We will be staying at the Monte Carlo in Feb.2004. Any insights?
Also, just in case we go through our gambling money fast (which is usually what happens), are there any day trips you could recommend besides the Dam and Grand Canyon(which we've already done)?

The Monte Carlo is a nice, under-rated property. If you want a low-key hotel with a decent strip location, this isn't a bad choice.

My 70ish year old parents like it because it is one of the few Vegas hotels where you can get from the check-in desk to your room without needing to walk the entire length of the casino. The one time I stayed there, I found the food options to be a bit limiting. But, you're so close to several other hotels that it really isn't that big of a deal.

Monte Carlo is one of my favorites. Be sure and try the brew pub for a meal. Lunch or a light dinner is best. They do have a steak house type place but I have not eaten there. Be sure and try the Monte Carlo progressive $1.00 slots if you are a slot player. Do visit NYNY if you have not been before (walk next door). I love the dueling piano bar.

Day trip wise: St. George Utah is kind of neat and the drive takes you throuegh the Virgin Gorge which is really cool. In the same direction is Valley of Fire.

Red Rock Canyon is close, about 45 minutes from the Strip. You can spend a whole day there if you go on some of the little hiking trails.

Monte Carlo is "fine," but if you can get a room at Bally's or TI for about the same price they are nicer. Red Rock Canyon is wonderful and not far away is Spring Mountain Ranch State Park where docents give excellent tours of the ranch house once owned by Howard Hughes.

wandering judy,

You might want to check out the answers to the first time you asked this question back on Oct. 15! You got a lot of good answers on what to see.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34535365

Utahtea

I thought that I had posted a question on Oct 15 but then I couldn't find it. Thought maybe I forgot to click on the post button. I don't know what I was doing wrong but as it turned out I got a lot of good information from both questions. Thanks to everyone and sorry for the duplication.

That's OK Judy. Some of us are not censorious.

Just got back from 3 days at Monte Carlo. Not the nicest we've stayed at in Vegas (needless to say Bellagio is nicer. So are Mirage, TI and Rio). But there's a lot of hustle and bustle in the hotel, which makes it fun. Walls are very thin - you can hear everything your neighbor is saying in his room. The casino is great. We were pretty lucky at craps. The poker room is a lot of fun. If you want to shop, don't count on it at Monte Carlo. We heard the breakfast buffet was awful, so we went to Bally's, which had a great buffet. Easy to get to NYNY, Luxor, Mandalay Bay.

No one has seemed o mention Death Valley, California. Very Beautiful. Only two hours away from Vegas. I you go, remember to take a left a Belle Vista Road in Pahrump. This will save you alot of time.