RateVegas - Las Vegas Reviews and Ratings of Hotels, Casinos, Restaurants and Shows

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Yeah, what you’re going for is going to be a little tough – you’ll probably have to compromise at little bit on one or more of your criteria… I’ll throw out some suggestions and then you’ll need to make some calls to see if you can make it happen. Here goes:

• Social House – Treasure Island – new sushi place, good reviews. Very hip, young vibe. Turns into a lounge at night.

• Japonais – Mirage – another new restaurant, also hip and casual vibe.

• Grand Lux Cafe – Venetian – I threw this one in here because I know that other larger groups have done parties here and it is not expensive. I don’t think its the best choice but it might work if all else fails and the food is decent.

• Sensi – Bellagio – I really like the food here, really cool interesting stuff. A little less casual but still good.

• STACK – Mirage – Great choice. Hip, casual vibe. Awesome food. Not too expensive. I would start here.

• FIX – Bellagio – relative to STACK but at Bellagio. Also very good choice.

Hope those help. Have fun.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Well, I suggest that you look over the applicable parts of the site to get reviews of all the various items you mentioned. For Tryst I suggest you search as well – I’ve talked about it a ton and the editor review on Wynn Las Vegas talks about it as well.

I had a bad meal at MIX but the bar is awesome and the view is incredible.

MGM Grand’s Tabu is very small and crowded. The Centrifuge Bar is just a casino bar, nothing too special and Studio 54 is a medium-end nightclub – one of the originals, the age is starting to show a little but it is still very busy most nights.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Hey Mike…

I put the Barbary in there last time as an example of a place that is inexpensive but still pretty okay and near everything. If you can swing The Mirage, I recommend that over the Barbary Coast – it’s much more of the Vegas experience and lately the crowd there has gotten a lot younger due to the new nightclub and restaurants.

The Barbary ain’t a bad spot and I still recommend it but I do like The Mirage more.

As far as comps, unless you are a serious, serious player, I doubt that the Barbary couldn’t comp as much as you could spend.

Hope this helps.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

I think you’re probably either thinking of FIX at Bellagio or STACK at The Mirage? They both have roofs like what you describe.

Here’s one of STACK:
http://www.ratevegas.com/photo/show/2531

And one of FIX:
http://www.ratevegas.com/photo/show/2436

If this isn’t what you’re thinking of then perhaps re-submit your question.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Thanks! I hope you like the new look. Penthouse suites at The Mirage are almost identical to Tower suites except they are on higher floors and have nicer furniture. They also have turndown service and some other amenities. If you can get one and it won’t bust your budget, go for it. It’s a nicer room and since you are already in a Tower suite, you obviously like nice rooms. They sometimes upgrade Tower suite people to Penthouses, often when the Towers are all full. I’ve had this happen to me twice so it could happen to you… As far as a view goes, I think the ‘Pool View’ is better than the ‘Volcano View’ but either will do. Avoid the ‘Sunset’ or ‘Mountain’ view as this is the freeway. The ‘Pool View’ lets you look all the way down the Strip to Mandalay Bay, which is nice. As far as food, I suggest you check out The Mirage page here on the site, accessible from the home page – STACK is loud but good choice, Japonais is brand new and while I haven’t tried it yet personally, the room is very nice looking and has a cool lounge. Kokomo’s is a standby that recently got a facelift and the Samba Grill is good if you are very, very hungry – they have huge portions.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Well, since you don’t indicate any range of what you’re willing to pay, this is a bit academic. I can say for sure that you want to be on the Strip and I will take that further to say that you probably don’t want to be on the far North end (cheaper but certainly not in the center of it all). Here’s a few suggestions to check out:

• The Mirage – rates vary but the hotel is very nice, good pool (though it will be pretty cold out so this probably doesn’t matter), good restaurants, younger vibe, JET nightclub on property. Sometimes it is very affordable.

