyon.
Have fun and Good Luck!

I think you might be confused about the AMEX upgrade. Unless they've changed the room categories at Bellagio recently, you had either a Lakeview, which faced the Strip, or a Mountain/Pool view which where the backs and sides of the hotel. From the Mountain/Pool view, the Amex Platinum upgrade was to a Lakeview.

From a Lakeview standard room, there is no upgrade option available as they will not upgrade you to a Suite. I'd double check what you booked and your expectation of an upgrade only because I've stayed with them at least twice a year, using my Amex Platimum each time, and have always understood that an upgrade from a Lakeview was not possible.

BTW, Picasso is a nice choice. I'd suggest that you think about a pre-dinner cocktail on the outdoor patio, just between Picasso and Prime, as it has a great view of the fountains.

Have fun.

Thanks everyone--I appreciate your help!

Ryan thanks also for the info...I just booked yesterday, so I remember the conversation. I booked a Lakeview room,and she told me that they were all booked up and she had to call the hotel. She returned and told me there was availability and I asked what the next category up would be...I do not remember what she said, but the room was quite a bit more$$. She told me that we would be upgreaded to that room anyway so don't worry about it. Since I have never been, I do not know. But what I will do is call my AmEx agent back and ask more specific questions, because I did not want to be in the standard room, I wanted a step above that..which would be Lakefront - I don't know. But thank you very much for all your help!

IMO, Hoover Dam is worthwhile only if one has more than a passing interest in engineering marvels. In that sense, it's impressive; and it's big; but if the thought of a really big dam doesn't excite you, the sight of one won't, either. I haven't been to Lake Mead, or Red Rock Canyon, but they sound like winners to me. Whatever you decide, have a grat trip!

There are only three rooms types at Bellagio - a Standard room, the end of hall suites (the name escapes me) and Bellagio suites.

Unless you have specifically booked a suite, the standard rooms are all the same. The only difference between them in terms of price, is the view. If you are in a room that they tell you can be upgraded with the Amex Platinum privaleges, I'd be shocked if it is a LakeView Room - their most expense standard room category.

You may be booked in a Lakeview, which is what it sounds like you wanted. But, I'm not sure where they said they would upgrade you to as you are already in their highest level of Standard Room.

If you want to ensure that you are getting what you want, I might suggest you call the hotel's toll free number. I've used the Platinum travel service many times and a few times their reservation person has been incorrect in their understanding of the hotel layout because of poor information in their system and similar sounding room types.

I think part of the reason you may get mixed reviews on the Hoover Dam is that the tour is changed dramatically from what it was a few years ago.

The tour used to take you inside the dam and then down near the bottom. So you would see the tunnels and hear about the concrete deep inside that is still "setting" (it's not hard yet!), and then you'd look UP at the immense expanse that makes up the dam. Even the elevator ride down into the dam was interesting.

However, I have heard that now (post 9/11??) you only get to stand on the top and that even this may change as they route traffic elsewhere.

Big difference.

Red Rocks is interesting, but my-oh-my it will be hot in July. I get dehydrated just thinking about it.

I'd opt for the cactus garden at Ethel M, a drive through Red Rocks, and hours of watching the Fountains of Bellagio, but that's just me.

Gayle

LOL, leonberger, yes, dehydrated at the thought is right!! We walked down the Strip in August, thinking, this isn't so bad..when we got inside, we sat down and drank a gallon of tea!

We visited the Hoover Dam area right after September 11th and we were not able to even get out of the car ... it took forever to get there because of the narrow-slow road ..
Another great idea, especially in the summer is Mt Charleston..the only place outdoors where you will not be cooked! IT is cool and lovely ...

* why are certain words being underlined? I didn't do it, I swear!*

Actually, we visited the Dam before 9/11 and I still wasn't wowed--must just be dense that way!