Planning a First Vegas Trip

Discussion in 'On The Road Again' started by UTmainman, Apr 23, 2007.

  1. UTmainman

    UTmainman 100+ Posts

    Me and my friends that are recently 21 are trying to put together a trip to Vegas. Instead of asking what hotel to stay at, since everyone will have their own opinion, I'm just asking for hotels to stay away from, either because of poor quality, poor service, or poor location. Any information helps.
     
  2. HenryGandorf

    HenryGandorf 250+ Posts

    there are 40 choices. you need to post here how much you want to spend, what is important to have in your hotel, or close to it (restaurant, clubs, good pool, whatever).

    for people your age, the hard rock and the palms are good choices, but are a little pricey.

    i've stayed probably 15 different places, and each trip is different depending on who i'm with or what i'm looking to do.
     
  3. UTmainman

    UTmainman 100+ Posts


     
  4. MizzouSnives

    MizzouSnives 500+ Posts

    i think you should listen to what HG is trying to tell you. without knowing (roughly) what you WANT, no one can tell you what to avoid.

    poor quality--well, what is "poor" to you and your friends? Imperial Palace is generally considered to be the crappiest strip hotel, but it's got a great location. Most people wouldn't have a problem with the Flamingo's quality (it's just a hotel room), but then again it can't compare to THEhotel, Wynn, etc.

    poor service--i'm sure this will run the gamut as well. people have good and bad experiences everywhere. do you need to be waited on hand and foot or are you ok with just making sure you have clean sheets?

    poor location--what do you want to do? stay in the heart of the strip, or fremont street? does is matter?

    without knowing how much you want to spend and what you want to spend it on, telling you to stay away from some places would be idiotic.
     
  5. HenryGandorf

    HenryGandorf 250+ Posts

    fine. don't stay at o'shea's. happy?
     
  6. Spankytoes

    Spankytoes 100+ Posts

    1. Look at a Vegas vacation site
    2. Look at the prices of the hotels
    3. Realize that you get what you pay for in Vegas

    That should weed through your list a bit. Every hotel in Vegas, regardless of price, has a pro and con reviewer. I think the Venetian is great and am staying again in July. Buddy of mine, who went the same time I did, thought the service was terrible and can't justify paying the price unless he has his room comped for throwing $200 away at the casino. It depends on who you ask.

    I've also stayed at New York New York twice. The 1st time the service was spectacular. The 2nd time it was horrible. (Smoking room when we booked a non, dirty sheets, no maid service to be found, overcharged my credit card, etc.) I would have given you 2 different answers depending on when you asked the question.

    My recommendation is to stay on a hotel on the strip. You can save money by staying downtown but most of the good action is on the strip. Why pay a cab, ride a bus or ride the monorail all the time? Use the Bellagio as a starting point on a map. The further out you go in either direction, the worse quality the hotel is.

    And I agree with the other posters. It sounds like you have a budget and are asking "What's the best hotel I can get for my money" without letting us know what price you have in mind. Just say "I want to go in "x" month and do "x" activites and can only afford "x" amount of dollars" and you will get a better answer on where to stay.
     
  7. sanchezvilleda

    sanchezvilleda < 25 Posts

    Being that it is your first trip, I say stay away from anywhere that is not on the strip. I was glad I got that experience my first time in Vegas.
     
  8. UTmainman

    UTmainman 100+ Posts

    Ok, we are looking for early to mid July. I would say $200 a night is maximum, and we would want to stay on the strip.
     
  9. Quadry

    Quadry 250+ Posts

    You just described staying at TI. Go ahead and book a strip view room there and be done with it. Best place to stay IMO, for that price.

    And to meet the pre-req:
    Don't stay at Best Western.
     
  10. blingbling

    blingbling 25+ Posts

    You could also probably stay at Alladin and maybe Paris for that price. Both of those are great locations as well.
     
  11. UTmainman

    UTmainman 100+ Posts

    So looking at Vegas.com's package deals, here is a list of Hotels on the strip that are cheaper than TI:
    Circus Circus
    Riveria
    Excalibur
    Harrah's
    Tropicana
    Monte Carlo
    Luxor
    Bally's
    New York-New York
    The Mirage

    And that is in ascending price order. Any of the early ones on the list any good?
     