• Treasure Island – they actively court younger customers these days. Nightclub Tangerine is on property plus a couple of hip restaurants like Social House. Again, rates vary but the hotel is nice and service is good.

• Aladdin/Planet Hollywood – located right in the center of the Strip, the hotel portion is just fine. The casino is a bit dead/mismanaged but you are so close to so many other options, this isn’t that big of a deal. Sometimes some good bargains.

• Flamingo – often cheaper rates, still a good location. A remodel is planned but hasn’t happened so the rooms are bit on the older side.

• Barbary Coast – this tiny hotel is right next to the Flamingo and often has great deals. The rooms are pretty nice and the people are friendly.

Those are just a few choices. Prices all up and down the Strip vary quite a bit. One advantage of booking with the hotel directly instead of through an agent like Expedia is that you can almost always (double check) cancel your reservation with just 48 hours notice – this is great when you find a better deal at another joint – and trust me, this happens, especially that time of year when it can get a bit slow due to the holidays.

Anyway, have a good time!

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

I believe the show was cancelled. It was originally supposed to come back for additional episodes, though based at Red Rock instead of Green Valley Ranch but it appears to have vanished from the schedule.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Interesting observation. Really no way to say other than they probably just went that was as a cost cutting measure (or just being lazy). Casino carpet is a fun top. My friend Dave has a casino carpet galley on his Web site, which you could find by Googling if you’re interested.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Yes, I have. They are basically Motel-6 style rooms, extremely no frills. They are inexpensive and if you don’t spend much time in your room or need a lot of service, it’s a good match.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Kokomo’s is a good restaurant and you’ll do fine there but honestly, you’d be better off at either Delmonico (Venetian), SW (Wynn Las Vegas), Country Club (Wynn Las Vegas), or perhaps Prime (Bellagio). All have better choices at about the same prices.

Binion’s is a good spot downtown with big portions, affordable prices and a good view of the city. Sometimes the food isn’t totally perfect but it is significantly cheaper than Strip steakhouses.

On the Italian choice, Fiamma is by far the best in that bunch. You might also consider Bartolotta (Wynn Las Vegas) for the best Italian food in the city. Francesco’s at TI isn’t bad and Onda at The Mirage is great, with a recently remodeled wine bar next door.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

This has been covered before. I suggest you use the search but generally speaking, you’re basically out of luck.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Howdy – thanks for the kind words. I think your chances of getting tickets that way are about 0%. Celine’s show is one of the most popular on the Strip and is virtually always sold out. I would grab whatever you can if you intend to see the show.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

They take a deposit of the first night + tax when you make the reservation and then they will put a hold (not a charge) on your card when you check-in. The amount varies and it is to cover incidentals. Usually about $100/night of your stay. When you check out, you can settle your bill any way you’d like (but no chips for payment).

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Yup, the Royal Service is pretty much history. Too bad to, because it was a really great suite perk. Personally, I love taking a limo from the airport. First off, you don’t wait in the cab line and it is often horrendously long, second, nothing like arriving in style! It’s just fun. On the flip side, I usually take a cab on my way back to the airport. As far as liquor stores go, from The Mirage let’s see… There is a pharmacy with beer North up the Strip, past Wynn Las Vegas. Going South, you’d have to go a ways before you hit anything. Off the Strip, you could hit a grocery store off Spring Mountain to the West – not too far but you’re driving for sure – no walking. If you’re walking then heading North on the Strip past WLV might just be the best bet. Still, it’s a bit of a walk.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

