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Jen: Question about Vegas

2K views 34 replies 11 participants last post by  Jennie@ifish 
#1 ·
Jennie: This is amazing. My wife and I are headed to Vegas on the 16th as well. And we are flying Alaska Air!! We are staying at the Luxor (just down from the Excalibur) from the 16th to the 19th. Question though. Where is this sportfishing association meeting? Is it open to the public? Can you give me some details? Hope to see you on the flight or around Vegas. Have a good trip. :cool:
 
#2 ·
The ICAST show runs Julyt 17, 18, 19 at the Las Vegas Convention Center next to the Hilton. The show is not open to the public-- industry only. If you were just a bit crafty and had a nice printer you could manufacture your way in with little trouble. Not really worth it though, people are very busy selling and there are very few giveaways going around. You do get a chance to see some tackle you never see in the Northwest which can be pretty advantageous to have in your box, but that is about it.
 
#3 ·
Flight 602? That's too funny!

Where are you staying? E mail me!
Salmon@seasurf.net

Cosmo, you going to ICAST?

J
 
#4 ·
I've stayed at the Excalibur and would highly recommend taking in the jousting show, it has a story and the characters do an excellent job in presenting it! You also get dinner and you have to eat with your hands.....very cool event :grin:
 
#5 ·
I just checked it out!
It's 150.00 for the entire dinner!
Pass the Krispy Kremes!
--Or the eggamuffins.... I don't think I can do that!
Jen
 
#6 ·
OK, help me sell ads! I want to go!!!
:smile:
Jen
 
#7 ·
Thanks Fishbait for posting the name of the King Arthur's event, I couldn't remember the name. We really enjoyed the show!

Jen, ya gotta go, ya gotta go, ya gotta go :grin:

[ 07-03-2002, 03:35 PM: Message edited by: FM2 ]
 
#9 ·
I tossed this idea in once in another area,, but here it goes again,,

the King Aurthur show is great,,!!! its really cool to see it and imagine all the work that has to go into it.

DO NOT MISS THE BUFFET AT THE RIO.... ITS A MUST DO EVENT,,,, wear loose fitting clothing,,,, I loved it.....

Make sure you walk through the mall at Cesers (sp). It is pretty neat,,,,.

You should have a ball.......we want a report of ow it went when you return,,,

Have Fun!!!!!!!!

Jeff
 
#11 ·
Go see the pirate ship battle at Treasure Island- It's a freebie.
 
#12 ·
Jennie -

I've been to Vegas many many times. The good news is that many of the best places to see are free and appropriate for the kids as well.

The Excaliber is great, they all are. It is good because they have more low key (and less expensive fast food type) eating available.

I liked the Flamingo's pool area better because it had more grass around it (hard to find in Vegas). And it is more centrally located.

One other one you might consider is the Tropicana - It has a great pool area yet is often even cheaper than the Ex. It is right across the street from the Excaliber and MGM.

One thing - and this is incredibly important - is bring good walking footwear! Even though there are trams that can get you, for example, from the Excaliber to Mandelay and the Luxor, and one that can get you between the MGM and Bally's and another to get between Bellagio's and the Monte Carlo and even a short one between the Mirage and Treasure Island, the size of the casinos themselves are overwhelming! You will put miles and miles on each day. Bring several pairs of comfortable shoes!

OK, now here are some ideas about those freebies that are amazing...

See the Pirate Battle in front of Treasure Island. It happens in the evenings roughly every hour after dark. It gets really crowded, but it is worth it! An entire British Frigate (full size replica) sinks totally under water every show. Lots of Pirotechnics from the major sea battle.

While you are close, go next door and watch the volcano erupt in front of the Mirage. Then go in the Mirage and find the check in lobby and look at the incredible fish tank. Full size sharks among lots of fish - Yikes! Then head out the other exit and look for the White tigers which are often available for viewing.

Then head across the street and check out the Venetian. Walk in the front door and look up. The ceiling will amaze you. Then go up to the third floor and walk around - you have entered Venice! Complete with canals and gondolas and the ceilings there are painted and look like sky. It is almost surreal!

Go back across the street and check out the shopping mall in Ceasars. They have a new show now where the God Neptune has to make a difficult decision leading to the destruction of Atlantis.

Then wander down and at night check out the water show in front of Bellagio. It is simply amazing to watch. Head into Bellagio and check out the lobby. Then come back across the street and check out Paris. OK, it is worth a few bucks here to go to the top of the Eifel tower and see another water show from the top. The lighting is as cool as the fountains from up high.

