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Planning a trip to Vegas. Advice?

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+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.


I wish I had done the ride along when I was at Daytona, it seemed silly to me back then but now I'd totally do it
 

dem

Member
Some utter bullshit, right? Going in May and will miss the old hole. It was one of the first places I played live poker. Got quads the first time there. :(

There is like no dives left on the strip anymore.

Casino Royale forever..!
 
Going in June for EDC. Got a great deal at Vdara for $375 for the weekend. For clubbing, usually I sneak in flasks. Alcohol is so expensive. Half a water bottle costs $10 inside.
 

RBH

Member
Lotus of Siam.

+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.

Komol is another Thai restaurant (it's actually in the same shopping center as Lotus of Siam) in Vegas that's also excellent.
 
So, I did it. It was amazing. I spent less than I budgeted for and "made" money. Could have been up much more, but we were all wasted and we made dumb bets in like the last 15 minutes! Could have been up like 700 on gambling.... ended up like 300-350. We were like on the roulette table at Paris hotel for like 4 hours - ah the highs and lows of Vegas! But it is better than being down, of course. As a group we pretty much only did roulette, slots, and video blackjack.

I had a brief flirtation with Craps too, which I somehow made money. I was just watching the table confused as I got money.... and just as confused when I lost it.

Went to see "O," walked the strip (only a fraction of it), Monte Carlo was nice as the hotel we stayed at, had an amazing dinner at Smith and Wollensky's(sp?), just all around had an amazing time.

Definitely going to try to make it a guys trip every year or so going forward.
 
Bringing up the old thread...

So yeah, my wife and I are going to Vegas next weekend, staying at the Cosmo...she wants to check out Beatles - Love while we're there, anyone know what's the best deal for tix? Best one I've seen so far is their 25% off online offer.

Last year we got discount tickets day-of-show for Peepshow (my wife's idea not mine! =P) at one of the tix4tonight booths and did pretty well, but given this is a Cirque Du Soleil gig I'm wondering if this may or may not be way to do it...or looking for even better options =)

Thanks GAF!
 

Divvy

Canadians burned my passport
Bringing up the old thread...

So yeah, my wife and I are going to Vegas next weekend, staying at the Cosmo...she wants to check out Beatles - Love while we're there, anyone know what's the best deal for tix? Best one I've seen so far is their 25% off online offer.

Last year we got discount tickets day-of-show for Peepshow (my wife's idea not mine! =P) at one of the tix4tonight booths and did pretty well, but given this is a Cirque Du Soleil gig I'm wondering if this may or may not be way to do it...or looking for even better options =)

Thanks GAF!

Their summer offer right now is 50% off tickets. I already got mine for september.

http://www.mirage.com/entertainment/special-offer-love.aspx?kbid=1004&sub=W!1531!LOVE!50OFF
 

DemiMatt

Member
WHAT THE HELL!!!

WHY?!?!

DUde it's already been closed! I was there in mid June and shit was gone. Best 1.75 Irish Carbombs ever. We'd go there all the time when I was in college.

Anyways OP.

My personaly fav is Venitian, pricy but worth it. Get the Bella Suite with a Strip view!

Treasure Island is ok, they re did their rooms and you can get them on the cheap. Their turndown service sucks though.

Are you interested in doing any Day Clubs or Nightclubs?

*** Protip, XS on Sunday nights is now a pool party, shit is amazing!
 

Trin

Member
Whats the better show to see? Le Reve or Cirque de solai 'O'

I preferred Le Reve because the story is more engaging and there is a greater variety of "feats" the acrobats perform. On the other hand, "O" does have a few moments where the crowd I was in audibly gasped more than once. They're both amazing shows, so either way you won't be disappointed.

On a side note, I think Ka is a little underrated while Zumanity is the worst Cirque du Soleil show by far.

I'll be back in Vegas in the beginning of August. Can anyone recommend a steak house on the strip?
 
I preferred Le Reve because the story is more engaging and there is a greater variety of "feats" the acrobats perform. On the other hand, "O" does have a few moments where the crowd I was in audibly gasped more than once. They're both amazing shows, so either way you won't be disappointed.

On a side note, I think Ka is a little underrated while Zumanity is the worst Cirque du Soleil show by far.

