Tips for First Timers & What to Expect

First time visiting Fabulous Las Vegas? Below are a few pointers from Cindy to consider in order to make your trip more enjoyable: what to pack, when to go, what to expect.

When to go and comments on the weather.

Depending on the time of year, Vegas can be hot and then cold, or vice versa in the span of a day. During our winter months in Alberta, it is winter in Vegas too and not the heat seekers' mecca that some would believe. Don't get me wrong... plus 12C is good enough for me when I am coming from minus 30C. However, the pools are closed during the winter months in Vegas because it is too chilly to be lounging outside in swim clothes. For example, it is January 29th and the temperature this morning in Edmonton is minus10 C and the temperature in Vegas is only plus 5 C. That is not very warm! You will have to pack a spring jacket (or something warmer) for early in the day and evenings. It is tricky because you are inside climate-controlled casinos, outside in hot sun, or in cool shade that can sometimes be downright chilly. If there are winds.... that is another story.  January 2010 has been the worst month for weather on record in Vegas.  Brrr! I have been there in Januarys past and had to buy a heavy waterproof spring coat while there because I didn't anticipate the miserable weather.

Summer in Vegas can be punishing as explained in this exchange:

[Vegas Resident] "Go outside? Why?"
[me, naively..] Well....to walk from one casino to another...?
[Vegas Resident] "You don't go outside - it is too hot! It is like having a blower dryer on the hottest setting that is blowing in your face the entire time. We don't go outside unless we have to."

A friend said the rivets on the back pockets of her pants got so hot she had burn marks on her butt. Yowch! So if you go in the summer and you can't take the heat, pick a casino that has all the amenities you could possibly want and DON'T go outside. Or if you do, take a cab!  And make sure the driver isn't stingy with the AC!!!

However, it is a dry heat and those from more humid climates may find it very comfortable and even soothing.  You can always pop into a casino where the AC is blasting away & cool down for a bit.  If you are trekking up & down the Strip on foot in the heat of the day, pack some water, slather on the sunscreen & even don a hat if necessary because you can be quite a distance from AC & shade. 

Vegas is busy since there are so many conventions going on in Vegas at one time. Check the Convention Calendar to see what is on! Might be some interesting folks sitting next to you at the slot machines. It is busy there all the time so if you are not used to throngs of people and general hub-bub, Vegas may not be for you. The "overwhelmingness" of Superbowl madness when you arrive at your hotel at 8:00 a.m. from the airport is almost enough to make you want to turn around and get back on the airplane. If you are staying 5 days it gets better because the biggest crowds are only there for the weekend. Vegas becomes Really Insanely BUSY during:

1. New Years (the biggest event and the room prices sky-rocket!)
2. Superbowl (first weekend in February),
3. March Madness (NCAA basketball event last 2 weeks of March),
4. Spring break (every weekend in March).
5. Memorial day (last weekend in May)
6. July 4 if it falls on a weekend
7. Labor Day weekend (first Monday in September)
8. Thanksgiving (last weekend in November)
9. NFR - National Finals Rodeo (early December)

Summer is considered low season for reasons mentioned above, so unless you love to roast in the heat you are doomed to visit Vegas during peak season.


However, any holiday in Vegas is a reason for a party (and for people to dress and act like they are in X-rated films) so if Valentines Day, St. Patricks Day, or Halloween falls on a weekend, look out!  Leave Grandma at home!  Since most of these events attract partiers that only tend to stay over the weekend, you will get some respite come Monday.  If you must go at these times then don't say I didn't warn you.  Sundays through Thursday tend to be 'quieter'. Expect to see the unexpected and to see extremes of everything imaginable including people and places and everything in between.

A look at what and how to pack for your visit ....

Have you always wanted to go to Vegas but thought the lack of sequins in your wardrobe would hold you back? Not to worry!

The very first time I went, well actually weeks before, I was paralyzed by the idea of packing a suitable wardrobe for my visit to Glitter Gulch. Funny thing is..... once you get there it doesn't matter what you are wearing because nobody is looking at YOU...unless you are a hot 20 year old. The 20-somethings probably aren't reading this blog but note that they are probably looking at what others wear, as well as expecting others to check out their attire! Regardless, the spectacle of Vegas trumps your brand new jeans, designer T-shirt and fancy new footwear but don't let that stop you from wearing them! And don't worry that you won't fit in if you ARE NOT wearing sequins. However, if you got 'em and like to wear them, now is your chance! The tourists that inundate the Strip are from every walk of life and definitely HAVE NOT stepped off any New York catwalks. The ones who seem to think they have to dress in "sequins before 5, Vegas-style" are:

• the blue haired set with the bedazzeled T's;
• the barely legal ones who think you need to dress like Paris Hilton, or a porn star to fit in on the Strip; and
• 'escorts' and show girls (but they are working so they are forgiven).

If you are staying in a 5-star casino/hotel, the clientele tend to dress WAY better than the clientele at a 3-star resort so this may give you an idea of what to pack if you like 'fitting in'.

The shoes you choose MUST be comfortable walking shoes, not the "I can stand around in these all day" as my hair stylist friend found out the hard way. There definitely is a difference and you don't want to be limping around after the first 4 hours of touring. Even though I wear heels everyday at work, I can NOT wear them in Vegas. If I am dressing up to go to a show and the venue is in my hotel I will bring heels. If the show is elsewhere, the walk to and from the cab to the venue can be killer on your tootsies since most of the hotels are measured in acres, not square feet. Also, I find the humidity or lack thereof can cause blisters and sore spots I don't normally experience. Going to one show, I saw a lady carrying a little satchel and when she got to the venue, out came her fabulous heels and the walking shoes went in the pouch. Good tip for those of us who can't pass up the opportunity to wear our sparkly/pretty shoes! As an aside, on recent trips, we couldn't help but notice the ubiquitous white trainers/walking shoes that a certain demographic were fond of sporting. It almost became a game to see how many shiny & new white 'athletic' shoes we could spot.

