Thetownend.com

Thinking of going to Vegas next year. Sounds stupid but no interest in gambling - is there still plenty to do? And what is the perfect amount of time to spend there

Alternative US destinations would be New York, San Francisco or at a push Route 66

Is the wife going?

yep with her boss



Seriously though, yes

Grand canyon is stunning. Did the helicopter over it, would recommend.

If you aren't interested in gambling I would suggest San fran or new York.
Loved both.

How apt, I'm going on a lads few days break for my 40th next year. So keep the Vaga suggetions coming - accomodation, shows and the like.

I'm going again over Christmas.  There's loads to do, I'm not into gambling that much either.  As mentioned Grand Canyon is good as is the Valley of Fire and Hoover Damn.  Area 51 is interesting.  All of the casino's have features to draw you in other than gambling such as the MGM lions, the Bellagio fountains or Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at the Mirage.

Loads of shopping can be done with designer outlets both at the north and south end of the strip and various shops on the strip itself including the miracle mile and the fashion show mall.  

In the evenings pretty much all casino's have a theater so you can see a show, concert, comedian or a magic show.  Freemont Street with the light show and often gig's is also worth a look.

No need to go hungry either.  Most Casino's have a buffett where you can eat all you want places such as the Wynn offer a fantastic quality buffet.  Found a great micro-brewery casino which is just off strip called Ellis Island.  The beer is excellent and cheap along with the food highly recommend a visit there.  The $5 steak and eggs for breakfast is also recommended!

First time there I would recommend a week. I've tagged a few days in San Fransico onto a Vegas trip before which is a completely different experience.

If you want any more info just ask.

You will have a great time.  Been both with the missus and with the lads which are certainly different experiences  :toocool:

Accommodation wise select something centre strip saves a lot of walking and means you can take in both ends.  Which casino you stay at depends on your budget really.  Have stayed at Imperial Palace and Casion Royale before both came in at around $20 per night but aren't anything special.  Christmas we are staying in Aria which is the dogs.

Worth trying the $20 trick when you check in.  Doesn't work every time but have got some pretty nice room upgrades as a result.

Batch, if you are happy with the usual 3-4 star syle hotel, the Tropicana was brilliant.  It's smaller and far less busy than the main ones on the strip and recently refurbed with a Club nikki Beach as well - way too posh mind!  Cost me about £25 per room per night.

The other main hotels are simply massive with loads to do in them as mentioned by Slinky. Plenty of shows, restaurants etc.  Night life is odd.  the clubs are relatively small as far as I could make out and you have to pay to get a table to sit at with very little other seating options, so expect to stand.  Also, hover by the slots and you'll get free drinks, just tip.  They are trying to get you to hang around and empty your wallet into the slots where they usually make much more money than charging for drink.  Clubs are very expensive for drink - up to £10 per bottle.

I combined Vegas with San Fran (less impressed than many people seem to be, way too many aggressive beggars) and a stay in Napa area which was well worth it, best part of the holiday in fact.  Small towns with vineyards everywhere - the road from Napa to St Helena is a perfect example and they all have wine tastings for a few quid which is waved if yopu then buy a bottle.

I would suggest flying between the two if you combined it though.  I went on Virgin America first class for £120 one way.  My wife drove with her friends and it took ages.

Vegas is amazing, even if you don't do a lot of gambling. Best place to stay if you want a good location right on the strip at a cheap price is bills casino!

Thanks all, appreciate the tips.

Which you'll need in the states!

Despite living in the US for 3 years, never went near Vegas. Just not my kind of thing. Didn't go to New York. Didn't go to SanFran. Didn't go to LA.

Would thoroughly recommend Indianapolis, San Diego, Boston and Tampa as four alternative city destinations. All totally different with loads to do. If you want a bit more scenery, Jackson Hole/Yellowstone/Grand Tetons was the best week's holiday we have ever had. That or drive down the East Coast from Maine to Florida (make sure you go via Chesapeake Bay for Blue Crab and North Carolina for Oysters though).

I liked Boston

Boston is a beautiful city.

San Diego is an underrated gem but then again I went there straight after LA so any city would have looked good in comparison

Part of me actually wants to go to LA just to experience how shit it really is. Everyone I know who has been there has said it's awful.

Go to Compton.

love vegas, going next year!! WHOOOOP!

Gamble in the $1 machines to get free drinks, go shooting. There are shitloads of brilliant bars.

Not into gambling at all but Vegas just has to be seen.
For me 3 days was enough.
Much prefer California though.
San Fran is really cool - just so relaxing - didn't really notice the beggars as suggested in another post.
The whole coast down to LA is amazing.
Central LA is OK but nothing special.  Santa Monica & Venice Beach are brilliant.
Loads of good beach resorts further south, Manhatten, then Huntingdon, Newport, Laguna in Orange County.
Yosemite if you're into scenery / walking.
Went to Sonoma wine country - probably much like Napa as recommended earlier.
Loved San Diego - could have spent ages there.

Absolutely, i am into gambling but man Vegas is depressing, has to be seen but a 2 day stint was enough for me, California is amazing, why go all that way and spent time in a soulless dump like Vegas when there are such amazing places to see, Yosemite is stunning, San Fran is much more fun than Vegas,  each to their own though,

How long you want to spend in Vegas is down to what kind of holiday you'll be having. If you're with mates on the piss then 4 nights is probably plenty, you can do anything at any time there so it all becomes a bit mental. Since you'll be with the missus, it depends how long you can be entertained by the supremely tacky but surprisingly entertaining nightlife. We saw Penn and Teller who were incredible, would highly recommend that show. Copperfield is supposed to be very dated. Even if you don't like gambling give it a go, we learned how to play blackjack from some Americans and had a great time - I even left $100 up. Accommodation-wise you definitely want to be on the strip, we got a good deal on a suite at the Palazzo which is plush and connected to the Venetian, worth a look if they are still doing deals.

Other than Vegas I loved both NY and LA. LA is gritty but we stayed in Venice Beach which is amazing. When we went to San Fran it was cloudy all week, there's insane people and tramps all over the centre, and overall it was far from the best places we visited. San Diego is very relaxed with great beaches so stay near them and not the centre/gaslamp district if you do go there.

The Grand Canyon is a must if you're in the West, a truly mind-blowing sight.

I remember seeing on TV that some casinos offer 'card school' where you can learn to play for free. I guess anything is good for them to get you on the tables properly later.

4 nights will be enough for me. Must be the age, but I'm going to miss the family :)

LA has some amazing tourist sites in and around, Hollywood sign, Mann's Chinese theatre, avenue of stars, Santa Monica, Venice beach, Universal studios and much much more. Yet I absolutely hated the place and have absolutely no desire to go back. I'd rather see Swindon play at Grimsby again. That's how much I hated it.

San Fran is on the "go back to" list. Loved it there. Street cars, hills, Alcotraz, Pier 39, Raiders, Cheerleaders, bars, crazy taxi drivers.  There sure are plenty of beggars though :(

Think when I win the lottery I'll go back to SF and do Yosemite.

That is spot on, I stayed in a hotel opposite Mann's Chinese theatre and that area is a dump particularly at night. The kodak theatre is along from there where they host the Oscars - glamorous it is not.

Loved Vegas though...would go back to both there and San Fran

The Luxor is usually good value, and Planet Hollywood is a bit more centre strip

Batch, if you're on a lads' trip, 'Absinthe' in front of Caesar's palace is a bit different to most of the usual shows, and cheaper than most - easy to find reviews (lasvegas.com, i think)

It's not all as inexpensive as it used to be, mind.