Las Vegas in July

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  MITM on 16/04/2017 - 23:20

  +3

  We stayed at The Signature Apartments, which is "part" of the MGM Grand Hotel (and linked through a long air bridge) - thru Air BnB direct with the apartment owner (so there was no concierge/room service etc - but you do have access to the magnificent MGM Grand pool area even though Signature has its own pool).
  We stayed there because the MGM Grand was too expensive during the weekend. We moved to the MGM for Mon night (which came with Cirque show tickets), after the Sat & Sun at Signature.
  We found the Signature rooms were HUGE and luxurious compared to the MGM Grand.

  We took a taxi from the front of the Signature, around the corner to the MGM when checking in - rather than lug the luggage along the air bridge. Taxis are cheap, plentiful, and distances aren't far.
  You can't get a taxi along "the strip" - best to walk into the nearest hotel lobby, and get the concierge to arrange one. Carry lots of $1 bills on you for tipping every one. I had nothing on me for the concierge after he brough the bags to the room - awkward.
  Uber operates in LV as well.

  Another tip is that you can "Check in" to the MGM &/or Signature at the airport during certain hours-not 24 hrs. They take care of your luggage from the airport to the hotel.
  We then joined the L O N G queue for the taxi in the heat (but it moves fast).

  sign up to http://smartervegas.com/

  I loved LV.

  • 

    Gunther on 18/04/2017 - 09:12

    +1

    Taxi's are definitely not cheap in Las Vegas… although plentiful.

    Uber will provide you will better value for money.

  • 

    donga100 on 27/04/2017 - 19:08

    I stayed at the same place booked through VRBO.com (basically the same as airbnb) and agree it is a great choice. There was no resort fee booking this way either and you still have access to all the facilities.

    • 

      MITM on 27/04/2017 - 19:22

      Might have been your recommendation back then. 2013 $1.15/$1.00 Good times.

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  Matt P on 16/04/2017 - 23:36

  Mandalay bay is the "last" casino on the strip in the southern direction. It isn't super expensive for that reason, and you have new york new york, luxor and monte carlo on the doorstep (joined by tram facility at the rear of the property) which are fairly low rent compared to more central properties.

  Most if not all "casino" properties will have a resort fee, thats how life is these days.

  If you're feeling lucky, try finding someone selling their timeshare allocation during the time you're there. They were sucked into a property "just off" the strip and are looking to sell off their "stay entitlement".

  That said, if its your first time in vegas, stay on strip. Vegas is the BEST

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  zzkazu on 16/04/2017 - 23:37

  Thanks for the advice, near tried Air BnB might give that a go.

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  2ndeffort on 17/04/2017 - 01:30

  +1

  Public transport is somewhere between terrible and non existent. There is a monorail that has a station in the MGM I think and a few other casinos on the strip, it goes up and down the strip with a few stops but goes to the convention centre I believe. There is a bus service but you would have to look it up on the internet, I think it has a stop near the MGM Grand just off the strip. I go to Vegas most Februarys and was there a couple of months ago. We used Uber to get around, very convenient but some of the Casinos have deals with the cab companies and dont like the Ubers picking up at the door. Cabs are expensive in Vegas when you factor in the obligatory tip.

  I've stayed at the MGM a couple of times, thought it was mid-range by Vegas standards. I had a corner suite once, was OK. Stayed at New York New York as well, was just OK. I stayed at Excalibur once, never again, was dreadful, 2 stars by Oz standards at best! This last time stayed at the Venetian, much better, rooms were great!

  The resort fees are pretty much standard these days, I dont think there is any on the strip that dont charge it. In the area you are staying there is the 'Hooters' casino. It is just off the strip very close to the MGM Grand. I've no idea what the room rates are but from the road it looked cheap. It was literally 150m down the road from the MGM so in the general vicinity of the Mandalay, certainly walkable but could be hit and miss. I think there are a couple of hotels down on 'Fremont St' that dont have a resort charge but Fremont St is a fair way from your conference and the transport costs would probably kill it. Fremont St is the other main area in Vegas aside from the Strip. It is the older part of town with some of the original casinos. It has a cool mall area with live bands and a huge overhead screen thing with a zipline. There are loads of showgirls and boys wandering around wearing not too much and posing for pics with you for $10. That said, I liked Fremont st, it had an edge of the dodgy Vegas that I was expecting rather than the 'Theme Park' atmosphere that the Strip seems to have.