At Caesars the best rooms are in the Augustus Tower. The rooms are larger and better appointed. The rooms in the Palace Tower are by no means a slouch however, they just come from the previous generation of rooms. I would compare the Palace Tower rooms to those at a resort like Bellagio while the Augustus Tower rooms are more similar to newer rooms like those at Wynn Las Vegas. That means bigger windows, better fixtures, larger rooms, etc… If you can get a suite in the Augustus Tower, you’ll be thrilled. If you end up staying in the Palace Tower, I’m sure you won’t be disappointed – it is a very nice place to stay.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Don’t even consider trying to get a table at the door – that won’t work. Yes, we do know a good host – do a search here for ‘clubs’ and you’ll see quite a few posts on details as well as his (Bill’s) contact info.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Never seen that happen and I’ve never been offered any. Not sure that this is correct, at least not all the time. Sometimes things like this happen for one or two days and then people think it is policy.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Howdy… I’m 27 years old and married. As to your question about a rental car, it depends on many factors. Do you like to walk? The Strip is very walkable but distances are deceiving. If you like to work and are able-bodied, I think you can easily survive without a rental, provided you’re not looking to do a lot of cruising to off-Strip destinations. Le Reve is a show constantly in flux. If you like the Cirque-type shows, especially ‘O’, you’d like it. Keep in mind that they are planning on making some fairly substantial changes (to differentiate it from ‘O’) in the next few months.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

No need to call ahead as they’re just going to want to see how you play. Make sure you have your card in anytime you’re playing and charge things to your room instead of on other credit cards. This will give them the chance to comp those items. You should be getting some good comps especially considering you’ll likely have a much higher cycle through rate than your actual coin in.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

On the Strip you’re looking at Casino Royale (sometimes) and joints on the North end like the Sahara. Really though, you need to go downtown and also to locals casinos off the Strip. Minimums change all the time and sometimes several times a shift. Generally, the nicer the place, the higher the minimums.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

There are so many options, you’re probably best off using our top ten lists and viewing for the different categories you’re interested in. Some of the new restaurants at The Mirage, like STACK, are quite good, plus you’ve got their nightclub JET and The Venetian’s Tao across the street. All will be busy the various nights.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Caesars is very large but that’s not unique to them – all Las Vegas resorts are huge. If I were you I’d probably stick where you are. Caesars is the nicest Harrah’s property so take advantage. They have some very nice rooms in the new Augustus Tower.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Yes, all the suites in the hotel, apart from the villas, are in the Tower Suites section of the hotel. As far as views go, they will be changed and WLV guests won’t be seeing much of Caesars or The Venetian when Palazzo is done but the distance views were already not all that great. You can see the stuff at WLV and TI and some of The Mirage plus of course the Fashion Show Mall and The New Frontier. Palazzo will still look like a construction site but expect the high-rise to be much more completed than it looks today.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

When you’re eating and shopping, etc… – the more stuff you charge to your room the more they can help you. If your play warrants it, they can remove stuff from your bill. You’ll need to go to Terminal 1 to access pretty much any worthwhile services at the airport.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

I submitted this myself in case someone was wondering. I’ve been having a lot of trouble with this site recently. It keeps crashing… Well, actually, it hangs as the process on the server is still running, just not accepting any connections. It’s quite a pain. I am about 75% done with the new RateVegas.com that doesn’t have this problem so I am very reluctant to dig out all the old tools used to create this site and fix the problem. I am hoping to get the new site up very, very soon and then this problem (and being woken up at 4am by my server alarms) will be gone. The new site features a new design (looks kinda like VegasLists.com), all new content (I went back and verified ALL the content to make sure it was up to date), and a simplified interface. We’re actually removing some of the ratings options to make things simpler and easier for people to submit ratings. Don’t worry, the Reader Questions are intact and all the old data will be brought forward – nothing will be lost. I’m really excited about it and I hope you like it when you see it!

