Just booked Vegas yesterday - lots of questions!

[Guest]

First timer to Vegas - Can you lovely Dibbers help me out please?

OK I will start with Vegas -

Bellagio - I booked this hotel mainly because I'd seen it on Oceans 13 I dont really know anything about Vegas Hotels other than Bellagio and the Pyramid one - reviews for that were 50/50 so I just plumped for Bellagio. It looks like a good chioice for location etc. Only problem is when I showed pics of it to DH he said it looked too ''posh'' and although he doesnt mind a bit of formality when neccessary he doesnt want to have to wear trousers and a shirt on holiday. So, unless its OK to wander around there in shorts and t-shirts I might have to change hotels - what do you guys think?

Shows - which do you think are the best Cirque shows to see? I want to do 3 of them

Blueman group - Is the show the same as the one in Orlando? we have seen that one 3 times now, so if its the same I know to give it a miss.

Strip tour - am thinking of booking a guided tour of the strip for our second day there just give us a sort of orientation - any reccommendations? or is it easy enough to just go it alone?

Family friendly entertainment - as we will have our girls 12 & 14 with us can you think of any ''must do's'' for them?

Food - a list of your favourite places to eat would be great, we like pretty much everything and enjoy a mix of all you can stuff your face with to fine dining.

Grand canyon - have booked a helicopter trip that flies over hoover dam and lands in the canyon basin, picnic lunch then home again, there are 4 departure times - early morning, late morning, early afternoon and late afternoon - does it make a diffference what time we go? which would you pick and why?

Think that will do for now, I'll be back no doubt with more questions soon

Thanks!

[Michelle]

Sam, have a read of the sticky at the top of this forum, should help you with some if not all of your questions.

[Jools]

Wow that is some countdown you have there! I am so jealous

We have never stayed in the Bellagio although we have been inside it. The location is great right in the centre of the strip. I doubt your DH will have to wear a shirt and trousers. We've been inside lots of Vegas hotels, casinos and shows and you'll see a huge mix of dress style. Some will be in shorts and t-shirts, whilst others will be in tuxedos.

We love to eat at the Cheesecake Factory which is in the Caesars Forum shops, not far from the Bellagio. Other than there we tend to eat at Dennys, the Hard Rock Cafe, and Johnny Rockets. Last time we went we had a lovely meal in Maggianos at the Fashion Show Mall, and we also ate at PF Changs. We found 2 PF Changs one is in the Planet Hollywood hotel and the other one was off strip (along Harmon Avenue I think). There is also a Bahama Breeze near the HRC.

Would your daughters like to see Mamma Mia? I'm assuming it's still showing at the Mandalay Bay. There is also a magic show inside one of the theaters in the Planet Hollywood hotel. We've never been with children so I don't have a lot of ideas for shows for them, but no doubt someone else will

Lucky you doing the Grand Canyon, I have no advice but look forward to hearing about it

[mickchick]

We have stayed at the Bellagio several times and it is smart, but not posh. Nowhere in Las Vegas is posh. In the Bellagio you can wear what you like, although your husband probably won't feel comfortable wearing shorts and T shirt in there in the evening (although people do).
The Bellagio has several different restaurants all at different prices, from inexpensive to you've-got-to-be joking.
Your girls won't be allowed to stop and linger in the casino area (which is the whole vast lobby area) because they are under 21. Even if they so much as stop to look at someone playing on a slot machine, they will be quickly moved on . This is the case in ALL Las Vegas hotels. It's not a place for kids.
When you check in, ask for a room overlooking the fountains and the Strip as they have the most magical view.
The Bellagio is well situated for the other big showcase hotels and the rest of the strip, and although everywhere is close on the map, the reality is that with the heat and the crowds, getting around can take much longer than you'd realise. The monorail system is very efficient and quick and runs through most of the hotels.
I would recommend avoiding the big food chains, like The Cheesecake Factory, and Denny's, because the food is the same everywhere in the States. Try some of the eateries in other hotel lobbies - in the Mandalay Bay there's a choice of around fourteen, and at the Venetian there is a huge replica of St Peter's Square with some brilliant Italian food.
The Grand Canyon trip is brilliant, and in my view the best time of the day to get there is around 11am, before the heat sets in and before the crowds arrive.
As for the shows, Blueman is basically the same everywhere, unless they advertise that it's a brand new production. You should have a brilliant time. Enjoy.

