OMD's Omnibus Vegas Vacation Thread

In My Humble Opinion
1

In the past week, I started a thread about Vegas golf, and jumped into a thread about the WSOP Main Event, which is happening while we are on vacation to Vegas this year between the 9th and 14th of July. It is our first trip to Sin City, and we’d love to know everything we should (and shouldn’t) do to make our week as memorable as possible, while still having a home to come back to after all is said and done.

Notes on plans already:
-We will be traveling out on Monday 7/9, arriving at the airport in mid-afternoon.
-We are staying at Imperial Palace, for the absolute humor and kitsch. Dealertainers, karaoke any night, etc. And it’s dirt cheap.
-Tickets have been bought for Penn and Teller on Tuesday 7/10.
-The new Harry Potter movie comes out that week, and we’re planning on getting tickets for the Palms IMAX screen for Wednesday afternoon.
-Chances are that we will be going to a gay bar on Wednesday night with our travel mates, where free drinks are to be had for going down to ones’ underwear. I think I’ll pay for my drinks, but the wife is tickled by the idea.
-I’m hoping to go golfing somewhere Thursday morning. Still haven’t decided where I’d want to go, but I’m planning on calling our hotel golf concierge tomorrow and setting a tee time.
-El Perro Fumando has a conference that will occupy her days on Thursday (hence my plans for a singles tee time), Friday, and Saturday, though the extent to which she is obligated is still unknown for each day.
-Rollercoasters will be ridden. I believe New York New York’s is at the top of the mates’ list.
-We are leaving on Sunday 7/14, with an early afternoon departure. Still not sure how we’re working the time between checkout and flight, but we might just be exhausted and want to sit with books by then.

That leaves Monday Night, Tuesday day, and Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights to pack with even more action for the both of us, and daytime Friday and Saturday for me alone. Tempting as more shows are (I was privately messaged by DiosaBellissima, recommending Producers or Zumanity), it ain’t cheap, and it’s not too hard to find touring productions coming through DC or Baltimore if we want theater. Fumando is not much of a gambler, and I’ll be on a budget that probably limits my playing time unless I miraculously win some money early to bankroll the rest of the week, so gambling’s not the most important thing this trip. We’re not going to get a rental car (and I’m not sure whether our mates are getting one or not), so most of what we do will need to be monorail or walking accessible. We’re willing to spend a little more on good dining, so restaurant recommendations are definitely welcomed.

What we want:
-Where should we gamble? I expect that budget or not, I’ll clock a good dozen or two hours (probably daytime Friday and Saturday while she’s at conferences). I’m guessing for a shorter vacation, and without any immediately planned return trip, any loyalty points I earn anywhere will have to result in comps/discounts/benefits that week. So just stick to Imperial? Stick to one other hotel with a better betting atmosphere? Spread the wealth?
-Where should we dine? With multiple restaurants ranging from hamburger joints to four star fine dining in every single hotel, I’m at a loss where to begin.
-What should we do for fun if the money gets low?
–Subquestion, what are some off-the-beaten-path attractions that are still easily accessible?
-Anything special I need to do to watch some WSOP action? Is there even public viewing for anything before the last day or two?
-Anything I should know specifically about the hotel we have chosen? I know Imperial Palace was set for, and then given a reprieve from, demolition at the end of last year or beginning of this, and I don’t expect it to be the most awe-inspiring place in town. But we’re looking for good fun with an absurd lean, and from what I’ve heard about Imperial Palace, we’re in for that, no doubt.
-Evening activities should be couple/group friendly, and daytime a mix of solo and group, but with a tendency toward the solitary.
-What else am I forgetting?

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Elliott In the Morning had someone from Cirque du Soleil on a few weeks (months?) ago, and I’m pretty sure she said that there are no plans to tour Zumanity due to its X-rated-ness. So, it seems to be a great show that can only be seen in Vegas.