Try not to pack blue jeans because they are hot in the warm temperatures and weigh your suitcase down. If it is really cold when I leave Edmonton I would maybe wear them on the plane and then set them aside once I get checked into the hotel for the trip home again. I would suggest packing cotton trousers and capris for ladies and khakis or chinos for guys as they weigh less! When I go to Vegas I expect to shop (a lot!) and hope to find bargains on clothes or things that I don't see at home. My suitcase is almost always twice as heavy going home. You typically have to pay extra once you go over the 50 pound limit on your checked luggage. That can be a shock to the wallet! Check the fine print on your airline's website to determine what size of suitcases are allowed. The rules seem to change constantly. I take the minimum amount of clothes and the lightest weight shoes I have. On a 5-day trip I take 1 jacket for day, 1 jacket for evening, 3-4 pairs of pants with a pair that can double as dress pants, 6-8 tee-shirts, a sweater or a long sleeve shirt or two. I am always on the lookout for walking shoes that are light weight because I will bring 3-4 pairs of them with me. Most of these I have bought in Vegas because they have a good selection. By the end of day 1 your feet are tired and a change of shoes can help sooth them so you can go out again that evening. I always change my shoes twice a day. Shopping tip for women looking for stylish but comfy shoes in Vegas: take note of what the cocktail waitresses are wearing & even ask them about the brands. We've been in tons of shoe stores in Vegas but for great looking, comfortable shoes check out the impressive selection at Dillards and Nordstoms in the Fashion Show Mall.

Scoping out the hotels for future visits.  (Doing this footwork might pay off if you plan to visit again and want a different hotel/casino experience.)

The hotels offer incentives to gamble at their casinos. If you sign up for a players' card you may receive a free gift (or not!) and reams of coupons - some useful & others not so much.  Even if you think from the outset that this is your one and only trip to Vegas, consider  joining a hotel's players' club, or possibly every hotel's players' club. This costs you nothing, and players/members often get nifty offers in the mail for heavily discounted, and occasionally even free, rooms (plus meals, shows, and so on). Players' clubs reward you with freebies and discounts when you play in their casinos, regardless of whether you win. Recently, ridiculous bargains were showing up in e-mail boxes...like the Bellagio for $59 a night. How much you have to play to get these deals varies, but if you are going to gamble anyway, why not make it work more to your advantage? You can sign up online, which will get you e-mail only offers. You can do this on almost every hotel's website, and it's worth it, though it does mean scheduling your Vegas vacation to take advantage of the times the offers are valid.

A Few Vegas Videos

This is a video of one of the water shows of the fabulous Fountains at the Bellagio.  The lake that the fountains are situated in is 6 acres and the water cannons shoot jets of water about 100 feet into the air! Keep this in mind as you watch the videos. We were lucky enough to catch an early show while we were on the Eiffel Tower observation deck 460' above enjoying the view.  The video featured below is Con Te Partiro (Time to Say Goodbye) as sung by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman.  Don't mind the commentary at the beginning from the lady next to me, as well as her occassional 'bella'.  We can actually hear the music.  Even with a view from that height it is still very moving.  Enjoy!


To see Time to Say Goodbye at night is twice as lovely and here is another YouTube clip of the same piece viewed from the Eiffel Tower in the daytime. (my clip above is only the last half of the same piece.) Haven't seen enough? Here is another piece Rondine al Nido by Pavarotti at night - up close and personal. Bella, indeed! Bring a hanky!

And now for something a little more exuberant - Hoe Down at the Bellagio.  This is one of my favorites! Youtube has hundreds of video clips of the various fountain 'performances' if you want to view more.
This is the first half of Don MacLean's American Pie featured on the gigantic Viva Vision screen over top of Fremont Street.  Grab a beer from the ABC store and look up!

Where we like to stay...

To start, let me say this - yes, there are many other hotels that are more modern, more luxurious, more hip, more everything than the Flamingo. The Flamingo is our pick for reasons that aren't on the top of everyone's wish list in a fabulous 5-star property. If you have been to Vegas enough times, you will realize that the hotels are basically all the same, just some are waaaaaay more expensive and they still have the same inherent problems as some of the more reasonably priced hotels.  For example: scary rooms (yes, even in the Bellagio), spotty or snotty service, obnoxious guests, noisy, smokey, etc. That being said, I will now explain why we like staying at this [don't shudder] 3-star property...

We have stayed several times at the Flamingo and the best feature of the hotel is its location. It's central - mid-Strip – the best place to be - with entrances that are right at the Strip's edge. You literally walk out the doors & hit the sidewalk on the Strip. At one door the Deuce bus stop is right in front of you. Unlike those HUGE resorts/casinos that want to encourage you to stay on the property, at the Flamingo you don't have to walk forever to get through the hotel/casino & then walk even more to get to the Strip.
They have 'Deluxe Rooms' & the 'GO Rooms' (a play on the word 'FlaminGO'). We used to stay in the Deluxe rooms which are nothing special and getting really dated (see the Twilight Zone at the Flamingo). On our last visit we stayed in the very mod GO rooms for around $60 a night (a deal at the time!). The GO rooms are equipped with mini-fridge, a very large plasma TV, Denon DVD system, curtains that open & close at the push of a button, & a telly invisibly embedded in the mirror in the loo! You'll have to check out the room photos on the website.

