Las Vegas at the end of July... (1 Viewer)

[Michael_K_Sr]

It depends what you mean by "unavoidable." There are street peddlers all up and down the Strip that try to hand you cards with the phone numbers for escort services. Most of the cards feature nude women on them. But I've never seen anyone try to force the smut on you if you didn't stick your hand out for it. Likewise, I haven't seen prostitutes openly plying their trade on the Strip either. There are newspaper boxes that have rather raunchy magazines in them, but unless you find your eyes constantly glued to them I'd hardly call them unavoidable.

If you're going to see just one Cirque Du Soleil show, I still recommend Mystere at T.I. over the others. I felt that O, while entertaining, was terribly overrated. I literally fell asleep during KA. I haven't seen Zumanity yet, but it definitely is not for youngsters from what I've heard.

 

[Jason L.]

I was in LV during the 4th of July weekend in 1996. The official temperature was 110+ or so each day. I remember seeing the temperature on the sign at the Sahara finally topping out at 120, which I got a kick out of.

It was damned hot. When I was walking the strip, I kept looking for shaded parts, and walking through the casinos to get some relief.

Even at night I felt like there was a big giant hair dryer above blowing hot air on me. I had some videotapes in the trunk of my car and they melted like shrinky dinks.

You have two options to avoid the heat:

1. Get up early, see stuff, go inside when it warms up, then go back out when the sun sets.

2. Stay up really, really, late and get drunk. Wake up around 3 P.M. and go out about 5 P.M. Repeat.


Now that I have since moved to Dallas, and have lived through summers in Kuwait and Kandahar, the heat won't be much of an issue. I am going to be staying at the Orleans July 10-13.

I am eager to indulge myself and finally lose my In-N-Out Burger virginity!!!

 

[Alex-C]

Vega$ in the heat ? No problem. Go out late, stay out early, sleep in (gotta love those impenatrable casino curtains). Basically become noctural.

There is plenty of non-gambling activities. Lots of wonderful restaurants and bars. Great shopping. Downtown experience (or whatever that light show thing is called).

No other feeling matches walking down the strip at 2 am, middle of summer, 1000s of people about, and its 95 degrees by the moonlight.

 

[mylan]

Time to revive this thread because my wife and I will be celebrating our ten year anniversary there and will stay at Paris. The last time we went was ten years ago, I proposed there. Any feedback on Paris? We were thinking of going to the Cirque Beatles show but at $150 a pop for tickets we might take the helicopter tour of The Grand Canyon, any other ideas, opinions?

 

[Michael D. Bunting]

It's 110 F right now....I'm 2 hours West of LV in CA.....111 F here right now, with Thunderstorms all over the Desert SouthWest.

Look for lots of Thunderstorms and continued very warm temps for the end of the month...there is a Tropical Storm (soon to be Hurricane) to the South of the area right now and is going to be coming up to the Gulf of California by the end of this week. That will be pumping up the moisture from the South....as well as the temps.


My wife and I love Paris LV. I used to know somebody on the staff there and they used to hook us up with all kinds of comps/freebies...(maybe that is why I liek it there so much?)...but she no longer works there. (maybe that's why )

Just have fun...if you don't enjoy the mood/decor at Paris...go across the street to the Belaggio or go down the road to the Wynn. Have fun!

 

[ThomasC]

I don't recall seeing any adult content when I was there for a few days back in August 2001. You two should be able to avoid it.

 

[Carlo_M]

Just do NOT take any of those little cards that the street workers are trying to hand to you and you should be fine

 

[Francois Caron]

And especially don't look inside the yellow pages of the phone book!

 

[todd s]

Mylan we will be in LV next Sat until Mon (July 29-31). We are staying at the Monte Carlo. Its our 15th anniversary. We are going to see Danny Ganz Sat night and Mamma Mia Sunday night. Enjoy!

 

[Brian W. Ralston]

In my opinion, one of the best hotel deals in Vegas right now is The Venetian. They lost their 4 star rating last year and they are desperately trying to get it back. (Yea...they let some customer service aspects to slip at the time...but believe me, they are going above and beyond now to get their 4 star rating back and I believe they will get it back. This from someone I know who worked there last year.) But, their deals are in line with other 3 star hotels. Every room is a suite. They have gone above and beyond in their service the last few times I have been there that is for sure. In my opinion, my recent (within the last year) stays there were comparable to The Bellagio. But the prices were not.

And their new theatre opened one month ago, built specifically for the Phantom of the Opera Broadway show..."reinvisioned" after the movie by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Hal Prince themselves I hear is simply amazing. I will be seeing this there next month. I have friends who are Broadway show freaks and they said it was simply amazing.

