Will Flight prices go down?

I went ahead and took the advice of everyone here and booked the room directly with the hotel. I am staying at the Flamingo July 14-21, and it is 833 for the week. If you have read my other thread, I am concerned about the flight prices right now. When is the best time to purchase the flight? Do prices fluctuate the closer it gets to the departure date? I have heard that the flight prices will only go up as it gets closer.

Will Flight prices go down?

typically prices go up. there is a possibility that prices will go down, but it%26#39;s more likely that they will go up. if you can fly southwest, they will let you rebook the lower fare and give you credit for the difference.

Will Flight prices go down?

Hey neighbor! I%26#39;m going July 19-22 and staying @ Caesars. I haven%26#39;t purchased airline tix yet. I%26#39;ll probably purchase it next month or early May. After that prices will most likely go up. The price hasn%26#39;t moved much in the past 6-8 weeks. Good luck on your trip %26amp; take plenty of sunscreen.

Make sure to take a look at my post on your previous thread. I found you 1 stop tickets for 315 and 275 depending on the airport.

I really think the price on Southwest will come down. Sign up for DING, their email weekly specials, and check their website everyday. Good luck!

Remember - if prices go up closer to the departure dates it may be because of the advance purchase, if they go down it may be because of seasons specials. ';they'; don%26#39;t know your departure date -

Can%26#39;t quite figure out how to word what I%26#39;m trying to say.. Am I making sense? ;)

yes i understand. pretty much, what I am asking is, since I keep hearing about how Las Vegas hotels drop their rates in July due to them trying to get visitors there, would the flights also drop a little? Like if a flight is only half booked 3 weeks before the departure date, do airline companies lower their fares to get it fully booked or do they just let it ride?

The DING fares are normally pretty close to departure. I%26#39;d think they are the ones that have more seats available.

hotel rates are more likely to go down unless it%26#39;s a really busy week, and you can book now and lock in a rate and then call and ask for it to be lowered if you see lower rates come around. with flights, the rates are more likely to go up and you can%26#39;t adjust your rate after you booked, so it%26#39;s better to book earlier rather than later.

Sign up for the Travelocity service where you tell them your price range and dates and they will email you when the price falls under that price. Once that happens find out what airline it is and go to the airline site and book directly from there.

The only other thing you can do is look every day and hope that you hit it on a down time. As I said in the other post our $177 was very random and went up to over $300 right after we bought the tickets. You just have to be in the right place at the right time. Set what you are willing to pay for the tickets and happy hunting.

Stinkin Rich Slots

Hi,

Anyone who has played this 100 line penny slot game is addicted to it. It is the one game I have run into that actually allows me to win.

My last trip to AC I won $726.40 on one bonus spin and $1200 on another. On 2 different machines. Of all the games I have played over the years (Off the Charts, Kook Kat Cash, etc) this game actually hits for me.

ARe there any slot players on here who play this game %26amp; know the locations of some good machines/versions of this game? If so, I%26#39;ll trade with ya %26amp; tell you where they are in Atlantic City and Mohegan.

Thank you!

There is a nickel version of this, but it%26#39;s tough. A 100 line game is $5 a bet, a 50 line game is $2.50, but if you don%26#39;t hit the right bonus level, you only get 5 spins. I got lucky at both Mohegan %26amp; Borgata, got 5c machines that hit for bonus rounds of 25 spins. The Mohegan machine was a hand pay jackpot of $548 the Borgata was $300.

Thank you! Good Luck!

Stinkin Rich Slots

played one 2 nights ago at a locals casino and had 90 free spins!

Stinkin Rich Slots

Where%26#39;? Did you get anything? Sometimes you are better off with 15 or 20 free bonus spins........1/2 of the spins give you nothing.

so where in vegas is this slot????

helllp i wanna know too..

bella

this is wayyyy out in henderson near boulder city at club fourtune ended up winning a little over 100 bucks i have seen them at GVR as well i cant tell you where on the strip as we dont gamble much down there sorry!

What is the name of this machine?

Pattie:

';Stinkin Rich'; 100 payline penny or nickel version.

They have them at Terribles here in Iowa. Maybe Vegas too?

I belive Harrah%26#39;s has 2 of them..penny machine..it has 2 bonus i think correct me if i%26#39;m wrong..

go to harrahs web page,they have a slot finder on their site.

Thanks - have to check that out in May when we go to vegas.

I also want to check out Chester, PA%26#39;s casino

What should NOT be Missed in Vegas?

Okay guys...I will be there a week in April with my wife. What should not be missed in Vegas? Shows, restaurants, etc??

I am open to all advice! Thanks!

What should NOT be Missed in Vegas?

The show Mystere at TI.

The Paris Buffet for breakfast.

margarita%26#39;s at Margartiville and the volcano nachos.

Restrooms at the Paris Casino.

Have a good trip and good luck.

What should NOT be Missed in Vegas?

a good nights sleep. not always at the top of lists - you will actually enjoy more and get more if you are somewhat rested. staying up all night does not good if you are too tired to enjoy yourself.

Here a few ideas:

Bellagio Fountains at night with your favorite beverage

(Stay for a couple of shows, they run every 15 minutes)

Downtown one evening, Fremont Street

Mystere show at TI

A drink at the bar in the top of the Stratoshere at night (worth the $$)

Dessert at the Cheescake Factory in the Forum Shops at Caesars

Mystere at TI!

La Reve at Wynn!

Mirage Buffet is a great deal

Jimmy Buffets Margaritaville!

House of Blues at Mandalay Bay!

Voodoo Room at RIO!

Don%26#39;t miss getting player cards at each casino you visit. Even if you only gamble a little, you may receive mailings for free or discounted hotel rooms. This will keep you coming back to Vegas time and time again.

Is Mystere the best Circ show? I have seen 2, as well as ';O';. Is it better than these, or kinda the same?

Thanks!

current restaurant.com code inside

the code is: MADNESS

good until March 31st for 60% off!

so, your $25 GC will only cost you $4! what a deal!

current restaurant.com code inside

*bump*

these GCs are good for one year from the purchase date...

current restaurant.com code inside

Does that mean that if I purchase these coupons today they will still be available to redeem in April….and that the code Madness is only good till the end of the month?

yes.

the certificates themselves are good for one year from purchase date.

the promo code to get 60% off will only work until march 31st

Thanks for the code kitty, I picked up one for Quarks.

what link do you go to for this?

you go to restaurant.com

choose the state

choose the city

choose the restaurant

at the checkout, there%26#39;s a place for a promo or discount code. enter MADNESS there and recalculate your total.

Thanks for posting this. I just checked out the site for the first time. Are there any restrictions? This seems too good to be true.

I didn%26#39;t find the ';fine print.';

Some rules. But still a good deal

Fine print:

Terms and Conditions for Dining Certificates

• Limit one (1) redemption per party, per month, per restaurant.

• Limit one (1) dining certificate per redemption. Only one dining certificate can be used per party, even if the party is seated at separate tables and/or receives more than one check.

• Use of dining certificates for alcoholic beverages is at the sole discretion of the merchant. Merchant agrees to comply with all state laws pertaining to the same.

• Dining certificates cannot be combined with any other restaurant certificates, third party certificates, coupons, or promotions.

• Dining certificates cannot be used for taxes, tips or prior balances.

• No cash value for dining certificates.

• No cash back upon redemption or at any other time.

• Valid for parties of two (2) or more unless otherwise stated.

• Valid for dine in only unless otherwise stated.

• The issuing of restaurant credit is at the sole discretion of the merchant unless otherwise required by law.

• Neither the seller nor the merchant is responsible for lost or stolen certificates or restaurant certificates reference numbers.

• Reproduction, sale or trade of this dining certificate is prohibited unless done so in compliance with the law.

• Any attempted redemption not consistent with these terms %26amp; conditions will render the restaurant certificate void.

•

Void to the extent prohibited by law.

• Dining certificates can be exchanged for Restaurant.com Certificate within 90 days of purchase date. No cash back on dining certificates.

• Expire one (1) year from date of issue, except in California and where otherwise prohibited by law.

• With 50% OFF certificates party size may not exceed 8 people

For more information please view our privacy policy.

Terms and Conditions for Merchant Certificates

• Certificate can only be used online.

• Certificate may be applied only to merchandise sold by Merchant, and may not be applied to shipping or handling charges.

• No cash value for certificate.

• No cash back upon redemption or at any other time.

• Limit one (1) certificate per redemption. Only one certificate can be used per order.

• The issuing of credit is at the sole discretion of the merchant unless otherwise required by law.

• Neither the seller nor the merchant is responsible for lost or stolen certificate or certificate%26#39;s reference number.

• Certificate cannot be combined with any other gift certificates, third party certificates, coupons, or promotions.

• Reproduction, sale or trade of this certificate is prohibited unless done so in compliance with the law.

• Any attempted redemption not consistent with these terms and conditions will render the certificate null and void.

• Void to the extent prohibited by law.

• Expires one (1) year from date of issue, except in California and where otherwise prohibited by law.

Thanks for the code!!!!

blush color

May weather

Hello everyone!

Going to Vegas May 28th - what%26#39;s the weather like?

YES I know I can check the weather sites but I%26#39;d rather hear from locals and tourists on what you thought about the weather at that time.

