What to Do in Vegas???

Updated on June 05, 2009
M.H. asks from McKinney, TX
27 answers

So we are going to Vegas next week. My first time. ya!
So any tips on what to do, shows to watch, dining. We are staying at Paris.
We've been told to wait to buy show tickets till we get there. I guess with the economy how it is they are not selling good right now and we could maybe get a better deal once we are there. What do you think?

1 mom found this helpful

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K.R.

answers from Dallas on

You got lots of great suggestions already. If you want to go out for a nice dinner (pretty expensive but worth it) go to Olives in the Bellagio. It is out of this world.

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C.W.

answers from Dallas on

See if you can get a room w/a view of the strip bc if you're at Paris, you'll be able to watch the Bellagio fountain - BEAUTIFUL. LOVE (the Beatles Cirque de Soleil show) is INCREDIBLE (at the Mirage, I believe) - and if you like opera, The Phantom of the Opera at the Venetian is THE BEST I've ever seen - the stage was built just for Phantom. And if you want cheap/good gambling, the tables downtown on Fremont are less expensive and it's quite fun down there - cost you about a $10 taxi ride to get there from the strip. ENJOY - Vegas is a hell of a good time (pardon my French)!

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S.K.

answers from Dallas on

I would highly recommend Cirque Du Soleil. It is one of the more expensive shows but totally worth it! We went to some cheaper ones and we were so disappointed. Totally loved Cirque Du Soleil.

Have fun!

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K.T.

answers from Dallas on

VEGAS!!! What fun. There is a ton of things to do. I would recommend that if there is one show in particular that you really want to see, then go ahead and buy the tickets now. We ran into that with "O". It was all sold out and we were bummed.

If you have time to tour the grand canyon, that should definitely be on your list. We did a flying otur and it was amazing.

Jubilee is a show at Bally's. It is a true showgirl show and is the oldest and longest running show in Vegas.

Ceasar's Palace has a great dinner and show. It is called Ceasar's Magical Empire. You eat dinner and have a magician that is your waiter/entertainment. They predict what you want ot eat and do magic tricks and then you get a photo souvenir when you leave. Great food and great entertainment.

Of course you have the gondola rides at Paris. Buy your tickets early for that because they fill up fast and you will end up buying your ticket at 10 am and not ride until 2 pm.

There are lots of shows that are completely free. The priate show outside Treasure Island. The fountain show outside of Bellagio. The search for Atlantis show in the Shops at Ceasars. And the flower garden at Bellagio is amazing too and free. Wonderful place to take pictures too.

Hope some of this helps. Enjoy your trip!

1 mom found this helpful
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T.W.

answers from Dallas on

i would recommend cirque du sole, the blue man group, and if you like off beat magic Penn and Teller at the Rio? i think . you can even meet them after the show in the lobby.
Buffets are your best way to go. The hilton Flamingo has a wonderful brunch , sunday is the best of it. but the buffet surrounds an outdoor aquatic sanctuary with fish and and ducks that you can see durring your meal due to the large wall of all windows that is one side of the resturant.

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B.M.

answers from Abilene on

I have read all the responses and you have received some fantastic suggestions. vegas.com is a great website. You can find many things to do that are free to very inexpensive to way beyond my pocket book! Just enjoy!

The last time we were there, my cousin and I took the helicopter ride over Vegas at night and for us it was worth every penny! Next time we are going to take it to the Grand Canyon. Don't miss the Bellagio fountains!

The BEST advice I see you have received is about setting aside money for gambling.That is so VERY important. We always have two pockets. One is for gambling and the other for everything else. That way when the gambling money is gone, it's gone!

You will have a blast and will not run out of things to do!

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L.Z.

answers from Dallas on

How fun! You'll have a blast! My must-do list includes: the Paris buffet (breakfast or dinner), Bellagio light/water show at night, Bellagio conservatory!, Bellagio chocolate fountain parlour, Paris Eiffel tower (day or night), Bally's spicy bloody Mary (theirs are the best), lunch outside at Margaritaville! Oooh, and people watch everywhere you go! Hope this helps! Have fun!

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J.S.

answers from Dallas on

Go see the Blue Man group. It is an AWESOME show. We loved it. I'm jealous.

