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How safe is it to walk between the strip and the Rio at night? The strip seems generally crowded and safe until pretty late, but it looks like the Rio is a block or two on the other side of the interstate. Should I just take an Uber even though it's a short ride?
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Jul 27, 2017 02:23
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Yeah, even walking a few hotels down the strip in the middle of the day just about killed me. It looks like there's a free shuttle that goes between Harrah's and Rio, so I'll just grab that. Thanks!
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Jul 27, 2017 07:17
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It's 107 degrees right now. Are those "day of" discount ticket places (tix4tonight, etc.) legit? Do they charge some crazy convenience fee or something? Oh, and does anyone know a good place to watch UFC pay-per-view fights? We checked a couple of places on the strip, and they all have ridiculous per-person minimums.
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Jul 29, 2017 01:39
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Holy poo poo, the Rio looks like a dying shopping mall in its final days.
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Jul 31, 2017 03:57
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bunnyofdoom posted:I mean....without Penn and teller that is an apt comparison
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Aug 1, 2017 07:34
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Neat! I was in town for Blackhat and DefCon too. Fremont Street was... fine. It's crowded and full of mostly mediocre-to-terrible street performers, but it feels a little more "real" than the Strip. I didn't spend much time there - we mostly just walked up and down it, and saw the dumb Green Day light show thing. The only other excursion I made off the Strip was to the Pinball Hall of Fame, which was loving amazing. I was a pinball fanatic during the "golden age" of pinball, and they have all of the tables I remember from my high school and college days, plus some really cool vintage machines. I tried to do a reasonable survey of buffets while I was there. You know, for science. I can post my hot takes on them if anyone's interested.
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Aug 11, 2017 21:03
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I went to that In N Out, probably around midnight? Stuff I saw during my walk: - Drunk dudebro starting a fight with a doorman near... the Linq, I think? - Woman playing penny slots while smoking through a trachea hole - A group of seven or eight Las Vegas police running down an alley - Homeless(?)/drunk guy having an argument with a statue - Very young woman in a "she's the bride" shirt sobbing into her phone about "he's a monster, I can't do this anymore" The burger was... fine. I guess I've been spoiled by having really good local burger joints back at home. And now, the Hierarchy of Buffets (best to worst): Bacchanal Buffet (Caesar's Palace) - I went for lunch before catching my flight home. About one and a half stations were still set up with breakfast items, but there was plenty of lunch/dinner food available too. The whole thing was absolutely amazing. The Asian station had a selection of dim sum style items (dumplings, pork buns, etc.), which I kept going back to. The carving station had literally the best prime rib I've ever tasted. All of the side items I tried were excellent. They also had a cooler with unusual fresh-squeezed juices -- I remember pomegranate and... maybe kiwi? Dessert was good too, though I was so stuffed that I didn't eat much -- there's a full service gelato/sorbet bar though! Wicked Spoon (Cosmopolitan) - My favorite until I went to Caesar's. They had the best side items of the bunch, with incredible fried chicken wings and a spicy mac-n-cheese that rivals my wife's best homemade (but don't tell her that). The carving station had a bunch of selections, though the slice of turkey I got was really dry and didn't have a lot of flavor. The dessert bar was great, too -- the chocolate-strawberry tart is the best sweet thing I had in Vegas. The Wynn Buffet - Definitely the best selection of seafood of anyplace I went. I'm a little skeptical of seafood in the middle of the desert, but they had some excellent fish dishes. I think oysters too, but that's not my thing -- my dining companions hit that stuff hard though. The sides didn't measure up to the two places above, but they were still a step above frozen-to-microwave cafeteria fare. MGM Grand Buffet - The dinner buffet includes house wine (that night they had a cabernet and a chardonnay) and domestic beer (I'm not a big beer drinker), so points for that. Also, crab leg clusters, with claws. Fancy! They also had a pretty nice carving station, with some stuff I didn't see elsewhere -- I think I remember kielbasa and glazed ham alongside the standard buffet fare. Sounds great, right? Unfortunately, the sides were a huge disappointment. Everything tasted like it was straight off the SysCo truck -- mashed potatoes and gravy, macaroni and cheese, spaghetti -- all pretty bland. This is probably a great choice if you're all about animal protein and unlimited wine/beer, but otherwise I was pretty let down. Flamingo Buffet - My group was starving after picking up our DefCon badges, and all of the restaurants at Caesar's were packed, so we went across the street to find some brunch. The Flamingo's buffet was cheap (well, for the Strip), and it was a short walk, so we went for it. The made-to-order crepes were excellent, and the rest of the breakfast food was tasty but nothing special. The entire buffet was about a third the size of the ones above, but it was our first full day in the city, so expectations were a bit lower. I'd actually planned on having dinner at the Rio's buffet, after hearing stories from friends about how amazing their seafood buffet was. Unfortunately, they seem to have merged the seafood buffet with their not-nearly-as-good normal buffet, and you now have to pay extra for the smaller selection of seafood items. Considering how poorly the Rio seems to be doing (low crowd on a weekend evening, a sea of dead/empty shops, and signs advertising ridiculously cheap suites), killing one of the best buffets on the Strip seems like a bad decision. So, did I miss anything incredible? I'd read good things about the buffets at Bally's and the Aria, but I only had so much room in my stomach. Even walking 5-8 miles per day, I came home weighing exactly what I did when I left.
