Only once. Stayed at Tropicana because they offered the best rate when booking flight and hotel through AAA. Was ok. Room was mostly just to sleep, shower, shit and snort in, so it didnt matter.
I thought the Luxor was pretty nice. The Hard Rock is the nest place to go celeb sighting, in my experience, and it was a nice place to stay when I went.
Avoid the Excalibur at all costs. That was the first place I stayed on my first trip there..it is very downscale.
I HATE LV. Other than gambling and seeing has beens and d-listers doing shows I find it sooooo BORING.
Sorry I grew up as a club kid in the fun and dangerous NYC of the 80's and 90's where every night there was a party, a club, an event popping off. Everything was fun and much better, sex, drugs, music, sighhhhh I miss those days lol
Bright light city gonna set my soul Gonna set my soul on fire Got a whole lot of money that's ready to burn, So get those stakes up higher There's a thousand pretty women waitin' out there And they're all livin' devil may care And I'm just the devil with love to spare Viva Las Vegas, Viva Las Vegas
My husband and I eloped to Vegas in 2010. We stayed at the Bellagio which I thought was overrated. Our room was pretty basic. We found everything to be over-priced on the strip, but we didn't care too much since we weren't paying for some over-the-top wedding with 200 guests.
I go every year at least once. If one wants reasonsably priced right in the middle of the strip I reccomed balley's. For a little more money and comfort and gambling ambience I go mirage. Anything more pricey is waste due to lack of time in room anyway
Best memory of Las Vegas is when my husband and I got our vows renewed by Elvis on our 5th anniversary! It was my dream to elope but I had a wedding with a promise that we could 'elope' on our 5th wedding anniversary. It was Halloween and 3 other couples renewed their vows too and we did it all together! My husband was dressed as Frankenstein and hilariously grunted his way through the vow ceremony. Elvis walked each bride down the aisle while he sang a song. We filled up that joint with our love and rowdiness and stayed in a free suite at the Palms. Good times fo sho.
I can't go back now because nothing is ever going to top that Vegas experience.
We stayed at Aria last time we went. It's clean, beautiful, and green design. The room had great views and a super comfortable bed. Lots of art on the premises, and plenty of good restaurants on site. The spa was terrific.
Close Bacon Ranch - the renewal was on Halloween but my actual wedding anniversary is the 23rd. I wore a very tacky bride of frankenstein type dress. We also rented a party bus with a stripper pole in it. High class all the way.
Went to Las Vegas for the first time ever last month. I hated it. The hotels are very posh and there is lots of high-end shopping that stays open late, but it is definitely not my type of scene. I felt like I was in a cage the whole time.
I am there a LOT for work related stuff..I have stayed everywhere from the Tropicana to The Wynn and I still get the best room deal for my money at Bally's. You are only in your room to sleep (for a very few hours) and to shower--so don't waste your money--unless you have it to blow--then The Wynn or Aria are amazing. You can visit and gamble your money away in any casino and take in the sites--but don't pay for them if you dont' have to..you will spend enough on food and entertainment because Vegas isn't cheap anymore boys and girls
1.) Bellagio: Package deal. Great spa, great restaurants, great service. Nice room -- I'm sure it's the bottom rung for *them*, though.
2.) MGM Grand: Several stays here, no complaints. Seems like they always have a good sale going on.
3.) Stratosphere: Meh. Crap location. Dirt cheap when I went, though.
4.) The Luxor: Crap when I was there. The casino was lacking, I think they had one semi-decent restaurant and there was construction/renovation all over the place. It's been about six years, though, so hopefully it's better now.
FWIW, several family and friends rave about the Wynn.
Yeah, didnt love it. Never went back. Did tour the Hoover Dam tho which was fascinating. It was like 1976 or so. So on the tour, i was with my mom and i got to talking with this black gentleman who was a social worker teacher, and we were talking about socio economic groups, and why neighborhoods go bad. Hot, right? Cue some rednecks in cowboy hats shooting daggers at us and making remarks. Im from NY, i had never experienced this before. Cldnt believe it! Esp since our convrsation wasnt remotely sexy, lol. So thats my Las Vegas story.