Then next door is the Aladdin. Head into the mall that horsehoes around the casino floor. You have entered Arabia. On the hour Thunder and lightning storms occur. There is no way to describe what it is like to look up six or ten stories INSIDE a building that is made to look like the lost city. The mall walk is 1 1/4 miles from entrance to exit! This is ONE CASINO!!!!

NYNY is neat to see because it is like you have entered NYC in the early 1900's. Again, hard to explain the effect of seeing city streets and scenes inside but it is very realistic.

MGM is neat and for free when I was there last year you could go through a wild lion area. The Rainforest cafe is expensive, but the kids always love it.

The Tropicana has lots of birds on display - Parrots and such, but again, the price and pool are good there.

The Excaliber is fun to see for its medeval atmosphere, but also the best (and best priced) motion rides are there. Go to at least one! They are a kick. Try to find Desert Dueler!

The Luxor is neat to see from an architectural standpoint - it has the largest amount of free standing space inside a building in the world because inside the pyramid it is hollow except for the rooms that line the outer walls all the way up...

Finally, Mandelay Bay is neat to see (and the wave pool is fun if you stay there) but there is little there for free and it is more oriented toward the young adult crowd. The House of Blues is fun if you are with a party crowd...

Farther on down the strip is Circus Circus, but it is dated and frankly there is more to see in the core strip.

Two other fun things to do are, if anyone is really brave, take the rocket ride that shoots you vertically from the top of the Stratosphere. My kids, avaid carnival riders, still say that is the scariest ride they have ever been on! you start from the roof - 1100' up and get shot straight up 150' and then free fall and bounce a few times (OK this isn't free and not for the faint of heart, but if there are thrill seekers that and the inside/outside roller coaster at NYNY - which you can't miss- are the places to be...)

The last thing, again free, that I'll mention is to get downtown (OK a cab is a few $$ or a bus which is surprisingly available and cheap) in the evening and watch the light show that has now turned on every hour in the evenings. Go into the Golden Nugget if you do get down there and look for the nugget. World's largest, it is about the size of a plate!

If you do all of these things you will have spent at most a few bucks and will have walked about 20 miles!! I know as we have done it many times! The kids can go to all of it and if you use the trams you will still walk alot but can stay out of the heat for the most part.

K9Jeff is right - If you can get to the Rio for the buffet you should try to do so. It is the best in Vegas and fairly reasonable. The Rio is off the strip and, while I am a walking fiend and did do it, it isn't recommended as you have to cross the freeway on a busy overpass. Take a cab for a few bucks to get there...

For the most part the ultra cheap meals that used to be offered are a thing of the past. Food is reasonable in most places, but you can spend big bucks in others. Quality varies too though, so beware the "really good deals".

Now, if you want to know how to play C R A P S (OK I understand the filter might think I am swearing but I'm not!) let me know. :grin:

As I mentioned before, there are lots of Krispy Kremes so you can energize while doing all this walking!

[ 07-03-2002, 10:49 PM: Message edited by: Hogmaster ]
 
#13 ·
Hogmaster, quick! Book your ticket!
We need you!
I need more tips! MORE! I love this! This is almost as fun as being there!
I will be sure to print this out, and thank you SO much for all of the tips!!!

I think, after I get back, I'll plan another trip to DisneyWorld. I'll get to read all these tips, and then I just won't go. This is SO fun reading about it!

I think I'll start a new website. Itravel.com! (Oops! Already taken!)
:smile:
Jen
 
#14 ·
Hogmaster? How many days would it take to see all of what you mentioned? I will be going to the show at least 1 1/2 days... That leaves me 1 1/2 days to tour... and 3 nights.

Jen
 
#15 ·
Jennie -
You're welcome. And do print it out. Call it "Vegas on the cheap!" :smile:

I'd book in a heartbeat except it is a little pompus to head to Vegas right after getting back from a Carribean cruise doncha' think? Besides, I already won playing that bad name game on the cruise ship! :grin:

There is still lots of sin in sin city, BTW, but for the most part you can avoid it if you choose too. One thing you will see, unfortunately, are lots of people on the street along the strip trying to hand you materials for escort services and the like. There are strict laws about not offerring to kidlettes, but they certainly try to hand it to adults of any gender. Just ignore them...

And believe me, it is better to be there. The scale of things are just impossible to imagine until you get there.

OK, tip...

Best game facility for kids is between Bally's and the MGM. It is not a casino, but you'll know if you try to find it. There are lots of video and other games, but we go there for the rock wall. For a few bucks you can (or the kids can) climb the wall and it is a kick - probably something not available easily in Tillamook! We have been there when they have had stuff like $20 for two hours of unlimited game playing. They have the ski machines and motorcycles type video games too, so it can be quite fun and a good value. If you stop in, ask them if they have it...

Have fun!

