Need Help with Vegas trip

DH and I are thinking about heading to Vegas in May and have no clue what to do there or where to stay. We are not major party animals so we are not interested in staying with the younger 20 somethings. We would like to stay at a nice hotel that is geared more for 42 year olds who want to see the shows and stuff.
Anyone info or advice would be greatly appreciated. We are not too concerned about the price of the room just want to find one that is in a good location and not more for drunken all nighters. :D

I am a big fan of Vegas, here are a few of my personal choices. I like to stay a Ballys, very middle of the road in price and also in the middle of the strip. You can definatly find nicer places or cheaper places but it has a great location. As for show you must see any of the cirque shows (mystere is my fav) otherwise just look for what intrests you most shows are great. Any specific questions I would be happy to give you my opinion.

I have stayed at both MGM and The Venetian. I would recommend both. I'm in my 20's but not a partier and mostly went for the food and shows. MGM was nice as they had so much to offer in the hotel itself and was very affordable, however it is at the end of the strip. I stayed at the Venetian in September with my husband and friends and it was amazing. It is a beautiful hotel and all suites that are incredible. I also found it pretty reasonable for everything that you got. They also have a couple of shows right in house and it is very centrally located. As far as shows go, hands down O by cirque du Soleil (at the bellagio) is the best I have ever seen and we are huge cirque fans, you cannot miss it.

The last time we went to Vegas we stayed at the Venetian. It was wonderful. All the rooms there are suites so you don't feel so closed in. It had a sunken living room with a TV, 2 queen beds with another TV and an out of this world bathroom. The shops, restaurants, food court and free entertainment was great. Not to mention it is tied for the best gelati I have ever had. It was just as good as we got in Italy. The Lux is owned by the same company who owns the Cheesecake Factory so they are a great choice for lunch!

The next time we go we may try the Mandalay Bay because of it's water park.

Las Vegas is one of our favorite places to go and for the most part we do not party like we used to or even gamble much. Here are my favorites: Hoover Dam, attractions at the Luxor, MGM & Venetian, Treasure Island & Caesars free shows, Mandalay aquarium, Red Rock Canyon, Bellagio fountain (could have watched that all night), Mirage Volcano, NY NY & Stratosphere rides, so many great shows. We were there a week and didn't get to do everything we had on our list.

Another vote for the Venetian or the wyn. Both are very nice and offer a little bit of everything in the resort.

We are planning to go in April. Want to stay at NYNY. Sorry Mickey. :marg:

DH actually suggested that we should go to Disneyland instead, we have never been there either.

We did Vegas, Los Angeles (Universal) and Disneyland in the same trip a few years back. We were gone for almost 3 weeks and loved every minute of it. We stayed at the Mandalay Bay in Vegas with a fantastic view of the strip. Beautiful hotel, but it really was far down the strip and therefore wouldn't stay there again. As we were there in Aug (118 degrees) the water area was absolutely packed and certainly not worth spending any time in it. Nothing like Disney water parks. They have a lazy river, very short, and you have to buy or bring your own rafts as they do not hand them out on a rental basis. I think they were like $25.00 or more each. I would definitely stay at one of the hotel in the middle area of the strip if I was to return. Loved the look of Paris!
I would seriously consider Disneyland.

All good choices above-- as are the Belagio and Caesar's Palace. Look for internet deals, as there are some good ones out there. I saw that Bally's had some $89 rates recently.

There is a website called slick deals that has great deals on travel and there is a lot of Vegas info in there. Go the forums section, then "hot deals" and scroll down to the bottom and click on the travel icon. That will help a bunch. There was a recent thread listing the best free things to do in Vegas. Good luck.

Just about any of the MAJOR hotels on the strip are really nice except maybe stay away from Circus Circus (kids) and Rivera (old).

The "Mirage" is very nice too with a volcano that goes off every hour or so, secret gardens (mini zoo with white tigers)...Mandalay Bay very nice too. IF you can afford the Jr Suite that's really AWESOME.

There are LOTS of "free" stuff to do as well as take in shows. Almost every hotel has something special "free" Such as Ceasers Palace's shopping center and "talking" statues, or Rio's Sky Circus or Treasure Islands Pirate and Siren show (outdoors but get there EARLY)....all FREE.

Do NOT rent a car. Unless you plan on driving to Hoover Dam or something...it's a waste of money and driving can be stressful (at least to me...I hate it because people are crazy on the strip). The DUECE is fabulous...it's either $5 or $10 a person (I don't remember...sorry). It gives you 24 hours transportation up and down the strip (24 hours meaning from the time you buy the ticket to 24 hours later...it runs ALLLLLL night). It's a shuttle but they seem to come around every 10 minutes. The trip from the airport to the hotel is typically about $10.

There's so much you're welcome to PM me if you want. It's my version of "Vegas on a Dime"

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Originally Posted by thrillme

Just about any of the MAJOR hotels on the strip are really nice except maybe stay away from Circus Circus (kids) and Rivera (old)."

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I have to add Excaliber to this list. The public areas were run down, but since I didn't stay there I'm not sure how the rooms are.

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Originally Posted by Tinkerfreak

DH and I are thinking about heading to Vegas in May and have no clue what to do there or where to stay. We are not major party animals so we are not interested in staying with the younger 20 somethings. We would like to stay at a nice hotel that is geared more for 42 year olds who want to see the shows and stuff.
Anyone info or advice would be greatly appreciated. We are not too concerned about the price of the room just want to find one that is in a good location and not more for drunken all nighters. :D

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Were in your age catergorie and have been to Vegas twice and its going to be 3rd time when we go again in June ... Weve stayed at the Bellagio and Caesars and we favour Caesars by a whisker ... I think its because the shopping mall and the better choice of eateries as well as the pool areas .

I reccommend show wise Jersey Boys ,Lion King and Blue Man Group and the MUST has to be Cirque De Soliels " O " its absolutley mind blowing ....Were going to see Cirques Elvis this year and Celine Dion and the Phantom ( might just go back for "O" Jersey Boys again :D

Eateries wise i reccommend very strongly The Bellagios Buffet ( its the best ) Paris is a close second ...Have fun:thumbsup:

We loved Ka when we went a few years back. The show is just incredible and the stunts they do are just too cool. We didn't get to see O because it sold out like a year in advance, so Ka is our favorite Cirque show and we've been to a lot of them...