Anyone been to Vegas?

[kb4ns]

The wife and I are looking for a getaway later this year and want to go somewhere we've never been before. I'm sure Vegas is one of those places everyone should go at least once in their lives.

I'm smart enough to realize that gambling and myself do not mix well, and I'm not really interested in the shows. What else is there to do??

[lowbud]

The possibilities are endless in Vegas. The casino's themselves are amazing and are something to see. Each one has their own theme and are breath taking.

Not much for shows, eh? Terry Fator, Vinny Favorito, and many others are worth going to see. I'm not a big show person either but I enjoyed these.

Anything you can think of (just about) can be done in or around Vegas IF you have the money and/or balls to do them.

Then there's Hoover Dam, The Grand Canyon, Lake Mead, and many more...

Don't forget Freemont Street. Always something happinging there.

[bockey]

I may be the odd one out, but I have no desire to visit Vegas. Now like lowbud said Hoover Dam, Canyon etc. now that would interest me. That glitter and glitz has no appeal.

[kb4ns]

I'm with you bockey. I'd like to say I've been and I'm sure it would be neat to take in the sights and sounds, etc. But I have the feeling the majority of time we're there (if we decide to go) will be spent looking at the outdoor sights.

[Mike.357]

I am not sure why someone would go to Vegas if they were not into gambling and shows.

Personally I could never go there in my lifetime and I would not feel as if I missed anything.

But heck thats why we are all different and everyone can do what they want.

Have fun and go sight seeing. There might be ghostowns, mining camps and who knows what else.

Find a shooting range, it is fun to shoot in the desert.

[USMCJG]

I went out to Vegas a few years ago for the first time and planned to drive out to the Hoover Dam and to the Grand Canyon. Never happened. I pretty much played blackjack around the clock for 7 straight days. I lost $200, but I probably drank $500+ worth of free Jack and Cokes. So I considered it a successful trip. In real life I neither drink nor gamble, but there's just something about Vegas.

[monkeylizard]

Let's see.....what's in Vegas besides gambling and shows.....

golf and hookers.

[bubbiesdad]

My annual bowling tournament vacation.

http://www.tngunowners.com/forums/general-off-topic/21424-vegas-baby.html

[kb4ns]

Well, I'm not into golf or bowling, and my wife may have something to say about the hookers...

Maybe we'll save the Vegas trip for a few years down the road. Now to figure out where we want to go. Been to Florida way too many times. Been to most places worth seeing within driving distance. Hmmmm... Ideas anyone?

[mikegideon]

The wife and I are looking for a getaway later this year and want to go somewhere we've never been before. I'm sure Vegas is one of those places everyone should go at least once in their lives.

I'm smart enough to realize that gambling and myself do not mix well, and I'm not really interested in the shows. What else is there to do??

I've been there alot (13-14 times) over the years for trade shows. I don't gamble, and have never been to a show. I used to hate it, but it grew on me over the years.

I really believe that everybody should see the place once. You can spend a couple of days just walking around and taking in the sights. You can spend a whole day just at Caesar's Palace, and another downtown. Hoover dam is well worth it too. That's a big chunk of a day as well. Great food everywhere, but it's nt cheap like it used to be.

One of the coolest things I've done was a helicopter trip to the Grand Canyon. That was several years ago, and it was around $350 per person. It's too far to drive from Vegas. We took off from a parking lot near the strip, over hoover dam, and right up Lake Meade into the canyon. They actually set the choppers down in the canyon, and broke out the champaigne and munchies. Well worth it.

Even if you don't gamble, you can blow a pretty good wad of money. My favorite hotels are the Mirage and Caesars. If you're one that drinks a bunch of coffee in the morning, hit the Walmart on the first day and buy a $10.00 pot and some coffee. A pot thru room service is 20 bucks at every hotel I've been to. They don't want you hanging in the room.

[dats82]

Have you been to the west coast? I am not much of a city person, but there are some really nice areas around San Francisco. You can often find fairly cheap flights from Nashville out there on Southwest. If you do make it out there, check out Monterey Bay and of course wine country is not too far away either. The weather is usually great during the summer.

