Viva Las Vegas

[Leesifer]

I know I'm being a bit premature here but I will be going to Vegas at the beginning of May. Both me and my mum have "big" birthdays this year, so we've decided to have a family visit to Vegas to celebrate.

The last time I went to Vegas was when I was 17, which was about

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years ago. I know it's changed beyond all recognition since then.

I'm so excited!

[Legs]

How fun!! are you flying Virgin? (will they even let you on a plane that says 'virgin')

I love Vegas! where are you staying? and how long are you going for? You should get tickets to some shows.

[viscousmemories]

Have fun, Lees!

Last time I saw Vegas was in the summer of 2002, when I was travelling from Michigan to California with a van full of all my worldly possessions. I didn't even slow down. Before that was in 1991 when I was driving from California to Michigan with a car full of all my worldly possessions. I stopped at the Excalibur and blew about $6 on slot machines.

[Leesifer]

Originally Posted by Legs

How fun!! are you flying Virgin? (will they even let you on a plane that says 'virgin')

Funnily, enough I was just saying that we will probably fly Virgin. I shall look my most innocent-est at the check-in, dressed in my vestal robes.

We haven't actually booked anywhere yet, so recommendations are welcome.

Originally Posted by viscousmemories

...blew about $6 on slot machines

I suspect I shall blow more that that, vm. I luurrve the slots.

[Radathser]

Originally Posted by Leesifer

Funnily, enough I was just saying that we will probably fly Virgin. I shall look my most innocent-est at the check-in, dressed in my vestal robes.

We haven't actually booked anywhere yet, so recommendations are welcome.

I suspect I shall blow more that that, vm. I luurrve the slots.

Well, the thing is, back then 6$ was a lot of money. That'd buy you 6 gallons of gas, and in todays money, that is about 30-36$, depending how bad inflation really is. In 2000, gold was 200$ an ounce, in 2008[7] gold is about 800+$ an ounce. So you can tell what inflation would be like with almost another decade tacked onto that.

EDIT: I did not realize this thread was 20 pages long. I think I'll check the dates for the first few pages of threads I read next time. -_-

[Legs]

I would suggest the Venetian or the Bellagio...

I have enjoyed my stays at Bally's & the Flamingo Hilton,

I didn't like the Mirage. and a big NO to the Luxor or Excaliber or Treasure Island.

I have always wanted to stay at Caesars Palace but it has just never worked out

[Leesifer]

Thanks, Legs.

I'll look all those up on line later.

However, I do have an itching to stay at one of the flashy hotels - simply because I have no idea when I'll ever go back and that's all part of the fun for me about Vegas. We'll probably only be there for a long weekend.

I mean, sailing through the hotel on a gondola - great stuff!

When I went before, we stayed at The Sands.** Which by todays standards was just a hotel. No pirates fighting outside, no volcanoes erupting hourly!



I would love to see the Cirque du Soleil who I believe perform on a regular basis at one of the hotels.

* I don't mean flashy in a nasty sense here at all.

** Now demolished, I believe.

[SharonDee]

I've been dreaming of going to Las Vegas for years, ever since I jumped on the Penn & Teller bandwagon. Trouble is, there is no off-season there; it's a year-round money-drainer. So ... I ain't going until Hubster wins the lottery.

All that to say ... I'm really jealous of you right now, Lees.

Originally Posted by Leesifer

I would love to see the Cirque du Soleil who I believe perform on a regular basis at one of the hotels.

The troop is coming here to Nashville ... um, some time. I only know because Hubster is wild for them and immediately bought us two tickets. I don't get the attraction, myself, but what the hey.

[Leesifer]

Originally Posted by SharonDee

The troop is coming here to Nashville ... um, some time. I only know because Hubster is wild for them and immediately bought us two tickets. I don't get the attraction, myself, but what the hey.

When are you seeing them? Sharon, it'll be brilliant. I've only seen a show on the television but it's amazing.

Now I'm jealous of you.

[SharonDee]

They'll be here in early May. I've seen them many times on TV--he made me sit through them--and like I said, I don't get it. But you know, marital harmony and that.

Originally Posted by Leesifer

Now I'm jealous of you.

I'll trade you the Cirque for the Vegas.

[Leesifer]

Originally Posted by SharonDee

I'll trade you the Cirque for the Vegas

No way, José. I'm gonna get both in May.

[SharonDee]

Hmm ... they're here on the 9th and 10th. You're in Vegas ... when?

[Leesifer]

March?

[godfry n. glad]

Hmmm...

The last time I was in Lost Wages was in 1985. I stayed at the MGM Grand. Eh...

Lost Wages has got to be one of the strangest cities on the face of the earth. It's in the middle of flippin' nowhere. Glitz is it.

I just don't see the attraction myself. That kind of gambling just doesn't appeal.

Now the Cirque I could enjoy. I've heard that they have a roller coaster on top of a tower. That sounds interesting. The Old World reproductions would be interesting to see, too.

Have a bundle of fun.

[freemonkey]

Originally Posted by godfry n. glad

Lost Wages has got to be one of the strangest cities on the face of the earth. It's in the middle of flippin' nowhere. Glitz is it.

I just don't see the attraction myself. That kind of gambling just doesn't appeal.

