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Planning a trip to Vegas. Advice?
- Thread starter Divvy
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I went to Tao Beach last time I went (4th of July weekend last year) and I've gotta say I didn't really enjoy it much. We didn't get a cabana, so there's a good chance that would have made it a lot more enjoyable. The only positive when I went was the eye candy. I was sitting in 110 degree heat, drinking $9 beers that wouldn't even get me a buzz because I was sweating out more liquid than I was drinking, and I couldn't even get in the goddamn water because it was so packed. Of course, even if I could have gotten in the water, I probably would have caught 10 different STDs...it looked like instead of pool water it was a mixture of various alcoholic drinks, suntan lotion, and who knows what else.
But it's fuckin Vegas. Try it out. If we do go back we're definitely going to get a cabana. We went to Caesar's pool afterward, played some pool blackjack, chilled out, had a good time.
I went to both Tao and Lavo (in the Venetian and Palazzo respectively, I believe) when I went. We got a $100 guest pass for the holiday weekend that got us into the three places I have mentioned so far for the whole weekend. Got to skip lines and everything. Probably something that is exclusive to particular (holiday) weekends, though. I don't remember much of Tao because I was goddamn hammered, but I know I enjoyed it. Lavo was nice too (Shawn Marion DJed for an hour, it was his NBA title celebration) but the girls we were with were being lame and didn't wanna drink so that kinda spoiled the experience.
Definitely wanna check out City Center next time we go after reading this thread.
But it's fuckin Vegas. Try it out. If we do go back we're definitely going to get a cabana. We went to Caesar's pool afterward, played some pool blackjack, chilled out, had a good time.
I went to both Tao and Lavo (in the Venetian and Palazzo respectively, I believe) when I went. We got a $100 guest pass for the holiday weekend that got us into the three places I have mentioned so far for the whole weekend. Got to skip lines and everything. Probably something that is exclusive to particular (holiday) weekends, though. I don't remember much of Tao because I was goddamn hammered, but I know I enjoyed it. Lavo was nice too (Shawn Marion DJed for an hour, it was his NBA title celebration) but the girls we were with were being lame and didn't wanna drink so that kinda spoiled the experience.
Definitely wanna check out City Center next time we go after reading this thread.
freenudemacusers
Member
the number of barefoot, confused women carrying heels around the casinos will amaze you.
I don't know anything about STK. We have eaten at Blue Ribbon, and it was a good sushi restaurant, albeit overpriced. We've had much much better meals at Nobu (Hard Rock) and Sushisamba (Palazzo).
Hey Divvy, we met at the Toronto GAF get together. You should definitely check out In and Out Burger while you're in Vegas. Pinks hotdogs has a location in Vegas you can check out. It's a pretty popular hot dog chain in LA. On the plus side, it won't be humid as hell in Vegas like it is in Toronto. Hot yes, but it's desert heat and I would take that over humidity.
freenudemacusers
Member
Yeah, the dry heat is kind of a blessing... I went in late July last year and it really wasn't too awful save for stepping out of the airport, but that's probably because of all the cars and asphalt there... There is shade everywhere on the strip, and the casinos are AC'd out the ass. I comfortably wore a suit (cotton) at night without breaking a sweat.
Thread subbed!
Going to Vegas next week, staying at the Mandrin Oriental. Can't wait. Some good advice here.
Never knew about the Pinball Hall of Fame
So jealous. We want to stay at the Mandrin at some point. I hear it is freaking awesome. They apparently have a really awesome cocktail bar if you are into that. I do believe it has a dress code though.
There's also this video game place downtown. It is supposed to be pretty awesome.
http://insertcoinslv.com/
http://insertcoinslv.com/
GoldenEye 007
Member
Thread subbed also.
And how is the Monte Carlo?
And how is the Monte Carlo?
V
Vilix
Unconfirmed Member
Get bitches.
mr stroke
Member
OMG, a Bar with video games and a DJ, booked! Thanks....
Marquee Day Club and Encore Beach Club are tops right now
I haven't stayed there but from what I've read it is fine. A decent low-mid tier hotel. Below say Mirage, but above say Imperial Palace or Excalibur. The location is awesome. The casino is a bit dead though, but not a morgue. Close to tons of other casinos if you don't like the feel.
GoldenEye 007
Member
Nice. That's the hotel my friends and I are looking into. One of my friends parents have some connections or discounts for that particular one. Don't know the full details, though.
I went there last week actually. We stayed at The Cosmopolitan, and it was absolutely incredible. Would highly recommend it. Plus, they're really great to their guests.