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Hmmmm, that’s pretty strange. Well, if they don’t want your business, that’s fine. It may just be that you spoke with someone that doesn’t work on the casino side, etc… Now, bringing $5k to play and then spending what you win is sometimes viewed a bit differently than bringing $10k to spend – they are most interested in the drop, more than playing credits you build up. Anyway, you’re still entitled to more than a buffet – the comps haven’t gotten that tight. You might call the hosts back – they can’t be busy forever and it’s amazing the variance in different hosts. Some are eager to work with you and develop new players, others just can’t be bothered. The key to the comps game is persistence – keep asking for stuff. You won’t get solicited for much in the way of comps, you have to go after them.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

I would sit in the center about half-way back. If you’re too close you can’t see all the action, plus you might get wet. The balcony is a different experience, though I think downstairs is still better.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Sure, there are still places without ticket in/ticket out slots. Right at this moment, Luxor and Excalibur are being upgraded to TITO slots. I haven’t been over to check but I don’t think it is complete yet.

There are of course many downtown properties that still use coin based slots.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Thanks for the kind words. Well, your range of what you wager is pretty wide so I can’t simply come up with an answer to your question. Yes, you should be getting some good compage, even at The Venetian. I would call a host over there and see what they would be willing to offer you – probably more than you think.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

I hear on the CDS comment, though I do think that the new show, LOVE, is a shot in the arm and a lot of fun – just what CDS needed. Sounds great, looks great, did I mention SOUNDS GREAT?

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

That’s a fair question. Nope, sadly no kickbacks. In the spirit of full disclosure let me break down the places I do make money from the Web site. I get paid when people click on the ads. The ads are supposed to be Vegas related and hopefully feature things that you guys are interested in. So that’s the primary. I also get a small percentage when you guys book vacations/rooms through the Web site. Also, I own stock in Wynn Resorts, Las Vegas Sands (Venetian owners), MGM MIRAGE, and Harrah’s – I have stock in all of ‘em. I say great things about Wynn Las Vegas because I think that overall it is a great hotel. It’s certainly not perfect but it’s my favorite place to stay right now. I also really like The Mirage, Bellagio and to a lesser extent TI. They are former Wynn properties – I like the way the guy designs hotels. Beyond his stuff, I like THEHotel at Mandalay Bay, parts of Paris, parts of Caesars, Red Rock, etc… I am not a big fan of The Venetian. The place is very ‘fake nice’. By that I mean they are always spouting off how great they are but it just doesn’t stand up to scrutiny. It’s very cheaply built and if you ever really look closely at the build quality of the facade on the Strip, you’ll see that there are holes, mistakes, etc… It’s not the fantastic ‘8th wonder of the world’ that they claim it is. They’re building a new hotel, the Palazzo, next door. I’ll give that one a fair shake – maybe they learned their lesson when completing The Venetian. We’ll see. In the meantime, treat yourself to the best!

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Is your one show Celine? That wouldn’t be my choice but I’m not a fan. The modern Las Vegas show has become somewhat associated with Cirque du Soleil, a Canadian dance troupe. They have several shows in Las Vegas but in my mind, the best are ‘O’, ‘Mystere’ and the brand new Beatles based ‘LOVE’. Of those, given that tickets are very hard to come by, you might be best off with ‘Mystere’. They are all recommended but as Mystere is over ten years old, it is easier and less expensive to get tickets. On the restaurant side of things, since Vegas is also a convention town, many restaurants have sit down bar areas where you can order from a full menu. You asked for good restaurants so I will assume you’re willing to spend a little bit of money on this and I’ll avoid the low-end places. Now, there are of course hundreds of choices on the Strip alone so this is just a stab at it – there are many, many good choices. For a great steak, I would take a look at the Country Club at Wynn Las Vegas. It’s out back by the golf course and I’ve eaten there solo several times. It’s a great spot. For Italian, I would again head to Wynn and eat at Bartolotta. Fresh everything – tasty! Also, Bartolotta is open for lunch, a rarity for fine dining. Onda at The Mirage is another good choice for Italian and it features a recently re-worked wine bar. Jasmine is excellent Chinese over at Bellagio but I’m not sure about eating there alone. For great American food in a very hip atmosphere try either FIX at Bellagio or STACK at The Mirage. Both feature a similar menu (but unique) and the food is excellent. Not pretentious at all, just good cookin’. There are great restaurants all over the city. I suggest you look at some of our top ten lists from the front page to get some other ideas. Have fun!

