Vegas...

[Formerly Drummer Boy]

The Grand Canyon is the obvious one!

Vegas is a weird place... I went a few years back for a work conference and I hated it whilst I was there. The dated 80's feel to some of the casinos, stale smoke smell, the obvious manipulation from no windows or clocks on the casino floor, the waitresses wandering around with drinks looking for a dollar tip, eating anything was more than what you'd expect in an airport..

But when I came back, I just wanted to fill my pockets with cash, go back and stick it all on red for the thrill. Also worked out that I only slept on average of 4 hours a night for the entire time I was there..

Can't wait to go back one day!

[mystical_goat]

Just wondering how the low winter sun generated enough heat to give you sunburn/heatstroke!

I really am pathetic in the sun, I'm freckly and pale. I was outside almost all of the day, doing a football coaching qualification with no sun screen or hat. Felt like utter shit when I got home; banging headache, no appetite, and had to lie down and not do anything all night.

[Leggett]

Sounds like me, more than a touch of the ginge, start to sizzle under a full moon... 

[Jimmy QuitMoaning]

 

[Legends-Lounge]

My missus is a brunette, her skin however, is that of a blonde, goes red looking at a light bulb.

[Leggett]

Luckily my nippers have got their sun tolerance from their mum, despite both being super blonde!

[otanswell]

Will be roasting that time of year
Been twice now, love it

Top tip - get pissed for free in the casinos while gambling - too the waitress when they come round and they’ll bring you free drinks until you move on

Also buy water from walgreens

[Leggett]

Ok, ruse dropped, going with my Missus to actually officially make her my Mrs, after April's slight wedding on fire issue...

Wanting to hire a meaty V8 car to go bowling around in for a day, anyone got any experience?

[Simon Pieman]

Me and future Piewoman are thinking of a Vegas marriage so would be interested to know what the experience and costs are like. I've got a year or two until we tie the knot yet

[Briggany]

I went there for two nights at the beginning of September 2015 at the starting point of a 3 week long road trip down the west coast from Seattle to LA.

Simply put Vegas is amazing, its a huge adults play ground, I would definitely advise you see all the major hotels if you can, we stayed in the Tropicana which is fairly central and fairly easy to get to from the airport.

Take lots of cash as you will need it for the gambling and tipping, its hard not to gamble as there its everywhere. We didn't really venture off of the main strip which has pretty much everything you need. The Bellagio is an absolutely amazing hotel.

If your into night clubs there are absolutely loads and the good ones are all in major hotels, on the flip side there are loads of themed bars and night places to just sit and have a pint. 

A few tips:
-Every major hotel has a mini bus service from the airport to the hotel, and there will be crooks trying to get you to pay $60 to take them and say there is an "airport tax". Luckily me and my friends quickly realized it was a con. (We did however pay $60 to get a limo because why the hell no)
-Always tip the Waiters/bar staff,hosts,dealers.... just generally always tip as its customary in the US to leave one.
-You will be offered a lot of drugs just walking down the strip but they don't hustle you
-It's incredibly safe to walk down the main strip any time of night.
-Ask for paper bags as the plastic ones with logos tend to melt onto your leg when walking.

Honestly was an amazing two nights and we hardly slept, I spent about $3,000 in the two days there and it was worth every penny. I also won good chunk of change on the black jack tables (around $1,000) and all the dealers were really helpful and friendly. Also when you gamble the drinks are free! you just tip the hosts that bring you the drinks.

Weather wise its ruddy hot. We flew from Gatwick to LA, then the next day flew from LA to Vegas at 6AM and it was 30 degrees when we landed and it only got hotter. 

[TheDukeOfBanbury]

One of the hottest places I have ever visited.
Flying over the Canyon is something else and Vegas never sleeps and or do you.
3 nights and I was done for. Best advice try and get to see as many of the crazy hotels as you can. Met a beauty outside of the Mirage Hotel, happy days.
Many years back mind and it’s a crazy place for sure.

Chicago still my favourite US City.

[Batch]

Frisco is my favourite, they do have a beggar/homeless issue though.

hope to go to Vegas in April, job dependant

[Posh Red]

I remember going to Arizona to play golf, it was September but absolutely scorching hot.

Was the first time I’d seen sprinklers around petrol stations.

Anywhere in those areas is really hot, although there’s an irony that the Dallas Cowboys go to California for their pre season training camp because it’s too hot to do it in Dallas

[tans]

i absolutley love NYC, many dont but its an amazing place

[RobertT]

As has been mentioned, Vegas in summer is pure heat.   It's a dry heat though, so it's purely the temp and sun that will get you.  On one visit a taxi driver told me it was going to cool down tomorrow, by how much I asked (it was 113), to which he replied 107.

Everything is pretty much worth doing - it's not a real place, so just go with a budget and stick to it, but relax and go with the flow.  I mean, you can lose your shirt ordering a drink sat at a bar.  Find a show you may not normally do, try out places on the strip, try some out off the strip.  Just remember to keep an eye on the time - once you are inside, there is very little to give you any hint of what time of day it is.  As it's a wedding, probably should recommend walking past the Bellagio to see the fountains.

Bring some $ bills - as mentioned, if you play slots or the tables you will get free drinks, but they expect tips.  20% is standard on anything served with food involved.  Usually $1 per drink is sufficient but that may have crept to $2 these days, given the actual price of the drink you get free.

Nightclubs/lounges in the evening will be eye wateringly expensive to offset those freebies.  Expect a cover charge if you want a table of $200 an up - you essentially pay for the bottle.  There won't be anywhere to sit if you don't take a table in most places and single drinks will be $15 ish each.  You'll also get plenty of girls willing to share that bottle with you - which probably is not the point of this trip.

Some really cheap places to eat and some really great fine dining options as well.  Basically you will find a $1 per pancake joint within walking distance to somewhere charging for steak by the ounce.