Also, if you're into the club scene, I'd recommend this website: Vegas Passport, we bought the "Ultimate" package and it comes with passes to almost every club there. Only noticeable omissions were the Marquee, and XS. However, the passes got us to skip quite a few lines (The Bank, Pure, LAX, Lavos, Ghost Bar) and everywhere we presented the cards we got in cover charge free.
As far as clubs I'd recommend? Marquee, Tao, Lavos, XS, LAX, The Bank, and the Ghost Bar (at least for the view.)
As far as buffets, theres a pretty good one at the Bellagio for $21. And for cheap drinks, there's a place called Fat Tuesday's that offers a "yard stick" margarita made with 151 is a hell of a deal for $20.
Also, if you're into the club scene, I'd recommend this website: Vegas Passport, we bought the "Ultimate" package and it comes with passes to almost every club there. Only noticeable omissions were the Marquee, and XS. However, the passes got us to skip quite a few lines (The Bank, Pure, LAX, Lavos, Ghost Bar) and everywhere we presented the cards we got in cover charge free.
As far as clubs I'd recommend? Marquee, Tao, Lavos, XS, LAX, The Bank, and the Ghost Bar (at least for the view.)
As far as buffets, theres a pretty good one at the Bellagio for $21. And for cheap drinks, there's a place called Fat Tuesday's that offers a "yard stick" margarita made with 151 is a hell of a deal for $20.
Awesome. I bet you will be happy with it. Let me know how it is. We were going to stay there on our next trip, but got a good deal on Mirage. I definitely want to give it a try if the price is right.
Battlezone
Member
1. Costco sells $100 gift cards for $80.
2. Book your flight/hotel through Vegas.com
3. Profit.
You get a great deal for bundling the flight/hotel through Vegas.com, then you get another 20% discount because of the gift card deal. My wife and I booked a last minute stay for four nights at the new Golden Nugget tower last 4th of July for around $500 total.
2. Book your flight/hotel through Vegas.com
3. Profit.
You get a great deal for bundling the flight/hotel through Vegas.com, then you get another 20% discount because of the gift card deal. My wife and I booked a last minute stay for four nights at the new Golden Nugget tower last 4th of July for around $500 total.
Also go here for some decent food deals
http://www.restaurant.com/rdc_site2.net/listings.aspx?StateID=&zip=89109&
read the the fine print though and check locations. Many places are off strip, but not all.
http://www.restaurant.com/rdc_site2.net/listings.aspx?StateID=&zip=89109&
read the the fine print though and check locations. Many places are off strip, but not all.
I have 4.
1. Rent a daybed at Marquee.
2. Bellagio fountains by day and night.
3. Craps at Cosmopolitan. Go early in the day for $10 minimums. Get to know the dealers. They are great!
4. Party pit at Caesar's (by Pussycat Dolls Lounge-weekends only). This is the original, but lots of other strip casinos have adopted a similar strategy (Flamingo, Excalibur, Planet Hollywood, MB, etc).
Hey man! I'll definitely check those out. I've always wondered what the fuss was about with In and Out. We're actually going in September now, so I think we'll miss the worst of the heat.
Battlezone
Member
Downtown Cocktail Room and Insert Coins are the two places I absolutely must visit when I go downtown. In fact, we've stayed downtown our last couple of trips, and we vastly prefer it to the strip. Staying at the new Rush Tower at Golden Nugget for our next trip, then looking forward to checking out the new Plaza and remodeled Fitzgeralds-ahem, I mean, "The D".
Also, I hear the new Mob Museum downtown is also supposed to be pretty cool.
Affeinvasion
Member
Just went there last week (got free rooms from Mandalay Bay). Some tips from a young guy with not a ton of money.
1) Make a budget. Don't get suckered into the my next big hand/roll/whatever will be the big one.
2) Food is really expensive there. You can take advantage of some pretty good deals at buffets that are associated. I did a 32 bucks for lunch/dinner at the Luxor/Excalibur buffets (Excalibur isn't great...did it for lunch).
3) Don't buy booze. Get free booze by sitting at a machine for a while.
NOTE: Tip your waitress. I always tipped 2 bucks per drink and they actually really appreciate it. Your not paying for the booze so might as well pay it forward. I had a couple of waitresses bringing me and my wife doubles with a pretty minimal tip.
1) Make a budget. Don't get suckered into the my next big hand/roll/whatever will be the big one.
2) Food is really expensive there. You can take advantage of some pretty good deals at buffets that are associated. I did a 32 bucks for lunch/dinner at the Luxor/Excalibur buffets (Excalibur isn't great...did it for lunch).
