Las Vegas - A First Time Visitor's Perspective - IgoUgo Las Vegas Journal

Las Vegas - A First Time Visitor's Perspective

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Overview

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We spend 6 days and nights in Las Vegas, arriving Monday afternoon and flying out Sunday night. We saw as much as possible, including most of the hotels/resorts, as well as some museums, malls, and attractions. The entire trip was a highlight. I have never been to a city anything like Vegas. Having said that though, some things totally amazed me, and if you go to Vegas I would highly recommend seeing them all. The fountains in front of the Bellagio were like nothing we had ever seen before. Seeing Vegas at night from the top of the Stratosphere was an amazing experience too. Madame Tussaud's Wax Musuem at the Venetian has a great variety of superstar figures. The drag show at the Riviera made me laugh...Read More

We spend 6 days and nights in Las Vegas, arriving Monday afternoon and flying out Sunday night. We saw as much as possible, including most of the hotels/resorts, as well as some museums, malls, and attractions. The entire trip was a highlight. I have never been to a city anything like Vegas. Having said that though, some things totally amazed me, and if you go to Vegas I would highly recommend seeing them all. The fountains in front of the Bellagio were like nothing we had ever seen before. Seeing Vegas at night from the top of the Stratosphere was an amazing experience too. Madame Tussaud's Wax Musuem at the Venetian has a great variety of superstar figures. The drag show at the Riviera made me laugh so much I hurt when I left. The Fremont Street Experience downtown, a pedestrian walkway with thousands of lights above, plays shows every hour on the hour in the evenings, and has more lights in one place than I thought was possible. And of course, who could go to Vegas without enjoying at least one (or in my case, many) buffets. This city has an energy like I've never felt before! I was just as awestruck on Day 1 as I was on Day 6, and I can't wait to get back. Even after six days, there is so much more to see.

Quick Tips:

First, wear comfortable shoes. You'll be on your feet a lot if you want to see as much as you can. Secondly, don't miss the downtown area - the Vegas of yesteryear . We spent two nights downtown and I'm glad I didn't miss that area. I think too many people spend all their time on the Strip. The atmosphere downtown is different as well - kind of a Marti Gras atmosphere. Thirdly, do some planning ahead so you know what attractions are where -- there is so much to see you don't want to waste too much time finding everything and seeing what is where. Also, unless you spend two weeks in vegas, you won't have time to see everything. Try to see as much as possible, and plan ahead so you'll at least see everything that is most important to you. Lastly, if all all possible, avoid the weekends. It is extremely crowded everywhere, the hotels inflate their room costs and the table games have higher limits. It's not worth the extra costs, crowds, or confusion.

Best Way To Get Around:

As budget travellers and first time visitors, we wanted to see everything but also not have to pay too much. We used public transit (the buses, a little slow, but a good rest time to just look and see the sights), a few taxies (friendly drivers with lots of information about the local area), and the free trams and monorails between the hotels (such as the ones between Bally's and MGM or Mirage and Treasure Island. They are a great way to get around, but you often have to go to the back of the hotels and through the casino, of course). We had no problem on any of them. If you have the willpower and the strenght, however, there is nothing like walking up and down the Strip. It takes a while (probably about 45 minutes from the North to South Tip without really stopping to see anything), but you'll feel an energy you have never felt before! Read Less

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Imperial Palace Las Vegas

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Hotel | "Imperial Palace"

Imperial Palace 1 Photo - Imperial Palace Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada

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We enjoyed this hotel/resort. Check-in and check-out were simple, and at most a ten minute wait each way in line. Our standard rooms was spacious and clean. We had clean towels, soap, and other basic maid services every day of the four days we stayed here. We had a patio with sort of a view (if you stretched, you could see Caesar's Palace across the street). The air conditioner worked great and kept our room cool. The king size bed was very comfortable. The staff was very friendly, always saying hi as you passed them in the hall. The pool, though a little small compared to others in Vegas, was never so busy that you couldn't swim, and there were lots of chairs for soaking up sun and enjoying your drin...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on July 28, 2002

Imperial Palace Las Vegas
3535 Las Vegas Blvd. SO
Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
(702) 731-3311

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Plaza Hotel and Casino

Hotel | "The Plaza"

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We stayed here for the weekend (Friday and Saturday night at the end of our trip), when Vegas raises the prices at all the hotels. It was nice... but not as nice and far more basic than where we stayed earlier for the weekdays (the Imperial Palace). The pool was basic (and small) but never busy. I enjoyed the fact that the pool was located on top of the building, and you could look out to see the Fremont Street Experience. There were tennis courts and a running track as well, though we did not use them. The Plaza is where downtown begins, so it has an excellent location. When we stepped out the front door, Fremont Street (and the never-ending party on it) was right in front of us. The Plaza was also v...Read More

Member Rating 2 out of 5 on July 28, 2002

Plaza Hotel and Casino
1 MAIN STREET
Las Vegas, Nevada 89101
702-386-2110

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Monte Carlo Buffet

Restaurant

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Whenever I vacation there is always somewhere I absolutely love and eat there twice. This was that place for Las Vegas. This was hands-down the best buffet experience of Las Vegas. We went to the dinner buffet the first and last day of our visit. The variety was amazing, and I had never experienced so many different foods in the same place before. There was a salad bar, Chinese, Cajun, Mexican (tacoes and fajitas), a grill (complete with steak and pork chops), a pasta station (the chef made your pasta to order), prime rib and chicken with all the fixings, and an awesome variety of tasty desserts (including pie, cake, make your own strawberry shortcake, ice cream bar, and the best cheesecake in Vegas)....Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on July 28, 2002

Monte Carlo Buffet
3770 Las Vegas Blvd South
Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
(702) 730-7777

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Las Vegas - A First Time Visitor's Perspective