I'll be back in Vegas in the beginning of August. Can anyone recommend a steak house on the strip?

I went to Smith and Wollensky's. So good. Amazing food there.
 

junkboy

Explosion Master Supreme
Might've been mentioned already, but check out Insert Coin(s) on Fremont. I had a great time there drinking, challenging people on their SFII arcade and looking at people trying to dance to a dubstep remix of the Zelda theme. Plus it gets you away from the douche parade on the Strip for a bit.
http://insertcoinslv.com/
 
Might've been mentioned already, but check out Insert Coin(s) on Fremont. I had a great time there drinking, challenging people on their SFII arcade and looking at people trying to dance to a dubstep remix of the Zelda theme. Plus it gets you away from the douche parade on the Strip for a bit.
http://insertcoinslv.com/
Me and the wife are planning to check out that place this weekend, good to know they have an SF2 arcade game there...I'll bring a roll of quarters, yo =)

We'll be clubbing at Marquee on Monday =P

I went to Smith and Wollensky's. So good. Amazing food there.
I've been to the Smith and Wollensky's in NYC, really really REALLY good stuff. But for Vegas I'd prefer Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse which is slightly off the strip on Paradise. We have dinner reservations there this weekend too =)
 

IGotBillySoSpooked

Low moral character
I preferred Le Reve because the story is more engaging and there is a greater variety of "feats" the acrobats perform. On the other hand, "O" does have a few moments where the crowd I was in audibly gasped more than once. They're both amazing shows, so either way you won't be disappointed.

On a side note, I think Ka is a little underrated while Zumanity is the worst Cirque du Soleil show by far.

I'll be back in Vegas in the beginning of August. Can anyone recommend a steak house on the strip?

Circus Circus, oddly enough, has (or had, I haven't been to Vegas since 2010) a really good, classically styled steakhouse. Not the trendiest joint in the world if you are looking for something "chic", but it has a nice atmosphere to it.

It is an absolute horror walking through that casino, though. The North Strip area isn't the most inviting, either, once you get past Encore.
 

Divvy

Canadians burned my passport
It's been really disappointing to find out the week we're going to Vegas is the week right after Penn and Teller take a break from performing.

Really really disappointing. Oh well.
 
I'll be back in Vegas in the beginning of August. Can anyone recommend a steak house on the strip?
I went to Stiphouse in Planet Hollywood and loved it. I had a New York strip and my friend had the lamb chops. Both pieces of meat were cooked to perfection and tasted amazing. We also split the creamed spinach with bacon and really liked that too.
 
Might've been mentioned already, but check out Insert Coin(s) on Fremont. I had a great time there drinking, challenging people on their SFII arcade and looking at people trying to dance to a dubstep remix of the Zelda theme. Plus it gets you away from the douche parade on the Strip for a bit.
http://insertcoinslv.com/
I was thinking about going here the last time we went but we decided on the Pinball Hall of Fame instead. The place is amazing! It's in a nondescript warehouse about 10 minutes from the strip. It's only defining feature on the outside of the building is a vinyl sign. When you walk in it's dark and you are immediately hit with the sounds of the pinball games going off. The place is wall to wall pinball and classic arcade games, it felt like going back in time. Most games were .50 per play with most machines giving you 5 balls instead of three. I highly recommend making the trip out there if you are looking for a cheap way to kill a few hours.
 
I was thinking about going here the last time we went but we decided on the Pinball Hall of Fame instead. The place is amazing! It's in a nondescript warehouse about 10 minutes from the strip. It's only defining feature on the outside of the building is a vinyl sign. When you walk in it's dark and you are immediately hit with the sounds of the pinball games going off. The place is wall to wall pinball and classic arcade games, it felt like going back in time. Most games were .50 per play with most machines giving you 5 balls instead of three. I highly recommend making the trip out there if you are looking for a cheap way to kill a few hours.
There's a really nice used game store right next door, too, if you're into retro gaming. Just went there last Wednesday during our trip to Vegas last week. Really enjoyed both the pinball museum and said game store.
 
There's a really nice used game store right next door, too, if you're into retro gaming. Just went there last Wednesday during our trip to Vegas last week. Really enjoyed both the pinball museum and said game store.
Didn't see the game store, we went pretty late so most things were closed. I'll be on the look out for it when I go again.
 