  12. Quadry

    Quadry 250+ Posts

    NO. As someone said earlier, you get what you pay for. I would stay at NYNY or Mirage, but none of the others. A couple of those are considered on the strip, but are not really. In other words, you can't see **** from them.
     
  13. shakahorn

    shakahorn 25+ Posts

    Off of your list, Bally's, NYNY and Mirage are a cut above the others. I think Monte Carlo would be OK too but I ain't never stepped foot in that place myself.


     
  14. po elvis

    po elvis 250+ Posts

    i stayed at the Monte Carlo for 1 night. nice room. the place seems to always be dead though. i would go for a more lively place.
     
  15. TXSooner518

    TXSooner518 250+ Posts

    monte carlo is fine, but TI has better location.
     
  16. Spankytoes

    Spankytoes 100+ Posts

    I'd recommend NY NY. As stated above, I had 1 great experience and 1 not so great experience. But, I have had a lot of friends stay there and the majority consensus is that you get the most bang for your (cheap) buck there.

    But, the Carnagie Deli moved over to the Mirage. That in itself may lend a little weight.
     
  17. halsteadfrost

    halsteadfrost 1,000+ Posts

    Mirge is by far the best on your list. It's a step up from all the others including TI. I expect that you'll want a pool, and some ladies mingling around. Mirage will have this. TI's pool is too small, and gets really crowded. NYNY is ok, but tends to have an older crowd. Monte Carlo is ok as well, but not as nice as the Mirage.

    As for your original question definetly stay away from Circus Circus, Imperial Palace, Tropicana, New Frontier, Excalibur, Hooters, and I'd give a Luxor a maybe, but only if the price is a screaming deal.

    Harrahs, Ballys, Monte Carlo are all a step up from the bottom of the barrel, but aren't that bad when you take into account their location, and the rooms being livable.

    Also I would not say that TI has a better location than Monte Carlo. I would actually say their locations are about equal, but on opposite ends of the strip from each other. Actually if anythign MC is closer to the center of the main part of the strip.
     
  18. oak forest horn

    oak forest horn 100+ Posts

    In reply to:

     
  19. ScoPro

    ScoPro 1,000+ Posts

    All pretty good suggestions. I just got back from staying at the Paris for three nights - a good place for us oldfarts.

    NYNY would be the best choice for young Vegas virgins - great location, a fairly "happenin" place, easy walking distance to MGM, Trop, Excalibur, and the tram to Luxor & Mandalay Bay.

    Check out Cheapo Vegas for some reviews:
    The Link
     
  20. goat

    goat 250+ Posts

    I personally think you cant beat the price and location of Bally's. Literally right across the street from Bellagio and Ceasars and the monorail is connected to the back of the hotel. Even the standard rooms are huge, nothing special, but they are big. Saying that........

    Nowadays, i dont think i would stay at any of the hotels on the strip other than below (excluding Palms and Hard Rock, the location kills me...great places....but like being on the strip)

    You have the top tier places
    Wynn
    Bellagio
    Venetian
    TheHOTEL at Mandalay Bay

    Then the Really good 4 stars
    Ceasars
    MGM
    Mandalay Bay

    The OK 4 Stars
    Mirage
    Treasue Island
    Paris
    Rio (off strip)

    The 4 stars that arent really 4 stars
    Alladin
    Luxor (********)
    Monte Carlo
    NYNY
    Golden Nugget (downtown/oldschool)

    Other than that these are the only sub 4 stars I would consider or recommend to anyone

    Bally's
    Harrah
    Flamingo

    Just my opinion....but if i were you i would go to a siteThe Link (this site is for priceline and hotwire hotels) and check out all the info that they have on LV hotels. What weekend are you looking to go?
     
  21. Tailgate

    Tailgate 500+ Posts

    Had good times at the Mirage.

    Don't stay anywhere that doesn't have a casino.
     
  22. MikeUT00

    MikeUT00 Guest

    All of the advice so far is good. I've stayed at most all places on the strip. I'd echo everything else said. I would add that the Monto Carlo is, by no means, the 'hood. I've also stayed there a time or two and it wasn't anything less that most of the others. If price is your factor, and it is cheaper ... I'd consider it.
     
  23. Lone Star

    Lone Star 500+ Posts


     

Share This Page