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Vegas (3 Viewers)
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Judge Smails
Footballguy
Headed to LV for Stones on 10/22. Staying at Mandalay Bay. Looking to do something Friday night
Michael Brown
Footballguy
My reviews of a few places having been in LV from Thursday afternoon til yesterday morning...
Thursday night Caesar's buffet was really good. Not sure I would rave about it, but it did the job. After dinner we went to Absinthe. Ended up getting the table in the back, and was really happy we did. The first row looked cool, but a lot of the action was overhead. Feel like it was a more comfortable viewing experience from the back. They tormented a few audience members, and only one of them was a Richard about it. There was one segment with a dude splashing around in a tub and getting everyone in the first few rows drenched, so that also made the back row a good call.
After a mandatory breakfast at Mon Ami Gabi, we hit up downtown Friday night. Had pizza at Chicago Brewing Co, very good. Mostly walked around and watched the mayhem a bunch, and we ended up doing the high zip line. Really cool even though we hadda wait in line for almost an hour.
Saturday night another mandatory meal at Craftsteak as we had to introduce the rest of our group. Wife and I did the domestic wagyu beef selection of ribeye and filet, and I actually liked the ribeye more. We also had SEVERAL of the Two Smoking Barrels. I'm no connoisseur, but it was off the charts great. Definitely livened up the mood for the show Fantasy over at Luxor. Ashton was both of our favorite...
Everything you guys said about Yardbird is true. Now I've never been to Texas or Tennessee so take this with a pillar of salt. But for a Jersey guy, this was the best fried chicken I ever had. Bet on all the games Sunday BECAUSE I COULD, but ended up watching them on an ipad while poolside at The Mirage. Just too much scenery out there to spend a sunny afternoon in the book with a bunch of dudes...wandered the strip after dinner gambling and ended up doing the High Roller with open bar. Definitely recommend the open bar portion, and we caught a Bellaggio fountain show from the top of the ferris wheel which was pretty neat. All in all, Vegas...
Thursday night Caesar's buffet was really good. Not sure I would rave about it, but it did the job. After dinner we went to Absinthe. Ended up getting the table in the back, and was really happy we did. The first row looked cool, but a lot of the action was overhead. Feel like it was a more comfortable viewing experience from the back. They tormented a few audience members, and only one of them was a Richard about it. There was one segment with a dude splashing around in a tub and getting everyone in the first few rows drenched, so that also made the back row a good call.
After a mandatory breakfast at Mon Ami Gabi, we hit up downtown Friday night. Had pizza at Chicago Brewing Co, very good. Mostly walked around and watched the mayhem a bunch, and we ended up doing the high zip line. Really cool even though we hadda wait in line for almost an hour.
Saturday night another mandatory meal at Craftsteak as we had to introduce the rest of our group. Wife and I did the domestic wagyu beef selection of ribeye and filet, and I actually liked the ribeye more. We also had SEVERAL of the Two Smoking Barrels. I'm no connoisseur, but it was off the charts great. Definitely livened up the mood for the show Fantasy over at Luxor. Ashton was both of our favorite...
Everything you guys said about Yardbird is true. Now I've never been to Texas or Tennessee so take this with a pillar of salt. But for a Jersey guy, this was the best fried chicken I ever had. Bet on all the games Sunday BECAUSE I COULD, but ended up watching them on an ipad while poolside at The Mirage. Just too much scenery out there to spend a sunny afternoon in the book with a bunch of dudes...wandered the strip after dinner gambling and ended up doing the High Roller with open bar. Definitely recommend the open bar portion, and we caught a Bellaggio fountain show from the top of the ferris wheel which was pretty neat. All in all, Vegas...
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coyote5
Footballguy
I just stayed at the Trop in March. Was with buddies and gambling alot so not looking for upper end luxury or anything, but it was nice, clean and comfortable. Would stay there again 100%.
EYLive
Footballguy
Has anyone been to multiple Absinthe shows? Are there variations to the acts? I might be going back to Vegas in November and I'd definitely see it again, especially if they switch up the acts.
jvdesigns2002
Footballguy
The Tropicana is basically an old hotel that has went through a renovation the last couple of years. They basically painted the entire exterior an alpine white and they did freshen up the interior. It has a bit of an old school Miami vibe with the all white paint in my opinion. Regardless--I personally don't think that either the New York New York, nor the Tropicana will blow you away in regards to their standard accomodations. Their locations are also fairly similar--so that's a fairly lateral move.