Thanks :)

May weather

Weather was in the 90%26#39;s during the day when I was there last year at that time. Pushing 100 in fact. At night- maybe 70%26#39;s

May weather

II spent 7 years in Vegas for the week of Memorial Day. The chances are excellent that you will have very nice sunny weather. The temps should be in the low 90%26#39;s although there is always the chance you will hit a hot or a cool spell. That happened to me once- the highs never had it out of the 60%26#39;s/70%26#39;s and it was cloudy part of the week.

Being from VC you are going to die at that time of year. Expect 35+

Toasty warm, I was there mid May last year and it was near 100! Great pool weather.

I know, usually I%26#39;d agree with you about the temp. But seriously, we%26#39;re going on like 40 days of rain and it%26#39;s only 4 degrees as I type this. I%26#39;m so wanting sun!

tiffani,

we were in Vancouver last weekend, it RAINED the whole weekend, miserably cold and damp, but, spent time at granville island brewery and totally forgot about the rain, when we got out, we were obviously feeling fine as we decided to walk to Kits beach. FUN.... thank god there are many pitstops along the way. I wish we would buy Granville Island beer here.

I%26#39;m willing warm wishes your way.

Thanks! OMG this weather is the worst. So we are not caring at all about the temps anywhere, we just want sunshine! lol

Granville Island is awesome isn%26#39;t it? Glad you had a good time here!

I thought Mayweather was a boxer? : )

Right now, first day of spring, and it is high of 80 and low of 60.

end of May, can easily get over 90, and even 100.

But don%26#39;t let that scare you, you can alway walk around in the mornings and evenings. Just stay indoors from 12 to 5

Thanks for that :)

I really appreciate everyone%26#39;s responses.

recommend face powder

need downtown hotel advise

Going to Vegas with a few friends in a couple of months (all over 30) and plan 2 nights on the strip and 2 downtown. Have been to Vegas several times before but never stayed in downtown. Looks like the best 2 options are The Golden Nugget and Mainstreet Station. Have been in the hotel and casino at the Golden Nugget but only visted the buffet at Mainstreet previously, but the hotel surprisingly has very good reviews on this sight and others. Any suggestions or dos or donts on these 2 properties? Thanks for any advise

need downtown hotel advise

I have been to Vegas many times and have never stayed downtown.

I plan on going in September and will try downtown for the first time. I also have been searching and reading reviews about the downtown hotels. So far the Fremont and Fitzgeralds seem to have very good reviews. They are not fancy, but mostly all reviews say the service is good, rooms very clean and comfortable. I do not spend much time in my room so as long as it is clean and comfy I can deal with it.

need downtown hotel advise

AlbieofNY...

just to reply to you, my better half stayed at the Freemont last year with adult family members and had no complaints. Stated is was an older property, but updated and very clean. Decent sized rooms and more of a ';regulars'; crowd of nice people. Also said that there was no noise from the street action even though the room was right above the light screen of Freemont street. Said they had a Tony Romas resteraunt that they ate at and very non-discript buffet at a fair price for breakfast.

Add Four Queens to your list. They have recently refurbished the rooms and bed linens and they are quite nice and reasonable.

I didn%26#39;t like the Fremont Buffet at lunch or dinner- but found it just fine for breakfast- especially with the cooked to order egg and omelet station. I think it is just under $6.00 pp for the breakfast , but if pick up a LVM magazine at the Four Queens ( on a rack by the half price tickets) you can get a 2/1 coupon , making it a real steal- and also a 2/1 for the FItz Buffet- which is horrid for lunch or dinner, but ok for breakfast if you can make do with made to order eggs and a few side dishes and pastries. With unlimited coffee and juice includec, both are real bargains with the coupon- breakfast for two for less than $7..

We usually stay at Golden Nugget as we joined their Private Arrangements program and earn 1 free night for every four ( no gambling required) but we would choose Four Queens as our alternate if needed since the room refurbishment.

Thanks for all the input thus far. Just checked out the Four Queens and it does look quite interesting since the remodeling. Will add it to my list as suggested

I stayed at the Fitz and GN 3-4 years ago and wouldn%26#39;t recommend Fitzgeralds. GN was a great hotel but the casino and restaurants were extremely crowded while I was there over a weekend.

I stayed at MSS in November and loved it! The rooms were large with very comfortable beds, the parking was easy, and the restaurants and buffet were fantastic. The hotel/casino is decorated with lots of beautiful antiques if you like that stuff . . . I thought it was a nice change-of-pace from the mega-resorts. If you like microbrews, the 777 restaurant/brewpub there has great beer and a fun atmosphere. Go there for a meal even if you stay somewhere else. Other than 777 the place is pretty quiet.

The downside: You are a block off of Fremont Street,so there is a short walk to other casinos and nightlife. (This is a real block not a ';Strip'; block. My wife and I walked it in about 3 minutes day or night and felt completely safe.) Also there is no pool on site if that is important to you. My future plan is to stay on the strip when I will be swimming, and at MSS when a pool doesn%26#39;t matter.

We%26#39;ve stayed at GN, Fitz and 4 queens within the past year. All were acceptable, although GN was a nicer property.

What about the remodeling that is or has taken place at the Golden Nugget. Is it still ongoing and is it an improvement or a disappointment? Really starting to sound like I can%26#39;t go to wrong with either of my original choices mentioned + Four Queens. And really don%26#39;t care about the lack of pool...care more about the rooms, condition of the property, gaming facilities and restaurants. All the entertainment I / we need will be on Freemont street for this portion of our stay as well.

I have stayed downtown a couple of times and I can recommend the golden nugget. The GN has ideas that it%26#39;s a strip hotel and the patrons and are more typical of the strip than the other downtown establishments.

I can recommend AGAINST the plaza. My last trip there put me off downtown, maybe for good. I found (used) mens underwear in my bathroom when I checked in. Ick.

The Four Queens is a good choice for the gambler who wants a reasonable amount of atmosphere at a budget price.....

the doctor

--------------------

dr@drvegas.info

If you stay in the South Tower of the Golden Nugget it will be a long walk to the casino if you like going to your room occasionally. Also for slot machines, the nugget has low payouts. It is a hotel with exceptionally nice rooms though. Very Fancy! The Main Street Station has mostly video machines. I like the older reel type slots and could not find one machine like that in that place. Any time I%26#39;ve tried to book at the Main Street, they%26#39;ve been sold out. So book early. My wife found the Vegas Club rooms a bit shabby and we haven%26#39;t had the guts to try the Plaza. I was going to try Fitzgeralds this time but I was afraid it would be too plain and boring. If you want a nice room you%26#39;ve chosen the only two places.

has anyone been to ceasars recently?

just under 3 weeks till im back to my fav town,already chomping at the bit to play what was my favoret games . last time we were there they had a section just outside the forum shops where they had something called ceasars slots? .a guy and woman wearing togas advertising loose slots,(dollar) ,handing out tokens if you hit for the $100.00 or more and would have you yell out hail cesar . it was a great attraction and i did pretty good. I wont ask about my favoret slots at the luxor because i never heard of it befor but im thinking the thing at ceasars would be more memorable

has anyone been to ceasars recently?

I stayed @ Caesars about 2 weeks ago. I love staying there but I have some type of hex on me %26amp; can never seem to leave there a winner. I%26#39;ve never seen the ';toga people'; that you mention - it may have just been a one time promotion. Good luck on your trip.

has anyone been to ceasars recently?

thanks rush! yeah didnt expect to find it again, i usually dont have any luck there either but on my last trip i hit for about $900.00 playing those slots,plus with the tokens they gave out i got a cp jacket,hat,cooler . on a dumb note they also were progressive slots ,so while i waAS GETTING CLOSE TO CASHING OUT I WAS DOWN TO JUST 2 CREDITS AND HIT THE PROGRESSIVE,BUT ONLY WON 500,NOT 1100 LIKE I WOULD HAVE. ooops ,sorry had caps lock on

TR--Excalibur--3/18-3/21--Days 3/4 and side notes

In between writing these novelettes, I keep remembering things I should include, and also questions that some of you have, so I%26#39;ll cram a few in here. :) Yes, we did eat a LOT of food in Vegas. Let me explain. The town that we (me, my hub, and other couple) all live in, and all grew up in/around has a total of 800 people in it. There are a total of 2 cafes and 2 bar/grill type places. All places specialize in hamburgers, chicken strips, and side salads if you%26#39;re real adventurous. So when we budget for these trips, part of the allure, at least for me, is the food. Plus I%26#39;d dieted my a$$ off, (well, I wish I had) for the past month for the sole purpose of going nuts. :) Now I%26#39;m going through this horrible Vegas hangover of losing all my money, gaining weight, no more good food, being back in 40-50 deg. weather....but anyway. We had fun.

Yeah, they did have my luggage at the bell desk the first night we got there, so that was good. I wasn%26#39;t real worried, because, I kept thinking, well, where could it have gone?? And if someone had accidentally grabbed it, I%26#39;m sure they gave it right back. Just some boring clothes.