Zyzyxxz

Member
I'll be back in Vegas in the beginning of August. Can anyone recommend a steak house on the strip?

Price limit? If you want the best CUT by Wolfgang Puck is considered the best steakhouse in Los Angeles by many so I would think his Vegas outpost is very good as well.
 
There's also the EA Sports Bar at Cosmo, which I checked out. It's nothing special, but you can rent games/TVs for $10/hour. It used to have an actual bar, but that was pulled out and replaced with retail space, although they still sell bottles of beer. When I was there, they had a soccer match on, and said they'd be playing football games in the fall, so that might be a fun place to spend a few hours in the future.

The Pinball HOF is awesome. They let us take some of our wedding photos there, because my wife is a huge pinball nut.
 

junkboy

Explosion Master Supreme
I was thinking about going here the last time we went but we decided on the Pinball Hall of Fame instead. The place is amazing! It's in a nondescript warehouse about 10 minutes from the strip. It's only defining feature on the outside of the building is a vinyl sign. When you walk in it's dark and you are immediately hit with the sounds of the pinball games going off. The place is wall to wall pinball and classic arcade games, it felt like going back in time. Most games were .50 per play with most machines giving you 5 balls instead of three. I highly recommend making the trip out there if you are looking for a cheap way to kill a few hours.

Oh god yes, I love that place. Highly recommended. I've only been there twice, but getting to actually play pinball out in the wild is a rare treat these days. Not a place to go to with a hangover though, it won't do you any favors.

As for arcades there's Gameworks on the strip as well, but personally I much prefer the retro offerings at either Insert Coin(s) or Pinball Hall of Fame.
 

p2535748

Member
I was thinking about going here the last time we went but we decided on the Pinball Hall of Fame instead. The place is amazing! It's in a nondescript warehouse about 10 minutes from the strip. It's only defining feature on the outside of the building is a vinyl sign. When you walk in it's dark and you are immediately hit with the sounds of the pinball games going off. The place is wall to wall pinball and classic arcade games, it felt like going back in time. Most games were .50 per play with most machines giving you 5 balls instead of three. I highly recommend making the trip out there if you are looking for a cheap way to kill a few hours.

This place was a lot of fun, and the day I went it was pretty much empty. I'm not even a huge pinball fan, but this was definitely a great place to kill a couple of hours right off the strip.
 

Trin

Member
Thanks for all the suggestions! I think I've got enough places written down now to eat steak and secret pizza every day :)

As for the arcades, Insert Coins is great if you can afford it, but I would avoid going to Gameworks ever again. I went in there a year or two ago for the first time and it was a seriously depressing atmosphere.
 

LakeEarth

Member
It's been really disappointing to find out the week we're going to Vegas is the week right after Penn and Teller take a break from performing.

Really really disappointing. Oh well.

I've been to Vegas twice, and both times they were on break. Gah!
 
Thanks for all the suggestions! I think I've got enough places written down now to eat steak and secret pizza every day :)

As for the arcades, Insert Coins is great if you can afford it, but I would avoid going to Gameworks ever again. I went in there a year or two ago for the first time and it was a seriously depressing atmosphere.

If you go downtown, do yourself a favor and go check out the Mob Museum. But give yourself a few hours because there's a TON to go through. But it's very fascinating.

Afterward, go down the street to the Mob Bar. If you check in on Foursquare, you'll get a free appetizer (and if you get an appetizer, get the chicken parm sliders OMG).

Last time we were there, my wife and I sat at the bar, threw $20 each into the video poker machines, and ordered a couple of cocktails (which were fantastic) and apps. Because of the Foursquare checkin, we got one of the apps for free, and because we played video poker, she comped both of our cocktails. And then I won $60 playing poker. Not a bad trip. :)
 

Trin

Member
To be honest I'm surprised it's still around. I haven't been there since before I turned 21 which was 10 years ago.

Seriously, no idea how they keep it open. The place was eerily near-empty on a weekend afternoon besides a group of drunk guys messing around at the oxygen bar.

If you go downtown, do yourself a favor and go check out the Mob Museum. But give yourself a few hours because there's a TON to go through. But it's very fascinating.

