Las Vegas for the Non Gambler
 

Accommodation	Buffets	Shows
For Free	Recommendation

Introduction
The month of May turns out to be a perfect time of year to visit Las Vegas.  Temperatures are hot everyday at 104 F (40 C), but with the dry air and the pleasant evenings, it’s perfect.  Even if you don’t gamble, you can have a great time with a wide selection of hotels, shows and buffets.  Combine your stay in Vegas with a dessert excursion to the Grand Canyon, Bryce or Zion and you’ve created a jam packed vacation get away!

An Unusual Approach
When we head to Vegas, I take an unusual approach.  First I check out hotel rates to find an inexpensive time to go.  Vegas and Reno are both driven by the free market in setting room rates.  They can increase 6 fold if the town is full and then a few nights later totally reverse their rates.  The fastest way to check on great rates is to use the booking calendar at the Bellagio’s web site.  Go toReservations/Check Rates at www.bellagio.com, where it shows the daily variation in rates. For the month of May, mother’s day seems to be the low point in hotel charges.

The next stage in my planning is to book a series of different hotels, so that I have a chance to experience various locations.  I book higher end accommodation on the cheaper nights and balance my overall cost by mixing in lower cost stays as well.  Expedia is a simple source for this and I combine it with national parks information on lodges for excursions from Las Vegas.  I plan according to location, so that I check out each day and roll my single piece of luggage a few doors down to the new location.  We’ve never had a problem with delays at check in – Vegas seems to be well experienced at getting rooms ready. 

Accommodation
Based on my single night approach, here are some opinions on various hotels that I’ve stayed at:
Higher End
Bellagio (formerly the Dunes) – excellent rooms and service.  It’s worth paying for a fountain view room.  The fountain view suites are fabulous, especially up above the 20th floor.  The fountains shoot up higher than 27 floors and the regular displays are set to music that plays on your TV as well as on speakers surrounding the lake.  The display was truly amazing.  We also enjoyed the Bellagio gardens which are continually changed for the seasons and holidays.  We had a 1,020 square feet fountain view suite with 4 remote TVs and 3 bathrooms, plus private VIP access to the elevators.  It was a blast and we even had room service set up a small table in our living room so we could have dinner and watch the fountains.  Try a Bellagio mixed grilled which included veal tenderloin, grilled lamb and fillet mignon.  A carafe of coffee and cheese cake completes things perfectly.  What a fabulous experience! 

MGM Grand – the celebrity suites are excellent and have great views toward New York New York and the strip, but this west facing view isn’t quite up to par once you’ve experienced the fountain view at the Bellagio.

Caesar’s Palace – very ordinary rooms and a feeling that the entire place is in need of major remodeling.  I find the existing décor to be tacky and it feels like a cheap renovation is trying to cover up the need for a major upgrade.  Not on my recommended list.  Caesar’s has announced $1 billion will be invested in expansion, so this short coming will be addressed soon.

Intermediate
Flamingo – This was the most pleasant surprise in my series of one night hotel stands.  Rooms are reasonably priced.  Windows are floor to ceiling, creating a sense of spaciousness and providing great views over the extensive palm trees, pools and wildlife located behind the hotel.  In the future, I’ll be spending a greater number of days at the Flamingo.  The Flamingo doesn’t provide free internet anywhere – it’s $14 per day. Head to the Venetian Food Court for free wireless access.

New York New York – Never tried this hotel because of a recommendation from friends to avoid the risk of having the roller coaster around the building shake your room more than a massage bed.

Less Expensive
Sahara – This is classic old school Vegas. Small rooms, low cost, smoky, inexpensive buffet and great shows in an intimate setting.  Definitely the best deal for price and a traditional gambling atmosphere.  When I was there, the Drifters, Platters and Coasters were putting on top quality entertainment.  Louis Lymon of the Drifters was inspirational, out dancing all the newer replacements and bounding about the stage with zealous enthusiasm.

Excalibur – Competitive with the Sarah for price and atmosphere.  It has quite a few rooms with a view and a very inexpensive 24 hour restaurant that serves advertised specials quickly.  It also has the famous Tournament of Kings dinner show where you eat a Medieval feast with your bare hands.

Binions – Also a great inexpensive hotel.  This one is in the old downtown area and not easily accessible to the strip.  The atmosphere inside is serious gambling and not glitz.  Outside the downtown streets are covered by a canopy and closed to traffic, resulting in Mardi Gras atmosphere in the evening.  Binions has the best buffet I’ve found – I’d definitely pick this over the buffet at the Bellagio.

Golden Nugget – Although I’ve never stayed there, friends say this is their favorite inexpensive spot to enjoy the downtown section of Vegas.

Buffets

For low cost, Binions is excellent.  The Bellagio was over priced and the experience was disappointing - far better to try room service.  The best buffet in my opinion is the Spice Market at Planet Hollywood, which is priced in the moderate range, but the food is exquisite.  Foods that I’d recommend (there’s lots more to choose from than this list) include:

The desserts are almost endless as well. My favorites included:

Shows
The shows are continually changing in Vegas and there are lots of internet sites to check for show listings.  Caesar’s has been running some of the most popular shows from Colosseum, the theatre they built for Celine Dion .  My favorite, which has been running for many years is the Love performance at the Mirage. This show is performed by Cirque du Soleil based on a Beatles theme.  I wasn’t even going to attend, but was convinced by my daughter.  I was amazed. Definitely my number one choice for a Vegas show.  It out does all the big name performers.

You can also check for daily half price shows.  We know a number of people who've found great entertainment by this method.

Top things to do For Free in Las Vegas:

Recommendation
Vegas is perfect for a 3 – 7 day vacation.  Don’t forget to consider side trips to Death Valley and the Grand Canyon area, including the South Rim, North Rim, Monument Valley, Arches National Park, Mesa Verde and the Petrified Forest.  Unfortunately Vegas gets very cool in the winter, so a trip in spring or fall is better for temperature.  Vegas is a great expanse of indoor air conditioning though so it’s year round fun.  It’s is really only an issue if you are planning to enjoy the dessert, as you’ll find it’s too hot in summer and too cold in winter.