Need Some Feedback On Las Vegas...Info? Ideas?

[SmallTownJohn]

RE: MGM Grand

 

Kevin,

 

What sucked about Cincy was those rates were for a Four Points Sheraton that used to be a Harley Hotel.<GRRRR> Radisson & Marriott had similar policies. Our last two nights there we ended up at A Country Hearth Inn near King's Island. The place was less than a year old, the folks were so cool & the breakfast rocked...oh, and local calls were free LOL

 

 

John

[SmallTownJohn]

Hey there,

 

Finally, we have everything set & booked for our mid Nov. Vegas trip. Last time I was there, I was twelve & always being watched by the parents. This trip I may be meeting some folks but it's mainly going to be chill time. What's the scoop other than gambling casinos? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? <G>

 

Just wanted to throw this out before I hit the sack & head to Birmingham Sat. afternoon to meet some clients. And if anyone ever needs info. on Nashville, I'd be glad to send it your way.

 

Nite y'all,

 

John

[NY Observer]

Hey John,

Not sure if you're looking for the gay scene in Vegas or other things to do? Gay scene is not great, some bars, but none that are terrific, in my mind. I liked Gypsy the best (think that's the name), but I think it may be in a remodeling phase.

 

If you're looking for shows, there are lots of them. I liked "O" but felt Mystere was more entertaining (I think it's still playing).

 

Restaurant Recommendation: Pamplemousse, it's awesome, very quiet, off the strip (you'll need to cab there). It's the kind of place where they recite a new menu each night, lots of creative cooking, very good. It's a romantic kind of place, check it out and let me know if you go. Not too expensive.

[Guest desertdaddy]

Hi John... There are many things to do other than gambling. Many of the resorts have spectacular free "events", Bellagio's fountains - music and light show, Mirage's volcano, Treasure Island's priate ships etc. I also enjoyed the "Fremont Street Experience" and New York, New York's roller-coaster can't be beat. Best bet is for you to buy the Frommer's Guide to Las Vegas which details all of the attractions. Hope this helps. Later... Buck

[Guest WetDream]

For fashion and decorating tips: the Liberace Museum. And visit the gift shop for early holiday shopping. And a trip to the dam is a nice break from the glitter of big dity life.

[Guest LG320126]

Take that tall, lanky bod of yours up to the top of the Stratasphere and ride the bigshot. Big rides for big boys!

[Guest IM_Moore]

There is no gay scene in Las Vegas to speak of.

 

As a former resident I can point you to one of the best "local" resturants in the city. The Venitian, located on West Sahara is a bit pricy yet has some of the best Italian food I've had. The place is well known in the industry and community.

 

If you're not into the shows or gambling you most likely will become bored very quickly in the real city of lights. So head off to San Diego or Los Angeles since you will already be nearby. Both are less than a 5 hour ride through the desert ... or about a 45 minute plane ride.

[Guest cmp]

You may want to try and meet the coolest (and hottest) residents, Mike and Steph. They will treat you well if you tell them I have sent you

[Guest MGM]

Treat yourself to a spa day. A massage and facial are perfect after a long night of partying. I think the best spa is at the Venetian, but there always seem to be hotter men at Mandalay Bay.

I also like the spa at Bellagio, but the massage I got there wasn't great. (Can't judge an entire spa by one massage.)

 

Both Cirque du Soleil shows are fantastic. They fill your senses with everything most gay men love -- color, costumes, music and beautiful bodies. I agree with NY Observer that Mystere is the best. You'll want to make reservations ahead of time though because you will be very disappointed if you get poor seats.

 

I hear the Blue Man show at the Luxor is pretty good, but haven't caught it yet. Performance art, comedy kind of thing.

 

One show I would avoid is Siegfreid and Boy. Those girls are way, way over the hill and just going through the motions. If you want to see a white tiger, just go to the Mirage and look at the one they have on display.

