Rico has to go to vegas next week for 3 days for business. He’ll be in meetings all day but I’ll be looking for veeeeerrrrry inexpensive things to do during the day. I’d love to spend the days gambling but since we’re spending our Christmas money for me to go too…
The company is putting us up at Mandalay Bay. I’ve never been there before.
Any ideas?
Thanks.
Read all the books you’ve stacked up and take them for a pool side read.
Have a great time 
Thanks Shirley!
Kathy
Mandalay Bay is very nice.
Interesting casinos with more than the usual gambling machines (ie free attractions) are:
Bellagio- outside- has dancing fountains- with accompanying music, water cannons exploding to the music- inside- near the front desk area is a botanical garden with giant butterflies and fountains
Mirage- Inside-White Tiger exhibit- probably not so busy during the day- just some tigers being lazy, sleeping and swimming
Caesars Palace- Inside- two talking statue attractions with laser light shows in the forum shops- Which if you don’t mind window shopping, can eat up a whole day and has affordable lunch places.
Aladdin- also has a shopping area inside with lots of cool exhibits-also with awesome shops and inexpensive lunch places. I know there are Sephora stores in California, but to kill some time, go inside the one here at the Aladdin and try on all the high end makeup and spritz ritzy perfumes for free.
MGM- has a lion exhibit-free also headache inducing carpet that makes you feel like you are tripping on acid
Circus Circus- free circus acts starting around 11am every day but if you go this far- you have started to enter the realm of tackiness that can be Vegas.
Paris and Venetian- all the attraction of Europe without the price tag or people screaming at you “go home you fat, war-like Americains!!”
Hope you enjoy the strip- If you have a car, let me know and I’ll tell you about the places off the strip within driving distance that may entertain you.
Nvme77 you are my hero tonight. Thank you very much! That’s just what I was hoping to find. I’ve been looking on the net for a list like it but didn’t find it.
Kathy
Opps, yes, we are driving so will have the car.
Kathy
We would also like to meet Vegas-area Dopers during our stay. Maybe a Tuesday or Wednesday night meeting in a club at the Mandalay Bay?
We’ll be staying there - not sure about internet access, I’ll let you know what I find out.
Ric
I would be VERY surprised if the big hotels in Vegas didn’t have internet access. I believe there is a House of Blues in Mandalay Bay. The shows in Vegas tend to be a bit expensive, but I was never disappointed. If you plan to walk down the strip, take some comfortable shoes, the hotels are further apart than they appear. Have fun!!!
You must must MUST have at least one meal at Lotus of Siam, which arguably has the best Thai food in the United States. Ask for Bill, tell him what your general preferences are, and follow his suggestions–and definitely follow his suggestions on wine. The place is faaaaabulous.
It’s in Commercial Center, which is a nondescript strip mall in a not-so-great area. It’s probably easiest to take a cab from the Strip–I think the fare will run about ten bucks each way, maybe a bit more.
Perhaps it’s just me, but if you’ve got a car I’d suggest getting the heck out of town. There’s tons of gorgeous scenery to be found - I believe we drove to the Grand Canyon in an afternoon (it’s been a few years, can’t quite recall the distance).
The Grand Canyon is about 3-4 hours away.
For food, go to the Spice Market in the Aladdin. Sure, it’s $25 per person, but it is insanely worth it, especially if you feel like packing away vast amounts of food. The buffet is awesome and well worth it.
Buy some glue, scissors, and posterboard, and make the ultimate porno collage using only photos from the flyers people hand you while you’re walking down the street.
Go to a big-name show. Tickets can run anywhere from $50 to $100, and the entertainment is worth it like you wouldn’t believe.
Eat a $1.95 steak dinner. (Ask your concierge for locations and hours.)
Hit the Internet and get coupons for as many freebies as you can.
Contact the Vegas visitor’s bureau and ask for their flyers. Yep, more coupons.
Go to the casinos’ stores, find a jewelry shop, and examine a diamond ring that’s worth more than you are. (Been there, done that. Heck of a diamond, too!) If you’re brave, ask to try it on, and ask permission to take a photo of the ring on your hand.
Watch the new pirate ship battle at Treasure Island.
