OT:Vegas dining and entertainment

UGAVET · February 2008

OK, i know i saw a couple of OT post over the past couple of years regarding Vegas dining and entertainment but sometimes these recommendations change. I am going to Vegas at the end of the week for 6 days for a Veterinary conference and was wondering what the best recommendations for dining both buffet and otherwise. also has anybody seen bette midler in vegas or any other shows that would be worthwhile. She is not really my type of entertainment but have heard that her show is entertaining. Also we are thinking of renting a car on saturday and taking a drive somewhere other than Hoover Dam. Any suggestions. Thanks

Luvs to shoot clay · February 2008

I just came back from Vegas in January. My wife plans to take me back to see Bette Midler later this year. One of her favorites. Depending on where you stay as far as meals go. Our favorite buffet the last few times was at Bellagio. Check out the free water show (from the top of the Eifel Tower across the street at night if you can). If you make it "Downtown" to see the free light show there are two really good restaurants in the Golden Nugget. Vic and Anthony's steak house and a really good Italian restaurant called the "Grotto". The pool in the Nugget is worth a look. It has a shark tank in the middle and a waterslide that goes through the shark tank via a glass tube. You can do a little low limit gambling down town with table games from $5 to $10 even at night. Besides Bette, you might want to see Danny Gans at the Mirage. I have seen him 3 times and haven't been disappointed once. Also for shows, there is a Discount ticket place near the Riviera that is worth a look. If you can find a show there that you like, you can save about half the ticket price and usually get pretty good seats. We have done this a couple of times and have always been happy with the value of the seats. That being said, Danny Gans is worth full price. Golf and shows are cheap compared to gambling. We got a great deal on a rental car from Advantage and it was clean and new. 3 1/2 days cost us less than $100 for a Toyota Camry. If you have any specific questions, send me an email. I will give you my Free (and that's what it's worth) opinion.

Unknown · February 2008

As for buffets, the two best are the Bellagio and the Wynn, both are fantastic, if you like french food, the one at Paris is pretty good. If you're downtown the Golden Nugget is the best in that area. As for fine dining, the Bellagio has two or three, all top notch. If you want to go the celeb chef route there is Emeril's Delmonico Steakhouse at the Venetian, and Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill at Caesars. At the MGMGrand there is Wolfgang Puck's Cafe, it is like an upscale bar and grill. At the same location is Emeril's, it was decent to good.

I am not a fan of Bette's and have heard no reviews of her show, but just about any high end show in Vegas will impress most people, fan or not. One example, a guy I know was dragged reluctantly to Barry Manilow, and he said it was a great show. As for comedy, while you will be there you could see George Carlin and Howie Mandel. A show I would recommend is Danny Ganz. He is much more than an impersonator. He was voted entertainer of the year 10 years running. You can't go wrong with any Cirque de Soliel show. If you like the Beatles at all go see Love at the Mirage. There is O at the Bellagio which is great. For Monty Python fans there is Spamalot at the Wynn. If someone in your party will have free time in the afternoons there is a Price Is Right Show at Bally's that fans of the TV show really enjoy, and (by Vegas prices anyway) is reasonably priced. The Fremont Street Experience is much better now, there used to be 2 million lights, but it was recently upgraded, I believe there is 12 million lights now. Also, the fountain show in front of the Bellagio is worth seeing. There is a show at the Rio called Tony and Tina's Wedding which is an interactive deal where you are a guest at an Italian wedding the members of the wedding party get drunk and say what they really think. We enjoyed that.
While gambling at the Rio we saw the Parade In The Sky, luckily we did not go there for that,if so we would have been very disapointed. The Liberace museum was worth seeing, it is a few minutes off the strip. By now I would not be surprised if the Palace Station has a tour thru the room where O.J. did his "sting". When that Einstein gets convicted this time he will learn a new slogan, "those that do armed robberies in Vegas stay in Vegas". (Just kidding on the tour thing, but heck, who knows).

