Vegas-inexpensively.

[Jozef Bleaux]

I'm trying to plan a trip to Vegas in the future, to coincide with meeting some friends there.

Getting there, transportation while there, food, and gambling (if any of that) are no problemo.

What's kicking my tail is "where to stay". Yeah I know, hotel rates in LV are wild and variable depending on the time you go (which Is not in my control-yet). So I want to pick the brains of my fellow Quatloosians on this one.

I'll keep it fairly simple-I don't want it costing an arm and a leg. I do want it fairly close to the MGM Grand. BTW, what I've heard on Hooters there is across the board, from OK and thrifty to a real sleaze hole to be avoided at all costs.

Thanks in advance everyone.

[Demosthenes]

There's nothing wrong with the MGM Grand. I've seen rates as low as $59 - $70 for it, depending on the day of the week. I've stayed at the Venetian, Bellagio, Wynn, and Paris and they're all good. I haven't been the LV in a couple of years though.

My favorite place to stay when I go to Vegas, however, is downtown, rather than on the Strip. I first started staying at the Golden Nugget because it's really close to the federal courthouse, but I ended up really liking the hotel.

[Unidyne]

Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority
http://www.lvcva.com/index.jsp

Beware the "Tourist Information" storefronts on the Strip. They're going to give you a hard sell on time shares (I used to work for one!).

Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
(The local bus company)
http://www.rtcsouthernnevada.com/

[wserra]

I first started staying at the Golden Nugget because it's really close to the federal courthouse

Is that the courthouse with the slots in the lobby?

Twelve jurors is the jackpot.

[Number Six]

If I went, it would be interesting to attend some gamblers anonymous meetings to get a real sense of the reality of sin city. I like that "Twilight Zone" episode "The Prime Mover" sited in Vegas. Easy come, easy go.

http://www.gamblersanonymous.org/ga/loc ... emap-gmap0

[Prof]

Vegas hotels in the area around the MGM are fairly cheap; we recently stayed at ARIA, a brand new City Center hotel casino, for $129 a night, Fri & Sat. (This was a group rate.)

I was at a meeting in Vegas in February; Trump, also on a group rate, was also $129. Trump is accross the strip from Encore/Wynn and about 100 yards off of the strip; it does not have a casino.

Back down the strip, towards town, the Mirage remains more than acceptable and is generally cheaper; so is Ceasar's Palace.

Like Demo says, the Golden Nugget is pretty neat, and somewhat retro.

Hooter's, which is a licensee of the brand, and is not corporate, is pretty much a dive. Since one of my best friends ran the Hooter's "commissary," Eastern Foods/Naturally Fresh, for years, until its recent sale by the Brook's (owner's) estate, I was curious. I went out to the pool. There was enough (male) back hair in evidence to have supplied a blanket factory for a year.

(Disclaimer: Our firm goes -- as a group -- to Vegas each year. I would rather go to some place nicer, say Dos Laredos, Eagle Pass/Piedras, Del Rio/Acuna. As someone once said, the Nevada license plate motto should be "Poker and Whores.")

[Dezcad]

Check www.smatervegas.com for coupon codes for all the hotels in Vegas.

There is a completely different feel to Vegas whether you are on the Strip or downtown.

The MGM Grand is nice but it is so huge that your room is often a long, long walk from any other part of the casino (and the Strip).

Aria is very high-tech and nice. Monte Carlo and the Tropicana are somewhat older places but you can get a much better deal at those two.

Keep in mind that MGM/Mirage properties also charge a daily resort fee (usually $22-25/day) in addition to the room rate. MGM/Mirage properties (Bellagio, Aria, Vdara, MGM, Mirage, Monte Carlo, Luxor, Mandalay Bay, Excalibur, New York/New York)

Caesar's properties do not have a daily resort fee. Caesar's properties (Caesar's Palace, Paris, Bally's, Harrahs, Flamingo, Rio)

Although it is at the other end of the Strip from the MGM Grand, the Venetian is my favorite place to stay. It is not inexpensive but the rooms are excellent, as well as the shops and food.

What will you be doing at the casinos?

I go about 2-3 times a year for poker tournaments and can gladly give you more insight if you'd like. Feel free to PM me.

[Pantherphil]

My Over 50 baseball club goes to Vegas every year for a tournament. We tend to like the off strip extended stay places like Tuscany Village but we've stayed at the Sunset Station in Henderson, the Bellagio and the Flamingo. We also like the Mandalay Bay quite a lot. Caesar's Palace is nice but a little pricy. The year that Hooters Las Vegas opened it was the tournament headquarters hotel. Basically, it was the old San Remo Casino with a little cheap paint and some orange curtains. While we were there a bunch of Jimmy Buffett parrotheads put detergent in the jacuzzi tub which turned the entire pool area into about 5 feet of foaming lather. CSI Las Vegas came out and put up crime scene tape and we never did get into the pool. You can surely do better than that.