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Aug 12, 2017 16:05
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My wife and I are planning a trip for early or mid December, possibly with another couple. It's her first visit, but I've been during DEFCON. Stayed downtown once, and on the Strip last time. We already have a pretty good list of things we want to see, do, and eat. I have a few questions though: We definitely want to stay on the Strip and will likely Uber or Lyft to anything that's not walkable. Speaking of which... December temperatures look fairly mild - I'm guessing light jacket weather during the day? We were looking possibly staying at the Vdara, as we'd prefer a small suite but don't want to spend a fortune. We don't plan to gamble much, so it's not a big deal if there's not a casino right downstairs. The non-smoking part is nice as well. Has anyone stayed there? Are there better options for similar quality/price? Is there anything we should know about visiting in colder/off-season months? Does anything important shut down? Thanks in advance!
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Jul 9, 2018 16:57
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Thanks for the info. Some friends stayed at the Cosmopolitan last year for DEFCON, and it seemed like what a frat kid would build if you gave him half a billion dollars. The buffet was legit though, up there with the one at Caesar's. We'll probably go with Vdara then. The location is good, and the rooms seem great for the price. I'd ask if staying at a non-casino hotel cuts down on potential perks or comps, but like I said, we're probably not going to gamble much at all anyway. All of those club cards are based on pretty strict math these days (play/lose X dollars, qualify for Y comp), right?
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Jul 9, 2018 19:18
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Imaduck posted:Excalibur has a pretty decent arcade if you're on the south end of the strip. Circus Circus has one as well on the north end of the strip. Pinball Hall of Fame is amazing though. I spent about three hours there and would happily spend about twenty more.
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Aug 20, 2018 22:39
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Residency Evil posted:I'm in Vegas for my bachelor party in two weeks. One of my friends booked the Hyatt Place because he has points. I should find something on the strip right? Or does it not matter much? From the Hyatt FAQ: quote:At which M life Rewards destinations can I redeem World of Hyatt points? (I think Monte Carlo is MGM-branded as of a few months ago.) Might be worth checking if your friend is willing to switch the reservation to an on-Strip hotel. Some of those are going to be expensive, but several of the older hotels (particularly Luxor) are hurting for business and generally have dirt cheap rooms, which should translate to less reward points required. They're hoping you'll stay there for the low room rate and then drop a bundle of cash in the casino.
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Aug 30, 2018 18:34
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I was underwhelmed by Aria's food options. They seemed overpriced even for the Strip, and none of it was particularly better than other things I found nearby. I stayed at the Vdara last trip (another good option if you don't smoke and don't need a casino literally right downstairs), but I spent most of my near-hotel time in the Cosmo next door. I really enjoy the odd quirkiness of that place, and they have some great restaurants, too. My wife and I hit China Poblano three or four times during our visit.
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Feb 28, 2019 22:01
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JaySB posted:Carbone is arguably the best Italian meal in town, Jean George is fantastic for steak, Bardot is the best brunch in town, and Sage is still fantastic. That said, I didn't have a bad meal during my week in town.
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Mar 1, 2019 04:07
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The birthday cake milkshake at Milk Bar is amazing and when I die I want my casket filled with it. Has anyone been to Jaleo? My wife and I love China Poblano (Jose Andres' other restaurant in the Cosmo) but didn't know much about Jaleo and opted for other places for our more upscale meals.
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Mar 2, 2019 04:14
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JaySB posted:Absinthe is the best show in Vegas. It's so dumb, but the good kind of dumb.