Do your homework on the various hotels and shop around. We like to read reviews on TripAdvisor for the latest news on the different properties.

We stayed off-Strip in October 2008 at the Orleans. It was great. We stayed for 5 nights & it was around $300 for the 2 of us. There is a free shuttle bus that runs every 20 minutes or so between the Orleans & Bill's Gambling Hall (right next to the Flamingo) from 9:30AM to midnight. Tip the driver $1 per person for each ride (less than a 15-minute trip one-way). Sometimes the shuttle will veer off to the Gold Coast Casino (a nearby sister hotel) but that's no big deal. The rooms here are very spacious and clean. The casino is huge and by the 5th night we were still finding areas that were previously undiscovered on our early slotting ventures.  The liquor store on the premises is small but has an impressive selection of wine, beer & spirits.  The prices are excellent too.  After a few hours of schlepping up & down the Strip or shopping, we'd often grab some cold beers from the store to take up to our room & enjoy while we freshened up for our next 'expedition'.

Dial ahead to the economic melt down of 2009 in the US. During our Oct 2009 trip we noticed that word seems to have spread about the deals on rooms at the Orleans and the benefits of the free shuttle. We paid $240 US for 6 nights! We also experienced line ups for the shuttle and laughed (grumbled) about having learned to ‘queue up’ in an orderly fashion as school children but that as adults, we have apparently lost this skill. Since the shuttle only holds 24 people at most (less if there are wheelchairs or scooters onboard) you have to stand your ground if you have arrived early enough to be waiting among the first 24 passengers. People seem to make up their own line and when the shuttle arrives, the rubes try to barge in front of those who have been waiting longest. Arghh! It appears that the shuttle drivers are aware of this and try to give preferential boarding to the head of the line. Also some of the Orleans clientele have definitely slid into the trashy category. However, if you enjoy people-watching this is a veritable buffet of the good, the bad and the ugly.

Useful links

Useful Links:
Listed on the right side of the main page are some websites for Vegas that are good to check out before you go.

Getting around

(CURRENTLY THESE LINKS ARE OUT OF DATE- will update when we verify the services available) See these Links for info on the Deuce & Ace Gold Line; and routes.

On my trip in April 2010, I rode on the new Ace Gold Line! This express bus takes you along the strip and to various destinations off the strip including the Convention Centre, Fremont Street and the Premium Outlet Mall which is the end of the line.  You cannot buy a ticket on this bus, tickets must be purchased at Ticket Vending Machines (TMV) as shown on the map. This bus is an express bus and only stops at a few key spots as it travels in special high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes. For us, if we stay at the Flamingo and want to head to Fremont, we would buy our tix at the RTC in front of the Paris.  (Take the Deuce if you want to get off and on up and down the strip.) This is an honor system and if you are caught without a ticket you could be fined $250.  Yikes! It pays to be honest. The fares are the same as for the Deuce (see next para.) See the map for a stop near your hotel.  They are far and few between, i.e. Paris then the next one is at the Wynn which is quite a distance if you don't like to walk... I guess you will on the Deuce if this is you!

The double-decker Deuce buses run up & down the Strip & during peak hours you shouldn’t have to wait more than 10 minutes for one to arrive but this will all depend on the crowds. You can ride it all the way up north to Fremont Street or go way down south on the Strip. It’s $3 for a single ride or $7 for the 24-hr pass. The $7 pass is an excellent deal & the 3-day pass for $15 is even better. The 3-day passes are not available from the onboard dispenser but can be picked up at the transit terminals or various machines located around town such as the one at the stop in front of the Miracle Mile Shoppes. Everyone queues up (usually!) at the Deuce-stops in an orderly fashion (the stops for the Deuce are designated by a blue sign - other stops are just for the regular city buses). There’s a machine next to the driver - just stick your money in (exact change only) & out pops your pass. You have to swipe your multi-use pass in the reader on the same machine when you hop on the bus again. If you’re riding the bus for a fair distance, head straight to the upper level & grab a seat for some excellent views. If possible, get the seats at the very front & keep your camera handy. Some buses have those annoying ads on the side-windows that hamper your view though. The front windows are unobstructed (of course, we are talking about the windows on the upper deck - not the driver's windshield!  LOL).

NOTE: A trip on the Deuce can be SLOW especially as you near the middle of the Strip - lots of people boarding or disembarking (it eats up a lot of time & the buses fall behind schedule) - so if time is of the essence (remember: Vegas time is valuable!), then grab a cab & tell the driver to skip the scenic routes. The Deuce seemed especially busy on our last Vegas trip. Many tourists have embraced the charms of public transit in order to save some money.

One can also ride the Monorail that runs along the backside of the hotels for a different perspective. You can still be a fair distance from your actual destination once you get off at your stop because the hotels/resorts are so HUGE. The ticket prices for the Monorail are very reasonable.

For getting to & from the airport, the taxi to the Strip (with tip) should be around $25. You can also take the shuttle bus but for 2 people plus tip for the driver, the price is almost the same but the trip is longer. Be prepared for a long line-up in the taxi queue – it can snake around on the sidewalk for a long ways but it does move fairly steadily & can provide some good people-watching opportunities. When you depart Vegas & if there is a major event happening in town, be aware that waits at hotels for taxis can be very long. You may need to plan ahead & allow for extra time to take a shuttle bus instead. NOTE: Cab drivers only take cash - no debit or credit cards!!!!

