First trip to Vegas. Recommendations?

[lookoutmtn17]

Lived there for 15 years. Drink water all day, every day, as it is very easy to get dehydrated without realizing it. If your throat gets a scratchy feeling and you start a light coughing you are dehydrated, we called it the Vegas crud. If you do Hoover Dam, pay extra and do the "Hard Hat" tour, you will see a lot more of the dam and inner workings. Red Rock canyon is nice, and some of the short walks/views are like being on a different planet. If you go to the Grand Canyon, always carry extra water and hats in the car in case of car trouble. I always carried a silver tarp for shade and use the car mats to kneel on if you have to change a tire. The Mohave desert is hot as hell and unforgiving in July.
Wear good walking shoes, as the hotels are further apart than they look, I used taxi's a lot to get around on the strip. Check into the underground transportation that was installed after I left. If you get tired of the strip/downtown, shoot out to Lake Las Vegas, as it functions at a more relaxed pace, and it used to have a couple of very good restaurants. Put your wallet in your front pocket, and remind the wife to keep an eye on her purse, as there are lot of thieves that prey on the tourists. Have fun ; )

 

[K-town Vol Fan]

use the car mats to kneel on if you have to change a tire.

I've changed my share of tires in my lifetime but for some reason I have never thought of this.

 

[volmanbill]

We just got back last night. Stayed for 6 nights (that's 2 too many for Vegas), 2 at Caesars and 4 at Aria. Vegas is a mess right now. Caesars didn't have enough employees to clean the rooms and neither had enough to staff their restaurants/bars sufficiently. Though everything will technically be open 100% on the first, it will be impossible with the current employment situation.

Our first trip, we had a blast walking up and down the strip and checking out each casino and what makes it unique. You can see a good bit of it without being outside in the concrete heat by passing through properties. NYNY also shares a tram with a couple other MGM casinos as does Aria with the Bellagio. There's also a monorail that covers the east side.

We did the Grand Canyon / Skywalk / Hoover Dam one day, Valley of Fire and Mt Charleston on 2 others. The west rim isn't part of GCNP, but it's still worth the drive. Valley of Fire is AMAZING (and close). Mt Charleston has the Lee Canyon Ski Lodge which is running Fri-Sun with some activities. It is a good 30 degrees cooler up there. Red Rock Canyon is another good half day trip, though we were sad to see Bonnie Springs had closed nearby.

Restaurant reservations are a must on the strip right now for anything other than quick eats. Sparrow and Wolf is a great off strip meal. We also enjoyed Honey Salt and the new Bobby Flay restaurant at Caesar's, Amalfi. Hell's Kitchen is good too. The Egg and I is our go-to for breakfast. We didn't go this trip, but the Italian restaurant at NYNY is good and open late. Open very late is Ping Pang Pong for excellent Chinese.

Shows are sparse, but Carrot Top was surprisingly funny. David Copperfield is also live. They were dark while we were in town, but Penn and Teller are very entertaining. We've seen them twice.

Booking a car last minute will be iffy and expensive. The governor reinstated surge pricing on ride shares this week, but availability for that or cabs was very sketchy.

 

[volmanbill]

Siegfried and Roy have checked out.

Wayne Newton was mercifully cancelled at Cleopatra's Barge at Caesars. It was really painful to see a couple years ago. He sang a total of 3-4 songs live while playing a video retrospective of his career. Rumor has it that they are looking for another venue.

 

[Hurley Mooncalf]

If you've never been to Vegas, see the fountains at Bellagio, it's pretty neat. Ellis Island casino off the strip makes their own beer, it's pretty good. I think downtown one of the "Station" motels has a brewery in it too. I've been to Vegas about a dozen times and it all blends together at this point.

 

[VolInNorthCack]

Spent a couple of days there for a wedding 3 years ago. Hated it. The Grand Canyon is amazing though. Truly the one place I have been that literally took my breath away. I thought I knew what I was in for, but once you turn the corner and actually see it... Nothing can prepare you for that.
David Copperfield was really good. JabbaWockeez were freaking awesome (my favorite part of the trip). Hoover Dam is quite cool. I love the area, just hate Vegas lol.

 

[PEPPERJAX]

Besides whores and blow, what are some suggestions for a first visit to Vegas?

Going to do the Grand Canyon, and might check out Death Valley, but the rest of the trip will be in Vegas.

Staying at the New York New York Hotel and Casino. Good or bad?

Thanks for any info.

Whores and blow top the list. You can always go to a buffet before whores and blow. That is all I got.

 

[Firebirdparts]

My brother said he went to see "Big Elvis" Pete Vallee but he'd lost 400 pounds, so they really only saw half of him.