Vegas, Baby, Vegas......

[devilmaster]

(with apologies to Bill Simmons)

Anyways, my friend Rick and I, have started thinkin about a trip to Vegas (he's more of a card player while I drool at the thought of the sportsbooks). The combo flight/hotel deals from Detroit are just too good to pass up - As little as 280 per person for a sunday to thursday stay.

But its not all not cards, chips and chicks. And this is where the OC crowd comes in. I'm looking for the other things to do. I'm already looking for karting tracks and such, and whatever else there is that yous suggest.

If you feel you need the info, we're looking at a late Feb week.

thanks in advance,
Steve

[Jag_Warrior]

Late Feb? Well: http://www.andrettiracing.com/schedule.shtm Looked like a good time for not a lot of money. I'm going to try to get there early enough to do it next year.

And while you're out near the track, there's Shelby's shop... if you can figure out the tour times. :confused:

[chop456]

But its not all not cards, chips and chicks.

Right. You forgot free booze. :D

http://www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam/service/index.html

And get me a couple "catalogs". m'kay?

[rocket]

Stay away from the raceway ramada.......trust me :D :thumdown:

[devilmaster]

Stay away from the raceway ramada.......trust me :D :thumdown:

Actually, the cheapest deal of flight and hotel for 287 bucks includes a stay at Terribles Hotel and Casino. Terribles? and its the cheapest?!? :rofl:

We're probably gonna go with hotels in the 350 dollar range... that gives us a choice of places like Circus Circus, Flamingo, and Bally's.

For those who may be wondering why I apologized to Bill Simmons, he's a writer at ESPN.com, probably better known as the Boston Sports Guy. He writes good comedy articles for them, and now and then includes articles about his Vegas trips, always ending with the term, 'Vegas, Baby. Vegas.'

Steve

[Ankf00]

simmons stole that from Swingers, that dirty redsox loving thief

vince vaughn should receive full credit for his greatness. as should john favreau for writing it :cool:

however, simmons' recap of the '02 NFL season along with swingers lines was greatness.


the one time I've been to Vegas I stayed at circus circus, didnt like it that much, but hey, you roll with what you have, it didn't ruin the trip

[rocket]

Actually, the cheapest deal of flight and hotel for 287 bucks includes a stay at Terribles Hotel and Casino. Terribles? and its the cheapest?!? :rofl:

We're probably gonna go with hotels in the 350 dollar range... that gives us a choice of places like Circus Circus, Flamingo, and Bally's.

For those who may be wondering why I apologized to Bill Simmons, he's a writer at ESPN.com, probably better known as the Boston Sports Guy. He writes good comedy articles for them, and now and then includes articles about his Vegas trips, always ending with the term, 'Vegas, Baby. Vegas.'

Steve
Forget Circus Circus, it's a dive now.

Try this site here. http://www.vegas.com/resorts/index_gl.html

I'd try these first off.

http://www.vegas.com/resorts/paris/index.html?vc1=2&vc2=fhtl_txt_prs

http://www.vegas.com/resorts/bellagio/index.html?vc1=2&vc2=fhtl_txt_blg

http://www.vegas.com/resorts/montecarlo/index.html?vc1=2&vc2=fhtl_txt_mcrl

Also at the Monte Carlo: http://www.monte-carlo.com/dining/pub.php3?section=dining

[devilmaster]

Thanks for the links Rocket.

Its actually kind of surprising the price range of cheapest to most expensive - considering that the real idea is to get people like me into the hotel so I lose most of my money at their casino.

As an example, i will show one set of hotel prices we've been looking at. These include the price of the flight and are per person based on double occupancy.

Terribles - $287
Binions - $297
Palace Station - $323
Circus Manor - $335
Boardwalk - $353
Flamingo - $353
San Remo - $358
Circus Circus - $373
Best Western - $384
Tuscany - $408
Ballys - $424
Golden Nugget - $445
Monte Carlo - $445
Westin Casurarina - $459
Excalibur - $459
Palms - $473
NY NY - $491
Grandview - $495
Atrium Suites - $498
Paris LV - $510
Luxor - $518
Harrah's - $533
Treasure Island - $535
Hilton - $535
MGM Grand - $578
Mirage - $589
Caesar's - $592
Aladdin - $608
Bellagio - $633
Venetian - $801


This is just a snapshot of travelocity's websearch. Its not the only thing we're looking at, of course. But i'd rather get a cheap hotel and have more to spend at the sportsbooks, tables and the like. (bet! bet! bet! :D )

Considering that the flight on its own is $213, i am somewhat surprised at some of the prices of the hotels.