Attend the joust & dinner at Excalibur.
Outside of town, Hoover Dam is about an hour or two away. Do they still give tours?
If you like Star Trek, go to the Hilton (north end of the Strip) and ride the Star Trek Experience. Then ride it again. For 20 minutes, Trek will be real.
Take lots of photos, where permitted. I have one from Caesar’s shopping mall of a storefront: “Varnerus Fraternius Studious Storus” (or similar).
ooooooo Coupons! I love coupons. I didn’t know they would have them online. I’m not a good googler. Is there just one site that would have some? or is “las vegas” + coupons good enough to successfully google?
Has anyone ever visited the “theme” hotels? It sounds fun to me visit New York, Venice, Egypt, etc. all in one trip (so to speak). 
I’m loving these ideas! Thanks Keep them coming.
Kathy
If you’ve never been, casino hopping is a sure fire way to spend some time…especially if you like window shopping.
The shops in Caesars, Bellagio, Venetian, etc. are way out there.
Just walking through them is an experience, a buddy stopped to get a cigar in the Forum Shops in Caesars…I saw my first $1000 ink pen in that particular shop. All the designer shops are there, like Rodeo drive inside a mall. Off the wall shops as well…I won’t spoil it for you with a list.
The Venetian has a Guggenhiem museum in it, saw a collection of historical motorcycles there once, the theme changes so find out what’s there when you are going. The Bellagio has an incredible art museum, I didn’t go through it, but it has the real deal works of masters. Seems like there is a restaurant with an art theme as well…
Mandalay Bay has an awesome swimming pool complex.
The inside of the Luxor…if you’ve never been in a pyramid shaped hotel…
All of the big casinos have nice restaurants, but like others have mentioned some of the great ones are not in the casinos. Seems like the Mandalay has the restaurant with the 7 story wine rack…not sure. I didn’t find the “cheap food” hype to be all it was cracked up to be, but if you don’t mind spending a little there are great eats there.
While kinda hokey, the Fremont street light show downtown is pretty neat. Downtown is a long way from Mandalay, both in distance and ambience, but it is a different Vegas than the strip.
The top of the Stratosphere at night (we are talking pure tourist stuff here!) looking back down the strip is a neat view.
I think the main thing about Vegas is the way it is just over the top. The casinos, in trying to out do the next guy, have just built huge monuments to decadence. Just looking at it (and the people!) is a lot of fun.
I have stayed in Vegas twice…once 3 years ago for a 3 day weekend and then for 2 days 2 years ago when Rico and I got married. Both times we stayed at the Stratosphere. I was kinda disappointed from a sentimental point of view when I heard we wouldn’t be staying there again, but I’m excited about staying in a new place and seeing more things.
Kathy
Drive out to Redrock. Go west on Charleston and follow the signs. Very pretty. Then head north on 15 and check out Valley of Fire. Also very pretty. Drive south on 15 and follow the signs to Goodsprings and have a beer in the cool little bar there. Check out the old newspaper article about Carole Lombard’s plane crash up on the mountain nearby. While you’re down there, ride the roller coaster at Buffalo Bill’s. Head east on Lake Mead and park at the high point. Climb Sunrise Mountain if you like that sort of thing.
Some of the cheapest things to do in Vegas.
She told me she loved me like a brother. She was from Arkansas, hence the Joy!
I just checked on the forcast for Las Vegas:
Mon 58° | 38°
Tue 55° | 39°
Wed 58° | 37°
Damn! I had picked out which book I was going to take to read by the pool. Do they even have chairs out by the pool when it’s not above 60°?
Kathy
I just came back from spending a couple of weeks in LA. Went to Vegas and (I kid you not) played the penny machines at the Luxor.
1 cent bets. A dollar will last a good long time. Slots and poker.
The Luxor is next to Mandalay Bay. There’s an IMAX theater. Enjoy!
Please pardon the hijack, but
I am searching for photos of Jennifer Young who is a dancer at the Luxor (she dances in the “midnight fantasy” show), she is jaw droppingly beautiful but I am having no luck (try searching for a woman named Young, instant porn-o-rama).
Thanks for the help
unclviny