LAs Vegas info

[Bubbles]

Hey all,

Going to vegas with my 17 year old son.  Staying at the Excalibur (cheap I know but gives us more $$ to spend on activities). Any Suggestions or links for things to do?  Can't find thread for this.  Going for four nights. Taxi about $15 from airport to strip?

Thanks

[Sharlee]

Excalibur has a great buffet where you can get lunch prices if you arrive before 4:00.  When we were there we'd eat at about 3:30 and be good for the day.

Not sure about cab fare, but there are lots of shuttles that go from the strip to the airport.

If you're into carnival rides, there are lots at Circus Circus.  Check out the Stratosphere and the roller coaster on top of New York New York.

See lions at the MGM Grand for free, lots of animals at the Mirage but there's an admission charge.

My family and I spent most of our time looking at the buildings, checking out displays, going to shows and shopping.

If you're interested in going to shows, check out Tix 4 Tonight http://www.tix4tonight.com/which has half price tickets not only to shows but a lot of restaurants.  They have several locations.

You'll want to avoid most of the people handing things out on the street because they're soliciting things you don't want your 17 year old to buy, but there are a few people who have coupon books with great coupons in them.  You can tell the difference between the people handing things out because the ones advertising hookers aren't permitted to speak to you whereas the coupon guys can talk.

Can't think of anything else offhand, but have fun!

[Bubbles]

Thanks for all the info.  I saw the Excalibur has this $29.99 all day eat feast.  hahaha.  I guess that is what holidays r about...weight gain! Thanks for the tip regarding the handouts I heard about that and always wondered who were legit and who were selling time shares and strip club info. Tix 4 Tonight will come in handy too!

[Superchecker]

Hey all,

Going to vegas with my 17 year old son.  Staying at the Excalibur (cheap I know but gives us more $$ to spend on activities). Any Suggestions or links for things to do?  Can't find thread for this.  Going for four nights. Taxi about $15 from airport to strip?

Thanks

Excalibur is OK... but just OK... It is connected to The Luxor and then to Mandalay Bay... We were just there about 6 weeks ago now...
Mandalay Bay does have a underwater reef/aquarium that is quite enjoyable... Maybe $15 each??? We saw "Menopause" at Luxor, and it was hilarious... Maybe not for a 17 year old, but still very funny- lots of tunes from the 60's, 70's, & 80's... They also have Criss Angel?? Not our thing but they kept pushing the fact that it was 35% off??? Also have a Titanic exhibit as well as the human body exhibit too...
Excalibur has Louie Anderson as well as DEVENDING THE CAVEMAN... There is also a "kids" arcade below the main casino floor as well...

From the airport, there are 3 or 4 "shuttle" bus companies... We used gray line last time, it's like $6.50 each one way or $12 each return. You just call the night before you are heading hoime to arrainge a pick up time...

[Superchecker]

www.vegas.com is great for lots of information including shows... Just type in the dates that you'll be there, and up comes a list of all the shows...
I'd highly recommend the NATHON BURTON magician show & buffet dinner over at the Flamingo... It's like $29.95 each with the coupon from www.vegas4locals.com
There is bus service up and down the strip, the double decker "Duece" is the "local" bus like very 12 minutes, making all stops, or the longer articulated "Ace" buses are the limited stop/express buses, also every 12 minutes or so... If you want to go past the strip to one of the outlet malls, ride the ACE. The PREMIUM outlet is at the north end of the route, whereas the regular outlet mall is at the south end of the route... It's like $2.50 one way but just $7 for a  24 hour pass... The buses do run 24 hours a day...
There is also a monorail kind of behind the hotels on the eastside of the strip, it costs like twice as much as the buses...
You can also ride the buses north to downtown-Fremont street, check out the older part of Vegas and enjoy the free overhead light/lazer show every evening too!

[Bubbles]

Thanks for all this info.  Might check out the magic show.  Was also wondering if we r walking pass the casinos and my son wants to try a few slots r they really uptight about it?  I know he will want to put a few quarters in somewhere and stopping him might be diffficult.  Don't want to be dragged out by the doorman or something.

[Superchecker]

Thanks for all this info.  Might check out the magic show.  Was also wondering if we r walking pass the casinos and my son wants to try a few slots r they really uptight about it?  I know he will want to put a few quarters in somewhere and stopping him might be diffficult.  Don't want to be dragged out by the doorman or something.

Each casino has their own security force, and they really do keep an eye on things... They don't want to lose their casino license.

