Question for the f-list!

[rhienelleth]

So, say you and your girlfriends were planning a three day trip to Vegas, and you've never been.  You're not all that into the gambling, but you like the sites and the shows, and you're debating how much to spend on one of the big hotels.  Which hotel would you pick?

Right now, we're waffling between the Venetian and the Bellagio.  But I've heard the Bellagio is largely an 'older' crowd.  Now, we're not partying twenty-somethings anymore, but we're still swingin' and hip thirty-somethings, if you know what I mean.  (Unless you, too, are or have been a 30-something, you probably don't.)

We want to see Cirque Du Soliel while we're there, and it's at the Bellagio.  Though we would not be opposed to seeing Phantom, at the Venetian, if we could somehow afford both.  Where we're actually staying has little bearing on which of these we see - CdS is not negotiable.

Or, if you think you have a better hotel recommendation, hit me with it!  We're going towards the end of October, if that makes a difference.

Comments

[shadawyn.livejournal.com]

I'll have to watch the recommendations you get. M and I are going in early November for a few days. I've only been once--and I was underage and all my guardians wanted to do was gamble, so I had to stay in the hotel room the entire time. So I don't really count that ;)

My Mom is staying at the California, but hotels seem to be filled up already on those days so we will be elsewhere.

[quiet-rebel.livejournal.com]

When I went a few years ago with my girlfriends, we stayed at a hotel a few blocks from the strip called Lady Luck, but my friends who did stay on the strip stayed at the Stratosphere.

You're gonna love it there. There is plenty to do. Lots of shops, sites, and visit the Hoover Dam.

[shellyinseattle.livejournal.com]

The hotels are so close, that if the crowd isn't quite right at the one you stay at, you can zip over to another no problem. People are out all night; you won't have to worry about walking back. So there's no need to pick your hotel based on the show that's going on.

I remember staying at the Excalibur, which was a little too noisy and kid-oriented for me. I can't remember where I stayed the next year I went, though----obviously, it's mostly about getting out of the hotel for me.

[kistha.livejournal.com]

My know-it-all (seriously, in a good way) overly intelligent and picky friend loves the Venetian. Apparently the shopping is to die for.

That's about all I can do for you - I've only driven through. Sounds like fun though!

[mspooh.livejournal.com]

I've stayed the MGM, Venetian, and the Monte Carlo. I love the Venetian. I'll be in Vegas in September, and I'm hoping to push the gals towards that one. The rooms are huge, and the crowd is a bit younger than the Bellagio, from what I can recall.

[ms-pie.livejournal.com]

I've stayed at the MGM, Mandalay, the Venetian and the Bellagio... the Bellagio's bathroom's are to die for (these things do matter to me!), but overall the Venetian is my favorite hotel on the strip. The rooms *are* huge -- if you are sharing, this is a huge plus -- and I love the Venetian's casino.

[rhienelleth.livejournal.com]

Any tips, from you or Pooh, on finding good deals for hotel and/or airfaire? The Venetian looks gorgeous, but $600/night! (Not that Bellagio is much cheaper.)

[ms-pie.livejournal.com]

Well, first off, Vegas is no longer cheap. For the most part, the top-tier hotels (Bellagio, Venetian, the Wynn etc.) are matching NYC for the price of a room. It sucks, but it is true. You can find deals, but not always at these hotels, especially on weekends.

To find a good deal at one of the top-tier hotels, the best thing to do is to go on weekdays. I often get emails from the Venetian with mid-week specials for $199/night.

To find a good deal at any hotel, search the travel sites (Travelocity, Expedia etc.) for airfare + hotel deals... You can also check travel consolidators like cheaptickets.com for deals. Kayak is another site that would help you surf for the best deals for the days you are going.

If you are willing to stay off the strip -- either at Lake Las Vegas or closer by (the Rio, the Palms etc.) -- you may also be able to get a deal.

I guess the biggest thing about Vegas is that you are rarely in your room and it is super easy to cab / walk to any hotel for the shopping / gambling, so just find a place that meets your price requirements and go for it. (I've had friends stay *everywhere* on the strip -- Luxor, Ceasar's Palace, Paris, NY NY etc. -- and no one has said anything horrible about any of these places)

[rhienelleth.livejournal.com]

The friend who is really planning this trip is of the mind "if we're going to do, it, let's do it right" and reeeeeally wants to stay at someplace al la the Venetian, Bellagio. I'm ok with that, so long as we can afford it, which is either a matter of getting a nice group going, or finding a good deal. :D

BTW, got your e-mail, appreciate the comments, haven't had time to implement them yet. But ITA w/pretty much everything you said and/or pointed out.

[aliasrlm.livejournal.com]

If you've never been before, and you can spend some bucks...stay at the Wynn. Now that's luxury! It's a beautiful, but not too over-the-top place.

Or...do Mandalay Bay. I LOVE that place.

If you're looking for something nice, but not too pricey, stay at Caesars or the TI, which has become 'hip' again.

My two cents! Oh, and have fun!

[aliasrlm.livejournal.com]

Oh and I forgot: try travelzoo.com for a good deal, too. We got a HUGE room in the Palace Tower at Caesar's, complete with huge plasma TV, for only $159/night...and this was during the All-Star Game, too!

[zeropointinc.livejournal.com]

Venetian! It's really cool on the inside. Down where the shops are, they have a painted sky indoors that looks amost real. I suspect they do it so you'll stay up all night spending money and not realize it. But the canals and stuff are berry berry pretty. :)

[rhienelleth.livejournal.com]

Hey! How are you?

This is actually very wierd - I was just thinking last week that I hadn't talked to you in FOREVER and should e-mail you. So...look for one soon. :)

Yours is the fourth or so vote we've had for the Venetian, so we're leaning that way. :) Though the cost may mean we'll put the trip back a couple months, so we can better afford it/enjoy our stay.