Our family of 4 (13 & 15 teen boys) will be capping off a 2 wk hiking trip of Az and Utah NP with a 2 night stay in Vegas. THis will be our 1st Vegas experience!! We are/n gamblers! Our main attraction will be walking to see sights and the amusement rides at the hotels. I have read about the Excalibur. Also I might add, We will be meeting grand parents out there too. I'm not sure if they want to stay at Excalibur. Another option would be 2 hotels in close proximity. Is the Excalibur on a good central location? How about the Flamingo? Which is the better pick. On their websites the Excalibur is cheaper. Is the Flamingo worth the extra $$. Looking for the best hotel pick for location to amusements and walking. Maybe something besides Excalibur or Flamingo? Also need advice on breakfast and dinner spots/buffets to save $$ for the rollercoasters. We plan to go see the lights at Freemont. Nineblue.com gave some great attraction tips. We can catch the red-eye back to Atl and this will give us 3 days.

Appreciate any tips/advice

mes3

Here's a link to a good map showing the locations of the various hotels. As you will see, the Excaliber is at one end of the Strip and the Flamingo is more centrally located. However, if you are planning to go to all of the rollercoasters, you'll be going from one end (New York, New York--next to Excaliber) to the other end (Stratosphere) and it really won't matter where you are staying. So, if it were me, I'd save money on the room for more rollercoaster rides by staying at Excaliber and hoofing it. (Hey, those teenage boys are young and strong--they can do it). BTW, I stayed at the Excaliber a couple years ago and found it a good value. The rooms weren't fancy, but were clean and well-maintained.
http://www.vegas.com/lounge/map.html

Here's a link to an article about the rollercoasters you might find useful:
http://casinogambling.about.com/library/blcoaster.htm

Finally, you are sure to get some flack from those who say you shouldn't take teens to Las Vegas. You have decided to do so, therefore, just be prepared to be inundated with lots of sexual messages. And don't think that the show at Treasure Island is all about pirates--it's not!

longhorn55, Thanks for the map site and info. We are leaning towards the Excalibur. If the Flamingo price would come down we migh be swayed to locate in the central strip area. Does anyone have any breakfast/ or dinner advice. Also is there public transportation? I have read Excalibur has a shuttle to Mandalay Bay.

mes3

there is a train (tram?) between Excalibur, Luxor, and Mandelay Bay. There are also interior walkways connecting all three (Luxor in the middle).

mes3,

Not only is there a tram that connects Mandalay Bay/Luxor/Excalibur (be aware that going from Excalibur to Luxor- the tram does not stop southbound at Luxor. So you have to go Excalibur to Mandalay Bay, then hop on the Northbound tram to get off at Luxor. (It continues on to Excalibur.)

The Excalibur is an older hotel, and since you will really only be sleeping in your rooms, it is fine and a good price. It is also connected via pedestrian overpass to New York New York, which is always hopping with young people! (Try the caramel/taffy apples at the booth on the SE corner. You have to pass it if you are going through to the pedestrian overpass from NYNY to the MGM Grand.)

However, the Flamingo is on the side of the Strip where the Monorail train is. This is a relatively new elevated train system that runs from the MGM Grand on the south side to the Sahara on the north. It is awesome! I just got back from Vegas a couple weeks ago.

The Monorail tickets can be bought individually, in groups, for 24 hrs, etc. It averages between $3-5 per trip. I bought the $9 24-hour pass. It was great! The cars/stations are clean, lighted, safe and easily accessible. Your hotel should have a train schedule at the check in desk. You can buy tickets from machines at the stations. They run from 7am to 2am weekdays and til 3am on Sat/Sun. Each stop tells you which hotels/casinos are accessible from that stop. Here is link: http://www.lvmonorail.com/

One thing "first-timers" misconstrue is the distance to the next casino. It looks "close", but I guarantee you, they are not! So, please consider using the tram or Monorail if you are going more than one casino up the Strip!

Since you have limited time, I suggest you use that Strip map to "lay out" your adventures from one end of the Strip to the other, thereby conserving "back and forth" time.

You will love it, even if you don't like to gamble. There is also a LOT of free stuff in Vegas. Check here:

http://www.vegasfreebie.com/

Have fun!!!

Paula

PS Though the tickets are pricey, I believe everyone in your group would absolutely be thrilled with the Cirque du Soleil show of The Beatles LOVE, at the Mirage. It was phenomenal.

Paula, thanks for the info. I did see the Beatles show advertised while looking at the Jay Leno ad. Turning 50 Friday. I was a little young for the Beatles but I do remember the split. We may have to look into that show.