3) Don't buy booze. Get free booze by sitting at a machine for a while.
NOTE: Tip your waitress. I always tipped 2 bucks per drink and they actually really appreciate it. Your not paying for the booze so might as well pay it forward. I had a couple of waitresses bringing me and my wife doubles with a pretty minimal tip.
Wow that seems like a good deal. how much are the covers for Vegas clubs? And when you bought the package did they mail the cards to you or do you go pick them up from somewhere?
freenudemacusers
Member
Covers are around $30-$60 depending on the place. Find arm candy in the casino (especially if you are with a few guys) cuz most of them will want an even gender split.
BigJonsson
Member
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=390972
Also look at previous NeoGaf Vegas threads
We should just make an OT since this thread comes up so often
Also look at previous NeoGaf Vegas threads
We should just make an OT since this thread comes up so often
i saw $5 tables during the day at the mgm signature during february.
On this topic:
I shouldn't have to say it, but..
1. Protection. Seriously.
2. Ladies and gents, keep an eye on your stuff in the club and in the bedroom. Don't stay over after the end of business, check your wallet/purse before you leave, and make sure your friends know where you are and your cell has a charge.
3. You're not hot enough to hook up with go go dancer or a stripper. No, you're not. Just... no... i know what... but... no. So, don't bother them too much or you may have a conversation with a bouncer.
Top 3 things if you're a tourist:
1. Insert Coin - Really, a fun club. Worth the trip.
2. Penn and Teller - Great show, and they hang out for quite a bit afterwards.
3. City Center - Dat luxury shopping and Haze
Also, I'm sure everybody is familiar with how expensive liquor is in a club, but it's pretty bad in Vegas. When me and the fiancée go out, one of us is DD, the other gets tipsy at home, and drinking out is purely to keep level. I know at some spots well liquor goes for ten bucks a shot. And that's measured, not eyeballed.
BigJonsson
Member
I'm amazed I've been the only one recommending Voodoo @ the Rio
Epic view of the strip and open bar is like 70 bucks, then just tip the bartender 10-20 and get super strong drinks quickly all night........and energy drinks are included.....ugh
Epic view of the strip and open bar is like 70 bucks, then just tip the bartender 10-20 and get super strong drinks quickly all night........and energy drinks are included.....ugh
I'm amazed I've been the only one recommending Voodoo @ the Rio
Epic view of the strip and open bar is like 70 bucks, then just tip the bartender 10-20 and get super strong drinks quickly all night........and energy drinks are included.....ugh
I can vouch for this. The bottle service and getting a table is extremely cheap compared to Tao and xs. Also having a nice table on the rooftop with a beautiful view of the strip is awesome. My problem was the lack of chicks compared to other places. It's not that there weren't any, just not as abundant.
Phat Michael
Banned
Im booked for July.
Staying 4 days @ the Aria. Seeing Kris Angel x Cirque Du Soleil, and then Cirque Du Soleil love. the vegas shows website is awesome.
Not much of a gambler, so will hit the buffets hard.
Staying 4 days @ the Aria. Seeing Kris Angel x Cirque Du Soleil, and then Cirque Du Soleil love. the vegas shows website is awesome.
Not much of a gambler, so will hit the buffets hard.
golduck342
Member
Hey guys, this is my last night in Vegas, as part of a work trip. I'm pretty much at the point where if I want to make something fun happen, I will have to go out on my own somewhere. I'm looking for a bar or club where I can potentially dance and there will actually be a good crowd of people. Is this possible on a Wednesday night? I'm thinking of either the rok club at ny ny or the club at the Eiffel tower.
I'm also upset that I didn't try to hit up a beach club on Sunday. If that's at all possible for today, I think I'm willing to ditch work.
Thanks for the thread!
I'm also upset that I didn't try to hit up a beach club on Sunday. If that's at all possible for today, I think I'm willing to ditch work.
Thanks for the thread!
I believe Wednesday is a good locals nice. I heard Tao is good on Wednesday.
ROBOKITTYZILLA
Member
Some really helpful suggestions here.
I'll be arriving next Monday and will be hitting up the Pinball Museum that night and already picked up tickets for Penn & Teller on Tuesday.
I'm looking into Insert Coin(s) and it looks like you can do this table/lounge reservation thing. It says you can pick a game console of your choice, but do you have to bring your own games or do they give you a list to choose from? Do you have to pay for the games? Also, photos of the place make it look crowded as shit. How bad is it during the week?
