Visiting las vegas for 5 days in September. What places we should visit?

Sandy’s Vegas Guide Things to remember: 1.Drinks are free when you’re gambling. Sitting at a bar and playing a few dollars in a poker machine will get you a free drink. Sitting at a machine in the casino will get you the same. Tipping the waitress or bartender a dollar or two will keep her coming back. If you walk up to the bar and order drinks, you’re going to pay lots more, even for soda or bottled water. 2.Player’s Cards: Before you begin gambling, get a player’s card. Most places offer sign up deals (a coffee cup, a free meal, assorted coupons). If you get a card where you’re staying and you use it while you’re gambling, you can “save” the points and use then toward your room when you check out. Some casinos will combine accounts for married couples, some don’t. I always get a card in my name and ask for a second card. I play with one and my husband plays with the other. That way all the points are going to one card, and accumulate faster. Plus … you’ll get offers in the mail for your next trip! 3.Beware of time-share people! As you walk through the hotels and along the strip, you’ll be approached by people who want to give you free show tickets, free tours, free meals, etc. These are time-share sales people. They promise freebies in exchange for an hour of your time. I warn everyone about this but some people just don’t listen. A friend of mine decided an hour of her time was worth giving up in exchange for a show. So her and her husband accepted, were put on a bus and taken to a “presentation” and weren’t bought back for SIX hours. Their only escape would have been to take a cab back to the strip but that would have been expensive and they wouldn’t have gotten their “free” show tickets. The best way to get these people to lose interest in you and move on to the next person is to say, “Thanks, but we’re leaving tonight.” 4.Free Pulls: Some of the casinos offer “free pulls” on a special slot machine as you walk in the door. There are usually no strings attached, you pull the lever and win something. Usually it’s a key ring or a hat; sometimes it’s a free buffet. Sometimes it’s a coupon for a “fun book” (a book of coupons for that casino). To get the fun book, you can be sure you’re going to have to walk to a far, far corner in the casino. They want to get you WAY inside. 5.$40 for $20: Some casinos offer $40 in slot play for $20. What they don’t tell you is that it’s on a bank of “special” machines, and you can’t cash out for cash. Instead, you play the $40 and then choose a prize based on the credits. So before you hand over your $20, take a look at the prizes being offered. If there’s something in there that’s worth paying $20 for – have fun. If not, keep walking. 6.Valet: If you’re going to be renting a car while you’re there, valet parking is the way to go. For a $2 tip, you can park at a hotel or casino and visit the nearby hotels and casinos. 7.Bus: If you use the busses that run up and down the strip, put your wallet in your front pocket. Vegas is the favorite vacation spot for pick-pocketers, too. 8.Cabs: Cabs are more expensive than a bus, but faster and less waiting. Almost all hotels have a cab line outside one of their doors, a line of cabs waiting for the next fare. A hotel employee will whistle for the next cab in line when you ask for a cab. Things to see (and most are FREE!): 1.The Freemont Street Experience: Every night there is a light and music show that stretches for blocks. It’s an amazing thing to see … and it’s FREE. Freemont Street is in downtown Vegas, you’ll need to take a cab if you don’t have a car. The street is blocked off from traffic and you can stand in the street and look up and watch the show. (Another place to keep a close check on your wallet.) There’s a different show every 30 minutes, beginning at 8:00 or 8:30 PM. Show times and pictures can be seen at: http://www.vegasexperience.com/ Be sure to check out the video! Freemont Street also has performers and kiosks all along it. Lots to see and worth a trip. Downtown used to be nasty and scary, but they’ve cleaned it up and it’s clean and safe now. Just don’t wander too far off Freemont on any of the side streets. You probably wouldn’t want to anyway, most of the action is right on Freemont. 2.The Fountains at Bellagio: Don’t miss this! It’s a 900-foot long row of fountains that “dance” to music. The songs change, and it’s awesome to see. More info at: http://www.vegas.com/attractions/on_the_strip/bellagiofountains.html While you’re there, go inside and check out the conservatory. Very impressive! 3.Caesars Forum Shops: If you feel like strolling through Rome, check out the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace. This is also where the talking statues live. More info on the shops and a link to info on the talking statues at: http://www.vegas.com/shopping/forumshops.html 4.The Canal at the Venetian: This is pretty amazing and a MUST see. You feel like you’re in Italy as you stroll along the canal and visit the shops. You can even take a gondola ride. Check out the Canal Shoppes at: http://www.venetian.com/shoppe/index.cfm and get information on the gondolas at: http://www.vegas.com/attractions/on_the_strip/gondola.html?f=m0at&t=stripat 5.The Volcano, The Tigers and The Aquarium at The Mirage: If you go up the moving walkway and through the front door at the Mirage, you’ll see the white tiger. Pretty cool to see. Head through the foliage to the front lobby and check out the wall behind the check-in desk. It’s a HUGE salt-water aquarium. In front of the hotel there is a huge waterfall that turns into an erupting volcano (loud, bright, and hot!) at night. A trip to Vegas without seeing the volcano erupt just wouldn’t be a trip to Vegas. http://www.themirage.com/ 6.The Wildlife Habitat at The Flamingo: An outdoor habitat located within the Flamingo. You can see the live flamingos (still haven’t figured out how to kidnap one) plus lots of other birds, fish, and turtles. http://www.vegas.com/attractions/on_the_strip/wildlifehabitat.html 7.Masquerade Village at The Rio: Masquerade Village is inside the casino at the Mirage. There is a parade in the sky with music and dancing and lights that’s pretty cool to see. This is located off the strip, too far to walk, but there is a free shuttle that goes from Harrah’s to Rio and back. More info and a video at: http://www.harrahs.com/our_casinos/rlv/entertainment/entertainment_detail_07.html 8.The Eiffel Tower at Paris: You can take a trip to the top of the Eiffel Tower. http://www.vegas.com/attractions/on_the_strip/eiffeltower.html?f=m0at&t=stripat Other Info: You can find a map of the strip and downtown Las Vegas here: http://www.vegas.com/map.html You can find a show guide here: http://www.vegas.com/shows/index1.html?key=show01 This site has a search engine that allows you to enter the dates you’ll be in town. More GOOD Las Vegas info: http://www.visitlasvegas.com

