Looking for Suggestions: First Trip to Vegas

[writermama]

DH and I are planning a (long overdue) getaway. We're going to Vegas. He used to go for conferences every year, but I have never been there. I'm looking for recommendations for a nice hotel and restaurants.

We have tickets to Penn and Teller and plan to see at least one and maybe 2 Cirque Du Soliel Shows. (I'm thinking of Love, Mystere, or O, though I'm op[en to suggestions there, too).

So far, I've been reading reviews and I'm looking at deals for the MGM Grand, The Venetian, The Wynn, and positive reviews and good prices at the Tropicana (in spite of it being ancient in Vegas years).

I have absolutely no interest in gambling. I'm looking for a nice hotel, maybe with a cool pool, maybe with spa treatments, close to good food and shows on the strip. A nice getaway for the two of us.

Any suggestions?

[missliss55]

DH & I went in November for his birthday and had a great time. We saw Love and it was amazing!!! As for food there are lots of great restaurants. Check out yelp and trip advisor. We stayed at the Palazzo and it was wonderful. We are going back with our friends towards the end of summer and will stay there again. Have fun!

[daniele_ut]

I have stayed at the MGM a few times and it's not my favorite. The last room i stayed in there was kind of dated, but that was 3 years ago. The Wynn is gorgeous but it's at the far end of the Strip. The Trop just underwent a huge renovation and we were considering it on our last trip. We also loved the Trump, though again it's on the far end of the strip near the Wynn. It's close to the Fashion Show mall, though, if you want to shop. Bellagio has been my favorite so far for great service, nice rooms and great location. The pool is big, but fairly standard. We don't gamble either, so we are always looking primarily for nice rooms and good service.

Mystery is still my favorite Cirque show and it was the first one I saw on my first trip to Vegas in 1995. I also really loved Ka. I expected to love O but I was more wowed by the technical aspects than the show itself.

[cchavez]

Wynn/Encore are incredible but restaurants are so pricey! I think Palazzo/Ventian are great and offer many dining options at a somewhat better price point. However, you won't be disappointed with either.

[lcarlson90]

DH and I go to Vegas frequently and our favorite hotels are Aria and The Cosmopolitan. I wouldn't stay at MGM but The Venetian is nice. There are so many nice restaurants. We went in January and ate at Cut in The Palazzo. It was amazing but really expensive. Mon Ami Gabi at the Paris hotel is good and not too expensive. I don't know if you drink, but the chandelier bar in The Cosmo hotel is really cool.

[Tondi G]

If you want a cool pool area then check out the Mandalay Bay. They have a great pool. We stayed at THE Hotel at the Mandalay Bay it was a very nice suite type room. If you sign to receive e-mails you will get some decent deals on room prices.

This code will get you 20% off room rates P3CH03E

P75FB3E this one says discounted room rates from $65 and a $75 food/bev credit

The nice thing about being on that end of the strip is that there are trams or moving walkways between Mandalay Bay, the Luxor and Excalibur.... from there you can walk over to NY,NY and then across to the MGM Grand.

[SnuggleBuggles]

Hmm, I was going to say the Wynn but I'd probably choose the Venetian of your list, just b/c the Wynn is far down the strip. Personally, I loved the Vdara. It had no casino to wade through (room to street was super fast, as a result). It was also a non smoking building and super close to Aria and Cosmopolitan for casinos. You could get a view of the Bellagio fountains too. I really liked the central location of the hotel and it was easy to take off in either direction and be somewhere fun. It's the only place I've stayed in Vegas but I'd go back.

I have heard that the Mandarin Oriental has a good spa and no casino. Trip Advisor has it ranked #1 of the hotels in Vegas...can't be bad. ;)
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g45963-d1456410-Reviews-Mandarin_Oriental_Las_Vegas-Las_Vegas_Nevada.html

I would skip the MGM, the public areas felt old and sad. I think we only poked our heads into the casino at the Tropicana but I think I'd skip that one too.

I do like Mandalay Bay- it had so much going on with bars and restaurants!- but it's location was kind of a bummer. The closest places you can walk to were not my thing (Luxor, Excalibur). I could see staying there and cabbing it to nicer places when you want to head out. :) We ate at the Wolfgang Puck restaurant there and I'd give it 3 stars out of 5.