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Hype? Where are you seeing hype? Alize is regarded as a solid choice but it is rarely mentioned in the list of the best restaurants in town. Nothing wrong with it though and if you’re looking for a ‘view’ restaurant, it and perhaps MIX at Mandalay should be topping that list. The restaurant at the Stratosphere (‘Top of the World’) has really slipped in terms f quality.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

As with many of the signs in Las Vegas, it was done by YESCO, the Young Electric Sign Company.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Most of the hotels that check do indeed scan the keys to make sure that they are valid, yes. That means you can’t use an old key from a previous trip, a key from EBay, etc… Caesars is sometimes strict and sometimes not. Same with the Rio. Wynn Las Vegas is very tight, just like The Mirage or Bellagio. The tightest by far is Mandalay Bay – they check a key PER PERSON where most hotels just check by the group.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

The pool at TI is pretty small and even though they have renovated and tried to expand it a bit, there are simple space constraints they will never be able to overcome (TI is actually built on a pretty small parcel – it is crammed in there!). The pool at the Flamingo is superior in size and setup but there are more kids there most of the time – more families where TI is going for young adults. If that’s your only criteria, they go for it. I think that in ever other respect TI is tops – service, rooms, food, etc… Location is probably a toss up depending on where you like to spend your time.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

ATM fees are similar to just about anywhere else, maybe sometimes as high as $4. Yes, a rip off but not gonna kill you. If you need the ATM, you need the ATM!

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

The Palace Tower rooms are not as nice as the Augustus Tower but they are still very nice. They compare with rooms like those at Bellagio where Augustus Tower rooms are more on par with a Wynn LV room. The main action as far as Brazilian dining goes is the Samba Grill at The Mirage. They do that whole rodizio thing and every meal I’ve had there has been great.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Unless you’re dropping big cash in the casino, there really isn’t a way to get seats reserved. Many folks resort to simply getting up really early and camping out. Of course, the better sports books are more popular. The better books include Bellagio, Wynn Las Vegas, MGM Grand, Las Vegas Hilton, The Mirage, Caesars Palace and Mandalay Bay. Red Rock also has a fantastic book but it is 20 minutes from the Strip (it will still be crowded, just more locals). Sorry I don’t have a better answer for you. Of course, if you’re a big gambler then you can just have your host save you a table.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Sure, in that range you should be able to take your pick of a few different rooms, all of which will be very nice. Here’s what I recommend you take a closer look at:

• Bellagio Penthouse – A very nice room in a great hotel. You can usually even get on the top floor (or near it) which can mean a great view of the fountains – try to guarantee you get that view. Service is good everywhere at Bellagio but you get the extra touch in a penthouse.
  
• Wynn Las Vegas Salon Suite – This is the Wynn’s version of the penthouses at Bellagio, both designed by casino genius Steve Wynn. This suite is available in the one and two bedroom configurations and due to the hotel’s design, none have a bad view. As with all other suites at Wynn Las Vegas, you enter via a private porte cochere, special check-in and elevators. Suite guests have access to an extra set of pools. They really know how to make the suite experience special at WLV. If you want to read a trip report from our blog, one of our regulars recently stayed in one of these rooms and if it counts for anything, this is the room I have booked for my next trip to WLV. The trip report is here. If you want to see some Salon Suite photos, check these out: Photo 1, Photo 2.
  