Some hotels have check in stations at the airport. If your hotel has this I highly recommend you take advantage of it. Don't let the cabbie take the long way to town thru the tunnel. And they say it is a good idea to always get the number of the cab and the name of company in case you forget something in it.

If you (or anyone else reading this) has a member of your party with any type of mobility problem rent a scooter at the bell desk of your hotel ($40 a day or cheaper for a longer time) and they will zip all thru the hotel, casino, or strip very easily. Also, hotels will lend you a wheelchair, so if you are going to go to other casinos by cab they can ride their scooter to the bell desk, turn it in, and take the wheelchair to go elsewhere, and then get the scooter back when returning.

A really good website for all things Vegas is Vegas4visitors.com.

There are two different companies with booths all over town that sell half price tickets to shows, but you can not get a list of what they sell, you have to go in the morning to check. You can find their locations at tickets2nite.com and tix4tonight.com. As for something worth driving to see, if you have not been to the Grand Canyon, that would be worth staying an extra day.

Grandpas Grub · February 2008

Great tip.

Thanks, GG

Grandpas Grub · February 2008

Of course Gambling...

There is so much more to do and if you have never been there before it is great fun.

Blue Men is a good show and many other shows.

Buffet's, more than anyone can list and any type of food you can think of. Some buffet's are expensive some are very reasonable. You won't go hungry.

Each of the main casino's have a free area where there are mini shows and or things to do.

If you are walking on the strip, the bus goes up and down constantly. Just stay on the strip.

If you have a car and can get away fromt he convention there are many places to see.

I don't think there is enough time to see anything, no matter how long you stay.

Gambling on the strip is usually expensive per play. Downtown Vegas (off the strip) is less expensive and away from centeral Vegas there are a lot of low price per play places to visit.

GG

ChefRD · February 2008

Hi, we've been to Vegas many times, (been 3 times this year

), but that doesn't make me an expert, but I do have some opinions.

Never seen bette midler, probably never will.

Check out the volcano at the Mirage.
I have never seen a magic show I didn't like. They also usually have some comedians too.
RIO has a great buffet.
Tropicana has a great comedy club and you can get two for one coupons in the whats on little free book . Anyway, its a free small book about whats happening, and it has free and some two'fers in it normally.
For a day trip I recommend the Valley of Fire state park. Its north of vegas maybe an hour away, and it has a lot of neat sites, heiroglyphics (sp?), and beautiful scenery.
A little closer trip is Red Rock Canyon. It is also very scenic but has no 'glyphics or stuff, but is very pretty and there is an old "cowboy town" on the way if you want to do more 'touristy' type stuff.
The Ethel M chocolate factory used to be a really neat tour, but I have heard it is not the same anymore, as now you can not see the actual process of making the candy, but I am not sure.
Go downtown at night, at least once to check out fremont street and the overhead show. We usually stay downtown and "maybe" go to the strip just to see what has changed.

HTH,
ron.

Carbonizer · February 2008

I'll 2nd the vote for Red Rock Canyon, It's close so not a full day trip.
If you golf, take a ride about 80 miles north to Mesquite and play Wolf Creek. Awesome course cut thru red canyons up and down a small mountain, tough as you'll ever play too.
Slope rating is 154. Bring lots of balls!!
About 40 mi north of Mesquite thru the mountains is St George, Utah, Zion National Park.

Morro Bay Rich · February 2008

Best recommendation: get out of town as soon as possible.

Location: Valley of Fire State Park
http://www.desertusa.com/nvval/

Dr. Strangelove · February 2008

Went last March, it was a blast! The Bellagio was my favorite buffet, just incredible some of the things on it. Paris also has a good buffet, more seafood oriented. West Rim of the Grand Canyon is an easy day trip, just rent a car and stay away from the tour bus companies.

Grandpas Grub · February 2008

All pretty close to my neck of the woods. Zion's is a great trip. Several other national parks close by. This area Southern Utah is a great part of the world and tons of outdoor stuff to do.