In addition to the above, I think we're also going to try and hit Minus 5 and an In & Out Burger, probably on Wednesday or Thursday. Any other recommendations?
Edit: Thinking about Gameworks and M&M's World
I'll be arriving next Monday and will be hitting up the Pinball Museum that night and already picked up tickets for Penn & Teller on Tuesday.
I'm looking into Insert Coin(s) and it looks like you can do this table/lounge reservation thing. It says you can pick a game console of your choice, but do you have to bring your own games or do they give you a list to choose from? Do you have to pay for the games? Also, photos of the place make it look crowded as shit. How bad is it during the week?
In addition to the above, I think we're also going to try and hit Minus 5 and an In & Out Burger, probably on Wednesday or Thursday. Any other recommendations?
Edit: Thinking about Gameworks and M&M's World
Lasthope106
Member
Seen this thread pop-up a few times in the past few weeks, and I have a question for those of you who have visited Las Vegas. Would you recommend going to Las Vegas alone as a single guy?
Most of my really good college friends have scattered across the country - none in the southwest, the only willing one is at least 250 miles away from where I currently live, and with no vacation for the rest of the year. The rest of them are either married or soon to be married and aren't able to make this sort of trip if I invited them.
Most of my really good college friends have scattered across the country - none in the southwest, the only willing one is at least 250 miles away from where I currently live, and with no vacation for the rest of the year. The rest of them are either married or soon to be married and aren't able to make this sort of trip if I invited them.
mr stroke
Member
+10000000000
Just came back from 7 days in Vegas and out of all the food we ate, from the $350 dinner at Michael Mina to Tapas at Julian Serrano to the Secret Pizza at the Cosmo, Lotus of Siam blew my mind. Fucking amazing Thai food. My wife thought it was going to be sketchy because the part of town it was in, but I took GAF's advice and took a cab. We got there and there was a line out the door and pictures of famous people on the walls, so we assumed it would be decent. but Mind Blown! it was probably the best Thai food I have ever had.
And anyone looking for something to do, go to the Vegas Speedway and do the ride along in the NASCAR. Its worth the $109+cab ride, its an insane experience words can not describe.
GoldenEye 007
Member
Well yesterday I booked my flight. Will be going with three other of my friends in mid-June. Dead of summer, I know, but whatareyougonnado...
The length of time is scaled back a bit from the original plan. Will arrive at 8AM in Vegas from Orlando Friday. Then we have Saturday, Sunday and some of Monday before we head back. Monte Carlo is still the chosen hotel and we should be booking that in the next week or so too.
Three solid days should be a good teaser for us.
The length of time is scaled back a bit from the original plan. Will arrive at 8AM in Vegas from Orlando Friday. Then we have Saturday, Sunday and some of Monday before we head back. Monte Carlo is still the chosen hotel and we should be booking that in the next week or so too.
Three solid days should be a good teaser for us.
Try to find deals for various hotels that include a daily buffet... especially MGM hotels.
When we booked last summer for our trip in November, we lucked out and got a free buffet for 2 EVERY DAY OF OUR STAY, at any MGM hotel with a buffet... it saved $40 a day and was fantastic.
When we booked last summer for our trip in November, we lucked out and got a free buffet for 2 EVERY DAY OF OUR STAY, at any MGM hotel with a buffet... it saved $40 a day and was fantastic.
Three days is plenty, if you're doing it right. Last time I went for 5 days, which was awesome, but I was done on that last day.
Aruarian Reflection
Chauffeur de la gdlk
So true. Does Cosmo market directly to women or is it because Cosmo is the newest property on the Strip? Either way, Cosmo is the girliest hotel I've ever seen, both in terms of decor and clientele.
Unfortunately, there's a Starcraft tournament at Cosmo this weekend, which will drop the hot factor by orders of magnitude.
freenudemacusers
Member
I've seen a lot of bachelorette packages for that hotel on the Internet.
How are the rooms at caesars? Or would it be better for my single compadres to bunk at the Cosmo hah.
Go hard all three days. You'll regret it if you don't. Don't necessarily have to be hammered 24/7 (but why not?) but do as much as you can.
Back in the day (90s) we would drive to Vegas from LA, play $5 blackjack, get trashed on the rotating bar at Circus Circus, see a show and spend like, $300 all in for the whole weekend. Now it is a MESS of Jersey Shore types and 500 dollar a night residential megacasinos.
It used to be awesome because it was cheap. When it's not cheap, it sucks.
It used to be awesome because it was cheap. When it's not cheap, it sucks.
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