• The Mirage Penthouse – Very similar in design to those at Bellagio, these are very high quality rooms in another great hotel. One of the good things about The Mirage is that since Bellagio opened, the prices here have dropped. That means that you can get a great room at prices that are sometimes downright inexpensive. There has been a lot of upheaval at The Mirage in the past two years with a new Cirque show (LOVE in collaboration with The Beatles), new restaurants (STACK, Fin, an updated Kokomo’s), and more. I’ve stayed in these rooms a few times and they are very nice. One important note – they haven’t been renovated in the past few years so certain amenities, such as plasma TVs, are not installed. Photo 1 and Photo 2.
  
• MGM Grand Skyloft – I haven’t stayed in or seen one of these personally yet but a good friend of mine has stayed here and he gave it very high praise – and he’s not one given to praise a hotel easily. If you want to read his trip report, visit this page: Skylofts trip report.
  The bottom line is that no matter what you pick, you’ll be in good shape. I suggest that you read the various hotel profiles on this page and also check out our blog, where many of the trip reports above come from. You’ll get a good idea of service and the various hotels. Our photo link in the toolbar above also has pictures of all of the hotels and many of the actual rooms. You have some time so I suggest you keep an eye on the various hotel Web sites to get an idea of rates. If booking at Wynn Las Vegas, MGM Grand, The Mirage or Bellagio, you can use the link from our hotel pages and we get a small commission – it doesn’t cost you any more and we get credit, which helps pay for our overhead. Have a great time!

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

I haven’t stayed at the Signature yet – it’s brand new… I am curious about it though and might pick it just for the novelty. It is set back behind the casino so accessing it means a bunch of walking. Keep that in mind when you choose. Signature is basically condos that the owners have allowed to be rented as rooms. Most of them include kitchens which could be a nice amenity. Either way I think you’re going to be fine so it really comes down to picking based on some of the little details. MGM Grand on balance has better restaurants than Mandalay Bay, plus it is closer to the rest of the Strip (I feel isolated at MB). That would influence my decision.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Well, it sounds like you want something very specific and thus your choices may be limited. My favorite helicopter operator is Maverick and I believe they do this sort of thing. I have not taken a ride to the Grand Canyon, only night Strip rides. Anyway, their Web site is located here: http://www.maverickhelicopter.com/grand-canyon-tours.html. Please mention that we sent you!

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

The Mirage is a winner (or should I say ‘Wynner’). You might also look at Treasure Island, which has some nice suites and also if you’re into upscale, Bellagio and Wynn Las Vegas which both have amazing suites and nice standard rooms. Getting the suite upgrade at The Mirage is a long shot – you got pretty lucky.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

I suggest you do some searching on ‘room upgrade’ and ‘20 trick’ to read the many, many answers on this topic. The bottom line is that you never know for sure.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Excellent! Thanks for the contribution!

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

Lots of browns and yellows, not too much variation, no. I think ‘O’, along with ‘Mystere’ and even the new ‘LOVE’ represent the best that CDS have to offer. I personally thought ‘Ka’ was very slow and a bit boring. ‘O’ is a great show and the staging is absolutely amazing. The theater is one of the stars of the show.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

It will be a bit cold, especially at night. Make sure you bring cold weather clothes… Las Vegas is the desert so it gets chilly (and windy) in November. By cold I mean like 60-70 degrees during the day and 50s at night.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

That’s a pretty tough question, just because it is so open ended. Maybe you want to check out some of the locals/off-Strip casinos? Places like the Rio, Palms, Orleans, or Green Valley Ranch? Red Rock Resort in Summerlin is pretty amazing if you haven’t been there. Non-casino stuff like Lake Las Vegas or Red Rock itself are both a good time.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

I think the chances are low-to-mid but the Palace Tower is very nice. Equate Palace Tower rooms to Bellagio and Augustus Tower rooms to Wynn Las Vegas to get an idea… I wouldn’t want to be in any of the other towers though – they are very old.

Vegas Mate @ RateVegas answered:

I sorta see the Panoramic View as a sucker upgrade. It’s often given for free. I would either stick with a Resort Room or upgrade to a Tower Suites room… Augustus Tower rooms do include turn down service, yes.