non-gambling Vegas trip
 

I need some help in planning a non-gambling trip to LV for 3-4 days. <BR> <BR>1. What hotel do you recommend that is under $100 that will accommodate 4 adults (2 seniors) that is safe and smoke-free? Can I request a room in the lower floors or is that not preferrable? I'd prefer to get Mirage or mandalay bay, but I dunno know if there are charges for extra people in the room? <BR>I see rates in the Mirage's web site for <BR>$89, but don't know how many people this <BR>applies to and if I can a suite w/ that <BR>rate. <BR> <BR>2. Do you recommend a good, inexpensive tour company that takes us to Zion NP. Also is Zion more scenic than Valley of Fire? <BR> <BR>3. How hard is the drive from strip to Zion? I haven't driven on mountains/hills. <BR> <BR>4. Are there hotels that offer comp. breakfast? If not, how much do they typically charge and does anyone know of a way to order coupons for free to cut down on meals costs. <BR> <BR>5. Are there grocery stores in the strip? Is it safe walking or better to take a taxi? <BR> <BR>Thanks! <BR> <BR> <BR>

OK, I'll bite. Given all your "don't want to spend" , "Don't want to do", restrictions, Why in the world would you even think of going to vegas???

With 2 seniors, Mandalay Bay will be too far down the strip. You will want to stay at a more central location around Monte Carlo, Paris or Ballys. You really should be able to get a room for that rate if you shop around. Call direct and ask if they have any internet specials on...Ballys just recently advertised for 49 a night. I know that they have some rooms with 2 king sized beds. I would check out Paris as well and ask for their senior rate and Triple A discount. There are no grocery stores on the strip...a Walmart and a few convenience stores. Lower floors are just fine because everyone usually wants the upper floors. Yes, you do pay extra for more than 2 adults to the room but the senior rate...if there is one...may make up for it. Can't answer the other questions...sorry.

My diagnosis: <BR> <BR>Skip Las Vegas altogether, since you aren't mentioning WHY you want to go there in the first place. Yes, it's fun if you have cash to blow (cheap-o way is not the way, nowadays in Vegas), try www.lvol.com to see alternative costs etc. <BR> <BR>Why not just go to Zion for a few days. GORGEOUS! Wife and I are 30-somethings, so we enjoyed hiking the first week in January and staying at the beautiful Zion Lodge. I realize you have seniors with you, but there are some gorgeous small walks, and the whole park can be driven in a few hours. Flesh out another day with a trip to Bryce Canyon or many of the National Parks, Monuments and State Parks around the area. <BR> <BR>When are you going to vacation? During busy season (summer), this will be the 2nd year that Zion has a "no drive" policy -- only trams driving thru park. Go off season, drive where you want, and enjoy the weather!

Hi, <BR>I was planning to go late April <BR>or early May. <BR>Are Bally's, Paris or Monte carlo <BR>good hotels? (i mean smoke-free <BR>and clean). <BR>We're not gamblers at all, but wanted <BR>to see all the LV resorts, and visit <BR>a national park or two. Seems like <BR>Vegas is the only major city close <BR>to Southern utah. <BR>Anyways, let me know if this a good idea, and fill me in on any hotel <BR>information in Vegas. <BR>Also, is LV a place where you would <BR>take seniors? (55 and 60 yrs. old)

Food in Las Vegas is EXTREMELY cheap. You can eat more for less there than any other place in the U.S. <BR> <BR>Also, considering your "seniors" aren't very senior, yes, Vegas is a great place to take them. <BR> <BR>I consider gambling to be incredibly boring, but I had a great time in Las Vegas, just wandering through the casinos, seeing some shows, soaking up the warm weather, watching people line up for the giant buffets. But I wouldn't do this for more than a couple of days. Then it does get boring.

The three hotels you mentioned are all good, clean hotels. I have stayed at Bally's and know that they have non-smoking rooms. As for 'smoke free' you're not going to find that in Las Vegas, although I can say the ventilation is really good (this from an ex smoker who now detests it).

