I'm going to the Sin City for July 4th. Here are a few questions I hope you peeps can help me out: * Will there be fireworks shows for the 4th? If yes, when and where? * What's the best show(s) in town? I've booked "o" at Bellagio, I'm hoping to get the same day 1/2 price ticket for :Jubilee: at 5th, is this realistic? * What's the best place to dine without breaking my bank, besides buffee? * Is it realistic to make a Grand Canyon trip in one day? I plan on renting a car and drive there, should I join a tour in stead? I appreciate your input. Yeah, Vegas Baby!
"O" at Bellagio is fantastic..probably the best show in town. "Mystere" (another Cirque de Soliel) at Treasure Island is pretty great too. There is a new Cirque show at New York, New York that is more adult themed...haven't seen it. Danny Gans is the best performer in Vegas...great show. He does tons of voices and songs in his performance and sounds just like the person he is imitating. "O" and Danny Gans are two of the hardest shows in town to get tix for, so book NOW if you want to go. Jubilee is old fashioned Vegas show at its finest, but it really didn't do anything for me when I saw it. Places to eat: Break the bank at Prime or Picasso in Bellagio. There is a good steak house in the back of Paris, but I'm not sure of the name of it...but good stuff. Won't kill you too much on the bill (plus if you join the player's club, you get a $20 coupon). The cafe in the gardens at Bellagio is actually pretty darn good, but their evening buffet takes the cake. The malls in Vegas tend to have a huge selection of places to eat as well. There's a Cheesecake Factory in the Forum Shops at Ceasar's Palace...and a bunch of restaurants down in the Ventitian in their mall as well. Don't forget the mall at Alladin, you might find something good there as well.
Oh...and if this is your first trip to Vegas, I'd skip the Grand Canyon...its just going to be incredibly hot and uncomfortable. It will take a whole day out of your trip...much of it in a car or bus, and then you will wish you had spent that day seeing the sights on the strip instead.
You can do it, but you'll probably feel rushed... It's about 250 miles from the Strip to the South Rim and maybe a little less, but slower roads, to the North Rim. Regardless of which rim you hit, figure on a minimum of 4 hours each way. If you go to the North Rim, give yourself about 2 hours of daylight before you hit the Interstate at St. George, UT for your return trip. On the South Rim, allow about an hour before hitting the Interstate at Williams, AZ. If it were me, I'd go to the North Rim and get there right before lunch. The drive into the North Rim through the kaibab National Forest is beautiful and much more forested then the South Rim. Also, fewer people go to the North Rim, so you have a chance at brief moments of solitude. You also stand a much better chance of seeing condors on the North Rim, particularly at the Valhalla Overlook. Anyway, eat your picnic lunch at Point Imperial then take the trail along the Rim for as long as you want to walk. Go on out to Valhalla Point and take the short trail to the Point. Drive back around to the Grand Canyon Lodge area and walk out to Bright Angel Point as the sun gets low. Pick up a few souveniers on your way out and get beyond the big trees by sundown so you lower your chances of crashing your rental into a deer or elk. Have fun.
las vegas will have fireworks, but the strip casino's usually save their best display for new year's. Sunset park which is not far from Mccarran will have them for sure. As far as shows go, from what I understand Clint Holmes show at Harrah's is supposed to be good and reasonably priced. Blue man group tix run about 50-65 bucks, it's a good show but is LOUD, take ear plugs.Danny Gans is usually sold out but if you can score tix you won't be disappointed.That's all I really know about shows. As far as dining is concerned the best place to dine w/o breaking your bank that I know is the circus circus steakhouse. Great service and food. If you go to the grand canyon you will have to leave early in the day since it's about 240-260 miles from vegas.make sure you go to the south rim since it is closer and just as beautiful.make sure to take lots of water since it is july. other sides trips would be mount charleston about 30 miles nw of vegas or lake mead which is east of the city and easy to find. if anyone else comes to vegas remember to go to the stratosphere tower. It's cheap fun and if you really feel like taking a gamble you can try one of their 3 thrill rides. the new ride literally takes you over the edge(of the tower). Have fun and good luck
Thanks Guys. It's not my first Vegas trip, but the first trip I have to take the responsibility to plan for and indulge myself a bit. Rimrocker, your info about the North/South Rim is very helpful. Which Rim is better in terms of sight seeing, picture taking? How much slower is the road to the North Rim? Anyone know of the speed limit on those highways?
just stay in the sports book at Caesar's. you don't need a room. you can bathe in the sinks in the mens' room. drink free cokes. eat at cheap buffets. and veg out on horse racing and baseball. now that i think about it...can i come, too??
My dad told me that when he was building the county jail facility there a few years ago, the city had to have a crackdown on all of the "unemployed" female "models" who would come over to the worksite during lunches and dole out $20 HJs and BJs to the construction workers.