Ok, on to day 3. We had breakfast at the Sherwood Forest Cafe in Excal this morning. Much improvement over the buffet. We go back to casino in Excal, decide to play some ';Spanish 21'; which was kind of fun. A lot like BJ, but minus 10s and more ways to win. Or maybe because the 10s were missing, it had more of a house edge to it. Who knows? If anyone is curious, ask and I%26#39;ll try to remember! :) I was sitting at this table with a German guy, an English guy, a GRUMPY chick about my age, and a very old, very wise but never speaking, Asian man. It was fun! Once again, I did pretty well. I decided to start this system, let me know if you think it%26#39;s stupid. I would have my pile of chips, my original amount that I started with. Then every time I%26#39;d win, anything over my orig. amount I would throw into my pocket. Then, once I ran out of $$ or ran out of time, I was done. Then whatever I%26#39;d put away, that was untouchable for the rest of the trip. At least I brought back like $500 or something. (Out of $2500) Ouch. But it%26#39;s nice when reality kicks in and the Vegas haze lifts and you%26#39;re like, ';OH DEAR GOD, WHAT HAVE I DONE?'; at least you can say, ';Look, everyone, I brought back some cash';. I don%26#39;t know, probably lame and childish of me, but I think next time I go I%26#39;ll stick by that even more strictly than I did this trip.

My friend Jackie and my husband decide to get tattoos at Hart %26amp; Huntington over at the Palms, where the tv show ';Inked'; is shot. Jackie has one from there already and has already had this planned for awhile. Kind of spur of the moment for Rich. So we take a cab there, get signed up, wait a couple of hours, they can get her in, I watch, it%26#39;s cool. We wait several MORE hours there until they can get Rich in. Meanwhile, I am not winning a thing here.Rich gets his tattoo, I watch again. I think I can start up my own tattoo shop by this time. :) But it was a neat experience. Oh, in between tats we walked over to the Rio, lost some more money, but saw a couple of Chippendales taking pics w/ some happy lady!! YIKES! Also a neat experience!

We head back to Bally%26#39;s b/c I%26#39;d forgotten to cash in all those chips I%26#39;d won the night before. We walk over to Harrah%26#39;s, one of my favorite casinos. Watch the bartenders at the outdoor bar there, listen to the amazing band, lose more money. (In all actuality, there were a few wins here and there, but nothing really to mention...$40 here, $50 there. I did put some of it away in my ';Winnings pocket';.) We ate a good dinner at the Cafe at Harrah%26#39;s. After Harrah%26#39;s and the Flamingo we decide to head back to the Ex. My husband%26#39;s mood was a little improved w/ the tattoo, but still pretty down from all the losing and tomorrow we had to leave. So he puts in one more $20 into a Megabucks machine, on the 2nd spin he hits $200! So that was pretty cool. He went to bed a little happier. So I head over to Spanish 21 table and who%26#39;s there, but the old, wise, unspeaking man. I%26#39;m not sure if he ever left! We start playing and it was hilarious, he%26#39;d never speak unless one of us would get an ace, then he%26#39;d yell out, ';MONKEY!!'; I also told a young, Leann Rimes lookalike to freakin tip the dealer. I think she was foreign, didn%26#39;t know English very well, and was just learning the game, but he helped her win a lot of money. So at one point I kind of mouthed to her ';TIP HIM!'; After she figured out what I was saying, she did start tipping better. I was a little ashamed of myself, but figured I%26#39;d never see her again and he deserved it! Plus I wasn%26#39;t mean, I don%26#39;t think.

So, at around 3 or 4 in the morning I finally go to bed. Next morning I%26#39;d actually set my alarm for 8. We decide to leave at 11, since it%26#39;s check out time and our flight leaves @ 1:25 anyway. I ran to the Vegas Express store in NYNY (one of my other fave casinos), get a few souvenirs for my kids, my mom, my friend who helped watch my kids. I lost another $100 in a WOF dollar machine, thinking I had to hit something big w/ $100 in. Wrong. So I ended the trip on that sorry note. We used the express checkout instead of me going to the front desk and asking about comps. By this time my hubby was so grouchy that I figured, whatever. But I%26#39;m thinking a girls%26#39; trip next time. I was either worried about him getting out of control and gambling while drunk, or he was making me feel guilty about gambling. Anyone else have this dilemma when they go w/ a spouse?

Well, the flight home was extremely turbulent, but on time. It%26#39;s such a downer coming home from Vegas, in some ways. But then again, I was missing my kids (3 and 2) really bad and it was kind of good to get home. Thanks for the replies and all the great suggestions...I%26#39;ll keep learning every time I make it down there!

TR--Excalibur--3/18-3/21--Days 3/4 and side notes

Great trip report. Was great to read. Definetly try a solo trip or try playing more at night by yourself if your traveling partner is being a downer about losing.

TR--Excalibur--3/18-3/21--Days 3/4 and side notes

thanx for tr. glad you got some good food.

Great report!!! Do that girls trip I have for the last 2 trips and will again in May and its so much fun.

Really enjoyed reading! Boy can I relate to the ';OH DEAR GOD, WHAT HAVE I DONE?!'; Dont like that feeling at all, but we%26#39;ve probably all had it! Its always good to have things at home to look forward to seeing (kids) it makes the pain of leaving a little bit easier.

I hope you do take your girl%26#39;s trip!

Great report! Just wanted to tell you that you did nothing wrong telling that young girl to tip. Sometimes ppl assume it%26#39;s common knowledge... but I am embarrassed to say I had no clue the first time I went. I did not tip at all, and wish someone had told me to. It%26#39;s worse to find out when there%26#39;s nothing you can do about it.

Also, just out of curiosity, could you tell how close the pool at excalibur was to being ready? I leave in a week for there :D

Thanks :)

Cubfan,

I%26#39;m pretty sure it won%26#39;t done in time for your trip, but they were letting guests use the Luxor pool. Have fun! Hope you win more than we did!

Little grasshopper, if he never spoke how did you know he was wise?

great trip report, thanks for sharing. I never leave Vegas without leaving my money behind. It%26#39;s become a ritual now.

Thanks for the great TR,i have 4 months to go before my trip.

May 21 & 22??

What the heck is going on during that week? We are going from the 20th to the 24th and the prices are REALLY high for the Monday and Tuesday for some reason. I looked a little while ago before booking at the convention website and didn%26#39;t see anything that looked overly big. Just curious what is going on?!?

May 21 %26amp; 22??

2 conventions one with 25000 attendees and one with 40000 attendees plus a few small ones

What should I do for my husband's 50 th Birthday in Vegas???

I%26#39;m taking my husband to Vegas for his 50 th on April 5,although that is a gift in itself I still would like to do something special on that day.Any suggestions.(none that involves calling the numbers on those cards which are handed out on the strip.)

What should I do for my husband's 50 th Birthday in Vegas???

wow,what a sweet gift. does he know it? ,depends on his habits,what type of gambling does he do? If he plays slots or vp maybe enter him in a tourney?,poker maybe get him set up in a game?. maybe you should contact your casino promotions desk,im sure they have seen it all by now and might have a great idea?

What should I do for my husband's 50 th Birthday in Vegas???

we don%26#39;t know your husband, therefore it is a hard to make suggestions.

tell us his tatstes.

I would suggest golf @ Wynn, nice lunch afterwards and a massage and steam, doesn%26#39;t quite work if he%26#39;s not a golfer.

Yes he does know. He likes the slots.I was thinking about a helecopter ride over the strip or a limo ride on the strip .

A couple%26#39;s massage at a spa, dinner at Andre%26#39;s (the original downtown- one of the best restaurants in Vegas) and then a show.

If I had a magic wand, I know what I would wish for on my 50th birthday...And it isn%26#39;t a helicopter ride.

Where are you staying? What type of slot machines does he like? Does he like beer? Maybe I can come up with some ideas for you if I have some more info as I will be 50 in a few and like to think about birthday vacations etc.

signed---fellow Canadian

blush color

odp.net charakterset

Any suugestions for day or overnight trips near vegas?

I am taking my family (2 kids ages 8 and 6) to vegas for 5 days with the idea of exploring the surrounding areas. Does anyone have a suggestion for a good resort outside vegas where we can explore some of the natural beauty surrounding vegas for a day or 2?

Any suugestions for day or overnight trips near vegas?

Red Rock Canyon is a short drive from Vegas to the west where a few mile long road takes you right up into the red rocks. This is a slow, very nice drive where you can make stops and get out for pictures etc and very inexpensive. Also there is a large public ranch right near there for mule/donkey/horse riding/hiking. Laughlin Nevada(about one and one half hours drive to the south east) Is kind of like a mini Atlantic city as the seven or so casinos are lined up along the river with a small boardwalk stretching along connecting all the casinos. The casinos are fairly close together and there are water taxis which are very cheap to take instead of a cab. Many sea-doos will be tearing along the river all day. It is much quieter in Laughlin than Vegas. A 45 minute drive south of there you can find a town called Oatman along Hist. route 66 where the donkeys roam the streets and eat out your hand. There will probably be a live gunfight when you go there. Pahrump Nevada(about an hour or so west of Vegas might have a resort type of place to stay but besides the mines I don%26#39;t know what else there is to see besides maybe a ghost Town. Apparently this Pahrump is the fastest growing city by percentage in the U.S. Sorry I couldn%26#39;t be of more help but for kids, Nevada is a hard place to find positive entertainment.

Friends are in Vegas . (update)

My friends are in Vegas NOW!! They just called me(10:00 a.m Chicago time) She said that people were already at the bar. I know, any place else this would have been inappropriate, but not in Vegas. This is their 2nd day there. Her sister in-law and brother in-law arrived there on the 22nd. She tells me that they went to downtown Vegas, where they (plus two more friends) ALL won big! Wow! Also the weather there will be a whooping 89 degrees today! Compared to the 50 something ,cloudy weather we have here in Chicago. Also she mention that it%26#39;s really crowded (but in a good kinda way). She%26#39;s staying at the Imperial Palace. I asked her how was it, ';it%26#39;s cool, for the price and purpose';.