 

[mylan]

I will keep all this in mind, however, I should have mentioned we were not going until the week of Sept. 18 so hopefully thunderstorms will not be a problem. I'll check on rates at Venetian, thanks for the heads up Brian!
I checked on the Grand Canyon tour and it is a four hour helicopter ride into the canyon landing on the banks of the Colorado River for lunch. It is $250 a person so this may be the only "show" we see.
One more question, have the dress codes changed? I really do not want to go anywhere I can't be in shorts and sneakers due to walking from casino to casino, ok i'll wear something nice once to go to dinner but I get the impression Bellagio and Wynn are black tie affairs.

 

[Michael_K_Sr]

I think you'll find shorts, sneakers, sandals, etc. to be the predominant type of apparel in Vegas. The only time I ever wear anything other than shorts and sandals out there is when we're going out at night. Haven't been to Wynn, but having stayed at Bellagio twice I can assure you that shorts and comfortable shoes will be the norm as you're walking through the place.

 

[mylan]

Excellent, I am a slacker at heart. Thanks!

 

[Carlo_M]

Venetian is still expensive (cheapest that I've found is still around $250 a night in early August) when compared to other hotels in the strip like the Monte Carlo. And that was for a 1 king bed suite. If you're sharing and want 2 queens, it was more like $300.

Sure the MC isn't 4 star, but it's still one of the "biggies" and has a great pool area, plus a tram that goes to, I forget, is it the Bellagio? That has rooms for the same time period I looked at for $150 for either the 2 beds or the 1 bed option. I've stayed at the MC several times and at just about every hotel on the strip (haven't stayed at the Bellagio or the Venetian yet but I've been in the rooms because of friends who have) and I find the MC to be one of the best "bang for bucks" you can get on the strip.

The New Orleans is the hands down "bang for buck" leader but is on the other side of the freeway from the strip. But if you've got a car, and you're on a budget, the rooms are nice, and the prices are unbeatable by anything on the strip, and it's not out in B.F.E.

 

[mylan]

Yeah, looks like The Venetian got their four star rating back. I checked this morning and Bellagio was less expensive! I'll check MC vs. Paris, so far not much difference between Luxor, Paris, NY, etc.

 

[Jason L.]

Not to be pedantic - but it's just called "The Orleans".

I was there July 10 - 13. It was pretty damn hot - about 107, 108 for the high for the day.

I really liked The Orleans. Big, clean, stylish rooms. Laid back atmosphere. Great value. A car is a must.

I had In-N-Out for the first time. Awesome. The double, fries, and even the shakes were outstanding. Good value. It was weird to see a fast food place with teenaged looking kids working there. Friendly. I have never seen a FF restaurant that packed. The wait wasn't that long. I've never seen a drive thru lane with a switchback to accommodate long lines of cars.

The south end of the the strip is just a nightmare to drive. I had a crappy Chevy Cobalt rental car that was almost brand new break down on me. LV is NOT a good place to break down because there are no shoulders to pull over to. That just confirms my firmly held belief that I will never buy an American car.

 

[Carlo_M]

Haha, I was emailing a friend about something regarding New Orleans, then typed the above post and just realized that I had made that mistake!

It is indeed The Orleans and I'll correct the above post.

 

[Brian W. Ralston]

If you go directly to the Venetian website their weeknight room rates start at $169 (remember all rooms are suites). Weekends were $199. If you sign up on their email listing which iis free...they just sent everyone an email with a promotion stating weekday suites for $149 + $25 slots/table play + 50% off Gondala ride + free upgrade to the Venezia Tower (their hotel within the hotel). For this deal the rooms had to be booked by August 1st with a stay through the end of August.

I had already booked the rooms before I got this deal at the $169 rate. I called them a week later and mentioned the new promotion, they upgraded me and gave me the new lower prices and freebies with no trouble at all...all in a 3 minute call.




That to me is a great deal and can be had by anyone really. Just call them.

EDIT: I now see that your stay is later in September. That may be why the rates are higher there, becuse they start their fall rate schedule.

 

[mylan]

Rather than start another thread I thought I would revive this one. Our trip to Vegas is now nine days away and I had a question as to tempuratures, especially at night. We are trying to pack as lightly as possible but we do not know if we should pack more for cooler weather. I know during the day it will be 90-93 but at night will be getting down to 67-68. Here in Georgia we know what that feels like but without humidity is it cool enough for a jacket? I seem to recall even in summer in San Deigo it was slightly cool, but its been 12 years + since i've been out west.

 

[dany]

Most Major hotels have the misters.
Most have shaded parts to sit/lay.
Most open early/late to advoid hottest heat.
Some provide gaming in the pool.
I dont go to swim.
You should be able to get a good view of the pool area from the hotels website.
I'm going in Nov and again will be staying at the Luxor. If i was staying downtown there is only one place to stay,GN.