The times I've been as an adult, maybe 5 times, I go under protest. I don't like gambling besides tossing tbe slotted amount in the slots. However, I always end up having a good time. Haven't stayed anywhere that hadn't already been mentioned (agree with the reviews..) except once we stayed at Treasure Island for some reason, and it wasn't bcuz we had kids with us, and we were "upgraded" to tbe handy cap room and we had a reeeeellleee good time in tbe room. Maybe cuz we're tall, or maybe it was other reasons. And that trip, one of the couples was friends with a A-(?) list actress who's name gets mentioned here, and we got together with her there and she spent the evening out on the town with us. She was very nice. I really liked her. (But I also got a crush in the guy who was friends with her...OMG! Even tho I was crazy about my bf, this dude and I were smoldering. His gf was there too. Good thing he was too many inches shorter than me. I would have been in a pickle, or on his, if are heights were more compatible for longer term. Maybe that's why this actress and he weren't an item She's almost as tall as I am. ;-) Where was I..,. Oh yeah. Places to stay- I think the MGM's layout can be confusing. It's sooo big. Or maybe I was soooo drunk; for 3 days.
Mirage is my sentimental fave but haven't been there in a while. Bellagio is too fab but I like to walk through. Caesars IS Vegas. I stayed at Circus Circus once when I was young and poor. Scary!
Avoid excaliber and luxor and circus circus.. noisy crappy cheap.. Aria Wynn and cosmopolitan are nice The new sls looks nice haven't been down that way yet. Restaurants look good. Mandalay bay is always clean and has good value and good shopping and the All Important easy freeway access for those driving. Rio is Shit..no no. Palms is loud Hard Rock has cool rooms.. The S&M suite is something funky..for freaky couples or couples looking to spice things up.. hr sm suite Stratosphere No..only for the rides.. Bellagio is basic and overpriced. I would go to Aria or Wynn Encore for luxury. . Also..Very important. . If you're coming to Vegas to throw parties.. always book a party suite in a separate hotel from where you and your friends are staying. . A sort of Ground Zero. . That way random strangers won't steal your stuff and when you're ready to go just go back to your place and make sure to put a no room service block on the party suite so strangers can't order $$$ stuff. That's all I got. Hope it helps. . Stay away from Chinatown massage parlors unless you've been there before. You will lose all your $$ and get no pokey pokey. ..
Mandalay Bay - nice spa. MGM Grande - nice pools Paris - nice restaurants Hilton - back in the day the Star Trek Experience was oodles of fun (and one night I had fun with The Commodores after having fun at their show). Good times.
Lol @SYF! My friend and I got sooo lost in MGM. We called it a night after her foot literally started bleeding from all the walking. A yellow brick maze indeed! MGM is great for kids and the pool park is awesome.
I also love Mandalay Bay, but my only gripe is how far down the strip it is. I like staying there for one night though, just so I can use their lazy river and pool. They have the best one in Vegas IMO. Stage on the water, beach pool with waves, fucking everything! It smells delicious in there too, and they just opened an awesome new club. I love it there.
I prefer to spend most days I stay there in the middle of the strip. If you can splurge, get a balcony room at Cosmo it's insanely beautiful. If you want Bellagio location for cheaper, I recommend Paris. Planet Hollywood is also a good option.
Glad to say I saw Joan Rivers at Caesar's and laughed my ass off.
I've stayed at MGM, Caesar's, Mirage, Luxor, Excalibur, Harrah's, Imperial Palace aka The Quad aka The Linq, Sunset Station, Sam's Town. My very first trip at 13 yrs. old, we stayed at Circus Circus.
Love it, try to go once a year. We usually stay in the Venetian/Palazzo complex and loved it but tried the Monte Carlo last year. MC wasn't bad but it was no Venetian!
@sugarbread maker I'd like more city guides, please, sugarbread (with a chapter devoted to finding "pokey pokey"). Ever thought of a second career as a travel writer?
Luxor - overrated. Kinda dowdy, imo. Venetian - nice suites, pool filled by 10am (avoid it), lots of cheap twenties in thin bikinis with guys stalking them. That part's weak - and they think they own the place. Circus Circus - scared Golden Horseshoe - closed (downtown) Wynn Encore - nice
Hoover Dam inside tours - AMAZING human and construction history.
West Rim (Grand Canyon) - omg. Overpriced, underdeveloped rip off. Skybridge - $75, really?
Grand Canyon - amazing, but go to the National Park parts
Red Rocks - kinda cool walks with friends in evenings or mornings
I go to see friends and eat: Bouchon, Atelier Joel Robuchon, Fleur by Hubert Keller, Lotus of Siam - lots of options at various price ranges.
I love Vegas so much! Hubby and I are going in November for our anniversary. We don't really drink or gamble, and it's still awesome. We try to make it a point to stay at a different place every time (on strip, off strip or downtown). Thinking about Caesar's this time. I love the old-school style Vegas, and Fremont Street is my absolute fave place to be.
just came back from LV tuesday! it was fun. :)
ReplyDeleteTwice a year and again in a few weeks. I usually stay at Paris!
