Vegas bound. Any ideas?

Stayed at one of the renovated rooms in the MGM Grand a few months back and thought it was very nice. (Rates were not bad at all, either.) If you walk across the bridge from MGM to NYNY and then go through Monte Carlo, it's about a 10- to 15-minute trip to Aria.

 

Thirded Todd English Pub; kinda hard to find, but it's a must-visit for me on every trip now.

 

Went to the Stratosphere on trip in the fall. Enjoyed the experience and also took in the lunch special, sandwich made fresh, with chips and a drink for like $9 or $10. Absolutely one of the best sandwiches I've had. And the view was awesome.

 

You could stay at the Vdara which is a very short walk to the Aria (also is a commuter mono rail to Aria/City center). The rooms were huge and nice, more of a hip vibe than an old hotel vibe. The only downside to the Vdara is it can be a pain in the butt to get to. You have to cross to the same side of the street as The Aria or through The Cosmo to get to the strip. Once on the strip though the location is great.

Cosmo seems to be the new hip spot. Casino had good energy and there was plenty of eye candy. We saw Jose Canseco walking through and he is ether one twitcyh mofo or was tweaking something fierce.

 

I walked into the Cosmo casino Super Bowl weekend at around 4 pm and there were maybe 15 people gambling.

 

What happens in Vegas ... costs a lot of money.

So far I've spent $2,027.10 for my Vegas honeymoon:

$668.97 -- A--Two round-trip non-stop tickets AND rental car (Chevy Aveo) for all five days (June 1-5)
$558.88 -- B--Four nights at MGM Signature 34th Floor Tower 1 Penthouse Jr. Suite (June 1-4)
$242.57 -- Two Cirque du Soleil: Michael Jackson ONE section 203, row PP tickets (Mandalay Bay) (June 2)
$193.70 -- Two Blue Man Group category C tickets at Monte Carlo (June 4)
$173.98 -- Two Grand Canyon South Rim bus tour tickets via grandcanyontourcompany (June 3)
$145.00 -- Two 2ND MEZZANINE 4, Row K, Seats for Shania Twain (The Colosseum at Caesars Palace) (June 1)
$ 30.00 -- Groupon for $60 dinner at Capo's Italian (Date TBD)
$ 14.00 -- Two tickets to the Chuck Jones Looney Tunes Exhibit/Museum at Circus Circus (Date TBD)

A--Does NOT include roughly $75 gas to-and-from Nashville aiport or $56 to leave car at aiport for four days
B-Paid $100 deposit (have receipt in email and via VRBO site), must pay remaining $458.88 in cash upon arrival (my guess is owner wants to avoid taxes)

 

A fourth for Todd English Pub. Best beer selection on the strip, good food, and neat atmosphere.

 

Whatever you do, don't get in the middle of a gun battle between people in a Range Rover and a Maserati.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/21/us/nevada-las-vegas-deaths/index.html?eref=igoogledmn_topstories

Also, too, if you're bored and want to people watch there's a little corner patio bar at the Flamingo that is perfect for that. $2.50 beer, shade and misters so it's a nice place to sit even when it's 112.

 

I always tell myself this before each trip. Then I get out there, the adrenaline starts flowing, I get in my ultra-luxury vehicle, one thing leads to another...

I'm assuming that most are nodding in agreement.

 

The shootout on the Strip started with an argument at the Aria, police said.

 

I know that place and it is a great spot.

 

So I've got a MGM signature 34th floor junior penthouse suite through VRBO for $588 for four nights (147 a night all inclusive) for June 1-4.

The more my (future) wife and I've talked, the more she said she would love to have a fountain view room at Bellagio.

Best rate I've seen is $695 for a REGULAR (non-view) resort room at Bellagio thru Southwest.com's Jackpot Deals (my flight and rental car are already packaged together through jackpot deals). I guess I could book it and then try the $20 trick upon arrival (maybe take tip to $50 since we are staying four nights???).

However, jackpot deals does NOT include resort fees. So there's another $100, I think (25 per night).

Bellagio's reservations.mgmmirage.com main booking site has Fountain View Room for $996 and Deluxe Fountain View Room for $1,096.

If I get rid of my MGM Signature reservation, I'm out 100 bucks.

Obviously with Bellagio (my future wife has never stayed there, just the hotel her friends keep telling her to stay at) has the name, the fountain and a better walking location on the strip.

The MGM Signature Penthouse has more space and is cheaper (and I guess a better pool complex since we can use MGM's).

We can't afford a Bellagio suite. At least not at any rates I'm seeing.

So do I stick with MGM Signature ... or do I take the SW Jackpot Deal and tip my way to the fountain view?