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C.W.

answers from Dallas on

I've never been, however my Mom has been and I have friends who have been. I've heard to wait and get tickets there. You might find there is a deal with your hotel that you stay with or if you are member of AAA or some other travel club you could possibly get a deal with them there also.

My Mom went to tour MGM Grand Hotel and she said it was fabulous. You may want to check that out for the atmosphere and I believe there is shows there.

I know the ventriloquist that won America's got Talent last year has a show. If you like him or Ventriloquists, you could see his show. He is great and uses a turtle and other puppets. I forgot his name.

If you need more ideas, let me know and I can ask my Mom where she ate and others things she did there. She told me 5 years ago, however I've forgotten some since then. I also have Hypoglycemia, so I'm very forgetful now.

Another idea is ask the locals that live in Las Vegas or work in Las Vegas. I've always found the locals know where the best food is and things to do. You may want to call your hotel where you are staying and talk with someone there on places to dine, shows to see and things to do. Maybe they can send you some brochures. You could check out Fodor's book on Las Vegas or Nevada. In the library they have travel books that you can check out or you can buy them at the bookstore if you would rather do it that way. The authors give their opinions of restaurants and rate them and various activities/enertainment and rate them. It may be a good guide for you to use on what to decide what you want to do while you are there.

Hope this helps! Have a great time!

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P.G.

answers from Dallas on

Just got back from Vegas - go there every year for a conference.
I've stayed at the Paris before, check at the front desk or call the Player's Club to see if you can get an upgrade to the upper floor where breakfast is included for free - very good french food in the morning.
Show Tickets - best kept secret - go the the Fashion Show Mall on the strip. There is a place for 1/2 price show tickets - lower level booth is always packed so go to the upper floor food court and in the middle is a booth selling the same 1/2 price tickets - but NO LINE. We bought Donny & Marie 1/2 price and their show was excellent. We tipped the guy who tkaes you to your seats $20 for better seats and he put us in the president of the hotel booth - front row. Donny sang to us and shook our hands. Great show. Cher is great - her tickets are now 1/2. All of the Cirqu di Sola (?) shows are excellent. The new one is at the beautiful new hotel called Encore which is part of the Wynn. The Encore also has a new rest. called "Switch" that looks great. We stayed at the Palazzo and "Lavo" was really good. Paris has some good food places. Ventician has good Italian rest. in the St. Mark's Square. We ate at the famous chefs Mario Barteli and Emril Lagosse and were not impressed. Ceasers Palace has great food places. Lots of choices. Have fun. Wear comfortable shoes. People really dress up at night.

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C.G.

answers from Amarillo on

You're gonna have a blast! My favorite was the bellagio fountains and the show with the statues at ceasar's palace. They have a pirate show at treasure island. There are tons of things to do there. Even just sightseeing is awesome. Hope you have a great time!!

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M.L.

answers from Dallas on

You have a lot of good suggestions here. Jubliee is a fantastic show at Bally's ( which is connected to Paris). The Price is Right show is a great way to spend an afternoon. If you want to see a magic show, you have to go to Lance Burton at the Monte Carlo, he is the greatest! Paris is a very good location. Centrally located on the strip so you can walk in either direction. Be sure you have some comfortable shoes! Also the spa at Paris is great. A massage always feels good after all that walking. And of course there is always the pool. Paris has a good one. Most of all....ENJOY!!!

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T.B.

answers from Dallas on

Grand Canyon is great but it is a day trip in itself.

Blue man group was great, funny, kids will enjoy it too.

Vegas is known for their buffets...there is a Champaign buffet (Ballys) at one of the restaurants that is really good all you can eat lobster, prime rib, creme brule, caviar, smoked salmon, and 50+ other things. Spice Buffet at Aladdin was good also. Of course there is the restaurant in the Paris which I have heard great things about. There is a famous dessert chef who owns Bellagio Palio Pastries...delicious & decidant. Emeril Lagasse & Bobby Flay also have restaurants in Vegas. I have been to one of Emeril's restaurants in New Orleans...awesome, just awesome.