ReplyDeleteYes! Hubs and I got married there in 2010. Favorite place to play is Fremont St.
ReplyDeleteHow fun! Congrats.
DeleteOnly once. Stayed at Tropicana because they offered the best rate when booking flight and hotel through AAA. Was ok. Room was mostly just to sleep, shower, shit and snort in, so it didnt matter.
ReplyDeleteI agree. The mirrors on the ceiling were a bonus ;)
DeleteI thought the Luxor was pretty nice. The Hard Rock is the nest place to go celeb sighting, in my experience, and it was a nice place to stay when I went.
ReplyDeleteAvoid the Excalibur at all costs. That was the first place I stayed on my first trip there..it is very downscale.
I could not agree more. I stayed at Excalibur this past June. First time there. *shudder*
DeleteI wanna go to The Bunny Ranch. Ill stay at my friends house if I go.
ReplyDeleteA million times. I stayed at my mom and dads.
ReplyDeleteI HATE LV. Other than gambling and seeing has beens and d-listers doing shows I find it sooooo BORING.
ReplyDeleteSorry I grew up as a club kid in the fun and dangerous NYC of the 80's and 90's where every night there was a party, a club, an event popping off. Everything was fun and much better, sex, drugs, music, sighhhhh I miss those days lol
It's like a rat maze; the strip anyway. We don't go there to party so much either...
Delete*best, not nest, lol..the Hard Rock is a good place to celebrity spot.
ReplyDeleteVegan options in every restaurant at the Wynn. Why stay anywhere else? :)
ReplyDeleteNot really into Vegas. I've been a few times.
ReplyDeleteLove Vegas, The Bellagio. Stayed at several others thats my favorite.
ReplyDeleteBright light city gonna set my soul
ReplyDeleteGonna set my soul on fire
Got a whole lot of money that's ready to burn,
So get those stakes up higher
There's a thousand pretty women waitin' out there
And they're all livin' devil may care
And I'm just the devil with love to spare
Viva Las Vegas, Viva Las Vegas
My husband and I eloped to Vegas in 2010. We stayed at the Bellagio which I thought was overrated. Our room was pretty basic. We found everything to be over-priced on the strip, but we didn't care too much since we weren't paying for some over-the-top wedding with 200 guests.
ReplyDeleteI go every year at least once. If one wants reasonsably priced right in the middle of the strip I reccomed balley's.
ReplyDeleteFor a little more money and comfort and gambling ambience I go mirage.
Anything more pricey is waste due to lack of time in room anyway
Best memory of Las Vegas is when my husband and I got our vows renewed by Elvis on our 5th anniversary! It was my dream to elope but I had a wedding with a promise that we could 'elope' on our 5th wedding anniversary. It was Halloween and 3 other couples renewed their vows too and we did it all together! My husband was dressed as Frankenstein and hilariously grunted his way through the vow ceremony. Elvis walked each bride down the aisle while he sang a song. We filled up that joint with our love and rowdiness and stayed in a free suite at the Palms. Good times fo sho.
ReplyDeleteI can't go back now because nothing is ever going to top that Vegas experience.
Sugar, how fun was that!?!? What a great idea!
DeleteIt was awesome! And it was all totally my idea.
DeleteGot married there in 2001 and strangely enough heading there for a conference for my second visit on Sunday...
ReplyDeleteWe stayed at Aria last time we went. It's clean, beautiful, and green design. The room had great views and a super comfortable bed. Lots of art on the premises, and plenty of good restaurants on site. The spa was terrific.
ReplyDeleteCosmopolitan. Small casino and absolutely GORGEOUS.
ReplyDeleteOf the places I've stayed I like Paris, The Wynn and Hard Rock the best.
ReplyDeleteWould rather stick needles in my eyes.
ReplyDeleteLove the elope stories!
ReplyDeleteSugar, you were married on Halloween? That's a great renewal :) What did you dress as?
Close Bacon Ranch - the renewal was on Halloween but my actual wedding anniversary is the 23rd.
DeleteI wore a very tacky bride of frankenstein type dress. We also rented a party bus with a stripper pole in it. High class all the way.
Never been and have zero desire to go.
ReplyDeleteWent to Las Vegas for the first time ever last month. I hated it. The hotels are very posh and there is lots of high-end shopping that stays open late, but it is definitely not my type of scene. I felt like I was in a cage the whole time.