I was studying the public transportation sys. Does anyone have advice on the "Deuce Bus or Vegas Arrow"? Which one is better? I opened the site that Longhorn55 supplied and the distances are a lot greater than I thought.

Also, does anyone know of any good buffets/restaurants off strip at cheaper prices?

What time of year are you going to be there? Are you interested in spending time at the pool? The Flamingo pool is very lively and might appeal to teens, the Excalibur pool is very basic. The Excalibur is close to M&M World, GameWorks. We took our teens to the jousting show at the Excalibur, saw Lance Burton (although I think any magician would appeal to teens).

We always use the Deuce bus. It's a real bargain at $5 for 24-hr pass. It runs the strip to downtown with convenient stops. Also, you can use it on the city buses for other routes.

Snowflake25, thanks for the pool info. I had read that the Flamingo had a great pool. I keep telling my boys we are/n there for the pools. We can swim back home. Saying that pool time will be limited. They will probably want to visit Game Works.

texasjo, I believe the Deuce bus may be the way to go. I/ve read reports of how crowded it can get. Hopefully being close to the end of the line before turning around we can get a spot. Did you catch the lights at Freemont St.

Longhorn55, I'm taking your advice and reserving a plan jane room at the Flamingo. We'll use the Deuce or trolley.

Sarge56 ( that is a name with respect)
thanks for the info about laying out a street map for organization. Keeps from back tracking.

Thanks to all!! Now I'm waiting for the ticket prices to DROP from ATL to LAS.

From Atl to all, we are signing off!!

mes3

For a great, cheap buffet go to main street station downtown, near freemont street. Their pricing is very reasonable, especially breakfast, ($5.99) and the food is good. For that matter, I can recommend any Station casino buffet. Here is a link - http://www.mainstreetcasino.com/display.cfm?id=1105


Another good, low price option is The Orleans. I have eaten there several times and have never been disappointed.
http://www.orleanscasino.com/dining/...buffet/pricing

I can also recommend Capriotti's for good, fast, cheap lunch. Here is a link to their locations in vegas. http://www.capriottis.com/images/newmenu.htm

From your posts it does not sound like you will be renting a car. If you are renting one, let me know I can suggest more inexpensive dining options that are a bit further from the strip.


Hope this helps!!

melissaki5, Thanks for the info. I will have a SUV and was planning to rtn it early ( 12 days rather than 14)

I may find it cheaper with Thrifty to keep it the 2 full wks. I keep reading about the 1/2 hotdog. My wife would kill me if I indulged in this heartburn.

mes3

If I were you I would definately consider keeping the SUV the two extra days. I did not have a car one time in Vegas. I found it a pain to get around with the buses and with the traffic on the strip, they can take forever. The only reason I can fathom taking the bus is if you are drinking, which from your posts and the fact that you will have two teenagers with you, it does not sound as if you will be doing much of that. If you have a rent a car it is possible to use the streets that run behind the hotels ie. industrial and avoid all the strip traffic. All the hotels in Vegas have free parking so you do not have to worry about that.

You will also be able to save money easier by eating off the strip. There are many, good, cheap, places to eat off the strip. This may make up for the added cost of the rent a car. Here are a few more restaurant recommondations.
At Terribles hotel and casino there is a cafe called Bouganvillia, while the service is awful and sloooow, the food is great and HUGE portions. We made the mistake of getting the nachos and two prime rib dinners. We were not able to even touch our dinner because the portion of Nachos was so big and we were toooo full. DO NOT, however, eat at Terrible's buffet. It lives up to the hotels' name and really is terrible. Its also only about a five min drive from the strip.
http://www.terribleherbst.com/casino.../location.html

Sam's town also has great buffet, a realy cool atrium in the center of the casino, and it's only about 20 min from the strip.
http://www.samstownlv.com/dining/firelight.cfm

I also want to mention since you seem to like roller coasters, you MUST check out the Desperado in Primm Valley. This is about 30 minutes from the strip and is one of the best coasters I have been on. However, I recommend calling ahead to make sure they have it running. On my last trip we drove all the way out there and it was closed - I think because it was a weekday night, just after memorial day and vegas in general had cleared out. Primm also has a great outlet mall and just before entering the outlet mall from the casino there is the actual car that Bonnie and Clyde died in. They also have their clothes on display and some other artifacts along with info on their crimes. It is also owned by terribles but it is not the same place as I mentioned above.
http://www.primmvalleyresorts.com/home

Have a great trip!!