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Sandy Toes
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Posted: Fri Jul 11th, 2008 04:44 am | 1st Post |
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I finally booked our air (after talking about it for two + years!) so now I want to know, where do we stay? Where do we eat? What shows do we see? I'm completely overwhelmed!
This is a late (2 years) 10 year anniversary present to ourselves and also our first trip EVER without our kids so we want to make the best of it.  Honestly, gambling is secondary to just about everything we want to see and do in Vegas and we are all about location, location, location so staying on the strip is a must but I need suggestions.
Have any of you been there? If so, where did you stay and would you recommend it?
Any and all opinions would be so appreciated!
Sandy
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MrPete
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Posted: Fri Jul 11th, 2008 11:39 am | 2nd Post |
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We only went once to take our then 5 year old to see Celine Dion. We stayed at the Belagio, and stayed two nights, not knowing there was so much more to do in Vegas than gambling.
Here's a view from our window, plus some other pix:
click to enlarge
Would like to go back sometime. Maybe a Led Zeppelin reunion?
Last edited on Fri Jul 11th, 2008 12:04 pm by MrPete
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clgcruiser
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Posted: Fri Jul 11th, 2008 11:44 am | 3rd Post |
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Sandy-check out the VEGAS thread I started last year-there's plenty of good, recent info there! I just went there in February-1st time in about 20 years! Sooo many changes! We stayed downtown at the 4 Queens and loved it-the whole street is open to everything-very convienient! And the Laser light shows several times a night!
All of the casinos have good places to eat and lots to see and do. We ate at Toby Keith's bar and grill-yummy! Also saw "LaReve" at the Wynn-I would recommend it highly!
If I get a chance, I will upload some of my Vegas pics this weekend-never did get around to that!
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BeckyThane
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Posted: Fri Jul 11th, 2008 11:56 am | 4th Post |
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| Sandy, I'm a major Egyptophile, so staying at the Luxor was definitely the highlight of one of our trips! Loved our room, with it's great view of the Strip. If you have a particular affinity, maybe there's a themed hotel for you?
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Sandy Toes
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Posted: Fri Jul 11th, 2008 02:07 pm | 5th Post |
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MrPete wrote: We only went once to take our then 5 year old to see Celine Dion. We stayed at the Belagio, and stayed two nights, not knowing there was so much more to do in Vegas than gambling.
Here's a view from our window, plus some other pix:
click to enlarge
Would like to go back sometime. Maybe a Led Zeppelin reunion?
Wow! What a great view! And is that the Paris Hotel right across the street? DH's preference is the Bellagio but the Paris is about $200 per night cheaper and if it's that close...I would rather save the money to use towards our next cruise Who knows, maybe we'll splurge.
Celine, eh? Did your daughter enjoy the show? She is going to be in Montreal for 6-7 nights in August. All of her shows kept selling out so they kept adding more. Being a native Quebecer, I guess she has been missed while she was in Vegas. I'm not a big fan, more because of her and the things she has said in the French press but she certainly is a huge talent!
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hstrybuf
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Posted: Fri Jul 11th, 2008 02:10 pm | 6th Post |
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It's been years since we were last in Vegas, but I do remember how much we enjoyed touring the Luxor. I'm a bit of an Egyptophile myself. Here's the link to the long thread on Vegas:
http://cruisetraveltalk.com/forum54/3318.html
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Sandy Toes
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Posted: Fri Jul 11th, 2008 02:12 pm | 7th Post |
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clgcruiser wrote: Sandy-check out the VEGAS thread I started last year-there's plenty of good, recent info there! I just went there in February-1st time in about 20 years! Sooo many changes! We stayed downtown at the 4 Queens and loved it-the whole street is open to everything-very convienient! And the Laser light shows several times a night!
All of the casinos have good places to eat and lots to see and do. We ate at Toby Keith's bar and grill-yummy! Also saw "LaReve" at the Wynn-I would recommend it highly!
If I get a chance, I will upload some of my Vegas pics this weekend-never did get around to that!
Do you think you can post a link to the thread? I'm not sure where to find it and I would love to read it!