Things to do...Cirque Du Soleil is suppose to be fantastic. Treasure Island has pyro shows, Bellagio has the fountains, New York has the roller coasters, MGM has tigers & lions, Excalibur & Circus Circus are the best if you are traveling with kids.

Note...If you decide to travel by side walk...do not look down. It is littered with pornography : (

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C.C.

answers from Dallas on

Grand Canyon is awesome but its a day trip in itself. One year we did the bus to the South Rim, and another year we took a tiny plane (8 passengers!) over the Canyon to a ranch on the North Rim. Both were great experiences. South Rim is the most touristy.

You can also spend plenty of time just sightseeing the various, opulent casinos. Bellagio has the fountains and the butterfly exhibit, Venetian is awesome and you can take a gondola ride either inside or out (http://www.venetian.com/Pages.aspx?id=324) or even just visit the pallazzo (sp?) and see the "live" statues and free shows. There is a Titanic exhibit (either at the Luxor or Tropicana). The Mirage has a dolphin cove (http://www.mirage.com/Attractions/). There is an aquarium at Mandalay Bay (http://www.mandalaybay.com/entertainment/sharkreef.aspx). Most of these attractions have a separate cost.

My first time I just had a blast visiting all the casinos and walking the strip and checking out all the gimmicks like the Mirage's volcano or the Treasure Island ship, etc.

And the food is awesome! Go for the buffets!

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C.E.

answers from Dallas on

One thing I would say is that if you are going to gamble make sure to set aside what you plan to spend and dont go over. My hubby and I went and we did just to be doing it and we may have spend $100 but we walked away with $250. We dont gamble though so it was not as much fun as other people made it seem.

I like shows but I was not able to find one decent enough and that may be because I did not do any extensive searching (turned off by the whole nudity thing and all). I would suggest really reading the description prior to going though.

The BESt part of our trip was our bus tour. We went to Notre Dam and the Grand Canyon.

No matter what, be sure to have a BLAST!

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J.R.

answers from Dallas on

There is lots to do in Vegas. There is the M & M store with multiple colors of M&M's. The Coke store is right next to it and next to Coke is a ticket store that you can purchase tickets to some shows at a discount. Of course, just touring the casinos is an adventure. At Mandalay Bay, there is Shark Reef - cost approx $16 for adults. Treasure Island has the pirate show after dark. Bali's has The Price is Right show (you can get tickets at the discount store) then go to sign up to be a contestant.

You won't run out of stuff to do. Have fun!!

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C.B.

answers from Dallas on

Paris is a very good place to stay as a first-timer, being centrally located. Also, you get a "themed" experience and it's well done. There are dozens of shows to see, but expect to pay $50 to $100/ticket. That gets expensive real fast. Remember to bring your best walking shoes; as a first-timer, you will want to visit as many of the marquee casinos as you can to view all the attractions. People watching is fun too. I also recommend renting a convertible for a day and driving out to Hoover Dam, and take the "upgraded" tour. Then you'll have the car to cruise up and down the strip and downtown with the top down - that's fun! Most of the hotels offer free parking.

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A.M.

answers from Dallas on

The cirque du soleil Beatles LOVE show is the best!! What an amazing experience! This show always sells out on weekend shows or it used to. I would buy these tix in advance. This show was well worth every penny!!

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C.B.

answers from Dallas on

Be sure and put on your walking shoes. There is so much to see even if you don't gamble but it does require alot of walking. My parents went and the concierge told them they could not walk the strip but had to take a cab. Then the cab took them on the freeway behind the strip. Not true. You can always take a cab at each hotel back to your own hotel if your feet start hurting. All the hotels are fun to go in and see the buildings. The design of each is very unique and fun to explore. Where are you staying? Have a great time.

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B.F.

answers from Dallas on

I'm so jealous!! My favorite part of every trip we take is staning in front of the Bellaggio at dusk to watch the water show...we usually went every evening for an hour or so. There's, I don't know how may different songs they have shows choreographed, and you meet the neatest poeple in between the shows (that run every 15 or 20 minutes I think). Shows are personal preference, but I've never seen a show better than the Cirque d'Soleil shows. I can't remember which ones are there now but I like them all.