  Hotels off the strip are generally cheaper but getting to and from could be a drama. The hotels realise that being off strip is a drama for some folks so some operate free shuttles to get you back and forth. Here is a listing of all the free shuttles going to and from hotels and the strip.

  http://www.lasvegas-how-to.com/free-shuttle.php

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  Kangal on 17/04/2017 - 09:57

  +2

  Just by watching Cops and reading this thread, I feel like I'm already there.
  Someday I will go…. someday.

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  zzkazu on 17/04/2017 - 11:35

  Thanks very much for the advice, great context!!

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  djkelly69 on 18/04/2017 - 00:35

  +1

  Might want to check out the average temperatures in July in Vegas (40+ every day). Most hotels in Vegas don't seem that far apart on paper, but with the heat and the foot-traffic it usually takes at least 10-15 minutes to get between them.

  Not sure what sort of conference it is or if you will be wearing work clothes, but I would be inclined to just find the best room deal you can at the location of the conference as it will be a hassle (at best) to walk there every morning.

  Mandalay is an MGM hotel - I have usually found the best deals for MGM hotels through their email list and waiting for various/decent promotions.

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  Mx2 on 19/04/2017 - 20:26

  Agree with djkelly69 about the heat in July. Personally I love it compared to cold Sydney at that time of year.

  Been to Vegas many times. If you are on a budget, consider some of the off strip Hotels such as The Gold Coast or Orleans. Free parking and an Uber will be $10 USD or less each day. Unfortunately the MGM Casino's have introduced parking fees - used to be free - and you will be in an area surrounded by MGM hotels.

  You could buy a weekly bus pass, but the busses can be slow and its hot waiting without shelter in the heat.

  Oh, and if gambling in Vegas, spend a few dollars on the strip for sure. But for any serious coin, I'd recommend playing off strip where the Vegas locals play. The returns are generally much better. Players club card might get you a few free or discounted meals too. These are free to join - just show ID.

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  aussie1 on 20/04/2017 - 03:31

  Im staying at the Luxor it was so much cheaper than the others.. not sure why haha i will find out i guess

  • 

    sprucemoose on 20/04/2017 - 11:43

    +1

    Not trying to scare you off or anything but it's cheaper than most strip hotels due to the somewhat inconvenient location and is pretty old.

  • 

    ols108 on 25/04/2017 - 00:09

    its fine, I stayed there in jan for a conference due to price, what I will say though is, do NOT underestimate the distance from the Mandalay Bay convention centre, its a LONG way, walking that 4 times a day was (profanity) doing my feet in, and I am used to LONG walks, maybe not in business shoes though?

    I paid extra for a nicer room $10 a night because the basic room was pretty crap, and the shower was unacceptable.

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  jellykingdom on 20/04/2017 - 21:44

  I'm a big fan of the Flamingo. It's directly across from the Bellagio and Caesars Palace and is cheap and cheerful. It cost me $100 or less per night when I stayed last time.

  The hotel itself is pretty reasonable 4-star kind of joint, has plenty of reasonable restaurants and gambling. But obviously the plan would be to go outside and just sleep here

  100% recommended for price and location

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  Archi on 26/04/2017 - 12:17

  been to las vegas a few times.

  best was aria at city centre… huge modern rooms and facilities, however like most resorts they are set back from the main road and takes a good 10 minute minimum walk from the lifts through the retail and common areas, out the door, down the driveway or footpath and onto the street.

  most convenient was planet Hollywood, just above miracle mile shops with lots of restaurants catering for all budgets.

  you are going in the middle of july when its going to be absolutely stinking hot.

  there are free self parking lots in the resorts… I'm not sure if they are still available.. I know we parked for free at the miracle mile shops behind planet Hollywood and Paris hotel. that was Christmas 2015

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  zzkazu on 28/04/2017 - 09:23

  +1

  Ended up with a 2BR/2BA AirBnb Condo with access to the free RIO shuttle, couple $100 less than the discount conference rate Luxur room. Family coming over second week so it works out best for us.