Vegas bound. Any ideas?

If you have a chance to make some changes to stay somewhere other than Circus Circus, do it. That's not the place to impress your newlywed.

 

A night at Slots-A-Fun might change that, though.

 

Haven't been to Slots-A-Fun in ages, and I hear it has changed to an all-machine (including blackjack) setup. But I have had some really good times in there. I have a hard time adjusting to the clock, so I am usually awake at 4 a.m. Vegas time, which proved to be a great time to find a seat at one of their $1-minimum blackjack tables. An hour or so in some fossil would come around with coffee and doughnuts for players -- fabulous! Then, at 11 a.m. their craps table would open up (with a $1 minimum as well). Shooters stood on the sidewalk. Great fun, very low cost. You could take $20 and play forever, swilling free Heinekens like it was nobody's business.

I guess I will do downtown next time I'm in Vegas. Seems to be the only place for lower-priced fun.

 

trifectarich,

I can pay $50 an upgrade to Excalibur, $100 for Luxor and $205 for Monte Carlo if that helps.

 

in the group you mentioned, monte carlo is a SIGNIFICANT upgrade for both the property itself and the location.

 

Pay for the upgrade and avoid Circus Circus. Crap property in a crap location. It just feels dodgy and dirtier at that end, empty lots, the Sahara all boarded up, unfinished construction - depressing.

Pay for the upgrade.

 

When I was in Vegas with the fam in 2011 we stayed at Monte Carlo on the recommendation of another board denizen and it was great.

 

Thumbs up for Monte Carlo, very much worth the upgrade cost.

Doesn't sound like you intend to do too much "gaming." But if you do like to gamble (and you intend to make return trips to Vegas) then get a players card. A lot of people will poo-poo the Caesar's (nee Harrah's) chain of properties (just about everything on the strip is owned by either Caesars or MGM), but their rewards system is pretty good. Me and a buddy go out there every summer, and while we're not big-time players, we haven't paid for rooms in years.

If it's a one-and-done deal, get the highest quality hotel in your price range, see the sights, eat like a glutton and take lots of pictures.

 

I have never been inside the Circus Circus in Vegas; however, I was recently told be someone that the steak house there is very good.
I can't verify that. I'm just passing it along.

I'm at a loss. I love Vegas, but I enjoy gambling and drinking to excess. If I didn't enjoy those activities, I'd never go there.

 

I booked CC just so I would have SOMETHING. The logic was I could always upgrade later. And I plan on doing that. TripAdvisor folks on the Vegas forum told me to at least get into Luxor, then try Monte Carlo or Mirage. Get the hell out of CC.

With a 1,000 credit limit, a better hotel was NOT possible when I booked the package.

I was able to get nonstop flights (to and from), four nights and a rental car for $817 total for two living in Central Kentucky. Not bad.

I can land Monte Carlo for $1,017 after starting at Circus Circus and upgrading. Good luck finding that type of package on any notable site (at least coming out of Nashville-Indy-LOU-LEX June 1-5).

 

I grew up in Vegas, so get outta the Circus. It's a dump and the neighborhood is shit. Right near Crack Alley, if that helps.
If you're about seeing something other than the casinos, take the wife to Hoover Dam/Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge. I've done the dam tour a few times. Very cool. Haven't seen the bridge, but hear it's awesome.
Red Rocks is also a sweet place, but it will be a million degrees by the end of May, so maybe not. It is an awesome place for hiking and some alone time.
Mt. Charelston for some hiking and other adventures. A lot cooler up there.
You can also canoe, kayak down the Colorado River. There are guides and such.
Ethel M chocolate factory on Sunset on the east side of town. Done that a hundred times. Very cool tour with free chocolate (at least they used to give some) at the end of the tour.

 

However, if someone you know does this, totally hang out with them. It's awesome when someone's that drunk.