That’s all I got. :smiley: I’m really here just to say that I’ll be subscribing to this thread and following it with interest, because my boyfriend and I are planning a trip to Vegas in October. He’s been a few times, but it will be my first time there. And, I’ll be getting us tickets to Zumanity. grin

3

The IP is a great, cheap hotel right smack in the middle of the Strip. Ask for a room near the elevators. They have the slowest elevators in town, but once you have them figured out, getting around in the hotel is a snap. Under no circumstances eat at the buffett. It is one of the worst in Vegas, and that’s saying something. But right next door (go out the back door, the one to the Monorail) is Harrah’s, which has Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar and Grill, which is a great place to eat and drink. Alternately, you can go out the front doors, turn left and you are less than 100 yards from Margaritaville, and all that encompasses. By monorail, you can get to Quark’s at the Hilton. Across the street at Caesar’s Palace are places like Mesa Grill and Rao’s. The best Thai restaurant in the country is out on Sahara (The Lotus of Siam). The best breakfast buffett is at Paris. The best breakfast period is at Peppermill. For cheap gambling and the old-time Vegas feel, head downtown. Otherwise join the Player’s Club at the IP and cash in your comp dollars when you check out.

4

If you want your gambling to count against the hotel bill, you have to gamble where you stay. You might get comps for playing poker at other places, but you have to get rated and ASK for it, don’t assume it’ll be like in the movies and they’ll just say, “OMD, we are impressed with your play and wish to comp you XXX”. You need to make yourself known, I’ve just given my DL to the pit boss and played, they’ll give you a card and be sure to present that card anytime you play, but it’s only good at that casino (or maybe a sister casino).

No advice on gay bars or golf.

Do the Stratosphere at night. There’s a rollercoaster. It’s touristy, and not a high end casino, but the view at night, back up the strip, is really tourist-worthy. And there’s a bar up there, too. You asked. I’ve been to Vegas many times, and I still do it maybe every 3rd ot 4th trip. Walking distance from the Sahara end of the Monorail.

If the money gets low, just hike through the Mega Casinos and sightsee/people watch. They all have high end shopping, are massive, lots of free walking. The Bellagio, Venetian, Caesars, Wynn (never been to Wynn, but I bet it’s got it), you can do a day hike in air conditioned comfort, miles. Miles.

5

i would really rent a care and see hoover dam and if you haven’t been out that way before and may not get back i would go to grand canyon also.

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My favorite place to gamble is a few doors down from IP, I love going to the Barbary Coast.

It’s pretty low stakes (I’m not a high-rooler like my main man Trent AKA “Double-Down”) but I go there to play $5 Black-Jack and cheap roulette.

The waitresses have always been friendly and the drinks flow pretty freely. The last time I was there for CES a couple of years ago I rolled in with 4 guys and we were hanging around the cheap slots and a waitress came by for our orders. I think only 3 of us were playing the other two were standing around.

We all ordered our drinks and she was back in a couple of minutes. Nobody (except me) had been to Vegas before so I said tip a buck or two for your drinks. Everybody did, all I had was a $5 so I threw that in. The next thing we knew she was back 5 minutes later with another 2 drinks for each person! Needless to say we pured ourselves out of there a few hours later.

You’ll have to go to some of the older casinos to enjoy cheaper black jack and roulette, if you go to the big grand casinos you’re looking at $15 minimum black jack tables.

Here is a good guide to visiting Vegas as well:

http://www.cheapovegas.com/index.php

Enjoy!

7

Cheap/free entertainment:

The fountains at the Bellagio.
Fremont Street Experience
People watching everywhere.
Window shopping everywhere.
The Guggenheim at the Venetian.
Skip the Sirens show at TI. So boring that even adding tits to it didn’t help.
To save money on food one day, take a cab down to the Peppermill for breakfast. After one of those omelettes you won’t be hungry again until Labor Day. Huge, they are.

Cheapest gambling is either downtown or right where you’re staying. For really-low rollers, on the other side of Harrah’s is Casino Royale, which is where old hookers and bartenders go to die. A real pit, but plenty of penny slots and $1 roulette and $5 blackjack. You also might want to check out Slots-O-Fun, next to Circus Circus. Cheap slots and the state’s largest hot dog. Get it loaded with toppings and you’re good for the day, and for less than a buck.