I have 25 loooooooonnggg days to go. In my mind, I%26#39;m there with my friends having an apple martini.

Friends are in Vegas . (update)

im now just under 3 weeks,and the days get looooonger everyday

Friends are in Vegas . (update)

I feel your pain. but thankfully I am down to 7 days and 16 hours to go!

Oh Canada, I%26#39;m soooo jealous now. Can%26#39;t you just see it. Walking the strip with one of those long drinks (if you drink) going in and out of every casino in 90 degree weather!!!

kick your heels up and have a ball!!! And don%26#39;t forget to tell us about it.

That would be torture for me to talk to someone who%26#39;s there, when I%26#39;m not!

What does WON BIG mean?

LOveland it is, but like I said I have 25 days. I didn%26#39;t asked how much. was just excited about the conversation.

Flamingo Hotel Go Room

I have 3 photos and a short review of the new ';GO'; rooms at the Flamingo Hotel on my website. Here is the link:

http://lasvegasfun.blogspot.com/

caplondon

Flamingo Hotel Go Room

If you have the time can you also file your review and hotel pictures in the hotel review section.

trolleys

Does anyone know if you can get a day pass for the trolleys- instead

of paying 1.50 every time you get on.

trolleys

DO you mean the Deuce? If so, they offer 24 hour passes (good for 24 hours from the time of purchase) for $5. Otherwise it%26#39;s $2 per ride.

trolleys

No, I mean the trolley that goes from hotel to hotel. It usally stops very close to the hotel, not on the street.

Ah, sorry, not familiar with it%26#39;s prices!

Are you talking about the strip trolley? It is a very inefficient, uncomfortable and slow way of getting around.

http://www.striptrolley.com/

Probably the worst way of getting around town unless you have a need to see the back entrance to every place in town with plenty of time to spend getting there.

Take one trip on it before you even consider getting a day pass. (I have no idea if they sell them, one ride for me was enough)

time to get to dinner???

If we see Mystere on Sunday April 8 at 4:30 will we be able to make our dinner reservations at Top of the World at 7:00 without having to rush too much?/

We would take a cab from TI to the Strat, I guess or would you suggest the Deuce?

Thanks alot.

time to get to dinner???

Sounds a bit rushed to me. I%26#39;d make the reservation for 7:30.

time to get to dinner???

I agree, seems rushed. Why stress yourself over getting there on time? 7:30 would be a better choice.

Cab will be faster than the deuce.

Seems rushed to me as well, pushing the reservation seems easiest.

BTW: The theater at TI that has Mystere, to me, seems like it takes a whlie to get in and out of so this adds some minutes after the show.

---------

dr@drvegas.info

Make a later reservation. It will take a while to get out of the theater and the cab lines are usually long after a show. The Deuce might be even slower- it stops at many places.

hide myspace song

driving time from vegas to grand canyon

how much driving time does it take to get to the grand caynyon from las vegas

driving time from vegas to grand canyon

About 4 -4 1/2 hours one way. It is a long day.

driving time from vegas to grand canyon

http://www.destinationgrandcanyon.com/

2 hour drive to grand canyon west

';2 hour drive to grand canyon west';

the ';West Rim'; is a waste of time and money UNLESS you have never seen the Grand Canyon and don%26#39;t have time to get to the South Rim.

Also, be aware that the last few miles to the West Rim is on a rutty dirt road that goes back to the stagecoach days. I wouldn%26#39;t travel it unless you have a full sized SUV.

About a 5 hour drive to Grand Canyon Nat%26#39;l Park south rim. If you%26#39;re driving there stay over a night, best deal is a weekend night to avoid the high prices in Las Vegas.

';2 hour drive to grand canyon west';

Which isn%26#39;t the Grand Canyon despite the owners best efforts at making people think it is...

blush color

Black Jack strategy and Rules

Last night my wife wasn%26#39;t home, so I decided to try something.

I played over 3 hours of Black Jack, with me as the dealer, and 6 imaginary players.

3 players followed all the BJ Rules (that I know), when to split, when to double down, when to hit or not hit.

The other 3 players did the same, except, they never hit on 15 or heigher.

The results kinda surprised me.

1- Dealer had more black jacks than any other individual player!!!!!

2- players won 65% of the splits

3- Players lost 62% of the double downs

4- This is the most surprising result

The 3 players that played more conservatively, and NEVER hit on 15 and above, won more hands that players who followed the rules. Dealer was going over, more often in those cases.

Do you think it was just my luck yesterday, or playing safe and not hitting on 15 and above (regardless of dealers open card), makes some sense?

What about you? Do you follow every rule in the books or you have your own rules, based on your experience?

I am going to Vegas on Tuesday, and like to try something NEW

Black Jack strategy and Rules

Did you use 6 (8?) decks with an automatic shuffle-machine?

Black Jack strategy and Rules

MusicMan, love what you do with your idle time!! Regardless of what your ';experiment'; showed, you would have to do it for many, many more trials for it to have any relevance. It%26#39;s really just anecdotal. Basic strategy is based on millions of trials to eliminate expected variances. Also it adjusts depending on rules and decks etc...see wizardofodds.com

I%26#39;d say you would have to do much more than 3 hours for a real test. Ask the wizardofodds.com about it. It%26#39;s all mathematical so he can tell you but my advise is to follow your strategy card and enjoy yourself.

In a short term trial, anything can happen. I%26#39;ve seen players make tons of money on field bets at the craps table, even though it%26#39;s got a large house edge.

The reason to follow correct strategy is not because it will improve your winning percentage at any one particular seating. It%26#39;s because it will improve your winning percentage over the entire course of your blackjack-playing career.

In a three-hour time span, a player could make tons of ';incorrect'; decisions and still win if he or she gets lucky.

I used 6 decks, and no, I didn%26#39;t have a machine for shuffling, LOL

I know its not a scientific experiment, because I only played for 3 hours, but we usually play less than that on any Vegas table.

Anyways, I did not mean that my experiment proved anything, I simply wanted to know if any one of you play with your own rules that is different from the ';books%26#39;

Like Stratton says, anyone can play any way and win in the short term. In fact they usually sit at my tables. Regardless, I%26#39;m not going to try and create some ';hunch'; strategy that goes contrary to the math. In reality, all the times one plays over all the months and years of visits is one long session mathematically. And please MusicMan, don%26#39;t venture into split 10%26#39;s territory!!!! Please!

Even a blind squirrel finds a nut!

You get a star for the day MusicMan for your passion of the game,

I salute you.

Yep, I follow the rules. and also have some of my own. But the key

is to stick with it. Do not play by your gut, alot of people play the luck factor.

Underpar,

The only thing i tried was playing safe and not busting, by hitting on 15 or 16, I am not that stupid to even experiment splitting 10s, LOL

MusicMan, if you are asking whether I ever deviate from basic strategy, the answer is yes. But I usually only do that if the count appears to be strongly for or against me.

MM, of course the hit on 16 (against a dealer 10) is the tough one. Glad to see you know the odds are in your favor to do so. Albeit very, very small. Surrender is a better play statistically btw.

Discount tickets for Cirque shows???

This may have been asked before, so I apologize if I missed the answer, but is it possible to purchase any discount tickets for any of the cirque shows?

I don%26#39;t want to plan too much and would like to wait and see what shows may be available at the 1/2 price ticket booths when we arrive.

Is this a bad plan?

Discount tickets for Cirque shows???

The only Cirque show you will have a chance at for a discount is Mystere. It%26#39;s available at the half price booths semi-regularly, but only at a 20-30% discount.

Generally, the rule of thumb is buy tickets ahead of time if it%26#39;s something that you don%26#39;t want to miss. Otherwise, the half price booths are great for the last minute show descision. My advice, know which shows are worth it before you go to Vegas, that way you only pick up tickets to a good show from the booths.

Discount tickets for Cirque shows???

You may or may not be able to get Mystere tickets at the 1/2 price kiosks when you go. If you wait you may not be able to see it at all. I don%26#39;t think the other CdS shows have ever appeared at the kiosks. You are going to have to decide how important it is to see a Cirque show. If it is very important- you are going to have to buy the ticket from the hotel%26#39;s website. Mystere and Love have very inexpensive tickets and the seat are fine.

Just back!

Well i got back thursday but all ive done is sleep!! Jet lagged and depressed!!

I%26#39;l do a post in a min of things i learned on my trip for anyone who is interested!!!

Just back!

Hope you had a great time, always depressing coming home.

Can%26#39;t wait to read your report.

Just back!

Gunna be a while till a report i am depressed!! but i will do some general comments!!

TRs are so hard to write, takes me days to feel like it. its hard after looking forward to your trip to sit down and write about it. get some rest we know how you feel

Take your time -rest up a bit and then worry about the trip report. We will all be here waiting for it-no matter how long it takes you to write it. Hope you had a great time.

Hi Pink

Welcome back and I hope you had a great trip.

Like the others have already said, get your rest and then think about writing a TR. I can%26#39;t believe how jetlagged I became on our last trip! I know how you feel about being depressed when you get back, writing my own and reading other TR%26#39;s help, well they do me anyway! Also, booking your next trip as soon as you get back is a great boost!