The legal age in Nevada is 21!!!

[Bubbles]

Yes I guess it would be like a bar will talk with him

[Bubbles]

One more thing do you guys recommend renting a car for seeing something outside of Vegas?
Thanks

[fuzzbrain]

like someone else said, the drinking and gambling age there is 21, so that is different, but there are sometimes clubs that over 18 can get into as long as they don't drink (over 21's get wrist bands or something so they can buy drinks)..... it is strange to see

[Superchecker]

One more thing do you guys recommend renting a car for seeing something outside of Vegas?
Thanks

I'd say that it's up to you and your needs...

We've never rented a car down there... Mostly relied on the buses and Monorail...
We had vouchers once for a free day trip to the Hoover Dam... The bus picked us up at around 7:30am and had us back in time for dinner...

If you are taking the teen out to the Nascar track, maybe then you'd need a car???

[Bubbles]

Thanks for digging up all the other threads!

[Sharlee]

One more thing do you guys recommend renting a car for seeing something outside of Vegas?
Thanks

We were there in March and we rented a car.  Drove out of the city almost daily to clear our heads.  Went to the Hoover Dam and spent the rest of the time just hiking around.  There are some amazing places to see and a million photos waiting to be taken!

[Bubbles]

Any rental car place recommended?

[Sharlee]

^ Sorry but I can't remember which company we used and I don't seem to have the records anymore.   

I do remember that I did a lot of searching online and comparison shopping.  I ended up getting a weeklong deal for less than what it would have cost for 3 days at another company.  It really pays to plan ahead and do some research!

[Bubbles]

Thanks

[Bubbles]

Thanks for all the info just got back from our trip a few days ago!   Hot hot hot!!! But lots of fun! Top notch shows and fabulous buildings. The only drawback was the continuous smell of smoke indoors and on the strip sidewalk. Really bad in the Excalibur and most casinos will have to look for one with a high ceiling next time like NYNY.    Not one who usually complains about it but it got to me.  Over fun but nice to be back!

[Sharlee]

I'm glad you had fun!

I know what you mean about the smoke.  We've been so spoiled here, not running into smoke unless we happen to walk through a cloud of it when exiting building.  It's really oppressive when you're inside a smoky room.

Which shows did you see?

[NSgirl]

glad we didn't go to Vegas! We were going to go this month,but my friend whos family lives down there warned me about the heat this time of year.
the cigarette smoke, I didn't even think of..yucky,that would really piss me off,I think.
We are doing some weekend trips in B.c, this summer instead. spend the money on shows and adventures right here.
We are going to check out the caves at horne lake this month,and maybe do some canoing etc.
I'll leave vegas for perhaps the early spring, when temperatures are abit more mild.

[Bubbles]

We really take our smoke free buildings and fresh tasting tap water for granted here. Dam there were people smoking in the swimming pool too. Yuck!

We saw Rush (awesome they still rock!!), Mac King (Magic and Comedy), Legends in Concert (Jay Leno, Michael Jackson, Elton John, Donna Summer and of course Elvis).  Favorite line by Elvis before Love me Tender " This song goes out to all the beautiful women out there...and of course the rest of you!" hahaha We also had tickets to Lion King but my son became ill after eating at NYNY.  Luckily I went back to Tickets4tonight and they refunded our tickets.  The counter person told me I could return tickets if they were purchased the same day as the event...so nice to know. All shows except Rush was purchased at one of the half price booth so I definitely recommend it.  Overall all the shows are just done well with the best singers, back ground dancers and actors. 

Couple things I would do differently 1. Take taxi from airport shuttle takes too long and is not that much cheaper or rent a car (Expedia sent me $17/day rentals) 2. Stay at a place with high ceilings to avoid the smoke 3. Never eat at the Excalibur buffet (worst ever) Luxor 10 times better same price.

[NSgirl]

thanks bubbles good to know ,if we ever end up going.
note to self... bring a  gas mask with us. LOL

[Sharlee]

Never eat at the Excalibur buffet (worst ever) Luxor 10 times better same price.

I'm sorry I missed out on the Luxor when I was there.  It wasn't the same price at the time though.  Sorry to have led you in the wrong direction!

[Bubbles]

I'm sorry I missed out on the Luxor when I was there.  It wasn't the same price at the time though.  Sorry to have led you in the wrong direction!

No no maybe I just hit it on a bad day or maybe because I went to the Luxor first and it was much better. Still appreciate your valuable input!