Las Vegas in the Fall....

**cowgirl836** · 10-10-2012, 03:11 PM

Originally Posted by ISUME

Not to be a dick, but I don't understand why people who don't gamble go to Vegas. You could go to any big city and see shows and go shopping.

my husband has always wanted to visit. So we are. It seems like there is a decent amount of other things to do/see besides gambling. Plus I'm sure it's cheaper than the same visit to New York or similar city would be.

**ISUME** · 10-10-2012, 03:13 PM

Originally Posted by NickTheGreat

If you want to gamble you could just go to Prairie Meadows. Or if you don't want to stay at home, go to Council Bluffs

I have been to Vegas twice in the last 6 months, maybe I'm missing something when I'm out there. Especially when the pools are going to be closed down during the day I wouldn't know what to do.

**canker2323** · 10-10-2012, 03:23 PM

Originally Posted by ISUME

I have been to Vegas twice in the last 6 months, maybe I'm missing something when I'm out there. Especially when the pools are going to be closed down during the day I wouldn't know what to do.

I agree. If the pools are closed, what else would you do during the day?

Also, I think people with small children should NOT bring them to Vegas. I've seen way too many fat dipsh!ts walking the strip with their kid in a stroller and a yard of of margarita in hand (or whatever those big long glasses are).

**longtimeclone** · 10-10-2012, 03:24 PM

Originally Posted by cowgirl836

thanks for all the recommendations - pretty seriously looking at Vdara and Aria at the moment - trying to read through the forum on TripAdvisor.

FYI, for those interested in going in the future, check out smartervegas.com and view some of the deals (sign up for free to see unlisted ones), and restaurant.com (for any city). Already found a few deals that will knock a couple hundred off a few of the hotels we're perusing.

You could also look at groupon also. My roommate has found some amazing deals on trips through them.

Originally Posted by ISUME

Not to be a dick, but I don't understand why people who don't gamble go to Vegas. You could go to any big city and see shows and go shopping.

Vegas has a lot more shows that are close together than most cities. There are not a lot of other cities in the US that could even compete. This is probably also true with shopping. There is so much more to the entertainment in Vegas than just gambling.

**resident** · 10-10-2012, 03:26 PM

Originally Posted by ISUME

Not to be a dick, but I don't understand why people who don't gamble go to Vegas. You could go to any big city and see shows and go shopping.

But where else can I shop while sipping Jack and Coke hmmm?

Honestly I'd rather visit New York but there is just something special about Vegas that you can't really replicate anywhere else. It's really the mindset of the community and visitors that make it what it is.

**ISUME** · 10-10-2012, 03:28 PM

Originally Posted by canker2323

I agree. If the pools are closed, what else would you do during the day?

Also, I think people with small children should NOT bring them to Vegas. I've seen way too many fat dipsh!ts walking the strip with their kid in a stroller and a yard of of margarita in hand (or whatever those big long glasses are).

Yeah, walking thru a smokey casino at midnight with your kid is great parenting.

**kilgore_trout** · 10-10-2012, 03:35 PM

I was there over turkey day a few years ago. Seems like a lot of the shows were "dark". Take comfortable shoes.

**dmclone** · 10-10-2012, 03:39 PM

I'm not a huge gambler and I've probably been there 10 times. I may spend 2-3 hours day gambling (small change). The drinking is good, the shows are good, the dining is good, the shopping is decent, the pools are nice, you can walk down the sidewalk drinking a beer,people watch, the weather is better this time of year, etc. I try to do something different every time. Last time it was visiting Valley of Fire and shooting machine guns.

Yes, there are more things to do in a place like NY but I have a lot more to do in Vegas than I do in a place like Chicago, Minneapolis, KC, etc. and the I spend about the same amount. A lot of times I can't get hotel rooms comped or for $29 that would cost me $250 in Chicago and $400 in NYC.

Even after all of these times, I still feel a little rush getting off the plane in Vegas.

**canker2323** · 10-10-2012, 03:48 PM

Originally Posted by dmclone

I'm not a huge gambler and I've probably been there 10 times. I may spend 2-3 hours day gambling (small change). The drinking is good, the shows are good, the dining is good, the shopping is decent, the pools are nice, you can walk down the sidewalk drinking a beer,people watch, the weather is better this time of year, etc. I try to do something different every time. Last time it was visiting Valley of Fire and shooting machine guns.