I look forward to reading your report.

Loopy

$25.00 cab from airport to Bellagio

Just got back from 3 great days in Las Vegas. Will post report later. But I do have a warning. I asked the cab driver to avoid the tunnel and go Flamingo to the Bellagio. He told me no problem and we started out. Because of the construction and the lane closures we sat in traffic forever. He said he was sorry he should have mentioned that going this way might be longer. My ride was $24.95 without tip. If this was the correct way to go then maybe avoiding the tunnel is not such a great idea or was there another way around the construction that he could have gone?

$25.00 cab from airport to Bellagio

Ouch, that stinks. That is the hard thing about this subject-because we dont know what construction is happening, accidents, backups, etc that would extend an otherwise quick taxi ride. Everyone is all up in arms about avoiding the tunnel, but how would we know if that isnt the quicker route. We wouldnt , which puts us at the mercy of a hopefully honest cab driver..

$25.00 cab from airport to Bellagio

I%26#39;m not sure about which route is faster, but that fare sounds high by about $7 or $8....

Taking the tunnel would have probably saved you $5 over the route you wanted. I would have probably told him I wanted to avoid the tunnel and let him pick the best route on the streets.

Wait, you were staying at the Bellagio and were afraid that a cab driver was going to screw you out of a few bucks?

your mistake was telling him what route to take - instead of something like - don%26#39;t take the tunnel, please take the fastest route. the cab drivers know more than the pax in most cases.

since you specified a route he HAD to take it.

It looks like he deliberately took you through the road work on Paradise instead of going Tropicana to Frank Sinatra Drive.

Seems like the shuttles would be just as good as taxis from the airport to Mid Strip in that it doesn%26#39;t seem to be a long ride at all, and you know exactly what the fare is. Am I missing something?

And by the way, what is the procedure for getting picked up by the shuttle for the return trip to the airport if you buy a RT ticket?

Yep looks like he followed your directions, but he should have taken Trop Ave. I rent a car to avoid this flim-flamery in Vegas.

';Seems like the shuttles would be just as good as taxis from the airport to Mid Strip in that it doesn%26#39;t seem to be a long ride at all, and you know exactly what the fare is. Am I missing something?

And by the way, what is the procedure for getting picked up by the shuttle for the return trip to the airport if you buy a RT ticket?';

The shuttle can be a good deal but if the best price to the hotel is the main concern, cabs end up being cheaper if there are more than two in the party, The procedure for getting picked up depends on the shuttle company. I%26#39;ve used Showtime in the past and they ask that you schedule your return trip by phone once you get checked into your hotel. It worked out fine.

As far as long hauling, I personally haven%26#39;t had a problem. The previous posters were correct - the rider asked for a specific route which happened to be the worst way to go. You also cannot just ask for the fastest route - that is the tunnel a lot of the time and will cost more despite being longer. If you use cabs, you cannot get in assuming the driver is out to get you. I would ask which way is best and interject if the driver mentions the tunnel or some of the streets under construction.

I%26#39;ve read much on here about getting ripped off by cabbies. Have never had it happen to us, thankfully! And that%26#39;s about the only means of transportation we use in LV.

I have never driven in Vegas . . . nor do I care to. The traffic is just too much for this Midwest girl . . . I prefer to leave the driving to others . . . especially after a night out in LV. Drinks are always involved . . . for me and for others . . . I%26#39;ll ride, thanks.

ANYWAY . . . I obviously don%26#39;t know the best routes, nor construction, nor anything else that might affect my travel. There%26#39;s no way I%26#39;m going to attempt to tell my drivers how to do their jobs. I prefer to simply be courteous and friendly to the cabbie and trust that he/she will be courteous and friendly to me in return . . . in other words, extend to me the courtesy of the lowest fare possible. Perhaps my small town naivity . . . but so far . . . it%26#39;s worked for us.

AJAX in .net

March Madness - First 2 Rounds

Who is going to Vegas for the first 2 rounds of March Madness - March 15th-18th? Have you gone before; and if so, where is your favorite place to park your butt for 12 hours and watch the games? This will be the fifth year that I%26#39;m there with several friends for the first two rounds. In the past, we always watched at the Flamingo, which has a ballroom set up with movie screens on each wall showing a different game. $40 admission for 3 days, comes with some drink tickets and a t-shirt. Pros for the Flamingo - guaranteed table seating with your friends, all games on huge screens, separate betting window outside the ballroom. Cons - only 2 drink tickets per day, and beers go for $5 for 16 oz. draft (and we tend to drink a lot). Always interested in hearing of better options/setups, so tell us about your favorite place for watching the games and why...

March Madness - First 2 Rounds

Hi

Sorry to be silly but what is march madness?

March Madness - First 2 Rounds

This will be my 3rd time to Vegas and first time for March madness. Definetly excited. I am thinking about wandering around a little bit and catching games at different bars %26amp; Casinos.

March Madness is the term for the college basketball championship tournament - 65 teams make it and they play a single elimination tournament to determine the champion. Always a crowded time in Vegas.

Pink83,

March madness is the men%26#39;s division I college basketball championship here in the US. It is a single elimination tournament that takes place this year 3/15 through 4/2.

ahhh okay, thanxs

so it is not actually played in vegas just screened there right?? and people travel from all ova to watch and bet in vegas??

Pink83 you are correct. People travel from all over the country to watch the same games on TV they could see at home minus the gambling and the fun. Great isn%26#39;t it?!

thanxs!

i think its fab, any excuse to go to vegas is a good excuse!

I go every year for the second (Sweet-16) weekend. Just an absolutely fantastic time to go. I%26#39;ve never done a ';party'; - just park my butt in the very croweded sportsbook. To be honest, I haven%26#39;t seen a ticketed setup for Sweet-16 week - but for a guaranteed seat and 6 drink tickets, $40 sounds pretty good.

I cant comment on where to watch or even what its like the 1st 2 rounds.BUT! my 1st trip to vegas was 2 yrs ago final 4 weekend,

beware,the airport lines were insane on sunday am as we tried to fly home, and there was hardly an empty seat in the terminal due to over booked flights. every way you turned there was a college age student calling someone because they couldent get back on time. so id personally check in early and have a back up plan!

I just found out that the Flamingo event will be invitation only, similar to Super Bowl parties. Looking for a new home for watching the first 2 rounds, so if anyone knows of a good place, please post.

General observations from my trip!!!

Got back thurdsay from my trip 13th March - 21st March. Stayed at Circus Circus.

Here are some general observations -

Hotels

Circus Circus is as great to me as it has always been and as was reported it has also been cleaned up a lot more. Again no problems here!

I.P - I have never been here before and never wish to go again. Sorry to anyone who really likes it but we found it really dank and depressing. I felt really claustrophobic. I also found the entrance weird and quite scary! Again each to there own but we didnt like it.

Casino Royale - Really small and quaint compared to the other casinos but i really liked gambling there.

Venetian - really like the venetian too, always do. atmosphere and place is great.

Stardust - awww it was sad just seeing a pile of rubble.

Food

Wynn- Hands down best buffet i have tried. Went on my last trip and twice this trip. lunch - amazing. Especially the salmon and asian section. Desserts brilliant - have to try the tapioca and bread pudding.

Rio - Huge buffet but the quality has gone down hill, good choice but not the best quality.

Steakhouse sunday brunch - brilliant again, lts of choice, good service. Salmon entree not so good stick to steak.

Krispy Kreme - mmmmmmmm

Gambling

Wynn - do not gamble there! Not good for me at all!

Venetian - Good for us all - especilly the big wheel wheel of fortune - 2 spins $400 not bad.

I discovered the powerball slot machine, brilliant loved it. mid week i stuck in $20 walked away $688 not bad at all. Spent in guess and abercrombie!

Downtown

1st time i had been and loved it. Definitely a must see once. people have slated the light show but i think you def must see it once. I really liked downtown had a nice feel to it.

General

Rio mascarde in the sky (sp) - For such a big hotel i thought this was poor i would not go out of my way if you are not going there.

new club at strat - polyesthers?? Poor poor poor. WE were going gambling and got handed a vip card to check it out. I thought uh oh as we were not really dressed for it but decided to try it anyway. There theme is supposed to be 4 rooms of music. 70s thro 00. The walls were so thin you could hear each genre of music in each of the other rooms. It was also full of weirdos, half empty and just bad. I would def not reccomed it. Also expensive.

Cleopatras bar at ceasers - Drinks $9.50 roughly but each drink had about the equivalent of three english shots - many of my party were drunk very quickly!

$1 magaraitas at casino royale - good!

Had an amazng time!

General observations from my trip!!!

thanks for the TR. sounds fun fun fun!...

i want to check out circus circus next trip... i have such a visual in my mind from watching fear and loathing in las vegas a million times...

General observations from my trip!!!

Pink

Cheer yourself up by planning your next trip, only thing that helps me on returning from Vegas, though hubby says after our trip in June maybe we should give it a miss for a few years, bad bad hubby.

I know CC gets slated but we have stayed there before and found it clean and good value. Kids only seemed to be a problem at the weekend.

I have already been looking at flights!! Good idea!

It was definitely buzier at the weekend but still no bother!

Glad you had luck and fun and good food.....hubby said what??? see ya in a week or two hubby...buh by...lol

blush color

ATMs that give you real cash

Last time in Vegas I tried several cash machines in casinos. They did work but they did not give me the real cash. Nope, they gave you a slip instead which I had to take to the cashiers, show my passport and leave fingerprints. Is this how it%26#39;s done in all casinos?

