I loved Vegas. Loved it so much. Loved the Luxor (where I stayed), loved the Bellagio even more, (where I wish I stayed), loved the shows, the food, the lights, the fountains. Everything.
ETA: I wouldn’t go again though. It was fun because I was with someone with money to burn. I have no idea why I quoted myself when I meant to edit myself, but I don’t know how to fix it.
The Burger Palace. Every time we go to Vegas, even with the 5 star dining available, this is the one meal we *always *plan to have. 
There are other good ones in Vegas - The Jockey Club (not the fanciest, but right on the middle of the Strip) and Marriott’s Grand Chateau is just off the Strip. Further out there’s the Tahiti, some other Marriott properties, lots of good ones.
We are budget travelers as well, so we now always stay at a condo, go to the grocery, and save a ton of money by eating in. Plus, more space, multiple rooms, etc.
I’m a “vacation ownership” gal (best decision we ever made - we own at Tahiti just down Tropicana way).
anyone remember what the Imperial Palace burger place is called?
When I go in March I won’t have as much money as I did when I went the first time, and food is what I am worried about the most when it comes to money…so I am all for cheap and good…plus I friggen love cheeseburgers
Post #23 
The Burger Palace.
Of course, the #1 Cheap Eats place to go in Vegas is Slots-a-Fun, for their $.99 half-pound hot dog and two dollar Heineken. Or head to Casino Royale for dollar Michelob.
And the $2/$3 limit 100x Odds Craps tables (or at least that was what they had last time I was there).
In my defense…I didn’t know if you were saying something like “oh yeah, that burger place”, or the title of “That Burger Place”.
(Yeah the caps gave me a hint, but I wanted to make sure)
Ha! I came in here to recommend the same place. Cheesy circus decor, great steak sandwich. 
I agree with the previous comments-spend MOST of your money on food. Aside from that, one casino is much like the other-I never saw any point in marching around, because they are all basically the same. The Circus Circus used to have a great stea house inside, and the Tropicana had a Arnegntine Steakhouse tha was wonderful.
The most expensive place I ever ate at was the “Spanish Steps”-at Caeser’s Palace-not worth it.
I loved the Mandalay Bay aquarium when I was in Vegas for Vegas Dope 2007; BrattiAtti and her sister were hard pressed to drag me out of the shark tank.
I have heard that the steak house in Luxor is top-notch. Especially if you can dine there on the house’s money, which my informant was doing.
Zsofia, since you are a dog and cat person, I recommend Gregory Popovich’s Comedy Pet Theater. (I hope someone doesn’t come along and tell me he abuses his animals.) It is charming and funny and sometimes amazing.
If you do rent a car…
- Red Rock Canyon
- Mount Charleston
- Valley of Fire
We are driving out to Vegas tomorrow. Times are tough and great deals are everywhere. We are staying at the Wynn for $109 per night (thank you, Hotwire). We’re going to see a show, do some shopping, eat too much, get a lap dance and blow a whole bunch of money at the tables.
Thanks Dung Beetle and Silenus for mentioning my site!
Sorry I am late to this party…busy with classes and just found it. However, everyone has given you great advice, so it looks like you got the info you were looking for!
And EJsGirl, getting a room at the Wynn for $109 is a fantastic deal! I tell people on my site that spending a lot for a room is kind of silly, but when you get a chance to stay at one of the top hotels for about $100 a night, well, that would be silly to pass up!
Zsofia, the hotels you mentioned are not all that great, so if you have the extra hundred dollars, I would probably go for the MGM Grand, but again, most people only go to their rooms when they are too tired to keep their eyes open, so it really doesn’t make all that much difference. If it is not too late, check with a few other top hotels to see what prices you can get…the economy has hit bad here too, so there are some great deals for rooms in high-end hotels you might otherwise never have had a chance to get otherwise.
As others mentioned, renting a car is not that important (unless you stay at Palace Station which is a major schlep from the Strip…don’t stay there unless you DO get a car!). And yes, you will walk more in Vegas than anywhere in your life, so remember those really, really comfortable shoes! Many people start wandering early in the day and walk, and walk and walk…and then cleverly take a taxi or bus home later in the day. The good news is that with all that walking, you can rationalize eating like a madperson at one of the really good buffets.
Let me know if you have any more specific questions…lots of good shows to see, but be sure to book in advance if you absolutely want to see any of the “hot” shows like LOVE or “O” or LeReve, et. They sometimes sell out weeks in advance.
Have fun! Currently the weather is perfect…about 70 by day but a bit nippy at 40 by night. Not exactly pool weather, but just right for those long walks down the Strip - and don’t forget a jacket and a sweater!
Well, it’s going to be hard enough to get the guys to spend money to see shows, so the more the hotel costs, the less likely I can drag them. My boyfriend has suddenly weirdly turned into a prude - I mentioned the big “Vegassy” shows like Jubilee, and he called it “a strip club” because the dancers are topless. I went to the Lido in Paris with my mother and it didn’t make me uncomfortable. I told him that and he said my family is weird and sick. I suppose I’ll have to buy tickets and drag him, because I know he’d absolutely love it.
See, I don’t mind spending money for stuff I think is worth it, but the guys are just a lot less willing - I’ve resigned myself to staying in a dump if that’s what it takes to get them to do ANYTHING with me that has a price tag. Unfortunately, the deal on the Luxor has disappeared, so it looks like the Imperial Palace may be what we have to do. I mean, how bad can it be?
Most of the Cirque shows are family friendly and Penn and Teller is family friendly. Penn and Teller are a lot of fun.
Oh, he can grow the hell up. Seriously, I don’t know where this is coming from and if I were a legitimate showgirl or dancer I’d kick him in the teeth. I suspect it may be a codeword for “I don’t want to spend a lot of money, so I don’t want to get excited about anything.”
My aunt stayed there a couple of times, as well as one of my cousins, and they liked it a lot. I believe Silenus stays there often as well. It is not “grand” by any means, but the location is perhaps one of the best on the Strip…sort of smack dab in the middle of things. Stay there…you will be happy.
Oh, and for the prude boyfriend, Jubilee! actually has a “tame” version of the same show in the afternoon where the showgirls do wear tops. It is for kids and great-grandmothers from Saudi Arabia, but I suppose a prude boyfriend would fit right in.
“Okay, Grant and I are going to the titty show. We’re leaving you with the babysitter. Don’t stay up too late and no jumping on the bed.”
ETA - this is nuts. Every few hours when I look around, the price goes up for all packages by about eight dollars. I have got to pull the trigger some time this afternoon before we can’t afford to go!
And is the, er, “motel-like structure behind main hotel” at the Imperial Palace as dismal as it sounds? Because I’m considering ponying up for an upgrade, paying for it myself, and just not mentioning it to the guys.