[SmallTownJohn]

Sweet:0)

 

Thanks for all the info. you dudes have provided so far...we will be spending some time in the casinos--just trying to avoid the "lil old lady in the sparkly sweatsuit attached by a card-and-a- cord to a slot machine with eyes glazed" kinda thing. Oh, Wait! That's Ian's Mom.... My bad<g>

 

 

John

[Traveller]

To avoid the little old ladies the most, gamble in the Bellagio. The fountain in front is a free event, every half hour from noon to 6, and then every 15 minutes until midnight. Goes to pop tunes and classical. A drink in the Voodoo Lounge at the top of Rio at night gives you a view of the entire strip. The roller coaster at New York New York ain't bad. Both Cirque shows are good. Against most popular opinion, I liked Mystere better. The 2 contortionists give a big homoerotic show. O is good too. Great restaurants in the Bellagio, but you need to make reservations in advance.

 

Later.

 

PS. The top of the Eiffel Tower at Paris is kinda a hoot also.

[HooBoy]

RE: MGM Grand

 

Do NOT stay at the MGM Grand if you have any work to do on a computer.

 

Every room has horrible dial-up access that is the SLOWEST I have ever encountered. If you go over 30 minutes on the phone, they charge 15 cents a minute thereafter (in addition to the dollar or two they charge to make a call anyway)

 

I am at a Kinko's (an $8 cab ride) trying to get Saturday's reviews posted.

 

MGM so sucks!

 

HooBoy

Email: [email protected]

[Guest MattAdams]

RE: MGM Grand

 

The Alladin offers free high speed access and a monitor...so you dont need to bring a lap top to surf the Internet. The Alladin is actually a nice place even though they have had to declare bankruptcy...so right now it is a good value too.

 

The gay website is http://www.gayvegas.com It has the most up to date information on what is available.

 

Matt Adams

[Guest MattAdams]

RE: MGM Grand

 

P.S. Currently the hotel rates are very good. I got a friend into the Alexis Park for $59 a night, and it is usually over $100 a night on weekends. Also, we were able to just walk in and get a room...unheard of for a holiday weekend in vegas.

 

Matt Adams

[Guest MattAdams]

RE: MGM Grand

 

>I am at a Kinko's (an

>$8 cab ride) trying to

>get Saturday's reviews posted.

>

 

Please don't have pity on HooBoy. He knows very well that all he had to do was to make a couple phone calls and someone would have been at his hotel to pick him up and take him somewhere he could have cable access to get his updates done.

 

That's just how things are done in vegas.

 

Matt Adams

[SmallTownJohn]

RE: MGM Grand

 

Thanks HooBoy,

 

 

We actually are going to be splitting the time between Aladdin & Venetian but I dont think I'm going to take a laptop...I've had several folks email me for info & exchanged contact numbers...so I'm going to wing it with the cell phone:0)

 

 

MGM Grand sounds like the entire city of Cincinnati...75 cents for the first twenty mintues & a dime thereafter<continually kicked off> & no STSN. My Cincy phone bill for 1 night was $47 F*ck that<G>

 

Thanks guys,

 

John

[SmallTownJohn]

RE: MGM Grand

 

Thanks Matt,

 

Just saw your notes after I posted my previous entry. We are spending two nights at The Aladdin @ $59 ea. & two nights in The Venetian @ $95 ea. <We wanted to check out a couple of places for the hell-of-it> I may take the Aladdin up on their internet/ monitor after all:0)

 

Appreciate everyone's feedback,

 

John

[Boink]

RE: MGM Grand

 

I heard last week on the news that the Aladdin has filed for chapter 11 bankrupcy (already)! Seems it got off to a shaky start, and the recent events affecting the whole town's tourist trade have pushed it over the edge.

[Guest Kevin 2]

RE: MGM Grand

 

<MGM Grand sounds like the entire city of Cincinnati...75 cents for the first twenty mintues & a dime thereafter<continually kicked off> & no STSN. My Cincy phone bill for 1 night was $47 F*ck that<G>

If I end up at a hotel that charges those kind of outrageous phone rates I raise HELL and usually it works! What grips my ass is staying at a 4 or 5 star hotel with rates of $100-$300 a night and they want to charge me another $1 to make a local call,that is ridiculous!

[Guest Kevin 2]

RE: MGM Grand

 

John, While in Veags eat dinner one night at "On top of the world" it is located on top of the Stratosphere hotel and has a wonderful view of the city. The food was pretty good the last time I ate there.