There are so many great things to see in Las Vegas. Here is a website where you can research and get 2 for 1 tickets to many of the shows and other entertainment. Have a great time! http://www.runawaytravels.com/sales.html

Try to check out Red Rock Canyon - it's about 20 minutes from the strip down Charleston Ave. It BEAUTIFUL. There's a 13 mile loop you can drive (and stay in your cars air conditioning) and you may get to see a wild burro. (worth checking out). If it's nice...there are hiking trails.

Valley of Fire is really a neat place to see but it's outside - depends how hot it is . . . Skip the Ethel M chocolate factory tour. Yawn. The Liberace Museum is fun, but not for kids. Definitely see the "dancing fountains" at Bellagio at least once. You can see this if you're walking between hotels/attractions. It plays around every 30 minutes, I believe.

Day1 | depending on what time you arrive in Vegas on your first day here, there's always the usual things to do. First of all, I would get out of the airport (which can take up to two hours or more!) and then get to your hotel. Once you arrive at your hotel, check in and then find your hotel room and get settled. I would start by unpacking your suitcase and getting the room the way you like it. Then I would highly recommend taking a little 'cat nap' if it's possible. If you're not in the napping mood, don't worry about it. But, I guarentee it will help after a long flight! After that, depending on what time you arrived and got settled into your hotel room, I would go down to the concierge desk and ask them some questions about Las Vegas. They usually are pretty knowledgable in what there is to do. If you're staying on the strip, ask them what they recommend for dining, entertainment, and shopping. There are alot of places I will recommend later in my 'itinerary' for you. After you've talked to the people who work at the hotel you're staying at, I recommend you get yourself aquainted with the strip first. It's really long - about five miles (maybe a little more), so I wouldn't recommend walking the entire thing. Depending on the hotel you're staying at, I would suggest wandering around to the nearby hotels only. Perhaps the ones next door and the one across the street. There's always something to look at in each hotel, no matter what time of day or year it is! After that I would turn in for the night and get as much sleep as possible because the next four days of your trip are going to be fun-filled and packed to the gills! Day 2 | I definitely would recommend getting up early - perhaps around 6 or 7 a.m. Since you've already checked out the strip a little bit, I would think you might want to do something else for a day. Even though for the five days you're going to be here you could technically spend every waking second down there because there's always something to do, I think people who visit Las Vegas should get out and explore destinations beyond the strip. There's WAY more to Las Vegas than just the infamous strip - trust me! Anyway, wake up early on day 2 and perhaps take a day trip to Red Rock Canyon. Red Rock Canyon is about a 20 to 30 minute ride from the Las Vegas Strip, and since you've got a rental car that helps out (you don't have to depend on public transportation or taxi cabs!) Once you get to Red Rock Canyon (take Flamingo Road or Tropicana west to I-15, then go south on I015 until you see signs for the I-215 west interchange; once you're on the 215, continue going until you come to the Charleston exit, then take a left heading west and keep going - you'll see road signs for Red Rock!) you'll have to pay a $5 fee to get into the actual recreation area. Once you're in, I recommend stopping at the visitor's center. They can tell you a bunch of information and you can also pick up pamphlets and such for the area. There's also creatures of the desert in the little museum they have set up - including a snake and a hairy scorpion! It's really cool to see - I'm just glad the things are behind glass!!! Anyway, after taking a stroll near the visitors center, get back into your rental car and take the drive around the canyon (it's 13 miles). You can drive as slowly as you want - and stop whenever you see something that catches your eye! Usually you'll see people rock-climbing (really high!) and wandering around. It's really nice weather in Las Vegas in September, so I would recommend wearing shorts and a t-shirt or tank top to keep cool and bring plenty of water! It's easy to get dehydrated out in the dry heat and hot temperatures. This is usually an all day event, so I would plan on spending at least three hours there - it's well worth it trust me! When you return for the day you may be too tired to go out, but if you're not I suggest going to the casino area and maybe have a drink at the bar or play the slots or gaming tables (if that's your thing!) Otherwise, just turn in for the night and rest up for tomorrow! Day 3 | My recommendations for day three would be to explore the greater Las Vegas area. Henderson, which is just south southwest of Las Vegas (it's in the metro area). It's a beautiful city. I would highly