I have never heard of the 4 Queens but I intend to google it and read up on it. At this point we a pretty open. We both have an opinion of what we want but that is likely to change in the next few months. The more we read, the more we change our minds! That's ok...the research is half the fun!
I would love to see your pictures when you get a chance. Thanks so much for all the comments and suggestions.
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hstrybuf
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Posted: Fri Jul 11th, 2008 02:13 pm | 8th Post |
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Sandy, check out my post right above yours. 
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Sandy Toes
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Posted: Fri Jul 11th, 2008 02:18 pm | 9th Post |
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BeckyThane wrote: Sandy, I'm a major Egyptophile, so staying at the Luxor was definitely the highlight of one of our trips! Loved our room, with it's great view of the Strip. If you have a particular affinity, maybe there's a themed hotel for you? Becky, I've looked at the Luxor and it looks beautiful. I'm not sure if that's my "thing" but I get what you are saying about the theme. We have already discounted the New York hotel just because we have been to New York. My personal preferences at this stage (and it is very early in the staging) are the Paris and the Venetian. DH seems more interested in the massive resorts like Bellagio, MGM Grand and Mandalay Bay. I'm sure we'll reach som kind of conclusion. We're so excited that we finally booked this that at the end of the day, I think we'd both just be happy to be there, no matter where we end up.:cloudnine:
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BeckyThane
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Posted: Fri Jul 11th, 2008 02:20 pm | 10th Post |
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Sandy Toes wrote: My personal preferences at this stage (and it is very early in the staging) are the Paris and the Venetian. DH seems more interested in the massive resorts like Bellagio, MGM Grand and Mandalay Bay. I'm sure we'll reach som kind of conclusion. We're so excited that we finally booked this that at the end of the day, I think we'd both just be happy to be there, no matter where we end up.:cloudnine:
I big part of our fun in going to LV is touring all the hotels. So, you can always stay one place and play in others.
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Sandy Toes
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Posted: Fri Jul 11th, 2008 02:20 pm | 11th Post |
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hstrybuf wrote: It's been years since we were last in Vegas, but I do remember how much we enjoyed touring the Luxor. I'm a bit of an Egyptophile myself. Here's the link to the long thread on Vegas:
http://cruisetraveltalk.com/forum54/3318.html
Oops...thanks hstrybuf! You must have posted while I was typing away. I don't have my glasses on this morning so I'm squinting at the screen I can't wait to read this thread!
Thanks again,
Sandy
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Sandy Toes
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Posted: Fri Jul 11th, 2008 02:23 pm | 12th Post |
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BeckyThane wrote: Sandy Toes wrote: My personal preferences at this stage (and it is very early in the staging) are the Paris and the Venetian. DH seems more interested in the massive resorts like Bellagio, MGM Grand and Mandalay Bay. I'm sure we'll reach som kind of conclusion. We're so excited that we finally booked this that at the end of the day, I think we'd both just be happy to be there, no matter where we end up.:cloudnine:
I big part of our fun in going to LV is touring all the hotels. So, you can always stay one place and play in others. Oh yes! DH already knows that we have to set aside some time just to check out the other hotels. We do this at Disney also. Since we're not big gamblers, we figured we'll just wander in and out of the various hotels and casinos and drops a few bucks into the slots along the way maybe stop for a drink, etc.
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kathy32259
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Posted: Fri Jul 11th, 2008 02:33 pm | 13th Post |
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Sandy - I just returned from Vegas and if you have a choice between Bellagio and Paris (Paris being the least expensive) I would chose Paris. It is right across the street from the Bellagio and Ceasars Palace - with a walkway over Las Vegas Blvd. so you don't have to dodge traffic. Also - Paris is centrally located on the strip and you can get to a lot of other hotels from there. Paris is right next to Bally's and the monorail is behind Bally's hotel. It will take you down to the MGM/Tropicana/NYNY/Excalibur four corners which is pretty handy.
I always stay downtown - at the Golden Nugget (right now they are having a $59/night special Sunday thru Tursday nights. But if this is your first time in Vegas - I would stay on the strip. Especially since gambling is secondary to other activities.