Each hotel has a different hook - MGM has the tigers and lions to go see, Mirage has the dolphins and sharks, Ceasar's Palace has the live statues show, Venetian has the gondola rides, and the Pyramid is just cool. :) Oh, and the roller coasters a a blst if you're into that.
Have a great time!!

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B.S.

answers from Dallas on

My husband and I saw "Ka" at MGM. It was more than fabulous! We would definitely pay to see it again. I think one of my favorite free shows is at the Bellagio with the dancing fountains. They happen every top of the hour I think (maybe 1/2 hour)(?)Most of the big hotels have free shows that happen periodically through the day. Of course, most of the hotels are amazing, but you can't miss Caesar's Palace. Architect and decor are phenomenal. MGM also has lions in a habitat in the lobby that's really cool. You're right next to them. (through the glass of course) Get good walking shoes! Your feet will hurt, I promise!

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L.T.

answers from Dallas on

Cirque d'Soleil shows - Any or all of them. They are all amazing and worth every penny.

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N.P.

answers from Dallas on

I am from Las Vegas and go back about 3 X's a year to visit family. Every time I fly in there something has changed. You can have a lot of fun there with out spending a lot of money. You have been given a lot of good suggestions. There is a lot more to see than just on the strip.

One suggestion is to go down town. It is called Fremont
st. It was Old Las Vegas before the Strip.

The Fremont Street Experience will have you dancing in the street with its $70 million light canopy and 540,000-watt sound system.

Hours of operation: Viva Vision show times are every hour on the hour from 6 p.m. - midnight. This is the lazor show.

From Memorial Day through Labor Day 2009, guests can enjoy free concerts and spectacular laser shows at Fremont Street Experience’s “Summer of ’69: Vegas or Bust” festival. Nightly entertainment includes cover bands and tribute artists, theatrical performances with costumed entertainers, new Viva Vision shows paying tribute to the year 1969 and special guest appearances.
Cost: Free.
Reservations: Not applicable.
Location: Located in downtown Vegas, near the Plaza hotel-casino.

When ever friends go I always tell them to get off the strip and vist Freemont St. Make sure it is in the evening. It really isnt that far from the strip. But you need a car or take a Taxi.

Have fun..... And remember those Casinos were not built on winners. Set a limit on how much you want to spend on gambling and stick with it. I know so many people that runin their trip by spending a lot more than the plan was.

T.F.

answers from Dallas on

We've been a couple of times for meetings. We are not gamblers and Vegas just isn't on my fun thing to do list.

However, I did enjoy going through all the hotels and people watching. See the fountains at Bellagio, Caesar's shopping, Mandalay aquarium, Mirage dolphins. There is a lot to do even if you don't enjoy gambling.

I hated the casinos because they smell so much like smoke and I hate that.

We did see Blue Man group and loved it. We had tickets in advance and had front row seats. We had to wear the slickers because the paint and mess was splattered everywhere. Great show. Daughter got autographs afterwards.

Oh, the Spa was great. Best massage I ever got.

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D.R.

answers from Dallas on

Make sure you get a bus ticket. They are cheap and a great way to travel. I think a day ticket is 3 dollars and it stops along the strip and at night, if you have heels on it is so worth the money.

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K.M.

answers from Dallas on

When you get there, ask for an upgrade especially if it is for an anniversary or birthday. We told them it was our first time and they put us in a huge suite overlooking the Bellagio. We had a living room with a small kitchenette, a huge bedroom, a bathroom with a huge shower and a huge spa tub. Definitely go to the bar at the top of the Rio. It has a tremendous view. But, go early so you can sit at a table for free because later they charge a bottle fee. It is free outside. Any of the magic shows and if you are into shopping, there is a great mall there. Gambling is cheaper downtown ($5 tables and they have a great brunch that will keep you full until dinner. Make sure you visit as many of the Casinos as you can. They are incredible. You have been given some great advice so, you can't go wrong.

K.R.

answers from Dallas on

I did not read all your responses so I apologize if these suggestions are a duplicate. The roller coaster at New York, New York is fun. The best buffet in Vegas is definitely the one at The Rio, and all of the Cirque du Sole shows are wonderful. Also, the Forum Shops at Caesar's are nice. Have fun!!!

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