Afterward, go down the street to the Mob Bar. If you check in on Foursquare, you'll get a free appetizer (and if you get an appetizer, get the chicken parm sliders OMG).

Last time we were there, my wife and I sat at the bar, threw $20 each into the video poker machines, and ordered a couple of cocktails (which were fantastic) and apps. Because of the Foursquare checkin, we got one of the apps for free, and because we played video poker, she comped both of our cocktails. And then I won $60 playing poker. Not a bad trip. :)

That sounds amazing, plus I've been looking for a place that doesn't water down drinks and still charge you 30 bucks for it. But that's my fault too for sticking inside the hotels.

'Nother question: We're staying at the Aria again and I'm kind of curious about their walled off "VIP" pool Liquid. Has anyone been inside?
 
'Nother question: We're staying at the Aria again and I'm kind of curious about their walled off "VIP" pool Liquid. Has anyone been inside?

I haven't been to Liquid, but I have been to similar, and I believe Liquid is more of a dayclub-type of place, but smaller. If you're not into nightclubs, it might not be your thing. DJs, $100 lounge chairs, expensive drinks, that sort of stuff. On the plus side, I believe it's an adult pool, so you won't have to deal with kids running around.
 
I preferred Le Reve because the story is more engaging and there is a greater variety of "feats" the acrobats perform. On the other hand, "O" does have a few moments where the crowd I was in audibly gasped more than once. They're both amazing shows, so either way you won't be disappointed.

On a side note, I think Ka is a little underrated while Zumanity is the worst Cirque du Soleil show by far.

I'll be back in Vegas in the beginning of August. Can anyone recommend a steak house on the strip?

Thanks for the advice, im gonna watch Le Reve then.

Whats the best cirque de solai to watch apart from 'O'

Also im off near the end of August so what other stuff would you guys recommend to see while i'm there for a week?
 

Trin

Member
Thanks for the advice, im gonna watch Le Reve then.

Whats the best cirque de solai to watch apart from 'O'

Also im off near the end of August so what other stuff would you guys recommend to see while i'm there for a week?

Apart from O and Le Reve? I'd definitely go for Mystere. They do some very funny stuff with the audience and the show really aims to entertain in an often silly and lighthearted way. I also mentioned Ka earlier, which is a good show as well. It's darker and more "action" oriented, and most of it takes place either in the air or on movable platforms. If you're a fan of the Beatles, then you'd probably enjoy Love. The choreography and acrobatics go surprisingly great with the music and it's lots of fun. I think those are all the Cirque du Soleil (not de Solai :p) shows I've seen that I'd recommend.

If you're in Vegas with a ladyfriend, you should take a gondola ride at the Venetian. They're also doing their annual Carnival of Cuisine there this summer. Take a walk down Fremont Street at night to see the LED display on the canopy, go to Insert Coin(s) for some awesome arcade gaming, and check out some live music. The last couple times I visited, there were also a few artists making spray paint art, sculpting, and glass blowing pieces for sale.
 
With my wife at Insert Coin(s) in downtown LV right now, why are the short and medium kick buttons stuck on the 2P side of SF2' Turbo Hyper Fighting ='(
 

IGotBillySoSpooked

Low moral character
Thanks for the advice, im gonna watch Le Reve then.

Whats the best cirque de solai to watch apart from 'O'

Also im off near the end of August so what other stuff would you guys recommend to see while i'm there for a week?

Ka is pretty amazing. Lots of wow factor type stunts.

Zumanity isn't that good, aside from the occasional boob.

Love is pretty good, but, honestly, it just seems like the characters are randomly running around on stage through a lot of the show. The music is a bigger factor than the performances, in my opinion. I'd go as far to say that if you don't like The Beatles, you won't like Love.

Viva Elvis is pretty decent. I liked it better than Love, but not as much as Ka. Bigger wow factor than Love, but not nearly as much as Ka. You'd probably like it even if you don't like Elvis' music.

Summary:
1. Ka
2. Elvis
3. Love
4. Zumanity (distant fourth)

I've yet to see Mystere, but I've heard nothing but good things.
 

minx

Member
Going to Vegas this weekend. Any other deals going on like the one for Love? Not a beetles fan buy interested in some shows, just not ones for $100.
 
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