Celine has finished her run in Vegas and Bette Midler has taken over the Palace until the end of July. Then I believe Cher will be performing there. Do your research and then come back with questions. Lots of us can help!!
We ate at JB's Margaritaville and it was a blast!! (Also walking distance from the Paris.)
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kathy32259
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Posted: Fri Jul 11th, 2008 02:42 pm | 14th Post |
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| I forgot to ask - when are you going? Be sure and check each hotel's web site for pricing and specials. Sometimes you can get a way better deal that way cause Vegas is begging for visitors right now (although you would never know that when you see the crowds - the strip was packed last weekend)
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ute_fan
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Posted: Fri Jul 11th, 2008 02:47 pm | 15th Post |
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We go to Las Vegas fairly frequently. It's only about a 6 hour drive from where we live, and an easy "get away" from the midwinter blues. Having said that, however, we normally stay off strip where the rates are cheaper and drive back and forth, so my opinions may be a little different than everyone elses. We've also never spent the money for one of the Vegas shows (I'm cheap ). The last few trips, however, we have stayed on the striip -- so here's my impression of the hotels.
Most recently we stayed at New York New York. I wasn't particularly impressed with the room. It was quite a bit smaller than the other rooms we've had on the strip and seemed quite dark, but it was adequate for the couple of days we were there.
Prior to that, we stayed at MGM Grand in November when we went down to attend a Billy Joel concert in their arena. I've also stayed there for a week on a business trip. Nice room, plenty to do without leaving the casino. It's on the last stop of the monorail which makes it easy to hit the other parts of the strip. The rooms are very nice -- but I swear the hallways from the elevators to the rooms are longer than the halls in the cruise ships! If you have a room at the end of the hall (which we did), plan on LOTS of walking just to get to and from your room.
We also stayed at the Aladdin before it became Planet Hollywood. That was probably my favorite room, and I really like the layout of the entire hotel. The casino sits sort of in the middle and you've got all the shops around the outside -- particularly nice since we had underage kids with us that trip. I don't, however, know if it's as nice now that it's turned into Planet Hollywood.
When my kids were even younger, we stayed at the Luxor as they were dying to stay in the Pyramid. Nothing special, IMO, and kind of a weird setup as the "inclinators" only covered certain floors of the pyramid. If your room was in the opposite corner (as ours was), again it was a long walk around the pyramid and back to the inclinator.
My favorite hotel in Las Vegas isn't on the strip, however. It's the JW Marriott, well off the strip, but probably the nicest hotel I've ever stayed in. Magnificent bathrooms, gorgeous pools -- but you do need a car to get back and forth.
As far as shows, ones that I haven't seen yet but would like to include Love (the Beatles tribute) and the Blue Man group.
Have a great time!
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BeckyThane
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Posted: Fri Jul 11th, 2008 03:29 pm | 16th Post |
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ute_fan wrote: When my kids were even younger, we stayed at the Luxor as they were dying to stay in the Pyramid. Nothing special, IMO, and kind of a weird setup as the "inclinators" only covered certain floors of the pyramid. If your room was in the opposite corner (as ours was), again it was a long walk around the pyramid and back to the inclinator.
We were a group of six when we stayed at the Luxor. All of us except hubby knew about the inclinators... so the first time we got on we were all watching him intently to see his reaction. PRICELESS!  Wish I'd had a camera.
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ute_fan
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Posted: Fri Jul 11th, 2008 04:20 pm | 17th Post |
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BeckyThane wrote:
We were a group of six when we stayed at the Luxor. All of us except hubby knew about the inclinators... so the first time we got on we were all watching him intently to see his reaction. PRICELESS! Wish I'd had a camera.
We'd been inside the Luxor before, and my kids (who were fairly young then -- probably 8 & 10) were disappointed to realize that you had to have a room key before you could ride up in the pyramid. A couple of years later, we were going on a family vacation to Southern Utah, and decided to tack on a Thursday night stay at the Luxor, as it was fairly inexpensive. Satisfied their urge to ride the inclinator -- and they're never asked to go back!