With as much moisture as we have had this part of the country is going to have a great spring.

GG

vidalia1 · February 2008

I was in Vegas 2 weeks ago for Super Bowl weekend. Our group ate at "The Steakhouse" :P in Circus Circus. It is voted one of the best steakhouses in Vegas YE & YO...also great Italian food at Rao's at Caesar's Palace

...if you even think you want to go to these make reservations NOW....

Good luck!

Kim Youngblood
(aka vidalia1)

vidalia1 · February 2008

I was in Vegas 2 weeks ago for Super Bowl weekend. Our group ate at "The Steakhouse" :P in Circus Circus. It is voted one of the best steakhouses in Vegas YE & YO...also great Italian food at Rao's at Caesar's Palace

...if you even think you want to go to these make reservations NOW....

Good luck!

Kim Youngblood
(aka vidalia1)

UGAVET · February 2008

thanks for all the tips. Sounds like the Bellagio is the Buffet to hit. Last time i was there, 2 yrs ago, I was told the Rio had a great seafood buffet which is what i like but the line was a mile long to get in there. Maybe i will get lucky this year.

UGAVET · February 2008

I have been to Vegas twice before to the same conference. I didnt go last year because the NBA allstar game was the same weekend. I want to visit the Wynn and will probably hit that Buffet. Have you been to the Rio's Seafood buffet? I definately want to go to Freemont street this year. thanks for all the info.

Unknown · February 2008

try the wynn buffet it is VERY good and if you have never had a wynn slot club card if you get one and earn 50 points you will get 1 or 2 buffets comped

rio seafood buffet has been closed for a remodel and i dont think it is open yet

for a great drive i would go and do a red rock/ valley of fire tour great drive imho

and for entertainment we sometimes get comped tix to danny gans i have no problem giving them to you but we dont know untill the day of if they will have any tickets for us
let me know

UGAVET · February 2008

Hey, thanks for the info and the offer. I think i am gonna hit the belagio and the wynn as far as buffets go. Do you live in vegas? How would i get in touch with you about the tickets if you have them available? email? i will be in vegas from this friday evening and leaving back out next thursday. we are staying at the luxor which is next door to the conference which is at mandalay bay.

Luvs to shoot clay · February 2008

Since you said you are going to hit Fremont Street there is another great steak house at the "Four Queens", Hugo's down under. Great meals and huge wine list. Not hard to get reservations.

Unknown · February 2008

No, we did not hit the seafood buffet at the Rio, but I heard it is good.

NBA All Star Week in Vegas, WOW!!! Was there a week and half after that and the workers were still shellshocked. Asked many of them about it and they told me some tales. A guy I know was staying at the Bellagio with his wife and in-laws, and they told me they stayed in their room 2 days straight, ordered room service for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They said when they opened the doors for the food delivery the halls reeked of marijuana smoke. Poor guys did not have a clue.

That reminds of the week we went to Sturgis for bike week. Every city in a 30 mile radius was wall to wall biker. Not those weekend wanna be types, but the kind you pray never rumbles up to your house to pick up your daughter, we saw Hell Angels, Bandidos, etc. We were at Mount Rushmore talking to a family. These people were right out of central casting for a remake of Leave It To Beaver. They had just arrived that morning. The mother looked at me with a look I will never forget and asked "Is it ALWAYS LIKE THIS?!!!

A friend of mine moved to New Orleans, and he said he is telling everyone to stay away from New Orleans this weekend because of the NBA All Star Game. I did not have the heart to ask him, if there is violence in New Orleans this weekend because of that event, how will we be able to tell the difference?

Unknown · February 2008

well i live in henderson about 20 miles from the strip if they release tickets it will be at about noon the day of the show i guess that you could email me your cell number and i would call if i get any gans tickets

UGAVET · February 2008

Yeah, some friends of mine that went last year said they had never been called white boy and cracker so many times in one place. There were lots of fights and some gun play at the MGM.

OT:Vegas dining and entertainment

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