Hmmm, maybe a quick weekend jaunt wouldn't be too bad....

:cheers:
 
#16 ·
Jennie -

You can do most of it with a day and 1/2 and three nights.

You might have to save downtown for another trip as it tends to turn into a dinner (the Golden Nugget has a good and less expensive buffet - food is cheaper downtown). You can save it for later - most people don't get there but it is worth it.

Some of the stuff is best at night or only available then, although the tigers and fish at the Mirage and Ceasar's show you can see during the day, I think starting at noon. Venetian you can see anytime, as well as the Aladdin (although I am not sure when the thunder and lightning start). Really, it boils down to Bellagios, Treasure Island, the Eiffel Tower (to see the water show) and Mirage volcano need to be seen at night. The rest can be seen most any time.

So, you can certainly do it with the amount of time you have, as long as your legs hold up!

We usually go for 4 days - but I stay up all night gambling C R A P S has the best odds in the casino - also the worst, depending how you bet so I often gamble late but after some pool time (remember it is VERY hot and there is only so much pool time even youngsters can take) it can leave hours of afternoon and evening time for wandering.

I love to walk and take in everything I mentioned except the Stratosphere almost every trip. Most people aren't quite that willing, but if you stick to the trams and break it up you can take in 3 or 4 casinos a day/evening and see it all, no problem.

The more I write the more jealous I am getting!

:cheers:

[ 07-03-2002, 09:54 PM: Message edited by: Hogmaster ]
 
#17 ·
Well, come on down!
Let's make it an ifish event! Ifishstock 2002-- VEGAS! :smile:
Wouldn't that be a gas?
:smile:
We already have two going!
I have to get to bed. I'm so pumped I can't sleep.
I thought that I had it bad the night before fishing. I have alot of nights left, and I can't sleep already!
Jen
 
#19 ·
I really want more info on Vegas before I make my final decision where to book a room.
Excalibur or Flamingo? I'd love Mandelay Bay, but can't afford it. :depressed:
Primary issues: Swimming pool, location, and price...
Anyway, I started a new board, just for off topic chat.
I'm moving a copy there. It's under ifish community interest, called OFF TOPIC.
Closing this thread, the other will be open.
Jen
 
#21 ·
It's final! I booked The Tropicana.
It was the best deal, and has the best pool for our money.
Phew! Glad THAT is settled!
That took me THREE days of research!
Jen
 
#22 ·
Good choice, Jennie!

Now, call them up and request a first floor room by the pool. A work buddy has done this twice now and he has gotten it for the same rate.

There is a set of rooms on one side adjacent to the pool that are single story. Ideal for the kids (or for him when he is hung over!).
 
#23 ·
Done! They GUARANTEED it! :smile:
COOL!
:smile: :smile:
I wanna go now, k?
:smile:
Jen
 
#24 ·
Me too!

Man, that is impressive! If only my fishing advice worked so well! :smile:

That game place is called the " " Zone. Maybe Cool Zone? If you try to find it you will need to walk, not take the tram out of MGM toward Bally's. It is a non-descript building but like I say you will know it when you see it. Just before or after the Polo Towers? (Private apts).

One last thing - You mentioned the show was at the Convention center and by the Las Vegas Hilton. Just so you know, that is NOT on the strip and it is a long walk. I would definitely save your legs for the casino tour(s) and cab it to the convention center.

Here's a map for orientation...
http://www.vegas.com/map.html?f=m1hp&t=mmapt

Vegas is a big cab town and one of the interesting things is talking to the cabbies. They are a melting pot in and of themselves!

Judging by the Columbia 7/3 and 7/4 reports, maybe I should be booking yet! Lemme see, take the cruise boat winnings and spend them on a ticket and a room. Leaves enough for a small grub stake, play all night, win enough to pay for meals and another night. Sleep until noon, get a little pool time and do it again. Make it to work by Monday morning. Hmmmm...

Considering I am not the swimmer that Angle This is, it sounds no less dangerous than trying to cross the Columbia bar in an 18' Jet pumped Sea Dory with no navigation equipment or radio, eh?...

:cheers:

[ 07-04-2002, 08:12 PM: Message edited by: Hogmaster ]
 
#25 ·
You can do it!
Take the high seas!
:smile:
I can't believe it, but they even lowered my price when I changed rooms! It is way cheaper than Excalibur, and I have read their pools are tons better, and that not so many little kids are running wild.
I think we'll LOVE it!
Jen
 
#26 ·
My kids aren't in love with roller coasters.
That bums me out. I LOVE roller coasters.
I mean, I'm NUTS about them!
Who to ride with?
Come on, ifishers? WHO?
:smile:
Jen
 
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