I Don't think any casino is smoke free and since you can't really get into any hotel without going thru the casino, you WILL be exposed to heavy smoke. You can ofcourse, request a smoke free room but be prepared for people smoking most any public place. I hate to sound so negative, but I'm interested in where Karen found cheap eats and when. I was last there in October and spent atleast $20-$30 per meal. I've not heard anyone say Vegas is the cheap place it used to be but since I'll be there again in April, Karen, again where are you finding cheap food. I am also not a gambler but found the people watching really fun and there is some free stuff to see like the fountains at Bellagio, the Venetian ceiling and canal shops and the T.I. exploding volcano.

If you consider a lunch buffet at 10.00 to be cheap than okay. We didn't find any bargains when it came to food in July.

My mother is 57, and she would SMACK anyone who called her a "senior"!

good thread. So, let me <BR>get this straight: Is there <BR>heavy smoke when entering <BR>the hotels? (I am not planning <BR>on gambling at all) <BR> <BR>I know one family member has <BR>allergies so if this is a problem <BR>I need to forget about LV. <BR>My itinerary was as follows: <BR> <BR>Day 1- Fly from FL to LV and <BR>check in. <BR> <BR>Day 2- Visit Luxor, Mirage, TI <BR>and Bellagio (lobbies and surroundings) <BR> <BR>Day 3- Day trip to Zion <BR>Not sure if I can drive there or <BR>take a tour <BR> <BR>Day 4 - Fly back to ORL, FL.

Re-read AND re-think my earlier post. <BR> <BR>Las Vegas without smoke is like food without taste. <BR> <BR>Las Vegas without gambling is like feet without stink. <BR> <BR>(That was a bad analogy, eh?) <BR> <BR>Zion Park is 2-1/2 - 3 hours away. Do you and your "seniors" wish to spend 6 hours for driving, PLUS drive the park in one day? Stay overnight and enjoy nature, dammit! Day trip to Bryce, daytrip to Grand Canyon, daytrip to Monument Valley, Hoover Dam, Valley of Fire, etc... <BR> <BR>Just don't go to a place like Vegas that prides itself on smoking, gambling, drinking, expensive dining and then try to restructure it in a way that suits YOUR needs! <BR> <BR>You'd think for a getaway from touristy Orlando, you'd want to ESCAPE the crowds! <BR> <BR>Don't get me wrong--I LOVE Vegas! I embrace it for all its hedonistic monuments and can't wait to get there again to try the cheaper ol' downtown area. It just seems you are setting up to be disappointed -- that as a vacation from congested traffic and crowds (Orlando), you will be travelling to congested traffic and crowds (Las Vegas). <BR> <BR>If you are to do Vegas, definitely see more shows and glitz/cheese stuff (Liberace Museum, campy stuff like that). But to enjoy/tour the hotels is to embrace the smokey casinos.

Did I go to a different Las Vegas? We found the food to be very inexpensive (and we avoided the buffets). Of course, I can't remember any of the places off the top of my head, mainly because while the food was cheap, none of it was very memorable.

You can have a great time in Vegas without gambling. We've been there twice and used as a good place to fly in and out of. Rent a car drive ti St. George,Utah for three days visit Bryce Canyon(spectacular), Zion and Cedar Breaks Nat. Parks all easy drives.Ride back to Vegas is great. Suggest Flamngo for a good Central place to stay in Vegas.

