Looking for Vegas tips

Epicbutterfly

Hey everyone. Just wondering if anyone has any tips? I am going to Las Vegas the end of August for a week and it's my first time going. Just looking for some tips and ideas of what to do besides gamble!

We're planning on doing the helicopter to the Grand Canyon and the Hoover Dam too. Anyone know if it's best to book before we go or wait u til we get there??

Thanks again

Epicbutterfly

Epicbutterfly wrote: »

Hey everyone. Just wondering if anyone has any tips? I am going to Las Vegas the end of August for a week and it's my first time going. Just looking for some tips and ideas of what to do besides gamble!

We're planning on doing the helicopter to the Grand Canyon and the Hoover Dam too. Anyone know if it's best to book before we go or wait u til we get there??

Thanks again

Wait till you get there, and shop around, there are loads of companies offering different packages, see what suits you best & haggle them down, big time!
I got a trip for half the first price they offered.
Do the shows, so many shows, my favourite was ' O' a Circe de soleil in the bellagio, about 100 dollars, but they all are for good shows.
Oh and definitely go to Fremont Street, the original strip. It's the best part of Vegas IMO, do the zip line, there are ordinary bars down there too, not like the strip. They have bands playing outside & it's a great spot.

Epicbutterfly

bubblypop wrote: »

Wait till you get there, and shop around, there are loads of companies offering different packages, see what suits you best & haggle them down, big time!
I got a trip for half the first price they offered.
Do the shows, so many shows, my favourite was ' O' a Circe de soleil in the bellagio, about 100 dollars, but they all are for good shows.
Oh and definitely go to Fremont Street, the original strip. It's the best part of Vegas IMO, do the zip line, there are ordinary bars down there too, not like the strip. They have bands playing outside & it's a great spot.

Thanks so much for the advice above! We nearly booked our helicopter tonight so you've saved us big time!

Liam McPoyle

Epicbutterfly wrote: »

Thanks so much for the advice above! We nearly booked our helicopter tonight so you've saved us big time!

We went to the Cirque show "Love", if you are a fan of the Beatles I couldn't recommend it highly enough.

The mob museum is really cool and you can easily spend 3 or 4 hours in it.

We did the Grand Canyon / Hoover Dam bus tour, its alright, but its a long day.

We were there mid July last year and it was outrageously hot so pack lots of light, linen clothes, a decent hat and lots of sun screen.

InTheTrees

Stay in one of the big hotels. Dont be tempted to get somewhere cheaper and off the strip. You can search online for deals and also the hotel websites.

Epicbutterfly

InTheTrees wrote: »

Stay in one of the big hotels. Dont be tempted to get somewhere cheaper and off the strip. You can search online for deals and also the hotel websites.

I've booked Planet Hollywood? Got a fairly God flights and accomdation deal with BA!

InTheTrees

Epicbutterfly wrote: »

I've booked Planet Hollywood? Got a fairly God flights and accomdation deal with BA!

Perfect. Right in the centre of things.

January

Go to see zombie burlesque if you're staying in PH. Brilliant show.

It's so hot that time of year you're not going to be spending too much time outside but keep hydrated with water. We were on a tour and the guide told me the local hospitals are overrun with dehydrated patients who think they're grand but theres no humidity so be careful.

Epicbutterfly

January wrote: »

Go to see zombie burlesque if you're staying in PH. Brilliant show.

It's so hot that time of year you're not going to be spending too much time outside but keep hydrated with water. We were on a tour and the guide told me the local hospitals are overrun with dehydrated patients who think they're grand but theres no humidity so be careful.

Im guessing August is really warm? Has anyone been to the outlets? Thanks again for all the comments.

smurfjed

First thing that the hotel is going to do it try to get you to upgrade your room, I was there a couple of weeks ago, first they offered the same type of room with a strip view for $45 per day more, then offered a suite with outdoor barBQ area etc for $150 per night more, I avoided both offers. Same happened to me in PH a few years ago.

All hotels charge Resort Fees which can be up to $40-45 per day.

There is so much to do there that's it almost impossible to offer advice:) In the course of 7 days we walked 150 KM's and drank tonnes of beer.

Summer time is incredibly hot so its better to turn into a night owl.

eeloe

We're going next week, can't wait to get out there.

Things of interest for me anyway were Freemont(eat at the heart attack grill, just because the portions are so disgustingly big).