[Cpt Banjo]

Cheapo Vegas is a good website that reviews all of the hotels and casinos:
http://www.cheapovegas.com/vegas_casino_chart.php

I like the MGM Grand because of its very good blackjack rules.

[Dezcad]

Cheapo Vegas is a good website that reviews all of the hotels and casinos:
http://www.cheapovegas.com/vegas_casino_chart.php

I like the MGM Grand because of its very good blackjack rules.

But remember, you don't have to stay where you play.

[Number Six]

For another angle of a Vegas trip, check out this recent log from a coin dealer I know: http://www.coinraritiesonline.com/index ... oad+Report

[Lambkin]

I don't gamble much but there are a few relatively inexpensive diversions I enjoyed in Las Vegas on my last couple visits.

Not to be missed:

Atomic Testing Museum
http://www.nationalatomictestingmuseum.org/

Neon Museum (reserve a tour)
http://www.neonmuseum.org/

Pretty fun:

Penn & Teller at the Rio
https://harrahs-web.vegas.com/rio/pennteller.html

The Old Mormon Fort
http://parks.nv.gov/parks/old-las-vegas-mormon-fort/

And outside of Las Vegas:

Valley of Fire
http://parks.nv.gov/parks/valley-of-fire-state-park/

We visited Valley of Fire during a rain storm and the color change when the water hit the rocks was incredible, must see to believe.

[Jozef Bleaux]

Thanks all, some great ideas here. MGM is looking good as where to stay, especially since most of the trips activities (concert and party afterwards) will most likely happen there.

Gambling? Low priority- probably downtown for the low table minimums. Besides, I would like to see the Fremont Street Experience in the evening.

Eating? At the buffets, with one splurge dinner (steak? seafood? ???)

Onward through the information fog!

[LaVidaRoja]

Inexpensive sit-down dining suggestions (if you have a car to get to them)
1. Chicago Joe's on 4th street, just north of Freemont Good Italian, heavy on the garlic
2. At the HoJo's on the far north of Las Vegas Boulevard (north of Freemont), there is (or at least still was a couple of years ago) a FABULOUS Cuban resturant.

[Demosthenes]

If you haven't been to the Golden Nugget in a couple of years, Prof, they've done a complete overhaul and it's quite posh these day. They even put in a pool with a huge water tube slide that takes you through a 200,000 gallon shark tank. Unlike the Strip hotels, parking is free.

I've stayed there for as little as $39 a night which is pretty good for a four star hotel. If you book a room in the new tower, there's a separate pool with a no-kids policy.

I generally prefer the Fremont Street Experience to the Strip. Everything on the Strip is too far apart for casual sightseeing by foot.

If you decide to stay at the MGM, call the hotel and ask if they have a special individual or group rate. The people that answer the phone can sometimes give you an offer that is much better than the ones you find online. Sometimes, it's a cheaper room rate, or event tickets, or even a generous drink voucher.

[Unidyne]

Off-beat places to visit in Las Vegas and vicinity:

Burlesque Hall of Fame: http://burlesquehall.com/
Las Vegas Pinball Hall of Fame: http://www.pinballmuseum.org/
Erotic Heritage Museum : http://www.eroticheritagemuseumlasvegas.com/
First Friday (Downtown art event): http://www.firstfridaylasvegas.com/
Clark County Heritage Museum (Henderson): http://www.clarkcountynv.gov/Depts/park ... useum.aspx
Temple of Goddess Spirituality (Indian Springs): http://www.sekhmettemple.com/
Boulder City: http://www.bouldercity.com/

Boulder City is where the workers who built Hoover Dam lived. The city's downtown is peppered with antique shops, historical markers and the like. It's good place to stop off on your way to/from Hoover Dam.

Sadly, the Liberace Museum is closed due to financial problems.

[Jozef Bleaux]

Well, there goes my gambling money.

Pinball HOF for sure, I was an arcade junkie in the 80's, but not many of the video games (except Tempest.)

Shoot 'em up-why not? I've heard of The Gun Store in Vegas, and while I've shot firearms before, the idea of going full rock n' roll with an Uzi or a Thompson does sound like fun.

La Vida, your mention of Chicago Joe's is the fourth or fifth thumbs up I've seen for them, looks very promising. Heard they do a mean bowl of Cioppino. I've also heard of the Cuban place in LV, but I'm passing on that one-I'll stick with the locals here in S FL for that.

Quick one, car rentals. Rent from providers at the airport and pay the airport fees, or rent from an off airport property (and chance that fees might be higher?)