[Chris]

I LOVE that town!

I highly recommend the Venetian or the Wynn... you should be able to get decent prices and they are great casinos.

Make sure to take the wife to a show or two... you can find pretty much anything you might like and the productions are fantastic. Try a magic show like Penn and Teller... very different from your traditional broadway show.

I don't gamble a lot but I love to wander around and check out the sights and sounds. You can spend days just wandering the casinos and checking out the awesome scenery.

There is a range in Vegas where you can shoot full auto weapons... great fun.

And if you are a food aficionado, this is THE town. Emeril, Battali, Flay... take your pick... the food is amazing.

Don't bother renting a car, there is a monorail that runs up and down the strip and most of the hotels have shuttles.

Great golf and the scenery is very fun... I highly recommend a trip to Hoover Dam, well worth the drive.

Finally, I recommend wearing a sport coat in Vegas... dress up a little and you will receive a much better level of service.

Look into a couple of guides to Vegas... you can have a great time and spend very little money if you know what you are doing. Have a blast!

[NextExit]

Let's see.....what's in Vegas besides gambling and shows.....

golf and hookers.

Lawyers and drive thru wedding windows:D

Also the beer pong championship in January:up:

Spent a week in Vegas and over a grand.... best time of my life!!

[gregintenn]

I'm not a big casino fan, but I really enjoyed walking through the different hotels. One night, we caught a free concert on Freemont Street. It was the Marshall Tucker band. We got to meet and have our picture made with the lead singer, Doug Gray. I also enjoyed Lake Mead, the Hoover Dam, Red Rock Canyon, and a host of other local sights. I'll probably never go back, but I'm sure glad I went once. It was 114 degrees when we got there, and you could see snow on distant mountaintops. You can walk all day in the heat and your shirt never gets wet. It's a different world. I only saw one policeman while I was there, and he was riding a bicycle.

[Proscene]

I'm here for a trades how this week (NAB) and I don't drink, smoke, gamble or chase other women. But . . . . there is allot to do:

Golf-

Rent a Harley and get out of town-

Go to the shooting range-

Eat some world class meals-

Walk the Italian villa at Shops of Ceasar

Try "old Vegas" on Freemont street it has a great overhead light show and free entertainment in walk area.

See really great shows:

Of my favorites is Blue Man Group/ Lance Burton (magic)

Room rates are at 1980's levels right now if you know how to negotiate.

Stay AWAY from the strip especially in a taxi which are mostly driven by foreigners now.

The shuttle or monorail is your best bet for getting around.

Good luck!

Edited April 11, 2010 by Proscene

[tntnixon]

My wife and I go pretty often and absolutely love it. Although we never gamble, we shop, eat at some of the best restaurants in te world and see the shows.

I know you said you're not into shows, but believe me, until you see one of the Cirque shows (Love and Mystere are my favorites), you don't know what you've missed. They are absolutely breathtaking.

The shopping is world class but anything but cheap but definately worth the splurge.

One tip, go to Freemont Street downtown to the Four Queens hotel. They have a restaurant called Hugo's Cellar (very popular with locals) that is my all time favorite restaurant in the world!!! Make sure you get their house appetizer. Cheaper than any upscale strip restaurants but in a class of it's own.

Like someone else posted, never rent a car. It's a waiste of time and money. cabs and the monorail are more convenient and ultimately cheaper. Also, when walking the strip, beware of the optical illusion of being very close to another casino. The casino's are on such a grand scale and the land is so flat that they all look very close, but in reality they may be miles away and a trip on the monorail or in a cab may be in order.

Last tip, don't go cheap!!! You and your wife deserve a little pampering from one of the better hotels (Venetian is my favorite but the Wynn and the Belagio are also top notch). Cheap hotels offer few amenities and just seem to dampen the whole Vegas experience. Also, even though Caesar's Palace is a great place to hang out, do not stay there. They have a tendency to nickle and dime you more than just about any other hotel and it is definately not worth it!!!!