The Pawn Stars shop is cool, but get there early, avoid the ques, it's cool, but not worth queing up for.
Penn and Teller is a great show in the RIO, if you watched them on TV years ago you'll enjoy the show, and you get to meet them for photo ops afterwards too which is great.

InTheTrees

Epicbutterfly wrote: »

Im guessing August is really warm? Has anyone been to the outlets? Thanks again for all the comments.

Yes. It can be 40+degs easy. And you'll end up walking a lot. When you're outside, wear a hat and use sunscreen and always have a bottle of water with you.

EagererBeaver

InTheTrees wrote: »

Yes. It can be 40+degs easy. And you'll end up walking a lot. When you're outside, wear a hat and use sunscreen and always have a bottle of water with you.

David Copperfield's show is one of the greatest things one ever seen live.

Absolutely get out of LV for a bit. Some of national parks in Utah and Arizona are incredible.

InTheTrees

eeloe wrote: »

Things of interest for me anyway were Freemont(eat at the heart attack grill, just because the portions are so disgustingly big).

The light show on Fremont street is every hour on the hour I believe.

After it gets dark obviously.

eeloe

Yeah the light show at Freemont is pretty cool, and i think they have a couple of different ones that they rotate around too, so you could always check it out a few times.

David Copperfields show is pretty good, try and spend a few extra bucks and get tickets that are closer to the stage, get involved in the experience more!

I'm hoping to checkout Blue Man Group this time, been meaning to every time we go, but the tickets were always a bit expensive.

Also, for show tickets, don't go direct to the box office for the particular show you want to see, go to Ticket4tonight, they have a couple of booths scattered around the strip, you'll generally save about 30% off box office prices.

January

eeloe wrote: »

Yeah the light show at Freemont is pretty cool, and i think they have a couple of different ones that they rotate around too, so you could always check it out a few times.

David Copperfields show is pretty good, try and spend a few extra bucks and get tickets that are closer to the stage, get involved in the experience more!

I'm hoping to checkout Blue Man Group this time, been meaning to every time we go, but the tickets were always a bit expensive.

Also, for show tickets, don't go direct to the box office for the particular show you want to see, go to Ticket4tonight, they have a couple of booths scattered around the strip, you'll generally save about 30% off box office prices.

Blue Man Group are at the Luxor now.

pajoguy

Epicbutterfly wrote: »

Im guessing August is really warm? Has anyone been to the outlets? Thanks again for all the comments.

Two sets of outlets. One north and one south. Been to vegas twice and both times the northern outlets so cannot comment on southern ones myself but cousin has been and northern ones are best. Register in premiuim outlets websites for extra discounts. Well worth it.
Book canyon trip in one of the many tourist shops on the strip. Chopper there and back is best as its a long day otherwise.
You will walk alot as the hotels are sights in themselves.
We did dinner in stratosphere. It was great.
Went in June and it was like an oven. Even at night. But its a class spot.

Epicbutterfly

eeloe wrote: »

Yeah the light show at Freemont is pretty cool, and i think they have a couple of different ones that they rotate around too, so you could always check it out a few times.

David Copperfields show is pretty good, try and spend a few extra bucks and get tickets that are closer to the stage, get involved in the experience more!

I'm hoping to checkout Blue Man Group this time, been meaning to every time we go, but the tickets were always a bit expensive.

Also, for show tickets, don't go direct to the box office for the particular show you want to see, go to Ticket4tonight, they have a couple of booths scattered around the strip, you'll generally save about 30% off box office prices.

Those tickets Booths? Obviously we would only get tickets for the shows there kinda last minute is it?

Epicbutterfly

Thanks again for all the replies! I'm a complete novice so good to know there's so much to do!

InTheTrees

When you arrive, at the airport outside there's various shuttle buses that stop at the big hotels. no need for a taxi. The strip is very close to the airport.

Get some map software for your phone that stores the maps on your phone so you can use the gps without having a data connection.

InTheTrees

The whole USA is pretty strict on tipping but Las Vegas is even worse. Everyone will be expecting something, so have some dollar bills handy.

ceadaoin.

If you're going to be getting taxis up and down the strip, download the über app when you get here. They are usually a good bit cheaper than taxis.

The north outlets are the best. I wouldnt even bother with the south ones tbh, the only good thing about them is they're indoors which is a plus when it's 40+ degrees outside.