I am going back now and want to try and find some ATMs which give me my dollars straight away without going through all this hassle.

ATMs that give you real cash

when was this ,i have never had a problem ,last time i was there was 2 years ago

ATMs that give you real cash

Are you sure you used a real ATM and not a cash advance machine?

i think you used the cash advance machine as well! they are usually located next to each other

I never encountered this last year either. every atm I used gave me cash.

Are you sure you didn%26#39;t go over your daily cash withdrawl limit?

most banks will stop you after $500, but many of the machines have the ';cash advance without a pin but a nice hefty fee'; option.

Keep in mind that the fees they ATMs charge can be nasty.

I suggest winning big at the slots and not touching your personal money.

Use ATM machines and not the Cash Advance as other posters have indicated. The ATM%26#39;s work just like any ATM anywhere else, well, except the highest fees I%26#39;ve encounter are always in Vegas.. $3 to $5 dollars. But I just take out larger amounts and therefore lose larger amounts gambling so I guess it all works out for everyone involved. LOL

I have been using ATM machines in Vegas for 15 years. I have always gotten cash- never a voucher. Be sure to read everything printed on the machine so you know what you are working with.

The cash advance machines usually have a sign on them saying ';this is not an atm'; or some such language...but it sounds like that%26#39;s what you used it for...

Hm, well, maybe I did not read the small print? I do remember using my debit card (not a credit card) . Can%26#39;t remember if it said anything about not being an ATM.

So what is a cash advance machine then, compared to an ATM?

';So what is a cash advance machine then, compared to an ATM?';

It%26#39;s a machine used to get a cash advance on a credit card...usually a very very bad idea for most people, as the fees for doing so are huge...

Travel Sites vs Booking Direct?

Hello,

Thanks to everyone%26#39;s tips, we now have a very good idea of where we would like to book. One suggestion I received, was to book directly with the hotel rather than through a travel provider (Expedia, Travelocity) as the hotel will honour lower rates if they post them.

The rates just dropped a touch at the hotel we were planning to book, but the deal through Expedia (where we would book both air and hotel through) is still $300 cheaper.

What other advantages are there in booking directly with the hotel? I am a Players Club member (and we will stay at an MGM-operated hotel) and do intend to enjoy the casino while I%26#39;m there (not a high roller but certainly partake), if that makes any difference.

Thanks again!

Travel Sites vs Booking Direct?

Oh - I should clarify - the $300 cheaper is in TOTAL (we are staying 5 nights) ... so it would work out to being $60 cheaper per night.

Travel Sites vs Booking Direct?

Living in Toronto, you should seriously consider flying from Buffalo. Airfares typically are significantly less than from TO. Parking at airport is not expensive, about $13 a day.

If hotel rates are the same, between travel site and booking direct, the difference has to be in the airfare. Keep digging. I have never found it to be cheaper using expedia or travelocity.

What hotels are you targeting and what dates?

i would be very surprised to find a $300 difference, even spread over 5 nights. it%26#39;s fine to book your flight through a travel site (though some airlines, like southwest, don%26#39;t offer flights through travel sites) but the hotel is almost always cheaper directly with the hotel. most hotels also have a price matching policy. call the hotel and tell them that you found a package on expedia where the hotel will cost $X for those nights and ask if they will match it. expedia is already eating up a lot of their profits, so they will usually be more than happy to match the rate and keep 100% of the fee themselves.

Hi again,

We%26#39;re looking at The Mirage (just a Deluxe Room) for July 16 - 21 (we%26#39;re fine if the flight leaves late on the 21st and we end up home early on the 22nd).

Thanks for the tip on Buffalo flights - last I looked, it was tough finding direct flights for those days ... and the cost difference, while there, wasn%26#39;t really all that much in total ...

If you keep your eyes out for promos as the date gets closer it%26#39;s likely that the rates offered will be lower than what you book at now (and much lower than booking through a third party site). Booking direct with the hotel allows you to take advantage of these changes. Plus, other hotels might offer a deal you can%26#39;t pass up that you can take advantage of instead. A good example was our trip last November, we were booked at TI for $79/night but then Venetian had a deal for $129/night, it was more, but a screaming deal for the Venetian. The liberal cancellation policy allowed us to take advantage of the Ventian deal and cancel TI. Also keep in mind that most third-party sites charge a fee to book, usually $15-25.

Check out fatwallet to see the promos as they come out. They%26#39;re starting to show ones for this summer.

ok... for your trip (based on 2 people):

flights

from expedia: $1068 on usair

from usair website: $1043

expedia package at mirage: $1870 (hotel portion = $802)

hotel direct with mirage: $834

total for booking hotel and air direct: $1902

booking with expedia saves you $30. if you decided to spend the extra $30 and book direct, you would gain the ability to keep watching the hotel rates and changing to a lower rate if one comes up. this far out, i would expect rates to go up and down some before your trip. you also only have to pay for the first night up front, rather than the whole stay. booking direct increases your chances for upgrades and getting some of your expenses comped.

Hi Chrispina,

Wow - thank you for doing the leg work! :)

I get different figures ... keeping in mind that I%26#39;d be booking through Expedia.ca (CDN $) with flights from Toronto ...

BOOKING ALL WITH EXPEDIA:

Expedia.ca Package includes WestJet flights, Mirage stay, WITH cancellation insurance = $2090.73 (includes all taxes)

SEPARATE BOOKINGS:

* Same Rooms at Mirage, through Mirage website = $833.85 US (exchanges to $967.98 CDN).

* Cheapest Direct Flight through Expedia with Cancellation Insurance (US Airways) = C$1,363.62

OR

* Direct Flight through Expedia using WestJet (preferred): C$1,422.98

TOTAL: $2331.60 CDN (US Airways) or $2390.96 CDN (WestJet)

have you priced the westjet flight directly with the airline?

Restaurants in Las Vegas

My family and I are travelling to Las Vegas April 2 - April 5 of this year. We%26#39;d like to eat at a different restaurant each night but we%26#39;d prefer to eat at places that are not directly on the strip since they can be incredibly pricey. We%26#39;re staying at Mandalay Bay. Do you have any suggestions for restaurants that are within walking distance from that hotel that offer great food at a reasonable price? Also, we prefer Italian restaurants, if possible. Thanks for your help!!

Restaurants in Las Vegas

walking distance,from MB and not on the strip. I really think your not going to walk from there to any off strip locations,but i know someone here will offer a suggestion where you can take a cab too

Restaurants in Las Vegas

Yeah, the only walkable off-strip places from there are dingy bars.

As other people said, the stuff actually ';just off'; the strip isn%26#39;t great.

A couple of suggestions: The best burgers on the west coast (in my opinion) are ';In N%26#39; Out'; and there is one near I-5 in Las Vegas. It%26#39;s a cheap option for a family (fast food but delicious) and anybody you ask at MB will know it (they eat there!). It%26#39;s a cab ride for sure. Truth be told, last time I was at MB I took some craps winnings and paid a cab to take me there, wait for me, and bring me back with In-n-out for my wife and I! The $30 cab fare was less than dinner for one at any MB restaurant....

A more ';locals'; type of restaurant is Pamplemousse (http://www.pamplemousserestaurant.com) that excellent french food at much more reasonable prices (although not cheap) than anything on the strip. They claim to be walkable from the strip, but from MB I%26#39;d recommend a cab unless you just want to walk.

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dr@drvegas.info

You should consider renting a car if you want to be at Mandalay Bay, especially if you are going off strip. You should be able to rent a car for about $100 (check Dollar and Alamo - use Google to look for promo codes - also Priceline and Hotwire are good alternatives) and you%26#39;d easily save that with just a few meals. Also consder that if you rent a car at the airport you won%26#39;t need to pay for a shuttle/taxi to get to and from Mandalay Bay. Parking is free everywhere on the strip. You can search this forum for suggestions about reasonably priced places to eat off-strip. The only %26#39;cheap%26#39; eats I know of near Mandalay Bay is a McDonalds across the street.

Best of luck,

Gene

I%26#39;ve eaten at the Wolfgang Puck place in MB and it wasn%26#39;t outrageously expensive (we actually shared a salad, a spinach pizza, and a cioppino - told the waiter we didn%26#39;t want any leftovers and was that enough food, he said perfect and divided the salad and cioppino up for us, very nice of him and the food was delicious). I%26#39;ve also eaten at the Italian in Excalibur which is a tram ride away and I don%26#39;t remember much about it except that it was not that good. Not sure if there%26#39;s an Italian restaurant in Luxor.

Agree with everyone that you can%26#39;t really walk to too many places from MB.

if you%26#39;re into mexican food, i highly recommend you eat at border grill in manadaly bay.

it%26#39;s available on restaurants.com so you can buy a $25 GC for only $4 when you use the promo code: MADNESS

it%26#39;s a decently pricey restaurant, but with the GC you%26#39;ll save $21, making it more reasonable.

also, we loved the house of blues restaurant at mandalay bay. it wasn%26#39;t CHEAP, but it was a decent price. i ordered the soup and a side dish of mac and cheese. the mac and cheese was ridiculously good, and a huge portion for only a couple bucks. it would make an excellent late night snack if you%26#39;re wandering your hotel looking for something.