Other stuff to see and do

We usually plan to spend a few hours one evening on Fremont (the odds are better at these older casinos too, or at least they used to be better!) & then we head back to the Strip & gamble, people-watch or hang around the lake at the Bellagio to watch the water shows. Do check out the lobby in Bellagio to see the amazing & huge art glass installation on the ceiling by the very talented Dale Chihuly out of Seattle, then proceed into the Bellagio’s Conservatory to see the botanical display (we’ve been there in the day & the night - hard to say what is the best time - the gardens look very different at those times). Go past the Conservatory to see the chocolate fountain at the most divine chocolate shop in all of Vegas!

And don’t forget the Perfect Margaritas (if you like tequila!) at Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville in the Flamingo (another reason why we LOVE the Flamingo). The ‘Perfect’ ones are almost entirely made of booze (5-6 oz worth) and are actually Margatinis - but not 'tini'. They will go down fast (if the bartender knows what he or she is doing) so watch out because they do pack a PUNCH and if you quickly knock back one of these you may be sorry. Even more sorry if you have 2 or more!!! Trust us on this! There are many other less lethal but decent drinks available. Pick up a few bevies at the little bar in the alcove just past the main bar or access it from street level by going up a few steps right at the corner of the building. Wander down the street for a stroll (yes, with drinks in hand – it’s Vegas!) or head up the staircase inside the restaurant to the open-air patio/dining area on the upper level & get in line to wait for a table. Veer to the right when you get to the top of the stairs & get behind the rope - there are no signs & the wait-staff always have to keep an eye out for people who just waltz in & sit down ahead of those who’ve been waiting patiently. The food at Margaritaville can be hit or miss but if you get a seat by the edge of the balcony, it’s a great spot to sit in the sun or warm shade, sip on a few drinks, nibble on some appetizers & watch the scene on the Strip below. If there is a live band playing inside the restaurant, avoid sitting inside (unless the band is the reason you’re there) – it’s too dark & too noisy. The patio is the best bet. The Margaritaville store is a mecca for Parrot Heads like us & also a great place to hit for t-shirts, other clothing, Jimmy Buffett CDs, souvenirs & tons of neat stuff. Do check out the various models of the Frozen Concoction Machine.

The free water fountain show at the Bellagio starts up at 3:00 on the weekdays & runs every half-hour. After 8:00PM the shows are every 15 minutes. We could stand there all bloody day & watch the fountains. If you do go up to the top of the Eiffel Tower replica, plan to be up there before 3:00 or 4:00 so that you can see the fountains from above - it's very cool. Depending on where you stay, you might receive a 2-for-1 coupon for the Eiffel tower (good until 5:00pm). The website for the fountains provides playlists and other useful information.


SADLY Liberace Museum IS NOW CLOSED.  We will leave this post here so you can read about what you missed out on.... It's campy, tacky, kitschy and not to be missed!  Yes, it's the Liberace Museum that is housed in a strip-mall & has a piano as a front entrance.  To get to this Vegas-gem where one pays homage to 'Mr. Showmanship', you can grab a shuttle that stops at some of the hotels. Check with the  hotel concierge on the times & pick-up locations. Note that the shuttle doesn't pick you up again at the museum for another couple of hours after dropping you off.  Serious museum-goers will probably steer clear of this shrine to rhinestones and feathers but it's their loss.  You've got to see it to believe it.  There are bejeweled and bedazzled cars, costumes, pianos and.........jewels.  Liberace was credited by Swarovski of Austria with keeping them afloat during the lean times and they were so appreciative of his patronage that they gave him a HUGE 50 lb rhinestone.  Incidentally, there are an awful lot of Swarovski stores in Vegas that sell a dazzling array of crystals.  Anyhoo........most of the museum guides are older gals who still ADORE ‘Lee’ and get misty eyed when talking about him. They have lots of good stories & factoids about ole Twinkle-toes so ask questions & take advantage of their presence if you visit. Mom wanted to hit the museum so her 3 kids went along & we actually enjoyed ourselves. The costumes are amazing & helped inspire Elton John & Elvis back the day. Anything you buy at the gift shop is tax-free because of its museum-status. It was awfully tempting to take home the life-size cardboard cut-out of Liberace in his star-spangled hot-pants outfit. NOT!!! The glitter ball Xmas tree ornaments are a steal at $2.25 each! We took a cab back to the Strip because we did & saw everything in around hour. The staff at the gift store will be happy to call a cab for you.

One of these days we may get over to the Atomic Testing Museum at the university campus. They used to sell Albert Einstein action figures!!!! Other possibilities: Red Rock Canyon, Valley of Fire, & Hoover Dam among many other places outside of Vegas that are worth seeing.  If you do decide on any tours to these places, check in at the tour desk at your hotel. Don't bother with those discount tour operators that accost you as you're walking up & down the Strip. There are lots of places to golf in & outside of Vegas but that’s a whole other story.

The tropical gardens & pool area outside at the Flamingo are very nice to stroll through especially on a hot day. There are lots of well-cared for birds & turtles & other critters in the gardens. There's a wedding chapel in the gardens too & a memorial to Bugsy Siegel (the founder of The Flamingo, a mobster & a real creep!). Everyday a rose appears in a holder next to the memorial plaque. Some people even claim to have seen Bugsy's ghost in the area.