The Backwards Man

I wouldn't bother with the outlets at all. Some great malls in Vegas and while I wouldn't be the biggest fashionista in the world the quality of good in the outlets is way inferior in my opinion. I know a few English folk swear by Tivoli Village out west of the city, but the likes of the Fashion Show and Town Square are, to me anyway, about the best shopping you'll get anywhere.

ceadaoin.

Yes Town square is good for shopping and there are some nice bars and restaurants there too.

A lot of the outlet stuff is "made for outlet" and is definitely not as good quality as the full price products. I find the best bargains can be found in the department store outlets like Saks off 5th (there's one in town square) and Neiman Marcus last call. You can find some previously full priced merchandise with a good discount in those stores.

If you don't mind exploring a bit further than the strip, Downtown Summerlin which is out near red rock casino is a new shopping area and is definitely worth a visit. Tivoli village has a nice atmosphere with some decent restaurants but I wouldn't rate the shopping there tbh.

KeithTS

If you're there for a while and want to keep costs down you can get tickets to a lot of shows for next to nothing if you're willing to take a 2 hour tour of some new resorts. A lot of ticket vendors offering discounted tickets will lead you on and then get you to sign up to a visit to their new place, you'll get lunch and stuff thrown in and have to listen to some gob****e sell you on a resort you'll never visit but you'll get tickets for cirque or blueman group for instance for $20 rather than $70. I never bothered with doing it but it could save you a few pennies if you're keeping costs down.

eeloe

KeithTS wrote: »

If you're there for a while and want to keep costs down you can get tickets to a lot of shows for next to nothing if you're willing to take a 2 hour tour of some new resorts. A lot of ticket vendors offering discounted tickets will lead you on and then get you to sign up to a visit to their new place, you'll get lunch and stuff thrown in and have to listen to some gob****e sell you on a resort you'll never visit but you'll get tickets for cirque or blueman group for instance for $20 rather than $70. I never bothered with doing it but it could save you a few pennies if you're keeping costs down.

We got $600 worth of universal tickets when we were in Florida for doing one of these time share tours, we only paid $140 for the tickets in the end, but it wasn't the best experience, very pushy trying to get us to sign up to something that was way too expensive...didn't enjoy it at all.

The tickets for that price were awesome tho!

corblimey

I really enjoyed spending a few hours shooting various guns in Vegas. I had planned on going to one that was quite near my hotel, but my room included a voucher book (most Vegas rooms will) that gave me some amount of another place. It was quite a long wait, but an exhilarating experience.

I think the one I ended up in was called Machine Guns Vegas, but there's a fair few of them around, like I said, see what your voucher book has when you get there.

January

Check out Groupon Vegas too for deals on gun ranges. They usually have different packages and most include pick up and drop off at strip hotels.

evosteo

Great tips. Heading there on the 15th this month for 5 days. Cant wait. If your into an adrelinan rush im planing on doing the amusement rides on top of the stratsophere. Have a look on youtube. They look the biz

InTheTrees

evosteo wrote: »

Great tips. Heading there on the 15th this month for 5 days. Cant wait. If your into an adrelinan rush im planing on doing the amusement rides on top of the stratsophere. Have a look on youtube. They look the biz

There used to a roller coaster up there. I went on it once with my gf. Of course being the big man i am I took the outside seat.

Absolute blind friggin terror...

They've since take the roller coaster out and replaced it.

InTheTrees

corblimey wrote: »

I really enjoyed spending a few hours shooting various guns in Vegas.

Gun shops with indoor ranges are very common all over the usa. Las Vegas takes it a step further by offering fully automatic machine guns.

A good tip is that if you have never fired hand guns before spend time doing that before you try the full auto because ammunition will burn up really fast on auto. An AK47 magazine will be empty in about three seconds and be around $40(?). And you'll want to do it again. And again...

x43r0

For a show to see, I'd recommend looking up Absinthe in Caesar's Palace. It's a mix between Acrobatics and Burlesque held in a tiny tent out the front of Caesar's. Pretty non-PC adult humor so be warned. We'd seen Cirque in London (not the same maybe I know) and preferred Absinthe.

As others have mentioned, the shopping is great. I only went to fashion show but found it really good.

Helicopter is the best way to do the Grand Canyon IMO if it's within your budget. I pre-booked but as someone else suggested, shop around and haggle when there

Don't buy an upgrade at check-in.

