Going to Vegas... so many questions!

[HDAV]

OK so just booked for me and the missus to go to vegas... need some advice, staying at the Tropicana, not the best hotel but pretty central on the strip.

 

Things I/we want to do: Advice on all appreciated!

 

1: Brunch we arrive on a Saturday so will be there for Sunday! Where to go, do you need to book?

 

2: Shooting range don't want a silly hen/stag range but a decent one where i can try some full bore pistol and other exotic things. For reasonable price

 

3: Car hire we fancy driving to the Hoover dam and possibly the Grand canyon west, Fancy a Mustang or similar for a day seen a sebring/chrysler for £45 for a day or mustang for £70 booking online before we go. was thinking of just the one day car hire.

 

4: Not into gambling what else is really worthwhile? Want to see Fountains at Bellagio

 

5: Want to do some shopping was thinking Basspro shop but where else? FOr general and outdoors stuff.

 

6: Whats is really worth buying and bringing back I want to get a leatherman (I dont reload so bullet heads etc of no use)

 

7: Decent shows and entertainment venues and worth booking in advance or buying once we arrive?

 

 

[welsh1]

One of my friends flew out today with his wife for her 50th,another mate who has been to Vegas quite a few times recommended this,he likes his food.

 

http://www.wolfgangpuck.com/restaurants/fine-dining/9044

[Cyrus1988]

OK so just booked for me and the missus to go to vegas... need some advice, staying at the Tropicana, not the best hotel but pretty central on the strip.

 

Things I/we want to do: Advice on all appreciated!

 

1: Brunch we arrive on a Saturday so will be there for Sunday! Where to go, do you need to book?

 

2: Shooting range don't want a silly hen/stag range but a decent one where i can try some full bore pistol and other exotic things. For reasonable price

 

3: Car hire we fancy driving to the Hoover dam and possibly the Grand canyon west, Fancy a Mustang or similar for a day seen a sebring/chrysler for £45 for a day or mustang for £70 booking online before we go. was thinking of just the one day car hire.

 

4: Not into gambling what else is really worthwhile? Want to see Fountains at Bellagio

 

5: Want to do some shopping was thinking Basspro shop but where else? FOr general and outdoors stuff.

 

6: Whats is really worth buying and bringing back I want to get a leatherman (I dont reload so bullet heads etc of no use)

 

7: Decent shows and entertainment venues and worth booking in advance or buying once we arrive?

 

 

 

I was there back in May and went to the American Shooters range. It was pretty good, ended up spending about $300 but had a go on a: Glock, Scar, .38 Special Ruger, M4 and the Smith and Wesson .500

 

Definitely have a go on the Smith and Wesson .500

[markm]

Food in most hotels, from fast food through to plush stuff. Bubba Gump, HRC or outback (one of my fav chain restaurants) are both on the strip

 

Loads of car hire places, we picked ours up in the cosmopolitan (Hertz) and its about a 30 min drive to the Dam, its very easy although we have a sat nav.

 

I have seen Love, Ka and Penn and Teller. All good but Love is fab (especially if you like the beatles).

 

Abbercombie and Fitch, Hollister is apparently a bargain (although I would not thank you for either, probably one at one of the malls, shops on the strip are dead expensive quality brands or tat shops.

 

Helicopter trip over the dam / canyon seems to be a very popular activity.

 

Having a wander just through the main strip hotels will take a few days and interesting to do as most hotels have 'things to do / look at" for free as well as paying activities.

Edited September 8, 2013 by markm

[buckaroo23]

Walk down towards the Monte Carlo, CVS store, there's a tour operater there ask about bullets and burgers tour, it's very good and I highly recommend it, it's $250 that's a pick up at hotel Hoover dam bridge you stop for photos then off to the dessert to shoot.

 

Grand Canyon, your better flying over it as its an 8 hour drive each way, search for papillon very good and decent prices too.

 

Brunch, Monte Carlo do a champagne brunch all you can eat and drink $25 every day

 

Shows have a look when your there, I watched zomanitity at New York New York.

 

Quad biking in the dessert was really fun and worth ago also helicopter flight over the strip at night.

 

Walk up the strip there's a few shows on mirage, treasure island.

 

Book as much as you can before you go.

Edited September 8, 2013 by buckaroo23

[Rupert]

I have been twice,booked everything while I was there as we wanted a flexi timetable,not a route march.You can walk to the gunstore on Tropicana they have a LOT of weapons.

