I saw a lot of Cirque touring shows in the 90s when I dated someone who was obsessed with it. I think I’d like the O show, but would rather see it someday with my kids. I think I’d spend the whole time wishing they were there.
2 Likes
I don’t mind driving in unfamiliar areas I mind parking in unfamiliar areas! Meters garages ect
have you looked into the monorail? Official Route Map of the Las Vegas Monorail
we were supposed to leave for Vegas tomorrow but I had to reschedule do to health issues. I had actually not planned on renting a car until later in the trip for hoover dam and Zion portions we had planned on using the monorail and walking the strip area.
2 Likes
Do your research. When you look at the maps of the Strip, realize the scale of everything! Yes, it’s fun and easy to just walk from one hotel/casino to the next, again and again, but soon you will find you are a long ways from where you started. It’s more than three miles of walking, to go from the Mandalay Bay (at the south end of the Strip) to Circus Circus (almost north end). Things look so close on a map, but it’s deceptive.
The Strip has changed.I agree with @QwertySC
We made many trips there over the years, mostly for business, but it’s been a while for me - until last October. Now the hotel/casinos on the Strip are built out to the sidewalk and are just crammed together, trying to utilize every square foot along the street.
Vegas is definitely a different kind of place! It’s one of those places where you just have to see it in person. It sounds like you have a good plan started.
4 Likes
O is the best show I’ve ever seen in my life. I’ve seen it twice. I get you’d feel bad but I’d do it anyway. I loved it all the more the second time.
Be sure when you’re at the Bellagio to check out the chocolate shop with its fountains too.
6 Likes
I did this. It was back in 2003 or 4. Myself, fiance, and a friend. We thought it was way over priced … Until we took off. It was one of the best experiences I’ve ever done in Vegas. Worth it!
3 Likes
I also did a helicopter tour from Vegas to the Grand Canyon (flew by Hoover Dam too), last November. It was a splurge, around $429, but I figured I wasn’t going to make a special trip to the GC so this was the only way I was going to see it. And it was definitely worth the money to me. But I wouldn’t recommend it if you don’t like flying. The flight was the best part of the tour for me, but my heart did some fluttering at moments.
2 Likes
This is exactly what I was going to say. It would be perfect for the last day to give you a little quiet time in the desert if you don’t do the grand canyon.
Save the helicopter ride for being at the GC with your family. Experience of a life time.
As far as doing a little gambling, you are going to think I sound crazy, but the best odds for the player and the most fun on your own is playing craps. I was a complete gambling newbie when I went to a conference at Caesars palace in Vegas. I watch several videos on playing craps and learned the three basic bets which is all you need to know. I had the best time playing really suprised myself.
The biggest challenge is that the minimum bets are mostly now $25 at night. So bets add up quickly. But Paris and a few other places appear to have some $10 tables during the day. The Venetian is $15 during the day. It would give you a real Vegas experience, a rowdy craps table is really awesome.
5 Likes
I’d suggest:
Freemont Street Experience for two hours, especially at night. You will see scantily clad street performers, street magicians, classic rock cover bands playing on outdoor stages, people creating art, dirt cheap tourist stores, the overhead show set to music, people ziplining overhead, multiple casinos, multiple restaurants, all in kind of an outdoor mall setting, no cars, but there are one or two streets that run perpendicular through it. Usually lots of people around, especially at night. You’ll see ppl walking around with drinks, and smell weed. Some of the performers are fantastic - juggling, tin drums, magic, dancing, some of them just take photos with you for a few dollars, but they might only be wearing a diaper, or ladies in lingerie with whips, musicians. I HIGHLY recommend Freemont Street - it’s a scene, for sure.
From Freemont Street, go to Container Park for an hour - two hours if you like a drink, and popping into small shops. Definitely go at night, but try to plan it while the shops are still open. At night, you’ll wanna see the giant mantis spit fire into the air, set to music. Container Park has a stage at one end, and sometimes at night, they’ll have a band playing. There’s a few bars where you can snag a seat/table outside, and watch the band.
Vegas for food? If Korean BBQ and Sushi suit your fancy, you can throw a rock and hit an all you can eat version of both places with the same rock, same throw. It’s CRAZY. There is no chance I go to Vegas and don’t have AYCE Kbbq and Sushi. NO chance at all. Try to get off the strip for each and save money, but you can do both on the strip, or VERY close. Sushi and KBBQ competition is FIERCE, so, you’ll probably be just fine at any of them. My favorites: Sushi Neko, and Captain 6 - both are off the strip in “Chinatown.”
I love magic shows, so I am biased. I’d see one. Get on Groupon, and just pick one or two.
If you are there, and “Potted Potter” is playing - if you know of any Harry Potter stuff, PLEASE go see Potted Potter. Again, Groupon.
They have a newish version of Soarin - I think it’s called Fly Over. Groupon. They have a small handful of different flight versions to take. I’d go again, and probably will.
Red Rock is a good day trip - you can drive through, and pick which vistas you’d like to stop at and walk around. I wouldn’t worry too much about stamina. The vistas are marked, some have parking lots, and you can get out and choose how far you’d like to walk around, and take pictures. You can see what you are getting into, and where people are going - you do not have to follow them, there will be plenty of great views right outside of your car. There are a good handful of stops, too. All on a driving path. You drive the path, stop at a marked area, park, walk to the viewing area, or start of a hiking path, do what you want, then get back in the car, and drive the path to the next one.
You’ll prolly wanna do the whole iconic Bellagio Fountain (if they are still running the shows,) and then go inside for their themed flower display (both free.)
The Pinball Museum is VERY close to the big Vegas photo-op sign. The Pinball Museum is a decent sized arcade with TONS of functioning pinball machines that you can play. Lots of old school pinball and super old school video games.
