Personally, I don't mind visiting downtown but have no desire to stay there. It would be fine if you were into some serious gambling, but there's not a lot to keep you occupied for 2-3 days IMO. However others may come along with a different view. There is a zipline along Fremont Street and there are bands playing at night.

Thinking about it, I think you would be better with the 6 nights at the Flamingo, but staying at another high end hotel for one of those nights. Flamingo is very middle of the road although the Go rooms are supposed to be nice.

Start looking at prices for 2-3 months from now to give you an idea what you may get them for. The Bellagio sometimes has offers and they have just finished refurbishing all their rooms. If you booked a standard room, a $20 tip at check in could well get you a free upgrade to a fountain view room which has the music from the fountains on the TV.

luci

Thanks. We have decided on 5 nights in one hotel then a night in London on the way back to Spain.

You won't want to leave after such a short time.

We're going for six weeks next time. But then we're gluttons for punishment.

OMG Pebbles only 6 weeks. That's just a flying visit by your standards.

We finally booked!! We fly out to LA on the 31st August, for 15 nights - we will do 2 nights in LA then we'll drive into Vegas. We arrive Friday, so we'll be in Vegas on the Sunday. Not sure where to stay, but we're thinking of doing 2 or 3 nights at Green Valley Ranch (been watching episodes of American Casino on v+). We are likely to do the middle weekend to save on the weekend rates, GVR is $80 weeknights, $110 weekends - 2 night package price at these rates per night includes $50 dining credit and 2 cinema tickets. The strip get so busy on the weekends, plus the shopping is quite good at Henderson, it seems like a good idea just now. And their pool looks good

Still not sure whether to drive into Vegas the quick route, or whether to go see London Bridge on the way. Happy to be booked though, we booked early last week but things have been a bit chaotic since.

Hey Lesley, well done on getting booked. Now you have something to look forward to and plan.

luci

Nice one Lesley, sounds like a good trip and I think your GVR plan is a good one. It does look a lovely property.

I now have less than 5 weeks until I finish work before our trip to Vegas. Nothing really planned still except Hash House a Go Go at IP (with a Restaurant.com certificate) on the Sunday morning the day after our arrival and I think we are definitely seeing Gordie Brown and visiting both the new Mob Museum and Neon Boneyard Downtown. So maybe we do have more plans than thought

Still undecided on CDS, might skip it this time as don't want to be rushing around too much on a timetable (it would probably be Viva Elvis though). It would be nice to return from Vegas without thinking we need another holiday straight away but that rarely happens wherever we travel.

Roll on 5 weeks....

Congrats on booking Lesley.
London Bridge and Lake Havasu are well worth seeing, we stayed in the London Bridge hotel (I think it was called that, looks like a castle). Was very nice. We did some Jet Skiing on the Lake for a couple of hours. I remember we had an amazing steak, mash and gravy in a place called Montana steak house. One thing we did find out though was that it's a retirement community in Lake Havasu and everything closed at 10pm. We eventually found one bar open and had a drink. Not worth staying more than one night.

Cheers

TC

Groupon Las Vegas offer at the moment is a meal for 2 at Biscayne restaurant at the Tropicana for $49. 2 entrees and 2 glasses of wine.

http://www.groupon.com/deals/tropicana-las-vegas-restaurants?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&sid=11102923&user=71563c27db980dbc1efcf244f576e3e792f036f4ac8c5ab6478c65a23e6ad7f5&utm_campaign=11102923&s=body&d=tropicana-las-vegas-restaurants&p=1&c=deal_button

We had the Tasting Menu there a couple of years ago and it was really nice.

luci

Planning will probably begin late March when we get back from India. We should really be planning for that just now.

However, I will certainly look into Lake Havasu. It will likely take us all day to get to Vegas if we do a stop and that route, but now really a problem. We have no idea where to stay, other than the GVR idea. We have only been there for breakfast before. Have also done Red Rock (sister property) for breakfast, and I like it there too, however GVR has much more to do round about. We like Galleria Mall, and there's also Michael's, Best Buy, etc down there, and a few other places we found last time that we don't often see. I think one was Burlington Coat Factory where I got some bargains. Had never went in before because I thought it was a coat shop!!

Think I'd like to see Cirque Elvis. Not sure what else. Keep joking about going to see Matt Goss (was a Bros fan when I was much much younger lol). Not sure if I'd actually go, but there was a clip of it on a tv show one time - the Justin Lee Collins one. It actually looked quite good.

No food plans. Being vegetarian, we don't tend to enjoy many of the options that others would. Although it's pricey at about $45, we enjoy the Wynn Champagne brunch. I also seem to remember the Bellagio Buffet was particularly good value in the afternoon on the lunch price, and significantly more in the evening. I think if we've got a car the whole time too we're likely to go out for breakfast to other places off strip too, some good values at GVR and Red Rock - about $6 for a very good breakfast with Boarding Pass.

lesley74 wrote:

Keep joking about going to see Matt Goss (was a Bros fan when I was much much younger lol). Not sure if I'd actually go, but there was a clip of it on a tv show one time - the Justin Lee Collins one. It actually looked quite good.