ReplyDeleteI love Las Vegas. I haven't been back in years but have great memories. We stayed at The Flamingo Hilton. It was so nice!
ReplyDeleteI am there a LOT for work related stuff..I have stayed everywhere from the Tropicana to The Wynn and I still get the best room deal for my money at Bally's. You are only in your room to sleep (for a very few hours) and to shower--so don't waste your money--unless you have it to blow--then The Wynn or Aria are amazing. You can visit and gamble your money away in any casino and take in the sites--but don't pay for them if you dont' have to..you will spend enough on food and entertainment because Vegas isn't cheap anymore boys and girls
ReplyDeleteOf the places I've stayed:
ReplyDelete1.) Bellagio: Package deal. Great spa, great restaurants, great service. Nice room -- I'm sure it's the bottom rung for *them*, though.
2.) MGM Grand: Several stays here, no complaints. Seems like they always have a good sale going on.
3.) Stratosphere: Meh. Crap location. Dirt cheap when I went, though.
4.) The Luxor: Crap when I was there. The casino was lacking, I think they had one semi-decent restaurant and there was construction/renovation all over the place. It's been about six years, though, so hopefully it's better now.
FWIW, several family and friends rave about the Wynn.
Motel 6. Its cheap and I am rarely in the room so why waste money when you could be gambling! Lol!
ReplyDelete@sandy: it is 2014. You can book the same whores at 1/4 the price through Twitter.
ReplyDeleteMandalay, all the way. Great hotel.
ReplyDeleteBTW, anyone ever spend a minute at The Laughing Jackalope before it closed? Always loved that sign.
Yeah, didnt love it. Never went back. Did tour the Hoover Dam tho which was fascinating. It was like 1976 or so. So on the tour, i was with my mom and i got to talking with this black gentleman who was a social worker teacher, and we were talking about socio economic groups, and why neighborhoods go bad. Hot, right? Cue some rednecks in cowboy hats shooting daggers at us and making remarks. Im from NY, i had never experienced this before. Cldnt believe it! Esp since our convrsation wasnt remotely sexy, lol. So thats my Las Vegas story.
ReplyDeleteThe times I've been as an adult, maybe 5 times, I go under protest. I don't like gambling besides tossing tbe slotted amount in the slots. However, I always end up having a good time.
ReplyDeleteHaven't stayed anywhere that hadn't already been mentioned (agree with the reviews..) except once we stayed at Treasure Island for some reason, and it wasn't bcuz we had kids with us, and we were "upgraded" to tbe handy cap room and we had a reeeeellleee good time in tbe room. Maybe cuz we're tall, or maybe it was other reasons. And that trip, one of the couples was friends with a A-(?) list actress who's name gets mentioned here, and we got together with her there and she spent the evening out on the town with us. She was very nice. I really liked her. (But I also got a crush in the guy who was friends with her...OMG! Even tho I was crazy about my bf, this dude and I were smoldering. His gf was there too. Good thing he was too many inches shorter than me. I would have been in a pickle, or on his, if are heights were more compatible for longer term. Maybe that's why this actress and he weren't an item She's almost as tall as I am. ;-)
Where was I..,.
Oh yeah. Places to stay- I think the MGM's layout can be confusing. It's sooo big. Or maybe I was soooo drunk; for 3 days.
I love Vegas. It's amazing. I would stay anywhere exempt the real junky motels.
ReplyDeleteMirage is my sentimental fave but haven't been there in a while. Bellagio is too fab but I like to walk through. Caesars IS Vegas.
ReplyDeleteI stayed at Circus Circus once when I was young and poor. Scary!
Stayed at the Cosmopolitan. Had a great view of the strip & fountain show at the Bellagio next door.
ReplyDeleteMandalay Bay. Good times!
ReplyDeleteOnce for 12 hours for a Bublé concert
ReplyDeleteAvoid excaliber and luxor and circus circus.. noisy crappy cheap..
ReplyDeleteAria Wynn and cosmopolitan are nice
The new sls looks nice haven't been down that way yet. Restaurants look good.
Mandalay bay is always clean and has good value and good shopping and the All Important easy freeway access for those driving.
Rio is Shit..no no.
Palms is loud
Hard Rock has cool rooms.. The S&M suite is something funky..for freaky couples or couples looking to spice things up.. hr sm suite
Stratosphere No..only for the rides..
Bellagio is basic and overpriced. I would go to Aria or Wynn Encore for luxury. .
Also..Very important. . If you're coming to Vegas to throw parties.. always book a party suite in a separate hotel from where you and your friends are staying. . A sort of Ground Zero. . That way random strangers won't steal your stuff and when you're ready to go just go back to your place and make sure to put a no room service block on the party suite so strangers can't order $$$ stuff.