PS... Book your reservation in time to see the sunset and the Vegas lights shine while you are eating dinner. Also request a table that revolves, I think only the tables on the edge of the resturant turn..I make be confused with another one of these resturant in another city???

PPS.. Before dinner ride the two rides on top of the hotel!

[+ deej]

RE: MGM Grand

 

<<If I end up at a hotel that charges those kind of outrageous phone rates I raise HELL and usually it works! >>

 

No matter what, check the phone rates posted in the room when you check in. They're required to post them. There's not much regulation on charges, but they ARE required to post the charges.

 

I've stayed in hotels that charge by the minute for local calls, so I don't make many. But I was once in a hotel in Virginia where the sign next to the phone said clearly no charge for local calls, so I left my computer logged in for hours on end. (I was there a week.)

 

When I checked out, telephone charges to a LOCAL number added up to over $400. I raised holy hell. The desk clerk was like "I'm sorry sir, but that is our policy". I had her retrieve one of the placards from a guest room. She tried to say "but the computer says...." It was an early checkout so I made her get the manager's ass out of bed and he approved removing the phone charges.

 

It's just one of those little things they do to increase the profit. I suspect the average vacationer won't even notice a couple bucks for telephone use, but a business traveler making extensive use of a computer and online services will most DEFINITELY notice.

[Guest LG320126]

RE: MGM Grand

 

>We actually are going to be

>splitting the time between

>Aladdin & Venetian

 

I STAYED AT THE VENETIAN RECENTLY AND IT IS UNDER REMODELING. I HAD TO CHANGE ROOMS BECAUSE DUE TO THE HEAT OF DAY, THE CONSTRUCTION CREWS WORK AT NIGHT AND ALL I HEARD ALL NIGHT WAS BACKUP ALARMS AND JACKHAMMERS. THEY WERE KIND ENOUGH TO CHANGE MY ROOM THE NEXT MORNING AFTER RAISING HELL, BUT THOUGHT YOU SHOULD KNOW THIS ANYWAY.

 

AS FOR THE MGM, BEING ONE OF THEIR VIP GUESTS, THEY PAY FOR ALL OF MY EXPENSES THERE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF PHONE CALLS AND TIPS, SO I REALLY DON'T BITCH ABOUT THE PHONE SITUATION.

[SmallTownJohn]

Paul Walker's Butt

 

Totally unrelated to Vegas but I caught "Joy Ride" last night. The very long scene of Paul Walker & Steve Zahn nude walking across a truck stop parking lot and thru a diner...well worth the $7.50 admission...and I don't think they used stunt asses either. <Note to self: Find Paul Walker's email address> LOL

 

 

John

[bluenix]

I stayed at the Aladdin in August and loved the room. When I checked in I asked for a Strip view, which wasn't available; the desk clerk asked if a complimentary upgrade would suffice instead. The bathroom was as big as a living room, with a jacuzzi tub and a 2-man (ahem) shower stall. The Internet access is super-fast ($9.95 a day). Just stay out of the casino. You'll win nothing.

 

I ate at Picasso. Great decor, and the food was good, but not THAT good. I think it's over-rated.

 

If you want to go slumming, try Buffalo Bill's out at Prim. You haven't gambled until you've sat at a $2 blackjack table on a Saturday night and are the only one without a black eye. Also, they have a sort of "reverse Big Shot" that is scarier than the Stratosphere's. Instead of bouncing you up and down on a central spindle, it hoists the seat platform up to the top and then HURTLES you toward the ground.

 

Definite YES to the Voodoo Lounge and Mystere. And as long as you're at Treasure Island you might as well gamble awhile. The last time I was there, at the craps table, a short little gangster with a hooker on each arm joined the crowd and the table. A regular, we deduced, because his arrival made the staff jumpy. Very fun.

[Guest cp8036]

BUT make sure you go to Liberace Musuem before 5 pm. I just returned from LV. Much to my chargin the place closes at 5 pm. This was my pilgrammage to see the Liberace Musuem, only to miss it by 10 mins. There is a nice Christian book store in the same strip mall.

 

I thought LV was a 24 hour town.