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mrdawson
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Posted: Fri Jul 11th, 2008 05:18 pm | 18th Post |
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ute_fan wrote: BeckyThane wrote:
We were a group of six when we stayed at the Luxor. All of us except hubby knew about the inclinators... so the first time we got on we were all watching him intently to see his reaction. PRICELESS! Wish I'd had a camera.
We'd been inside the Luxor before, and my kids (who were fairly young then -- probably 8 & 10) were disappointed to realize that you had to have a room key before you could ride up in the pyramid. A couple of years later, we were going on a family vacation to Southern Utah, and decided to tack on a Thursday night stay at the Luxor, as it was fairly inexpensive. Satisfied their urge to ride the inclinator -- and they're never asked to go back!
You are supposed to be a guest but don't HAVE to be....I sweet talked a guard into letting us check out the inclinator and then get off near the top to look down into the center casino area..BTW Luxor just completed a major renovation that filled in much of the gaping unused space inside the pyramid..put in a few restaurants , shopping, nightclubs etc...I haven't seen it yet but when I was ther last Sept they were doing massive const. inside
As far as the masive resorts go Iwould look at Venecian..all its rooms are suites and are usually less expensive than Bellagio and similar places...if you stay ask for a strip facing room and you can watch the pirate show across the street at T.I.
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ute_fan
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Posted: Fri Jul 11th, 2008 05:33 pm | 19th Post |
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Didn't even think about asking if they'd bend the rules for us. I haven't been inside the Luxor in several years. Next time we're there, I'll have to check it out and see what they did in the remodeling.
I think the Venetian looks like a nice place to stay too. Unfortunately, whenever we've been there, it's been quite a bit more expensive then the places we've stayed.
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scrappy
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Posted: Fri Jul 11th, 2008 05:37 pm | 20th Post |
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| We always stay at the Venitian. Fantastic rooms, great pool area, fabulous restaurants bars and clubs, Canyon Ranch Spa, and shopping shopping shopping!!!! If this is a special occasion, believe me, it's well worth the money! Last edited on Fri Jul 11th, 2008 05:38 pm by scrappy
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hstrybuf
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Posted: Fri Jul 11th, 2008 11:51 pm | 21st Post |
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| It's been a loooong time since I was last in the Luxor. What's the big deal about the inclinator?
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BeckyThane
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Posted: Sat Jul 12th, 2008 12:35 am | 22nd Post |
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hstrybuf wrote: It's been a loooong time since I was last in the Luxor. What's the big deal about the inclinator?
It's not like your standard elevator, doesn't go straight up. Follows the angle of the exterior of the pyramid.
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hstrybuf
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Posted: Sat Jul 12th, 2008 01:20 am | 23rd Post |
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I had to Google it. Travels at a 39 degree angle up 30 stories. Sideways. 
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Sandy Toes
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Posted: Sat Jul 12th, 2008 09:29 pm | 24th Post |
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Thanks so much everyone for all of your responses! My DH suggest that I find a Vegas message board to post at but I know you guys would all come through. Still haven't gotten around to reading the other Vegas thread but I will. I think that we (read... me ) are leaning towards the Venetian for now. Didn't mention that we are only going in March so we have lots of time to change our minds. The Venetian doesn't have pricing up yet for the end of March. Anyone know how warm it is in March. Should we factor in a nice pool or will it be too cool? Not that we want to spend too much time lying around a pool but coming from Montreal in March, we would like the opportunity to defrost for a couple of hours.  .
The Luxor sounds intriguing. If we don't stay there we will definitely be dropping in for a visit.
Thanks again for all the suggestions. Keep them coming!
Sandy
P.S. I love how you all say that "if this is my first trip......", like you all know it won't be my last
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ute_fan
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Posted: Sat Jul 12th, 2008 10:16 pm | 25th Post |
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If you're going in March, make sure that you don't schedule your trip for the same weekend as the big Nascar race! Everything in town is horribly expensive that weekend.
The college basketball tournament for the conference our team plays in was scheduled at least once for that weekend. All the guys who post on our Utefans message board were complaining loudly about availability and costs -- even a couple of months before that weekend.
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