This ';old style'; Italian restaurant off Strip advertises that they will send their limo to pick you up and bring you back from the Strip. You would need to tip the driver - but certainly less than a taxi and should be memorable.Most of the reviews here have been good- reasonable prices and usually a singer entertaining:

http://casadiamore.com/

ingrown hair

Video Poker - MSS & others

I think I read that if you get 4 of a kind at MSS, you can get a scratch card for a chance to win a few more bucks. True? If so, is this only on certain machines there?

I%26#39;ve been practicing my VP, mostly JOB. Still not a perfect player according to the trainer, but who knows....... it is kind of random, right?

Flight is tomorrow at 1:30.

FUN to come soon!

Thanks to all for your help on this forum,

Mar.

Video Poker - MSS %26amp; others

Maria, which video poker trainer are you using? I am a vp newbie too, trying to learn the strategy.

Have a fun trip!

Video Poker - MSS %26amp; others

I am using freeslots.com---- there are lots of slot games here too. Fun for just passing the time.

Good luck.

yes. you get a scratch card. i%26#39;ve won $2 a few times like that.

Chrispina--

Was the scratch on any VP machine?

Thanks.

i don%26#39;t remember. there were some signs, i think. i was playing one of the full pay machines.

You%26#39;ve been planning this trip so carefully for so long- you must really be excited now! Have a great time- will look for your Trip Report- to see if you enjoy Downtown as much as we always do!

Thanks Lulu. We are excited to finally go!

A good thing was husband won $500 at the local Terribles last week, so that nicely pads the bankroll.

I%26#39;ve read tons of trip reports, not sure I can do a very good one. We%26#39;ll see how it all goes.

Lulu....you should be named the downtown expert. You have given me a load of good information.

Thanks to all!

Yes, you get a scratch card for any 4oak on any vp machine. Prizes range from $2- $5000. My best scratch off was $10.

Sreaking of VP, does anyone know if or where there are any 25cents 9/6 JOB machines Mid-Strip? I have heard that the Venetian, where we are staying, only has 9/6 at $1 and more.

Joemole. Go to www.lasvegasadvisor,com and click on Video poker under Gambling Info .

Vegas Club Hotel & Casino for $31 a night... Any advice???

Thank you for your help!!!

Vegas Club Hotel %26amp; Casino for $31 a night... Any advice???

Pretty good rate depending on what the dates are.

Vegas Club Hotel %26amp; Casino for $31 a night... Any advice???

the price sounds fantastic,BUT ive read some post on another message board that made it sound like its turned pretty ,for the lack of a better term dumpy or ...better not say it. anyway the impression i got was its not as good as it was if you had been there in the past

I will be in Vegas this Sunday. It is the only place I could find at such a good price that is close to a lot of things. The internet said 3 stars???

Of all the places I%26#39;ve been in downtown (and I have not been in the Gold Spike or whatever it%26#39;s called), I think Vegas Club is the worst.

The casino is really dingy (cigarette burns, old felt, tons of smoke, etc). and the personnel that work there look like they are all on hard times (scruffy haircuts, dirty nails, worn clothing, etc).

Just my opinion.

doubt you will find anything cheaper,and theres nothing wrong with that,just wanted to pass along what ive heard.i hope you have a great time

We stayed at the vegas club because it was the only acceptable place I could find last minute for that one Sunday night. It%26#39;s a great place to crash but not very nice. Use your money to gamble instead of paying a lot for the room. You won%26#39;t see any bugs or anything. You can swim at the Plaza just up the street.

Try and get a North Tower room at check in...they are a little nicer.

I think the star ratings on many Internet sites are pretty meaningless. I would classify Vegas Club as a 2 star- much like a typical Days Inn- pretty shabby in places. I do agree with the previous poster that you should try to get into North Tower- those rooms are a bit nicer than the ones in South Tower. I think Vegas Club and Plaza are in the lowest echelon Downtown, except for the rooms at Golden Gate which are really old and really small and therefore worse and I would say the old ';non- Tower rooms at El Cortez and the Golden Spike, which are off Fremont Street, are also worse than Vegas Club.

There are some even worse than that off the Fremont Canopy Downtown, but you likely wouldn%26#39;t know about those unless you needed to rent by the hour. Expect Vegas Club to be rough around the edges but at least safely situated.

tripres.com has hooters for $51.00 for Sunday 3/25

Hooter is across the street from MGM

go on line or contact hotel?

Whats happening 27/28th March?

Hi All

Just wondering if something big is going on on the 27th and 28th of this month?

Ive checked conventions and cant see anything that big, yet most hotels are either sold out or prices are very very high for these 2 days in perticular.

Any idea anyone?

Cheers

Whats happening 27/28th March?

Spring break, maybe????

Whats happening 27/28th March?

Well - if it%26#39;s not March Madness then it%26#39;s Spring Break - That%26#39;s what pushes our March business

blush color

A strange rental car question

I%26#39;ve been doing it forever and never even thought about it, but the thought just crossed my mind: if you sign the rental car documents stating that you (or you and your spouse) are to be the only drivers, what does that mean in relation to your use of valet parking? What if the valet gets into an accident while driving your rental car?

A strange rental car question

You are probablySOL.also some insurance does not cover accidents on private property.You would have to try to get the Hotel to pay!.

A strange rental car question

A professional valet service always carry%26#39;s insurance

Where is Rosemary's restaurant?

Just wondering how far from the strip and where?? The $20 lunch sounds amazing!!

Where is Rosemary's restaurant?

Hi neighbor- It is 11.73 miles from the strip, and should take 17 minutes from the Flamingo. We have reservations for 4-5 for lunch. Will let you know how it was when we return. From another Chicagoan who loves Vegas!

Where is Rosemary's restaurant?

As indicated above, it is about 20 minutes west of the strip on Sahara.

If you are cabbing it, that%26#39;s bout $40 roundtrip. Even including that, the lunch deal is worth it. If you are going to obsess over having to pay for the cab fare, then don%26#39;t bother. But if you can drive or if you can simply figure the cost of the cab as part of a famntastic meal, then it is well worth it.

At $20 for lunch it is probably the single best deal in Vegas. Including cab fare it is still an excellent meal that is well worth the cost -- if you are not afraid to pay $100 for two for a three-course meal (no alcohol) for first-class French/nouvelle cuisine.

If you don%26#39;t have a car the cab fare will probably be around $50. For that much money you can rent an economy car and have it available for 24 hours. That will allow you to see off strip attractions and off strip casinos- Red Rock Canyon and Red Rock Station, for example.

The food at Rosemary%26#39;s is great. It is on Sahara.

http://www.rosemarysrestaurant.com/

I was there this past weekend.

8125 W. Sahara - it is way out west ..But It is worth every penny.

It is in a shopping mall area and very inconspicuous.

The Best Food in VEGAS. Service is not bad either... Ask for Tony and Katy - they will take great care of you!

If you can get a group of 6 together, take a limo. ($43) each way and they (the limo) is not going to drive off if you are a few minutes late enjoying the best desserts in the desert.

getting there is easy - getting home is the challenge.

It%26#39;s in a shopping center on the southeast corner of Sahara Blvd. and Cimarron Road, next to the Stein Mart.

If you are heading west (coming from the Strip), Cimarron is the next signal light after S. Buffalo Drive. I believe you%26#39;ll need to turn left onto Cimarron in order to enter the shopping center, or pull a U turn at Sahara/Cimarron to enter the center via Sahara.

web hosting domains

Recommend a restaurant before Mystere show

hi-

I just bought tickets for Mystere, and would like ideas of where to go for dinner that is nearby.

We%26#39;re not foodies, so nothing too fancy. Just something reasonably priced and good food!

Also, we%26#39;re staying at the Aladdin..is TI within walking distance? If not, which is the best way to get there?

thanks!!

Recommend a restaurant before Mystere show

Bump :)

Recommend a restaurant before Mystere show

If you don%26#39;t mind chain restaurants, there is a California Pizza Kitchen at the Mirage. It%26#39;s by the Sportsbook and usually pretty fast service and good food. There is a tram that goes between the Mirage and TI.

As for walking from the Aladdin....that%26#39;s a pretty lengthy walk. Might be better to take a cab.

Enjoy Mystere....it%26#39;s a great show!

Kaunaville at Treasure Island is close by! About 15 yards! Food is reasonable and a great bar!!

You can walk it but it is quite a way to TI.

Isla at TI is good for gourmet Mexican. California Pizza Kitchen at the Mirage is always a safe bet. Everyone says that the buffet at the Mirage is quite good. I always liked Caribe Cafe at the Mirage.

Saw Mystere for the first time in %26#39;94 and it is still one of -if not the best-shows on the Strip. You%26#39;ll love it.

I don%26#39;t know if you saw my trip report- we stayed at the Aladdin.

We walked from Aladdin to Mystere and hung out at the Venetian beforehand. We did not go to the Venetian prior to this day, so we walked around the canal shoppes and toyed with the idea of renting a gondala but did not do it. I thought it was a good place to spend our time beforehand. We ate at the Grand Lux Cafe which is in the Venetian, on the casino floor. Good food- the Asian nachos are excellent!

It is a hike from Aladdin to the TI, but it can be done. As far as food that is close. I also second the suggestion of California Pizza. Also if you don%26#39;t mind chain places there is an Outback Steakhouse across the street from the Mirage upstairs at Casino Royale. It is an easy walk across the street to the Mirage and jump on the tram/monorail between Mirage and TI. Enjoy Mystere...It%26#39;s the BEST cirque show in Vegas.