The one and only time I've been there was in 1990, passing through on the way to L.A. We spent the night there, on the budget plan (i.e., cheap motel on the cheatin' side of town that had a room full of slots, roulette and TV Keno), had the $1.99 breakfast, got my hands all filthy feeding a roll of nickels into the slots..... eh.

I don't think I'd have liked it much even if we'd had the money to spend on the nice hotels and shows and stuff (although it would be great to see some of the shows, like Penn & Teller and the Cirque, I wouldn't like to go to L.V. just to see them.

We drove around a little to see the lights, but it was way too much for me.
I liked it better in the daytime, because if you ignored the people (a few of whom were walking around the streets in their pajamas and robes!) and buildings, you could see the desert, which was OK.

A couple things that struck me were how you could see the dome of light that was Vegas from 60+ miles away at night and how fast people drove just to get there.

[Leesifer]

Originally Posted by godfry n. glad

I've heard that they have a roller coaster on top of a tower

[Leesifer]

Originally Posted by Legs

I have enjoyed my stays at Bally's & the Flamingo Hilton,

Oh my, Legs. They both look great!

Originally Posted by freemonkey

got my hands all filthy feeding a roll of nickels into the slots.....

Oh yeah!

[pescifish]

Originally Posted by Leesifer

However, I do have an itching to stay at one of the flashy hotels - simply because I have no idea when I'll ever go back and that's all part of the fun for me about Vegas.

If you are looking for flash, then Legs' recommendation for Venetian or Bellagio really fit the bill!

Originally Posted by Leesifer

I would love to see the Cirque du Soleil who I believe perform on a regular basis at one of the hotels.

There are several there on a permanent basis. I haven't seen the newest ("Ka") yet, but the ones I've seen are all excellent.
"O" is the most technically stunning, performed in and out of a huge pool of water.
"Zumanity" is real departure from the usual Cirque's and is brilliantly funny take on all things sexual (fantasies and whatnot). It is not a 'sexy' show in the sense of arousing, but it was, IMO, the funniest Cirque I've seen yet.
"Mystere" is my favorite of the Las Vegas shows. It is classic Cirque du Soleil with the awesome music and gymnastics and visual spectacle that could be played in their usual circus tent venue.

Originally Posted by SharonDee

They'll be here in early May. I've seen them many times on TV--he made me sit through them--and like I said, I don't get it. But you know, marital harmony and that.

Sharon, I realize Cirque is a sort of thing that is a matter of taste in terms of liking it or not, but I've seen probably 8 or so of the shows live and 4 of them on DVD/TV. There is no comparison to the experience: the sounds of the feet slamming on the mats, the feeling of the muscles fighting against gravity during a long suspension, the popping of the joints of the contortionists, wondering where in the hell they put the orchestra, even the smell of the fire or smoke or other props -- they all add quite a bit to the experience. However, I can well understand if the ethereal music, funky costumes and acrobatics aren't everyone's cup of tea -- in which case, it's torturous on those super hard folding chairs in the travelling shows.

Do you know which show you will be seeing, Sharon? If I were a smoker I'd recommend going stoned. I'd imagine it's pretty trippy under the influence even if the style isn't to your liking.

Oh and... the best 24 hour "coffee shop" is at the Venetian called "Grand Lux Cafe". The menu is about 30 pages long and every item I've ever had was excellent.

And if you want the hilarious parade of meat, try Samba at the Mirage.

I spent many a weekend in Las Vegas in the 80s, watching my boyfriend and his brother lose tens, even hundreds of thousands of dollars gambling. I hated the feel of the place then. I am completely missing the 'gambling gene' and hated how it was all about money. But the 90s brought the Family orientation to Vegas and all the super attraction-type hotels were built. In some of them, it's even hard to find the casino (so the kiddies don't wander in by accident)! I love Vegas now because it's like Disneyland -- it's just one big ol' amusement park now!

[Leesifer]

Thanks for that, pesci. Brilliant info.

Once I'd Googled Legs' suggestions, I could see they were "flash".

I like that way you managed to bring "meat" into this thread too!

Originally Posted by pescifish

And if you want the hilarious parade of meat, try Samba at the Mirage.

Now I'm very curious and need to see a hilarious parade of meat!

ETA: Anyone done any of these?

[Leesifer]

Thread necromancy here. Sadly, the aforementioned trip didn't happen.

BUT...

I'm all booked for Vegas - arriving lunchtime on 4th July for a long weekend.

[Legs]

Wow, that's a long way to go for a long weekend, Lees

have a GREAT time!! Can you tell us where you are staying?

[curses]

Layover in Atlanta, skunk, or else

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And cool! Win some money for me!

[lisarea]

Fortunately, the Stratosphere rollercoaster has been permanently closed now, so you've dodged that bullet.

Enjoy the slightly less horrific aspects of Las Vegas, though!

[Leesifer]

Heh! I all about the horrific aspects. I want as much tackiness as possible.

I'm staying at the MGM Grand, Legs. It was all booked by a friend of mine - there are 4 of us going. Me and 3 boys. We have a limo from the airport to the hotel as a 40th birthday present for one of the guys.

No stopover, curses. You'll have to come to Vegas instead.

[curses]

Originally Posted by Leesifer

No stopover, curses. You'll have to come to Vegas instead.

If I only could...