Take the chopper to the canyon as its a long way.Papillion Fly from boulder now its 40mins by bus(laid on)others fly drom the city.cFly from the city in the afternoon and see the strip lit up on your return.I hired a Humvee to drive to the dam,back mid aft.Pick up a booklet from reception,or on the strip with offers and coupons,shows go to whatever fits with your time table.Clays about 8 miles from town,goto freemont street at night,goto the las vegas sign and the guy will take your picture,quadding in the valley of fire was a good one,as was the canyon skywalk.

Going again next year for the rest of it including the dessert shooting.

[HDAV]

Thanks for the replies guys, on the Grand canyon there is a part of the canyon that isnt the national park 2 1/2 hour drive from vegas. On one of the indian reservations.where they have the Sky Walk glass bridge.

 

I was thinking of driving to hoover dam then out to canyon and back to vegas for a roof down cruise along the strip for the evening finale. We are going with Virgin so we can contact our resort rep in advance we can get a convertible through virgin for £50 ish for the day with a tank of fuel.

 

I guess I am going to have to open the purse strings a bit more then !!!!

[figgy]

Better just throw the purse strings away.

 

Repent at lesuire when home after and enjoy your time there.

 

Figgy

[Rupert]

The glass skywalk is a good do.

[ME]

We went end of Jan 2011 and the weather was jeans & tee shirt. Some mates of mine went in June and said that the heat was oppressive (I could have told them that!).

 

Mrs ME and some of the others went to see the hole in the ground and the dam by helicopter while I went to Basspro.

 

We stayed in The Encore which was fantastic. Before we went I vowed to "eat healthy", but by the first morning I was eating 8oz strip steak with four fried eggs on top for breakfast.

 

We went to The Gun Store http://thegunstorelasvegas.com it was busy, but you could pay more to fast track it. (we were only there for 4 days). I shot an AK47, Uzi and an old fashioned grease gun amongst others.

 

The worst place we ate was the Harley Davidson Cafe, (stopped for a bit of lunch) the food there was ****.

 

I am not a gambler, but it was cheaper to gamble a bit and get free drinks off the waitresses than buying them.

 

I went in a group of 16 of us for a 40th birthday and went with the mindset that I was "ticking it off the list" but I would definitely go back. (From visiting the hotels we would probably stay at the Bellagio next time)

 

Have a great time.

Edited September 8, 2013 by ME

[V8 90]

My mate went for his 40th - they went to see O - a Cirque Du Soleil production & said it was awesome ! We'll go in the next couple of years & O will be a deffinate !!

[HDAV]

Bellagio looks stunning but out my budget this time around went for cheaper hotel and better flights to allow more spending going for 5 nights. Hoover dam is top of the list then guns.......... I too have heard that its cheaper to get a round of alcoholic drinks by betting than buying.

[byjovecarruthers]

You'll have no problem finding food! Most of the casinos have 24/7 all you can eat buffets for a few dollars. I really like the Harley Davison bar on the strip. Great steaks and burgers surrounded by a conveyer belt of classic bikes!

 

I shot at the Las Vegas gun store. It was a bit of a tourist trap but ok if you don't mind a short indoor range. I had a far better time at Clark county outdoor range but I was with some yank military mates who each had a small personal arsenal. It'd be worth ringing to see if you can hire at the range, you should be able to its Vegas baby!

 

The Grand Canyon is amazing but the Indian reservation skywalk place us a massive rip off. You'd save tome and get more out of a heli tour. The actual US national park sites are amazing but hours away in Arizona. The Hoover Dam is well worth a visit and the museum was excellent. I also went to Death Valley which is only about 2 hrs away, an amazing out of this world place. It was so unique I went back another time with a jeep and off roaded for a couple of days. On route to DV is a town called Pahrump where i saw my first Rodeo. It is also homentom a fantastic and unpretencious little winery where the restaurant serves food that is better than anything I found in Vegas!

 

Set a few dollars aside for a bit of blackjack, it's fun and you get free drinks whilst your at a table.

 

Wear comfy shoes and walk the strip. You'll not be able to miss te fountains. The whole place is an assault on the senses! I'd take in the Freemont Street Experience too for a touch of old Vegas.

 

Enjoy and take a credit card ha ha.

[pontbeck]

No one will come back from Vegas disappointed . We staid in Balleys opposite The Belagio, not the best hotel but a suite for £ 40 per night was fantastic , as was their breakfast buffet for 10 / 12 dollars. Left Vegas after 4 nights and toured the canyons for 2 weeks, then back for a night before coming home,--- fabulous

 

Bill

[Rupert]

Balleys,hmmmm went to a topless show there,2 hours of fitties dancing round in unison.Was the wifes idea,i said it was arty.upto 40 on stage at one time.

Edited September 8, 2013 by Rupert

[ME]

I really like the Harley Davison bar on the strip. Great steaks and burgers surrounded by a conveyer belt of classic bikes!

