To the person who started this thread our upcoming trip will be the first time we haven't stayed at Grand Desert. I prefer the higher floors with view of the mountains. I've really come to love the view of the mountains and desert. This trip we are staying at Grandview Las Vegas, where we are also owners, for the first time. We have 17 nights booked there with a 5 night side trip to Flagstaff. I couldn't touch Grand Desert for what the Grandview stay cost and by staying there it meant we don't have to check out and check back in when we go to Flagstaff. I have to admit we were a little hesitant about staying somewhere else because we love Grand Desert. When I was giving my husband the options and costs I reminded him of what our 6 year old granddaughter tells him about the radio stations when they are in the car together, "Papa, you should try new things."
When we stay at Grand Desert we sometimes eat at Ellis Island. It is an easy walk from Grand Desert They are known for their $7.99 top sirloin steak dinner special. It has been rated as the best steak special in Vegas for years. However we get one of their nightly dinner specials and haven't been disappointed yet. There are several other eating areas at Ellis too. Metro Pizza, sorry don't know if they still do it but for years they've had buy one get one free, slice or whole pie, wood fired pizzas on Sundays and Thursdays. They also have a barbeque restaurant that is very good. They've added Julio's Tacos since we were last there. From looking at the Ellis Island website I see that Julio's has Taco Tuesdays, two tacos and a shot of Jose Cuervo for $5. Ellis has their own micro brewery and we recommend the hefeweizen beer and their homemade root beer too.
The reason we don't order the steak special at Ellis is because we like to go to the California Hotel in Downtown Vegas for the prime rib special in their Market Street Cafe. It is $9.99 and includes the salad bar, 8 oz. cut of prime rib, starch (baked potato, rice or fries), vegetable and cherries jubilee ice cream for dessert. My husband sometimes orders one of their other dinner specials but I always get the prime rib. We've never had a bad meal there.
The other musts for us are the Omelet House on West Charleston and Egg and I on West Sahara. At Omelet House the omelets are huge, enough for two. For an additional fifty cents they will split the omelet and you each get a plate with their wonderful potatoes. My favorite at Egg and I is the chili rellenos omelette.
We usually go to the Pinball Hall of Fame on Tropicana and have fun walking around looking at all the different pinball games and playing the games too. We try to remember to bring some quarters but they have change there.
We always go to the Bellagio to walk through the conservatory. They redo the theme and flowers every couple of months. Even if you been there before, say in the Spring, it will be different the next year. We enjoy the water display show at Bellagio too.
We also usually go to the Ethel M. chocolate factory. I could care less about the chocolate factory tour but I enjoy their cactus garden.