[kb4ns]

Thanks for all of the info guys.

I've researched the NV laws and realize there isn't much to worry about as long as wherever you're going isn't posted (minus the usual courthouses, schools, etc.). Are any of the casinos posted ("no firearms")?

[tntnixon]

Thanks for all of the info guys.

I've researched the NV laws and realize there isn't much to worry about as long as wherever you're going isn't posted (minus the usual courthouses, schools, etc.). Are any of the casinos posted ("no firearms")?

If I'm not mistaken, all casinos are posted. But, and this comes from a relatively paranoid guy, Vegas is probably the safest town you can possibly be in. The security there means business because it's so vital to their livelyhoods. There's probably been more than one would-be-felon that was taken care of in the "old school" way out in the desert.

These guys are hard core, but very polite if you're on the right side of socially acceptable.

[mikegideon]

If I'm not mistaken, all casinos are posted. But, and this comes from a relatively paranoid guy, Vegas is probably the safest town you can possibly be in. The security there means business because it's so vital to their livelyhoods. There's probably been more than one would-be-felon that was taken care of in the "old school" way out in the desert.

These guys are hard core, but very polite if you're on the right side of socially acceptable.

I agree with tnt on this. I'm sure there are some seedy places, especially with the ugly economy there right now, but you don't see it on the strip or Freemont.

[mikegideon]

I'm here for a trades how this week (NAB) and I don't drink, smoke, gamble or chase other women. But . . . . there is allot to do:

Golf-

Rent a Harley and get out of town-

Go to the shooting range-

Eat some world class meals-

Walk the Italian villa at Shops of Ceasar

Try "old Vegas" on Freemont street it has a great overhead light show and free entertainment in walk area.

See really great shows:

Of my favorites is Blue Man Group/ Lance Burton (magic)

Room rates are at 1980's levels right now if you know how to negotiate.

Stay AWAY from the strip especially in a taxi which are mostly driven by foreigners now.

The shuttle or monorail is your best bet for getting around.

Good luck!

NAB was always my reason for going. Not sorry I'm missing it this year (has nothing to do with vegas). I agree with the nickel and diming at caesars, but still didn't mind staying there

[kb4ns]

I agree with tnt on this. I'm sure there are some seedy places, especially with the ugly economy there right now, but you don't see it on the strip or Freemont.

Good to know. I planned on taking it with me and, most likely, leaving it locked in a safe when we were out and about on the strip. Just to have it in case we wander away from the strip.

[mikegideon]

Good to know. I planned on taking it with me and, most likely, leaving it locked in a safe when we were out and about on the strip. Just to have it in case we wander away from the strip.

You don't have to worry about wandering off the strip. Downtown is more of a worry if you get away from the bright lights.

[EMTRN]

We went in 2002. It was fun. I didn't gamble any, not because I am opposed to it, but I know I would tear up if I lost as little as 20 dollars. We did a lot of walking through the casinos. We stayed at the Orleans, which is just off the strip, and it was very nice. Hoover Dam is incredible. The dam was probably my favorite part of the trip. Freemont street was cool, I like the whole 50's vibe.

[mikegideon]

We went in 2002. It was fun. I didn't gamble any, not because I am opposed to it, but I know I would tear up if I lost as little as 20 dollars. We did a lot of walking through the casinos. We stayed at the Orleans, which is just off the strip, and it was very nice. Hoover Dam is incredible. The dam was probably my favorite part of the trip. Freemont street was cool, I like the whole 50's vibe.

I forgot to mention... a lot of walking is an understatement. Vegas hotels have thousands of rooms each. It's always a long walk just getting to the front door, and a longer walk to the hotel next door. Wear good sneakers. You'll still probably get a few blisters.

[kb4ns]

I didn't gamble any, not because I am opposed to it, but I know I would tear up if I lost as little as 20 dollars.

Same here. My 6 or 7 trips to Tunica in the past have taught me that. Now the buffets in the casinos are where it's at...