Outside of Harrahs at Carnival Court they have the 'flair bartenders'. They're fun to watch. We ordered 2 Margaritas & it was quite the performance but the drinks were horrible - they were salty & not just on the rim. We had to toss them out which was sad especially since they cost around $9 each & then with tip it was $25 total. One tends to give larger tips to these guys because they don't just mix the damn drink! Be ready to give the bartender a 'high-five’ after the performance. Theatrics aside, the drinks couldn't hold a candle to the 'Perfect Margaritas' at Margaritaville. Regardless, do have your camera ready - 3 of us standing there with cameras & we forgot to take photos! Duh!

The half-price ticket kiosks sometimes have decent deals for shows depending on what you want to see. If there are any shows that you absolutely must see while in Vegas, it’s best to book your tickets before you leave home. Depending on ticket availability, you may need to plan your trip around the show dates.

Fremont Street Experience

The Fremont Street Experience is definitely something not to be missed. Check out the link for details on events happening on Fremont.

Besides seeing the infamous neon cowboy and girl, you also get a taste of the seedier part of Vegas - the part that is reminiscent of the Sin City of yesteryear. The casinos and nightclubs are much cheaper than on the Strip, as are the tourist shops. Of course, the light show that begins in the evening and runs every hour is the trademark. They change it around a lot, so you get a different experience on each visit. It is well worth the time to go see the whole of Fremont Street on your trip to Vegas! 

Not to be missed is a sax player by the name of Carl Ferris who was key to revitalizing Fremont (the original Strip & the real downtown Vegas) & who performs between the light shows. He’s excellent! He used to play in Don MacLean's band (yes, he of 'American Pie' fame). It's kind of nice to go down there mid to late afternoon & stroll around - you're out of the hot sun & it's not so crowded. However, you do want to be there for the light-shows that start at 6:00 & then are on the hour thereafter. I posted a recent clip on Youtube (below)  and here is one from another fan.


We twice visited a really fantastic Italian restaurant called "The Grotto" in the Golden Nugget on Fremont. The dessert cart is amazing so save room! They have seating that overlooks the pool area & the huge shark tank. The Golden Nugget is a very pretty hotel/casino on the outside & quite nice inside too.

There's a decent souvenir shop toward the east end of Fremont (must dig up the name for future reference). It's on a NE corner where one of the streets that intersects Fremont is closed off under the canopy - the store has lots of windows, is brightly lit inside & has escalators to the upper floor. There's a bandstand at this location too. We always pay a visit to the store to pick up cheap playing cards that have been used only once at the casinos. There is the usual assortment of souvenirs with the Vegas motif, along with some nice magnetic book marks that for whatever reason we really like, plus life-size cardboard cut-outs of Dean Martin, Marilyn Monroe & other luminaries.

Here is another video clip of Carl Ferris, professional musician.  He has taped back-up of his tracks and plays the sax portions live and chats with the audience.  You can buy a CD from him and chat while he autographs it.  Way cool dude!

Shopping

Links to the outlet mall websites (& other malls) are on the right side of the main page as well as in this section. The outlet malls provide coupons on their websites that you can print out ahead of time so you may wish to sign up as a VIP shopper before you leave on your trip. You can also pick up a coupon book at the info centre at the mall but you need the coupon from the online VIP shopper club first. Some of the deals in the coupon book are better than the deals for the other coupons you can print out & vice versa.  We've also noticed that stores come & go in these malls.

How to get to the Outlet malls:
If you want to go to South Las Vegas Outlet Mall, take the southbound Deuce. However, WE HATE THIS MALL!!!  Perhaps hate is such a strong word.... I guess it depends on your preference.  It was the atmosphere we didn't like and the name brand stores were not that exciting. Plus it had a lot of stores that we had never heard of so we couldn't be sure we were getting any bargains. AND it is old and kinda dark, not what you expect in Glitzy Las Vegas.

New info! See the Getting Around section for info about the new bus route which takes you directly to the Premium Outlet Mall and is an alternate to the Deuce.
The Deuce won't take you directly to the Premium Outlet Mall (north one). WE PREFER THIS MALL!!! On our last trip we had a bit of an adventure in trying to get there by the Deuce & transferring to a different bus (#108) on a dodgy portion of the Strip near the Stratosphere. The bus took forever to show up & something weird happened on it while enroute so the driver wouldn’t let anyone on & we had to wait & wait & wait for another bus. This last trip we had more success making the transfer and the bus delivered us to the Premium Outlet mall. Alternately, you can take the Deuce all the way to Fremont & then catch a cab (around $10 without tip) in front of the Plaza Hotel to take you to the mall.  The mall is an outdoor mall so some may find it a bit tiring walking around in the heat.  Seek the shade & drink water.  The food court is sucky at this mall so try to ensure you've had a good feed before you go.

More shopping:
Town Square Mall - This mall looks interesting & is enroute to the crappy south outlet mall via the southbound Deuce.  It's on our list to visit on the next trip to Vegas.

Fashion Show Mall - It's HUGE with Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy's, etc..  We've been here several times.

Planet Hollywood (Miracle Mile Shops)

Forum Shoppes & Apian Way at Caesars

And there's shopping at the Venetian & Palazzo. They have the most divine coffee shop/gelato shop at the Palazzo

Free & Cheap!!!!

Surprisingly, there are a lot of free or cheap things to do in Vegas. Some have been mentioned already and you can find more on the website mentioned under Vegas Links on our main page also see the link to Frommers Free in Las Vegas. I think the only free thing we received was when the bus was so crowded and behind schedule the driver let us on for 'free'.

