It seems that all the posts I've initiated lately have been travel-related (Atlantis Cruise, Fort Lauderdale, and now Vegas). I really don't travel much, but am starting to come out of my coccoon this year.

Anyhow, I need info on Vegas hotels/resorts. I am going away with a bunch of college friends probably next May and the duty of picking the hotel has largely fallen on me.

They're all straight, and the group will probably be 3 or 4 women, me, and 1 or 2 straight buddies. We're all going to celebrate our 40th birthdays -- needless to say, budget limits are all over the place. None of us are gamblers, so our interests are mainly the amenities: the shopping, the pools, the spas, the bars and clubs, restaurants, etc. And we'd like to stay somewhere nice near the center of the Strip - the fewer the fanny packs, the better!!

My preferences so far are:

The Venetian
The Mirage
The Bellagio (only if we can get a deal)
MGM Grand
Caesars.

Any thoughts or suggestion? Thanks!

[ June 15, 2006, 01:58 PM: Message edited by: aquaman ]

Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't the MGM sort of on the south end of the strip?

aquaman,

I'll be there the weekend b4 4th of July. My sis made reservations at the Aladdin w/ an online company. It's been recently remodeled and is very nice. We got much better rates there than say the other hotels you mentioned. If you're interested I can get the online service info from my sis (w/ dementia coming on lately, I seemed to have forgotten who the co was).

[ June 15, 2006, 04:04 PM: Message edited by: SCTrojan ]

Also try visitlasvegas.com for ideas....

If you're interested mostly in the non-gambling world, the MGM Grand may be your best bet. It is huge, has a massive waterpark, some good clubs, and is in a good spot on the southern (more modern) end of The Strip. Of course, the best part about Vegas is you can hotel hop all you want, checking out various bars/clubs/restaurants. If you're looking for a quick half-day trip, hiking and biking in Red Rock Canyon just West of Las Vegas is a fun expedition. Oh, and be sure to drink plenty of water.

aquaman, I recommend the MGM Grand but it is pretty well on the southern end of the Strip. It really is a great place on its own, but if you want something more in the middle of the strip, I'd say that Caesar's and New York, New York would get my recommendation.

I've stayed at probably 10 different places in Las Vegas since I used to travel there for work a lot. My favorite... The Venetian. If you're looking for a great room (even though you might not spend a whole lot of time in the room), it's definitely The Venetian. The location is great too with most everything in walking distance. I have a friend though who swears by TheHotel at Mandalay Bay (not to be confused with Mandalay Bay itself). TheHotel is a separate boutique hotel on the Mandalay Bay property that is supposed to be outstanding though kinda pricey.

Just curious if anyone has checked out that fairly new gay, clothing-optional place in Vegas called the Blue Moon? I'm kinda curious what it's like.

[ June 15, 2006, 07:48 PM: Message edited by: TheOtherFSU ]

I like the Alladin a lot. It is in a great location (center of Strip, across from the Bellagio). The rooms are great (excellent bathroooms). And it is usually a very good value.

Of the hotels you mentioned, my suggestion would be the Venetian. I have stayed there and found the room to be very comfortable and reasonably priced. Even though you may not be spending a lot of time in the room, you'll appreciate the fact that it is large (every room at the Venetian is at least a "mini-suite", meaning there is a separate step-down den area from the bed area.) The canal shops there are fun -- though a little "upper end" for my pocket book. The restaurants are great. It's also home to the Gugenheim which is worth a look. The location on the strip is pretty good: in the Mirage/TI/Ceasars corridor, close to Bellagio and Paris.

I've also stayed at the MGM. There are many different types of rooms available there. I stayed in a standard room which was very average. It's true that the MGM is huge -- a little too huge for my taste. The walk from the room to the pool was loooooooooong. The walk from the room outside was loooooooooong. The walk from the [insert place here] to the [insert destination here] was...read it with me...loooooooooong. But, their restaurants are great, as is their casino. Their shops are okay, but I felt very isolated in them as they are located in the middle of the hotel. The hotel's location is so-so -- across from New York New York (great facade, horrible casino), the Tropicana (past its prime) and Excalibur (a future implosion). On the plus side, it's just a two minute monorail ride to Paris, which is in the best part of the strip for me.

Having said this, my understanding is that there is nothing like Mandalay Bay's "beach" these days. It's a little isolated on the strip -- you'd have to monorail or take a cab most places -- but if the pool is your top priority, that might be your best call.

One more thing: as far as casino sportsbooks go, the MGM is great, the Mandalay is awesome, but the Bellagio's was top-notch. Very hoity toity. Individual high back leather recliners, personal screens. I wanted to live there. It's worth checking out for sure. (This compared to Tropicana's, where they still post scores on a chalkboard!)

Have a great time. It's a fun city for people watchers. Just remember: what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas...and gets posted here!

[ June 15, 2006, 11:11 PM: Message edited by: AmongAcorns ]

Mandalay Bays beach scored a 10 with me. Last time I was in Vegas stayed there. Loved the Hotel/Casino, but the beach is a 10 with its wave pool, and slow float river and all....its a bit pricier than other hotels but well worth it for the pool and overall "feel." :cool: Wish I was there today! frown

Yes, it is toward the southern end of the Strip, but what's drawing me toward it is the pool/waterpark area. If it wasn't for that, I don't think MGM would be on my list. I guess I would say that MGM and Mandalay Bay are pretty much tied, and Mandalay has "cool" in spades over MGM but it is just *that* much farther down at the end of the Strip. Maybe I just don't have a sense of the distance, but it seems kind of away from the center of the action. I really don't want to have to walk miles and miles just to get to a cool club or the Forum Shops at Caesar's.

Someone mentioned Aladdin -- isn't that now Planet Hollywood?

Aqua, I believe you could take the monorail which again, correct me if I am wrong, is finally up and running, and runs the length of the strip, so certainly, no need anymore to walk for miles and miles, like you used to. :cool:

No walking for miles and miles in the scorching desert sun and 110° (albeit dry) heat, while drinking water and feeling it evaporate from your skin instantly? Where's the fun in that???

I stayed at the Paris in December. It is more in the middle of the Strip, the rooms are nice, and the price was a very good value. The Bellagio is basically across the street, and the Venetian is just up the Strip. It was a nice option that provided access to most of the rest of the Strip.

quote:

"...Someone mentioned Aladdin -- isn't that now Planet Hollywood?"

Currently, Planet Hollywood is located at Caesar's Palace. It's future location will be at the Aladdin.