Only In Vegas
 

My dh and I are going to Vegas for Thanksgiving weekend. Two questions - should I expect it to be way crowded? and 2 - what "only in Vegas" things should we not miss? I read the suggestions that Fodors made, but I would love to know what mindboggling sites we should not miss during our stay. We are early 30s and like nightclubs and fine dining. Thanks for your help!

Not sure about the crowds but sounds like your first time. Here are a couple of things not to miss IMHO...

The whole strip at night...stay up late! Bellagio fountains, Mirage volcano, Walking into lots of casinos, Forum shops and free shows there, Free show at the Rio. Piano Bar, Brooklyn Bridge and Statue of Liberty at NYNY. Go to the top of the Stratosphere. That should get you started and includes many of the popular things. No way you get it all done in a long weekend, to paraphrase the Republican candidate for CA Governor....you will be back.

Have additional time and want to get away from the lights...go tour Hoover Dam. I would recommend that Freemont Street can wait for your 2nd visit. Stick with the strip (with the exception of the Rio).

I would choose the Eiffel Tower over the Stratosphere, unless you are wanting to ride the rides at the top. And the view is better seen in the late evening. The reason I choose the Eiffel is to watch the Bellagio water show from above. The view is spectacular!
And the Freemont Street light show is a vegas only........ And since Vegas never sleeps you can catch both of these attractions in one night. The Freemont show starts in the evening I think at 7, there are two light shows and they start every hour. In between shows you can eat, gamble or just walk around. After you have seen both shows then head back to the strip for more adventure. The tower is open late, I think we went up at 11pm.
Studio 54, and The Beach are two great clubs. The Rio is cool, I don't know that it is a must do........
As far as fine dining, I can't help you much there.
Enjoy your trip, November is a great time to visit. IT WON'T BE HOT!!

Thanks. This will be my 2nd trip but haven't been in the last 5 years. I know the strip, the hotel lobbies and casinos are not to be missed. We are having our Thanksgiving dinner at Drai's at the Barbary Coast. I am looking for "insider" individual things to seek out. I have heard about the sharks under the bar at Mandalay Bay and asking for a tour of the vodka cooler at Red Square. Things like that. I really appreciate the help!

I'm confused - you say you like fine dining - but you're having Thanksgiving dinner at Barbary Coast? Am I out of the loop on Vegas, here - that Barbary Coast is now considered fine dining? Please excuse me if my perception is incorrect, but I thought Barbary Coast was still very low-brow. Why not have dinner at one of the better casinos like Bellagio or Mandalay? Just a question.

To answer your question - yes, it will be crowded Thanksgiving weekend. That's why hotel rates skyrocket that weekend. And, it will be COLD! Well, I tend to hate being cold, so what I consider cold, may not be the case for you. Just pack layers and you'll be fine, I guess.

Don't know where you're staying - but FYI - you should be able to get into the nightclubs at your casino without waiting. Found this out recently at Mandalay. Didn't have to wait to get into Rum Jungle or the Moorea Beach Club.

Simone - your perception is incorrect. Drai's is a very well regarded restaurant and is considered fine dining (even though it is in the Barbary Coast).

The Voodoo Lounge on the rooftop of the Rio IS a must do. Yes, it's off the strip , but with all the cash you'll be dropping in Vegas anyway, a 2 minute cab ride won't kill you. Great rock and blues bands, great atmosphere, great view.

There are some unexpected restaurant gems in some of the older hotels in LV. Drai's is one of them. Why is it in the Barbary Coast? Don't know. Another surprise is the Top of the World restaurant at the Stratosphere. And some people even rave about The Steak House at Circus Circus, though I can't vouch for that one.

Average daily high temp around Thanksgiving is 60-62 degrees, but cold at night (38-40).

Simone - you really should try Drai's it's an amazing restaurant. Thanks to Tom and Rwilliams.

Lunch at Mon Ami Gabi - Paris.
Wine flites at the wine cellar - downstairs from the casino at Rio.
Drinks at the lounge at the top of Polo Towers - yes, it is open to the public and is off the beaten path.
Mexican and mucho tequila at Pink Taco - Hard Rock.
Some flavored smokes and mediterranean food at Hooka Lounge.
Check out mr. v's guide to vegas at Vegas.com for more ideas.

Dinner at Alize at the top of the Palms hotel. Great food and amazing views. Talk to the host about getting into Ghost Bar (the lines are ridiculous and go around the lobby of the casino). The club is actually on a lower floor than the restaurant...with more amazing views and you can go outside. The people watching is second to none!

Dinner at Le Cirque in the Bellagio Hotel is TO DIE FOR!!! Some of the best food in my life-- have your hotel concierge try to get you a reservation........

1st time to Vegas also, leaving on Sept. 23rd. Has anyone been to Onda in the Mirage or Rosemarys at the Rio?

tgordo - that's exactly what I'm looking for! Thanks a million. The wine cellar at the Rio sounds right up our alley! Kristy and Andy, both of those restaurants sound great - I will call now and make reservations, as I'm sure they will book up for Thanksgiving weekend! I am so excited!! P.

My boyfriend and I are going to Vegas in October we can't decide whether to stay at the Mirage or Mandalay. They are both around the same price the time we are going. Any suggestions??

Deanna

I second that Le Cirque in Vegas is a great dining experience. I'd also advice you to have a pre-dinner cocktail at the Prime Patio, over-looking the Bellagio fountain show.

BTW, if you do go to Le Cirque, you husband will need a jacket. I'd also suggest you take advantage of their chefs creativity and order dishes you aren't likely to make at home see at most restaurants.

To answer Donna1185, I have been to Onda. I was underwhelmed. The food was fine, but not spectacular. We had a very large group, and the service was not particularly attentive in spite of the fact that the restaurant was not crowded at the time. I can't say anything particularly 'bad' about the restaurant, but for the price, it just didn't impress me and I see no reason to go back. There seem to be much better restaurant choices available in Vegas.

Bypass the Mirage, once the owner Steve Wynn was a "people pleasin'" person now the new owners are their for themselves. Very small rooms. No comps.

Mandalay vs the Mirage. If you anticipate spending time at the pool -- and I'm not sure about doing that in October -- Mandalay is just awesome. The Mirage pool is considered one of the best, but I just think the Mandalay pool -- actually pools -- are cool. There's a lazy river -- with a current; there's a wave pool -- etc. Mandalay feels like Miami Beach. Young, hip, swanky. I guess I'd say Mandalay. The only negative is that it is way on the end of the strip. YOu can take the tram to the Excaliber, but then you have to walk or take cabs. The Mirage location is much preferred if you intend to do a lot of walking about.

Woops -- forgot to reply to the original poster -- I'd say that you need to do a buffet. Being from NY and a foodie, I was not keen on the whole buffet thing. After doing research, I concluded that the best bets would be the Bellagio Buffet and Le Buffet at Paris. Le Buffet for Sunday breakfast has to be one of the best deals. Most hotels up the price for Sunday and just do a brunch. Paris as a breakfast and a brunch. The brunch is 12.95. It was very good. And we did Bellagio Buffet for Dinner (this was Friday night -- again, the price was raised b/c of it being a Friday) -- some of the food was really good, some was good, some was ok. It was fun, though. I'm not sure I'd do either again, but it is a Vegas thing to do a buffet. Have fun.