Experienced Vegas Travelers.

[SEIndSAM]

I am going to a trade show in Vegas next month and it's been 10 years since I have been there. I have a question on the hotels.

The rooms available near the convention center are running $180 and up. Rooms near the airport (Hampton Inn, Courtyard, Hyatt Place) are running about $100-$110. Is the Airport in a bad area of town?? If not, I would think I would be money ahead just to stay there and take the shuttles to the Conv Center. I'm in town for the trade show, really don't care about the gambling or shows at the casinos.

Been there recently?? What do you think?

 

[Booya]

They're fine, I've tried them all at some point. If you're going to the same show I am next month you better book soon!!!! Every hotel field up quick! There is usually another "very adult" trade show the same weekend so rooms disappear fast!

 

[dustinfz6r]

The airport is only a few miles from the strip and I wouldn't say its in a bad area. Most of the time you can get hotels on the strip for cheap, then you would be close to all the casinos/things to do.

 

[42769vette]

Ill be in Vegas next month for Shot. I got rooms at the Mariott (I think) about 500 yds from the convention center. I got 4 bed rooms for 200 a night. Thats not to bad for 4 people walking distance from the sands.

 

[hoosierdoc]

Ill be in Vegas next month for Shot. I got rooms at the Mariott (I think) about 500 yds from the convention center. I got 4 bed rooms for 200 a night. Thats not to bad for 4 people walking distance from the sands.

You guys can't share rooms?

Does the monorail we built connect the airport with the strip? I suspect not since it would harm the cabbies.

from wikipedia

[h=3]To McCarran International Airport[edit][/h]Phase 2 was revised to instead extend the monorail system in the opposite direction, south from the MGM Grand Station to McCarran International Airport.[SUP][19][/SUP] Providing monorail service to the airport has been an unpopular idea with limousine and taxicab operators in the city, as trips to and from the airport form a major portion of their business.[SUP][20][/SUP] Several hotel and casino owners on the Strip continue to support the project, and are more supportive of an extension to the airport than one to downtown Las Vegas.[SUP][21][/SUP]
On December 7, 2006, Clark County commissioners granted permission for the proposed extension to McCarran Airport. Funding had not yet been identified.[SUP][22][/SUP]
On September 9, 2008, the monorail company provided details of the proposed expansion to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors' Authority board members. The intended airport extension would begin at the new Terminal 3, with the first stop near Terminal 1, turn north on Swenson Street, then continue west on Tropicana Avenue before turning north at Koval Lane to meet up with the existing system behind the MGM Grand.[SUP][23][/SUP] This route is proposed to be built with private funds. This would add approximately four miles to the existing route, doubling the length of the system.
When the monorail company first announced details of the extension in September 2008, the airport extension was to be built with private funds and was expected to be built by 2012.[SUP][23][/SUP] However, as of March 2011, the Las Vegas Monorail Company was still in the planning phases of the proposed extension to McCarran International Airport with a proposed stop on the UNLV campus.[SUP][24]

[/SUP]

 

[42769vette]

You guys can't share rooms?

Does the monorail we built connect the airport with the strip? I suspect not since it would harm the cabbies.

I should have worded it better. I have 1 room with 4 beds in it. I'm to tight to splurge for 4 separate rooms.

My post should have said "I got a 4 bedroom hotel room for 200"

 

[Lebowski]

Used to live in the desert 50 miles NE of Vegas for some time and would travel to Vegas twice every other weekend for work stuff. Had my 21st birthday there, and returned last year for a vacation.

Rooms can be pretty cheap. One year I spent Christmas Eve, Christmas, and the 26th in Vegas by myself on the strip for a comically low price, I forget what it was but I stayed at the Excalibur and it was very reasonable. That's right on the strip.

Last year went the budget route and got a place for 5 nights or something at the California Inn right next to Fremont Street. It wasn't bad, the room was good and the hotel/casino itself was alright but the area wasn't the greatest. Lot of people trying to hustle you. Asking for money. Lot of homeless. Lot of people trying to sell you drugs. Maybe it's because I'm younger but I had people try to sell me everything from watches, to CDs, marijuana to cocaine. Just keep walking and they'll bug someone else who gives them attention. (On the strip you'll have that too but not as bad. Most will walk by and ask if you want some party favors or something)

Fremont Street in general is worth going to, but it's sort of crappy at the same time. I will say I had a BLAST in the Mermaid casino... I'm not a big drinker but me-oh-my. It was one of the few casinos in the area that had attractive cocktail waitresses and they get you drunk. I'd not have one drink finished and they'd bring me another. It was like clockwork. Heck, I was on nickle slots in there so not like I was throwing 100's down on the blackjack table or anything. In short: Worth popping in. Very small casino, not much to do in there, but worth stopping in. Hit up Fremont street anyway because you need to go to the Heart Attack Grill.... see below.

Another good thing about that area is I was able to walk to the Pawn Stars pawn shop from there, and got there on a day they were filming an episode. Saw Rick and the historian they always call in.. forget his name. No one else was there (That I saw, anyhow). Overpriced goods but worth checking out anyhow.

Since you don't like gambling, get out of Vegas if you can. The Hoover Dam is a stone throw away and you can make a day out of going to the Hoover Dam then going back to your hotel by driving through the Valley of Fire and enter North Vegas. Or just drive up the entire Lake Road and drive through Moapa Valley and get on the interstate and head west back towards Vegas.

Bring me back a sandwich from Pop's. Place is really good. I'll also settle for some In-N-Out Burger... pick me up a double double, animal style with some animal fries. I prefer the one in Henderson, so you can stop by there on your way to the Hoover Dam. Exit 33(?), second stoplight on the left... used to hit it up every other weekend for a year. Next to a carwash/gas station.

If you want a good prime rib, hit up Lawry's. I


HEART ATTACK GRILL. Go there. It's on Fremont street.

It's the only restaurant I have ever sat down where I could order a burger, a Colt 45 and a pack of smokes all from the same menu.

Just look at this awesome menu:

NSFW menu: Heart Attack Grill Menu



EDIT: From what I can remember from a night where I didn't want to walk back to my hotel I bought a bus ticket and ended up back at the bus station. You do not want to do that. I thought the bus would drive me by my hotel but it drove me miles away and I had to get off the bus at the bus station and stay there for 20-30 minutes for a different bus to come to take me where I wanted to go. Use your imagination of what riding public transportation in Las Vegas is like at like 4AM, then being dropped off away from the strip at a bus station... Get a cab or have a designated communicator to avoid that.