I did laugh the other day on TA when somebody compared Matt Goss to Frank Sinatra. It wasn't quite meant that Goss was as good as Sinatra but even to include both in the same sentence was pretty much sacrilege. I saw the Justin Lee Collins programme. To be fair to Matt he has done awfully well for himself and clearly has some form of talent but it does go to show that you can pretty much put on anything in Vegas. I suppose people are looking for alternative to the likes of CDS. I remember the Casino TV programme based at the Golden Nugget featured a lounge singer called Matt Dusk, he's better (or at least was) than Goss if you ask me. I think if you were a Brosette then it might appeal, I've heard he does include some revamped Bros songs, but if he includes Cat Amongst the Pigeons he might as well check out of his CP suite now

Total Rewards card have a new design. You can also be able to redeem your Reward Credits for free slot play

http://lasvegasblog.harrahs.com/promotions/total-rewards-revamp-90000-prizes-up-for-grabs/

You have to re-register your online account with a username and password which must have one upper case, one lower case and one number. There are also 4 security questions. You can use your TR No as your username which I have done as I have memorised both of ours.

luci

Hubby mentioned Matt Goss earlier this week and said he is on a couple of the nights were are there. We thought about seeing him last trip, but the only night he was on was our first or second night there and there is no way I would still be conscious by the time the show finished at 11.30 or midnight. Might manage it once we had been there for a few days.

We are running out of shows to see and have seen a few more than once. Considering Divas with Frank Marino, but again it's a show that doesn't start until 10pm.

luci

We enjoyed Divas. That was another show that I had to drag Tony to, and he ended up enjoying it.

Thanks pebbles. It's good to have a recommendation.

Hubby is more into shows than I am. The only show he wasn't keen on seeing was Donny and Marie, but he ended up loving it and insisted we went back again the following trip.

I'm not keen on Cirque even though I've seen a few.

Tom Jones seems to have stopped playing Vegas as he hasn't been there for a couple of years. We would see him every trip if he was on as he puts on a brilliant show.

I need to fit any shows around our restaurant reservations. So far we have Mix booked and we are planning on going to Envy, Biscayne and Casa di Amore. Which reminds me, I need to get CdA booked for the limo pick up.

luci

We enjoyed our meal at Mix. Not all tables have a great view but remember that afterwards, you can ask to go upstairs to the 'club' (no charge and its more of a lounge than a club), where you can go outside and get the views down the strip.

TC

I booked Mix a few weeks ago and requested a table by the window so I am hoping we get one with booking so far in advance.

Envy is really good and on restaurant.com. Easy to get to as it's just a few mins walk from the Convention Centre monorail stop. They have really good cocktails too.

luci

Hi everyone can I join in the fun?

Going to LV and NYC for daughters birthday in July!
We have just decided this so need to get sorted
Daughter has been to both before but wants to show me the sights!
So
Last time she stayed at Riviera, she was only 19 and there was only 2 hotels that would
take under 21's without an 'adult' with them!
They upgraded and got a nice room etc and she was happy with the hotel but think we would want to
be somewhere a bit more central strip (ish)
SO
Do the hotel room prices fluctuate?
Where is best place to look?
We are doing 4 nights Thurs to Mon in Vegas and 3 nights Mon to Thur NYC
Also while Im on a roll, any tips for multi stop flights?

Hi Shaz, long time no see!

My first thought is that you have got that back to front. Vegas hotel rooms are at least double and usually more Friday and Saturday night. Much cheaper to stay Sun-Thurs.

Have a read earlier in this topic and do a search as there are various links to booking hotels.

Central strip, Paris is a lovely hotel and Planet Hollywood has got a young vibe. We really loved the Cosmopolitan in a fountain view terrace suite.

What is your budget per night as that will help people suggest somewhere?

You can price multi stop flights on Expedia, then go to the airlines' own websites.

luci

Hi Luci

Yeah we have totally got it the wrong way round but she wants to go on her acutal birthday (Thurs) and we are meeting a friend in NYC the week after so have to do it this way round!

Been researching flights, daughter has some Virgin airmiles and is off to NY next week with them so gonna wait til after that to see what discounts she could get us off flights and take it from there I think?
Not sure on budget, Jade was more than happy in Riviera and we can get that for next to nothing (thus enabling us to afford something other than a shoe box with shared bathroom in NYC!!!!)
So all up in the air
LOVE the look of the Cosmo!
Some friends went out for a gig when it first opened and said it was utterly amazing!
Hoping for a freak room sale
Anyway thanks for the pointers and will keep you posted!