 

 

More PW Gold!

 

Ask a wide question about Vegas and get two opposing views about one eatery!

 

You are going to have to go there now, just to see how good / bad it is!

 

Also, I am liking the tags at the top of the thread. Is "Mustnag" supposed to be "Mustang" or it is your pet name for the missus?

Edited September 8, 2013 by ME

[byjovecarruthers]

More PW Gold!

 

Ask a wide question about Vegas and get two opposing views about one eatery!

 

You are going to have to go there now, just to see how good / bad it is!

 

Also, I am liking the tags at the top of the thread. Is "Mustnag" supposed to be "Mustang" or it is your pet name for the missus?

Just a small caveat but I may well have been drunk at the time …

[HDAV]

May have to check out Balleys! OK so skywalk not great fair enough may do heli trip and if i have the car for a free afternoon could make it out to Clark county range but it looks like .22 and shotguns only...http://www.clarkcountynv.gov/Depts/parks/Pages/sp-guest-services.aspx Shame (done those already)

 

I am sure there will be lots we find, when we went to newyork it was none stop the whole time and we saw alot of stuff but it was almost too much want this to be relaxing and fun..........

[HDAV]

 

Also, I am liking the tags at the top of the thread. Is "Mustnag" supposed to be "Mustang" or it is your pet name for the missus?

 

LM FAO whoops!

 

I think ill have to go to the harley bar to report back..............

[Budice]

Last time I went we saved quite a but buy getting show tickets from the booths along the strip rather than from the venue.

Hoover Dam is great.

Look for the Vegas Mob Tour, that's quite good.

[Will Poon]

Can't give you much advise HDAV , but have a great time there

[Salop Matt]

I arrived back last night

 

My thoughts on Vegas :

Lots of rude Hispanic, South American and oriental people

Pestered out side by people with call cards for hookers, flicking the cards.

Drinks were fair

Hotels were seemless with no clocks and exits rarely marked ( pointed out by a member of there staff)

Food, quantity making up for quality although the Hard Rock Cafe was good

KA show excellent but pricey

 

We had 4 nights in the MGM there but 3 was plenty for us.

 

We went to a shooting range off tropicana street which was pricey but very good, we shot glock 17 9mm, Remington 1911 .45 acp and FN FAL .308 semi auto. Very happy and favoured the glock but wish we ad also shot a .40 cal pistol too as its what all there staff and what all the local LEO prefer !

 

Also enjoyed a cut throat razor shave in the one Mal, a great experience and sheer bliss with an excellent shave.

 

ATB

 

Matt

[HDAV]

Thanks

[harpoonlouis]

Fly to canyon then plane or heli defo.

 

Stratosphere is a bus ride off the strip ( 30 mins) about $25 to get to the top 1400ft then about another $8 per ride ( unlimited repeat rides are ony an extra buck per ride) Brilliant but not for the faint hearted.

 

There are three tramways in Vegas that aren't well sign posted but cut out a lot of walking but they aren't joined but well worth finding.

 

Aria is a new hotel and mind blowing inside.

 

Hover Dam ace, go inside too.

 

Late tickets for big shows like cirque du soleil are worth seeing as they are so lavish only vegas can keep them going.

 

Food? Take a wheel barrow for the left overs..too much!

[Lord O War]

Don't get a bus when you leave the airport. There is usually a queue to get tickets and then a queue to get on the bus and if you arrive mid day then expect it to be HOT. It is a dry heat so not as bad as when the humidity is high. We went from Vegas to NY and the temps were similar but NY was so humid it was aweful. Back to my point get a cab it may cost a few bucks more but it will be doo to door. When we arrived we got a bus but when we left we went in a cab and I think the cab was about 4 dollars more. The shows can be a bit how much. We went to see the Titanic exhibition in the Luxor good but about £60 for the 2 of us. We did the flight and bus trip thing to the canyon. You fly out over the dam and land at some random runway get on a bus and go to 2 viewing spots at the canyon it's really good and then fly back and get bused back to your hotel. I didn't get to go shooting in Vegas as we had already spent a fortune. We did a bit of a tour for our honeymoon last year. We flew to NY then stright to San Francisco. Stopped there for a few days then drove down the coast road over a week to LA. Stopped in LA for a couple of days then off to LV for a few more days then the last 4 days in NY. Really good but it is not as cheap as everyone tells you it will be. LV was probably the cheapest because of all the competition but NY **** me! The hotel cost more than the entire stay in LV cost with all the trips and everything. And you dont get free wifi in all hotels! The luxor had free internet but it was via a wired network not much use with a phone!