Sharon and Dave’s Guide to an Absolutely Fabulous Vegas Trip

1. Lunch at Fatburger's by MGM Grand- the absolutely best burger you'll ever eat. Lunch at Quark's (kinda pricey, huge portions...amusing service...go for the experience if you have time- it's in the Hilton). Also, I really like Burger Bar in Mandalay Bay….very popular- feel free to eat at the bar, it’s great service.

2. Either Mystere or O shows (too pricey to do both....go to www.cirquedusoleil.com to get tickets) Mystere is at Treasure Island, O is at Bellagio.

3. See the Fremont Street Experience (take the 301 or 302 bus NORTH). There's a specific stop for it, and you won't be able to miss it. Excellent place for your low-rent drinking night. See the mechanical bull riding one evening at Gilley's (Frontier Hotel).

4. Buffet at the Bellagio. Pricey, at up to $35 per head for dinner on the weekends, but well worth it. The Harrah’s buffet is also very good, as well as the buffet at The Mirage. You should also visit Carnival Court at Harrahs---it’s an outside bar that is by a stage. Usually some cheesy band playing, but the bartenders juggle their liquor bottles, so there’s other entertainment, and chance of free shots (don’t forget to tip a $1). Always a lot of fun going on.

Other things to note:

1) You can catch a shuttle from the airport for usually around $4.25 per person. If you look for the LVL pickup area (exit the baggage area and go to the right, and around the corner of the building), you will see minivans, or limos. If limos are out there, you can get one for the same price as the minivan, in most cases, if all the minivans are gone. If not, go to any of the other shuttle services- but don't pay more than $5.00 per person to get to your hotel. Take your first gamble!

2) Cheap eats are harder and harder to find. Terrible’s coffeehouse, Bougainvillea, still has really cheap prices w/lots of food, but it’s not on the strip, and doesn’t have much more going for it. I would suggest taking a look at the plates of other diners when you go into a place, and see if it makes more sense to split a plate. You’re not going to take the leftovers with you anyway, and if you’re still hungry, you can always order dessert. Cheap drinks? Here’s some of my faves: the 24 hour happy hour at O’Shea’s- get $1 or $2 beers (ask the price on the beer you want, or just say “I’d like a $1 beer”---sometimes the little leprechaun is also giving out green shots from on top the bar. Also, get $1 Michelobs at Casino Royale. Don’t get sucked into the “yard” of beverage drinks. These are usually around $20 or more, and can easily get watered down when it’s hot outside. By the way, if you know you have a cheap drink coming your way, due to gambling, or some promise of “$1” margaritas, realize that what you’re getting will be very diluted. I’ve personally watched them make the drinks for the waitresses in the casinos that are bringing by the “free” drinks---they pour the mixer first, and then bless it with the liquor. I usually order wine or beer if I’m sitting at a casino table

3) If you get comped drinks, remember to tip the waitress about $2 per round (2-3 people). Always. You can tip her a $1 in cash, or a chip if the drink is just for you. And if a bellhop hails a cab for you (which will always be the way you get a taxi from a hotel), tip him a dollar.

4) We took buses a lot. Routes 301, 302 & 303 run the strip, and it's $2.00 per ride. If you purchase an all day pass for $5, it’s a 24 hour pass. Much cheaper than a taxi, and you don't have to tip the driver or the bellhop. They run approximately every 7 minutes. Remember, if there's traffic, your taxi fare will go up. Your bus ride won't. But the bus has gotten much more popular, so if you need to be somewhere by a certain time, the bus may not be the way to go---each stop takes about 5 minutes. Don’t forget about the monorail. You can save money by getting a 10-ride pass---you can use it, and the person with you can use it, too, for the same trip.

DO:

1) Go to the Bellagio for their buffet dinner or brunch...if you go on the weekend for brunch, it's the gourmet package, which we had. If you go during the week, you have a choice between regular and gourmet. Why not splurge and have the gourmet? It's not only all-you-can-eat creme brulee and chocolate mousse, it's all-you-can-drink champagne! This will be your most expensive buffet there, running $35 per person for the gourmet, around $27 for the not-so-gourmet, but I didn't have that, so I must refrain from judgment on that one.

2) If you like the Spice Girls meets a pirate ship, check out the pirate show in front of Treasure Island. But if you go, make sure to get a table in the bar of the casino that has outdoor seating that gives you a great view for the cost of two drinks per person. Arrive about a half hour before the show starts. Otherwise, you're standing on the sidewalk, lots of heads in the way, and you're prime pickpocketing property. Plus, you're missing out on another opportunity to drink while watching fantastic pyrotechnics. Pirate show is free, and goes at 4 p.m., and every 1 1/2 hours after that til the last show at 10 p.m.

3) Go to the Forum Shops at Ceasar's Palace. This contains the world's largest FAO Schwartz with fantastic displays, in the usual over the top, FAO Schwartz way. Also contains the "Ride to Atlantis" which we skipped (too pricey), and extra surprises I don't want you to miss! Must go. Tell the taxi (if you're in one) that you want to go to the Forum Shops. Ceasar's is too big not to be specific in which door you're gonna enter.