If pressed for time, try Canters Deli at the TI. Nothing fancy but food is good and a decent value (for the strip).

Does anyone know if Paris pool is open yet???

Was told by Paris hotel that the pool is due to open at the end of March.

We are arriving April 4 and hope the pool will be open by then.

Anyone know the status of the pool? I can call again, but I thought I would ask on ta first.

Thanks!!

Does anyone know if Paris pool is open yet???

I spoke with Casino Services today at Paris and was told the pool was officially opening on April 1 - woohoo since we are arriving on April 3.

Does anyone know if Paris pool is open yet???

Thanks for the info. We will be there April 4 so it%26#39;s Woo Hoo for us too!!

How did you call Casino Services? Is it a different number from the main number on the web site? I would like to call as I have some other questions.

Thanks and have fun, Lulu, maybe we%26#39;ll see you there!

You can call 1-888-266-5687 and ask to be put through to the Help Desk for you queries.

Have a great time!

New Years in Vegas- worth it???

Am eager to return after my 1st trip last year...have good deal on flights..the question is- is New Years Eve worth it in Vegas or just overpriced and overcrowded??

Thanks!

New Years in Vegas- worth it???

I have spent many NY%26#39;s in Vegas since I lived there for over 10 years. At first I would hit Fremont Street (this was before the strip was the place to be) and then The Strip after it was the place to be. It was a great time the 1st couple of times but the last time I went out on the strip, I told myself that is the last time. I havent spent a NY%26#39;s on the strip in about 10 years.

Ill say this. You may enjoy it, and it is something everyone should probably do once, especially if you are younger (20%26#39;s).

If you dont like crowds stay away, if fall down drunk people bother you stay away, lots of fights, etc. Other than that it is a great party, at least the 1st time or 1st few times.

New Years in Vegas- worth it???

For me it%26#39;s not the time to go - everything is very expensive and the lines are long - if you go the week after the Rodeo (I think it ends on Dec 15) or the week after CES (2nd or 3rd week in Jan) you can enjoy Vegas at a third of the cost

I went last NYE and had a great time. I have to agree that you should try it once. My friends were asking if I wanted to go again this year but I think I%26#39;ll pass - once was enough for me.

Until this year we had gone over NYE for the last 5 years. Decided it was just too crowded and didn%26#39;t like the idea that on NYE you weren%26#39;t allowed into any of the hotel/casino properties unless you were actually staying there as you had to show them your room keys. Also weather had not been that great the years we were there - actually snowed on year and being from Minnesota was the last thing we wanted to see in Vegas! So you were pretty much stuck on the strip or at your hotel. I think you should experience it once and see for yourself, but been there, done that and thoroughly enjoyed going in March this time around.

it is a MUST do at least once they have improved it vastly over the last 10 years adding the fireworks more police etc

it is very expensive but worth it imho

We went for the first time at New Year%26#39;s last year (it was our 4th trip in 2006). Would we go again - No. It is crazy busy, hard to walk around because of the crowds, huge line-ups for restaurants, table limits are high, and it is cold. I like to be able to spend 2-3 hours a day basking in the sun at the pool (this makes the gambling budget go a lot further!). Given the fact that you live in Dublin, I wouldn%26#39;t cross the pond for a trip to Vegas from mid-October to mid-April (that is of course If warm weather matters to you).

I spent seven years in Vegas ( NYE)- but only one year on the strip. I wanted to see what it was like. It was very very crowded. You could not move after a certain point on the strip. You moved where the crowds wanted you to go. Shoving matches were breaking out.By midnight most people were feeling no pain. The streets are closed to traffic from late afternoon. If you leave your hotel it might take you quite a while to get back there. If you have seen pictures of NYE in NYC (Times Square) you have some idea what the strip is like. Would I do it again-no. Do I regret going-no. I saw what it was like and that was enough for me. If you like crowds and paying top dollar for everything- then go for it. Otherwise- pick another time to visit Vegas.

Thanks for all your advice. I think I%26#39;ll pass for New Years and wait for a warmer time of the year...we went in August last year so maybe not THAT warm!!

Dinner and a show, but which to do first?

We are going to Vegas in a few weeks and are planning to see two shows. I am not sure if we should by the 7:00/7:30 tickets and then do dinner afterwards, or buy the 9:30/10:00 tickets and eat dinner first. I don%26#39;t like being rushed when I eat dinner, so I would rather eat after the shows but 10pm is late for dinner (well, maybe not in Vegas). Any advice?

(BTW... this is our first visit to Vegas.)

Dinner and a show, but which to do first?

this is going to be our 3rd trip and i still dont know whats best. personally my wife prefers buffets,even if i offer to buy something nicer. we usually eat earlier befor the show,but i hate it if im dressed up and my belly is busting out of my clothes while sitting in a theater,. I dont usually eat lunch but this trip im thinking of a laate lunch so we wont be too hungry if we eat after the shows. tough call. ps enjoy your 1st trip,beware it can become addictive

Dinner and a show, but which to do first?

Actually, myself - I always go to the later show, having dinner first. After the show it%26#39;s always nice to relax talk about how great the show was while enjoying a glass of wine or coffee. I don%26#39;t know - filling my face after seeing a good show just doesn%26#39;t seem as enjoyable or romantic (depending on the situation)

dinner, then show, then dessert with coffee/wine after is my preference.

actually after thinking about it,dinner befor show!. seems like we find it more romantic going back after a show,walking the strip being dressed seems like a nice way to end an evening

consider how the time differencer will affect you. if you are from NJ as you imply, and will be in LV a limited number of days your body clock may never adjust fully. Dinner after a show in LV is 1-2am your time.

For us, we eat before a show. rarely do a ';fine dining'; experience and a big show the same night unless schedule dictates.

Eating dinner before the show may work best for your body clock. unless you are trying to make reservations someplace you don%26#39;t need to decide now. be flexible - a key to enjoying LV. Buy show tix for 7ish and play it by ear - food available all day.

I prefer eating first.

I weigh 300 lbs.

Food is the bigger priority.

How about drinks and appetizers before the show- then more food afterwards, depending on how hungry you are. That way you won%26#39;t have as much rush beforehand, but won%26#39;t be hungry during the show.

We frequently do drinks and appetizers before, and a goopy dessert,like cheesecake afterwards ( I delude myself into counting the cheese as a ';dairy'; serving !)

blush color

To Exceited to Wait

I have been reading this board for so many days I couldn%26#39;t stand it and last night I headed to the Indian Casino just to get a gambling fix I put a 20.00 in a Mermaid machine and won 850.00 I then lost a little and put 50.00 in a Telephone Tag machine and bet max bets for a few spins and won 500.00 I came home with 1,000 not bad on my 20.00 I hope to do as well in Vegas!!!! Sometimes I think the mahines in Vegas are tighter than the Indian casino%26#39;s The Indians machines have a completly different pay system something about lottery instead of reel system???

To Exceited to Wait

Wow! That%26#39;s pretty good going :o) Though it will probably have made you more excited! ;o)

When do you go? I%26#39;m not there till July and have been waiting since October!

Barbie

To Exceited to Wait

I%26#39;m there May 13-18 at the Flamingo. yes, it did make me more exceited however, the money I won just paid for the airline tickets for 4 people how cool is that?

That is well cool! Well done!

I wish I could win enough to cover our 4 airfares! :oP

Barbie

i enjoy an extra barrier

Has anyone seen the Shag With A Twist show at the Plaza?

Anyone seen this show? It looks fun.

Wondering if its worht the trip up to Fremont St. and if VIP booths are worth the extra $10 per ticket.

Thanks!

Has anyone seen the Shag With A Twist show at the Plaza?

Haven%26#39;t seen it- but based on the fact that no one responding and that last time we were Downtown they were selling tickets for it at the half price outlet at Four Queens , I%26#39;m guessing the answers to your questions are no and no.

Has anyone seen the Shag With A Twist show at the Plaza?

was that a Tix4Tonight outlet? If so- I won%26#39;t bother buying tickets ahead of time- I%26#39;ll just pop over to their booth at the Fashion Show Mall and get them on the day.

thanks!

I can%26#39;t remember which of the two half price outlets in Vegas the one at Four Queens is- but it may be that they sell those tickets at that outlet because it is Downtown. Like any half price tickets , it may or may not be being offered when you get there. I have a feeling though that no one who is at that show is there because they paid full price for it. I%26#39;ve been in the Plaza showroom in the past, but only for ';afternoon'; shows they offered for buying a drink- usually a comedian or magician with no frills at all. Will be interesting to hear your review when you get back.

Just found an old Vegas guide and the outlet at Four Queens is Tix4tonight, like the one at Fashion Show Mall.

LOL...yeah- this show is my boyfriends idea. if it were up to me- I%26#39;d go see Jubilee or another uniquely Vegas show.

and hey- if they don%26#39;t have tickets on the day- we%26#39;ll just go see something else... or nothing at all.

Can you tell I%26#39;m not worried? :) But I%26#39;ll be sure to post a TR when I get back- it%26#39;s my first time to Vegas, so I%26#39;m sure to see lots!

I saw it last year when it was at the Alladin and it%26#39;s fun. If you like Shag (Josh Agle, a famous amazing artist-google him) then you%26#39;d probably like it.