[Guest]

You can wear what you want in the hotels, the way to look at it is Bellagio type hotels are places where people who WANT to dress up and wear some gucci gear can without feeling uncomfortable themselves. It used to be people felt they HAD to dress up but I increasingly find its more normal not to.

No one is going to look down on casual dress in Vegas, just accept that in some places its nice to be able to wear some special threads sometimes.

Do spend some time looking at Caesars next door its awsome.

We had a meal at Prime behind the Bellagio fountains, it cost a small fortune but it was a planned special highlight.

The Helicopter tour is fantastic.

[Guest]

We love the Bellagio - the lakeview rooms are best - the ones that look down at the dancing fountains with the music piped via the TV. That is the most fabulous view in the world for me.

Denise

[megaflyer]

Originally Posted by mickchick

We have stayed at the Bellagio several times and it is smart, but not posh. Nowhere in Las Vegas is posh. .

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I have to agree - many hotels in Vegas are not posh/classy and the Bellagio is like that - very normal and down to earth.

However if you do want a classy hotel try the Manderin Oriental in Vegas; it is in a different league all together from all the other strip hotels.

[megaflyer]

Originally Posted by CBR600

. So, unless its OK to wander around there in shorts and t-shirts I might have to change hotels - what do you guys think?

Thanks!

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In the evenings he would have to wear a shirt with a collar (polo shirts are ok) and long pants; apart from that being the expected dress code of many casinos and hotels in Vegas, the A/C (and extra oxygen they pump into the casinos to keep the gamlers awake) mean he will be mroe comfortable than dressed in beach gear.

[*source*]

Originally Posted by Jools

Wow that is some countdown you have there! I am so jealous

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Me too! I saw it and said to my hubby that that was what I wanted to do for my 40th... ! Need to get saving and will be keeping an eye out for the posts and hopefully a trip report?

[daytonababe]

We have taken our kids to Vegas twice but they are younger than yours.. (they were 18 mths and 4.. and 3 1/2 and 7) but we found plenty of things for them to do.

Some of the things we did with them ..
Visit all the themed hotels.. each hotel takes a while to explore
Mgm Lion Habitat.. sometimes there are cubs available to have your picture taken with.
Secret Animal garden at Mirage hotel
Ethel M's chocolate factory
M & M's world
Coca Cola World
Freemont street (But tbh i wouldnt bother going there again.. )
Indoor Theme park at Circus Circus
Both the shopping outlets.
Fao Schwarz inside Ceasars Palace.
Fashion show mall
Shark reef at Mandalay Bay
Car musuem at the Imperial Hotel

We are never short of things to do and we are going back in March 2011 when the kids will be 8 1/2 and 12 and are really looking forward to it.

We did the Grand Canyon helicopter flight with Papillion and really enjoyed it. I think we were picked up from the hotel around 9.30 and landed in the canyon around 11am. this was perfect for us as it wasnt too hot.. was still pretty busy though as there are helicopters taking off and landing all the time.

If they like roller coasters there is a good one at the New York hotel, one at Sahara and the ones of top of the Stratosphere hotel.

Food wise. we really like the buffets.. they are more expensive than in say Orlando but the choice of food is really good. America in Hotel New York is really good(not a buffet) we had one of the best breakfast there.I've had some good meals in the Nascar Cafe and Rainforest Cafe, then there is your usual Dennys and fast food type places.. We havent really eaten in fine dining places because we have to cater for the kids.

I personally wouldnt bother with an organised tour of the strip.. its pretty easy to find your own way about and you can take your time if your alone.