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Mar 24, 2019 19:17
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I personally wasn't super knocked out by Yardbird when I ate there. I live in the South, so I guess it's hard to impress me with southern cuisine - everything was competently made and well presented, but a lot of it didn't taste... correct? Probably won't bother you if you're not used to southern cooking though. Mon Ami Gabi, on the other hand, was absolutely amazing. One of my traveling companions talked it up as his favorite lunch spot on the strip, and he was totally right. Some of the tastiest beef I've ever had (we all got different varieties of the steak frites) and the service was spectacular. I spent the rest of the trip wanting to go back.
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Oct 4, 2019 01:10
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Taima posted:Mon Ami Gabi does look good and I admit I'm tempted. My only concern is that our itinerary already includes Bouchon and Bordot (out of 5 total meals in Vegas). Oh, I didn't get to try é, but Jose Andres' other (more casual) restaurant in the Cosmopolitan is called China Poblano, and it is loving incredible. Asian/Mexican fusion "small plate" meals. The dumplings are delicious and addictive. I can't remember if they're always open for lunch - I feel like they kept weird hours when I was there last December. WhiteHowler fucked around with this message at 03:23 on Oct 4, 2019 |
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Oct 4, 2019 02:36
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Baddog posted:Why do you want to go to Vegas? That said, it's expensive even as vacation destinations go, and there's no way I'd take three teenagers there, especially on a budget. There are things in Vegas for underage people to do (the Mandalay Bay aquarium, the Pinball Hall of Fame, M&Ms World, most of the non-XXX shows), but fewer than most other vacation spots, and nothing is cheap -- especially if you stay around the Strip.
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Jan 6, 2020 01:26
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TheReverend posted:Yeah saw absinthe and loved it just wondering if Opium is different but good too ?
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Feb 9, 2020 04:16
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geese posted:My wife and I just booked to go to Vegas at the end of this month. We were there 3 years ago and saw Absinthe and loved it. I saw that the Absinthe folks are doing two new shows: Opium at the Cosmo, and Atomic Saloon show at the Venetian. Are there any opinions on which might be better? Welcome to space, motherfuckers.
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Mar 5, 2020 22:25
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luminalflux posted:My limit on Vegas is 72 hours, after that it becomes overwhelming. I only spent maybe 2% of my awake time gambling though. The was mostly walking, seeing things, eating, going to shows, doing the silly tourist stuff, and spending a fair amount of time relaxing in my hotel room, enjoying the view of the Strip. But I'm weird; I don't have much use for the casinos, but I'd happily spend dozens of hours at the Pinball Hall of Fame.
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Nov 24, 2020 17:53
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Midjack posted:I wouldn't sweat walking to the Strat at all. It's a couple of blocks north of Sahara and if you can't handle walking past an IHOP and tattoo parlor at 2am consider avoiding Las Vegas entirely. Now, when I was just barely 21 and visiting Vegas with my dad (who was notoriously cheap), he had the bright idea to walk from downtown over to the Strip, just before sunset. "It's only a few miles, we can save on a taxi," he said. Yeah, don't do that.
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Oct 23, 2021 20:48
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BizarroAzrael posted:I'll probably save a good portion of the difference not having to travel to the strip. Hopefully Three has a good partner in the US these days as seems I can't use the WiFi without paying the resort fee. While I absolutely respect and admire this mindset, Las Vegas (along with Disney World) is one of the few destinations in the US I wouldn't try to do on a strict budget, especially if it was my first (and only?) visit ever. Stay on the Strip. Eat at a nice restaurant or two. Go see a show, or wrangle tickets to hockey or football. Even the touristy stuff is worthwhile -- check out the Atomic Testing Museum or the Neon Sign Museum. It won't be cheap, but Las Vegas is awesome, and it's worthy of spending some money to make things memorable. There are ways to save money in Vegas, and this thread is a good resource for finding tips, but for a first-timer I'd recommend planning it like it's a once-in-a-lifetime trip. Or don't listen to me and do your own thing, but also Midjack posted:don't stay on Fremont Street Edit: I re-read this and my post is absolutely oozing with privilege, and I apologize for that. It's just my experience that the "full Vegas experience" (even if you don't go overboard with gambling and boozing and whoring) is anything but cheap. WhiteHowler fucked around with this message at 22:44 on Oct 26, 2021 |
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Oct 26, 2021 22:41
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BizarroAzrael posted:Eh, don't want to *waste* money, resort fees sound like some bullshit. I'm pretty happy to pay extra to stay on the strip etc. I really just booked Four Queens when the Booking.com app showed a sharp discount that was cancellable, figured I'd lock that in. If I were super concerned about money I wouldn't be going to the other side of the world to play a card game for ages 13 and up. Fair enough. Resort fees are bullshit, but it's just part of the game there. Just mentally add them to the room rate and pretend that's the "real" rate. Well, plus the exorbitant taxes on hotels in the US, but that's universal here. No avoiding it.