Always free is wandering around gawking at the hotels, meandering through the vast lobbies & shopping galleries. The Venetian has a canal with gondolas & singing gondoliers (kinda hokey) – the canal ride is not free but you can watch the boats go by & listen; the Forum Shoppes complex at Caesars has a cool curving escalator & unbelievable decor. The Luxor has the faux Egyptian stuff (there is a museum too). The Paris is quite nice as is the Wynn & the recently opened Encore. The Mandalay Bay is quite something too at the extreme south end of the Strip. The Bellagio has the glass sculpture on the lobby's ceiling & the conservatory, plus there is a fine art museum (not sure if there's a charge to go in). If you like looking at cars, the Imperial Palace has The Auto Collection - you can usually get free or cheap tickets to see it. It is way in the back of the hotel upstairs in the parking garage and it is very quiet and kind of relaxing to wander around the cars. The collection of antique, muscle, famous, historically significant and special interest vehicles, is worth over $100,000 million and it is all for sale! There is a gift shop at the car show with the kitchiest of Las Vegas kitch to take home.

People-watching is free too & quite enjoyable. We have had many good laughs over some of the oddballs we've seen during our trips. Just keep your eyes open & check out the crowds & the scenery. You never know what you'll see. Meeting people from all over the world, as well as residents of Vegas & other parts of the USA is always interesting too.

Tipping

Everyone in the service industry has a hand out so always have 'singles' ($1 US) in your pocket. Tip the hotel maids a couple a bucks a day (there are usually envelopes left on the nightstand - this is a good way to get rid of the surplus coins in your wallet or pocket that you don't want to drag back home if you're from Canada like us). Tipping the cocktail waitresses in the casinos $1 per complimentary drink is pretty standard while when you're sitting at the slots & 50 cents for water or coffee is fine. If you play any of the machines at the bars, you must play "max bet" in order to get your drinks ‘comped’ (& you still tip the bartender). A rule-of-thumb for shuttle drivers is $1 per person & if they're hefting around luggage use $1 per piece. The same goes for the bellhops or the guys at the baggage check if you need to stash your luggage for a few hours. If you’re playing Keno, make sure you tip the runners too even if you don’t win. Times are tough in Vegas and the people in the service industry work very hard and often for only minimum wage so they rely heavily on tips. If you can afford to visit Vegas, you can afford to tip decently. DON’T BE CHEAP!

Most annoying

Avoid the 'condo-vultures' at all costs. You'll be constantly accosted in the hotels & shopping malls by people in uniforms asking how long you'll be in town & if you'd like to see a free show (there are no free shows – there is always a cost or catch involved – namely your valuable time). You'll end up getting roped in to sit through some stupid waste-of-time presentation on time-shares. It seems rude but for sanity's sake, ignore them completely or just say 'no thanks' & keep walking. They've never caught us yet & they are so annoying. What a way to make a living! You'll see kiosks all over that look like places where you can buy show tickets but these are just sales gimmicks to suck you in (see comments below).

This is not an exaggeration, these are the questions you will be bombarded with and don't let them catch you unaware.  Even the most innocent response from you is enough for them to pounce. Once you reply, they pester you further and there is no getting away now!  Don't give in to your Canadian-ness, the only appropriate response is in CAPITAL LETTERS and is guaranteed effective:

Them: Hi! Where are you from? You: NO THANK YOU
Them: Hi! How long are in town for? You: NO THANK YOU
Them: Hi! Would like free show tickets? You: NO THANK YOU
Them: Hi! Can I ask you a question? You: NO THANK YOU

The only time we appreciated getting approached by someone was when we were in the Miracle Mile Shoppes with very tired & sore feet & just wanted to sit for awhile in a cool space. They have an auditorium set aside for focus groups & will pay $75 for an hour of your time. However, only Americans are eligible to participate.

And here are a few more things to be aware of when you're in the malls. You rarely see this kind of aggressiveness in Canadian malls. Everyone at those little carts in the centre of any mall will ambush you & try to lure you over to their kiosk. Don't fall for it no matter how interesting their wares look (unless you really love that kind of stuff).  Vegas time is valuable & you don't want these people wasting your precious time. Some of their questions or comments seem to come out of left field and catch a lot of people off guard. Resist the urge to be polite and stop to talk, just follow our advice:

Them: Hi! What kind of cream do you use on your eyes?
You: Huh?? Correct response is NO THANK YOU.

Them: Hi! Would you like a free fragrance sample?
You: Uhhh....Correct response is to smile & say NO THANK YOU.

Them: Hi! Can I see your hand?
You: (again) Huh?? You know what to say this time... NO THANK YOU.

Them: Hi! Can I see your ring? (we are not kidding, they really do ask this)
You: F*CK-OFF! Well, that's what we’d like to say but are too polite for that,
so just say NO THANK YOU & keep moving.

They want to get you over to their little station and suck you into buying whatever they are selling. These people are tenacious if anything. They will not let you go once you have let down your defenses. Prove the Borg wrong - Resistance is NOT futile!

When the hawkers on the street try to hand you the ‘girlie cards' do not put out your hand or make eye contact. They are not allowed to touch you if are walking past and if you don't look at them they won't bother you. Act like they're not even there. Again, what a way to make a living but if you're an illegal or unskilled you probably don't have a lot of options in Vegas.


