If you are playing table games, drinks are free, just remember to tip.

when we play the slots, we get the premium vodka and sometimes ask for a double and a bottled water back..tip a couple of dollars and they are always so happy to keep on bringing you free drinks..

I'll have so many $1 bills on me you'd think I was on a pole the night before (hee!). Thanks for the tip to tip (I always do anyways!)

SanParis2 - this goes for the slots too?

Yes, slots too!

1) One option is happy hour. You could go to Cafe Ba Ba Reeba in the Fashion Show Mall, inside or patio seating, on weekday between 4-7PM M-F and enjoy a few $3 appetizers and 1/2 of sangria.

Another option is Carnaval Court at Harrahs. It is outside and they will have a band.

2) Casa di Amore will send a limosine to pick you up if you make a reservation well ahead of time. It has an old time atmosphere and serves Italian American food like you can find most places. Most nights George Bugati sings Sinatra/Bennett type songs.

3)I would skip Fremont Street since there is so much to see and do on the Strip.

4) There are coupons, but at this late date I don't know you would get them.

5) Hopefully you are staying somewhere with a pool because other than the Tropicana casinos limit use to their own guests.

6) I will let others answer.

Thanks Westie!

I like your #1 for Friday and Monday our last day there. We are staying at a hotel on the strip with a pool (TI).

I did book the limo for our dinner at Casa di Amore (that will be a nice surprise for DD too!).

I recommend going to Freemont street also. I love playing blackjack and the table limits are always lower with better odds. If you do decide to go Downtown and are hungry I can highly recommend the Main Street Station for a good, reasonably priced meal. http://www.mainstreetcasino.com/dining both the buffet and the Triple 7 restaurant and microbrewery have very good food.
You asked about gambling - I highly recommend trying to play some blackjack. Every casino has free lessons during the day. My first few trips to Vegas I was a little intimidated to sit down at a table and play but eventually I worked up the nerve, and I'm so glad I did. I have had so much fun over the years while playing blackjack that I urge you to try it on this trip. Downtown has $3.00 blackjack at several casinos and while playing $3.00 blackjack has never made me rich I also never have lost more than $30 or $40 dollars playing either. Which I cannot say about a slot machine. If you want to learn how to play blackjack www.blackjackinfo.com has a great free strategy trainer game that will tell you if you make a mistake while you play.
I hope all of my rambling helped and have a wonderful trip!!

Melissaki5 - Thanks for the websites and for your advice. DH does play Blackjack and that was one of my "I want to try" games while there. Heck - if I can master cribbage, I should be able to play that, right?!

I have read so many different views on Freemont Street. Every traveler is different, so I guess it appeals to some and not others. I'm up for fun wherever I am - so I don't need to be surrounded by luxury to feel like I'm having a good time. If Freemont Street is what it is (old Vegas) - then so be it - I'll have fun there too. My only concern is safety at night when the light show is best. How easy is it to get to/from there via the tram? Any suggestions for getting there and back? Is it best to just take a cab and forget it? (there are 4 of us).

Thanks again!

It is easy to get to Fremont street by bus and very cost effective at $2.00/pp. You can catch the bus in many parts of the strip and it takes you straight to downtown. The buses are also nice inside with powerful air conditioning. However, the bus takes a loooong time to get to Fremont street - not because of distance but because of the traffic on the strip and the amount of stops. Cabs I believe cost around $23.00 to get from the strip to Fremont - (I am not 100% sure on this I have always either used the bus or we always rent a car in Vegas) so I am going by what others have told me. The cab is a lot quicker though since they don't have to drive on the strip - they can take industrial which is the street that runs behind the casinos. I think with four people I would take the cab, or at least a cab there and maybe the bus back.
As for the safety thing. As long as you stay under the canopy of lights it is safe even very late at night. I have always seen a lot of police/security guards patrolling the area outside and there is generally a lot of people especially on a Friday/Saturday night. I go to Vegas about three times a year and have actually stayed downtown about five times and I have never had a problem. When it gets really late downtown (2 AM) the street tends to clear out and then you may see a few unsavory people around. However, I do not recommend walking too far off the canopied area. If you decide to eat at Main Street Station it is a very short walk from the canopy area and I have never experienced any problems. Here is a link of a downtown area map. http://www.vegastripping.com/glittergulch/ If you are wary about walking outside you can also walk through the Las Vegas Club casino - then go out the back door, cross the street to California club and take an overpass tunnel directly into the main street station.
Also as a side note - Check out the pool at the Golden Nugget hotel. During the day only hotel guest are allowed but at night they allow anyone in the pool area. There are lounge chairs to sit at, a bar outside if you want to buy a drink, (or you can carry one in) and a really cool pool with a huge shark tank in the middle of it. Its kind of neat just to spend a few minutes looking at the sharks and its free so you can't beat that. http://www.flickr.com/photos/lava2bk/2697649838/ Hope this helps!!