Hi <BR> <BR>My husband and I just got back from a trip to Vegas and the Grand Canyon traveling with 2 seniors (60 and 63) and a baby. We are not into gambling or smoking. <BR> <BR>We stayed at the Monte Carlo (MC) and loved it! Weeknight rates are as low as $69 -- check out www.hoteldiscounts.com if the 800 number of the hotel has a higher rate. <BR> <BR>One great thing about the MC is the restaurants in the hotel. We had lunch at the brew pub (less than $10 an entree) and in the morning, ate at McDonald's, which was in the hotel. There is also a bagel/coffee shop next to McDonald's and a Sbarro pizza shop. Walgreen's is right across the street as well. <BR> <BR>The hotel is also centrally located. For fun, we visited the Venetian hotel, the Bellagio, and the Paris -- we only had one evening so that was all we could fit in. We took the free tram from the MC to the Bellagio, and then we took a cab up to the other hotels (cheaper and faster than catching a bus) <BR> <BR>We drove to the Grand Canyon the next day via the Hoover Dam -- total mileage was 278, which we did in about 4 1/2 hours with a speed limit of 75 mph much of the way. Never been to Zion but the Canyon was excellent. <BR> <BR>Have fun! <BR> <BR>

We just got back from Vegas. I do not like being in smoking rooms and was concerned about it before we got there. I was really surprised that the casinos were not smoking. A couple of times we were at a roulette table and someone next to us was smoking but otherwise it wasn't right in your face. I also did not think food was cheap. However, we chose to eat at good restaurants. Several people have posted that at the Hard Rock Hotel there is a special not even on the menu where you get steak and shrimp for $5.99. Now that is pretty cheap but I certainly wouldn't say in general that Vegas is reasonable for food.

Whether people find the food in Vegas "cheap" or not depends on what they are accustomed to. If you are comparing it to New York, Chicago or San Francisco, then the dining in Las Vegas is likely to seem cheap. If you enjoy buffets, then it's certainly reasonable by most standards when you consider the selection, etc. We have based southwest driving trips from Las Vegas because of the cheap airfares and I've found the San Remo to be a good choice in terms of low rates and serviceable (if not noteworthy) rooms that offer easy access to the highway and easy surface parking. Smoking is prevalent in Las Vegas, but many casinos deal with it by having excellent ventilation systems. You might prefer Harrah's in Laughlin to Las Vegas and substituting another National Park for Zion if the distance is too far, such as the Grand Canyon. In fact, I highly recommend that you consider that option unless you have already seen the Canyon. I would suggest you stay one night in Flagstaff if you don't want to run a marathon day. As for Laughlin, you will get better accommodations for less money and better deals on buffets, etc. In fact, you would probably decide that you don't need to share a room between four people. True, it is NOT Vegas -- but it doesn't sound like you're ALL that interested in Las Vegas to begin with.

Las Vegas is a lot of fun to visit even if you don't smoke, drink or gamble. The drive to St. George, Utah, is two hours--and that means driving 80 mph on a highway that is mostly straight and flat. It's a little windy going through the Gorge, which is actually in Arizona, I believe. Zion is another 1-2 hours beyond St. George, I'm not sure, and that road is also a bit windy (as in winding, not wind blowing) as you near Zion, but it's not steep and not bad driving for any age, in my opinion. BTW, I'm in my 60s and I too would want to smack anyone who called me a senior. I MAY be a senior by the time I'm 70.<BR><BR>I just wanted to tell the original poster that she can't drive to Zion and back in one day and also see anything. Drive up and spend a night or two in the park, or in Springerville (sp?) just outside the park, and enjoy the beauty. What a contrast to Las Vegas, but both are fun in their own way.

Gamblers or not, Vegas is GREAT! First of all, when are you going-if not soon, please remember that the heat will get to you. The Imperial Palace, although not fancy-will easily fit within your budget-it is right next to the Flamingo Hilton and across from Caesar's. You can always request a room on a lower floor by calling the hotel directly, or just asking when you arrive. I wouldn't say there are "free" breakfasts in Vegas, but you can certainly find some cheap places to eat breakfast ($1.99). I don't know of any grocery stores-but you can always drive away from the strip to a supermarket. When you see the thousands of people walking on the strip, you will see it is by far the best way to get around, the traffic is a nightmare! Have a great time and be prepared for huge crowds.

everybody's failed to mention the national park closest to vegas...death valley, it's awesome, and only unbearably hot in the summer...vegas is the best base for exploring the surrounding deserts and mountains by day and the casinos and restaurants by night...pick your poison