My favorite food was brunch (we got there early so we didn't have to wait) at Bouchon in the Venetian. The coffee was delicious. I still think about it. :) Like I said, we got there early. The shops weren't open yet and it was so cool to walk through that area when it was quiet and you could really see everything.

We also enjoyed stopping off at Aria or the Bellagio for Jean Philippe Patisserie. Good savory and sweet.

We ate at the Wynn, a tapas place, and that was nice. I like getting lots of little things to share plus a good drink. Loved the Wynn too- so pretty!

We saw La Reve at the Wynn and it was pretty spectacular. The show was water themed.

When my pocket book needed a break, I grabbed pizza at the hidden pizza place at the Cosmopolitan. Cheap and good.

Have fun!! Dh and I are debating going there soon or just doing something low key. Thinking about Vegas sure makes me want to go there though. :)

[mom2binsd]

I loved staying at Caesars, the attached indoor shopping mall is pretty neat and it's pretty much mid strip and easy to walk to Bellagio, Hard Rock (and it's mall), the Venetian (and the canals etc). It gave me lots of mid priced options for lunch etc. We splurged on dinner at Tao.

[candybomiller]

I second the recommendation for Caesars. And the spa there is a-ma-zing.

[Giantbear]

If you like the outdoors and nature, a day trip to Zion or an overnighter to Bryce is always part of my Vegas plans

[pb&j]

Just got back from Vegas...

Stayed at MGM, it's not my favorite. They have recently renovated, but I am still not a fan of their rooms. The public areas are nothing special. It is waaaaay down the strip, and it doesn't actually have an entrance on Las Vegas blvd, so it takes for freakin' ever to get anywhere. I went for a run with my GPS watch on, and it was .5 mi before I even got off the property onto Las Vegas. The one awesome thing was that we had a room overlooking the airport, which I absolutely loved (former airline pilot), but not everyone enjoys airplane noise like I do!!!

The Venetian is a much better location. I haven't stayed there, but the rooms are big. I like the Bellagio, too - the rooms are nice, the pools are nice, and there are some great restaurants on the property. Both are very centrally located. The Bellagio is next to Caesar's so you're not far from the Forum Shops.

Mandalay Bay is really nice, but it is well south of the strip. I'd still pick that over MGM, though.

DH and I did an anniversary dinner at The Eiffel Tower. If you get a 5pm reservation for 2, they'll put you next to the window so you can watch the Bellagio fountains while you eat. I was incredibly impressed with the food and service this time around - I had had the tasting menu a few years back and it was okay. We decided to eat there despite my okay experience before because DH never had, and it's such a marvelous Vegas experience to sit there overlooking the strip with the fountains going!!! Ordered a la carte this time, and it knocked my socks off. It was a really special meal, and I don't say that easily.

LOVE is my favorite Vegas show.

If you are renting a car, take some time to drive out to Red Rocks Canyon - so beautiful. Wonderful hiking.

[pb&j]

If you like the outdoors and nature, a day trip to Zion or an overnighter to Bryce is always part of my Vegas plans

Ooooh, yes, we've done that, too. We've stayed overnight at the lodge in Zion - wow. Just wow.

[writermama]

Thanks for all of the responses so far. I've got more review to read. Thanks. :)

Several people have recommended eating at Paris, would you recommend staying there?

Also, DH mentioned New York, New York as a possibility -- has anyone stayed there, would you recommend it or not?

[MamaMolly]

Take the Dam Tour!! DH and I did this and it was really interesting and fun.

[SnuggleBuggles]

I wouldn't stay at NYNY. I think it skews young. Unless you like that scene, that is. :)

There is a tour group that will take you hiking in the Red Rocks. YOu don't have to rent a car then and they give you some basic handy stuff. We almost did it but glad we didn't b/c I'm not sure when we'd have fit it in with just our weekend.

I like the Caesars' idea too. Good location. It is a massive complex though!

[Tondi G]

The rooms at NY NY are SMALL! I wouldn't stay there with all the other options you have!