Melissaki5 - thanks for the information on Freemont Street. I just have one question. Where does the bus drop you off at? Is it right there so you can walk there from the bus stop or do you have to walk a block or two to get there?

Thanks for the tip on the Golden Nugget pool - your pics were incredible!

The bus will drop you right off right next to Fitzgeralds in Fremont. You will only have to cross the street to be right underneath the canopy. There will also generally be a lot of other tourists on the bus so just follow them but it will be very hard to miss. I was wrong about the bus fare though apparently they raised it to $3.00/pp single ride, $7.00 24hrs, or $15.00 for a three day pass.

The pics of the golden nugget pool are nice unfortunately I am not that good of a photographer. LOL I googled the Golden nugget pool and found those images.

Let me know if you need anything else

Thanks Melissaki5 for the info. Sounds like we'll be ok to take the bus down. I heard it was easier than taking the monorail to Sahara then up. Even if we are on the bus for awhile - I'm sure we can have fun on the ride!

Can I just say how EXCITED I AM NOW??!!!!!!! We leave on Friday and I can hardly wait.

Thanks everyone for all your suggestions - I appreciate it!

Also, if you are just learning to play a table game 'old Vegas' is where to learn. The table minimums there are much lower than anything you will find on the Strip.

I second SAnParis2's suggestion of 9 Fine Irishmen to achieve your "pub" atmosphere.

First thing to do when you get to TI and before you begin gambling is to get a Players Card, they are free, you can ask at the Hotel check in desk where you go to get it, then always put them in the machine you are gambling at. Do most of your gambling in that casino, then at the end of your stay when you check out ask them at the desk if you have earned any comps that could reduce your room cost or maybe even pay for a night or two or even a meal if you charge them to your room.
New York New York will please all ages as there is something for everyone: Take the bus it is much cheaper unless you re in a hurry.
There are a several young people bars inside New York New York" The "Bar at Times Square" is always full with people young and old with their dualing pianos and several other bars. There is a very good Italian restaurant there "II Fornaio". Besides 9 Fine Irishmen for food and fun. There is a new Center Bar that if you want to people watch in the casino and kick back and have a relaxing drink and not have to keep up with the young ones. Also a sports bar "ESPN Zone" with ok food and lots of tv's for watching sports.
Also a Roller Coaster.
If you have time do go downtown to Fremont Street the light show is something to see and packed with people. Go to this site http://vegasexperience.com/#/home/ then click on entertainment to see what is going on downtown besides the light show that is free for the dates you are there.
It is also fun walking the Strip with drinks in hand and watching some of the free shows like at the Bellagio fountains, Mirage Volcano.
Bear in mind when you are walking the Strip and you see a casino that looks close or not to far to walk to, looks are deceiving and can be quite a jaunt.
My husband and I go to Vegas several times a year and have stayed in 8 or 9 of the casions on the strip including TI and even old downtown once.
If you take the Monorail it is a good walk from the Train stop to the strip and visa versa.
Enjoy your trip!

I'm topping this because I'll be there in another month and I'm loving all this information. I'm sure there is more to come.

Hi Travelbug -

Skip Casa Di Amore and go to the Grand Lux Cafe at the Venetian instead. (Right across the street from TI.) Also skip Freemont St and stay on the strip instead. I really enjoyed taking a nightime ride to the top of the Eiffel Tower at the Paris to watch the fountain show at the Bellagio. The erupting volcano a the Mirage is neat too.

Whoa! You won't need a coupon for those Stratosphere rides. As soon as you look up up up and see them, you'll be turning and running the other wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!

Gamble at night as the casinos are open 24/7 and do other stuff during the day. there is a Walgreens on the strip as well as mcdonalds, IHOP, dunkin donuts, subway,etc.

The OP's trip was last month.