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Oct 27, 2021 02:05
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TipTow posted:Doubleposting because this thread is a ghosttown, you said it's a noon kickoff on a Wednesday, I can't speak to the popularity of watching a Champions League game in Vegas (very well may be a big draw) but there won't be poo poo going on other sports-wise so that'll be in y'alls favor. I've visited Vegas with a co-worker who is a huge Premier league (I guess?) fan, and he never had any issues finding live Most of the books have a large bar as well as a nice seating area. They're never crowded during the day, except on weekends during NFL/college football season and March Madness (our neverending college basketball championship). britishbornandbread posted:To move the thread on to a more general discussion, it's my wife's first time in Vegas, though I have been about three/four times, and I need to make sure we see what you NEED to see. I'm thinking the usual up and down on the Strip, taking in many of the themed casinos, the 'Welcome...' sign, possibly South outlet mall (I prefer the North one, but South fits in better) and Fremont Street one evening. We're both foodies and drinkers, so if anyone can recommend any decent vegan/vegetarian friendly restaurants they have enjoyed that'd be welcomed. - The Pinball Hall of Fame -- bonus: it's only a few hundred feet from the "Welcome to..." sign - The Neon Museum - Any Vegas show -- I recommend Absinthe or OPIUM if you're not averse to adult (but not porn-y) humor Definitely go downtown and check out the contrast between that area and the Strip. There are some historic casinos there, and it's a good place to gamble if you want lower-stakes tables. However, the nighttime "Fremont Street Experience" is ehhhhhh. I haven't visited in a few years, but it was ridiculously crowded and all I remember is a bunch of old Green Day songs (the bad ones from the 2000's, not the good ones from the 90's) blasted through awful speakers while a video-based lightshow played overhead. Given the annoyance of catching a cab/Uber/Lyft there and back from the Strip, I felt like it wasn't a good use of my evening. I don't know a ton about vegetarian cuisine, but Lotus of Siam -- one of the best Thai restaurants in the US -- has a decent vegetarian/vegan section on their menu. WhiteHowler fucked around with this message at 17:35 on Apr 14, 2022 |
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Apr 14, 2022 14:55
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John Romero posted:she is notoriously averse to jank I regret to inform her that she will be visiting Las Vegas.
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Sep 9, 2022 17:25
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Toxic Mental posted:FWIW I probably won't be leaving the Aria much (except for Gordon Ramsay Burger). I guess I'm asking more specifically in that hotel itself and any surrounding area. Budget isn't really a concern since mostly anything will be charged to expense reports. The Cosmopolitan is just across a side street and hosts some of my favorite restaurants on the Strip: - China Poblano by José Andrés is a great casual lunch place, and I always make multiple trips every visit. - Wicked Spoon is the highest-quality buffet on the Strip. The pandemic hit all of the Vegas buffets pretty hard. They're still open, but only for lunch. - Jaleo is another José Andrés spot serving high-end Spanish Tapas (the Cosmo tripled down on Andrés' restaurants, and this is not a bad thing). It's not cheap, but the food is amazing. If you're willing to take an cab/Uber/Lyft -- and make reservations, most likely -- take a little trip over to Lotus of Siam for some of the best Thai food in the United States. That's not hyperbole; it really is that good. For non-food stuff, my favorite place in all of Vegas is the Pinball Hall of Fame. If you're at all interested in pinball, you can blow an entire day there. They have hundreds of machines spanning the past ~90 years, all playable. WhiteHowler fucked around with this message at 21:44 on Nov 28, 2022 |
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Nov 28, 2022 20:33
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Medullah posted:Man the Aria is so nice. Was just there for a convention in October and the room was nice and the hotel itself is incredible. Then I stayed a few extra days on my own dime and moved to the Luxor and it was depressing. The Luxor is depressing whether you compare it to newer luxury hotels or not. That whole collection of themed Strip hotels built in the 90's has fallen on really hard times. See also: Excalibur, Treasure Island, Stratosphere. And especially the Rio, which has the sad bonus of only being Strip-adjacent and a real pain in the rear end to get to without taking a cab. At least they still have Penn and Teller, I guess?