You will run across people on the sidewalks & overhead walkways selling cold, bottled water for $1 or $2. Apparently, what they are doing is illegal because they don’t have permits & many of the vendors are in the country illegally. The water is probably fine, but you never know………

Food & Drink (& a few more words on attire)

Food & Drink (in addition to what’s been mentioned already):

FIRST! The portions in most places are HUGE.  We noticed this almost everywhere so sharing is sometimes a good option.  Be aware of the extra plate charges in some restaurants if you can't bear the thought of the food going to waste.  We go for casual dining most times & we have not visited a lot of the high-end establishments mainly because we’re usually not organized enough to make reservations ahead of time..

PLACES WE LIKE & RECOMMEND OR WANT TO TRY...

Let's start with breakfast & what to do about the line-ups if you need a kick-start just to wait for a table...

I'M LEAVING THIS POST UP FOR NOW... SADLY BILL'S IS NO LONGER. It has been renovated and expanded and is now The Cromwell. Looks far more upscale than old Bill's. Sad to see it gone. But anyway, feeling nostalgic and want to know what Bill's was like read on....  Right next to the Flamingo is Bill's Gamblin' Hall...a step back in time to seriously old-school Vegas.  It is a very tiny casino by Vegas standards & very smoky with a crazy, eclectic mix of clientele.  We like to go here for a hearty breakfast at the "Award Winning Victoria Room".  Not sure when this award was bestowed on the establishment but you are reminded of it every few minutes. There is always a 20-30 minute wait for a table but you just give them your name, then hit the slots (& play really SLOW………) & wait for them to call you over the intercom system to the......(wait for it!).........."Award Winning Victoria Room".  You can also grab a latte from the Seattle's Best coffee shop that's in the casino & drink that while waiting for your table & 'slottin'. It's always a bit disconcerting to be sitting at the slots waiting for a table for breakfast at 9:30 or so in the morning & having cocktail waitress whizzing by asking for drink orders. Sure, it's 5 o'clock somewhere on the planet but that is still a wee bit too early to start drinking, especially on an empty tummy.

Most of the servers in this restaurant seem to be long-time employees, (most) are really friendly & treat everyone like 'regulars'. They all wear the ubiquitous name tags that also includes the name of their hometown.  It's kind of interesting to see how far people have traveled to work and live in the crazy town that is 24/7.  I'm sure there are a lot of stories that can be told.... I digress.

Just one more aside.........also at Bill's in the late afternoon to early evening, an impersonator by the name of Big Elvis is on stage for a few sessions. Big Elvis used to weigh well over 400lbs but he's lost a bunch of weight in order to save his life. He has an incredible voice. Other bands hit the stage after Big Elvis.

And back to the topic of food.........Just a few of the many good places to eat:  California Pizza Kitchen (at the Mirage and Fashion Show Mall), Carnegie Deli (at the Mirage), Jimmy Buffett's (at the Flamingo), Bill's, the fish & chip place at NY NY, Grotto at the Golden Nugget,...............We have been told good things about Maggiano's Little Italy and heard the portions are huge so it's best to tackle the 1/2 orders if you hope to try anything other then the entree. We plan to try it on our next trip as well as:

• Taqueria Canonita at the Venetian for Mexican food,
• Strip Steak House at Planet Hollywood,
• Mon Ami Gabi at the Paris,
• Le Village Buffet at the Paris, and
• Palio Espresso & Pastries at the Bellagio for a quick bite and a coffee.

On our last trip at two different restaurants we ended up paying around $30 each for a burger & a beer (tax & tip included). Not exactly a bargain but we were in a hurry & all of the other places we wanted to try were busy. One of the restaurants was ‘Serendipity’ located on Caesars Palace property in a separate building adjacent to the overhead walkway that takes you across LV Boulevard to Bill’s. The food was good but pricey!  The menu describes the Frrrozen Hot Chocolate as being 'to die for'.  However, a Trip Advisor review that said it was rather disappointing & more like a chocolate slushie.

Funnily enough, we don't do buffets (not big eaters) and have a hard time justifying the expense since we know we won't eat $20-$35 worth of food.  Yet we have no problem spending $30 on a beer and a burger with tip!  ???  Where are our priorities?!   On upcoming trips we'll probably start checking out the buffets so that we can have something new to report and the one at the Paris might be a good place to start. In the coupon books you can often find 2 for 1 coupons for buffets or dining.
 
Fremont has a number of restaurants in each of the casinos. There are a few stand alone restaurant/pubs with patios at the east end of the street (look for the giant pint of beer).  Next to the pub is Mickey Finn's.  We have dined on the patio here a few times and the food is typical of this kind of joint.  Decent pub fare but nothing to write home about. The mojitos are quite good and the people watching is fun!

A few dining notes... Pick up the coupon books that are in the taxi cab when you are riding from the airport or check out some of the various ones offered in your hotel usually near the registration desk or gift shop (or somewhere totally unexpected).

If your taste buds are more 'continental' may I suggest the Eiffel Tower Restaurant.  Here you can enjoy, quail, pheasant, duck, lamb, foie gras and sweet breads.  Or not!  They also serve beef, chicken and an assortment of seafood.  It is verrrrrry Frrrrench so expect high prices and tiny, but mouthwatering creations. The presentation of the food is worth the price!  You may have to go for a second dinner afterwards but it is definitely a treat and the Green Apple Martini and the view are to die for. Business casual attire for the gents which can loosely translate to mean your brand new $100 golf shirt. Ladies can dress up [a bit] or in a suitable manner for fine dining.  We saw the extremes of both business casual and [over-dressed] formal attire.

Most dining establishments have dress codes, albeit very reasonable ones...i.e., no flip flops, no sneakers, no torn jeans, no t-shirts. Some may actually state 'casual business attire' which means men need to wear a shirt with a collar or a sports jacket (and shirt with a collar). You may find yourself casually attired and sitting in a dining room next to a table of formally dressed folks. If you stay away from either extreme - too casual, too dressy - you will usually fit right in and feel comfortable.

