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Mother and Daughter Vegas Trip

topmom101

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Happy New Year to everyone!!!

Once again I am here asking for advice. I have spent several hours today reading every post relating to Las Vegas and taking notes but I still have a few questions. I just booked a week's stay at the Tahiti Village for myself and my 25 year old daughter. I won a bid on Sky Auctions for a full 1 bedroom for $360 total. I have been to Vegas a few times in the past for conventions but mostly stayed put. I am excited about this trip because it's my daughter's first time to the Sin City and we are both looking forward to a fun time. Here is what I'd like to know: What temps can we expect the end of March? Will we be able to use the pool and lazy river?

We are planning on doing some cooking in the room but also a few dinners out and shows as well as seeing the Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon. I read lots of posts on the Red Rock Canyon and the Valley of Fire and am thinking of adding those 2 sites. I am still debating renting a car for the full week but am nervous about driving in Las Vegas. I thought we might book a tour to the Grand Canyon (expensive) and possibly just rent a car for a day or two to visit the other 3 sites. Does the Tahiti Village have a car rental on site? Let's say I do rent a car, is parking easy/free at the various hotels if we are there for dinner/show? If I do not rent a car, what is the best way to get to other resorts in the evenings? I am really not worried about getting around during the day as I understand Tahiti has shuttle service to the strip all day long.

Is taking a taxi from the airport to the Tahiti Village a good idea or should I book a shuttle? I read a lot about Fremont Street, what is that about? Worth going? Thanks for your input and please feel free to offer any advice as well.
 

Ty1on

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Take the rental car shuttle from the airport, then a taxi to TV. TV is about a mile from the rental center.

Also, all parking on the Strip is free as of now. MGM is working on charging at all their properties, but that hasn't happened yet.

If you have ever driven in NYC, Las Vegas is cake.
 
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presley

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Driving in Vegas isn't a big deal at all. It's only on the strip that is a pain and that is way worse in the evening. You can easily just park in one lot and walk to anything else around there.

I do recommend Red Rock Canyon and Valley of Fire. I went in August with lots of heat and enjoyed both. I'm sure you'll have even a better time going in the spring. I haven't stayed at that time of year, but have read that many pools are closed during March.
 

Passepartout

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I would rent a car for the week. Driving in LV is not hard at all. You will be able to go on your schedule, not some tour or shuttle. There is a good grocery in Town Square, near Tahiti Village, There are side roads one block away from the strip on both sides, with access to the casino's garages. Use them instead of battling the traffic on the Blvd. Go to the 'dam tour's very early, admission is by time stamp based on your arrival. If you are even a bit late, it can be a long wait for your time.

March can be iffy for pool use. Nice unless a cold wind is blowing. Fremont Street is old downtown LV, and is now covered by a giant video screen the width of the street & 3-4 blocks long. Lots of performance artists, vendors, and activities there. Watch your valuables. Park in one of the casino's self-park lots.

Sounds like a fun trip. Enjoy!

Jim
 

BevL

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Staying where you are, I can't imagine not having a car. You're really pretty close to the airport there, so getting to your resort will be easy peasy.

The Strip traffic is a nightmare all the time, so if we wanted to head somewhere there, we'd map out a route using the adjacent streets and then just duck onto the strip close to the resort/hotel we wanted. If you were down there and hopping, I'd just park in one place and walk or use transit options.

There's quite a bit of shopping and such south of where you are at the outlet mall as well, so a car is handy for bringing home your purchases - two women on a trip, assuming there might be some shopping involved.

Highways in and out of LV, like to the Dam and whatnot, are a breeze.

Have a wonderful time. What a gift, to spend a whole week with your daughter, just the two of you!!

As far as the weather, very hard to tell. We've been in March and had really warm weather, did a full day down by the pool at our resort. But when we were there last time in May at the Grandview, it was too cold to comfortably use the pool. I do believe that the resorts south of the strip are definitely windier - not as many large buildings to shelter you. So no guarantees either way there.
 

VegasBella

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Here is what I'd like to know: What temps can we expect the end of March? Will we be able to use the pool and lazy river?
It will likely be windy at least part of your stay. It is probably also going to be a bit chilly, at least for part of your stay. I personally would not expect to use and enjoy the pool or lazy river but everyone is different and you might like it.

Average temps for March are high 60s and low 70s.

April and October are generally the best months in Vegas. The weather is beautiful and you can easily spend time outdoors for long periods without getting too cold or too hot.

Summer is great for lounging by the pool. Winter is great for hiking and other outdoor sports if you don't mind bundling up just a little.

We are planning on doing some cooking in the room but also a few dinners out and shows as well as seeing the Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon. I read lots of posts on the Red Rock Canyon and the Valley of Fire and am thinking of adding those 2 sites.
Grand Canyon is quite a distance away. If you want to see it quickly you will need to do a helicopter tour. You can drive or take a bus tour in one day but it's a long time on the road (at least 3 hours each way).
Red Rock and Valley of Fire are both beautiful and worth a visit. Red Rock is closer to Vegas (only about 30-40 minute drive from the resort). Do you like hiking or rock climbing or nature photography or any of that? if so then definitely include Red Rock in your trip. If not, maybe skip it.