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Nov 28, 2022 20:54
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Gabriel Grub posted:I guess Linq seems... Millenial to me? Kind of, I guess. That's just Vegas businesses adjusting to their expected clientele. Vdara, Aria, Linq, they all seem to be going for a bit of an Apple Store aesthetic? I try not to worry about the people walking around, because it's easy to ignore/avoid most of them. For example, The Cosmopolitan seems to cater to trust fund kids, techbros, and trendy people I generally wouldn't want to hang around. That turned me off initially. But damned if it's not a great hotel with a decent location and amazing restaurants, and it has become my favorite hotel on the Strip.
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Dec 6, 2022 21:58
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Xun posted:I'm planning on doing a roadtrip starting in Las Vegas and I'll need to rent a car, where is a good place to go for that? I've never rented a car in the US before and I'm not sure what to watch out for Are you flying into Vegas before starting your road trip? If so, all major rental companies should have counters at the airport. If you're not flying in, in many areas Enterprise will transport you to/from the nearest rental location at no cost. I've rented from Enterprise in Vegas before and had no issues at all. I recommend reserving your rental online in advance to make sure there's a car waiting for you. Avoid Hertz (and their subsidiaries Thrifty and Dollar), unless you want a free tour of the US criminal justice system.
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Jan 3, 2023 18:17
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Whistling rear end in a top hat posted:I've stayed at the Rio before and found it to be pretty quiet. somehow also ended up with a big suite with an office desk and other nice stuff for like 80 a night??? this was 5 years ago and in the winter far away from any holidays so ymmv The Rio and the Strat are notoriously inconvenient for getting to the Strip -- or at least anywhere on the Strip you'd actually want to go. I know the poster said location isn't that important, but I'm not sure why you'd want to stay on/near the Strip if you're not doing "Strip things". Anyway, for what it's worth, the Rio is very quiet because nobody stays there, because it's in a terrible location. They seem to survive on small business conferences and conventions since the hotel room and space rates are relatively cheaper, plus Penn and Teller's show still pulls a decent audience -- I think they were still packing two shows a night on the weekends before the pandemic slowed things down. The Rio marketplace feels like an abandoned shopping mall, and the casino is fine but nothing special. It's pretty quiet and chill, if that's your primary draw. I wish I'd gotten to visit back when the Rio was new, because it sounds like the "Masquerade in the Sky" thing was awesome, with music and dancers and an overhead parade. I haven't been to the Strat in over a decade, so no real insights there.
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Jan 23, 2023 18:48
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STONE COLD 64 posted:vdara will be a lot cheaper if you're going through air bnb and still a great experience Vdara is great if you don't care about having a casino in your hotel (and you don't need one because there are other casinos literally next door). It's super-convenient to the Cosmo, which has tons of good restaurants and other stuff to do.
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Jul 30, 2023 01:25
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Kaddish posted:After looking at maps, Tuscany is a little further from the strip than I realized. Pretty much, yeah. The one at the Wynn is also huge and excellent. I always felt Wicked Spoon at the Cosmo had better food, but it's not nearly as big. And I think they changed the format since last time I went (pre-COVID) -- now it's more brunch-focused?
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Nov 18, 2023 15:55
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Gucci Loafers posted:Is there a way to tell when the city is extra busy? I don't know what the hell was going on two-three weeks ago but traffic was way more ridiculous than usual on the strip. Consumer Electronics Show (early January) National Finals Rodeo (mid-to-late March; now I think?) Electric Daisy Carnival (mid-May) DEFCON* (early August) Las Vegas Grand Prix (late November) It's worth looking to see if there are any larger-than-normal trade shows or sporting events going on the week you want to visit. Salesforce has done events there that booked up much of the city. Obviously the Superbowl was a whole thing, and the Vegas Golden Knights still have a shot at making the Stanley Cup playoffs, which could bring thousands of extra visitors. * There are definitely larger trade shows and conferences that come to Vegas. Speaking as someone who has been to DEFCON, if you're not in town for the event, I recommend staying away from Vegas -- or at least the Strip -- that weekend. It sounds like Caesar's canceled their 2024 contract last-minute, so it's moving to the convention center, which may affect attendance.
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Mar 15, 2024 20:46
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