[TheJagMan]

Found a papillion airplane tours from Vegas, even includes a free shuttle service. Including fees and taxes $119/person. I'm sure there's other companies as well. But $238 total isn't going to be much than renting a car for two days and all the gas...

Here's what I'm thinking...Arrive on a saturday...The I.P. is $115 on that Saturday, so need to stay somewhere else; maybe I'll do the stratophere as I want to do the rides...Then the IP Sun, Mon, Tues. Wednesday head off to San Diego
What do you guys recommend I do on Sat, Sun, Mon, Tues?

[jjameson922]

Did you still want questions answered about what to do at the Grand Canyon? If so, I would have to say, it is something you should not miss seeing but actually it is not a to do place. You can rent a burro and ride down into it some distance but you must be in the burro line by 9 a.m. and then will not be allowed to go if anyone in your parties weight it more than 225. What we did, after ohhing and ahhing about it from the ground level is strike off for a short walk down. I would say we made it down for about an hour and then I swear it took 3 hours climbing back up. I can remember finally reaching ground level and virtually crawling to the nearest bar. The accomodations there are fairly pricey and are not that plush and the steak house is pricey and nothing to write home about. Other than that, you are pretty captive as to other places to go.

[TheJagMan]

Originally Posted by jjameson922

Did you still want questions answered about what to do at the Grand Canyon? If so, I would have to say, it is something you should not miss seeing but actually it is not a to do place. You can rent a burro and ride down into it some distance but you must be in the burro line by 9 a.m. and then will not be allowed to go if anyone in your parties weight it more than 225. What we did, after ohhing and ahhing about it from the ground level is strike off for a short walk down. I would say we made it down for about an hour and then I swear it took 3 hours climbing back up. I can remember finally reaching ground level and virtually crawling to the nearest bar. The accomodations there are fairly pricey and are not that plush and the steak house is pricey and nothing to write home about. Other than that, you are pretty captive as to other places to go.

Thanks. Yes I did want caynons questions answered. I'm all over the place, but I think I got where I want to stay and lodging covered. It's just a matter of what to do and when to do them...

[tazz]

Originally Posted by olecapt

I recommed a week in SD and then come back next year or the year after to Las Vegas.

Or come to Las Vegas for a week and then do SD in a year or two.

Both are too much for a single week.

One or the other. Not both.

That's what I was thinking too. If there is only a week for the vacation you take off 2 travel days leaving only 5 days for fun. If you add a travel day from SD and LV there are only 4 days which will be spent checking in and checking out.

[gweilo845]

Originally Posted by TheJagMan

Here's what I'm thinking...Arrive on a saturday...The I.P. is $115 on that Saturday, so need to stay somewhere else; maybe I'll do the stratophere as I want to do the rides...Then the IP Sun, Mon, Tues. Wednesday head off to San Diego
What do you guys recommend I do on Sat, Sun, Mon, Tues?

Just FYI, the rides are not free at the Stratosphere, even if you are staying there. I stayed there back in May and IIRC it was $12 per ride.

Also keep in mind that the Strat is on the far north end of the strip - the next closest casino is Sahara, a couple of long blocks away.

If you're taking a shuttle from the airport, it might take a while to get to the Strat since it's the last property on the strip, and customers at other casinos will be dropped off first - also take into account the wait time for the shuttle to fill up.

Some people find the area around the Strat to be sketchy. I didn't have a problem with it, but there certainly were a few beggars and working ladies around.

Anyway, as for recommendations what to do, that's a huge open book that's hard to answer, especially not knowing your budget, interests, etc. If you're just looking to party on the cheap, there are a few properties on the strip like O'Shea's and Bill's (which are pretty much right next to the IP) that have good drink specials and a younger crowd.

If you're still set on staying at the Strat, they have a decent bar area that has a happy hour where you can get unlimited drinks for $20. It would also be a fairly short ride on the Deuce (tourist bus) to the Fremont Street area, which is comprised of the older casinos like Golden Nugget. The area is a little run-down, but I like it, since people are laid-back, the drinks are strong, and the gambling is a little looser than on the strip.

[TheJagMan]

Yes, party on the cheap is the theme. I saw the Strat rides not being free. With fees and taxes on a Saturday, the Strat is $125. $10/per ride for guests. For non-strat stayers, rides are $13 or $14 or $23.95 for two rides.

The Sahara with fees and taxes it's $84/on sat. I may stay there, hit up the Strats rides and spend that entire Saturday on this north strip; and probably never look back, lol. I.P. for Sun-Wed...Monday do the Caynon, then Wednesday head to cali.

[tijlover]

If you want to add a little more adventure to your trip, and save some $$$, you might want to check out the 3 Hostels in Las Vegas. Sin City Hostel is right on the strip, North of the Stratosphere, as well as HI-Las Vegas Tod Hostel and Hotel, where you can get a bunk as cheap as $17, or if you wish to spend more and get a Private Ensuite, it might run $50 for two people. This is how many Europeans travel. Then you'll have more money leftover for a Strip show or more rides at the Stratosphere. Check them out at Hostelworld.com.

I finally discovered Hostels on two trips to New York in the last year. Lots of opportunities to socialize with fellow travelers, if that's your thing. I tend to be more of a loner, but for $29 a night in Manhattan, that's hard to refuse.

[gweilo845]

Originally Posted by TheJagMan

The Sahara with fees and taxes it's $84/on sat. I may stay there, hit up the Strats rides and spend that entire Saturday on this north strip; and probably never look back, lol. I.P. for Sun-Wed...Monday do the Caynon, then Wednesday head to cali.

The Sahara's definitely on the decline, but the rooms are decent enough for the price. Plus it is right on the Monorail, so you can use it to get to the IP (which is also on the Monorail).

[jlawrence01]

Originally Posted by Buzz123

Yeah, the Imperial Palace is probably a better hotel then most visitors are used to wherever they come from. M. .

The ONLY thing that the Imperial Palace has going in its favor is the location which is center strip. And recently, it offers the cheapest rates in the center strip region.

If I were to compare the amenities with a chain, it would be the Super 8. The rooms are clean. However, they are older and pretty worn out. The rooms are small and have few amenities other than a safe and a TV.
Towels are relatively thin.

There are a dozen better hotels in and around the Strip that could be had for the same money at the current time. Two that come to mind immediately are the Orleans and Gold Coast.

[tijlover]

For me, no hotel or motel room will ever be a room unless I have my own balcony. Given the limited number of hotels on the Strip without balconies, I'd stay here just for that reason only: my own balcony. Or the oldest hotel at the Sahara complex with balconies. Or Bally's with their sliver balconies.
Hooray for the developers of Cosmopolitan and all those balconies! That's where I'd stay when it opens, standing on my balcony overlooking the balcony-less City Center complex.