One experience involving improperly dressed diners was a tad uncomfortable for us for reasons that will be revealed soon....  We went to Treasure Island or TI as it is now known for Vietnamese food and were seated quite close to the front of the restaurant with one side of our table adjacent to the hostess stand.  Three very drunk, very hungry, bikini-clad girls staggered in after what appeared to be a boozy afternoon of lounging at the pool and requested a table.  The hostess refused them on account they were not suitably attired.  The girls were obviously confused by this concept since they thought their swimsuits were very, very cute and so why wouldn't everyone else think so too!!!  We were most amused by their cluelessness.  The hostess insisted that clothes and shoes must be worn.  The girls tried to make up for the 'shortcoming' by wrapping their wet towels around their waists.   During the entire time their backsides were in rather close proximity to the edge of our table and we quickly became most unamused with the flinging of wet towels and wet hair that commenced in their desperate attempt to gain entry.  I found this really distasteful and was glad that our food had not yet arrived otherwise I likely would not have wanted to eat it.  If we were a table full of guys, no doubt this would have been one of the highlights of the evening.  The hostess finally asked them to leave because one of the girls did not even have flip flops on her feet. I'm sure the bare feet would have been overlooked if they were actually wearing clothes at this point. Crazy!

Gambling

If you do feel like doing a bit of gambling, sign up for a Players Card at the casinos you visit. Sometimes you get free stuff plus you want to collect points if you are gambling that can be used for discounts & other stuff later.

The VegasClick website in our Vegas Links list is helpful for anyone who'd like to try their hand at gambling but it also has some good info on getting around & staying in Vegas.

General

On your first trip to Vegas you will likely be overwhelmed initially & wondering what the hell you're doing there in the first place. The crowds (albeit, smaller than in the past) & traffic will drive you nuts, the street hawkers, the scale of things, the 30-something idiots acting like teenagers just out to party hard, the assault on all of your senses, the lights at night (which are really quite something), the incessant noise of the slot machines in the casinos (you will first hear it at the airport & later it will be ringing inside your head as you drift off to sleep), the excess, the conspicuous consumption..........it will shock you.

After a couple of days or so, you'll start to get into the rhythm of things (not sure if that's necessarily a good thing), but if you do spend the money to go down, you might as well make the best of it, especially if you don't think you'll be going back for quite some time, if at all. We usually try to keep sensible hours - in bed before midnight or shortly thereafter & up a reasonable time so that we can do things before the outside temperature gets too high. The streets are far less crowded before 10:00 or 11:00 AM.

You're probably thinking that it sounds like we won't be having any fun with those staid & sensible hours, but nursing a hangover when you are on vacation is a waste of your precious time.....especially in Vegas where there is soooo much to see and do and then before you know it you are heading to the airport to go home.  So don't be fooled by what you've read so far because we do find lots of time to enjoy our fair share of Perfect Margaritas and casino cocktails and street beers!  That urban myth about oxygen being pumped into the rooms just might be true.  We have never suffered from hangovers in Vegas!!  Mind you, we always try to ensure that we also drink lots of water during the day & before retiring for the evening!  Then again, perhaps we just didn't drink enough rolly-pops in the first place!  ;-p

Safety, Security, Clothing, Comfort

Safety & Security:
As far as personal safety, always obey the traffic signals. DO NOT try to jaywalk or go against a light even if it looks like the coast is clear. Traffic comes from all directions & can take you by surprise. Plus, there are cops lurking around who will be more than happy to give you a ticket for not obeying the traffic signals.

Women (& you men with the ‘man-purses’) should keep purses zipped up & slung over the opposite shoulder, & held close to the body, especially if standing around in a crowd watching some Vegas spectacle like the Bellagio Fountains, the volcano at the Mirage, the pirates & sirens at TI, or the happenings on Fremont. Men should keep their wallets in a secure pocket. One of the Deuce drivers always warns his passengers to not let their guard down while on the Deuce because pick-pockets are known to hop on the bus too - it's not just for tourists!  Most hotel rooms have a room safe - use it for passports, extra cash, credit cards, airline tix, & other valuables that you don't want to pack around (cell phones, cameras, jewelry). The rooms at Bill's Gambling Hall don't have safes & that has been a deterrent for us in booking any rooms there.

Don't flash your cash. Keep small bills handy for tipping or small purchases. Don't wander off the Strip on foot even in daylight unless you know exactly where you're going. The streets can get rather ugly & unsettling not far off the Strip. These days there are a lot more desperate people in Vegas so you don't want to stray too far from the relative safety & security of the Strip. There are places in Vegas where even the cab drivers won't venture.

Clothing:
Most days are quite warm by Canuck-standards (translation: shorts & sandals weather). However, we have been most amused to see some people bundled up in eider-down parkas (zipped up tight, hoods on) and sporting mittens on days when the mercury is well above 70F. Winter months are dicey so you probably won’t be donning the summer gear. In the warmer months do wear layers though because there is freezing AC everywhere inside. At night it cools down & you'll want to add more clothing - perhaps long pants & socks/shoes, even a scarf & gloves, especially if you are standing by the lake at the Bellagio. The water in the air makes the temperature drop quite a bit.

Lastly:
Wear comfy shoes, use sunscreen, carry sunglasses, keep your camera handy, and always be on the look-out for the strange & bizarre, but most importantly, keep an open mind.