That's all I got. Hope it helps. .
Stay away from Chinatown massage parlors unless you've been there before. You will lose all your $$ and get no pokey pokey. ..
That was a thorough yet exquisite overview, sugartits!
DeleteMandalay Bay - nice spa.
ReplyDeleteMGM Grande - nice pools
Paris - nice restaurants
Hilton - back in the day the Star Trek Experience was oodles of fun (and one night I had fun with The Commodores after having fun at their show). Good times.
Lol @SYF!
ReplyDeleteMy friend and I got sooo lost in MGM. We called it a night after her foot literally started bleeding from all the walking. A yellow brick maze indeed! MGM is great for kids and the pool park is awesome.
I also love Mandalay Bay, but my only gripe is how far down the strip it is. I like staying there for one night though, just so I can use their lazy river and pool. They have the best one in Vegas IMO. Stage on the water, beach pool with waves, fucking everything! It smells delicious in there too, and they just opened an awesome new club. I love it there.
I prefer to spend most days I stay there in the middle of the strip. If you can splurge, get a balcony room at Cosmo it's insanely beautiful. If you want Bellagio location for cheaper, I recommend Paris. Planet Hollywood is also a good option.
I hate Excalibur too. Word!
I'd rather vacation in Syria.
ReplyDeletealways at your service my lady!!
ReplyDeleteI go at least twice a year. I love it!
ReplyDeleteGlad to say I saw Joan Rivers at Caesar's and laughed my ass off.
I've stayed at MGM, Caesar's, Mirage, Luxor, Excalibur, Harrah's, Imperial Palace aka The Quad aka The Linq, Sunset Station, Sam's Town. My very first trip at 13 yrs. old, we stayed at Circus Circus.
My house in Centennial hills.
ReplyDeleteNew Mexico. Hate. Vegas.
ReplyDeleteLove it, try to go once a year. We usually stay in the Venetian/Palazzo complex and loved it but tried the Monte Carlo last year. MC wasn't bad but it was no Venetian!
ReplyDeleteWith my BFF. Being friends with a local is the best! She knows all the best restaurants and gets discount tickets to the shows.
ReplyDelete@sugarbread maker
ReplyDeleteI'd like more city guides, please, sugarbread (with a chapter devoted to finding "pokey pokey"). Ever thought of a second career as a travel writer?
I could write 5 books on the secret Vegas! !
DeleteSuite at the Venetian on the 10th floor, around from Thomas Keller's Bouchon restaurant.
ReplyDeleteYes, it was planned. ;)
Only been there once. We wanted to see "O" so we stayed at the Bellagio. Ate at the restaurant with the Picasso in it, I think it was called Prime.
ReplyDeleteOh, btw:
ReplyDeleteLuxor - overrated. Kinda dowdy, imo.
Venetian - nice suites, pool filled by 10am (avoid it), lots of cheap twenties in thin bikinis with guys stalking them. That part's weak - and they think they own the place.
Circus Circus - scared
Golden Horseshoe - closed (downtown)
Wynn Encore - nice
Hoover Dam inside tours - AMAZING human and construction history.
West Rim (Grand Canyon) - omg. Overpriced, underdeveloped rip off. Skybridge - $75, really?
Grand Canyon - amazing, but go to the National Park parts
Red Rocks - kinda cool walks with friends in evenings or mornings
I go to see friends and eat: Bouchon, Atelier Joel Robuchon, Fleur by Hubert Keller, Lotus of Siam - lots of options at various price ranges.
Enjoy Vegas - and then leave. ;)
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ReplyDeleteI love Vegas so much! Hubby and I are going in November for our anniversary. We don't really drink or gamble, and it's still awesome. We try to make it a point to stay at a different place every time (on strip, off strip or downtown). Thinking about Caesar's this time. I love the old-school style Vegas, and Fremont Street is my absolute fave place to be.
ReplyDeletemy bf is from there so we go a lot. i like mirage or trump. staying at the aria in a couple of months
ReplyDeleteYes. Hawaii.
ReplyDeleteI despise Vegas. It's tawdry and soulless, the Paris Hilton of cities.
ReplyDeleteMandarin Oriental, Wynn, Encore and even Paris (if you do the $20 trick there, that is).
ReplyDeleteLoved @sugarbread's synopsis.
ReplyDeleteCould do my own review but too lazy. Will only suggest a helicopter ride over Hoover Dam. Memorable experience.