Steve

[Wheel-Nut]

I agree about Circus Circus and that end of the strip in general, although its been a few years since I have been to LV.

I usually stay at The Flamingo Hilton on the strip, directly across from Cesars and in the center of the strip, at least it used to be.

Try this if its your game.

http://www.lasvegaskarting.com/

http://www.vegas.com/images/main_map.gif

[RichK]

dm, from your list, I'd choose the Monte Carlo. The Palms is pretty cool, but it's not as central.

Have fun!

[devilmaster]

Thx Wheel and Rich.

K.. thanks to cork, Boardwalk is out. Flamingo is now tops on the list...

Sounds like a winning combination.... hopefully ;)

Steve

[Dirty Sanchez]

Of that list, I'd be all over the Flamingo deal. Its old school... and its in an excellent location. Caeser's sportsbook... doesn't get much better than that, imo.

[Dr. Corkski]

I am going to Vegas in early next year so I am gonna chime in here. We are staying at the Flamingo mainly because it's closer to the cheap casinos on the strip. For sportsbook Stardust at the north end of the strip is the way to go. Locationwise the Flamingo is great because it's right in the middle of everything. The Monte Carlo deal is not bad either.

Do not stay at the Boardwalk. That place is ghetto.

Steve, check out http://www.cheapovegas.com. I got a lot of info off of there.

[Winston Wolfe]

Thx Wheel and Rich.

I'm thinking of leaning towards Boardwalk. The total for 4 nights is 300 bucks for a tower view room, which gets good reviews on sites. And boardwalk is right in the middle of it all.

Sounds like a winning combination.... hopefully ;)

Steve

DOOD, the Boardwalk is an absolute DIVE, and almost as bad as the Circus Circus.... if you are just looking for a place to sleep then its FINE....
I believe it is actually the future site of the next big demolition explosion when it is reduced to rubble so that a newer, even more MASSIVE casino can be built between Monte Carlo and NY \ NY....
If you want to hang at a place with lots of atmosphere and plenty of "things" to look at, you want a good sportsbook at the same time.... then go to Ceasar's Palace. Yeah, there's a lot of NY \ NJ types there, but their Sports Book is great. On many Sundays, its like being at the game....

If you are looking for a nicer hotel, with some curb appeal, the Monte Carlo is pretty good.... the Palms has the MTV crowd, with cool night clubs and the XTC crowd... one of my favorites for the 30-40 year old crowd is Mandalay Bay.... cool restaurants, nice bars, good rooms, and plenty of good things to look at.

If you have not been to Vegas in a while, you are going to be overwhelmed. There are so many things to do, and cool places to go, you'll just have to win a ****load of money and come back....

[devilmaster]

K.... thanks to wolfe too, boardwalk is out.

Flamingo at the moment is tops on the list... Which may change as I plow through all the ways to get cheaper rooms.

Plus, we may have more than 2 of us going yet..... Going to see if friends who may want to go, well....go.

Thanks though to all who have offered info and opinions. This is what I wanted when I posted the trip plans.... keep em comin.....

Steve

[oddlycalm]

Steve - I gotta agree, Boardwalk and Circus Circus suck. A nice off-Strip place is preferable to a dump on the strip every time IMO if you're primary goal is to save money. For a fun couple days though I would want to be on the strip. The previously mentioned Flamingo and Monte Carlo represent good advice.

BTW, for those looking to stay a while the Strip will quickly drive you nuts though. I lived in a hotel-casino for over 3 months at one point, and I would not wanted to be on the strip.

oc

[KLang]

Has the Flamingo been updated lately? I stayed there the first time I visited Vegas back in about 1982. I think I'd want something a little newer.

We stayed at the Venetian when we went to the ChampCar race. Very nice but pretty expensive.

[nrc]

RaceGrrl and I had a great time at the MGM. We got a great deal but I don't remember where from? :/ It's true that they tend to jack up the table minimums pretty quickly once people start sitting down but we found it a nice compromise between the old school casinos and the sensory overload of the newest ones.

[Warlock!]

I had more fun gambling at Circus Circus than anywhere else when I was there a few (6) years back... all the dealers, pit bosses, etc. were much more laid back there than anyplace, 'specially the ones at the south end of the strip.

When you go, leave a little bit of money in the casinos and a lot of food at the buffets, as I'll be there the 1st of March.

Thanks, dude...

;)

Warlock!