If I was in your shoes--I'd personally go for the savings and stay at the Trop. Most people use their rooms in Vegas to sleep and shower and to be located close to the action. Their locations are similar--and while New York New York might have slightly better accomodations--I don't know if I'd call them being worth $75 extra per night. Another reason why I like the Trop is because there is a pedestrian bridge that takes you right to the MGM grand. From the MGM grand--you can purchase monorail tickets that can take you anywhere from the SLS, the Westgate and to numerous other stops along the strip without having to deal with the rigors of taxi lines or traffic.
I stayed there for one night before moving on to The Venetian and enjoyed it. Nothing spectacular, but a decent hotel in a central location.
coyote5
Footballguy
Yeah there is a 0% chance the NYNY is significantly better accomodations than the Trop.
soothsayer
Footballguy
I've seen it three times. There are slight variations, depending on which performers they have under contract at the time. I know the show has changed significantly in the past year, and it will again with the move down the strip. Honestly though, even if the act is the same I would enjoy it multiple times (that's what she said).EYLive said:
EYLive
Footballguy
It's moving to the Cosmo in November right? I wonder if the ticket price will increase.
offdee
Footballguy
Thanks for the info on the possibility of getting wet up front. I had tickets in the 4th row, but just called to change them to the last row in front of the back walking aisle (the final row of seats in front of the back tables). My gf and I will be going out to a club after this show and she will be dressed to the nines, and would be pissed if got all drenched here. She'll have to wait til later in the night to get soaked.
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Bobcat10
Footballguy
I'm sure you are right, but I haven't stepped into the Trop in a long time. Does it have the dining options like NYNY has? I'm sure that factors into some of the cost when booking weekends. As someone mentioned, timing is everything. I saw weekdays at NYNY real cheap recently, under 100.
coyote5
Footballguy
Good thing to bring up, can you weigh in on what dining options are at NYNY? The Trop has a few basic choices, nothing special. I'll say this, the breakfast buffet was not impressive. I was speaking more towards the rooms, cleanliness, comfort level, etc. and its proximity to ammenities at other Casinos (MGM) Honestly, I don't think many are staying at either NYNY or the Trop for the restaurants, I'd be planning to dine elsewhere most times. MGM is right across the street with several really good restaurants. If NYNY has good restaurants in house and that is something that whoever asked the question is interested in, then that should factor into the booking decision because I don't think you're getting it at the Trop.
offdee
Footballguy
This is where I just booked for me and gf. We don't need a casino and that means no smoking, less noise, etc and all in a great location. Staying a Thursday and Friday night and got it for $130 night.
Osaurus
Footballguy
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offdee
Footballguy
How did you go about this...just hand them a $20 and say "how about an upgrade"? I've heard of the sandwich technique...put a $20 in between ID and credit card when hand it over to them.
Osaurus
Footballguy
Just asked if they had any complimentary upgrades available and slid a folded up $20 across the counter.
Bobcat10
Footballguy
NYNY basically sets up like you're walking around "NYC" with a bunch of different restaurants in the same area. I ate at the Mexican place YEARS ago (it was ok, probably can find much better) and the Italian place last week. Italian was good (entrees in the 20's mostly, the small plate tasting trio was 33 and the third plate was the exact size, huge, as my single entree which I was not too pleased about, I would have just got the trio to get the spicy shrimp and pear ravioli small plates along with it), not super good/expensive like IL Mulino at Caesars. If you want a top notch Italian dining experience go to Il Mulino. We didn't stay at NYNY last week, but we were walking through it quite a bit as the Mandalay tram lets you off there. There are also some cool looking places right outside NYNY by the Arena for quick eats. Bier Garden had some $5 quality beer drafts and the waffle sandwich place was pretty darn tasty. The steakhouse Gallagers at NYNY looked pretty good as they had their cuts on display. Not sure how the prices compare to other quality steak places though as there is no shortage of them on the strip. There's a piano bar there if that's your thing too, people get all crazy for those. Can't speak for anything else there really.
Michael Brown
Footballguy
They did give like a plastic sheet to the people in the very first few rows, but the dude was kicking water EVERYWHERE. Plus if you saw the guy, some of these people were getting drenched anyway. So no matter where you sit, your girlfriend will be no exception. Possibly not even you. He's an easy Offdee 10. :NTTAWWT:
kutta
Footballguy
Absolutely!MINExpo? I'll be there Mon-Wed too, also staying at Flamingo
We will have a booth - look for the Kutta Radios booth and come by and say hi!
Do you have a booth?
Rick James
Footballguy
Special memory of that particular CVS. My wife and I were walking down to NYNY to ride the coaster when she had a feeling that she needed to take a pregnancy test. Went in that CVS and bought a test and took it to the bathroom in the back and 60 seconds later we found out she was pregnant. I rode the coaster solo (overrated).