You can't go wrong on either rim... It's the Grand Canyon Baby! The North Rim is higher in elevation, so you look down into the Canyon more. From the South Rim, you look up at the North Rim and some people think that make sthe geology even more impressive, but I'm an advocate of the North Rim. North Rim: I-15 from LV to St. George(116 miles), then Highway 9 to Hurricane, UT. Turn South on 69 for a direct route to Fredonia, AZ (55 miles). Go West on 89 for a little longer trip through Zion National Park and then go through Kanab, UT to Fredonia (71 miles) From Fredonia, it's 32 miles on 89 to Jacob Lake (which is a gas station and a restaurant) and then about 30 miles to the Park entrance on 67. Everything off the Interstate is 2 lane highway (and plan on getting behind a slow RV chugging up a hill). South Rim: Go through the construction at Hoover Dam and then 70 miles to Kingman, AZ on mostly 4 lane highway. East at Kingman onto I-40 for 117 miles to Williams. Two lane road (mostly) from Williams to South Rim is about 60 miles.
I'm leaving tomorrow afternoon, for my 3rd Vegas trip in year. Staying at Treasure Island for the first time though. SHOWS: Get the 1/2 price tickets from the Coke bottle store next to MGM on the day of the show. I recommend the V - The Ultimate Variety Show at the Venetian. This show was really neat with Chinese acrobats, balancing act, jugglers, stand up, and some other really neat stunts. Jubilee is your typical Vegas dance show, and can get boring after about 30 minutes -> when you're tired of staring at the performers. Better to spend your money at Cheetah, Crazy Horse, or Spearmint Rhino. RESTAURANTS: Aladdin Spice Market Buffet is excellent -> food from around the world. Bellagio has a really good breakfast buffet. Bertolini's next to the fountain at the Caesars Forum Shops has some excellent Italian food for around $15/entree. If you have some coin to drop, try Delmonico's Steakhouse in the Venetian -> best steak I've ever eaten. Also, if you're a big drinker like me, it's probably best to stay away from the $35 Rio Seafood Buffet. There's also Puck's in the Venetian, which makes good pasta and pizza. CLUBS: 1st Tier: Rain @Palms, RumJungle @Mandalay, Light @Bellagio, Drais @Barbary Coast 2nd Tier: Baby's @ Hard Rock, Bikini's @Rio, 3rd Tier: 54 @MGM ,Ra @Luxor 4th Tier: Coyote Ugly @NYNY FREE SHOWS: Fountains at Bellagio Volcano at Mirage White Tigers at Mirage Sirens at Treasure Island Lions at MGM Fremont St. Experience - Downtown
I was just there last week. The heat is already getting brutal. I don't know about fireworks or shows but definitely catch the watershow at Bellagio and the Fremont Experience Downtown...best part they are free. South Rim: Its a LONG drive from Vegas and mountain driving gets old fast if you are in an underpowered rental...I think you need much more than one day to see the canyon especially if you want to hike the trails. I would avoid taking 93 through Hoover Dam because of the construction, and they had security checkpoints up checking each vehicle as of last week. Right before you get to the dam take 95 to 163 then to Laughlin on to Kingman. Its a little bit further to Kingman but more flat road and will save you time because its wide open desert road. Plus Laughlin has a Harrah's, Golden Nugget, Flamingo etc...all sitting right on the Colorado. You could stop for a swim to escape the heat. This is my favorite vegas site...funny with really helpful reviews of the resorts/casinos. Cheapo Vegas Have Fun and Good Luck!
Maybe you should check out la femme at mgm. Since you are seeing 'o' and maybe mystere, a different kind a show would be nice i think. It does deal with topless chiks though but done very artisticly. Make sure you are ready for the crowd tho. I went july 4 of last year and the crowds were just insane. Barely any room to walk on the whole strip down. Fireworks were done seperately by each individual hotel and you can just stand outside and look. Try the steak in harrahs. Heard they were very good.
i just got back from there. It is extremly hot over their. When over their we mainly ate buffets. Kind of pricey but good. They have all types of food. I didnt go to the grand canyon. Be aware when gamlbing. You win money but then get greedy, and lose it.
I saw Blue Man Group in May and I'd recommend it! It is like an hour and a half acid trip! Freaking crazy. The first part of the show is pretty good, but the last 10-15 minutes are just absolutely amazing! BTW, I can also vouch for the Spice Market Buffet, freaking great buffet! Easily the best buffet I've ever had the pleasure of eating at. Try to spend a night downtown on Fremont St, fun atmosphere that is different from the strip.
Regular weekday rates for a lake front hotel room at Bellagio are $209 a night. I have a special coupon code for $139 a night. I posted it in a Vegas thread a couple of weeks ago...I'll go and dig it out and post it when I get home this afternoon.
Just found it: D139DM is the code. Gets you a $139 deluxe room with a free lakeview upgrade if room is available. This offer available through the summer Monday - Thursday, so if you are going for a week, its worth it. We also have stayed at the Alladin and Paris for around $80 a night. The best deal in Vegas is the Barbary Coast...a tiny casino/hotel right at the corner where Bellagio, Ceasar's Palace, Bally's/Paris all come together. Fantastic location for about $30-$40 a night...plus they are clean and have good service. Heck, you can get a suite there with all of the fancy amenities for like $200.
Some friends just returned from the Grand Canyon yesterday, and said it wasn't hot at all (It's the altitude). While I agree about the driving, don't expect Vegas-like heat there. If you have the time, it is worth the drive.
No matter what hotel you go to, ask about the upgrade when you get there, you may be able to jump a room for only $10. MGM is a great place to do this. You switch towers.