recommend visiting the Ethel M Chocolate Factory and Cactus Gardens. They're on the same property as one another. I would suggest going to see these in the early morning (between 9 and 11 a.m.) or in the evenings (between 5 and 7 p.m.) as it can get pretty hot in the day time! The Ethel M Chocolate Factory is really neat. Usually during the day they'll be making chocolate and they have large windows for people to view through! You're actually able to see the chocolate treats being made! They also offer you a free sample...which is always a plus! After strolling through the factory, you'll emerge into the 'gift shop.' The items in the gift shop are overpriced, but well worth it if you're a chocolate lover! After leaving the factory, you'll stumble upon the Cactus Gardens. These really are a sight to see! You can spend about an hour out there, maybe more if cacti fascinates you (as it does me!) After this excursion, I would probably just drive around Henderson for a while - there are endless things to see! If you decide to go in the morning to the Ethel M Factory, then you could probably also make a trip to Lake Mead and Hoover Dam in the afternoon and evening hours - as it doesn't get dark until approximately 7:45 p.m. in September. Day 4 | If you enjoy shopping there are many places I could recommend for Day 4! There are many, many malls to enjoy, as well as outlet malls and the more high-end shopping areas. If you have alot of money, I would recommend shopping at The Forum Shoppes at Caesar's Palace or the Desert Passage at the Aladdin. These are really great places to shop if money is not an option. The Desert Passage has over 170 stores and the Caesars has ALOT too. If money is a little tight but you still would like to go shopping, I would recommend going to the Galleria Mall in Henderson (Sunset Road between Stephanie and Marks) or one of the outlet malls. There's an outlet mall at the south end of the strip and near the north end. The south end one is alright, but I would highly recommend going to the one just off the I-15 (north) at Grand Central Parkway. This is an outdoor outlet mall, with very nice shops - lots of deals can be found here on clothing, accessories, cosmetics, etc! Endless fun! Day 5 | Depending on what time you're leaving today, hopefully in the evening, I would take the time to pick three or four casino's you're interested in and go in to see the decor. Even if you're not a gambler, the decor in these hotels out here is fabulous! It's something you absolutely must see! If you flight doesn't leave until after it's dark, I would surely make sure to check out the Bellagio Fountains - they're absolutely spectacular. Definitely a must see when visiting Las Vegas! I really hope you enjoy your stay while here! This really is a great city - I've been here over a year now and I love it. There's always something to do, no matter what time of day it is! Good luck to you!

Hoover Dam

Drive out to Red Rock.... Than to Boulder City and Hoover Dam, see the big horn sheep. Gamble and party all nite. Sleep the next day and hang out by the pool. Hit every buffet and walk the strip... 5 Days ... easy

Besides the obvious, gambling, Vegas has a ton of shopping, TONS of shows and even theme parks. You can also take a trip to the Hoover Dam. If you like going to see the high end shops (ie: Gucci, Armani, etc) most of the high end resorts have their own shopping area. You can see a $1000 wallet to a $4000 gown just by window shopping. Vegas has a couple of outlets and they will even pick up at the strip. If you want to catch a show, but don't want to spend a ton of money, flip through your Visitors Guide in the hotel room. They have coupons (ie: buy one get one) and there's the Coca Cola ad. In the Coca Cola building you can get 1/2 price tickets on the day of the show. You got to get there early and usually its not the big hits like Avenue Q, Phantom or Celine Dion, but you can get a show for 1/2 off nonetheless. You can also do the spa thing or just relax by the pool. The city is opened all night, so you can do anything ANY TIME! If you like eating, they have world class restaurants too! Each restaurant has 2, 3 and 4 star restaurants, and the hotter they are, you will need a reservation. For a great deal, try Mr. Lucky's at the Hard Rock Cafe/Casino. They have a great steak and shrimp deal for $7.77. You get a soup or salad, steak and grilled shrimp for $7.77. Or, do what I do.. just hop casino to casino! Each casino is so unique inside, that you can just see each one, and that will take you all day! There's a monorail you can take, but it cost money. You can buy an all day pass or a 10 stop pass (you can share the 10 pass with a friend). When I go to each casino, I sign up for their "Players Card". Its free and you can get deals using their card. Some will give you discounts on food and drinks, some will comp you rooms when you gamble with them. Plus, they make great free souvenirs!!

Get your tickets early. The good seats on shows are generally sold out by the time you get there. We just saw zoomanity, Love, Wanye Brady, and Tony and Tinas wedding. They were great.