1st time Vegas Visitor

[RV 16]

We will be in Vegas the end of March/first of April. Any tips would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

 

[DeniseM]

Lots of great info. already posted: http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/search.php?searchid=6112439

 

[BJRSanDiego]

Link didn't work

Hi Denise, the link that you gave didn't work. Here is what I got:

"Sorry - no matches. Please try some different terms"

 

[ricoba]

We will be in Vegas the end of March/first of April. Any tips would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

As a semi-Vegas, local, I'd be glad to answer any questions you may have. What would you like to know about?

 

[Luanne]

Answers may depend on what you like to do.

Are you into gambling? Eating? Shows? Shopping? Nature?

 

[presley]

We will be in Vegas the end of March/first of April. Any tips would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

http://tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=188750

Posts 14 and 16 in that link were especially of interest to me. You may be looking for something different.

 

[Passepartout]

There are a good number of hints and tips in the bottom Sticky in the US- Western forum. WAAAY more than a first time visitor could use up in one visit.

Jim

 

[DeniseM]

Hi Denise, the link that you gave didn't work. Here is what I got:

"Sorry - no matches. Please try some different terms"

Try this one: http://tug2.net/googlesearchresults...5&cof=FORID:10&ie=UTF-8&q=las+vegas&sa=Search

 

[RV 16]

Thank you for the updated link Denise. I will check that out.

We will be staying at Tahiti Village which I know is south of the strip. We wanted to stay someplace a bit quieter and liked the look of the tropical feel there. Since it is so close to the airport and TV seems to have a great shuttle service, we decided not to get a rental car. One thing that I'd rather not deal with.
We'd like to not gamble. We do plan on a cirque du soliel show. Red Rock Canyon and Hoover Dam, Freemont St. We would like to have a nice anniversary/birthday dinner, maybe the stratosphere?
Their shuttle also goes to the Mirage and NY NY. I was wondering about the Deuce and the monorail as far as getting around from where we are. Coming from the icy cold east coast, we are looking forward to the sun and warmth. Relaxing at the pool. I know we can't possibly get to see everything in a week.
Thank you all for your help.

 

[RV 16]

Weather? Best places to eat or stay away from?

 

[joewillie12]

Watch the movie Hangover. It will give you a good idea of what to do when in Vegas . What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Have a great time!

 

[DeniseM]

We would like to have a nice anniversary/birthday dinner, maybe the stratosphere?

The Stratosphere is in serious decline, and that end of the strip is in very bad shape with empty building, closed businesses, and a bad element on the street. Choose something mid-strip.

 

[RV 16]

The Stratosphere is in serious decline, and that end of the strip is in very bad shape with empty building, closed businesses, and a bad element on the street. Choose something mid-strip.

Thank you!!!! I read a recent dining review and wondered why it was so bad. This is the stuff I need to know.

 

[DeniseM]

Thank you!!!! I read a recent dining review and wondered why it was so bad. This is the stuff I need to know.

Honestly - that area is horrible - I'd stay out of it.

 

[RV 16]

http://tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=188750

Posts 14 and 16 in that link were especially of interest to me. You may be looking for something different.

Yes, very helpful. Thank you!

 

[RV 16]

There are a good number of hints and tips in the bottom Sticky in the US- Western forum. WAAAY more than a first time visitor could use up in one visit.

Jim

Thank you for the tip. Lots of great info there. I'm not on here much, so still navigating this site.

 

[RV 16]

Answers may depend on what you like to do.

Are you into gambling? Eating? Shows? Shopping? Nature?

Yes, all of the above...except the gambling. As much as I'd love to, I'd be done in a day!

 

[Passepartout]

If you are going to Red Dock Canyon and the dam, you'll need a car. Las Vegas is easy to get around in- but not on the Strip. There are roads paralleling it on either side and the self-parking garages are mostly off those. To get the 'Dam Tour' go very early. They open at 8:00 iirc and sell out for the day. When they are gone, they are gone. The elevators have limited capacity and can only go so often.

Jim

 

[ricoba]

The Stratosphere is in serious decline, and that end of the strip is in very bad shape with empty building, closed businesses, and a bad element on the street. Choose something mid-strip.

