[brent_mr2]

Just wondering if there's any attractions I shouldn't miss. I was there a few years ago.

Here's what I've been to and seen, but some things I'll do again since I'll be with someone that hasn't seen this stuff:

Coke World
M&M World
Bellagio's Water show
The Pirates show at Treasure Island
The Mirage volcano show
Some of the attractions at Luxor
The Big Topper at Stratosphere
Race World at the Sahara
Caesars Palace Forum Shops
Alladin's mall
Nascar Cafe
Fremont Street Experience (the over street lights weren't on when I was there though)
Conned by a local (not an experience I intend to repeat)
Glitter Gulch (tried to make a deal on a lap dance but the girl would not negotiate)
Circus Circus indoor rides park

I do hope to dine at Emeril's Fish House at MGM Grand since I'm a HUGE Emeril fan and this is his only restaurant west of the Mississippi. I also hope to go to the Structure/Express outlet store since there's no Structure outlet stores out here.

But most of the stuff I'm going to do will be at night since the main reason I'm going to Vegas is a huge MR2 meet. So that takes the Hoover Dam out of the question (not that I'm that interested in it anyway, especially with all the security).

I like to do things that cost little or no money. Does anyone know if the art galleries at Bellagio and Venetian are free of charge?

Also, I don't care for the rides too much since I've been spoiled at thrill parks.

I'll be staying at Terrible's and Orleans BTW this weekend!

 

[LobsterSan]

I went the last week of March (Spring Break), and you pretty much mentioned everything we did and more. Being on a budget, my group of friends and I weren't able to see many of the expensive shows. I guess the only thing I would say is to perhaps go see the Fremont St. lights when they are in action. They should be on around 10-11pm, with a long show at 11pm. Oh, and if you want a cheap and pretty decent buffet, try out the Excalibur lunch buffet. IIRC, it was about $10, and had a pretty good selection as well as a good salad bar. Whatever you do, avoid the lunch buffet at the Monte Carlo. It was inexpensive, and for a reason. Sad, sad, sad...

Oh, and if you find a cockroach in your room, make sure to let the staffpeople know. This happened to us while staying at the "poor" rooms at the Tropicana... pretty nasty actually. You might just find yourself bumped up into a room you could never have afforded before. It's like getting comped without putting money on the line!

And of course, there is always gambling. But always remember to budget yourself, and to never go over that budget. Me? I luckily scored $120 on a slot pull, and when all was said and done, I left Vegas with $150 extra cash (although it basically just paid for the trip for me). Also, if you intend on gambling, you might want to read up on the best odds for the different games. Blackjack is by far the most 'fair' table game in Vegas, and when played correctly (using the basic strategy tables perfectly) can reduce the casino's edge to about .5%. When you count cards, you can actually get the edge in YOUR favor, which is why if they catch you, they'll make you leave.

 

[usc goose]

karaoke (sic?) at gameworks.

seriously i always try and go. they give you free game passes and stuff sometimes to get people to sing.

otherwise i have a wicked poker problem so that's usually where i am.

edit: playing poker that is (usually bellagio 4/8 or excaliber if i'm feeling cheap/broke)

 

[LobsterSan]

I don't mean to threadjack, but poker is damn fun. The hours just fly by. And I don't even really care about the money so much (since I'm playing with very little of the stuff amongst friends.)

I just got introduced to it a month ago... 25-50 hold 'em (cents, not dollars, heh heh). Now I play endless hours on Yahoo to get my hand evaluating and odds down pat. Might go into a small tournament in a couple weeks -- one of my friends placed 8th last week in a tourney, top 10 getting paid out of 60 or so entries.

 

[brent_mr2]

I have tried the Excalibur's buffet on an earlier trip to Vegas and it was pretty decent. I also tried the Pharoh's Pheast at the Luxor which was also decent. I think the only other buffet I went to was at Circus Circus and it was just plain lousy, I don't even think Bozo the clown would go there. I've heard stories of people getting sick from their buffet too.

I'll definitely try the Orleans buffet at least once since I'll be staying there. Maybe I can even find a 2 for 1 coupon somewhere.

My mother told me about seafood night at Terrible's (a favorite locals casino). They had crab legs somehow cut into three peices lengthwise, and these people at the buffet were like animals. Three or four of them would "attack" the crab legs and there would be none left at that point and there would be peices falling off their plate and onto the floor since they stacked them too high. Guess which night I'll be there

I'll go to a happy hour at the Hard Rock instead though.

I do hope to try the Bellagio's or the Rio's World Buffet, both are rated #1 and #2 respectively.

As for gaming, I've heard several times that the strip casinos tend to have highest house advantages (locals in the know almost never go to them). As for cutting cards, most of them seem to have a multi-deck dispenser so counting would be useless. Craps has the best player advantage of any table game, but it's also the most intimidating and has the highest learning curve.

I won triple diamonds at Harvey's in Lake Tahoe one time, that was sweet! Of course the change lady had to remind me that if I put one more quarter in, I would have doubled my jackpot. $250 was what I got and it happened on the 4th of July weekend.

Lobster...should I bring a cockroach with me?

BTW, I have not even once played a table game in a casino. It's been my perception that the dealer usually wants you to go fast and I don't like that. I do like sports books, but it would be nice if you could just bet on the winner instead of the point spread. But I don't follow most sports anyway.