TONS of videos on youtube for you for restaurants and stuff to do.
ETA: If you are from an area where recreational weed is not legal, be prepared to smell REALLY good weed out and about everywhere. It still kinda shocks me. I’m no prude at all, but it just kinda shocks me that it’s basically like smoking a cigarette outside now. You’ll just be walking (or even driving) and at any given moment you’ll get a SERIOUS cloud of STRONG, GOOD, DELICIOUS, STINKY weed. HIGH grade stuff. You’ll see - 
6 Likes
I kinda disagree with the advice that you don’t need to plan much for Vegas. Many of the best attractions are pretty far apart from each other. It’s not like Disney where you can just sort of wander and be entertained at every turn. Also everything is super expensive—more so even than Disney, I think.
My husband and I visited for the first time in November. We stayed 4 nights at the Paris. My favorite things:
- Bellagio fountains. We saw several different song-length programs at various times (our hotel was right across the street). The music runs from classical to pop.
- Mirage Volcano. Fun fact: Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart, co-created and performed the soundtrack.
- Big Elvis at Harrah’s piano bar. Long-time impersonator, past his prime, in an intimate space. Tawdry and ridiculous yet somehow heartwarming—the essence of Vegas.
- Some of the hotel public spaces with their Disneyesque theming.
- Helicopter tour to Grand Canyon.
Other things we enjoyed: High Roller giant ferris wheel, Cabinet bar, Esther’s Kitchen restaurant, Mob Museum, Downtown Container Park, Carrot Top comedy show. All were fun but I wouldn’t say any were must-do’s. I would have liked to see O but it’s so expensive!
One thing I regret missing was Omega Mart at Area 15. I was afraid it might give my husband a panic attack so we didn’t get around to it.
My biggest beef was that the city is so car-centric. The main drag is very wide and crossing the street is a major undertaking; you either wait a long time in a big crowd at one of the few crosswalks, or tromp up and down stairs to pass over the street via the overpass walkways. I found walking the Strip tedious and exhausting (and I can walk all day in Disney parks).
I love urban landscapes and other built environments like theme parks. But I didn’t like Vegas. After we’d been touring the city a bit, I turned to my husband and asked, “How would you describe Vegas in one word?” He immediately answered “Tacky,” and I said “That’s exactly the word I was thinking of.” (I realize I’m saying this in a Disney forum. But while Disney can be cheesy, it’s mostly not tacky, and that’s a big difference.)
I enjoyed the visit and am glad I saw Vegas once, but mostly for the anthropological interest.
4 Likes
I found walking the Strip sidewalks just so unpleasant. Crowded, a bit dirty, and not much loveliness to look at.
3 Likes
I was just there for my first time last month. A couple of thoughts:
1- Downtown/Fremont St.- we combined this with a trip to the Neon Museum (which is a little farther north, not walkable between the two). The Museum has a day self-guided tour and a night time guided tour. I’m not sure if it would still work for you but in Dec the late-day tickets (they’re all timed-arrival) actually go into dusk/nighttime so we could see the lights but not pay the extra amount. Those times sell out first. One of the world’s largest gold nuggets is on display in the Golden Nugget on Fremont. I’ve also heard good things about the Mob Museum in this part of town but we didn’t have time.
2. If you like old arcade games and pinball machines, the “Pinball Hall of Fame” is at the very south end of the strip. It’s not really a “Hall of Fame” but a huge arcade where for 25-75 cents you can play all kinds of classics. Had a lot more fun here than playing the slots!
3. Valley of Fire- this is a nearby State Park. We used “Love Hikes” to take us out for trip (they offer different levels of hikes) and had a great time. Since it’s so close its not as much of a time commitment.
4. Hoover Dam- we also did a trip out there (what can I say, we’re not gamblers and lot of the shows were at night!). I’d recommend a tour that includes the powerplant- it’s pretty interesting to see.
5. There’s so many lyft, uber and tour operators that a car rental isn’t necessary. Personally we didn’t find the monorail worth while given the cost and stop locations but it’s another option. Word of warning: do not take a rideshare out to Hoover or other outside-the-city location. You may find someone to take you there but you can easily get stuck (we met one such unlucky couple).
4 Likes
It strikes me that I just described New York, where I work and where I enjoy walking. There’s some loveliness on the NYC streets, but it’s mostly just more interesting and real. And the people-watching is better. And it’s a lot easier to get around.
4 Likes
Valley Of Fire is penciled in for our next trip in early March. We are not gamblers at all, and generally stay out of the casinos unless it’s to hit a show. Love to hear any “do not miss” thoughts on VOF if you have any.
For the OP - also - if you enjoy live music - I think it’s wise to check if any bands you like will be in town when you are there. One thing Vegas has is tons of touring bands, you might be surprised to find one that you’d like to see.
2 Likes
The advice not to overplan is about not booking a bunch of things in advance. Aside from a high profile show or a must have dinner reservation, I wouldn’t recommend doing much else. Research and plan, yes. Commit to a schedule, not necessary.
4 Likes
Oh, okay, this I can agree with!
2 Likes
Vegas was so much colder than I expected!
1 Like
Do this! I’m not a big fan but I’d go see her for the spectacle! Perfect for Vegas!
2 Likes
This is exactly what I did.
1 Like
I’ve only been to Vegas once but the highlight was Red Rock Scooter Tours and it looks like they now offer van only tours too. They will pick you up from your hotel and drive you out to Red Rock and back. If doing the scooters they give a quick lesson on riding once at Red Rock then you follow the guide around making a few stops along the way. 100% recommend.
4 Likes
I loved O, but Ka was even better!
3 Likes