Yes, there are more things to do in a place like NY but I have a lot more to do in Vegas than I do in a place like Chicago, Minneapolis, KC, etc. and the I spend about the same amount. A lot of times I can't get hotel rooms comped or for $29 that would cost me $250 in Chicago and $400 in NYC.

Even after all of these times, I still feel a little rush getting off the plane in Vegas.

How do you get comped rooms if you don't gamble a lot?

**2020cy** · 10-10-2012, 03:49 PM

Originally Posted by NickTheGreat

If you want to gamble you could just go to Prairie Meadows. Or if you don't want to stay at home, go to Council Bluffs

My thoughts also.

**dmclone** · 10-10-2012, 03:56 PM

Originally Posted by canker2323

How do you get comped rooms if you don't gamble a lot?

I don't know but I do. I assume it's because it's a slow time of the week/year. Most of mine come from M Life. I don't have a lot of points compared to most people so I assume everyone that joins gets the deals.

**NickTheGreat** · 10-10-2012, 04:45 PM

Originally Posted by ISUME

I have been to Vegas twice in the last 6 months, maybe I'm missing something when I'm out there. Especially when the pools are going to be closed down during the day I wouldn't know what to do.

Well it isn't for everybody. Maybe I'm just a country rube, but I like seeing all the big building and lights.

And the dining is amazing (can be). Not that it is inherently better than any other large city, I guess. We've been to a few Cirque shows which can be pretty cool.

**wisconcyn** · 10-10-2012, 05:33 PM

The Mirage is nice. Frankly, you're hardly ever in the room.

The Beatles Love show at the Mirage is excellent.

If you gamble at all, sign up for a players card. A few earned points would help with the drink or free meal.

Walk the strip and people watch. It's the best part of Vegas.

Get free drinks at the bar by playing the Blackjack or Poker machines. They'll buy you a drink and you can stretch a 20 for a long time.

Rates are the best on Monday through Thursday, smaller crowds, easier to get into places.

The Cyclones are in Vegas for Thanksgiving. See a basketball game with a small wager in place. Could be fun.

**cycloneworld** · 10-10-2012, 05:39 PM

I just got back from Vegas last night...my 2 cents:

Stay at Aria/Vdara if being in a really nice hotel is important with you. Or you can spend about the same money and get a suite at a "lower" hotel like NYNY or Monte Carlo. If you are using it as a place to put your stuff and sleep, save the money, and stay in a basic room and spend the money you saved elsewhere.

I've been to Vegas a dozen times and, personally, I don't think you can go wrong with any of the hotels you listed. The restaurants are endless...use tripadvisor and yelp for reviews to meet your expectations.

**cowgirl836** · 10-10-2012, 06:43 PM

Originally Posted by wisconcyn

If you gamble at all, sign up for a players card. A few earned points would help with the drink or free meal.

Walk the strip and people watch. It's the best part of Vegas.

Get free drinks at the bar by playing the Blackjack or Poker machines. They'll buy you a drink and you can stretch a 20 for a long time.

Is that the m life thing I've seen mentioned a few times? We definitely want to try a little bit of gambling, and I like free drinks! I should mention we are likely going on a Wed-Sun, so we'll have two cheap nights and then the weekend.

Stay at Aria/Vdara if being in a really nice hotel is important with you. Or you can spend about the same money and get a suite at a "lower" hotel like NYNY or Monte Carlo. If you are using it as a place to put your stuff and sleep, save the money, and stay in a basic room and spend the money you saved elsewhere.

@cycloneworld, where did you stay this last time? We'll probably end up spending some time in the room (we definitely just do basic rooms when we're on the go all the time) and I really like having a great bathtub to relax in! Other than that, if it's clean, close to most everything, and we can get a nice view - we won't be going for the penthouse suites! With some of the deals we've found, NYNY is actually slightly more expensive than the Aria. Trump is also super cheap but it sounds like they are a little further from the action than we'd like to be.

Something I'm afraid to ask....how much can we expect to pay for a "nice" dinner - say a night at a steakhouse, which I know we'll probably do one night.