4) Wear comfortable shoes. You'll do much more walking than you could ever imagine, and your feet will thank you. This might be the perfect time to splurge on those new insoles you've been eyeing.

5) Go to Studio 54 at the MGM Grand (preferably on a weeknight, where men pay $10, and girls get in free. Weekends the gentlemen pay $20---these prices may have gone up). This is an absolutely great club, and provides plenty of entertainment, even for the non-dancers. And was one of the few clubs that contained dancing men as well as dancing women (not just the guests here). Drinks are at northern VA prices. If you want to go to one of the newer ultra-clubs, like Pure, try to get a free pass for the cover. Ask the concierge at your hotel if they have any free passes to any of the area nightclubs. I’ve been to Pure, but it’s not worth it. Most importantly, check to see if there are any restrictions to using the pass, and double check with the person at the door before you get in line to make sure your pass is good for that night.

6) Go to the Venetian. It's a must see. Enough said.

7) Take your camera.

8) For gambling, I'd recommend the Sahara, Harrah’s or the Flamingo. Very down to earth service people as well. I'm also told the Sahara gambling is ranked one of the best in the city by the pros and the locals, for loose slots and low priced tables.

9) Plan your days by looking at a map first. There's probably maps in the hotel room. (Or you can find one at http://www.vegas.com/map.html ....lots of other stuff on the site, too....very good). Look and find what is closest to each other, and plan that way. It will be cheaper on cab fares and easier on your feet.

10) See "O" or "Mystere" if you're able to get tickets. Be warned- $100 a ticket. Well worth it. Can purchase tickets at http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/CirqueDuSoleil/en/tickets/resident/o/default.htm

11) Try at least one of the "top of a casino" bars. The pictures are worth the extra cover. Choose Mix at Mandalay, Voodoo at Rio, or Ghostbar at the Palms and get some great views of the strip.

DON'T:

1) Try to hail a taxi from the street. No one will stop for you. Go to the front door of the nearest major establishment, and tell them you need a cab. They'll get one for you. If there are other people there, look for the end of the line, and wait. If you don't see any taxis in front of the building you're at, and no one willing to get you one,
walk to the next place. Otherwise, you'll wait forever.

2) Expect to see Elvis---but if you’d like to see Elvis, don’t miss the Big Elvis show at Bill’s Casino everyday Mon-Fri at 3 p.m. Get there by 2:15 if you want a seat at a table---it’s a popular show, and is VERY Vegas.

3) Get married.

4) Worry about carrying a drink from place to place (unless you're taking THEIR glassware out of the casino). I barely saw any police. It is very easy to move from casino to casino, but you could have a long walk. Might as well have a drink since you'll probably get thirsty.

5) Gamble anywhere expensive-looking (how do you think they got the money to build it?), but if you want to gamble at a table, do it on a weeknight or a weekday, since the minimums at the tables go up on the weekends.

6) Stop for anyone who asks if you'd like to see a free show. Most times, they want to show you a timeshare first. And don't pick up the flyers from the canvassers unless you're a single, horny, desperate man looking for a good time, and don't mind paying for it.

7) Take pictures in the casino. You'll get in trouble.

Will add only one more thing to this list...if you're planning to go to Treasure Island for the evening pirate show, go into the hotel afterwards to Kahunaville (it's across from the Mystere Theater). The best bartenders in the world work there. Kahunaville has bartenders that do those "Cocktail" movie tricks, and it's quite a show. And there’s usually lots of entertainment with the people who are there since they have a little stage for people to get up and dance on. There’s never a cover, the drinks are awesome, and it’s a very low-key atmosphere without being redneck. Make sure you order something with at least two ingredients for the fun of watching it be poured/shaken/juggled.

EXTRA TIPS:

1. The Grand Lux Cafe at the Venetian has really great food, and nice atmosphere….it’s owned by the same people who own Cheesecake Factory. Be warned- large portions.

2. Skip the Zumanity show, if you're a Cirque purist. Go to it if you're horny and not easily embarrassed.

3. To see if a restaurant has had a recent health report filed, Sharon recommends www.lasvegasvisitor.com/healthreport.htm

4. When booking your room ask for non-smoking. When you arrive, check in early. Odds are your room will not be ready and then you can easily be bumped up. We got a corner room on the 31st floor with two views of the strip. It was a smoking room, but you would never have known it.

5. Be very cautious about what your read in the dining out guides. Twice we picked out interesting restaurants, which no longer existed and had been gone for some time.

6. Avoid the French Market Restaurant at the Bourbon Street Casino. None of the Creole dishes listed exist. It's like a bad Denny's with pregnant waitresses in skintight leopard print outfits.

7. Liberace's restaurant near his museum is very good but only open for dinner.

8. ABC Convenience stores have the best prices on water. There is one in Fashion Show Mall (next to Treasure Island) and one in the shops by Planet Hollywood. (Can’t confirm whether this is still true).

9. Flamingo has the coolest pool, and you don’t need any key card to get in.

10. If you like nature, Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden at the Mirage and the Shark Reef at Bellagio are both good. I liked the Shark Reef better.

 - Last Updated, June 10, 2007