I am still debating renting a car for the full week but am nervous about driving in Las Vegas. I thought we might book a tour to the Grand Canyon (expensive) and possibly just rent a car for a day or two to visit the other 3 sites.
Renting a car is probably the easiest way to go but if you'd rather not, there's a shuttle from the resort to the Strip or to Town Square (which has restaurants and shopping, including a Whole Foods). And Vegas has both Uber and Lyft as well as traditional taxis and buses.

Driving in Vegas: we have lots of accidents and a ton of bad drivers. Insurance here is much higher than in many other places. A lot of that is just tourists who don't keep their eyes on the road or who are impaired while driving. If you are a good safe driver and you have driven in LA or NYC or San Francisco then go for it. We have excellent roads! Things are new and kept clean. And signage is great. Just try to avoid driving late at night/early morning when the percentage of impaired drivers is highest. And pay attention to the road - give pedestrians the right of way too. Any time you're driving around The Strip, take your time and don't be in a rush.

But if you're really nervous about it then don't do it. There are other options. Just don't get tricked into thinking you can walk everywhere - that's what idiots do. They don't realize that things look closer than they really are here in Vegas.

Does the Tahiti Village have a car rental on site?
No but they might be able to assist you. The rental car places are very close by.


Let's say I do rent a car, is parking easy/free at the various hotels if we are there for dinner/show? If I do not rent a car, what is the best way to get to other resorts in the evenings?
Which resorts are you talking about? Are you asking about how to get back from the Strip at night without a car? I would suggest taxi or one of the services like Uber or Lyft.

Is taking a taxi from the airport to the Tahiti Village a good idea or should I book a shuttle?

I read a lot about Fremont Street, what is that about? Worth going?
Fremont is downtown in Las Vegas. (FYI, the Strip is not in Las Vegas). Fremont and downtown are known as "old Vegas" because it's the smaller casinos and it's more grungy etc. Parking is not free downtown. But many casinos will give you free parking if you validate at the cage. Street parking is what I'm talking about - not free. This area of town is sort of artsy and up and coming. The hipsters like it and there are some great new stores and restaurants (if you go down there check out Container Park and VegeNation). But it also has a higher percentage of homeless people and drunk tourists. I think it's worth a visit just to get a sense of Vegas but personally I avoid Fremont and just go downtown for the other stuff like First Friday and Container Park.
 

topmom101

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Wonderful advice, as usual. I feel better about renting a car and will look into it. I registered with a couple of LV discount sites (links found right here on TUG, thank you) and will purchase most of our dining/entertainment/activities from them.
 

sue1947

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Another suggestion to throw into the mix:
Death Valley is a long but doable drive of about 2.5-3 hours; similar to the Grand Canyon. March is the time when the flowers might be blooming if there is a wet winter (which seems to be happening). The super blooms are periodic and need the right combination of conditions which this winter might provide. You might keep your eye on the Death Valley website for more information. http://www.nps.gov/deva/learn/nature/wildflowers.htm.

Personally, I'd save the Grand Canyon for a trip based in Sedona or Flagstaff when you can spend more time there and less on the road. From Vegas, you are spending 6 hours driving and that doesn't leave much time for seeing anything. However, if it's your only likely chance to see it, then a short time is better than no time.

Sue
 

topmom101

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Thanks, Sue. I clicked on the link and saw all the photos. Very interesting, indeed, and a good suggestion.
 

tompalm

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Glad to hear you plan to rent a car. You will be able to see a lot more and get out to places much easier. My favorite places to visit are Valleys of Fire, Red Rock Canyon, Hoover Dam as well as the outlet malls. You could shop the new mall in Sumerlin, eat lunch at Red Rock Casino and drive through the Red Rock Canyon all in one day. The lunch buffets are so cheap when you eat at the right places, it is not worth cooking. We usually eat breakfast in the timeshare, catch a late lunch and snack for dinner.

If you catch the Spring Flowers in Death Valley it is worth the drive. Otherwise it is a long ways from Vegas and there is a lot of wilderness to drive across that two single women might not want to cross alone. Even in the park it can be very empty on some days.

You will have fun no matter what you decide.
 

tompalm

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One other thing is we did the Grand Canyon on our last trip and it was a lot farther than I thought. Took us a solid five hours of driving faster than we are used too. We spent one night at Grand Canyon and it seemed like the trip was too much driving.
 

topmom101

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Thanks, tompalm, I will certainly heed your advice about Death Valley. Visiting the Grand Canyon is on the top of my daughter's list so we are planning it. However, I am not crazy about the idea of driving 10 hours r/t so I am thinking we'll book a tour for that.
 

tompalm

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Thanks, tompalm, I will certainly heed your advice about Death Valley. Visiting the Grand Canyon is on the top of my daughter's list so we are planning it. However, I am not crazy about the idea of driving 10 hours r/t so I am thinking we'll book a tour for that.

Oh. You were planning on doing it in one day. That would be a killer drive. Even the bus ride will be a very long drive. If you are set on going, and you already have a rental car and your daughter can help drive, think about staying one night in the small town right outside the gate. Hotels rooms are cheap during the weekdays or off season and that would be a lot cheaper than taking a tour. That is what we did and it worked out well. It is better than doing 10 hours in one day on a bus plus five hours in the park.
 
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