Yes - do not stay there. No view, lots of exhaust fumes…
Ditto on this. It is a great place, with nice people, and a cheap cab ride from the strip. There is a casino hotel down the street where you can pick up a cab back. They even mention Tom Lehrer in the section about the effects of testing on culture.
We took our kids to Caesar’s with a good package, but I felt incredibly nickled and dimed by them at every turn. We had been to the Sahara the time before that, and while not as nice, still a better deal.
We’ve never driven in Vegas, which given the traffic was a good thing. I like the monorail also.
For food, I don’t go high end, but do enjoy the Carnegie Deli in the Caesar’s Forum Shops - but I miss decent pastrami, being exiled in the Bay Area.
Okay, I pulled the trigger and went Imperial Palace with a secret upgrade (don’t tell my man!) It also comes with a 2 for 1 show deal, so I might be able to drag him by saying “Well, we kind of paid for it with the room… I mean we wouldn’t get the deal iif we didn’t go…”
Used to go to Vegas about twice a year. So long ago we used to stay at the now imploded Stardust. 
Lately we’ve been staying (when we go) at the MGM Grand. Say what you want, but we usually get the rooms free or rock bottom (39.00 per night). That’s what being a member of their Players club does for ya.
Food, we usually go across the street to NYNY at America’s Cafe for moderately priced food or at 9 Fine Irishmen for upscale food. ESPN Cafe is also great. If you’re a sports fan you can’t miss a play in that restaurant. I’m not much of a gambler, but the wife is. I usually just hang out at the sports book, watch horses, do some betting and maybe play video poker.
If you want cheap food without travelling clear down to the Hamburger Palace, the Mickey D at the MGM (yes right down there near Emeril’s) charges the regular prices you pay at home. Only place I’ve found at the MGM that’s reasonably cheap. The food at Studio Cafe at the MGM is all right as is the Rainforest but a bit pricey. I would stay away from their Grand Buffet unless you’re really hungry.
Years ago, the rooms and food were cheap. The shows were mostly free. Now just the rooms are cheap if you can work a deal. Times have changed.
The “Legends” show? It’s not too shabby at all.
Ask for a room near the back elevators when you check in. The layout is confusing at first, but the back elevators are the fast ones. You can also go out the back to the monorail station, or directly across to Harrah’s, dodging the clusterfuck that is the Strip sidewalk at that hotel.
The cheapest entertainment on the Strip just might be the Fontana Bar at the Bellagio. Order a drink and plop yourself down in front of the windows for the best view of the fountain show around. For good, cheap eats, hop over to Ellis Island and order the off-the-menu steak special.
Yes! Make the (short) trip to Ellis island behind the strip for the steak special! You get a good, thick steak, salad roll, potato, a drink and all sorts of things for like seven dollars!
There’s a list of shows it can apply to - I know the Legends one is right there at the hotel, but there are others. (Not the really big ones - not Cirque de Soleil or Bette Midler or anything.) In other words, you’re essentially getting the same deal as at a half price ticket booth, but it came “free” with the room upgrade and it might help me drag them menfolks to a big city show.
Do these guys like cars? The IP has one of the best, if not THE best, car museums in the country inside the hotel, and free tickets to it abound.
Definitely take the guys up to the 5th floor of the parking garage for the Auto Collections. It changes all the time, because everything there is for sale!
I have never heard of this Ellis island thing…what is it? where is it? I am very interested…
Ellis Island is a block east of Bally’s off of Flamingo. They make a mean root beer, too.
Ellis also has one of the best karaoke bars in town, assuming that isn’t an oxymoron.
BTW, this just in…Jubilee! is now officially the very last of the topless showgirl venues!
I rate it as the “must see show” if you want to see the old Las Vegas style shows, so I would strongly suggest going to see it while in town. If it ever closes, that would be the end of a long era…and the show is really very good! Not only the topless showgirls, but variety acts, etc. including the sinking of the Titanic on stage - quite spectacular for a stage production!
And if you buy a ticket, for a few extra bucks you get to go on a backstage tour (sans topless girls).
My guidebook and the rest of the world keep saying “steak”, but they never say what kind. Filet? T-bone? Ribeye?
Today I went and got a truly shockingly slutty cocktail dress for the trip. It’s this one, but you can’t really tell how, er, notable it is from the picture, because that girl is a size 0 and I’m a size 8, which isn’t fat but is a lot more woman in a similarly sized dress. I’m having second thoughts now and may talk myself into taking it back, because seriously, where am I going to wear it to besides Vegas and maybe a Bettie Page memorial convention?
It’s Vegas. Live a little. Give the tourists a thrill!
The steak is a basic strip steak. Nothing fancy, but very tasty. You also might want to try Battista’s Hole-In-The-Wall, which is within easy walking distance of the IP, and Lotus of Siam, which is the best Thai place in the country.
You know, I went there mostly as a joke, but it turned out to be more interesting and fun to see all the campy stuff than I expected it to be.
I also second the Mandalay Bay Aquarium, if you enjoy that sort of thing.
(Last question about Ellis Island…promise)
Is EI walkable from the strip? Cuz I looked at a map(quest) and it looks like it’s not too far away, but then again it is just Mapquest, and “off strip” no matter how close it seems can usually be far away.
Again, the reason I am prodding is I am going in March, and in my opinion food is going to be the most expensive part of the trip, so I’m lookin for some cheap eats
Jus got back last Sunday so pretty current. We stayed at the Planet Hollywood for $113/night and rented a car. Walking the whole strip is a BIG deal. Blisters the size of tin cans! course thats following my oldest son and his wife. We would never have gone that far without them. I gave up and took a cab back to the hotel and had a beer. I dont gamble so the whole casino thing didnt do much for me. To be honest I found it all a bit much. seems the whole place is dedicated to seperating you from your money. Be sure to go to Freemont Street though, pretty cool what with the overhead display.
Had a much better time in lake havisu and Quartsite tho.
Joe
You can walk it, but I wouldn’t. Take a cab. The food is cheap enough to cover the cab ride. Unless you’re staying at Bally’s, in which case it’s just across the back parking lot, which is only a half mile wide. 
Okay, just got back this afternoon, and we had a blast!
The Wynn is a great hotel- I was very impressed with the room, the bathroom, the staff and the facility. Even the casino was nice. But seriously, I can see why this place commands $400/night- it would be worth it if you were prepared to spend that anyway.
We saw “O” at the Bellagio, and I cannot recommend it highly enough. I spent half my life in theater, and it was the most technically amazing show I have ever seen (there’s a fucking lake in the middle of the stage, but not always…). I would actually make the trip back just to see it again. We were n the 3rd row, center-left, and got a little misty but not too wet. Go see it.
Also, if you’re into to sushi or Japanese food and want to splurge, try The Social House at Treasure Island. I know, I know- “TI?!? Ewwww, ghetto!” and I agree. But this restaurant is fantastic. Best sushi the husband has had in years, and we sat outside upstairs and watched the big strippers vs. pirates ship battle that TI is (in)famous for. Food was excellent, but the tab was about $120 for 2 people with no alcohol.