This may be your opinion as a sometimes occasional visitor to Vegas who probably only hits the major tourist spots, but you are just plain wrong about this. :annoyed:

While the Stratosphere is not center Strip and is not the most glamorous of the hotels on the Strip, neither is it some sort of run down dump. It is true the neighborhood is not the worlds nicest, but it is safe enough and you will see people walking in that area at all times of the day and night. Sure some of them are street folks, but Vegas is a large city with a huge amount of all sorts of people.

I often see regular tourists from all parts of the world walking around the Stratosphere at all times of the day and night to either go to the tower or to Downtown or to the Gold and Silver Pawn Shop (Pawn Stars).

I have not seen Frankie Moreno's show at the Stratosphere, but I hear it's excellent. As well the tower has numerous attractions that are quite popular with locals and tourists alike. The revolving restaurant, The Top of the World is quite good and reasonably priced for a nicer place.

Every first Friday night of the month the whole area around there is an open street arts festival for First Friday. Plus many shops down in that zone, now known as the Arts District are fun and funky and hang outs for creative artsy types in Vegas.

As well, downtown Las Vegas has over this past year or so has gone through a major redevelopment, that will only continue now that Zappos is at home in the old city hall.

I am sorry for sounding so brusque, but when people say things that aren't true about places they really don't know that much about, then I think the record needs to be corrected.

I will now go back to my cave and hibernate.

 

[DeniseM]

Really - what did I say that wasn't true? The Strat is definitely run down - you can tell as soon as you walk in the door - it looks worn out, and threadbare and grimy. Over the years it has declined significantly. I stand by my post.

 

[Fern Modena]

Denise, have you ever eaten at Top of the Stratosphere, or gone to the Frankie Moreno Show?

While it is true that the Stratosphere is by no means new and shiny, I don't feel it is threadbare and/or grimy. I go there with my sister or girlfriends to see Frankie Moreno (Great Show!), and I never feel unsafe.

Walk or drive north a short block, and east a half a block, and on the left is Luv-it Custard, which is very famous.

Further North, on Main Street just past Charleston is Doña Maria's Tamales, which has some of the best pork tamales I've ever eaten. This is the "Arts District" that Rick referred to. The first Cubano Cafe, Florida Cafe, is in the neighborhood, too.

Fern (a local)

Really - what did I say that wasn't true? The Strat is definitely run down - you can tell as soon as you walk in the door - it looks worn out, and threadbare and grimy. Over the years it has declined significantly. I stand by my post.

 

[DeniseM]

Hi Fern - We used to enjoy the Strat, but the last 3 or 4 years, we've seen a big change in the whole area. I didn't say it was unsafe - just tacky and run-down. Unless things change big time, I don't see us going back. YMMV

 

[gwenco]

I personally agree with Denise

It is rundown and we would never walk in the area! This includes Circus Circus as well (and I'm married to a large cop!).

One place we like to dine is the Peppermill. It is just north of the Riveria and has a large parking lot so that's not an issue. The portions are large and the atmosphere is "old Vegas" which is hard to find anymore.

Enjoy and go see some shows!

 

[DeniseM]

It is rundown and we would never walk in the area! This includes Circus Circus as well (and I'm married to a large cop!).

One place we like to dine is the Peppermill. It is just north of the Riveria and has a large parking lot so that's not an issue. The portions are large and the atmosphere is "old Vegas" which is hard to find anymore.

Enjoy and go see some shows!

We like the Peppermill too! But we avoid anything past that point.

 

[Fern Modena]

Now this is getting in interesting. We have two people saying they'd not go to the Stratosphere (and now Circus Circus). I will agree with one thing. I'd never walk there. Most right thinking people wouldn't. As for Circus Circus, there are a lot of adults and children who disagree with you and your cop husband, Gwen.

I am seeing a theme here. Neither hotel is new and shiny. In fact, they are among the oldest hotels left in the area. They are definitely middle class and working class sort of places, not upper class places such as Wynn, Palazzo, Bellagiio, Caesar's, etc.

That doesn't make them bad or wrong, but it does make some people feel uncomfortable in them. I don't own any high end timeshares, so msybe my perspective is a bit different.

Oh, and if you won't go to the Stratosphere, you aare missing one of the top entertainers in town, Frankie Moreno. Then again, perhaps you;d rather see another one of the (many, many) Cirque shows.

Fern

Sorry for all the typing mistakes; my left hand doesn't want to behave anymore, and one has to do what one can. It is either this or nothing. Sorry.