Las Vegas in Oct
 

Hi everyone,

My husband and I are spending 1 week in October in Las Vegas, staying at the Luxor.

We aren't really gamblers but plan to spend a day enjoying the various casinos, as well as getting basic lessons.

Three questions (especially to Las Vegans reading this) :

1) We'd really like to go heli-rafting in the Grand Canyon, but we've been told this is not possible in October. Does anyone know if this is correct, and if not, can you recommend a company we can contact to organise this ?

2) Aside from a day for the Grand Canyon, another for the casinos (both in 'old' and 'new' parts of Las Vegas) what are the absolute must-sees, both during the day and night?

3) Are there any big events / national / school holidays taking place Oct 8 through 13 that we should know about (we are coming over from the UK)?

Many, many thanks in advance for your replies!
Cheers
Sabrina

Columbus Day is Oct. 10th so some people will have a 3 day weekend.

If I were you I'd rent a car for a few days and drive up to Valley of Fire one day and Mt. Charleston and/or Red Rock another. You get a totally different perspective of Las Vegas by getting away from the city/strip. You might also ride out to Lake Las Vegas, a totally new area where many celebrities now have homes. There is also a new Ritz Carleton out there as well as a Hyatt. Lots of shops, etc. at the Ritz and a nice place to spend a few hours (weather should be nice in Oct., in fact I will be in Vegas in Oct. myself).

Not being a tourist in Vegas (we live a few hundred miles away and go several times a year) I am not into sightseeing per se. You probably would want to go to Hoover Dam tho, most tourists do.

If you are a fan of tigers and lions do go to Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden at the Mirage for close up views of their magnificant animals.

You can spend a week just wandering around the hotels and shops :-). Outside of some specific sightseeing I'd not make alot of "set plans". Time can sort of get away from you in Vegas and you want to enjoy what you are doing and not have to rush around. Everyone has different "must sees" but I do think the Bellagio Fountains are prettiest at night. If you are a Cirque de Soleil fan there are several productions currently at several major hotels.

By the way, we have vacationed many times in the UK and we adopt the "let's not kill ourselves sightseeing attitude" over there when we visit :-)

Sorry I don't know anything about heli-rafting at Grand Canyon, perhaps someone else can help on that.

Thanks a lot, Lori, much appreciated! (Sorry for the delay, I "lost" my original note!).
Sx

If I had a week, and wasn't into gambling, I would spend at least one night at the Grand Canyon so you could see the sunrise/sunset and perhaps hike a little. I think it is about a 5 or 6 hour drive from Las Vegas and the sight of the Grand Canyon will take your breath away. I would avoid the helicopter because of the dangerous updrafts at the canyon but a day rafting trip would be wonderful. Sorry I don't have any information on the trips. Perhaps another post "Grand Canyon Raft trips" would get you some recommendations.

Returned last night from 9 days in Vegas. Stay tuned for a trip report later this week.

702-739-8975 : Las Vegas Tour & Travel.

Expect to pay $200-300, depending on what package you select. They have several packages, so take notes.

Or, www.heliusa.com

HI Lindain Ohio & TripleSecDelay, just popped in to check my posting, and really delighted to see your replies, thanks very much. I'll try heliusa.com.
TripleSecDelay - will look forward to your report !

Cheers
Nugi

Hi, Nugi! I visit Las Vagas occasionally, and can recommend to you the day trip down to Laughlin, NV. Using a rented car, you'll be driving through some very scenic Southwest areas; plan on about 2 hours driving each way. The town itself is on the river, and river boats ferry persons from one casino to another. Laughlin might be worth one night of your time. Enjoy your visit!

A day trip out of Las Vegas in a rental car would be driving down to Kingman, Arizona and then from Kingman follow a portion of the old Route 66 to the town of Oatman. Wild burrows roam the streets of Oatman begging carrots from visitors during the day. Continue on Route 66 to Needles, California and then head back north to Vegas. The drive from Vegas to Kingman will take you over Hoover Dam as well.

As far as in Las Vegas itself, if you like high views, the view from the top of the Stratosphere Tower is amazing day or night.

Don't know what kind of music you like, but you might catch a show at House of Blues in Mandalay Bay. A free shuttle train runs from the Luxor to Mandalay Bay, and also Excalibur.

A word of warning if you are walking along the strip. The hotels are so huge that they appear closer than they really are. I learned this the hard way :-)