James Daulton
Footballguy
Does this work everywhere? Do they ever say no and keep the money? Is $20 enough?Osaurus said:
parasaurolophus
Footballguy
I got screwed at the monte carlo. No upgrade and she kept the money. Pissed me off. Gave her the 20 in between my license and credit card. The 20 fell on her keyboard and she brushed it off to the side. Still in plain sight to both of us. It was like she was pretending she didnt see it.
Osaurus
Footballguy
leftcoastguy7
Footballguy
On a recent trip to Vegas, I was surprised at the number of new Walgreens and CVSes that were on the strip. I thought... there must be a lot of tourists that need deodorant or something!!
Bobcat10
Footballguy
Yep, I remember seeing 3-4 now and I didn't get north of Harrahs....along with a few liquor stores. There's even a gas station down by Trop/Excalibur/Luxor area.
kevzilla
Footballguy
That's the only instance I've ever heard of where they kept the money and didn't do anything. I would have demanded it back.
Anyone interested in this topic should check out Frontdesktip.com
Cjw_55106
Footballguy
The Z Machine
Footballguy
I might be in town in Jan for World of Concrete. Never been to the show. Just putting it out there if anyone else is going to that particular trade show.
jvdesigns2002
Footballguy
As a Vegas veteran--I can absolutely tell you that it is 1000% worth tipping the person that checks you in your room at the registration desk. I go to Vegas 10+ times per year--so I can tell you first hand that this strategy works the VAST majority of the time. However--the key to doing it properly is to present it as a tip--and not a bribe for some sort of upgrade (even though it is). I think $20 is a fine amount--in most instances (if you are going to stay at the Bellagio for the week of New Years--$20 won't get you an upgrade). I generally hand them my drivers licence and credit card--and then hand them a $20 bill and say "and this is for you". Normally they'll ask why--and I'll usually say something to the effect of "I've tipped everybody in this town ---from the person that opens the door of my taxi--to the person that helped me with my bag--it wouldn't make sense for me not to tip and show appreciation to the person that has a far bigger impact on the happiness of my stay". You have to remember that the way Vegas runs--they might be giving you a free upgrade that you aren't even aware of. For example--one of the "unspoken" and relatively "unknown" silent rules in Vegas is that even standard rooms with a strip view are considered premium. If you book a standard room in Vegas online at some sort of good pricing--they are going to try to get you a non-strip view room when you check in. Many hotels now charge an extra $20-40 per night to upgrade into a standard room that just happens to have a view. I find that even worse case scenario--if you tip the registration person--they will at the very least try to assign you a room with the better view. Best case scenario--they will upgrade you to a premium room or a suite if available. Regardless--it's something that I think every Vegas visitor should do. People drop $20 in 5 minutes gambling in the casino like it's nothing. You might as well use that money to vastly increase your chances of making a fun trip even better.
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parasaurolophus
Footballguy
About 6-7 trips ago I decided I waste way too much time waiting for elevators. I now research how the banks are divided. So For example if the elevator banks for rooms are 5-16, 17-28, 29-40 I ask for a room on the 5th floor near the elevators. Turns out I am like the only person on the planet that likes these rooms so they are usually available. Frequently they are even suites that I get upgraded to. I even joke around with them and say I prefer a furnace view to an air conditioning view.jvdesigns2002 said:
I sleep like a rock so the noise doesnt affect me one bit and the strip view does nothing for me.
ETA:frequently is relatively small sample size of 3 out of 7.
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James Daulton
Footballguy
Tix4Tonight thoughts? Rip Off or good deals?
Cjw_55106
Footballguy
It's legit. If they have a show you want, it's a good route to go. If it's a popular/new show, you probably won't get tickets from them.
kutta
Footballguy
Interesting you say this. I had a "crummy" room at the flamingo this trip. It was on floor 4 right by the elevators. I loved it.
James Daulton
Footballguy
Can you Uber from the airport to the strip?
James Daulton
Footballguy
I like gambling at the Flamingo's casino next to the doors that open onto the strip. They leave them open quite often and it's been a cool, relaxed vibe in the past.
ArbyMelt
Footballguy
James Daulton
Footballguy
3 hour lunch
Footballguy
just got back from 4 nights in a fountain-facing balcony room at Cosmo. Highly recommend. Jaleo is good eats @ Cosmo too, and love the Chandelier Bar. Awesome drink service at the slots. Good spa/pools.
offdee
Footballguy
Is Uber or Lyft better in Vegas? Anybody with experience recommend doing this over taxis?
One tip I got from past for getting from the airport to the strip = Request to take the back highway route and not the strip or tunnel...much faster and cheaper.
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