Do however try the $20 method (http://www.thetwentydollartrick.com/). Despite reading up on this quite a bit before going, I was skeptical and on the day a little nervous but it worked a treat. The check-in desk guy removed the resort fees for our stay ($100 saved) and put us on a higher floor facing the strip and right next to the elevator (the reduced walk is a god send in some vegas hotels)

If you want to drink for cheap - Go to one of the hotel casinos and play the penny slots. The waitresses will come by offering free drinks - you just tip them $1 a drink when they bring them to you. If you take your time with the slots and bet the lowest amount, you can get sloshed for less then you'd spent at the bar

Keep plenty of $1 bills on you for tips - tipping in Vegas is the norm for most things

evosteo

just on the helicopter tour of the grand canyon, from searching online there seems to be 2 different types of trips, the cheaper one which in aerial only, no touch down in or near the canyon and the more expensive one which does the same except you get to touch down and have some lunch, take pictures etc, has anybody done either and have any feedback? recommend one over the other.

cheers

x43r0

evosteo wrote: »

just on the helicopter tour of the grand canyon, from searching online there seems to be 2 different types of trips, the cheaper one which in aerial only, no touch down in or near the canyon and the more expensive one which does the same except you get to touch down and have some lunch, take pictures etc, has anybody done either and have any feedback? recommend one over the other.

cheers

I commented on this in the Grand Canyon thread here: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057579511

Looking back, I couldn't imagine not landing because standing in the canyon bed you get a real sense of the scale of the place and how quiet it is down there

Pic from the Air

Pics from the bottom: One and Two

evosteo

is there any issues with charging your mobile phone over there as the us has a different voltage system compared to ireland, uk and parts of europe??

ill be planning on using it for taking pictures etc

also may be a good idea to bring a spare battery

evosteo

evosteo wrote: »

is there any issues with charging your mobile phone over there as the us has a different voltage system compared to ireland, uk and parts of europe??

ill be planning on using it for taking pictures etc

also may be a good idea to bring a spare battery

Nah, your phone will charge fine. Most hotels have the USB cable thing for charging

evosteo

just checked the samsung charger there and its rated for 100v - 240v so it should work fine with the correct US adapter

evosteo

anyone recommend any particular travel insurance cover?

January

We used Blue Insurance.

x43r0

evosteo wrote: »

is there any issues with charging your mobile phone over there as the us has a different voltage system compared to ireland, uk and parts of europe??

ill be planning on using it for taking pictures etc

also may be a good idea to bring a spare battery

The only thing I noticed was the speed at which my phone would charge.

I use a Samsung s6 which has fast charging and that feature didn't work for some reason when I used an adaptor. In fact it charged so slow that I would charge my portable battery pack while I was out during the day and use that to charge my phone overnight

ceadaoin.

You could pick up a US plug to connect the usb cable into for charging your phone. Im sure they're cheap enough. I still have my irish phone here and charge it that way with no probs. might be quicker and less hassle than using an adaptor.

x43r0

ceadaoin. wrote: »

You could pick up a US plug to connect the usb cable into for charging your phone. Im sure they're cheap enough. I still have my irish phone here and charge it that way with no probs. might be quicker and less hassle than using an adaptor.

This is what I will be doing next time for sure

gaz wac

We stayed in the Bellagio a few years back. They give free drinks when your gambling, so a friend told us to tip big on your first drink, then ok tips after that...to keep the waitress happy...worked for us! got really friendly with her and she always kept an eye on us to make sure we were topped up :-)


enjoy

tricky D

ceadaoin. wrote: »

You could pick up a US plug to connect the usb cable into for charging your phone. Im sure they're cheap enough. I still have my irish phone here and charge it that way with no probs. might be quicker and less hassle than using an adaptor.

A note on this. If you do need to get a charger, try some of the street stalls which sell mobile accessories. My charger got lost with the luggage and the charger in a store like Staples was Apple only and came in over $20 whereas on the street they were $5ish.

Also don't leave straight after one Bellagio fountain show as the next one which could be 15 mins later can be a different one, if you're in to that stuff.

Also, be aware that the laws and their enforcement in NV can be a good deal stricter than other states. What would get you a talking to or misdemeanour in say CA, will get you a free deportation and one thing I noticed was loads of cars pulled over once you drove into NV getting fines.

The Backwards Man

Jaywalking is a big one that tourists get caught out on for on the strip, $200 fine on the spot. It's also great fun reminding American tourists standing beside you to wait for the green man, they think you're away with the fairies.